Lime Rock: Series drivers pre-race quotes

VOICES OF LIME ROCK PARK

The American Le Mans Series returns from its annual Le Mans break and heads to the shortest circuit on its schedule - historic Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. The 1.51-mile, 10-turn venue has undergone major renovations for this week's American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. Many of the track's original characteristics remain, however. It's still short, fast and extremely busy over the course of a single lap.

Ben Devlin, B-K Motorsports
Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R (LMP2)

"It's going to be really difficult. By three or four laps into the race, we'll be passing the back-markers and that makes the race strategy that much more difficult in picking your ways through the traffic."

Jim Tafel, Tafel Racing
Ferrari F430 GT (GT2)

"It's really hard. It's like putting a two-pound salami in a one-pound bag. You're constantly turning. You never get a rest at Lime Rock. It's bumpy and hard but it's very historic and you have to appreciate all the work that has gone on there and all the racing that has been done there that enables us to do what we do there now."

Chris Dyson, Dyson Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

"I'm really excited. Every year Lime Rock is great. We really treat it as one of the most important events on the calendar. Probably half the people on the hill watching are from the area and know us somehow. Last year we had a good race but it wasn't the result we wanted. We were up front running all weekend. If we can duplicate that, it will be a good weekend."

Seth Neiman, Flying Lizard Motorsports
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2)

"It's important to understand that it's completely impossible to manage the traffic at Lime Rock. Coming out of Le Mans and going to Lime Rock is a huge shock. It's fascinating to me that all the drivers in every car and every class are so conscious of the challenges there that we usually have a pretty clean race."

The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix is race is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12 at Lime Rock Park. SPEED will televise the race from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13. XM Satellite Radio will air the event live on XM Sports Nation Channel 144. Additional live coverage from American Le Mans Radio and IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring also will be available at americanlemans.com.

-credit: alms