Grand Prix of Long Beach
20.04.2008 | Grand Prix of Long Beach
LONG DAY IN LONG BEACH FOR RISI COMPETIZIONE
In Long Beach today Risi Competizione looked to be racing to a certain podium finish for the #62 car, and a fourth place for #61, but Lady Luck once again declined to shine down upon the team.
A starter motor problem at Melo and Salo’s only pit stop caused a delay which saw the GT2 Champions relegated towards the back of the field, finishing 9th in class. Brix and Friesacher, who were starting only their second American Le Mans Series race, caught an unlucky break in the timing of their pit stop in relation to the middle caution period and lost a lap to the leading GT2 pack. The fact that they both drove at a consistent and competitive pace throughout the race allowed them to claim 5th place and further valuable points for Risi in the Teams’ Championship.
Jaime Melo took the start in his Rosso Red Ferrari 430 GT and battled nose-to-tail with the two Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsches for the first 45 of the 68 lap race. The Brazilian had been running almost identical lap times with his closest competitors, sometimes down to a hundredth of a second, and there was all to play for as he came into the pits for his only stop. However, when Mika Salo went to start the car, the starter motor failed to function and the minutes agonizingly ticked by while the problem was resolved. A communications misunderstanding saw Salo having the rear deck lid of his car fitted just outside his pit box which resulted in a stop-go penalty.
Californian Harrison Brix was philosophical about the outcome of the race, especially as regards the loss of track position. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s sort of how it works with street tracks; it’s kind of luck of the draw. If you are in the right place at the right time, you sometimes find yourself a lap ahead, like happened here last year. It just wasn’t our turn this time. I’m happy that two races in a row both cars finished and we’ve picked up some points again. At the same time, if we look at our potential, we should have been in fourth place now for two races in a row. We’ll figure it out and be better next time.”
Patrick Friesacher added, “Our lap times were really good but we went a lap down by just one car which was very unlucky and that changed the look of our race.”
Jaime Melo was in a reflective mood once the initial feelings of disappointment had faded slightly. “If you consider that last year we won eight races and this year we can’t yet finish in the top five, it’s hard to not feel disappointed. It wasn’t easy to keep the pace during my stint as we had big understeer and then oversteer so it was difficult to manage the situation. I thought that our championship could start here but in the end it will have to wait until the next round. But a race finishes at the last lap and a championship finishes at the last race so it is not over yet; we have to keep positive and keep fighting.
Mika Salo conceded that events had very much gone against plan. “Obviously we had a bad pit stop because the car didn’t start and when I got out the handling felt really strange – even in the pit lane. I thought we had a wheel loose or something but it turns out that, while Jaime had been overtaking a slower GT2 car earlier in the race, there had been some contact and the left rear toe link was bent. It was difficult to drive but the race had gone from us already and we were two laps down.
The GT2 class was won by Tafel Racing Ferrari 430GT of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Mueller, with Flying Lizard Motorsports taking second and third and the Corsa Motorsports Ferrari 430 in fourth place.
A starter motor problem at Melo and Salo’s only pit stop caused a delay which saw the GT2 Champions relegated towards the back of the field, finishing 9th in class. Brix and Friesacher, who were starting only their second American Le Mans Series race, caught an unlucky break in the timing of their pit stop in relation to the middle caution period and lost a lap to the leading GT2 pack. The fact that they both drove at a consistent and competitive pace throughout the race allowed them to claim 5th place and further valuable points for Risi in the Teams’ Championship.
Jaime Melo took the start in his Rosso Red Ferrari 430 GT and battled nose-to-tail with the two Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsches for the first 45 of the 68 lap race. The Brazilian had been running almost identical lap times with his closest competitors, sometimes down to a hundredth of a second, and there was all to play for as he came into the pits for his only stop. However, when Mika Salo went to start the car, the starter motor failed to function and the minutes agonizingly ticked by while the problem was resolved. A communications misunderstanding saw Salo having the rear deck lid of his car fitted just outside his pit box which resulted in a stop-go penalty.
Californian Harrison Brix was philosophical about the outcome of the race, especially as regards the loss of track position. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s sort of how it works with street tracks; it’s kind of luck of the draw. If you are in the right place at the right time, you sometimes find yourself a lap ahead, like happened here last year. It just wasn’t our turn this time. I’m happy that two races in a row both cars finished and we’ve picked up some points again. At the same time, if we look at our potential, we should have been in fourth place now for two races in a row. We’ll figure it out and be better next time.”
