Pre-Le Mans Thoughts...

Well it is just about a week before I leave for Le Mans…our biggest race of the year. During the off season there are lots of things you think about…but at the top of the list is winning Le Mans. You run laps in your head when you can’t sleep at night, and when training…and getting tired, you remind yourself that it will pay off in June when everyone else is tiring out. A lot of endurance races are won in the final hours by drivers who are in good shape and still sharp. For certain a lot of races have been lost by tired drivers making mistakes. That said, I think we are in good shape as all three of us on the 53 car are fit, and not likely to make a mistake.

In my mind, there is a reason that some drivers have good luck in the endurance races. It’s the ability to go fast…but also you must look after the equipment. It’s keeping in mind that after you get out of the car, you are giving it to another driver, and it works best for everyone if you look after the car and give him just as good a car as you got. I’ve been on teams where you have one driver who just uses up the car...hitting curbs...rough on the gear-box…hard on the brakes….and when you get in after them it is always disappointing as it makes your job that much more difficult. On the 53 car, we all look after it mechanically, and know that technically we have to be perfect. Now Ron and I have shown that we can do that…and so that you know, when we won the 24 Hours of Daytona…my first race with the team…Frank was also driving. I think he knows that this is his best chance ever to get a win at Le Mans…and I know that he will do a great job.

Now you might wonder why I bring this up. Well a lot can be said about having the right driver line-up. It is in my mind our biggest advantage over everyone. Our competitors have a very strong driver line-up as well, and a rocket ship of a car in that Ferrari. But with them is the possibility that they will be competing more amongst themselves to be the fastest in their own car…competing against themselves…and thus will be harder on their car. I’ve seen it happen before…a lot…the mind set of trying to be the quickest driver in your car…and rarely does that win you the big races. You have to be able to put in 24 hours of mistake free driving…and our record shows we know how to get it done.

Images © & courtesy of Rick Wilson www.maisonblanche.co.uk

Car wise I am feeling really good. We have learned a lot this year, and improved things a great deal. That said, on speed we will have a really tough time versus the Ferrari’s. They are so fast down the long straights that staying with them will be next to impossible. Should they pull it off, and run mistake free with no mechanical problems, odds are they will get the win. But so far…they have not been able to pull this off. We have pulled it off…a lot...and they know it. That really puts a ton of pressure on them. I have absolutely no doubt that our car is strong enough to run hard for 24 hours, and if you are a betting person, I would advise you to put your money on us once again. Winning that race for a third time in a row is not going to be easy, but winning a third is much easier than winning a first…in that you know what you need to do.

Finally, one thing I did not talk about is rain. Should it rain, we are in great shape. Our car is so strong in the corners, and under braking, that a little…heck a lot of water would really play to our strength. Rest assured that on Friday night before the race, I’ll be on my knees asking for rain !!! Be sure to watch us on Speed Channel…it should be one great show….

Johnny O
05/29/03

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