le mans qualifying

[Mike Veglia]

In a message dated 6/13/2002 Brett Dikeman writes:

<< I see Caddiliac is in a "strong position" again! :-)

(Caddy PR statements last year claimed a "strong" finish.  No mention
that "strong" equaled something like 10th...or worse.) >>

Don't count the Cadillac team so short. At Sebring (first race out of the
box for the new car) they were fast. The new chassis is a Dallara built
chassis (same chassis constructor in Italy that built the Ferrari 333SP,
Audi R8, Oreca Chrysler, etc). This new car looks very similar to the Audi
R8. Driver talent is strong. The weakness is GM's typical lackadaisical
budget attitude to sportscar racing (all of GM's racing bux go to NASCAR,
road racers get the crumbs--how the Corvette GTS team developed to the point
it did was in spite of GM, not because of). Cadillac did out qualify one of
the Audi R8s (the struggling Goh team that rumor has it took flight, but
Audi denies that occurred) as well as the Audi powered Bentley Speed 8. If
that MG Lola runs to the end it will be a car to contend with as well--very
fast and it will require far less time in the pits over the course of 24
hours.

If it rains, the team in a "strong position" IMO will be the Panoz. One only
need to flash back to Sears Point to see that the Panoz, especially in the
hands of Mags, is a very strong rain car. Yes, I know Audi blew everyone
away in the wet again last year at the big show in France.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be cheering for the Audis as much as anyone, and
glued to SPEED channel all weekend. But, what is best for the sport (ALMS
series and Le Mans sportscar racing) is for more competitive factory backed
teams to step up to the plate. Rumor has it Audi R8s will be in privateer
hands only next year (fingers crossed that the likes of Dyson and Rahal run
them in addition to Champion). This could be the last hurrah for the great
Joest Audi team we have enjoyed the last few years. Enjoy it... Bring on the
weekend!!!!

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com