Race report

ALMS

First P1 win for Michael Marsal and Eric Lux in Baltimore

Edited: Sep 3, 2012, 12:11 AM

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#20 Dyson Racing Team Inc.: Michael Marsal, Eric Lux

Photo by: Richard Sloop

BALTIMORE, MD September 1, 2012 - It was probably one of the more unconventional races in American Le Mans Series history, but in the end, Dyson Racing was first and second in P1 with Michael Marsal and Eric Lux taking home the honors in the #20 Dyson Racing entry. It was the first P1 victory for Michael and Eric and a repeat of last year which also saw the #20 car's drivers take their first series win here in the streets of Baltimore. The #16 Mazda-powered ModSpace/Thetford car of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith was second in P1, tightening the point's race and adding to the momentum from the team's win at Road America two weeks ago.

While the #20 car was on the pre-race grid, a spectator set off the fire extinguisher system in the car. The team was able to run back to the pits and install a new system with two minutes to spare. At the race start, Michael nudged the car into the tire wall in the first turn. By the time he restarted, he was in 29th and last place, but he took the car from last to first in P1 in his hour-long stint in his first race at Baltimore. "At the start, I was still thinking about the fire bottle and I looked up and saw the number 4 brake marker and we usually brake at the 5. Luckily the car was not hurt too badly and I was able to get in the groove and started clicking off the laps. I was more aggressive than normal as I wanted to show my crew guys that I was going to get them back to the front."

Michael's co-driver Eric Lux commented that "last year I finished second here." (in LMPC on his way to the LMPC championship). "I wanted to improve on that and Mike handed me a great car. This track is very abusive on engines and tires and the Mazda engine did not miss a beat. Our Dunlop tires performed perfectly. Rob Dyson is our strategist and he called a great race today and I have to thank Rob and Chris for this opportunity."

"Eric did a terrific job of picking up the pace that Mike had set," said Rob Dyson. "We congratulate them on their first P1 win and we expect it to be the first of many."

The #16 car contended with handling issues all day, but closed the point's gap when the Muscle Milk car finished third in P1 after electrical issues bedeviled their race today. With two races to go, only eight points now separate the two teams. "We did not have the pace to contend for an outright win today, but we put ourselves in a position to capitalize on our competitor's misfortunes," said Chris Dyson, who celebrated his 100th ALMS race today. "We were able to add to the points tally and close up the championship gap and I view that as a real positive. I think it is great for Dyson Racing, Dunlop and Mazda to come out of here with a 1-2 and we are in real contention to win this championship."

Source: Dyson Racing

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