Acura Sports Car Debut Proves To Be Sensational With Victory In Legendary 12 Hours Of Sebring

The three new Acura American Le Mans Sequence teams made a spectacular debut Saturday by taking the first, second and fourth positions in the LMP2 class at the fifty fifth annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, one of the world's most prestigious road-racing events.

The Andretti Green Racing effort, with drivers Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, scored the LMP2 class victory over the Lowe's Fernandez Racing crew of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz after the grueling 12-hour endurance contest. The AGR trio completed second total to the factory Audi LMP1, racing on the lead lap against the extra highly effective German producer before gearbox woes slowed the Acura ARX-01a pushed by Herta in the final hour. The Fernandez crew placed third general, just two laps shy of the AGR team.

The Highcroft Racing louisville used cars workforce, with drivers David Brabham, Stefan Johansson and Duncan Dayton, positioned fourth within the ALMS and sixth total in its Acura ARX-01a sports car.

The victory was particular for the employees of Honda Efficiency Development as the winning machine was designed and developed, in partnership with chassis specialist Wirth Research, at the HPD headquarters in Santa Clarita, Calif. It marked the primary time an HPD-designed engine and car had competed in a U.S. racing event.

The overall used cars louisville winning Audi completed 364 laps, with the Andretti Inexperienced Acura ARX-01a finishing with 358 laps and Fernandez Racing at 356. Highcroft Racing recorded 351 laps Saturday.

The LMP2 race was set as much as be a battle between the factory Porsches from Penske Racing and the three Acura manufacturing unit cars. However early brake hassle for the Porsches proved to be German marque's demise.

The Acuras from AGR and Highcroft set the pace in the class whereas the Fernandez automotive had a steering issue within the first three hours. kentucky used cars An electrical problem slowed the Highcroft automobile and the Andretti Green XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01a ran sturdy into the evening hours. The ARX-01a chassis will unveiled Thursday in a special media event.

Until used cars kentucky the final hour, the AGR machine challenged the extra-powerful Audi lap for lap, earlier than the late race gearbox drawback slowed Herta within the last hour.

The Acura finish was some of the impressive debuts ever seen within the 55-yr historical past of the famed Sebring International Raceway and set the stage for the reminder of the 12-race American Le Mans Series.

The subsequent Acura event is Saturday, March 31, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., the three-hour Acura Sports activities Car Challenge.

12 Hours Of Sebring Results

LMP2 Class

1. ANDRETTI GREEN RACING (Herta, Franchitti, Kanaan)

2. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ RACING ACURA (Fernandez, Diaz)

4. HIGHCROFT RACING ACURA (Brabham, Johansson, Dayton)

Acura Quotes:

ROBERT CLARKE, HPD President: "I can not put it into words. I'd charge it as one of the highest emotional experiences I've had. So much work went into this program. We gained on multiple levels. I could not have think about it will finish this way. It has been a protracted street, not just for HPD however for Acura, our teams, sponsors, drivers and everybody who is concerned within the program."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, co-owner, No. 26 XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01a automotive that Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan drove to LMP2 victory Saturday: "This was a fun race, aside from those last 20 laps. We had some issues with Bryan on the end and we bought through them. It was a real cliffhanger for us with the gearbox. It was an effective way to start out out in Acura's first manufacturing facility sports automotive race. It was a tough race and we knew it coming into this weekend. But the 12-hour simulation race last month right here helped us, and all the Acura groups had been prepared for today's race. Clearly, it paid off for all three teams."

BRYAN HERTA (26 XM Satellite tv for pc Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "Everyone at AGR and Acura worked so onerous to put this program together. And in such a short time. I didn't know what to expect here at Sebring. It's such a tough race. I couldn't think about popping out and used trucks kentucky successful proper out of the box. It's a large effort for Acura in its first American Le Mans Sequence race and its first Sebring race. The 12-hour simulation race we ran in February was an enormous assist for our team and all of the Acura teams. We discovered a lot from that experience. It was very nervous for us within the final hour since we had some gearbox problems. I wasn't positive if we had been going to make it to the finish. However the AGR guys talked me via the issues and we cruised home for the win. It was enjoyable to win with my good mates Dario [Franchitti] and Tony [Kanaan]."

DARIO FRANCHITTI (26 XM Satellite tv for pc Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "It is superb simply to consider where the Acura program was six months ago and what the blokes at the AGR shop had been looking at for this project. We have been in a position to work from practically scratch to make a car that was fast and reliable. The group - the engineers and mechanics - was flawless today. We had a fantastic race car. That last hour I had my heart in my mouth when Bryan had the gearbox problem. It was tough to sit down there and watch. kentucky used cars However he introduced it dwelling and that is all that matters. It's so nice to be on the podium together with your friends. Bryan, Tony and I have raced together for a protracted time. So this is very particular for all of us. You could possibly not have requested for a better finish here at Sebring."

TONY KANAAN (26 XM Satellite tv for pc Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "This win is particular in many ways. I have been with the Honda and Acura family for many years they usually have been with me for many of my success right here in the United States. It's a dream to win a race with two of my greatest friends. And for Acura. They've been behind me for years and to win in their first sports automobile race is fantastic. I don't wish to take anything away from the opposite races or championships I have won. But this victory is one thing I'll never forget. I wasn't that snug autos louisville within the automotive coming here, since I only drove twice before. Bryan and Dario helped me get used to the car and I wish to thank them for serving to me. The AGR guys did an amazing job with the automotive and the race strategy to take the XM automotive to the winner's circle. This win is very exciting." Upcoming: Acura Sports activities Automotive Problem Date: March 30-31, 2007 Location: St. Petersburg, Fla. road course Track Kind: 1.8-mile avenue circuit Race: Round 2 of 12 Races, 5:05 p.m. American Le Mans Sequence Distance: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

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