ALMS

Road America: Pre-event driver quotes

VOICES OF ROAD AMERICA The American Le Mans Series is full of fantastic tracks and venues but none enjoy the popularity of Road America. Year in and year out, the classic 14-turn, 4.048-mile circuit ranks as the favorite of teams and drivers ...

Published: Aug 7, 2008, 6:12 PM

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VOICES OF ROAD AMERICA

The American Le Mans Series is full of fantastic tracks and venues but none enjoy the popularity of Road America. Year in and year out, the classic 14-turn, 4.048-mile circuit ranks as the favorite of teams and drivers throughout the paddock. There are many reasons. The speed, the flow of the track through the woods of Wisconsin and the combination of corners are just a few.

Lucas Luhr, Audi Sport North America
Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)

"Road America is one of the best racetracks there is. It's really challenging. You have every kind of corner there is. It is really good for our Audi R10 TDI. We have long straights and a lot power on parts of the circuit. It should be a good race for us."

Dirk Mueller, Tafel Racing
Ferrari F430 GT (GT2)

"If you are German, which I am, you must compare it with the Nürburgring Nordschleife. So this is definitely one of my favorite ones. The key there is to take as much speed as possible in every corner without messing up the exit. This means you need to have confidence in your car. Additional to all of this there is waiting one of the best corners: the Kink. This corner is very quick and flat in fifth gear, if you like."

Clint Field, Intersport Racing
Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)

"The track is unbelievable. I believe it's the best one we go to all year round. Everyone in the town loves the race and we always have really great crowds. It's a fantastic track to go to and we're excited to go there."

Michael Lewis, Autocon Motorsports
Creation CA06H-Judd (LMP1)

"It's just one of the classic circuits for North America, and in fact, of the world. It's a very European type track, very open, a lot of cornering. It really lets these cars stretch their legs and show what they can do. So it's a beautiful experience in these cars and being four miles long, it's like you're on a journey. It's not just like you're going around in circles; you actually take a journey through that track. That's why a lot of guys like it. You really test the driver and it's also a big challenge for these cars."

Patrick Long, Penske Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

"Road America is one of my favorite tracks in the world let alone on the American Le Mans Series calendar. It's fast and flowing; there are plenty of passing opportunities and a real consistent feel of fast- and slow-speed corners. There has to be a compromise in your setup, and I think every bit of challenge is a great equalizer."

Chris Dyson, Dyson Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

"I love Elkhart Lake. It's one of the classic venues. There's still that great tradition of road racing in that area, a tremendous fan base that is very knowledgeable, and the facility is fantastic. It's a long, fast track and that's kind of a nice departure from the rest of the schedule, too."

Marino Franchitti, Dyson Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

"It's very challenging, very fast, very little low-speed corners. It's more a European style track for a European driver like me. There are a lot more up and down and blind corners. It's just somewhere I thrive. I enjoyed it in GTs, but it wasn't my favorite. Going back there now in a prototype is right up there now with Mosport."

Emanuele Pirro, Audi Sport North America
Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)

"Road America is the number one North American circuit. I really, really enjoy driving there. It's a fast driver's circuit in a beautiful place with a nice layout, nice atmosphere in a nice place. I like a lot of other races too but I always pick that course as my favorite one especially because it has very fast corners, which is my favorite type of venue. And it's a circuit where you can push and you can get the fluid rhythm, and I've always done good races and good battles. It's a great place to be and I look forward to it."

Gerardo Bonilla, B-K Motorsports
Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R (LMP2)

"A lot of what makes it special is its history. It's been around quite a long time and the configuration hasn't really changed. They have just improved the surface and some of the safety, but it's a really fun track. And what makes that one special is that it's fun no matter what kind of car you're racing, whether it's a car with 130 horsepower, or a car with more than 600 horsepower. There is something for everyone at Road America."

The Generac 500 at Road America presented by Time Warner Cable is scheduled for Saturday, August 9 from Elkhart Lake, Wis. The four-hour race will start at 4 p.m. CT with SPEED televising the race starting at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 10. XM will air the race from 4 to 8 p.m. ET on Sunday via Sports Nation Channel 144. Live radio coverage will be available from American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring.

-credit: alms

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