Testing Begins At SIR

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - Race teams in search of any advantage they can get in preparations for the upcoming American Le Mans Series season are trickling in to the Sebring International Raceway to put cars, tires and teams through the paces.

On Thursday, Team Cadillac was joined by Dyson Racing, Penske and the Flying Lizard at the historic track to signal the beginning of the '08 testing season.

In 2007, driver Andy Pilgrim propelled Cadillac to the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT manufacturers championship with a victory in the series' season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

This season, Team Cadillac added 2004 SPEED World Challenge GT Rookie of the Year Michael McCann, who returns to the track where he enjoyed his first victory.

"I won here in 2006 driving a Viper," McCann said. "I love this track, but these three days are for me to get used to this new car."

McCann, who was the 2000 and 2002 Viper Racing League Champion, had four top-10 finishes last season in the SPEED World Challenge and 12th in the points standings.

This testing session marks the first full-team test for Cadillac and McCann, and getting the chance to test out new tires in a semi-private environment gives the team a more intense walk through.

That doesn't mean it is easy for the man between the seat and the wheel, who has been challenged by the task of getting use to the CTS-V compared to the powerful Viper.

"When you're driving a Viper, it is almost point and shoot," McCann said. "But it doesn't handle well in the corners. In the Cadillac, it handles a lot better and much smoother, but it has its nuances.
"I'm still getting up to speed."

The sounds of racing were not as boisterous as they will be in March, but the quality of the competition at SIR was at a premium.

Penske and Dyson racing were running simulated running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, while Flying Lizard Racing, who is entering its sixth season in the American Le Mans Series, put the Porsche 911 (GT3) through the paces around the rugged course.

But it was Dyson Racing's Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2) which added some excitement to the testing session, as they spun out heading into turn 4, nearly colliding with the Penske Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), who swerved into the grass to avoid an accident. Just before the track officials were poised to fly the yellow flag, the Dyson was off and running to the pits.

Teams wrap up testing today, with Acura coming in on Tuesday before the official ALMS Winter Test begins on Jan. 28.