Peugeot had the fastest cars at Petit Le Mans qualifying, taking the top two spots on the grid and looking much more stable than their closest competitors the Audis.
As expected, the diesels set the pace for the final event of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season, the 10-hour, 1000-mile Petit Le Mans from Road Atlanta in Georgia.
Pedro Lamy and Anthony Davidson powered their Peugeot 908 HDI FAP diesels around the Road Atlanta track in 1:07.187 at 136.098 mph, and 1:07.409 at 135.650 mph respectively.
The Peugeots were puffing black smoke, a sign that the boost was turned up high, and the cars slid a few times, but the Peugeots seemed to be very forgiving. The drivers were able to catch the tail when it slid out, and keep on going.
Anthony Davidson enjoyed qualifying, and he was grateful that his team got his car repaired after he crashed in night practice.
“It’s a great track to drive here in the Peugeot 908.” Davidson told Americanlemans.com. “It was the first time I’ve got to just drive it by the scruff of the neck.
“It was great to be fast today, especially after last night, it was the first time I crashed the car like that before too. I got a bit too far out trying to drive around a GT car, I got too far into the grass and drove at speed straight off into the barrier.
“The guys were up all night last night putting it back together so my hat’s off, and big thanks to them for getting the car sorted out.”
The Audis, on the other hand, seemed to be very twitchy; when the Audi R15/TDIs would start to skitter, the drivers had to let up.
Despite the twitchy car, Benoit Treluyer lapped at 1:07.610 and 135.246 mph, only 0.423 off the leader’s pace. Rinaldo Capello couldn’t break 1:08, turning in a time and speed of 1:08.112 at 134.249 mph.
Ben Devlin put the Intersport Lola-AER into fifth, fastest of the E85 cars, with a lap of 1:10.128, nearly three seconds of the pace.
The Drayson Racing Lola-Judd didn’t qualify. An accident in practice put it in the garage. It will be ready to start the race, but from the back of the grid.
As expected, the diesels set the pace for the final event of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season, the 10-hour, 1000-mile Petit Le Mans from Road Atlanta in Georgia.
Pedro Lamy and Anthony Davidson powered their Peugeot 908 HDI FAP diesels around the Road Atlanta track in 1:07.187 at 136.098 mph, and 1:07.409 at 135.650 mph respectively.
The Peugeots were puffing black smoke, a sign that the boost was turned up high, and the cars slid a few times, but the Peugeots seemed to be very forgiving. The drivers were able to catch the tail when it slid out, and keep on going.
Anthony Davidson enjoyed qualifying, and he was grateful that his team got his car repaired after he crashed in night practice.
“It’s a great track to drive here in the Peugeot 908.” Davidson told Americanlemans.com. “It was the first time I’ve got to just drive it by the scruff of the neck.
“It was great to be fast today, especially after last night, it was the first time I crashed the car like that before too. I got a bit too far out trying to drive around a GT car, I got too far into the grass and drove at speed straight off into the barrier.
“The guys were up all night last night putting it back together so my hat’s off, and big thanks to them for getting the car sorted out.”
The Audis, on the other hand, seemed to be very twitchy; when the Audi R15/TDIs would start to skitter, the drivers had to let up.
Despite the twitchy car, Benoit Treluyer lapped at 1:07.610 and 135.246 mph, only 0.423 off the leader’s pace. Rinaldo Capello couldn’t break 1:08, turning in a time and speed of 1:08.112 at 134.249 mph.
Ben Devlin put the Intersport Lola-AER into fifth, fastest of the E85 cars, with a lap of 1:10.128, nearly three seconds of the pace.
The Drayson Racing Lola-Judd didn’t qualify. An accident in practice put it in the garage. It will be ready to start the race, but from the back of the grid.
