gaijin
10-22-2005, 10:19 AM
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES HONORS ITS CHAMPIONS AT SEASON-ENDING BANQUET
Braselton, Ga. - The American Le Mans Series saluted its champions as well as its manufacturers and teams in Monterey, Calif., on a "Night of Champions" to officially close out its season Sunday. Trophies and awards were handed out, and all reflected on and agreed that the 2005 edition of the American Le Mans Series was the best and most competitive in its seven-year existence.
Winning class driving championships for 2005 were overall and LMP1 champions Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela of Champion Racing, LMP2 champion Clint Field of Intersport Racing, GT1 champions Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin of Corvette Racing, and GT2 champions Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister of Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing.
While most of the 2005 championships were crowned at the Monterey Sports Car Championships – the series finale - there were some surprises, to be sure.
Among them were the "Most Popular Driver" and "From the Fans" awards, both of which were voted by series fans at www.americanlemans.com. For the first time, the "From the Fans" award went to two winners: Dave Maraj of Champion Racing and Rob Dyson of Dyson Racing. The duo finished deadlocked in the fan voting.
For the second year in a row, Ron Fellows of Corvette Racing won the "Most Popular Driver" award. The voting was extremely close, with Fellows winning by less than one percent of the vote.
Two of the more prominent awards – the Founders Cup and the IMSA Cup - were also handed out. Ian Baas won the Founders Cup, which goes to the top Gentleman Driver in the series. Eighteen drivers accumulated points during the season with four drivers winning Founders Cup awards at each of the ALMS' 10 rounds.
Baas, the driver of the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, received the overall award from series founder Dr. Don Panoz. Baas received his own trophy, while the 80-pound permanent display item will have his name listed along with Panoz's motto: "Learn by Doing."
The IMSA Cup went to the top finishing privateer team in each class. Winners included Champion Racing (LMP1), Intersport Racing (LMP2), ACEMCO Motorsports (GT1) and Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2).
The Petersen/White Lightning guys were one of the busiest groups of the night. The team took home the class team and drivers championship, along with the IMSA Cup and Mechanic of the Year for GT2. Dennis Chizma was the winner for that last award, which saluted the hard work and dedication of the pit crew members of the ALMS.
Champion Racing's Brad Kettler and Ray Gongla of Corvette Racing won Mechanic of the Year honors in LMP1 and GT1, respectively. There was a tie for the award in LMP2. Miracle Motorsports' Bill Foster and Intersport's Brian Alder shared the distinction.
Rookies of the Year went to teammates Guy Cosmo and Jamie Bach of B-K Motorsports who drove a Mazda-powered prototype in LMP2 and finished the season third in that class. Bach's father, Bob, accepted the award on Jamie's behalf as he had to get back to school for exams the next morning!
The 2006 American Le Mans Series season begins with the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 18 from Sebring International Raceway. It will kick off a 10-race schedule for the ALMS.
2005 ALMS AWARD WINNERS
From the Fans: Dave Maraj, Rob Dyson
Most Popular Driver: Ron Fellows
Mechanics of the Year: Brad Kettler (LMP1)
Brian Alder, Bill Foster (LMP2)
Ray Gongla (GT1)
Dennis Chizma (GT2)
Founders Cup: Ian Baas
IMSA Cup: Champion Racing (LMP1)
Intersport Racing (LMP2)
ACEMCO Motorsports (GT1)
Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2)
Tire Manufacturers: Michelin (LMP1, GT1, GT2)
Goodyear (LMP2)
Automobile Manufacturers: Audi (LMP1)
Courage (LMP2 chassis), AER (LMP2 engine)
Chevrolet (GT1)
Porsche (GT2)
Rookie of the Year: Jamie Bach, Guy Cosmo
Team Championships: Champion Racing (LMP1)
Intersport Racing (LMP2)
Corvette Racing (GT1)
Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2)
Drivers Championships: Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro (LMP1)
Clint Field (LMP2)
Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin (GT1)
Patrick Long, Jorg Bergmeister (GT2)
Braselton, Ga. - The American Le Mans Series saluted its champions as well as its manufacturers and teams in Monterey, Calif., on a "Night of Champions" to officially close out its season Sunday. Trophies and awards were handed out, and all reflected on and agreed that the 2005 edition of the American Le Mans Series was the best and most competitive in its seven-year existence.
