News From The - Raceway Laguna Seca 2012

DEMPSEY RACING DEBUT

www.michelinalley.com 2 DEMPSEY RACING

The debut of Dempsey Racing’s new P2 Lola- level, sometimes falling back, they can eventually reach the prototype featuring co-drivers and Joe highest levels of the sport for road racers. Foster here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca marks the next Announced at Sebring earlier this spring, the new Dempsey big step in a “dream” to take the team and drivers to the 24 Racing P2 car, a 2012 Lola-Judd prototype was delivered to the Hours of Le Mans, perhaps as soon as next year. team’s Atlanta area shops last week. A talented and increasingly experienced racer, Dempsey “We want to get the P2 car in a race environment at Mazda is now in his eighth season of sports car competition. He Raceway and see where we are,” said Dempsey. “We want to actually raced at Le Mans with Foster, his Driving do it right.” School instructor, in 2009 finishing ninth in the GT2 category. “Patrick is a serious racer,” said Foster. “Ideally, we would like to get back to Le Mans next year,” “He takes direction and can take criticism. He is very said Dempsey. “To go back to Le Mans and be on the podium focused. His dream is to be on the podium at Le Mans. We are would be incredible,” Dempsey recently told veteran writer going step-by step.” Mike Harris. The team also campaigns a PC Challenge class prototype Dempsey, Foster and the Dempsey Racing team have built in the ALMS for Duncan Ende and Henri Richard. Foster and a key relationship with Mazda, highlighted by his chance to Dempsey are partners in the ALMS team with Henri Richard drive the 1991 Le Mans winning Mazda in a 20th anniversary of Silicon Tech Racing. tribute at Le Mans last June. In addition to support from Mazda and Silicon Tech, The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Ladder is to racing what Dempsey Racing’s move to P2 comes with second-year the baseball farm system is to the majors - a place to grow sponsor Trina Solar and new partners GNC Beverages and talent. If a racer can advance upward, sometimes skipping a Motegi Racing Wheels. LE MANS 3

To Eric Ingraham of Flying Lizard Even with the best-laid plans, travel and back to the U.S. in time for set Motorsports and Don Male, his is not without adventures. “One year up and practice at Lime Rock Park, counterpart at Corvette, the checkered we discovered the night before the race Connecticut, on July 4-7. flag this weekend marks a beginning- that our hotel had a motorcycle stunt The challenge for the Flying Lizards the beginning of a race to the next show and fireworks. We sure didn’t is especially tight-they will have only race, the . get much rest before the race,” said four days in their Sonoma shop to turn Preparing the two-car teams for the Ingraham. around the cars before loading them trip to Le Mans involves NASA-level While the Flying Lizards fly their up and heading back across country details in readying the cars, spares, aboard commercial airliners, for Lime Rock. When Le Mans ends, logistics and team members for the Don Male, the transportation ramrod the race to the next race begins and the June 3 official test day and the June 16- at Pratt & Miller for the Corvette Racing cycle continues. 17 race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, 130 team, takes a two–pronged approach. Flying Lizard Prep miles southwest of Paris, France. Corvette Racing has made the trip and Travel for 24 This will be the eighth Le Mans race to Le Mans each year since 2000, and Hours of Le Mans appearance for the Sonoma-based in 2012 will defend their GT-class May 12: Flying Lizards Motorsports team, but championship. They booked space on ALMS race at Mazda Raceway Laguna according to Ingraham, “We are still a freighter to Liverpool, England, last Seca learning every year at Le Mans. It is month and shipped a race transporter May 14-22: like running three or four ALMS races loaded with essential supplies, Prep race cars and load containers combined.” consumables, fueling equipment May 22-24: “The challenge is not the big things, and chemicals not permitted aboard it is all the little things,” said Ingraham. aircraft. Cars and containers transported to Virgin “If we are missing a bolt, you cannot “We have checklists for everything Atlantic run down to the local hardware store and then we check the lists twice,” said May 24-25: and get it. Is there a hardware store? Male. Commercial flight to London Where is it? How do we get there? Do After the race here in Monterey, May 26-28: they have it? All the simple things at the Corvette transporters will head Customs in London Le Mans are not straightforward and to the team shops in New Hudson, May 29: thus make it challenging.” Michigan, where the cars and 46 crates Containers trucked down to Le Mans The Lizards take their regular of equipment, spare parts, tools and May 29-30: Sebring or Petit Le Mans race crews spare bodywork are prepped for flight Team travels to Le Mans to Le Mans, but the team adds one to Portsmouth, England. very important member: a liaison Once there, they will meet up with May 30-31: representative to help with the the transporter and be ferried to Caen, Team unloads containers at Le Mans language, rules and traditions of Le France, and trucked on to Le Mans. Mans. After a 30-plus hour race day at Le “At Le Mans, every practice session Mans, the Flying Lizard and Corvette is treated like the race,” said Ingraham. teams face the challenges of “All of the rules, like the number of getting all of their equipment, people over the wall, are in force.” race cars and staff packed up

