Earlier this year, Level 5 Motorsports owner-driver Scott Tucker made an investment. He bought two brand new Honda prototype cars in the middle of a packed racing season. The reason: because they were the best. Tucker and his team had finished the 2010 season with a win at Petit Le Mans, moving them from the LMP class to the LMP2 class for the 2011 season. Even though Tucker was racing in five series and a mid-season car change could create obstacles, Tucker reserved the first two HPD ARX-01gs out of production. He was looking ahead to the 2011 Petit Le Mans, where he wanted to make sure the team could compete with the field-dominating Nissans on the track. This weekend, Tucker's investment paid off. Level 5 Motorsports took the highest podium spot at Road Atlanta, ending the American Le Mans Series season on top once again.
Tucker drove double-duty with both the Microsoft Office-sponsored Hondas, along with teammates Joao Barbosa, Luis Diaz, Christophe Bouchut and recent addition Marino Franchitti. Petit Le Mans was the cars' first time on the track together, and the trio of Tucker, Barbosa and Bouchut brought the No. 33 across the checkered flag in sixth place overall, clinching the class victory.
"The car didn't have any problems," Tucker said. "We're real happy with that; it's about all we could ask for from such a new vehicle. I definitely think there's still a lot of room for improvement with the car, but we originally said we just want to get it home in one piece. But putting it through a six-hour and now a 10-hour race without any problems, we're real fortunate with that."
Incidentally, as Tucker bought the HPD ARX-01g to compete with the Nissans that have historically dominated the field, the 3-week-old No. 33 fought off a Nissan for most of the race. Starting in third place, Tucker battled the Signatech ORECA Nissan throughout most of his opening double shift. Adding to the tension was the fact that the Nissan was Tucker's main competition for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But five hours into the race, the Nissan entry suffered mechanical problems.
Following Tucker's shift, Barbosa and Bouchut had a relatively easy job: Maintain the lead. They each put in a strong performance, and the final four hours of the race was quiet in the Level 5 pit. Ultimately, the team won its class by eight laps.
"We knew coming into this weekend that traffic was going to play a key role," Barbosa said. "We were lucky enough to have a big enough lead that we could manage traffic with enough care. It was about staying out of trouble, and that's when we went to the lead and just took our time. We didn't make any mistakes, and we didn't take any risks. The car performed perfectly for the entire race. We're really pleased about that."
The win at Petit Le Mans was a sizzling close to a season during which Level 5 Motorsports was on fire. The Petit victory was Level 5's second consecutive ALMS win in the fourth quarter of the racing season, its second consecutive Petit Le Mans victory and an Intercontinental Le Mans Cup victory.
"We're pleased with the new car, and I'm proud of our performance here," Tucker said. "It's been a great season."
Tucker also won the ALMS LMP2 drivers' championship, along with Bouchut, and the Level 5 team won the teams' championship because of its five wins this ALMS season. They'll also have two spots reserved in next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Tucker drove double-duty with both the Microsoft Office-sponsored Hondas, along with teammates Joao Barbosa, Luis Diaz, Christophe Bouchut and recent addition Marino Franchitti. Petit Le Mans was the cars' first time on the track together, and the trio of Tucker, Barbosa and Bouchut brought the No. 33 across the checkered flag in sixth place overall, clinching the class victory.
"The car didn't have any problems," Tucker said. "We're real happy with that; it's about all we could ask for from such a new vehicle. I definitely think there's still a lot of room for improvement with the car, but we originally said we just want to get it home in one piece. But putting it through a six-hour and now a 10-hour race without any problems, we're real fortunate with that."
Incidentally, as Tucker bought the HPD ARX-01g to compete with the Nissans that have historically dominated the field, the 3-week-old No. 33 fought off a Nissan for most of the race. Starting in third place, Tucker battled the Signatech ORECA Nissan throughout most of his opening double shift. Adding to the tension was the fact that the Nissan was Tucker's main competition for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But five hours into the race, the Nissan entry suffered mechanical problems.
Following Tucker's shift, Barbosa and Bouchut had a relatively easy job: Maintain the lead. They each put in a strong performance, and the final four hours of the race was quiet in the Level 5 pit. Ultimately, the team won its class by eight laps.
"We knew coming into this weekend that traffic was going to play a key role," Barbosa said. "We were lucky enough to have a big enough lead that we could manage traffic with enough care. It was about staying out of trouble, and that's when we went to the lead and just took our time. We didn't make any mistakes, and we didn't take any risks. The car performed perfectly for the entire race. We're really pleased about that."
The win at Petit Le Mans was a sizzling close to a season during which Level 5 Motorsports was on fire. The Petit victory was Level 5's second consecutive ALMS win in the fourth quarter of the racing season, its second consecutive Petit Le Mans victory and an Intercontinental Le Mans Cup victory.
"We're pleased with the new car, and I'm proud of our performance here," Tucker said. "It's been a great season."
Tucker also won the ALMS LMP2 drivers' championship, along with Bouchut, and the Level 5 team won the teams' championship because of its five wins this ALMS season. They'll also have two spots reserved in next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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