Winning class driving championships for 2005 were overall and LMP1 champions Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela of Champion Racing, LMP2 champion Clint Field of Intersport Racing, GT1 champions Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin of Corvette Racing, and GT2 champions Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister of Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing.
While most of the 2005 championships were crowned at the Monterey Sports Car Championships – the series finale - there were some surprises, to be sure.
Among them were the "Most Popular Driver" and "From the Fans" awards, both of which were voted by series fans at www.americanlemans.com. For the first time, the "From the Fans" award went to two winners: Dave Maraj of Champion Racing and Rob Dyson of Dyson Racing. The duo finished deadlocked in the fan voting.
For the second year in a row, Ron Fellows of Corvette Racing won the "Most Popular Driver" award. The voting was extremely close, with Fellows winning by less than one percent of the vote.
Two of the more prominent awards – the Founders Cup and the IMSA Cup - were also handed out. Ian Baas won the Founders Cup, which goes to the top Gentleman Driver in the series. Eighteen drivers accumulated points during the season with four drivers winning Founders Cup awards at each of the ALMS' 10 rounds.
Baas, the driver of the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, received the overall award from series founder Dr. Don Panoz. Baas received his own trophy, while the 80-pound permanent display item will have his name listed along with Panoz's motto: "Learn by Doing."
The IMSA Cup went to the top finishing privateer team in each class. Winners included Champion Racing (LMP1), Intersport Racing (LMP2), ACEMCO Motorsports (GT1) and Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2).
The Petersen/White Lightning guys were one of the busiest groups of the night. The team took home the class team and drivers championship, along with the IMSA Cup and Mechanic of the Year for GT2. Dennis Chizma was the winner for that last award, which saluted the hard work and dedication of the pit crew members of the ALMS.
Champion Racing's Brad Kettler and Ray Gongla of Corvette Racing won Mechanic of the Year honors in LMP1 and GT1, respectively. There was a tie for the award in LMP2. Miracle Motorsports' Bill Foster and Intersport's Brian Alder shared the distinction.
Rookies of the Year went to teammates Guy Cosmo and Jamie Bach of B-K Motorsports who drove a Mazda-powered prototype in LMP2 and finished the season third in that class. Bach's father, Bob, accepted the award on Jamie's behalf as he had to get back to school for exams the next morning!
The 2006 American Le Mans Series season begins with the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 18 from Sebring International Raceway. It will kick off a 10-race schedule for the ALMS.
2005 ALMS AWARD WINNERS
From the Fans: Dave Maraj, Rob Dyson
Most Popular Driver: Ron Fellows
Mechanics of the Year: Brad Kettler (LMP1)
Brian Alder, Bill Foster (LMP2)
Ray Gongla (GT1)
Dennis Chizma (GT2)
Founders Cup: Ian Baas
IMSA Cup: Champion Racing (LMP1)
Intersport Racing (LMP2)
ACEMCO Motorsports (GT1)
Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2)
Tire Manufacturers: Michelin (LMP1, GT1, GT2)
Goodyear (LMP2)
Automobile Manufacturers: Audi (LMP1)
Courage (LMP2 chassis), AER (LMP2 engine)
Chevrolet (GT1)
Porsche (GT2)
Rookie of the Year: Jamie Bach, Guy Cosmo
Team Championships: Champion Racing (LMP1)
Intersport Racing (LMP2)
Corvette Racing (GT1)
Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing (GT2)
Drivers Championships: Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro (LMP1)
Clint Field (LMP2)
Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin (GT1)
Patrick Long, Jorg Bergmeister (GT2)