AUDI BEATS PEUGEOT BY 4 SECS AT PETIT LE MANS

Best race of his live for McNish: having started 2 laps behind the rests he wins after a breathtaking final

October 6, 2008 - You'll find even not one line about it in your European newspaper. Nevertheless the 11th Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, an endurance race over 1000 miles, is the most important endurance race of the United States, even more popular than the Sebring 12 hours or the Daytona 24 hours. Attended by more than 100,000 spectators it's the revenge race for this year's Le Mans 24 hours where Audi could beat Peugeot thanks to the rainy race conditions. But no rain at Baseltown, Georgia this year. At the start two works Audis R10 TDI, one works Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP and three works Porsches RS Spyder entered by Roger Penske.
At the qualifications the #07 Peugeot 908 was fastest in 1'06"242. Second was the #1 Audi R10 of Allan McNish in 1'06"327, followed by the #2 Audi R10 in 1'06"818. Then came the three Penske Porsches, all in low 1'07s. The Acuras ARX-01B of Andretti Green Racing (#26) and De Ferran Motorsports (#66) realised the seventh and eighth time in res. 1'07"486 and 1'07"656. Of the new LMP1 cars only the #50 Ginetta-Zytek 07S, powered by a 4.5-litre Zytek engine, reached the top-10 at the qualifications: 1'07"660, good for rank 9 on the grid. The new B-K Motorsports #8 Lola B08/86 Mazda MZR-R disappointed with 1'08"896 (rank 15 on the grid) and was retired from competition. The two Creation Autosportif Creation CA07 (#88 and #888) did even worse with 1'09"402 and 1'09"944 on ranks 16 and 19. Fastest GT car was the #3 works Corvette C6-R in 1'16"542 in GT1. Fastest car in GT2 was the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT in 1'19"399. Eventually 37 cars took the start.
We bring you a live report allowing you to follow the 1000-miles race, just as if you was one of the 100,000 spectators. Despite eleven full course yellows it was a fantastic race with a gruelling combat during the last stage.

In the out round, just before the start Allan McNish (#1 Audi R10 TDI) goes away with cold tyres and looses control in the Esses. In a hurry he joins the pits where the mechanics try to repair the damages as soon as possible. Eventually Mc Nish has to start from the pit lane, a full two laps behind the rest of the field. The #8 B-K Motorsports Lola B08/86 Mazda MZR-R will not by alligned.
0h00 - At the start Stéphane Sarrazin (#07 Peugeot 908) is fastest away, followed by Marco Werner (#2 Audi R10 TDI) and Ryan Briscoe (#5 Penske Porsche RS Spyder).
0h04 - Ryan Lewis (#30 Intersport Lola 06/10) spins off, followed by a full course yellow. During 10 minutes order is Sarrazin (#07 Peugeot) - Werner (#2 Audi) - Briscoe (#5 Penske Porsche) - Timo Bernard (#7 Penske Porsche) - Patrick Long (#6 Penske Porsche) - Danny Watts (#50 Zytek) - Tony Kanaan (#26 Andretti Acura), etc.
0h23 - Danny Watts (#50 Zytek) moves into third position.
0h24 - Scott Sharp (#9 Highcroft Acura) goes violently in the tyre wall. Back end and rear suspension are seriously damaged. The car limps to the pits where it will be beyond repair. Second full course yellow. Sarrazin and Werner make under yellow a pit stop.
0h36 - When green goes on Watts (#50 Zytek) is the unexpected leader, followed by two Penske Porsches, the #2 Audi and the #07 Peugeot. McNish (#1 Audi) has moved up from rank 38 to rank 16, but is always two laps down to the leaders.
0h45 - Order is Watts (#50 Zytek), Briscoe (#5 Penske Porsche), Patrick Long (#6 Penske Porsche), Butch Leizinger (#20 Dison Porsche), Luis Diaz (#15 Fernandez Acura), Bernhard (#7 Penske Porsche), Kanaan (#26 Andretti Acura), Sarrazin (#07 Peugeot), Werner (#2 Audi) and Gil de Ferran (#66 Acura). It are the lonely cars on the lead lap.
0h59 - Watts comes in for refuelling and Briscoe takes the lead. Werner is already second, Sarrazin fourth. GT2 is lead since lap 1 by the #62 Risi Ferrari F430 GT.

