Aside from O'Connell's love of the speed and potential danger element of Le Mans, Scott Maxwell from the Multimatic Panoz squad provided an insight into the personal and mental requirements of a race that has no parallel anywhere in the world.
"I am a bit of a motorsport historian and I always remember being a little bit in awe when I first drove out the pit lane back in 2000, this race is always a highlight of the year," enthused Maxwell.
"The toughest part of Le Mans is the discipline," added Maxwell, "you have to race within yourself and not get caught up in the chase. As you get physically and mentally tired, it can be easy to make mistakes, particularly as daylight breaks on Sunday morning."
Outside the cockpit the buzz is equally strong, even if, for some, the rigours that accompany the massive scale of the race do tend to wear a bit after so many years.
"I grew up with people like Alain Prost sleeping in our bedroom," said the ALMS' chief operating officer Tim Mayer. "I've been very spoiled and somewhat jaded when it comes to what is special for other people. But no one can be unmoved by the history and historical significance of Le Mans, that moment right before the start of the race is one of the most electric moments in motorsports. It's one of the few iconic moments in racing - even for someone who has seen it all since he was a teenager."
