By the American Le Mans Series
Gil de Ferran won his third straight pole position at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Friday... seven years since his last.
The storybook debut season for De Ferran Motorsports continued with de Ferran's first pole in the American Le Mans Series, a record-breaking 1:07.969 (119.596 mph) for the Acura Sports Car Challenge.
The two-time CART and former Indianapolis 500 winner qualified 0.224 seconds ahead of Patrón Highcroft Racing's David Brabham.
De Ferran has a lengthy history at Mid-Ohio with consecutive pole positions in 2000 and 2001 with Team Penske's CART operation. He finished second both years.
Coincidentally, one of his closest challengers to Friday's pole was Penske's Timo Bernhard in a Porsche RS Spyder. Bernhard, who turned a lap of 1:08.238, and Romain Dumas have won the last two years at Mid-Ohio.
LMP1
Marco Werner took his second LMP1 pole in three events with a 1:08.357 (118.917 mph), another class record, in the Audi R10 TDI that he will drive with Lucas Luhr. Werner won in class last season with Emanuele Pirro and surprised himself with his qualifying time.
Next in P1 and seventh overall was Audi teammate Dindo Capello at 1:08.960 (117.877 mph) in the R10 TDI that he will drive with Pirro.
Intersport Racing's Lola B06/10-AER of Clint Field qualified third in class at 1:11.053 (114.405 mph). He will drive with his father Jon and Richard Berry.
The top six cars qualified within 0.538 seconds of each other.
GT1
Corvette Racing's Johnny O'Connell continued a dominating weekend in the Corvette C6.R that he will pilot with Jan Magnussen and exacted a bit of revenge in the process.
O'Connell captured the GT1 pole with a lap of 1:17.900 (104.349 mph) for a gap of 0.429 seconds back to Olivier Beretta in the sister Corvette. O'Connell's and Magnussen have been the quickest GT1 pairing in each session so far this weekend.
GT2
Jaime Melo took his first GT2 pole position of the season, and Risi Competizione continued its upward trend. Melo's late lap of 1:20.025 in his Ferrari F430 GT nipped Farnbacher Loles Racing's Dirk Werner and his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR by 0.174 seconds.
The top four cars qualified within 0.299 seconds with Flying Lizard Motorsports' Wolf Henzler placing third at 1:20.226. Henzler will team with championship co-leader Jörg Bergmeister in one of three Lizard Porsches.
The Acura Sports Car Challenge is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Acura Sports Car Challenge ; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Friday's qualifying
1. Simon Pagenaud, France; Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:07.969, 119.60
2. Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; David Brabham, Australia; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.193, 119.20
3. Romain Dumas, France; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:08.238, 119.12
4. Raphael Matos, Brazil; Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.320, 118.98
5. Lucas Luhr, Germany; Marco Werner, Germany; Audi AG R10/TDI (P1), 1:08.357, 118.92
Gil de Ferran won his third straight pole position at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Friday... seven years since his last.
The storybook debut season for De Ferran Motorsports continued with de Ferran's first pole in the American Le Mans Series, a record-breaking 1:07.969 (119.596 mph) for the Acura Sports Car Challenge.
The two-time CART and former Indianapolis 500 winner qualified 0.224 seconds ahead of Patrón Highcroft Racing's David Brabham.
De Ferran has a lengthy history at Mid-Ohio with consecutive pole positions in 2000 and 2001 with Team Penske's CART operation. He finished second both years.
Coincidentally, one of his closest challengers to Friday's pole was Penske's Timo Bernhard in a Porsche RS Spyder. Bernhard, who turned a lap of 1:08.238, and Romain Dumas have won the last two years at Mid-Ohio.
LMP1
Marco Werner took his second LMP1 pole in three events with a 1:08.357 (118.917 mph), another class record, in the Audi R10 TDI that he will drive with Lucas Luhr. Werner won in class last season with Emanuele Pirro and surprised himself with his qualifying time.
Next in P1 and seventh overall was Audi teammate Dindo Capello at 1:08.960 (117.877 mph) in the R10 TDI that he will drive with Pirro.
Intersport Racing's Lola B06/10-AER of Clint Field qualified third in class at 1:11.053 (114.405 mph). He will drive with his father Jon and Richard Berry.
The top six cars qualified within 0.538 seconds of each other.
GT1
Corvette Racing's Johnny O'Connell continued a dominating weekend in the Corvette C6.R that he will pilot with Jan Magnussen and exacted a bit of revenge in the process.
O'Connell captured the GT1 pole with a lap of 1:17.900 (104.349 mph) for a gap of 0.429 seconds back to Olivier Beretta in the sister Corvette. O'Connell's and Magnussen have been the quickest GT1 pairing in each session so far this weekend.
GT2
Jaime Melo took his first GT2 pole position of the season, and Risi Competizione continued its upward trend. Melo's late lap of 1:20.025 in his Ferrari F430 GT nipped Farnbacher Loles Racing's Dirk Werner and his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR by 0.174 seconds.
The top four cars qualified within 0.299 seconds with Flying Lizard Motorsports' Wolf Henzler placing third at 1:20.226. Henzler will team with championship co-leader Jörg Bergmeister in one of three Lizard Porsches.
The Acura Sports Car Challenge is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Acura Sports Car Challenge ; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Friday's qualifying
1. Simon Pagenaud, France; Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:07.969, 119.60
2. Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; David Brabham, Australia; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.193, 119.20
3. Romain Dumas, France; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:08.238, 119.12
4. Raphael Matos, Brazil; Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.320, 118.98
5. Lucas Luhr, Germany; Marco Werner, Germany; Audi AG R10/TDI (P1), 1:08.357, 118.92