ALMS

Sebring: Wednesday morning practice report

SEBRING WEEK OFF TO FAST START FOR PEUGEOT Peugeot's Franck Montagny turned the fastest lap in the first official practice session for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Wednesday as the start to the 2009 ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:47 PM

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SEBRING WEEK OFF TO FAST START FOR PEUGEOT

Peugeot's Franck Montagny turned the fastest lap in the first official practice session for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Wednesday as the start to the 2009 American Le Mans Series continued to draw closer.

Driving one of Peugeot's two diesel-powered 908 HDi coupes, the Frenchman posted a best lap of 1:45.159 (126.665 mph) and was 0.586 seconds better than Audi's Lucas Luhr in the German marque's brand new R15 TDI. The last time Peugeot and Audi went head-to-head was last season's Petit Le Mans, an Audi victory by less than five seconds.

Montagny, a two-time class winner last season for Andretti Green Racing and Acura in LMP2, is driving with fellow countrymen Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Bourdais. In the Audi, Luhr will team with fellow defending Series P1 champion Marco Werner and Mike Rockenfeller.

Third overall was Allan McNish in the second Audi R15 TDI at 1:45.810 (125.401 mph). He will drive with Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. The best of Acura's new ARX-02a P1 entries was the Patron Highcroft Racing P1 and sat fourth at 1:46.219 (125.401 mph). David Brabham, Scott Sharp and Dario Franchitti will drive that entry.

Chris Dyson was quickest in LMP2 for Dyson Racing with its new Mazda- powered Lola B09/86 coupe. Smith, who will drive with Guy Smith and Andy Lally, posted a time of 1:50.772 (120.247 mph). He was nearly a second better than the Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz.

Corvette Racing newcomer Antonio Garcia was the quickest driver in GT1. In his first race for the team (but third year at Sebring), Garcia turned a lap of 1:57.913 (112.965 mph). The Spaniard will drive with defending class winners and Series champions Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen.

Garcia was a scant 0.073 seconds ahead of the sister car of Marcel Fassler, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta. This season marks the last of GT1 competition for Corvette Racing, which will transition to GT2 in August.

Gianmaria Bruni continued Advanced Engineering Pecom Racing Team's strong weekend with the fastest time in GT2. The Italian, who drove at Sebring last year for Risi Competizione, set a fast lap of 2:02.897 (108.383 mph) in the car he is sharing with Luis Companc and Mathias Russo. Bruni edged out Farnbacher Loles Racing's Richard Lietz in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that he will drive with Wolf Henzler and Dirk Werner.

Joey Hand was third in class for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in one of its two new BMW M3 that he will share with Bill Auberlen. Hand's best lap was a 2:03.749 (107.637 mph).

-credit: alms

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