Johansson leads first day practice at Sebring

SEBRING, Fla. (March 12, 2001) -- Rejuvenated with a hot new car, two-time Sebring winner Stefan Johansson turned the fastest lap of the day Monday as unofficial practice opened for the 49th Superflo 12 Hours At Sebring Presented by Dodge. The Swedish driver, who now lives in Indianapolis, drove an Audi R8 Prototype to a lap of 120.293 mph (1:50.730) just before noon during the all-day practice session. Johansson, who was the overall Sebring winner in 1984 and 1997, and co-driver Guy Smith are driving only the second non-factory entered version of the car that dominated last year's American Le Mans Series. Twenty-five cars took to the historic 3.7-mile circuit Monday and 41 are expected to start Saturday's 12-hour sports car endurance event. Second-fastest on the day was the factory Audi R8 driven by Rinaldo Capello, Michele Alboreto and Laurent Aiello at 120.287 mph (1:50.735). The second factory Audi, driven by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen, was third-fastest at 120.156 mph (1:50.856). Biela, Pirro and Kristensen are the defending champions of the race. The fastest GTS-class car of the day was the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R driven by Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel and Johnny O'Connell at 110.752 mph (2:00.269). Leading GT practice was the BMW M3 driven by Niclas Jonsson, Bill Auberlen and Brian Cunningham at 104.144 mph (2:07.900). Unofficial practice continues Tuesday, with official practice and qualifying starting on Wednesday.

<pre> MONDAY PRACTICE TIMES (Unofficial)

1.      Stefan Johansson/Guy Smith, Audi R8, 120.293 mph (1:50.730).
2.      Rinaldo Capello/Michele Alboreto/Laurent Aiello, Audi R8, 120.287 (1:50.735).
3.      Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro/Tom Kristensen, Audi R8, 120.156 (1:50.856).
4.      Dorsey Schroeder/Andy Wallace/Ralf Kelleners, Audi R8, 119.276 (1:51.674).
5.      James Weaver/Butch Leitzinger/Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Riley & Scott Mk3C, 116.866 (1:53.977).
6.      Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/Johnny O'Connell, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, 110.752 (2:00.269).
7.      John Field/Duncan Dayton/Rick Sutherland, Lola B2K-Judd, 109.902 (2:01.199).
8.      Niclas Jonsson/Bill Auberlen/Joey Hand, BMW M3, 104.144 (2:07.900).
9.      Hans Stuck/Boris Said/Peter Cunningham, BMW M3, 104.057 (2:08.007).
10.     Dirk Muller/Fredrik Ekblom, BMW M3, 103.888 (2:08.215).
11.     Lucas Lurh/Sascha Maassen/Emmanuel Collard, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 103.865 (2:08.244).
12.     Michael Peterson/Bob Wollek/Johnny Mowlem, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 103.480 (2:08.720).
13.     Randy Pobst/Christian Menzel/Timo Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 103.187 (2:09.086).
14.     David Murry/Anthony Lazzaro/Darren Law, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 102.926 (2:09.413).
15.     Rick Polk/Cort Wagner/Vincenzo Sospiri, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 102.630 (2:09.786).
16.     Mel Hawkins/Steven Knight/Claudia Huertgen, Lola B2K-Nissan, 101.771 (2:10.882). 
17.     Kevin Buckler/Tom McGlynn/Stephen Earle, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 101.342 (2:11.436).
18.     Leo Hindery/Peter Baron/Gian Luigi Buitoni, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 100.426 (2:12.635).
19.     Tony Burgess/Philip Colin/Andrew Bagnall, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 100.143 (2:13.635).
20.     Kye Wankum/Jeff Pabst/Joe Foster, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 99.344 (2:14.080).
21.     Richard Millman/Tommy Byrne/Tony Kester, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 99.088 (2:14.426).
22.     Owen Trinkler, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, no transponder.
23.     Franz Konrad/Oliver Gavin/Terry Borcheller, Saleen S7R, no transponder.
24.     Randy Wars/Marl Neuhaus, Porsche 911 GT3 R, no transponder.
25.     Sebastien Bourdais/Jean-Christophe Boullion/Laurent Redon, Courage C60-Peugeot, no transponder.

-ALMS