Washington DC: Friday practice summary

Herbert sets fast time as Washington practice begins.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 19, 2002) -- Former Formula One star Johnny Herbert set the fast time of the day Friday as American Le Mans Series teams began practice for Sunday's inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.

Driving the Champion Racing Audi R8 Prototype, Herbert turned a lap of 1:04.310 (92.981 mph) on the 1.661-mile temporary racing circuit located adjacent to RFK Stadium. Sunday's two-hour, 45-minute race will be the first racing event held in the U.S. capital city in more than 80 years.

"I think they've done a marvelous job with this circuit," said Herbert. "It's very smooth and wide, and there are many places for overtaking. I think the spectators will see an interesting race on Sunday."

Herbert, from England, will co-drive with another ex-Formula One pilot, Stefan Johansson of Sweden, the race. Qualifying will be held on Saturday with the race to start at 12 noon on Sunday.

The factory Audi R8 of Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro was second-fastest in Friday's practice at 1:04.529, followed by the factory Audi R8 of Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen at 1:04.578. Close behind the Audis was the Panoz LMP-1 of David Brabham and Jan Magnussen at 1:04.831.

"I really like the course," said Brabham, winner with Magnussen earlier this year when the ALMS raced at California's Sears Point Raceway. "It's nice and wide and relatively smooth. I wish it was a bit longer, though, but that's the nature of a circuit like this. But the straight is long enough to showcase the power of our cars. I expect to have an action-packed weekend."

The father/son team of Jon and Clint Field of Dublin, Ohio, led the LMP 675 class for smaller Prototypes with a lap of 1:10.148 (85.243 mph). Clint Field spun another car into the tire barrier between turns 3 and 4 in the morning practice session, but the car was not severely damaged. He was warming up the race team's second car that will be co-driven by Andy Lally and Milka Duno.

The GTS class for production-based cars was led by the Saleen S7R of Terry Borcheller and Franz Konrad, turning a lap of 1:10.460. The two factory Corvette team cars were second and third, with the top three separated by only a few tenths of a second.

Leading the GT class was the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS co-driven by Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen, turning a 1:13.607. The runner-up in Friday's practice was the Racer's Group Porsche of Kevin Buckler and Brian Cunningham.

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