TOOELE, Utah, May 19, 2007 - Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) recorded their fourth LM P1 win of the season when the defending champions came from the back of the grid this evening to finish second overall with the "sister” Audi R10 TDI of Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) completing a Diesel Power class 1-2 for Audi in the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Having qualified eighth fastest, the top-seven places taken by LM P2 cars, Capello started the 165-minute race from the back of the 26-car grid after opting to change tires following a spin in qualifying with Pirro now eighth.
A phenomenal start by Pirro saw the Italian incredibly snatch the lead entering the first corner with Capello moving up to second at 22 min. after a full course yellow. Leader Pirro pitted for a full service after 58 min., Werner resuming in seventh while new leader Capello handed to McNish 10 min. later, rejoining in fifth ahead of Werner.
McNish and Werner moved up to first and third on 93 min., both Audis requiring one more stop, the second-placed LM P2 #6 Porsche having made its final pit-stop on the 4.5-mile Miller Motorsports Park track - the longest on the ALMS calendar.
Werner and McNish pitted with 51 min. and 35 min. to run respectively, both taking on fuel and tires, Marco and Allan resuming in eighth and second respectively and taking the checkered flag in second and sixth places overall - McNish just 9.932-sec. behind the winning #6 (Briscoe/Maassen).
OK, now that we’ve seen that diesel power can compete, when are we going to see electrics, hybrids, bio diesel, hydrogen and the whole host of alternatives competing on the track? The clash of technology is what once made racing interesting. It was a test of technology and ingenuity that gave meaning to “race on Sunday, sell on Monday.” For now, the show belongs to Audi.
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