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Ferrari Happenings

ALMS : Portland : Panoz At The Front
1.8.99

Johansson started the quickest 333 from the pit lane.
The five Ferrari 333SPs in this race were all familiar entrants and, like the previous weekend at Sears Point, they struggled somewhat against the more modern prototypes. Pole position was taken by the BMW LMR of Lehto/Soper, followed closely by the two front-engined Panoz' of Magnussen/O'Connell and Bernard/Brabham.

The quickest Ferrari, that of Johansson/Matthews, was sixth on the grid, followed in ninth by Theys/Lienhard, with Angelelli/de Radigues in 11th.

Lienhard abandons his crashed 333.
The race was a close and exciting tussle between the three quickest qualifiers, with the BMW having a tiny edge. It was only when its pit crew brought it in for a last minute splash and dash that the Panoz of Bernard/Brabham was able to hit the front and take victory by 28 seconds from the BMW.

The 333SPs all ran reliably. Freddy Lienhard unfortunately crashed early in the race - he was thankfully unhurt but the Ferrari was out. Angelelli/de Radigues posted the best Ferrari finish in ninth place, followed in tenth by the exhultant Davies/Dollahite pairing. Taylor/Caffi finished 11th, one place ahead of the final 333, that of Johansson/Matthews, whose car had been plagued with gearbox maladies which often afflict 3333s.
Taylor/Caffi finished 11th.
Didier Theys in the Lista Ferrari.


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