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Audi Presents Petit Le Mans

06/10/2001

Qualifying Report

LMP 900 - 675

© Janos Wimpffen

Qualifying begins for Jon Field much as the practice had been going, as the Lola driver spins on the out lap. It’s Pirro, Collard, Johansson in that order during the early laps of the Prototype session. Kristensen tops them with a near record breaking 1:10.971 a few moments later. Scott Maxwell has the early 675 lead with the no. 57 Reynard-Judd.

The Cadillacs continue to run well in 5th and 6th (Collard and Angelelli). They had elected to skip morning practice. That looks to have been a good choice. James Weaver seems to be having a troubled time, culminating in a spin, and a black flag stoppage for the entire field. This has badly hurt Johnny Herbert, who had just taken the Champion Audi out for the first time. It gets even worse as he gets chopped by Jon Field. Both cars spin and face backwards. The Lola rights itself, while Herbert inadvisedly drives the wrong way to a nearby escape road, nearly getting collected by a batch of cars.

Brabham is on a tear with the Panoz and takes the outside front row spot away from Audi. Meanwhile there are fireworks in 675. De Radigues, as expected, takes over the top spot in the class, but Jordi Gene is letting him know that the Reynard-VW is no pushover. Gene nips the Belgian’s time, only to have the Barbour car return the favor the next time around. De Radigues takes one more tour before being satisfied and pulling in. Gene continues trying, but has a slight spin in the process.

Herbert pits for repairs and quickly returns with time for about four good laps. He quickly puts the Champion car into the top four. Kristensen had pitted earlier, but Joest sends him back out with Brabham dangerously creeping forward...

...but it’s the other Audi of Pirro that turns up the wick and bumps the Panoz from the front row. It remains this way, with one last change being that Stefan Johansson takes the privateer Audi prize over Herbert - by nine thousandths.