1h05 - The #9 Highcroft Acura is definitively retired. The #30 Intersport Lola is always in the garage. Werner (#2 Audi) passes Briscoe (#5 Porsche) and goes out on the lead with the Peugeot in third position. The #28  LG Motorsports Corvette C6-R and the #37 Inter-sport Lola B06/10 are in the garage.
1h10 - Sarrazin (Peugeot) passes Briscoe and is 12"5 seconds down to Werner. Both cars are pulling away from the Penske Porsches.
1h12 - McNish pits for refuelling and joins the race in 14th position, always two laps down. The #28 Corvette leaves the garage. Serious problems on the #37 Intersport Lola.
1h15 - Gap between the #2 Audi and the #07 Peugeot is 14"273. Lizz Halliday (#888 Creation) spins off and has to wait one minute before she can join safely the track. The leaders seem on their way to put the three Penske Porsches on one lap.
1h17 - Jaime Melo (#62 Risi Ferrari) pits and Dirk Werner (#87 Porsche 997) takes the lead in GT2. When Marco Werner pits the Peugeot takes the overall lead. The Penske Porsches pit six laps later than the leading diesels and reduce their arrears.
1h20 - Sarrazin (Peugeot) leads. Berhard (#7 Penske Porsche) is second.
1h23 - Gil de Ferran (#66 Acura) goes off, rear suspension is not broken, but debris on the track, thus third full course yellow. All cars pit except the Audis.
1h26 - Under yellow Stefan Johansson replaces Johnny Mowlem at the wheel of the #48 Zytek and is after 61 laps fourth overall.
1h36 - Still under yellow  Dirk Werner (#87 Porsche 997) pits and Wolf Henzler (#45 Flying Lizard Porsche 997) leads GT2. McNish (#1 Audi) is 13th, always at 21- laps. Still 10 cars in the lead lap, among them the five Porsches RS Spyder, the two Zyteks (4th and 7th), the #1 Audi, the Peugeot and only one Acura (#26 Andretti), now driven by Franck Montagny. The first Creation (#88) is 11th at one lap from the leaders (Harold Primat).

1h37 - Olivier Pla replaces Watts at the wheel of the #50 Zytek, 7th at 8 secons.
1h38 - Green. Lucas Luhr (#2 Audi) goes in the grass and drops in 4th position behind the Peugeot, the #26 Acura and the #7 Penske Porsche.
1h40 - Henzler (#87 Porsche 997) leads again GT2, followed by the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche 997 and the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT. The #62 Risi Ferrari F430 GT looses two laps in the pits.
1h41 - Nick Jonson (#61 Risi Ferrari) misses a gear, goes off, but can continue.
1h42 - Fighting for the third place with the #7 Penske Porsche of Romain Dumas, Stefan Johansson (my former F1 driver at Onyx) goes down the hill brutally in the tyre wall in turn #12. Something in the front suspension broke. The #48 Zytek flips in the barriers and stops with its front wheels in different directions. The car is out. Fourth full course yellow.  
2h00 - Still under yellow positions are: #07 Peugeot, #26 Acura, #7 Penske Porsche, #2 Audi, #5 Penske Porsche, #6 Penske Porsche, #15 Acura. They are followed ot one lap by McNish (#1 Audi), having taken back one lap of his initial arrears, the #50 Zytek, the #16 Dison Porsche and the #20 Dison Porsche. In GT2 the #87 Porsche 997 leads the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche, the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari and the #44 Flying Lizard Porsche. The #007 Aston Martin, superbly driven by Darren Turner, is fifth in its class.
2h21 - Green. Luhr (#2 Audi) takes the lead.
2h24 - The #37 Intersport Lola joins the track after a long stop in the garage. The car is 58 laps down.
2h30 - McNish (#1 Audi) joins the six cars on the lead lap. He's now seventh. Lucas Luhr (#2 Audi) has now 5"504 in hand over Sarrazin (Peugeot) and 20"611 on the #7 Penske Porsche.
2h32 - Primat (#88 Creation) goes into the tyre wall and looses his 9th place O.A.