Patrick Friesacher added, “Our lap times were really good but we went a lap down by just one car which was very unlucky and that changed the look of our race.”
Jaime Melo was in a reflective mood once the initial feelings of disappointment had faded slightly. “If you consider that last year we won eight races and this year we can’t yet finish in the top five, it’s hard to not feel disappointed. It wasn’t easy to keep the pace during my stint as we had big understeer and then oversteer so it was difficult to manage the situation. I thought that our championship could start here but in the end it will have to wait until the next round. But a race finishes at the last lap and a championship finishes at the last race so it is not over yet; we have to keep positive and keep fighting.
Mika Salo conceded that events had very much gone against plan. “Obviously we had a bad pit stop because the car didn’t start and when I got out the handling felt really strange – even in the pit lane. I thought we had a wheel loose or something but it turns out that, while Jaime had been overtaking a slower GT2 car earlier in the race, there had been some contact and the left rear toe link was bent. It was difficult to drive but the race had gone from us already and we were two laps down.
The GT2 class was won by Tafel Racing Ferrari 430GT of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Mueller, with Flying Lizard Motorsports taking second and third and the Corsa Motorsports Ferrari 430 in fourth place.
18.04.2008 | Grand Prix of Long Beach
RISI QUALIFY 3RD AND 6TH IN ULTRA-COMPETITIVE GT2
The ‘Rosso Red’ Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT cars will start tomorrow’s third round of the American Le Mans Series from third and sixth places on the GT2 grid after a hectic 25-minute qualifying session.
The ultra-competitive GT2 field has, in the last two days, put on a great show for the many fans attending the fabled Long Beach event, and it is certain that tomorrow’s race will be no different – with Risi playing a leading role in the event. But, for today, the outcome of qualifying was somewhat disappointing for the current GT2 champions – despite the #62 ending up as the leading Ferrari in the field.
“We weren’t fast enough today” was Mika Salo’s honest explanation as to why his Ferrari was beaten to pole position by a pair of Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsches.
The Finn continued, “I got stuck with traffic at the beginning of the session but then struggled to find enough grip and that was all we could do. We have had a horrible beginning to the season so we need to win here to get us back on track in the Championship, and this didn’t really help. The car feels very comfortable for the race though and that’s the most important thing, not qualifying, so we still have a shot at winning.”
Salo stresses that the 100-minute race will be a sprint from start to finish, and is relishing the overtaking opportunities that he feels are available here at Long Beach that weren’t at St Petersburg.
Disappointment at what might have been was also the over-riding feeling for Austrian, Patrick Friesacher, who qualified the #61 Ferrari 430GT. “I had a little problem with the gearbox during qualifying; I couldn’t get it to downshift or upshift properly. Otherwise the car was really good and I think I could have finished in the top four easily but this is how it is now. We have a strong car for the race and we are looking pretty good.”
The ultra-competitive GT2 field has, in the last two days, put on a great show for the many fans attending the fabled Long Beach event, and it is certain that tomorrow’s race will be no different – with Risi playing a leading role in the event. But, for today, the outcome of qualifying was somewhat disappointing for the current GT2 champions – despite the #62 ending up as the leading Ferrari in the field.
“We weren’t fast enough today” was Mika Salo’s honest explanation as to why his Ferrari was beaten to pole position by a pair of Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsches.
The Finn continued, “I got stuck with traffic at the beginning of the session but then struggled to find enough grip and that was all we could do. We have had a horrible beginning to the season so we need to win here to get us back on track in the Championship, and this didn’t really help. The car feels very comfortable for the race though and that’s the most important thing, not qualifying, so we still have a shot at winning.”
Salo stresses that the 100-minute race will be a sprint from start to finish, and is relishing the overtaking opportunities that he feels are available here at Long Beach that weren’t at St Petersburg.
