Show Speed In Sebring Test

New Drivers Fittipaldi, Sharp Join Acura Regulars In LMP2 Class

The new Acura ARX-01b prototype cars made their maiden voyage this week in American Le Mans Series winter testing at the famed Sebring International Raceway, in preparation for the 56th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring set for March 15.The defending Sebring champions in the LMP2 class, the No. 26 XM Satellite Radio Acura team from Andretti Green Racing returned to the 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course with sensational speed from drivers Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi, a longtime open-wheel racing star, moved to the AGR team this winter and quickly showed the speed needed to challenge the Penske Racing Porsche, the defending series winners.

Herta drove his mount to a speed of 127.413 miles per hour for the top LMP2 clocking of the three-day test.

Another new Acura driver, IndyCar Series veteran Scott Sharp, teamed with David Brabham and Stefan Johansson in the all-new No. 9 Patron Spirits Acura ARX-01b at Sebring, and the Highcroft trio recorded a best speed of 126.139 m.p.h. Sharp began his racing career in sports cars before a 14-year stint in open-wheel cars. Brabham and Sharp will be the regulars in the Patron Acura throughout the 12-race American Le Mans Series campaign, with Johansson driving at Sebring and Atlanta.

The popular Lowe’s Fernandez team has returned to the ALMS trail with the new Acura ARX- 01b chassis after campaigning the Lola in 2007. Veterans Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz are back in the cockpit of the No. 15 Lowe’s Acura and timed in at a best speed of 125.877 m.p.h. in the team’s first outing with the new car.

The two Penske Porsches, with drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Sasha Maassen and American Patrick Long, continued to keep a strong pace with best speeds of 127.330 and 126.599 m.p.h., respectively.

Acura also made news off the track Tuesday with the announcement that the automaker will add a fourth Acura ARX-01b machine later in the 2008 season.

Former Indy 500 winner and two-time Champ Car champion Gil de Ferran will come out of retirement to serve as the primary driver and team owner for the de Ferran Motorsports entry. De Ferran, who recently served as Sporting Director of the Honda Formula 1 team, has hired veteran racing executive John Anderson to hold his team’s general manager role. Most recently, Anderson was team manager for Dario Franchitti’s Indy 500 and IndyCar Series championship run in 2007.

De Ferran’s new team will announce a second driver and sponsorship partners in the near future and the Brazilian driver plans to compete in the American Le Mans Series before mid-season.

Testing will continue for the three other Acura teams in February as they make development changes for the upcoming 2008 season.

The campaign will get underway on March 15 with the 12 Hours of Sebring followed by the Acura Sports Car Challenge at St. Petersburg on April 5 and Long Beach Grand Prix on April 19.

ARX-01b ran blistering laps in recent testing at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series LMP2 Class (Test)

1. ANDRETTI GREEN ACURA ARX01b 127.4132. Penske Porsche No. 7 127.3303 Penske Porsche No. 6 126.5994. PATRON HIGHCROFT ACURA ARX01b 126.1395. LOWE’S FERNANDEZ ACURA ARX01b 125.877

ACURA QUOTES:ADRIAN FERNANDEZ (No. 15 Lowe’s Fernandez RacingAcura ARX-01b): “We went through all of the normal stagesof a brand new car and first test — making the drivers comfortable.I think there is a lot of potential and I am encouragedby the results of the test. We definitely made the rightswitch to the ARX and we are very excited about the workthat Acura and Nick Wirth [Wirth Research] have done.”

LUIS DIAZ (No. 15 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing AcuraARX-01b): “It was a good first experience with this new car.The team did a tremendous job in preparing the ARX. Thiscar is definitely more stable under braking and it doesn’tseem to be as sensitive to changes in weather like lastyear’s car. All three Acura teams are working together likeone team to the develop the new ARX chassis faster. ”

CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI (#26 XM Satellite Radio AGRAcura ARX-01b): “It feels great to drive a car like our XMAcura. The ‘G’ loads here at Sebring are very hard withthese cars. But it is exciting to race at these speeds again.We had some mechanical issues during the test and theAGR guys will work on those problems. That is why we arehere testing. I am still getting used to the car. Bryan [Herta]has been driving this car for a year and he knows in lessthan a lap what to change on the car. It is still a learningprocess with me. But I’m ready for the Sebring race.”

BRYAN HERTA (#26 XM Satellite Radio AGR AcuraARX-01b): “I think we have potential with this new car. Wehad an uneven test this week as we had some trouble withthe car at times. We will go back to the shop and do ourhomework. This place [the Sebring track] changes a ridiculousamount from one session to the next. And that makesit difficult to get a reading. Our issues this week were continuityand running consistently throughout the day. It wastough to get readings with our XM Acura when we had a fewthings to fix. But that is what testing is all about — gettingthe problems worked out. We’ll come back next month foranother test and work on more items with the new car.Then it will be time to race. ”

SCOTT SHARP (#9 Patron Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01b): “It is so exciting for me to be a part of ayoung, hungry team like Patrón Highcroft Racing. David[Brabham], Stefan [Johansson] and I seem to be a greatcombination and are communicating really well with thecrew. As a result, we’re getting a great car every time we hitthe track. This is the best car I have ever driven. The firsttime I got into the Patrón Highcroft car, I realized how greatthe Acura technology was. The level of downforce, the handlingand the systems that Acura has put in place just blowme away. The car is extremely nimble."

DAVID BRABHAM (#9 Patron Highcroft Racing AcuraARX-01b): “The headline is very positive coming out of thistest. The guys are trying different setups, and each time weget in the car, we get a better feel for it. Also, we’re so farbeyond where we were last year heading into the race, thatwe feel much more prepared to be really competitive in the12-hour race. The team has really gelled and this shouldshow up on the track.”

STEFAN JOHANSSON (#9 Patron Highcroft RacingAcura ARX-01b): “Even though I didn’t run many laps thisweek, the car felt good when I was in it. All in all, I thinkwe’re in good shape for the race.”

Upcoming ALMS Race:RACE: Mobil 1 12 Hours of SebringDATE: March 15, 2008TRACK: Sebring International RacewayDISTANCE: 12 HoursROUND: 1 of 12 RacesTV: SPEED CHANNEL, March 15, 10 a.m.

2008 American Le Mans Series ScheduleMarch 15 Sebring July 19 Mid-OhioApril 5 St. Pete Aug. 9 Road AmericaApril 19 Long Beach Aug. 24 MosportApril 26 Houston Aug. 30 DetroitMay 18 Salt Lake City Oct. 4 Road AtlantaJuly 12 Lime Rock Oct. 18 Laguna Seca