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Three of the four class qualifying track records were broken Saturday afternoon in qualifying for Sunday's American Le Mans Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway.
ALMS tried out a new qualifying format, for this weekend only, and so far it's received passing grades. It's a variation of the single-file qualifying used by NASCAR and
Formula One, in that the cars are spaced out but aren't alone on the track, just not in traffic.
MARCO WERNER is on the pole for the ALMS sprint race, with a record time of 1:22.320. He drove the #38 Champion ADT Audi R8 faster than existing LMP1 qualifying track record of 1:22.615 set by TOM KRISTENSEN in 2002. Werner's co-driver is JJ LEHTO.
"It is very close, but we are in front," Werner said, "Everyone knows, if you have a Dyson on your tail, it's not a good thing."
CLINT FIELD earned his first LMP2 pole with a time of 1:28.952, and will start sixth overall. His was the only class where the existing qualifying track record was not broken. Field's co-drivers will be his father, JON FIELD and ROBIN LIDDELL of the UK, who was fastest in the P2 class on Friday. They are driving the Intersport Racing Lola B2K/40 Judd P2. Clint field said "It's definitely a good feeling".
OLIVER GAVIN is on pole for the GTS class with a time of 1:28.042. He races for the factory in #4 Compuware Corvette, and teams with OLIVIER BERETTA. Gavin broke his own record of 1:30.609 set last year. He said afterwards that the new format was "a lot of fun".
ROMAIN DUMAS was fastest in the GT class with a record-breaking time of 1:34.244. He drives with in McKenna/mail2web.com Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Dumas broke the qualifying record of 1:36.177 set last year by JORG BERGMEISTER - not an easy feat considering it was the first time at Infineon for Dumas.
"I'm really happy," he said, "I really like this track."
All cars passed the mandatory post-qualifying technical inspection. ALMS does not require the qualifying driver start the race, but most opted for that scenario. One notable exception is DALE EARNHARDT Jr, who will start the race, before turning the #8 Compuware Corvette over to BORIS SAID, who qualified the car third in the GTS class, and seventh overall.
![#38 Champion Audi on the pole [Pic credit: ALMS / Dan Boyd]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/101409.jpg)