Disappointment at what might have been was also the over-riding feeling for Austrian, Patrick Friesacher, who qualified the #61 Ferrari 430GT. “I had a little problem with the gearbox during qualifying; I couldn’t get it to downshift or upshift properly. Otherwise the car was really good and I think I could have finished in the top four easily but this is how it is now. We have a strong car for the race and we are looking pretty good.”
| 46 | Flying Lizard Motorsport | Johannes van Overbeek Patrick Pilet |
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | 1.19.705 |
| 45 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Joerg Bergmeister Wolf Henzler |
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | 1.20.137 |
| 62 | Risi Competizione | Mika Salo Jaime Melo |
Ferrari F430 GT | 1.20.306 |
| 71 | Tafel Racing | Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Mueller |
Ferrari F430 GT | 1.20.410 |
| 87 | Farnbacher Loles Racing | Alex Davison Marc Basseng |
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | 1.20.788 |
| 61 | Risi Competizione | Harrison Brix Patrick Friesacher |
Ferrari F430 GT | 1.21.057 |
| 48 | Corsa Motorsports | Gunnar Jeannette Johnny Mowlem |
Ferrari F430 GT | 1.21.396 |
| 44 | Flying Lizard Motorsports | Lonnie Pechnik Seth Neiman |
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | 1.21.752 |
17.04.2008 | Grand Prix of Long Beach
FROM HOUSTON TO HOLLYWOOD
Houston, Texas -
The historic Long Beach street course near Los Angeles in California is host to the third round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series, and it is a venue that everyone looks forward to visiting – including the Ferrari of Silicon Valley-supported GT2 Champions, Risi Competizione.
With its picture postcard setting of sun, sea and palms, it is one of the top motorsport events in the USA, similar in many ways to the equally historic Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco. The 1.968 mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit is as challenging as any other, but its situation and atmosphere make it a favorite for competitors, visitors from nearby Hollywood, and the many fans who are able to see, hear and experience the most competitive and entertaining sportscar racing in the world.
Defending GT2 Drivers Champion, Jaime Melo of Brazil, now residing in Houston, has not had the start to the season that he and his team mate, Mika Salo of Finland, were either anticipating or hoping for.
“Our first two races this year were not the results we were looking for,” says Melo. “But what has helped me to remain so positive is that we have a very competitive Ferrari 430 GT car and a great team behind us. I know that we all know our potential, so we must hope we won’t have any problems this weekend.
“Long Beach is a little bit different from St Petersburg, but both tracks are bumpy so the most important thing is to have a good car over the bumps. I think we will keep the set up very similar to St Petes, but for sure it’s going to be really hard and really tight. The race is short compared to normal, and strategy/what we do under any yellows is going to be very important. Our guys must be prepared for pit stops at any time, but they are very quick and slick on these; we cannot lose any time in the pits. We will need to push from the first to the last minute as Porsche will be strong again, as well as the other Ferraris.”
Also looking forward to Long Beach is Risi’s Californian driver, Harrison Brix. The San José resident, who will be taking his second start in the American Le Mans Series with team mate Patrick Friesacher of Austria, is no stranger to Long Beach.
“I’ve been to a bunch of prior races at Long Beach when my family ran an Indy car there, plus I raced a Daytona Prototype there with Doran Racing so fortunately I know this one. It makes a huge difference, especially when it’s a street track and you have a profound advantage right out of the gate.
“It’s a pretty challenging track,” continued Brix, “especially when you are dealing with traffic which we will be. I think it will be a pretty tight race and a hard fought battle all the way through. I don’t think you will see any one or two lap margins of victory as at some of the races.
“I was pretty happy with our result at St Petersburg. Any time you make a debut in a series and finish is good but to be classified in the top five is great. Patrick and I got along great and we are with a good team and have a well prepared car which makes it much, much easier for us; we have the best tools in GT2.”
Risi Competizione’s Chief Engineer, Rick Mayer, predicts that caution periods could well be a determining factor in the outcome of the race. “The event is 100 minutes long, the same as last year, and the minimum time that a driver must complete is 30 minutes. With fuel being good for about 60+ minutes, that leaves a big window for a caution flag, one-stop race. Last year, surprisingly, there was only one caution.
“The strategy should be pretty straight forward. Pit work will likely gain or lose the lead out of the pits – and that’s applicable to all the classes, not just GT2. A green flag stop (late race pit) will have the entire field short-filling on fuel and, any way you look at it, the pit stop will be critical here. The Risi team is very quick on tire changes and the drivers’ change is fast. The pit work should be good, but we could use some luck at this event. We’ve consistently had fast cars, but we’re 0 for 2 for the season and that needs to change.”
