Meister Fahrer

Beautiful clear & sunny weather in Long Beach this weekend, a bit warmer than previous years, probably about 80* for race day.

First note: Pat Long was robbed from grabbing the pole by Joel Feinberg's Viper in the last few minutes of qualifying. (#45 now 2nd in GT2.)

Long was clearly very fast, the only car getting a little rear brake lockup going into the hairpin right on the edge -- sweet driving Pat!

-- But for whatever reason, Feinberg started blocking Long and then deep-braking ruining Long's last hot lap.
Here's how bad it was: the folks in the bleachers were actually booing the Viper!
Also the #45 got a slightly tweaked rear bumper and exhaust in the incident.
(Both drivers were called in to see the officials. Feinberg's normally a great mellow guy -- what was up with that?)

Sounds like Risi lost their pole due to ride-height infraction, and starting at the back?
The Farnbacher Loles car was deceptively quick - and moves up to pole.

The BMWs look great, Redondo Beach-local Billy Auberlen was fired-up on the car, but it really looks and sounds like it's not quite there yet.


Rolling off the Qualifying:



44 post-Qualifying:



The Vici racing car looks hot in its hot-pink T-Mobile livery.
Vici car with Richard Westbrook:



Oh, and there's a good reason to like the Falken team, too.

NJcroc

Thanks for sharing, they look great

BTW, what is it with an umbrella that makes a hottie hotter

cas951

Thanks for sharing the details and pics. Any reason why the #44 Lizard car is way off pace from the #45?

mark kibort

How does the SpeedGT crew look?

Just love the fact that someone forgot to tighten an oil filter and oiled the track during practice. Nice!

Lots of spins too! nice!

I do like the fact that the new Volvo with Pobst at the helm is near the front. Post some pics if you can!

Mk

Fabio421

Can anyone find a live stream of the race? I haven't had any luck.

mark kibort

I'm Hungry Fab!

jrgordonsenior

Thirsty too....

Eharrison

Here's some more. And a pic of Keanu

Kurt R

Any word on Dino Crescentini? I was watching the second practice online, looks like he put it in the wall at the end of the front straight. Is he OK? Is the car fixable? Will he be able to qualify Sunday morning?

jrgordonsenior

He didn't qualify this morning. Here's what's on their site:

11:46 am
(CDT) Crescentini Update
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 9:30 a.m.

SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT driver Dino Crescentini, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center for precautionary examination following an incident in this morning’s practice session at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Driving the No. 4 Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3, Crescentini reported that he lost his brakes going into turn one before rotating the car 90 degrees to the right. The car then impacted a barrier in the runoff area with the left side of the car.

Glen

Congrats to Pat Long! Great drive!

On a more serious note, take a look at how long it takes Boris Said to get out of the car while on fire, he has done this a million times and it seems like forever. Please everyone run practice Yourselves on this, trigger the fire system and get out practice is what I mean, get it down so that You can execute it with your eyes closed literally. Probably the most important practice You will do that I hope You never need....

jrgordonsenior

You should also add visualize doing it all upside down. Close you eyes and run thru how you would exit the car. Ignition off, trigger the fire system, hand on roof (now floor), unbuckle and fall, observe which window has better access and raise net or climb out passenger side....

I'm a old cave diver and we practice black outs and lost line drills every time in. You just never know....

Cory M

here is a pretty crazy sequence of photos of Boris exiting the car, scary chit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/budzins...7616939145889/

Greg Phillips

Here are my ALMS thumbnails from Saturday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9070201...7617025364539/

Greg Phillips