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ALMS: BMW Team PTG Race Report, 6 hours, 15 minutes

18 September 1999

BMW Team PTG notes:  race 6h15, Sept. 18
Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta
race six, American Le Mans Series

BMW Team PTG took advantage of a full-course caution period just
past the six-hour mark of the 10-hour, 1000-mile Petit Le Mans.  All
three cars pitted, while the GT class race-leader #23 Porsche stayed on
track.  The #6 BMW M3 of Boris Said and Hans Stuck is still second in
class.  The #7 M3, driven by Peter Cunningham, Brian Simo and Brian
Cunningham, is third.  The #10 car, with drivers Darren Law, Mark
Simo and Johannes van Overbeek, is fourth.

Because he is leading the GT driver championship, van Overbeek did
not drive until the first five hours of the race were completed.  Team
owner Tom Milner kept the option of putting van Overbeek in another
car if his #10 encountered problems.  For the same reason, Brian
Cunningham, who is third in driver points, did not start until 5.5 hours
into the race.

Brian Cunningham, driver, #7 BMW M3

"I understand the reason for waiting, but I want to get in!  But Tom
Milner has a lot of experience and, as they say, father knows best. 
We've done lots of testing here, but it's not the same as a race.  I'd like
to get more race laps."

Mark Simo, driver, #10 BMW M3

[without anti-lock brakes] "It's not harder to drive, but it's harder to
drive
fast because you begin to get flat spots on the tires.  They get
progressively worse a lot quicker than under normal conditions.

"The traffic is kinda funky.  Some of the prototypes are very fair,
especially the Dysons.  They're really acting responsibly for our [GT]
cars.  But some of the others make no sense at all.  It's too bad a few
cars make it miserable for the whole field."

cleaning up

BMW Team PTG driver Peter Cunningham was seen clearing empty
cups from the team's pit area.  "A clean pit is a winning pit," he said.

birthday greetings

BMW Team PTG driver Boris Said is celebrating his 37th birthday
today.