Julian/Lux Double Stint Michelin Tires to Claim LMP Challenge
The post-Le Mans celebrations ended today at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, as Michelin technical partner teams finished second overall and second, third and fourth in the GT category in the third stop of the 2011 American Le Mans Series season.
Leading the Michelin finishers was the Muscle Milk Aston Martin driven by Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf, who finished second after exchanging the lead six times with the winning Dyson Racing Mazda of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. ALMS newcomers Humaid al Masaood and Steven Kane finished third aboard the Dyson Mazda sister car.
Taking the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class victory and fourth place overall was the Genoa Racing entry driven by Elton Julian and Eric Lux.
A valiant bid by the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche for a fifth consecutive Lime Rock GT class victory fell short, despite setting the fastest lap of the race and a new race lap record by five-time winner Joerg Bergmeister, as he and co-driver Patrick Long finished second in the rugged GT class.
Scoring its first ever ALMS podium was the Robertson Racing Doran Ford GT driven by David Murry and Anthony Lazzaro. Team owners David and Andrea Robertson joined Murry on the podium at Le Mans last month.
Finishing fourth in GT was the Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari of Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek.
The Le Mans GT-winning Corvette Racing team faced double trouble as both cars were effectively eliminated after being trapped in a multi-car tangle just 30 minutes into the two hour, 45-minute race on the 1.5-mile circuit.
LMPC Winner Elton Julian Comments:
“The Michelin tires are always excellent, actually we need to adjust the car a bit around the tires,” said Julian. “I took over the car just 51 minutes into the race and we were able to run very good lap times for nearly two hours and still save some tire in case of any late yellow caution flag, The Michelin tires are always consistent, never evil, and always a pleasure to drive,” said Elton.
“This was certainly not the day that we hoped or expected,” said Silvia Mammone motorsports manager, Michelin North America. “Our teams worked and raced very hard, but we didn’t make the top step of the podium today, so we will congratulate the winners and get ready for the next race at Mosport in two weeks,” said Mammone.
By: michelin
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