ALMS: Porsche 911 GT3R wins battle with BMW for Petit Le Mans pole
30 September 2000
BRASELTON, Georgia - Randy Pobst, from Melbourne, Floriday, took advantage of perfect conditions, some last-minute mechanical adjustments, a clear lap, and the competitive edge from Indy last week to smoke the GT class field in his #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and capture the Petit le Mans pole at Road Atlanta.Pobst, who finished fifth in both Porsche-Pirelli-Supercup races against the toughest GT drivers from Europe last week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, turned a qualifying lap almost a half-second faster than his nearest rival - the #5 Dick Barbour Raci ng Porsche 911 GT3 R of Dirk Muller, the German GT driver now living in Monaco.
"We made a suspension adjustment yesterday before night practice, and the car now handles like a dream," said Pobst, who has two victories with co-driver Bruno Lambeert this season.
"And the competition at Indy last week has sharpened my skills to the point where I can say that it took a couple of tenths off my lap," he said.
Muller, whose fast qualifying time yesterday was disallowed by the organizer for illegal ride height, thought his time would be fast enough today, but knows that Pobst is a good qualifier and intense competitor.
"We have been running close with Randy all year," said Dirk, who has captured five poles along with three victories so far this season with co-driver Lucas Luhr, "but in a ten-hour race, the pole is not as significant. The top three or four Porsches and t wo BMWs could all win this race.
Third was the # 7 BMW M3 of Said/Stuck/van Overbeek, followed by the #51 Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Sascha Maassen, who has won three races with co-driver Bob Wollek. Pending the outcome of a sanction hearing later today, Maassen has a sligh t lead over Muller for the GT drivers championship.
The second BMW with Cunningham/Cunningham/Jonsson is fifth, followed by the Shane Lewis/Cort Wagner Aspen Knolls/MCR Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Grand American Road Racing championship car of John Morton/Darren Law/Michael Schrom is next, followed by The Racer 's Group Porsche 911 GT3 R of Kevin Buckler/Jim Michaelian/Philip Collin.
Last year, the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 9111 GT3 R won Petit Le Mans with Wagner, Maassen, and Muller at the helm. Atlanta area drivers who qualified David Murry, who is ninth in the Skea Racing International Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-driver Johnny Mowlem, and teammate Doc Bundy, from Lawrenceville, in the second Skea car qualified 11th with car owner Rohan Skea.
Actor Paul Newman, from Westport, Connecticut, was is in the third Dick Barbour Porsche, and will start 12th on the grid with co-drivers Randy Wars. Owner Dick Barbour was pleased with Newman's performance so far.
"Although he's 75 years-old, Paul is a smart, steady, fast driver whose experience with be an asset during a long race. Remember, he won two national title here and won his class in one of my cars at Le Mans," said Barbour.