Racetrack Insider - News and Views of the Motorsports Industry from Insiders Drew Patey and Buddy Judy

De Ferran Dominates at Mid Ohio

The De Ferran Motorsports Acura - Safety-Kleen sponsored team scored their fourth consecutive American Le Mans Series victory at Mid-Ohio on Saturday. Simon Pagenaud and team boss Gil de Ferran led from start to the finish in a race that saw no strong challengers. The Highcroft Racing with driver Scott Sharp and David Brabham came into contact with a backmarker and never was able to chase down the De Ferran car. Third place went to the LMP2-winning Safety-Kleen supported Fernandez Racing Acura driven by Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz. The Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-RSR driven by Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long dominated the GT2 class. Bergmeister led from the start and Long took the victory after deciding to stay out during the final yellow. The car had just enough fuel to make the finish and score the team's fifth GT2 win in a row. The new GT2 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R claimed second place on its debut. Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen ran second throughout the race, but were never able to mount a challenge for victory. The second car, driven by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta, lost a podium in the closing stages when Dirk Muller edged past in the best of the Rahal-run BMW M3s. Thanks to Keith and the Safety-Kleen crew from Kent, Ohio for setting up the track and servicing the teams this weekend.