ALMS
Laguna Seca: Michelin preview
DATES, TIMES, TIRES CHANGE - MICHELIN LOOKS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AT LAGUNA SECA MONTEREY, CALIF. (May 12, 2010) - There are several exciting changes in store at the American Le Mans Series Monterey (May 22), but one thing that Michelin ...
Edited: May 16, 2010, 3:49 AM
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DATES, TIMES, TIRES CHANGE - MICHELIN LOOKS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AT LAGUNA SECA
MONTEREY, CALIF. (May 12, 2010) - There are several exciting changes in store at the American Le Mans Series Monterey (May 22), but one thing that Michelin technical partner teams hope will not change is the Michelin record of success here.
In the 11 year history of the ALMS event Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Michelin technical partner teams have scored 11 overall wins and 33 class wins.
The race, now the third stop on the 2010 American Le Mans Series, has moved to May from its traditional fall date. The race length will stretch to six hours from the previous four hours, and the start time moves up by a couple of hours.
"This is a low grip track surface, with sand around the circuit (and sometimes on the circuit), and cool track temperatures late in the race -- all of which present challenges for tire grip," said Karl Koenigstein, Michelin ALMS technical team leader.
The longer race means more pit stops and that provides more options in terms of tire strategies for Michelin and competitor teams.
Wear is not usually a big factor at Laguna Seca as the track surface is not particularly abrasive. The loading factors of the seven left and four right hand turns produces relatively equal wear on left and right side tires.
Track temperature, especially falling temperatures in the closing stages of the race, can present a challenge. "This track loses temperature faster than other tracks we race," said Koenigstein, who expects track temperatures in the low 60-degree range by the end of the race at 8:30 pm.
An extended late race yellow caution period can also be difficult to manage. "If you lose tire temperature, the cool track temperature makes it tough to get heat back into the tires, especially if you have been off line and have pick up on the tires" said Koenigstein.
Michelin technical partner prototype teams from Highcroft HPD, Drayson Lola Judd and CytoSport Porsche will have the option of choosing a new generation of soft compound tires or the MICHELIN
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