Penske Racing's Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas had to settle for the runners-up spot on Saturday at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, the latest round in the American Le Mans Series.
The #7 Penske Porsche RS Spyder took the lead at the one-hour mark just before a 25-minute yellow flag, and led for an hour and 43 minutes before being overhauled by David Brabham's Acura in the closing stages.
Both the Porsche and the Acura spent the last 30 minutes trying to stay out of trouble created by slower traffic, a marginal fuel supply, and a track littered with dirt and rocks from previous mishaps during the race.
Bernhard, who held the lead for most of that time, built a 10-15 second lead at one point, only to get stuck behind a gaggle of GT cars and have the margin cut right back.
Two laps from the end - only 90 seconds from the finish - Brabham attempted to pass Timo on the outside. Bernard stuck the nose of the car on the inside line, but the Acura cut him off, and Timo thus had to slam on the brakes, locking up the rear end and spinning onto the grass.
"I thought I could go faster than him, but I had bad luck in traffic, and he caught up to me," Bernard explained. "When he cut in front of me, I ran out of room on the inside line, and would have crashed into the barrier if I held that line. I decided it was better to spin and avoid contact, thus making sure I finished second, than it was to crash and put our season points in danger."
The sister Penske Porsche of Patrick Long and Sascha Maassen meanwhile took third spot, despite a pit lane mixed up and a one-minute penalty, which was handed out following a collision with the #20 Dyson Racing Porsche RS Spyder of Butch Leitzinger and Marino Franchitti.
