Speed and efficiency were the hot ticket for the Highcroft HPD Racing team in Monterey, Calif., on May 22 as the Connecticut-based team won both the race and the Michelin Green X Challenge at the third stop of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.
The six-hour race on the hilly 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit required speed and efficiency. The E10 ethanol-fueled defending series Prototype champions from Highcroft HPD and drivers David Brabham, Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti delivered on all counts.
Despite starting at the back of the field, they went the furthest, the fastest and with the least environmental impact to become the 14th different ALMS class winner to also earn a Michelin Green X Challenge victory.
Taking the victory in the Michelin Green X Challenge GT category in the “race within the race” was the second generation E85R fueled #3 Corvette ZR1 from Corvette Racing.
“Our focus is multi-faceted -- to design and build top quality race cars that are fast and that demonstrate leading edge green technology. Capturing another Michelin Green X Challenge for Chevrolet and GM is a huge accomplishment,” said Doug Fehan, program manager, Corvette Racing.
“Racing at a beautiful and historic venue like Monterey reinforces the importance of developing new technologies and energy sources through competition,” said Silvia Mammone, motorsports manager, Michelin North America Inc.
The American Le Mans Series is the only series currently recognized as “green racing” by the U.S. Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International. All five energy sources identified as part of the United States government energy policy (E10 ethanol blended gasoline; E85R gasoline blended ethanol; GTL, or natural gas to liquid, biodiesel; E10-electric hybrid power; and Iso-butanol gasoline) have been used in ALMS competition.
Michelin Green X Challenge trophies -- made of rubber recycled from Michelin Green X labeled consumer tires -- are presented to the respective Prototype and GT winners. For more information on the race, read "Double stints equal double wins for Michelin."
