GP of Road Atlanta race results

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Lehto, Werner Drive to Victory in Record-Breaking Day at Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta

ALMS Story 4-18-2005

Braselton, Ga. - JJ Lehto and Marco Werner methodically went about their business Sunday and drove their No. 1 Champion Racing Audi R8 to victory in the Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta in another history-making day in the American Le Mans Series.

Lehto posted his 22nd career class victory, which tied Sascha Maassen for the ALMS' all-time record. Lehto and Werner turned a close race at the two-hour mark into a comfortable victory: 44.7 seconds over the No. 20 Dyson Racing Lola of Andy Wallace and Chris Dyson.

The two Audi drivers won in the series' first race of 2005, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Audi now has won seven straight races at Road Atlanta, site of Round 2 of the ALMS.

The No. 16 Dyson Racing Lola of James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger appeared to have a strong grip on the race at the halfway point. But Leitzinger spun twice in the final 25 minutes, including one with less than 10 minutes left near Turn 3 caused by a broken halfshaft that left it stuck on the side of the track.

"It was really tough," said Lehto, who won his fourth straight race at Road Atlanta, also an ALMS record. "There were so many things going on in the race. I thought it was going to be really tough catching (the No. 16). But the yellows played mostly in our favor. Without the yellows, we never could have made up that 45-second or so gap. It was a race of tactics, and we really took advantage of the pit stop strategy."

In LMP2, the No. 37 Telesis Intersport Racing Lola of Clint Field and Jon Field posted a six-lap victory over the No. 8 Mazda-powered B-K Motorsports Courage, making its race debut.

"We had a loose alternator belt that cost us a few laps," Clint Field said. "Other than that, the Lola ran smoothly."

Johnny O'Connell and Ron Fellows joined Lehto and Maassen by earning their 22nd career class victories as they teamed to win the GT1 title in their No. 3 Corvette Racing C6-R. The duo posted a one-lap victory over their sister car, the No. 4 of Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin.

"It's just a great car," O'Connell said. "This C6 suits me so well. In qualifying, it was the best car I've ever driven for this team. Ron did a great first stint in the race, and we easily kept a gap on the No. 4 car. We always felt in control with this car."

In GT2, the No. 50 Panoz Esperante GTLM of Bill Auberlen and Robin Liddell posted the Road Atlanta-based team's first victory in GT2. It was a see-saw of emotions for Liddell, who had to hold off Timo Bernhard in the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche in the waning minutes.

Bernhard took the lead when he bumped Liddell at Turn 7 with less than five minutes left. But IMSA officials forced Bernhard into the pits for a stop-and-go penalty that handed the lead back to Liddell. It was similar to another incident Liddell was involved in earlier in the day in a Speed World Challenge event.

"I thought it was all over in Turn 7 and my heart was up in the air," Liddell said. "I have no problem with the guy that tried to pass me. He took advantage when he saw the opportunity, and I would have done the same."

Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta - Sunday, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.

1. (2) Marco Werner, Germany; JJ Lehto, Espoo, Finland; Audi R8 (1, P1), 112.
2. (4) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Andy Wallace, England; Lola EX257 AER (2, P1), 112.
3. (3) Frank Biela, Germany; Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Audi R8 (3, P1), 111.
4. (5) Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B05/40/AER (4, P2), 108.
5. (7) Ron Fellows, Canada; Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6-R (5, GT1), 108.
6. (8) Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Oliver Gavin, England; Corvette C6-R (6, GT1), 107.
7. (10) Andrea Bertolini, Italy; Fabrizio De Simone, Italy; Maserati MC12 (7, GT1), 107.
8. (11) Terry Borcheller, Gainesville, GA; Johnny Mowlem, England; Saleen S7R (8, GT1), 107.
9. (12) Alex Figgie, Hollywood, CA; Ryan Dalziel, Scotland; Corvette C5-R (9, GT1), 106.
10. (1) James Weaver, England; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Lola EX257 AER (10, P1), 105.
11. (13) Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Robin Liddell, Scotland; Panoz Esperante eGTLM (11, GT2), 105.
12. (23) Romain Dumas, France; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (12, GT2), 105.
13. (15) Jorg Bergmeister, Germany; Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (13, GT2), 104.
14. (14) Michele Rugulo, Italy; Tom Weickardt, Whitefish Bay, WI; Dodge Viper (14, GT1), 103.
15. (16) Jon Fogarty, Palo Alto, CA; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (15, GT2), 103.
16. (19) Ian Baas, Noblesville, IN; Randy Pobst, Gainesville, GA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (16, GT2), 102.
17. (9) Guy Cosmo, Long Island, NY; Jamie Bach, West Palm Beach, FL; Courage Mazda (17, P2), 102.
18. (20) Justin Jackson, Buford, GA; Nic Jonsson, Sweden; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (18, GT2), 102.
19. (17) Sascha Maassen, Germany; Tony Burgess, Canada; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (19, GT2), 102.
20. (24) Lonnie Pechnik, Pacific Grove, CA; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (20, GT2), 101.
21. (18) Bryan Sellers, Centerville, OH; Scott Maxwell, Canada; Panoz Esperante eGTLM (21, GT2), 92.
22. (21) Rick Skelton, Atlanta, GA; Michael Cawley, Atlanta, GA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (22, GT2), 90.
23. (22) Ben Devlin, England; Eric Van der Steur, Spartanburg, SC; Gunnar Van der Steur, Chesapeake City, MD; Lola B2K/40 AER (23, P2), 85.
24. (6) Jeff Bucknum, Lake Havasu City, AZ; John Macaluso, Winter Haven, FL; Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Courage C-65 (24, P2), 50.

Points Standing Thru Round 2

LMP1
JJ Lehto 46
Marco Werner 46
Andy Wallace 35
Chris Dyson 32

LMP2
Jeff Bucknum 26
Chris McMurry 26
Ian James 26
Jon Field 20
Clint Field 20

GT1
Ron Fellows 42
Johnny O'Connell 42
Olivier Beretta 35
Oliver Gavin 35

GT2
Patrick Long 39
Jorg Bergmeister 39
Jon Fogarty 29
J. Van Overbeek 29
Nic Johnson 28
Lucas Luhr 26