Fantastic finish at Sears point!

**Adam43** · 20 May 2002, 10:45 (Ref:290107)

From sporting-life (PA press)

Quote:

HERBERT TAKES SECOND PLACE 'SIDEWAYS'

The 37-year-old former Grand Prix ace - driving an ADT Champion Audi with co-driver Tom Kristensen - finished second, just 0.482 seconds behind the winning Panoz of David Brabham/Jan Magnussen, at Sears Point in California after an action-packed 165-minute race.

Pole-sitter Kristensen shadowed the leading Panoz on the flooded 2.52-mile circuit for 70 minutes before diving in to the lead as the track surface dried.

Twenty minutes later Herbert took over from Kristensen and dropped to second place only for disaster to almost strike.

"The tyres were very cold and I had no grip which cost me the lead after I'd replaced Tom," confirmed Herbert.

"Soon afterwards, a back-marker pulled straight across me as I came down the hill at about 170 miles per hour and we touched.

"It punctured my front right tyre but as I drove the car back to the pits, the (factory) Audi crashed off causing a full course yellow which thankfully allowed me to resume back in second place after my pit-stop but now a full lap down to the leading Panoz."

With 30 minutes to run, Herbert trailed the leader by 77secs but a blinding drive saw him begin the final lap just 5.9secs in arrears with the track now bone dry.

He added: "There was a slow car in between us as we came out of the last corner. It moved over on me and I was forced into the wall as we went across the finish line - I spun and took the chequered flag going sideways across the line."

Herbert had been scheduled to contest the final Indianapolis 500 qualifying session and then fly to Sears, north of San Francisco. But with rain forecast at Indy, any delay would have thwarted the Briton's ambitious plans to "bridge" the near-3,000 mile venues so he decided to head for Sears early.

"I'm tremendously disappointed to have missed out at Indy but at least my day ultimately turned out okay - just about - with me taking the series lead after two races."

Wow! sounds like a good race. Well done to the Panoz team! Well done to Johnny.

Can't wait to see this on telly later in the week...

Will Johnny finish sideways at Le Mans?

FG1 · 20 May 2002, 10:59 (Ref:290129)

26/05/2002, 20:00 CET (19:00 BST) Eurosport.

Put in Diary now!

**Adam43** · 20 May 2002, 11:21 (Ref:290153)

Sunday. Argh. That'll need some video action. I'm be coming back from Rockingham...

Thanks for the info

Lee Janotta · 20 May 2002, 13:51 (Ref:290428)

Herbert cost himself and his team this win by missing practice and qualifying. Drove like his was in NASCAR for much of the race. Really lowered my opinion of him...

freeze · 20 May 2002, 15:27 (Ref:290500)

A well deserve win after a great drive from both drivers of the 50 car. I was happy to see Biella or Capello (I can't remenber) was alright after his shunt. It looked horifying!

As for Herbert, he needs to review his comments. You tell me if that ''back-marker pulled straight in front of him'' or what? I was also very disappointed that Champion didn't put Andy Wallace in the car especially after Johnny escapade at Indy.

Are we going to see the MG's potential in the rain ???

I'm looking forward to a great battle in GTS when every teams are back in full force.

Es Nes · 21 May 2002, 00:32 (Ref:291008)

piro had the big off ...

im still wondering what happened. im guessing while pirro tring to avoid going down a lap, jan hit him, cutting pirros tyre down and around he went

BobN · 21 May 2002, 01:13 (Ref:291024)

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Herbert cost himself and his team this win by missing practice and qualifying. Drove like his was in NASCAR for much of the race. Really lowered my opinion of him...

Herbert was there for Friday's practice and drove 2 stints. I don't see how he cost his team a win. If they had stopped to put Wallace in the car they finish third.

I still think the optional (as it turns out) third man should have been Kristensen. Who cost them a win is Audi itself. They should have brought their own cars. They showed up with TWO transporters for one car. The second one wandered around Saturaday for awhile while trying to find a place to put it.

If the rain had stayed it would have been a walkover by Panoz.

Bob

pink69 · 21 May 2002, 07:56 (Ref:291161)

I'm still rueing the day ITV didgital went bust. Damm you! Sounds like one hell of a race. Well done Panoz and what a finish. My I also point out that there is a Le Mans re-run this friday on Driven At Le Mans at about 9:30pm

Es Nes · 21 May 2002, 17:56 (Ref:291710)

revised gts podium

**Adam43** · 27 May 2002, 11:01 (Ref:297340)

Quote:

Originally posted by FG1
26/05/2002, 20:00 CET (19:00 BST) Eurosport.

Put in Diary now!

Due to ineptitude I didn't record this. Does anyone know if it is repeated?

FG1 · 27 May 2002, 11:12 (Ref:297353)

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamAshmore

Due to ineptitude I didn't record this. Does anyone know if it is repeated?

It wasn't that good. They completely missed the excitement at the end.

If you are desperate you can send me a PM and a cassette and I will copy it for you.

FG

rdjones · 27 May 2002, 11:24 (Ref:297376)

I dod not see it, again band from watching sport by housemate who wanted to watcfh Corrie, as for a repeat, no chance it is now 2 weeks wall to wall Tennis on Eurosport, so I will just have to watch out for it on late night Channel 5....

**Adam43** · 27 May 2002, 11:32 (Ref:297388)

If they missed the end then I don't think I'll bother, but thanks for the offer FG1.

I'll be getting a decent sporstcar (and Johnny!) fix in just a couple of weeks anyway!

rdjones · 27 May 2002, 11:40 (Ref:297400)

I listen to race on the ALMS radio web last week and it sound like a thriller to me, roll on three weeks time....

**Aysedasi** · 27 May 2002, 12:05 (Ref:297416)

Quote:

Originally posted by freeze

Are we going to see the MG's potential in the rain ???

NO!

Fab · 27 May 2002, 12:16 (Ref:297432)

Quote:

Originally posted by FG1
It wasn't that good. They completely missed the excitement at the end

And they missed all the events of the race ! They showed the cars after they crash, and we never saw why ! Quite bad covering... and I agree with Francis, extremely bad cover of the last dash of the Audi on the Panoz... and even missed the checkered flag on the cars !

choked_wasp · 27 May 2002, 21:09 (Ref:297941)

Dangerously close to injury's http://www.motorsportvisions.com/spl...s/sp02_147.htm

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