Road Atlanta: Petersen/White Lightning hour one notes

BRASELTON, Ga., September 30, 2006 - Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing has been as high as second, closing on the leader, and as low as tenth in the first hour of the ten hour or 1,000 mile defense of their 2005 Petit Le Mans GT2 class ...

BRASELTON, Ga., September 30, 2006 - Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing has been as high as second, closing on the leader, and as low as tenth in the first hour of the ten hour or 1,000 mile defense of their 2005 Petit Le Mans GT2 class victory. Jorg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany) started the No. 31 MMPIE/PAWS/Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR second on the GT2 class grid for today's ninth annual Petit Le Mans sports car racing classic. Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.) has since taken over and currently runs fifth into the second hour of the race.

Bergmeister was struck by an LMP1 car at 12 minutes into the event. He was able to keep the car from hitting the wall in the Road Atlanta 'Esses' but fell to tenth. The team rallied with Bergmeister claiming several spots on the track. Dale White (Bozeman, MT) called to keep the car out during the first yellow flag, moving the team to second. Despite being hit by another prototype later in the first hour, Bergmeister stayed in the second spot of GT2.

At the 58 minute mark a second yellow flag allowed the team a stop under yellow. Bergmeister exchanged with Long and received fuel and four Michelin tires. The car returned in eighth spot. Long has recaptured three positions. Nic Jonsson (Buford, Ga.) waits in support of the two full-time drivers of the Michael Petersen-owned team.