Tough track and half-day of racing challenge teams

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David Brabham on Sebring: "This is probably our toughest race"

In its 57th running, the 12-hour race is America's oldest sports car race

SEBRING, Fla. (AP) -- David Brabham expects Saturday's 12-hour race at Sebring International Raceway to feel a lot longer than half a day.

"You know, when you're driving a brand new car in an endurance race, and especially on a demanding track like this one, it can be a very, very long day,'' said Brabham, who will co-drive one of two all-new Acura ARX 02a in the 57th edition of America's oldest sports car race.

The season-opening American Le Mans Series event, which gets under way at 10:30 a.m., includes cars running in four classes. But most of the focus will be on the elite LMP1 category that includes two of the radically different Acuras, two all-new Audi R15s and two Peugeot 908s, a car that made its race debut here last year.

The much-anticipated battle began Thursday with those six cars sweeping the top six qualifying spots. But that was just the first challenge.

"This is probably our toughest race,'' Brabham explained. "It's the first one and, with a new program, it's just been flat-out the whole way leading up to this event. You go out there, you've got high expectations. If something goes wrong, you go back and fix it.

"All the emotions flying around (in testing), then you see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. You get better and better and better, and you come here to the race. A month ago, it was tough. But we're feeling quietly optimistic we can have a good run.''

Dario Franchitti, who will co-drive the Patron Highcroft Racing entry with Brabham and Scott Sharp, echoed his teammate.

"With all the new cars, its really hard to know what to expect,'' he said. "All I know for sure is we're going to focus on what is happening in our car and try to be there at the end.''

Reliability is always a key to winning an endurance race, and no one knows for sure how the new cars will respond in such a long race on a very bumpy 3.7-mile, 17-turn airport circuit that is tough on drivers and even proven race cars.

Scott Dixon has already pulled off one major - and unexpected - feat this week, winning the pole in the new Acura he will share on Saturday with team owner Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud.

But that was just one fast lap.

"Like any long distance race, it is all down to reliability,'' said Dixon, like Franchitti and de Ferran former Indianapolis 500 winners. "We had some issues (with the car) in the early testing, but things have smoothed out this week. .. But this is a brand new car. We have proved we are quick, now we have to be consistent.''

That may not be an easy task.

"We have a huge mountain to climb in terms of understanding the car,'' Brabham said. "I've done this race a lot of times now and the key is always consistency. Stay out of trouble, just in and out, in and out. Do not spend any more time in the pits than necessary. There's no rocket science to it. If something does go, we've learned something for the future.''

Nic Minassian, who will co-drive one of the Peugeots with Pedro Lamy and Christian Klien, knows all about bringing a new car here.

A year ago, that trio drove the French team's only Sebring entry and finished 11th in the car's debut after experiencing electrical problems early and then suspension problems later in the race.

"I think it is often a wake-up call here,'' Minassian said. "You're testing all winter, doing this and that, and you arrive at this place and you really have to push like hell in the car to just have a feel of something, to have some speed.

"Then something goes wrong and you just have to deal with it and get what you can out of it.''

Last year's Le Mans winners Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello will share one of the new Audis, while the other will be manned by Marco Werner, Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller. The second Peugeot will be co-driven by Franck Montagny, Stephane Sarrazin and four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais.

"We're all going to have a real test in this race,'' McNish said. "It should be a really good show for everyone and a lot of fun for the drivers.''

As usual, promoters are expecting a crowd of more than 100,000 to show up for the event that is a combination of racing and carnival.

Brabham, whose father wrapped up the first of three Formula One championships with a fourth-place finish here 50 years ago, loves coming to Sebring.

"When you think back on the drivers and the cars that have raced at this circuit, it's phenomenal,'' the Australian said. "This year's battle will just add to that value. We'll look back in 10 years time and go, 'Wow, that was a pretty cool time to be involved in racing at Sebring.' "

"Apart from Le Mans in Europe, you don't get this kind of atmosphere,'' Minassian said. "The fans are so much a part of the racing and part of everything. As tough as this track is, it's a pleasure to come here.''

Whoever is out front at 10:30 Saturday night will probably appreciate Sebring even more.