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9/18/99
 Participating in the Petit Le Mans Race this weekend has been filled with both the usual high and lows in racing. Waking up on Saturday morning, I knew it was going to be a very long day competing in both races.
The day started out with the WGGT race first. Qualifying 6th had left me with much work to do during the race. I think I have become a better "racer" than "qualifier." This is something I need to work on!!!
The race began at 8:30 am and it didn't take too long for the sparks to fly! We didn't stay green very long due an accident at the start so the pace car was dispatched. It was one of many to come.
When we went green for the second time, the top 7 cars were running close together. It was very tight and good racing. But that wouldn't last for long. Someone put down transmission oil right on the line the entire way around the racetrack! Can you say slippery? It was really bad! Cars started to slide off the racetrack, some with heavy damage. I started to run a rain line around the track to avoid the oil, which slowed me down considerably but I stayed on the track.
After a second full course caution, they dropped the white and green flag together. Its something I have seen but never experienced before. By this time, I had managed to move up to 3rd place and wanted to stay there. This was such a crazy race that I was happy to get back on the podium and get some points.
The winner's circle was a blast! But while I was on the podium, I kept looking across the racetrack a seeing the "main" racecars starting to grid up for the race which was to start in about an hour. My heart was pounding with excitement for what had just happened and what was about to start!
 After the press conference, I managed to grab a drink, change drivers’ suits and Fred and I jumped on the golf cart heading to the infield to meet up with the G and W Team. It was only 9:45 am and I felt like I had already put in a
full day’s work!
The excitement of the pre-race ceremonies, lining up all the team members next to the car was an experience I will never forget. It was time to go "real racing." I talked with Cole, the team manager, and he said I has the forth rotation so I had some time to unwind and get something to eat.
At 2:00 PM, it was my time to get in the car and go play. As I was leaving the pits, I felt fairly comfortable and ready to race. But I couldn't find a rhythm for the first 20 minutes of my session. I kept messing up the shifts and was worrying too much about traffic. Those prototypes mean business and you better be watching your mirrors!!
Finally, I found my rhythm and things started to settle down for me and I started to run the race pace they wanted me to run. It was very important to me not to let them down and do something stupid and ruin their weekend. All the members on the G & W team were excellent and a pleasure to work with.
After I got out of the car, I couldn't wait to see Fred. I know it was hard on him and other friends seeing me out there, I know they were nervous as well. I held our position in class and moved up 2 positions overall. So I felt good about it. Yep, I made some rookie mistakes but that's how you learn in the future.
As the sun started to set, the Jennifer Fund Car was in 7th position in class and 24th overall. Not too bad since we started 42nd overall and 13th in class. As the checker flag fell, the fireworks show was excellent and the congratulations were given to all the crewmembers and other drivers. It was a great experience to share with the G & W team. Other than being very dirty the car came out in very good condition, no body damage!! A goal that all the drivers wanted very badly.
The only bad thing about the weekend is that it has created a new animal. It has given me new goals as a driver, goals that I thought were only a dream
Provisional Results from the Professional Sports Car web page.
FinStart Car # Driver
Pos. Pos
1 1 18 Divina Galica/Sebring/FL
2 4 2 Belinda Endress/Newbury Park/CA
3 6 14 Cindi Lux/Aloha/OR
4 5 5 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela
5 2 13 Sara Senske/Kennewick/WA
6 7 7 Audrey Zavodsky/New Boston/MI
7 13 16 Judy Ray/Katy/TX
8 10 22 Niki Ruman/Washington/DC
9 11 15 Dana Moore/El Cajon/CA
10 14 11 Jennifer Tumminelli/Los Gatos/CA
11 18 19 Bobbie Marshall/Fort Worth/TX
12 19 3 Wendy Davis/Atlanta/GA
13 12 25 Sarah Wahl
14 16 24 Donna Lisciandro/New York/NY
15 9 23 Kiki Wolfkill/Seattle/WA
16 8 21 Amy Ruman/Kent/OH
17 3 4 Allison Duncan/San Rafael/CA
18 17 10 Pattie Hughes
19 15 12 Nikki LaRue/Erie/CO
Provisional Results for the ALMS Petit LeMans
Courtsey of the Professional Sports Car web page.
