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The three new Acura American Le Mans Sequence teams made a spectacular debut Saturday by taking the first, second and fourth positions within the LMP2 class on the 55th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, one of the world's most prestigious street-racing events. The Andretti Inexperienced Racing effort, with drivers Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, scored the LMP2 class victory over the Lowe's Fernandez Racing team of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz after the grueling 12-hour endurance contest. The AGR trio completed second overall to the manufacturing facility Audi LMP1, racing on the lead lap towards the more highly effective German manufacturer earlier than gearbox woes slowed the Acura ARX-01a driven by Herta in the ultimate hour. The Fernandez crew placed third overall, just two laps shy of the AGR team. The Highcroft Racing louisville used cars staff, with drivers David Brabham, Stefan Johansson and Duncan Dayton, placed fourth in the ALMS and sixth general in its Acura ARX-01a sports car. The victory was special for the workers of Honda Performance Improvement because the profitable machine was designed and developed, in partnership with chassis specialist Wirth Research, at the HPD headquarters in Santa Clarita, Calif. It marked the first time an HPD-designed engine and car had competed in a U.S. racing event. The general used cars louisville winning Audi accomplished 364 laps, with the Andretti Inexperienced Acura ARX-01a ending with 358 laps and Fernandez Racing at 356. Highcroft Racing recorded 351 laps Saturday. The LMP2 race was set up to be a battle between the factory Porsches from Penske Racing and the three Acura factory cars. However early brake trouble for the Porsches proved to be German marque's demise. The Acuras from AGR and Highcroft set the pace in the class while the Fernandez automobile had a steering issue within the first three hours. kentucky used cars An electrical drawback slowed the Highcroft automobile and the Andretti Inexperienced XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01a ran strong into the night hours. The ARX-01a chassis will unveiled Thursday in a particular media event. Till used cars kentucky the final hour, the AGR machine challenged the extra-powerful Audi lap for lap, before the late race gearbox problem slowed Herta within the closing hour. The Acura end was one of the vital impressive debuts ever seen within the fifty five-year history of the famed Sebring International Raceway and set the stage for the reminder of the 12-race American Le Mans Series. The next Acura event is Saturday, March 31, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., the three-hour Acura Sports Car Challenge. 12 Hours Of Sebring Outcomes LMP2 Class 1. ANDRETTI GREEN RACING (Herta, Franchitti, Kanaan) 2. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ RACING ACURA (Fernandez, Diaz) 4. HIGHCROFT RACING ACURA (Brabham, Johansson, Dayton) Acura Quotes: ROBERT CLARKE, HPD President: "I can not put it into words. I might fee it as one of the highest emotional experiences I've had. So much work went into this program. We gained on a number of levels. I could not have think about it would end this way. It's been a protracted road, not just for HPD however for Acura, our teams, sponsors, drivers and everyone who's concerned within the program." MICHAEL ANDRETTI, co-proprietor, No. 26 XM Satellite tv for pc Radio Acura ARX-01a automotive that Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan drove to LMP2 victory Saturday: "This was a fun race, except for these last 20 laps. We had some issues with Bryan on the finish and we acquired by means of them. It was an actual cliffhanger for us with the gearbox. It was an effective way to begin out in Acura's first manufacturing facility sports activities car race. It was a troublesome race and we knew it coming into this weekend. But the 12-hour simulation race final month here helped us, and the entire Acura groups have been ready for today's race. Obviously, it paid off for all three teams." BRYAN HERTA (26 XM Satellite tv for pc Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "Everyone at AGR and Acura worked so arduous to place this program together. And in such a short time. I did not know what to expect here at Sebring. It is such a tricky race. I could not think about popping out and used trucks kentucky winning right out of the box. It's a large effort for Acura in its first American Le Mans Series race and its first Sebring race. The 12-hour simulation race we ran in February was a huge assist for our workforce and all the Acura teams. We learned so much from that experience. It was very nervous for us in the final hour since we had some gearbox problems. I wasn't positive if we had been going to make it to the finish. However the AGR guys talked me by the problems and we cruised residence for the win. It was fun to win with my good buddies Dario [Franchitti] and Tony [Kanaan]." DARIO FRANCHITTI (26 XM Satellite Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "It is wonderful simply to think about the place the Acura program was six months in the past and what the fellows on the AGR shop had been looking at for this project. We were in a position to work from almost scratch to make a automotive that was quick and reliable. The workforce - the engineers and mechanics - was flawless today. We had an amazing race car. That final hour I had my coronary heart in my mouth when Bryan had the gearbox problem. It was powerful to sit down there and watch. kentucky used cars However he brought it house and that is all that matters. It is so nice to be on the podium together with your friends. Bryan, Tony and I have raced collectively for a protracted time. So that is very special for all of us. You can not have requested for a greater finish right here at Sebring." TONY KANAAN (26 XM Satellite Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "This win is particular in lots of ways. I have been with the Honda and Acura family for a few years they usually have been with me for most of my success here in the United States. It's a dream to win a race with two of my greatest friends. And for Acura. They've been behind me for years and to win of their first sports activities car race is fantastic. I do not wish to take something away from the other races or championships I have won. But this victory is one thing I'll by no means forget. I wasn't that comfortable autos louisville in the automotive coming here, since I only drove twice before. Bryan and Dario helped me get used to the automobile and I need to thank them for serving to me. The AGR guys did an amazing job with the automobile and the race strategy to take the XM automotive to the winner's circle. This win is very exciting." Upcoming: Acura Sports activities Automobile Challenge Date: March 30-31, 2007 Location: St. Petersburg, Fla. street course Observe Kind: 1.8-mile street circuit Race: Round 2 of 12 Races, 5:05 p.m. American Le Mans Series Distance: 2 hours, 45 minutes.
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