The Official Sponsors of Risi Competizione, 2006 and 2007 ALMS GT2 Team Champions, are Boost/Motorola, Michelin, Freescale, Ferrari of Silicon Valley, Ferrari Financial Services, Boardwalk Autogroup, Delphi and Ferrari of Houston.
The Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, Round 3 of the 2008 season, is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 19 from the famed Long Beach street circuit. ABC will broadcast the race from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 20. XM Satellite Radio will provide coverage on Channel 144 from 7 to 9 p.m. ET Saturday, April 19. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage of the race at americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring.
With its picture postcard setting of sun, sea and palms, it is one of the top motorsport events in the USA, similar in many ways to the equally historic Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco. The 1.968 mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit is as challenging as any other, but its situation and atmosphere make it a favorite for competitors, visitors from nearby Hollywood, and the many fans who are able to see, hear and experience the most competitive and entertaining sportscar racing in the world.
Defending GT2 Drivers Champion, Jaime Melo of Brazil, now residing in Houston, has not had the start to the season that he and his team mate, Mika Salo of Finland, were either anticipating or hoping for.
“Our first two races this year were not the results we were looking for,” says Melo. “But what has helped me to remain so positive is that we have a very competitive Ferrari 430 GT car and a great team behind us. I know that we all know our potential, so we must hope we won’t have any problems this weekend.
“Long Beach is a little bit different from St Petersburg, but both tracks are bumpy so the most important thing is to have a good car over the bumps. I think we will keep the set up very similar to St Petes, but for sure it’s going to be really hard and really tight. The race is short compared to normal, and strategy/what we do under any yellows is going to be very important. Our guys must be prepared for pit stops at any time, but they are very quick and slick on these; we cannot lose any time in the pits. We will need to push from the first to the last minute as Porsche will be strong again, as well as the other Ferraris.”
Also looking forward to Long Beach is Risi’s Californian driver, Harrison Brix. The San José resident, who will be taking his second start in the American Le Mans Series with team mate Patrick Friesacher of Austria, is no stranger to Long Beach.
“I’ve been to a bunch of prior races at Long Beach when my family ran an Indy car there, plus I raced a Daytona Prototype there with Doran Racing so fortunately I know this one. It makes a huge difference, especially when it’s a street track and you have a profound advantage right out of the gate.
“It’s a pretty challenging track,” continued Brix, “especially when you are dealing with traffic which we will be. I think it will be a pretty tight race and a hard fought battle all the way through. I don’t think you will see any one or two lap margins of victory as at some of the races.
“I was pretty happy with our result at St Petersburg. Any time you make a debut in a series and finish is good but to be classified in the top five is great. Patrick and I got along great and we are with a good team and have a well prepared car which makes it much, much easier for us; we have the best tools in GT2.”
Risi Competizione’s Chief Engineer, Rick Mayer, predicts that caution periods could well be a determining factor in the outcome of the race. “The event is 100 minutes long, the same as last year, and the minimum time that a driver must complete is 30 minutes. With fuel being good for about 60+ minutes, that leaves a big window for a caution flag, one-stop race. Last year, surprisingly, there was only one caution.
“The strategy should be pretty straight forward. Pit work will likely gain or lose the lead out of the pits – and that’s applicable to all the classes, not just GT2. A green flag stop (late race pit) will have the entire field short-filling on fuel and, any way you look at it, the pit stop will be critical here. The Risi team is very quick on tire changes and the drivers’ change is fast. The pit work should be good, but we could use some luck at this event. We’ve consistently had fast cars, but we’re 0 for 2 for the season and that needs to change.”
The Official Sponsors of Risi Competizione, 2006 and 2007 ALMS GT2 Team Champions, are Boost/Motorola, Michelin, Freescale, Ferrari of Silicon Valley, Ferrari Financial Services, Boardwalk Autogroup, Delphi and Ferrari of Houston.
The Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, Round 3 of the 2008 season, is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 19 from the famed Long Beach street circuit. ABC will broadcast the race from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 20. XM Satellite Radio will provide coverage on Channel 144 from 7 to 9 p.m. ET Saturday, April 19. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage of the race at americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring.
Long Beach images
below: James Davies
