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3-Way Clash Expected Today At Sebring

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: March 21, 2009

SEBRING - They're the most exciting, radical, artistically engineered race cars the world has ever seen. And they're here.

The 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will go under the green flag at 10:30 a.m. today in what is shaping up to be an epic three-way clash between the world's top motor sports manufacturers.

America's most famous endurance challenge will cap a week of racing that's already seen its share of surprises.

Acura shocked the paddock Thursday when defending Indy 500 and IndyCar champion Scott Dixon stole the pole in his final lap while piloting one of Acura's two brand-new LMP1 entries, the de Ferran Motorsports No. 66 ARX-02a.

After watching P1 powerhouses Audi and Peugeot trade top practice times all week, Acura performed best when it counted, earning the front spot in today's 28-car starting grid with an average speed of 126.522 miles per hour.

"At the beginning of the week, we were fast but the track has changed a lot," Dixon said. "The Audis were quick out of the box and laid down a great time, but I think the heat helped us and the longer you run the Acura on the same set of tires it seems to get better and better. This car is like nothing else I've driven - it's hard to compare it to other cars."

Dependability is paramount to winning at Sebring, and few can predict how a brand-new prototype will respond to 12 hours on the bumpy 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit that's notoriously rough on even the most proven drivers and cars.

Audi, winners of eight of nine overall championships and nine straight in LMP1 at Sebring, debuts its brand new R15 TDI today.

Peugeot returns the same diesel-powered 908 entries it debuted last year (Nos. 07, 08) while attempting to become the first French manufacturer to win overall at Sebring.

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