What happened with Stefan Johansson?

They figure franchitti would be faster and he know more what’s involved in winning a championship. Last year with Andretti green Franchitti set pole time at long beach when the Acura was uncompetitive.

A lineup of Stefan Johansson, David Brabbam, and Dario would be better, but Scott Sharp brings major sponsorship money. Patron could find a faster and more skilled driver to sponsor, but I had read that they sponsor Scott because of his physical appearance (good looks), and he’s people savvy and very articulate. So that really hits home when he makes and appearance for the company.

Now the Fernandez team is the only squad among the Acura teams that doesn’t have an Indy or CART champion. Though in 2000 Adrian Fernandez was second in the standings to Gil de Ferran in CART.

De Ferran used to be team leader at Penske ahead of Castroneves. Now he has to beat them.

Know how to deal with the traffic is a big deal in ALMS, Stefan knows how to do that and the he knows track very well so i dont understand this at all.
Maybe he left the team earlier this year…?

Sharp has been getting better. Did he not last drive sports cars in the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona which he won? Stefan was to only race at Sebring and Petit, iirc.

Sharp?? I was talking about the subject, Dario replacing(?) SJ

During the final IRL race a couple of weeks ago I saw SJ in one of the pit areas but I can’t remember which team it was – Penske or Ganassi. Then a couple of days later I read that he “worked” for that team in some capacity. Perhaps that’s a reason to have him replaced.

At Long Beach earlier this season SJ made a funny comment when the drivers had a Q & A with Patron fans in their hospitality tent. When the drivers were asked what challenges face them at Long Beach Brabs and Scott answered and SJ (who did not race) said his toughest choice during the day is vanilla or chocolate as he looked at a table with desserts.

Guess you had to be there.

Pecka, the simple fact is that Dario is faster and is a bigger name. He drove at Sebring last year and a couple other ALMS races replacing Marino in Andreti Green.

And everybody is talking about Scot Sharp because he’s the weak link in this lineup. If they had Stephan Johansson they would probably even have more wins. But they don’t pay scott he pays to be there.

But Stefan Johansson has been hanging around the Chip Ganassi paddock during Indycar racing. And Dario is racing for Chip next year. so perhaps it was an agreement between Chip and Stefan to let Dario take the seat. And Chip GAnassi’s other driver Scott Dixon is with De Ferran.

I’m wondering if Chip Ganassi is just trying to get his guys experience in the ALMS. They race a lexus Riley in Grand Am. And there’s been talk of toyota possibly bringing a hybrid in the ALMS. The ACO will set the rules for the in 2010. So it could be a possible reconnaissance mission.

why would toyota enter ALMS? They officialy race in nascar to sell the tundra. Scott is not slow.

Someone mentioned that Brabham is the better driver. To prove that point look who hit the wall during practice – Scott Sharp.

Scott Sharp last raced at Road Atlanta in 1999’s Petit Le Mans with Corvette Racing.

And it shows. Not only did he hit the wall during Thursday’s practice he hit another wall/bridge shortly after the start. Then the bonehead gets out of the car and leaves it for a possible DNF. Fortunately, Duncan fought for his team.

If anyone followed this team this year they would know that SS has put the team behind on more than one ocassion and Brabham had to bring them back to the front.

So I wonder if Highcroft has a clause in their contract with Patron that if SS does not perform they can replace him? (Since SS came over with Patron)

I hope so.

The reason you see Stefan at IRL races in the Ganassi pits is that he is Scott Dixon’s Manager.

did the medical team not ask him to get in the car?

Thanks, Chocmonster. That explains the connection between Stephan and IRL.

Scott did get into the medical car but right after the crash happened the commentators pointed out that once the driver gets out of his car and walks beyond 10 meter from the car the team will get a DNF and will not be able to fix the car. Team owner Duncan Dayton was able to convince the officials that Scott was told to get into the medical car thus leaving the car. They showed Scott in the pits saying that he was not aware of the walk away rule. The officials then gave the team a chance to fix the car but the rules state that the driver has to be able fix the car to the point he can drive it to the pits. The damage was too great so the team had to call the race.

I can’t believe Scott Sharp didn’t know that ruling. I only seriously started following the ALMS last season and I knew that. Several times when they tow a crashed car the driver usually stays in the cockpit while it’s on the truck bed or rides with the tow truck driver. How come he never bothered to ask why? At detroit Lucas Luhr rode in the R10 while it was being towed.

This was the first major blow for the Acuras and since then the #7 car pretty much just stayed between the 5 and 6 car so it wouldn’t be taken out ( the #5 car was testing the waters making way and the #6 car was the watchman from behind so the 7 car would be free to drive). They didn’t actually start racing each other till after the 70% mark. But since the #5 car was ahead, and the #7 car did not need a win they decided to take it for themselves. Even then the 7 car was a bit conservative.

I remember talking to Timo and Romain after Detroit they were so dejected. They cheered up once I mentioned that they still had Petit to go. It was a nice chat.

Thaks for that bit of info choc.

The Porsche Acura battle reminds me of Peugeot and Audi Peugeot had the the open wheel drivers and Audi stayed with its experienced crew. Same with the Acuras and Porsches here.

I’m tempted to ask Scott some questions when I’m at Laguna Seca but I think I better be a good fan and focus on that race. I haven’t found the current points standing but Patron was in second 4 points behind the leader in P2 before Petit.

The P2 points are currently on hold due to the fuel protest that Highcroft registered before Petit Le Mans.

On the ALMS site they show the point spread with more than a 4 point difference. But I guess because of that protest that’s why Porsche so far has 3 car entered for Laguna Seca, just in case they have to do it over again.