POS # CL DRIVER CAR LAPS
1 1 P Brabham/Bernard/Wallace Panoz LMPR Ford 394
2 43 P Soper/Auberlen/Winkelhock BMW V12 LMR 393
3 42 P Lehto/Muller BMW V12 LMR 393
4 20 P Weaver/Leitzinger/EFR R&S Mk III Ford 384
5 2 P Magnussen/O'Connel/Gidley Panoz LMPR Ford 383
6 0 P Schatrala/vandePoele/Enge R&S Mk III Judd 377
7 38 P McNish/Kelleners/Wollek Porsche 911 GT1 372
8 27 P Theys/Lienhard/Dickens Ferrari 333 SP 369
9 91 GTS Beretta/Wendlinger/Duez Dodge Viper GTS 357
10 92 GTS Archer/Donohue/Belloc Dodge Viper GTS 357
11 13 P Graf/Konrad/Lammers Panoz LMPR Ford 354
12 93 GTS Amorim/Clerico/Bell Dodge Viper GTS 354
13 4 GTS Pilgrim/Sharp/Collins Chev Corvette 349
14 3 GTS Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr Chev Corvette 347
15 23 GT Muller/Wagner/Maassen Porsche 911 GT3R 347
16 6 GT Said/Stuck BMW M3 344
17 63 P Freon/Downing/Katz Kudzu Mazda 344
18 7 GT PCunnghm/BCunnghm/BSimo BMW M3 339
19 10 GT Law/VanOverbeek/MSimo BMW M3 339
20 17 GT Lambert/Conte Porsche 911 RSR 332
21 8 P Schubot/Camfrdam/Suthrlnd R&S MK III Ford 322
22 03 GT Stantn/Willingham/Reiser Porsche 911 RSR 320
23 83 GTS Foster/Earle/Brown/Schrom Porsche 911 Trb 319
24 07 GT Hall/DMarshll/SMrshll/Lux Porsche 911 RSR 316
25 62 P Grupp/Waddell/Spencer Kudzu Mazda 313
26 08 GTS Hurtgen/Ahrle/Haupt Porsche 911 Trb 311
27 25 GT Hulsma/Riccitelli/Hoffer Porsche 911 GT3R 305
28 49 GTS Stewart/Hane/Jurasz Porsche 911 Trb 302
29 55 GTS Borchllr/Lews/Johnsn/Saln Saleen SR 291
30 31 P Kester/Baumann/Dullum R&S Mk III Ford 278
31 29 P Hubman/Rice/Mirro R&S Mk III Ford 272
32 96 GT Heinrcy/Coker/White/Varde Porsche 911 RSR 252
33 76 GT Sobrero/Cilli/G Auberlen Porsche 911 RSR 243
34 36 P Johansson/Dixon/Matthews Ferrari 333 SP 225
35 48 GTS Kaufmann/Ligonnet Porsche 911 Trb 224
36 19 GTS Defourney/Ara/Hugenholtz Dodge Viper GTS P 222
37 61 GTS Neugarten/Slater/McGlynn Porsche 911 Trb 214
38 75 P Gounon/Montagny/Tinseau Lola B98 Judd 206
39 28 P Field/Jones/Jonsson Lola B98 Ford 188
40 11 P Anglelli/DeRdigus/Pompdu Ferrari 333 SP 18
41 12 P Caffi/Taylor/Montermini Ferrari 333 SP 172
42 73 GT B.Refng/Zieglmn/Wheel Porsche 911 RSR 165
43 70 GT Gabel/DeQuesada Porsche 911 RSR 157
44 02 GT Murry/Mowlem/Haywood Porsche 911 RSR 147
45 74 P Baldwin/Robinson/Hoerr R&S Mk III Chev 118
46 56 GTS Snow/Schumacher/Osteen Porsche 911 Trb 115
47 22 GT Pobst/Ftzgrld/Havens Porsche 911 RSR 113
48 95 P J Schroeder/StJames/Volk R&S Mk III Chev 65
49 64 GT Pumpelly/Lewis/Mathewson Porsche 911 7 |