2h37 - Turner brings the #007 in fourth position in GT2. He pits but holds the wheel.
2h41 - Luhr refuels his diesel and Sarrazin (Peugeot) leads. He realised a fastest lap in 1'07"550. Emanuel Pirro takes over from McNish having undone his two laps arrear.
2h52 - Jamie Campbell-Walter seems to think that he's still at the wheel of a panzer tank as in the past. His #88 Creation CA07 goes into the wall, needs five minutes to find the garage, and will be retired. The #37 Intersport Lola B06/10 achieved still two laps, has to come in for another long repair, and will be retired definitively after 129 laps. Out too is the #28 LG Motorsports Corvette C6-R. The #30 Intersport Lola, having been immobilised 83 laps in the pits rejoins the track.
3h00 - Order is: Sarrazin (Peugeot), Dumas (#7 Penske Porsche), Briscoe (#5 Penske Porsche), Montagny (#26 Andretti Acura), Sascha Maasen (#6 Penske Porsche), Luhr (#2 Audi) and Adrien Fernandez (#15 Lowe's Acura). Olivier Pla (#50 Zytek) follows at one lap, just as Pirro (having already pitted).
3h02 - Dean Stirling writes the #888 Creation CA07 definitively off (the car was in 13th position). Fifth full course yellow.
3h06 - As soon as the pit lane goes open Maasen (#6 Penske Porsche), running out of fuel, comes into the pits. The car catches fire but the flames can be extinguished. The car looses one lap. Sarrazin pits and gives the Peugeot 908 in hands of Christian Klien.
3h20 - Darren Turner gives the #007 Aston, always fourth in GT2 over to Paul Drayson.
3h24 - Green and restart. Klien takes the lead, followed by the Penske Porsches #5 and #7, the #2 Audi and the #6 Penske Porsche (again on the lead lap). Marco Andretti (#26 Acura), Fernandez (#15 Acura), Pirro (#1 Audi) and Mario Franchitti (#20 Dison Porsche) are also back on the lead lap. First out the lead lap is Olvier Pla (#50 Zytek). The two works Corvettes are 13t(h and 14th, but the #4 of Papis has just passed the #3 of Ron Fellows.

3h25 - Having jumped the restart Helio Castroneves (#5 Penske Porsche) receives a stop & go penalty. When he comes back he hangs as last on the lead lap and risks to be put at one lap of the Peugeot and the Audis.
3h31 - The #12 Autocon Lola B07/17 - having been seriously damaged at the pre-qualifications, but having been repaired after two nights of hard working - caused a stir by being still there as 15th, just behind the two works Corvettes racing nose to tail. When Tony Burgess tries to pass them he crashes down to the hill and is out. Sixth full course yellow.
3h30 - Green. Peugeot leads the three Penske Porsches, split by the #2 Audi in fourth position. The #26 Acura, #15 Acura, #1 Audi and #20 Dison Porsche are all in the same lap. The #16 Dison Porsche, #50 Zytek and Scott Dixon (#66 Acura) follow hat one lap, heading the two works Corvettes by seven laps. In GT2 Marc Lieb (#45 Porsche 997) leads Joerg Hardt (#87 Porsche 997) and Dominik Farnbacher (#71 Tafel Racing Ferrari).
3h45 - Luhr (#2Audi) takes over the lead from Klien.
4h00 - Luhr leads Klien by 3"030. Bernhard (#7 Penske Porsche) is third at 15".
4h01 - Olivier Pla (#50 Zytek, 10th) hurts Hardt (#87 Porsche 997) at the top of the hill. On limping to the garage Hardt looses the lead in GT2 from Marc Lieb (#45 Porsche 997) The #50 Zytek receives a stop & go penalty. The car suffers a broken rim and a lost engine cover and will drop in the standings from 10th on one lap to 26th on 26 laps when Danny Watts can join the race.
4h06 - Eric van de Poele (#61Risi Ferrari, 8th in GT2) spins but can rejoin. In front the Peugeot and the #2 Audi - 0"780 apart - pull away from the Penske Porsches  following now on 27 secons, 40 seconds and one lap. Pirro, in the #1 Audi is 36 seconds down. Still 8 cars on the lead lap.

