European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday March 17 2007 stars and stripes Page 33 hallowed racing ground former military base Home to Sebring race by Mike Harris the associated press for sports car aficionados the third saturday in March is one of the most special Days of the year that when the 12hour endur Ance race is run at Sebring Fla on a Road course built atop what began in 1941 As a world War ii b17 training base while few remnants of that Airfield remain the 55th edition of the Sebring race will be run on a track that includes portions of the runways fans and Drivers alike feel the history of what is the oldest sports car event in the us Sebring Long has been More than a race and its festive Atmo sphere and International follow ing bring in an Eclectic crowd spiced with celebrities College students on Spring break and fans from around the world Ive always watched these bring race said irl indy car series Star Tony Kanaan who will debut an Acura powered Proto Type for Andretti Green racing in the historic event Ive been there Many times for testing on the Short course but being Able to join All the names the race itself and the tradition and adding that to my resume is exciting the list of former Sebring win ners includes Phil Hill Stirling Moss Juan Manuel Fangio Dan Gurney Mario Andretti Jim Hall Jacky icky Al Holbert Bobby Rahal Arie Luyendyk Brian Redman and a Foyt some of the biggest stars from formula one Lascar Champ car and the irl indy car series have driven at Sebring although the last Lascar Driver to be part of a winning team there was Terry Labonte in 1984 in the it class the race which has been part of several different series Over the years is now the season opener for the american be mans series started in 1999 by Don Panoz former chairman of Elan pharmaceutical and creator of the nicotine Patch Panoz came up with the idea of running an american race series that has ties to Europe Premier sports car event the 24 hours of be mans in its eighth year the alms re Mains a Niche series targeting High end demographics and vying with the much bigger Lascar and its sister sports car series grand am for sponsor ship dollars and attention but the alms is growing Scott Atherton president and ceo of the alms Points out the series has experienced a steady Rise in not Only attendance and television viewership but also Sextel cur race 4 kobalt tools 500 at Atlanta motor Speedway Hampton a 3 am monday get of extra last race Jimmie Johnson beat teammate Jeff Gordon to win his third straight Sextel cup race at Las vegas motor Speedway the defend ing series Champion had few problems navigating his Way around the track which was under in tense scrutiny All weekend because of changes owner Bruton Smith made last year Kasey Kahne won the rain Post Pond Golden Corral 500 it was the Sec Ond Victory of his career Driver to watch Jeff Gordon finished in the top six in both races in at Lanta last year and has won on Atlanta motor Speedway four times in his career quietly sitting in second place in the Points Gordon stands in position to make a statement this weekend Steve Penske ratings Timo Bernhard above accelerates into turn 5 wednesday during the afternoon practice for the american be mans series 12 hours of Sebring at the Sebring International raceway in Sebring Fla Audi sport North America Driver Tom Kristensen left sits in pit Row during the morning practice corporate partners web traffic merchandise sales and Auto manufacturer participation our series is driven by our manufacturers who Are the Premium brands of the automotive Industry porsche Audi Ferrari Acura Corvette Aston Martin and others Atherton said like Lascar which begins each season with its biggest event the Daytona 500 the alms opens with its super bowl this years race sponsored by Mobil 1 features four classes and the debut of prototypes from Acura porsche and Mazda All hoping to Challenge the Audi juggernaut Winner of seven consecutive Sebring races Corvette Ferrari Aston Martin Panoz and Sev eral other makes also will com Pete in the event this really is a tremendous experience for me said two time Indianapolis 500 Winner Helio Driver standings after 3 of 36 races 1 Mark Martin 485 2 Jeff gordon489 3 Jeff Burton 453 4 Jimmie johnson4o6 5 Matt kenseth397 6 Kevin harvick389 7 Kyte busch382 8 Denny Hamlin 374 9 Ujj yetey365 10 Elliott sadler342 11 David Stremme 339 12 David Gilliland 335 13 Tony Stewart 332 14 Robby gordon330 15 Ryan newman328 16 Greg a Kate 326 17 Carl Edwards 325 18 dint bowyer324 19 David Ragan 322 20 Joe Nemechek 308 Castr Neves who will drive a new porsche is spider for pen see racing on saturday this Type of racing is not just about being fast you have to be consistent As Well when Roger pen see decided to give me this Opportunity i was very excited Audi which made history last year by becoming the first manufacturer to win an endurance race with a diesel engine taking both Sebring and be mans is Back to defend its Sebring title and is a heavy favorite Tom Kristensen who set a record last year with his fourth be bring win again will team with Allan Mcnish and Rinaldo Capello in one Audi while the other will be shared by Emanuele Pirro Marco Werner and Frank Biela Kristensen warned the Competition that this years Audi is even better Busch series this week Nicomette 300 at Hampton a delayed pm sunday last race Jeff Burton nudged a spinning Kyle Busch across the finish line saturday to win a chaotic caution marred Sams town 300 the race had 12 cautions for 58 laps and the pos race debate overshadowed a spectacular finish that denied Busch a Victory on his Home track last Yean Jeff Burton passed Matt Kenseth with 20 laps remaining and raced away to his first Lascar Busch series Victory in four years next race Sharpie mini 300 March 24 Bris Tol Tenn visibly you cant see a differ ence Kristensen said but be cause of the diesel engine and to get it drivable there have been quite a lot of things done to the electronics and taking feedback from the Drivers and getting to know the feedback of the differ ent circuit characteristics we have improved things in terms of Springs and Roll bars and the car is closer to being on the limit one Driver who really feels the sense of history at Sebring is Gra Ham Rahal the 18yearold son of Bobby Rahal and considered one of americas fastest rising racing stars he will drive a porsche for Rahal Letterman racing i May be Young but everyone in racing understands the significance of Sebring and what win Ning this event Means on a Drivers resume said Rahal whose Grandfather Mike Rahal also raced in the event this is a very special race craftsman trucks this week american commercial lines 200 at Hampton a last race Mark Martin was dominating the race at California Speedway before Ron Hornaday or bumped him out of the Lead on a restart with five laps to go Mike Skinner jumped past Hornaday earning the Victory last year a spectacular four wide pass gave Todd Bodine the Lead and the Momen Tum to pick up his first Victory of the season Bodine finished second behind Martin in the first two events of the season next race Kroger 250 March 31 Martins Ville a formula one this week australian grand prix at Mel Bourne last year Fernando Alonso held off Kimi Raikkonen at the australian grand prix for his second win of the season on his Way to a second consecutive Al title Michael Schuma Cher crashed in the 33rd Lap fast facts Alonso will open his title defense by taking the prestigious no 1 signifying him As Champion to Mclaren this season Alon sos teammate is Lewis Hamilton a 21yearold englishman who is the sports first Black Driver he took the seat that opened when Juan Pablo Montoya left for Lascar this will be the first Al season without Michael Schumacher in nearly two de Cades the seven time Champion retired Kimi Raikkonen has moved from Mclaren to Ferrari filling Schumacher place next race malaysian grand prix april 8 Kuala Bumpur see Driver standings on Page 32 for More coverage