ALMS (HOUSTON) - THOUGHTS ON HOUSTON, STREET RACES AND THE SEASON SO FAR

THOUGHTS ON HOUSTON, STREET RACES AND THE SEASON SO FAR

Ben Devlin and B-K Motorsports were running as high as third overall last weekend in Long Beach in the Mazda-powered Lola. Click here for Hi-Res The early part of the 2007 American Le Mans Series has featured new street venues and four events in the season's first six weeks. The challenges of a condensed schedule and competing a three straight street circuits is a daunting one but one that the teams and drivers have been up to. Here are a few more thoughts on street events, some upcoming down time and the nuances of JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park, site of this weekend's Lone Star Grand Prix.

Allan McNish, Audi Sport North America "Houston last year was new for everybody. This year, as much as Dindo and I know the circuit and we good experience with the lines, it will be a new to the team because we in 2006 we had the R8 and now we have the new R10 TDI diesel. We'll probably use more of the experience of the first two street races of 2007 more than the 2006 race."

Ben Devlin, B-K Motorsports "It's so difficult because there are only so many spares and parts you can carry in the trucks and the cars. So that always makes us nervous with the races so close together. We have to maintain the car and not destroy it. We reserve a little bit whereas on a normal course it's a bit wider and you can make a few more mistakes.

"It's good to go into cities and markets we've never been in," Intersport's Clint Field said. "They're fun." Click here for Hi-Res "It was all unknown to us at Houston (last year). All we remember is the bumps and bruises we got the next day. We're expecting another bumpy track again this year. So we're trying to do what we can to make ourselves better and make the car last a bit longer over the bumps."

Clint Field, Intersport Racing "I would have liked to have seen (the races) spread out a little bit. Being a team owner and car owner, you don't like those walls. As long was we can keep the car off the walls, we'll be all right. It's good to go into cities and markets we've never been in. They're fun."

Dale White, team manager, Petersen/White Lightning "Normally we don't have all these races after Sebring. We've had a few serious accidents at Sebring and St. Petersburg. It's been really hard on the team, even too much. We haven't really had a break and we're really looking forward to getting through Houston. It's about survival at this point."

Jim Tafel, owner/driver, Tafel Racing "The toughest thing about preparing for a street course is attrition. It's all about keeping the car in one piece. If you don't, you'll be behind. We didn't have time to go home and work on anything."

(On being a team owner and driver) "Team drivers are so lucky. They come here and they walk around, focus, sleep a lot, eat a lot, work out and they really only have one job and that's to win the race. As a team owner and driver, I have to make sure that we win the race as a team. I'm very fortunate to have great people like Tony Dowe, our technical director, great engineers, mechanics and truck drivers. Every one is just as important as the other one. I have to make sure all of those pieces are in place as well as get out there and professionally drive this race and put all of that out of my head."