Fixin’TO GO 4 THE FACTORY SHOES

The word “factory” conveys The factory gigs typically pay well, Even the most successful drivers images of smokestacks, time clocks, and best of all, factory drivers get the know that they will reach a point lunch boxes and hard hats. latest cars, updates and go-fast parts. where team bosses ponder bringing The exception lives in the world of Their cars are well prepared and in the next young star. international , where raced by the best teams, with top Some of the best motorsports something magical happens when mechanics, technical boffins and competition in the world today takes factory precedes the word “driver”. PR staff to help promote the drivers place in the ALMS GT class. With A factory driver is, or is expected name and success. The firesuits, factory teams in the GT category, to become, a racing super hero uniforms and team gear are first come factory drivers whose mission capable of testing, developing and rate. Even the hotels and trackside is simple – Beat the other factories! racing a car to great success while amenities are better. , Corvette Racing and entertaining fans, dealers, sponsors, The trade out is that the factory BMW fill key seats with drivers corporate executives and media in driver’s true value is measured chosen and contracted by the events around the globe. in results and tracked every lap factory. The Porsche roster As a racer, being a factory driver on a timing screen for constant includes American carries considerable benefits. comparison to teammates and rivals and Germany’s Joerg Bergmeister Contracts are often multi-year deals, alike. and Marco Holzer at Flying Lizard offering some measure of stability in Unforced errors are unforgiven and at Falken. a world filled with unknowns. errors, sometimes temporarily Bergmeister has 34 ALMS class A few drivers even earn goodwill glossed over, but always written in wins and five ALMS championships ambassador roles that last long after black ink in the factory’s permanent while Long has 20 wins and three their top-level driving careers end. copybook. championships.

PATRICK LONG

THE FACTORY SHOES THE FACTORY SHOES 5

In addition, Henzler has seven earned 33 ALMS class wins and four and the ability to deliver in a high- ALMS class wins and a championship ALMS Championships. pressure team situation, one Le Mans he won co-driving with Bergmeister. SRT Viper will soon join the ALMS winning team leader confides, “We Corvette has successfully started fray, with its own cast of factory want drivers young enough to be here the shift to youth, bringing in drivers combining veteran Marc a while, old enough to have good American and Goossens with , experience, and smart enough to Spain’s Antonio Garcia to pair with Canadian Viper vet realize that this is their career, not F1. veterans, England’s and and IndyCar’s Ryan Hunter-Reay. They need to be team players, have Denmark’s Jan Magnussen. When the FIA World Endurance their personal act together, and fit Gavin and Magnussen have a Championship teams appear at the team culture and chemistry. We combined 61 ALMS class wins while Sebring or next month’s 24 Hours of don’t want whiners or prima donnas. Tommy Milner secured his first ALMS Le Mans, they bring a deep pool of They are going to represent a major win at Long Beach in April. He and factory drivers including ’s Tom company, big sponsors and a lot of Garcia teamed for victory at Le Mans Kristensen, Allan McNish, Dindo people.” last June. Capello, , Timo Prospective drivers should note BMW counters with Americans Bernhard, Andre Lotterer and Benoit that unsolicited resumes are not Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen, and Treluyer. necessary. The factories watch Germany’s Jorg Muller and Dirk These Audi drivers combine for 18 drivers on the track, in the pits and Mueller. Hand will pull double-duty Le Mans wins, including Kristensen’s paddock, at fan events, airports and in 2012, joining BMW in the DTM record eight victories. restaurants. They know who you are Series (German Touring Car) as What do factories look for? In and they have your numbers both well as ALMS. The BMW quartet has addition to speed, technical skills figuratively and literally.

