ALMS COTA Notebook

Photo: John Dagys

***A number of cars will start from the rear of the field today after each one of its drivers did not meet the minimum qualifying time. It includes both Extreme Speed Motorsports HPDs, as well as the PC entries from Starworks Motorsport, RSR Racing, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and the Risi Competizione Ferrari. The remaining field, not affected by these penalties, have been re-ordered by IMSA in class order (P1-P2-PC-GT-GTC) due to the inclement weather.

***The No. 551 Level 5 Motorsports HPD of Ryan Briscoe would have been quickest of the FIA WEC LMP2 contingent on Thursday, if times between the ALMS P2 and WEC LMP2 classes were combined. Briscoe’s 1:55.423 lap time edged out the WEC pace-setting G-Drive Oreca-Nissan of John Martin by nearly four-tenths.

***Friday evening, the ACO honored Dr. Dick Thompson, the oldest living American to race at Le Mans. Thompson was part of Corvette’s initial journey to Le Mans in 1960 in one of Briggs Cunningham’s three Corvettes. As part of this weekend’s tribute, both Corvette C6.Rs this weekend will feature the names of every American driver who has raced at Le Mans in the race’s first 90 years.

***Michelin debuts its new 2013-spec P2 tire in the ALMS weekend for Level 5 Motorsports and Extreme Speed Motorsports. It’s the same tire construction used by partner teams in the WEC and ELMS, as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The ALMS competitors, however, will have use of the hard compound only.

***With stable regulations, it appears the PC class is about to gain a considerable amount of interest. No fewer than three current Daytona Prototype teams have plans to either field or are seriously considering programs in the spec prototype class for 2014, a few at the expense of DP entries.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John