4h11 - The #4 Corvette  of Oliver Beretta heads in GT1 the other works Corvette #3 of Johnny O'Connell by 0"957. They race as Siamese twins. The #73 Ferrari F430 of Jim Tafel, on its way to be lapped by the two leaders, spins off in front of the two leaders struggling for the first place. Luhr can just avoid collisiion, but Klien takes now the lead. Debris of the #73 on the track, thus seventh full course yellow. Marco Andretti (#26 Acura), Andy Lally (#20 Dison Porsche RS) and Michel Jourdain (#15 Lowe's Acura), on the point to be lapped by the Peugeot and the two Audis, are quite happy to avoid one lap arrears under yellow. The Penske Porsches #7 and #6, already more than 40 seconds down to the three faster diesels in front, can also re-breathe. All cars make a pit stop under yellow. By a good pit stop strategy the #5 Penske Porsche can even undo its one lap arrear. Once more the attack by the three faster diesels was at no avail.
4h28 - Restart with nine cars in the same lap; Klien (Peugeot), Werner (Audi), Pirro (Audi), Dumas (#7 Penske), Andretti (#26 Acura),Emmanuel Collard (#6 Penske), Jourdain (#15 Acura), Lally (#20 Dison) and Castroneves (#5 Penske). Guy Smith (#16 Dison) and Scott Dixon (#66 Acura) follow at one lap.
4h30 - O'Connell (#3 Corvette) passes Beretta (#4 Corvette).
4h38 - Klien (Peugeot) has 7 seconds over Marco Werner (#2 Audi), 9 seconds over Pirro (#1 Audi), 15 seconds over Dumas (#7 Porsche), 20 seconds over Andretti (#26 Acura) and Jourdain (#15 Acura), etc.
4h41 - Andy Watts (#50 Zytek) rejoins the race but has to come in the following lap for its stop & go penalty.
5h00 - Klien has now 6.2 seconds over Werner, 21 seconds over Pirro, 41 over Dumas, 43 over Andretti, 50 over Collard, 51 over Jourdain and 58 over Castroneves in the #5 Penske Porsches. Since the leading trio progresses at 1'08" per lap, it looks as if the #5 will be put at one lap without new full course yellow. The #20 Dison Porsche is already lapped.

5h13 - Werner only 3 seconds from Klien, Pirro at 31 seconds, Dumas at 52.
5h14 - Nicolas Minassian takes the Peugeot over from Klien and Marco Werner (#2 Audi) catches the lead.
5h16 - Dindo Capello replaces Pirro at the wheel of the #1 Audi.
5h23 - Dumas (#7 Penske Porsche) refuels but goes for a double stint.
5h25 - On the #6 Penske Porsche Collard is replaced by Patrick Long.
5h27 - Marco Werner has 9"008 in hand over Minassian (Peugeot) and 18"322 over Capello (#2 Audi). Due to their fuel economy the Penske Porsches can reduce their arrears, being still not lapped. The first Penske (Dumas in the #7) follows at 47".
5h32 - Jan Magnussen (#3 Corvette) catches the right rear of Chris Dyson's Porsche RS Spyder. The #16 for fast repairs into the pits.
5h42 - Chris Dyson's #16 Porsche receives a stop & go penalty for too many mechanics having repaired his car.
5h45 - Miko Salo (#62 Risi Ferrari) has undone his two laps arrear on the class leading GT2 Porsche of Henzler. When he refuels, giving the car over to Joerg Bergmeister, Salo comes back at only 23 seconds from the GT2 lead.
5h46 - The #4 Corvette with technical woes in the garage.
5h54 - In turn #1 Minassian is slowing seriously down after having missed a gear, passing a slower GT2 car. Werner and Minassian have now put all Porsches, except the #7 of Romain Dumas at one full lap. Minassiann is now at 24 seconds from Werner and followed at 2 seconds by Capello.
5h56 - Mika Salo at 12 seconds from Wolf Henzler, still leading GT2.
5h57 - Oliver Gavin brings the #4 Corvette C6-R back in the race after 7 laps in the pits.

