Forth Worth, September 2, 2000
A perfect start for Team Audi Sport North America going into the second half of
the American Le Mans Series (ALMS): In gruelling heat Audi took an
unchallenged 1-2 victory at the Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas/Fort Worth.
The two Audi R8s led all 127 laps, and lapped the entire field. With the third 1-2
of the season Audi took the lead in the manufacturers championship of the
American Le Mans Series. All four Audi pilots reduced the gap in the drivers
championship.
Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello set the pace for most of the 2:45-hour
distance, but had to settle for second behind their teammates Frank Biela and
Emanuele Pirro. While Biela refuelled during a caution period, Capello had to
come in for a late splash-and-dash ten minutes before the end of the race
handing victory to Biela/Pirro.
It was the fourth victory for the Audi R8 in the seventh ALMS race of the season
and the R8 once again was in a class of its own: The Audi drivers were about
one second per lap faster than their competitors. Even before half distance
Allan McNish had lapped the whole field apart from his teammate Emanuele
Pirro. The fastest race lap of EP was only 0.4s slower than his qualifying time.
And by triumphing in Texas, Audi achieved a hattrick, never before had any
manufacturer been able to win three ALMS races in a row.
|