Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing opened the 2005 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season yesterday with the third quickest lap in the GT2 class. Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany), Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Mike Petersen (Las Vegas, Nev.) all turned laps in the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in today’s first of two days of testing in preparation for the 53rd Running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Bergmeister set the quick time for the two-time Le Mans winning team with a lap of two minutes, 5.123 seconds. Long and Petersen also put in fast times showing the potential of the No. 31 Porsche for Saturday’s ALMS season-opener. Lucas Luhr (Monaco), who will join Bergmeister and Long in the 12 Hour race, will get his first laps in the Petersen/ White Lightning Porsche in tomorrow’s one hour and 45-minute test session. The first official day of practice will take place on Wednesday with qualifying and night practice scheduled on Thursday.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hour marks the start of Petersen/ White Lightning’s third full-season of ALMS competition. Included in the 2005 schedule are ten ALMS races in North America and the team’s third appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing is pursuing its third-straight 12 Hours of Sebring podium. Lucas Luhr will challenge for his fifth Sebring victory in six attempts. The 12 Hours of Sebring is the only major ALMS event that Jörg Bergmeister has not won. Patrick Long is starting his second Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.