TOMMY MILNER JOERG BERGMEISTER

THE FACTORY SHOES 6 dijyano? Do we have permission to tell them about the tires now? and in the Long Beach race winner’s press conference after keeping the team’s new MICHELIN® ‘street soft’ tires a secret all week.

Dijyano DID YOU KNOW

Imagine touring Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Welcome one of the most scenic tracks in the world, on On ya a bike at twilight. A number of ALMS drivers, to the club crewmembers and sponsors are joining area cycling clubs doing just that on Thursday Corvette Racing’s Tommy Milner scored his first ALMS win at Long Beach. Wins evening. The climb to the top of the Corkscrew are old hat to co-driver Oliver Gavin bike! may be a challenge, but the ride down…priceless. who moves into fourth place in the ALMS career-win list, tied with Dindo Capello at 35 wins…one win behind My Track! Lucas Luhr. They are all chasing Olivier Joerg Bergmeister and Beretta’s record of 41 class wins. Patrick Long apparently Zoom! like the Monterey area. Mazda continues The Flying Lizard Porsche to have more cars duo is the three-time road-raced on any California defending GT class given weekend, on champion at Mazda both the club racing dreamin! Raceway Laguna Seca. and the professional More than a dozen ALMS In fact, they even have level than any other drivers call California a fourth win together brand. In 2012, North home, including BMW’s from their 2005 triumph. American Mazda racers Joey Hand and Bill However, no one likes it here more than Lucas competing on all levels Auberlen, Flying Lizard’s Luhr, who will co-drive the Muscle Milk HPD of the ladder will take , Extreme . Lucas has claimed an impressive six wins part in over 200 races in Speed Motorsports’ in 13 races at the track. He even spreads them out, over a dozen series, at with wins in the ALMS P1, P2 and GT classes. three-dozen tracks. and PC class drivers Tomy Drissi, Henri Richard, Duncan Ende, Ken Dobson, Memo Gidley and Mike Guasch. The ALMS is truly an international series with drivers from more than 15 different More TRUTH countries including: Australia, Austria, Following the award winning Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Ger- Truth in 24 documenting many, Ireland, Mexico, Monaco, Spain, Audi’s dramatic victory at Switzerland, UK, US and Venezuela. the 2008 Le Mans 24 hour comes word that Audi is releasing Truth in 24 II, the Alley Live incredible story of Audi’s 2011 www.michelinalley.com victory. The free download is Follow a live Michelin available this month at Blog with features, www.truthin24.com. race insights, If you remember the great Jim McKay’s signature introduction to ABC’s interviews, videos, Wide World of Sports, just watch this video or ask anyone who followed the photos and highlights race. Audi’s emotional victory after losing not one, but two cars in terrifying from all 2012 ALMS crashes, then fighting off a powerful fleet with the lone remaining events. Audi is great stuff. news 7

