ALMS (LEXINGTON) - MID-OHIO CREATE RACE EXPERIENCE "FOR THE FANS"

The American Le Mans Series competed in front of record crowds at Mid-Ohio, two weeks after doing the same at Lime Rock.

A record crowd for the Acura Sports Car Challenge and the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course experienced far more than just world-class racing. The Lexington, Ohio road course offers one of the country's most challenging layouts and beautiful backdrops as it is surrounded by picturesque, rolling hills and miles of fields.

And there was something for everyone whether it was the variety of vendors - including one bright pink trailer marketing specifically to young girls of the racing community - or the paddock, where fans watched their favorite teams work on American Le Mans Series cars up close and in person.

One of the hotspots in the vendor and enthusiast area was the Microsoft Xbox 360 simulation setup featuring Forza Motorsport 2, a sports car video racing game from Microsoft game studios. The Xbox display included two game stations each equipped with a racing seat, steering wheel, pedals and three flatscreen, high-definition TVs placed in front of the seat in order to provide the most realistic racing feel to the would-be racer.

"You kind of have a side view where you wouldn't before," said automotive enthusiast Eric Smith of the multiple TV layout.

Packed grandstands and hillsides at Mid-Ohio saw elite marques like Audi, Porsche, Acura, Corvette, Ferrari, Mazda and Panoz compete for class honors.

The visuals are crisp, accurately portraying changing lighting conditions during longer races with glare on the car's windshield and lengthening shadows along the track surface. Cars are as detailed as the real thing, incurring wear and damage the same as the actual vehicles.

The game has been heralded by many gaming industry professionals and motorsports fans alike. With more than 300 cars to race on more than 45 tracks - including American Le Mans Series favorites Sebring, Road America, Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Forza is taking racing simulation games to a new level.

Within the lively Midway, the Acura Sports Car Challenge brought new fans who experienced and participated in the race weekend. Most agreed that Mid-Ohio was as much an experience as it was a race. Acura alone sold more than 15,000 race tickets to its employers and their families. Many had been to several American Le Mans Series events while others were attending their first Series event.

Smith, who had been to two Series events at Mid-Ohio, enjoys the technology displayed by the production-based GT classes.

"I like watching the GT cars. They're based on the street cars, and I just like the looks of them and the sound, especially the Corvettes," he explained.

With five rounds to go in the 2007 season, expect the Series to attract more enthusiasts with its international atmosphere and loud, rumbling race car charm.

The next round of the American Le Mans Series is the Generac 500 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. The four-hour race is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 11. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage at americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA Live Timing & Scoring. NBC Sports will broadcast the race from 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 12.