6h00 - Marco Werner laps now also the fastest Penske Porsche, the #7 of Romain Dumas. Despite their better fuel economy (less pit stops) they cannot follow the muzzled Audis and Peugeot when yellow stays out. With 247 of the 394 laps achieved Marco Werner (#2 Audi) has 27 seconds over Minassian (Peugeot) and 34 seconds over Capello (#1 Audi). Dumas (#7 Porsche) follows at 1 lap and 2 seconds, Briscoe (#5 Porsche) at 1 lap and 28 seconds, Tony Kanaan (#26 Acura) at 1 lap and 46 seconds, Patrick Long (#6 Porsche) and Michel Jourdain (#15 Acura) at exactly two laps.
6h03 - Pit stop of the leading Audi. Luhr takes over from Werner.
6h05 - Refuelling of the Peugeot 908. Minassian holds the wheel.
6h06 - Pit stop of Capello (#1 Audi). He too holds the wheel. After the pit stops of the three diesels, leading the race, Dumas can undo his lap arrear and follows now at 17 seconds from the #1 Audi. In GT2 Miko Salo (#62 Ferrari) is now less than 5 seconds down to Henzler in the #45 Flyibng Lizard Porsche 997. The #007 Aston Martin Vantage has dropped from fourth into eighth position in GT2. The car is at 7 laps from the class lead.
6h09 - Luhr passes Minassian and Audi is again leader. Dindo Capello (in the other Audi) looses valuable time when he has to come in again, one lap after his pit stop, as he received the wrong seat insert. He looses his third place to Dumas (#7 Porsche RS).
6h18 - Despite Joannes van Overbeek, playing buffer in the #46 sister car, Salo passes Henzler in the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche 997 and Risi Competizzione leads again GT2.
6h20 - Minassian (Peugeot) at 9 seconds from Werner in the leading Audi. Capello 26 seconds down to Dumas (#7 Porsche) afrer his extra pit stop to replace the seat insert.
6h21 - Dumas in the pits for refuelling. Timo Bernhard takes over. Capello again in third position. Long pit stop since Dumas achieved 51 laps without refuelling (against 44 for the diesel cars). The #37 Intersport Lola B06/10 is definitively retired.

6h25 - Salo (#62 Risi Ferrari) in the pits for refuelling. Flying Lizard again leader in GT2. The Ferrari is still ahead over the #4 Corvette, having lost seven laps in the garage.
6h26 - Turner brought the #007 Aston Martin back as sixth in GT2.
6h30 - Luhr leads Minassian by 12 seconds. Both lapped Timo Bernhard (#7 Penske Porsche) being fourth OA. Tony Kanaan (#26 Acura) is now fifth, 30 seconds down to the fastest Penske Porsche.
6h33 - Van Overbeek (#46 Flying Lizard Porsche 997) passes Dominik Farnbacher in the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari and is now third in GT2. On the #73 Tafel sister car Pierre Ehert suffers a front puncture.
6h34 - Capello already 1'01" down to the leading Audi. He risks to be lapped.
6h35 - Sharp struggle between the fastest Porsche RS Spyder and the fastest Acura ARX-01B. Tony Kanaan only 9 seconds down to Timo Bernhard in the #7 Penske Porsche.
6h36 - Salo passes Marc Lieb in the #45 Porsche 997. Dominik Farnbacher, in the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari, passes the #46 Porsche 997 when the car stops for refuelling. The wheel goes now to Patrick Pilet. Danny Watts and Olivier PLa brought the #50 Ginetta-Zytek back from rank 27 to rank 19.
6h40 - The sun is coming down, track surface is at once much colder and circuit becomes tricky. The #15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura (8th OA at 2 laps), with Luis Diaz at the wheel, rubs the tyre wall. Debris on the track. Thus eighth full course yellow.
6h45 - Under yellow the three leaders are within five seconds. Pit stop for the three. Sarrazin takes over from Minassian. Luhr and Capello hold the wheel.
6h54 - Green and restart. The Porsches #5 and #7 and the #26 Acura, having made no refuelling stop, are again in the same lap as the two Audis and the Peugeot. At the restart Sarrazin passes Luhr and Peugeot is again leader.