Catchthe ACTION The American Le Mans Series and ABC/ESPN con- tinues its broadcast and digital package for the 2012 ALMS season which involves televising the world’s premier sports car series over several ESPN program- MazdaSEBR INGRaceway SCH LagunaEDUL ESeca Schedule ming and media platforms, including ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. Thursday, May 10, 2012 All ALMS races and qualifying sessions will be 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Test Session - ALMS (GT/GTC) broadcast live and in their entirety on ESPN3 and for 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Test Session - ALMS (All Classes) viewers outside the U.S., via ALMS.com. 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Test Session - ALMS (P1/P2/PC) Live streamed coverage of the American Le Mans Friday, May 11, 2012 Monterey race can be viewed on ESPN3.com with 8:10 am - 8:55 am Race #1 - MX-5 Cup television coverage on ESPN2, Sunday, May 13 from 9:10 am - 9:40 am Qualifying - GT3 Cup 5:00 – 7:00 pm (ET). 10:05 am - 10:35 am Race #1 - IMSA Lites The full broadcast will be available on demand on 10:50 am - 11:50 am Practice #1 - ALMS (All Classes) ESPN3.com for three weeks and on AmericanLeMans. 12:20 pm - 1:10 pm Race - World Challenge com after that. 2:35 pm - 3:20 pm Race #1 - GT3 Cup 3:35 pm - 4:35 pm Practice #2 - ALMS (All Classes) 4:45 pm - 5:00 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GTC) 5:00 pm - 5:15 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GT) 5:20 pm - 5:35 pm Qualifying - ALMS (PC) 5:35 pm - 5:50 pm Qualifying - ALMS (P1/P2) Saturday, May 12, 2012 8:00 am - 8:45 am Race #2 - MX-5 Cup 9:10 am - 9:55 am Race #2 - IMSA Lites 10:05 am - 10:25 am Warm Up - ALMS (All Classes) 10:45 am - 11:30 am Race #2 - GT3 Cup - 45 Minutes 11:05 am - 11:45 am ALMS Autograph session 1:30 pm - 7:30 pm Race - American Le Mans Monterey Presented by Patrón for ALMS - Round (3) - 6 hours

2012 ALMS Schedule ALMS TV and Broadband Schedule 17 March Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring, FL Fri. May 11 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying 14 April Long Beach Grand Prix, CA (7:45 – 8:50 pm Eastern) Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA 12 May Sat. May 12 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage 7 July Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, CT (4:15 - 10:45 pm Eastern) 22 July Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Canada Sun. May 13 ESPN2 Televised Race Coverage 4 August Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH (5:00 - 7:00 pm Eastern) 18 August , Elkhart Lake, WI 1 September Baltimore Grand Prix, Baltimore, MD 15 September Virginia International Raceway, Danville, VA 20 October Petit Le Mans, , GA Fan Favorites CORVETTE LOLA / MAZDA

Magnussen/Garcia Dyson/Smith 3 Gavin/Milner 16 Dunlop Michelin 4 Corvette Racing Lola B12/60 & Lola B11/66 Corvette C6 ZR1

ORECA PORSCHE

Graf/Luhr 25 Richard/Ende/Lewis 44 Neiman/Holzer 6 Michelin Michelin Bergmeister/Long Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Dempsey Racing Michelin HPD ARX-03a FLM09 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Click below to view Muscle Milk athlete and Green Bay Packers’ star Clay BMW Matthews thoughts on the American Le Mans Series

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Auberlen/J. Müller Sharp/van Overbeek 55 Hand/D. Mueller 01 Brown/Cosmo Dunlop Michelin LMP1 CLASS 56 BMW Team RLL 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports BMW E92 M3 Italia LMP2 CLASS LMPC CLASS ORECA GT CLASS

Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, May 9, 2012 • Volume 6, Issue 3 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2012 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bennett/Braun Fernandez/Turner 05 Popow/Kimber-Smith 007 Michelin Michelin Printed on recycled paper • 10% Total Recovered Fiber 06 CORE autosport Aston Martin Vantage All Post-Consumed Fiber Oreca FLM09