Porsche Performs the Finish Line Pit Manuever on Corvette C6R for ALMS Win

[PistonsFan]

Porsche Performs the Finish Line Pit Maneuver on Corvette C6R for ALMS Win
By PistonsFan

Last weekend, race fans were treated with another nail-biting GT2 battle in the final race of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) held at Laguna Seca. Unfortunately, the excitement was devastating for the Corvette C6.R.

In the final minutes of the race, the Corvette (driven by Jan Magnussen) was the faster car, but the Porsche (driven by Joerg Bergmeister) was not about to give up its 1st place spot in the final minutes.

At one point the Corvette passed the Porsche by dropping onto the pit lane exit road. Soon after, race officials deemed it an illegal pass and requested that the Corvette let the Porsche re-take the lead. In no time, the Corvette was right back on the tail of the Porsche. In the end, it came down to the final straightaway and Joerg wasn't having it. In the final stretch, the Corvette went for the pass on approach to the finish line. The Porsche forced the Vette into the wall, clipped the Corvette's rear corner, put into a violent spin into the opposite wall just feet before the finish, and the Porsche took the final win of the ALMS GT2 season.

+ YouTube Video

Watch 1:40 through 3:35.

[PistonsFan]

I was really disappointed that race officials didn't disqualify Joerg. That was a dangerous move. The Corvette was clearly faster.

Some might argue that the Corvette initiated the contact at the start of the straight but a "little" contact was expected after the Porsche had been blocking for the last 10 minutes.

Joerg got it from the fans though. Nobody liked what he did and he knew it.

...oh, and Magnussen walked away from the accident without any serious injuries. That was very fortunate.

[mikmak]

Wow. What happened after that? Surely there was fisticuffs. Actually was the driver okay? It was a pretty hard hit.

edit: Oh, questions answered.

Originally Posted by PistonsFan

I was really disappointed that race officials did disqualify Joerg. That was a dangerous move. The Corvette was clearly faster.

Some might argue that the Corvette initiated the contact at the start of the straight but a "little" contact was expected after the Porsche had been blocking for the last 10 minutes.

Joerg got it from the fans though. Nobody liked what he did and he knew it.

...oh, and Magnussen walked away from the accident without any serious injuries. That was very fortunate.

Do you mean "did" or "didn't" disqualify Joerg?

[mbukukanyau]

Bottom, line, Porsche could not win fair and square

[tbirderic]

I don't see what the fuss is all about. Both drivers were at fault, and both were penalized, and will get a 2 race suspension if such actions occur in 2010.

I coud understand some indignation if Jan Magnussen had raced cleanly, but he was repeatdly bumping and nudging Bergmeister during the final few laps, and the bump at the final corner of the last lap was especially blatant. Had Magnussen not done that, he most likely would not have been able to get alongside of Bergmeister in the first place. This is supposed to be professional sports car racing - not NASCAR. These guys are supposed to race cleanly.

Please keep in mind I'm not criticizing Magnussen specifically. He's an experienced driver who would have had a superb career in Formula 1 had the Stewarts not mismanaged his prodigious talent. In general, I'm criticizing the racing ethics that seem to prevail in modern motorsport, regardless of whether it would be F1, sports cars, Indy Cars, or what have you. Incidents like this would not have happened thirty years ago when safety standards were subpar, but are all too common today.

[SDRacing]

That was some of the best racing ive ever seen. i saw this on you tube the other day and immediately added it to favorites. The vette was clearly faster, so the bump in the last turn was warranted. he had the porsche beat on the straight, plain and simple.