7h00 - Sarrazin (Peugeot) leads Luhr (#2 Audi) by 1"4 and Capello (#1 Audi) by 3"5. Briscoe (#5 Penske Porsche) at 23", Bernhard (#7 Penske Porsche) at 24", Montagny (#26 Andretti Acura) at 25". Now six cars on the lead lap. Patrick Long (#6 Penske Porsche) is seventh at one lap, Butch Leitzinger (#16 Dison Porsche) eighth at two laps. Luis Diaz (#15 Lowe's Lola), having lost 5 laps on repairs, follows at 6 laps, just as the #66 Acura of Simon Pagenaud, having lost time in the pits (with a holed radiator?)
7h05 - Marc Lieb (#45 Porsche 997) passes Jaime Melo (#62 Ferrari) and leads GT2.
7h12 - Luhr (#2 Audi) follows the leading Peugeot of Sarrazin at 6"7, Capello at 12"8 and Briscoe at 31".
7h16 - Struggle on life or death among Lieb (Porsche) and Melo (Ferrari) for the GT2 lead. Lieb takes unbelievable risks but maintains command.
7h18 - 300 laps achieved. Luhr 8"5 down to the Peugeot, Capello 15", Briscoe 41", Bernhard 44", Montagny 47".
7h20 - Helped by Farnbacher in the #71 Ferrari, Jaime Melo (in the #62 Risi Ferrari) can pass Lieb in the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche 997.
7h25 - Already more than an half hour Franck Montagny (#26 Acura) tries to pass Timo Bernhard (#7 Porsche), loosing more and more field on Ryan Briscoe in the #5 Porsche. At no avail. His Acura is suffering heating problems. Shortly after his lapped by Sarrazin.
7h26 - The #15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura ARX-01B, immobile since its accident, is officially retired. The #87 Farbacher Loles Porsche 997-RSR and the #40 Robertson Racing Doran Ford GT-R pass no longer. They seem to be both out.
7h30 - Luhr follows the leading Peugeot at 9 seconds. Capello is 29 seconds down. Briscoe and Bernhard have been lapped. The Acura of Montagny follows at two laps.

7h38 - Allan McNish, having fought three hours to undo his two laps arrear at the start, takes the #1 Audi over from Dindo Capello with the intention to hold the wheel until the finish (1000 miles).
7h40 - The Peugeot 908 comes in for refuelling. Lucas Luhr takes the lead.
7h42 - Pit stop for Luhr in the #2 Audi. Marco Werner takes over. Due to the pit stops of the three diesel cars the two Penske Porsches can not only unlap themselves, but Briscoe (#5 Porsche) can even catch the lead, followed at 2"508 by Sarrazin (Peugeot).
7h43 - Sarrazin passes Briscoe and is again leader.
7h45 - Briscoe gives the #5 Penske Porsche over to Castronoves. When he rejoins the track the Porsche is sixth at one lap. Meanwhile Oliver Pla continues the spectacular come back of the #50 Ginetta-Zytek. The car is already 12th after having passed the two works Corvettes.
7h46 - At once new technical woes for the #50, being pushed into the garage.
7h56 - Jaime Melo (#62 Ferrari) has already 23 seconds over Lieb in the #45 Porsche 997.
8h00 - 336 laps have been achieved. Sarrazin (Peugeot) leads Werner (#2 Audi) by 29 seconds and McNish by more than one minute. Only three cars in the same lap. Franck Montagny passed the two Penske Porsches #5 and #7 during their pit stop and is now fourth at one lap. The #50 Ginetta-Zytek, still in the garage, dropped from rank 12 to rank 16 and is still not back on the track. It's confirmed that there was a hole in the radiator.
8h02 - Having brought the #007 Aston Martin Vantage into 19th position OA and fifth in its class, Darren Turner spins off and the car is out.
8h03 - Mark Basseng spins off the #18 VICI Porsche 997 GT3-RSR due to a tyre problem. The car, 22nd at that moment, is definitively out. Debris on the track, thus ninth full course yellow.

8h08 - As soon as the pit lane is open Stéphane Sarrazin refuels and Christian Klien takes over the Peugeot 908 for the last stint.
8h12 - Still under yellow Danny Watts rejoins the track with a heavily wounded #50 Ginetta-Zytek.
8h13 - On realising a shorter pit stop than the Peugeot 908 Marco Werner and his #2 Audi can pass Christian Klien under yellow.
8h21 - Having not to pit the #26 Acura and the #5 Penske Porsche can join the two Audis and the Peugeot in the same lap.
8h22 - Green and restart. Marco Werner holds the Peugeot 908 off, but just out under green Franck Montagny, leading in the #26 Andretti Green Acura ARX-01B the fastest Penske Porsche, collides with the #30 Intersport Lola B06-10, immobile in the mid of the track, loosing its left front wheel. With the #46 Flying Lizard Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Patrick Pillet can not avoid the two cars under the Suzuki Bridge. His car is completely destroyed. The three cars are out. Fortunately nobody is wounded in the three car accident. For the Andretti Acura, having realised to lead LMP2, the three car collapse is a real drama. Tenth full course yellow less than one minute after green.
8h54 - Green and restart. As all cars except the #7 Penske Porsche RS Spyder came in for refuelling, Romain Dumas could undo the lap arrear he had at the end of the ninth full course yellow; So we have five cars in the same lap: Werner (#2 Audi), Klien (#07 Peugeot), Castranoves (#5 Penske Porsche), McNish (#1 Audi) and Dumas (#7 Penske Porsche). First Acura is now Simon Pagenaud's #66, 8th on six laps. Immediately after the restart McNish blows away the Castroneves Porsche joining the two leaders.
8h58 - The three leaders pass the start and finish line in less than a full second after nine hours of racing. The two Penske Porsches are blown away by the three silent diesel cars.

