Audi extends championship lead
The Audi R10 TDI scored its 10th consecutive LM P1 victory when Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) claimed class honors in Long Beach - the third round of the American Le Mans Series. The championship’s first appearance in the "Monaco of USA” and the shortest in the history of the American Le Mans Series, took place on a 1.968-mile, 11-corner temporary street circuit on the waterfront near Los Angeles, and saw the Audi Sport North America R10 TDI Le Mans Prototypes starting from fourth and sixth on the 25-car grid.
The pole-starting LM P2 class Acura (Franchitti/Herta) led for 45mins until Pirro swept ahead but at mid-distance the Audi was hit from behind causing a right rear puncture, Werner resuming in 11th which allowed the LM P2 Porsche (Dumas/Bernhard) to inherit the lead. The #1 Audi of Capello had worked up to second despite overheating brakes due to a blocked air duct and handed over to McNish as the race went green on 32mins following a 15mins full course yellow - driver changes not being permitted until after 30mins - the Scotsman re-joining in 12th. The 100-minute race was ultimately dominated by the lighter, more agile and therefore better suited to this track LM P2 sportscars. Dumas/Bernhard headed an LM P2 top-six overall marking the first time the 650 hp R10 TDI had failed to win outright since its debut 13 months ago. McNish and Werner finished 1-2 in LM P1, seventh - despite a late splash & dash for diesel - and ninth respectively overall.
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