ALMS: BMW Team PTG podium at Las Vegas
30 October 2000
BMW Team PTG notes: race, Oct. 29, 2000 Grand Prix of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Motor Speedway race 11 of 12, American Le Mans Series BMW Team PTG finished third, fourth and 10th in the GT class in Sunday's ALMS race on the 2.25-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Boris Said started the #7 BMW M3 fifth and moved to third before handing over to Hans Stuck after 95 minutes of the two-hour 45-minute race. Stuck quickly moved to second place, but finished third after serving a penalty for passing during a caution period. Brian Cunningham started the #10 M3 eighth and moved to sixth during his 95-minute stint. Nic Jonsson took the wheel and moved up to finish fourth. Peter Cunningham was driving the #6 M3 when he was hit by another car 15 minutes into the race. After a long pit stop to replace a bent tie rod, Johannes van Overbeek drove for an hour. Peter Cunningham drove the final 70-minute stint. Boris Said, driver, #7 BMW M3 "It was a good day. We were under-horsepowered, but we had a smart race and good pit stops and the car handled great. The Yokohama tires were great. We'll take third today. It's a good finish." Hans Stuck, driver, #7 BMW M3 "I'm very thankful for third place. I overtook a car under yellow, which was totally my fault, but that happens. Then when I passed another car, I flat-spotted my front tires and it's a miracle they survived to the end. Big compliment to Yokohama they gave us such a great tire." Nic Jonsson, driver, #10 BMW M3 "We had a wonderful race car today. It was consistent from the first lap to the last lap. We were the fastest of the BMW M3s and I was happy to have the fastest lap of the BMW guys. It's a shame we never get a break with the wave-bys, so we were a lap behind. It would have been more fun if we had the chance to run for the position. I just tried to keep the car in fourth place and not make any mistakes." Tom Salkowsky, motorsport manager, BMW of North America, Inc. "It's been a challenging year but a good year for the development of the new BMW M3. Taking third and fourth on a fast, long track like this is good. All the cars were reliable and I give full credit to the drivers. One more race until the end of the year and then we'll work over the winter for next season."