8h59 - Christian Klien passes Marco Werner and is again leader. In the slip stream of the Peugeot 908 Allan McNish can also pass Werner. Order is now #07 Peugeot - #1 Audi - #2 Audi, all three in the same second.
9h01 - After a gruelling combat with Klien and his Peugeot, McNish passes Klien in the outside of turn #7.
9h05 - The Peugeot is now sandwiched between the two Audis. Klien follows at 1"076 from McNish, Werner at 2"723. Castroneves is already at 12 seconds, Dumas at 21 seconds. 366 laps have been achieved, still 26 to go. Since the five cars in the same lap have all refuelled no more pit stops are to be expected. 
9h12 - McNish is fantastic. He increases his advance over the Peugeot following now at 3"702. 0"382 behind Werner attacks the Peugeot 908 of Klien.
9h13 - We are in the mid of the cyclone, in the most gruelling combat ever seen at Petit Le Mans, when at once Chris Hall suffers a flat tyre on the #11 Primetime Race Group Dodge Viper-R hits the tyre wall and is out with a broken axle. Eleventh full course yellow. For McNish all is to be done over. It's just as if the race has still to start.
9h16 - Under yellow Dumas comes in for new tyres. We have still 22 of the 37 cars having started in the race.
9h21 - Green and restart. Allan McNish in the #1 Audi R10 TDI gives Christian Klien in the #07 Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP not a glimpse of a chance to pass. McNish seems to fly away and in only two laps he builds up an advance of nearly five full seconds. The Scotsman, having started the race two laps later than all others, is decided more than ever to win this race. If he succeeds it will be the most spectacular victory of his career. But Klien seems not wishing to stop the fight until the real last inches. In GT2 Mika Salo and his #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT has five seconds in hand over the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche 997 GT3-RSR.

9h30 - The #5 Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder of Helio Castroneves has already lost 14 seconds. Now it's obvious that Porsche will not win, but that the #5 will be as fourth overall winner in LMP2. Indeed, the other Penske machinery in the same lap of the leaders, the #7 Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder of Timo Bernhard follows already at 36 seconds. When McNish passes he has already 6"7 over Klien. In third position Marco Werner in the #2 Audi R10 TDI follows the Peugeot at 1"193.
9h33 - McNish has 7"059 over Klien. Werner at 2"468 from Klien. Castronecves is already 25 seconds down, Bernhard 51. With the #6 Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder Sacha Maasen is sixth, but at two laps. Marino Franchitti, Dario's brother, is seventh with the #20 Dyson Racing Porsche RS Spyder at three laps. Another three laps further we find Simon Pagenaud in the #66 De Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-01B, followed at four laps by Guy Smith in the #16 Dison Racing Porsche RS Spyder, being ninth overall. Those positions will change no more. First GT cars are the #3 Corvette C6-R of Jan Magnussen at 29 laps (10th OA) and the #4 Corvette C6-R of Oliver Gavin at 35 laps. They precede the two first cars in GT2 where Mika Salo (12th) will win the battle with Joerg Bergmeister (13th).
9h36 - Klien comes nearer. Now he is at 4"996 from McNish, followed at 2"231 by Werner. With the wounded #50 Team LNT Ginetta-Zytek 07S Danny Watts succeeds to pass the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT of Dirk Müller who will finish third in GT2 and 15th OA. Erik van de Poele will bring the green #61 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT home as 17th and fourth in its class, two laps ahead over the #99 JMB Racing Ferrari F430 of Stéphane Daoudi.
9h38 - Klien comes closer and closer but at the chequered flag his still at 4"512 from Allan McNish. Marco Werner finishes as third at 7"565. Once in victory lane he'll tell the journalists that this was the most difficult win of his long career, but also the most beautiful. [JPVR]