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Sebring: What The Drivers See
Sebring: What The Drivers See
March 14 2008 06:40:37 PM EST
"Fast, Rough, and Physical."

No, that's not a Spitzer text msg to Kristen. We're talking the Sebring track. More exactly, we're talking Sebring the way Oliver Gavin and Johnny O' talk Sebring. Post-final practice, we had a chance to get their thoughts on the place. A recap tells us a lot-

* OG- "Daytona, Indy, Sebring. To the world, these are the 3 big races in the US...."

* OG- "If you want to make your car bulletproof, come to Sebring."

FYI- Earlier in the modern Corvette program, to prep for Le Mans, after the Sebring race the team would stay to run another 12 hours to make certain they were ready for Le Mans 24. Guess what Peugeot is doing this year...

* OG- "The track is a mish-mash...of surfaces, turns, speeds. The challenge corners for me are 1 [really fast], 13 [onto the side straight], 15 [sneaky fast], 16 [to carry speed onto the back straight], and 17 [the long 180 onto the front]...and traffic makes the rest of the track tough, as well!"

FYI- Both drivers described the puzzle that is T17 with comments about how wide the corner is, how there are multiple lines and passing opportunities and defensive challenges, all at a really bumpy high speed...with a tire wall looming at corner exit! "Holds your attention, let's say."

* JO- "There is just no recovery time at Sebring. More physical than Le Mans. Mulsanne allows you a little rest."

* OG- "You drive with your instincts here. And for that, I love it."

* JO- "The setup matters. Faster cars hold an advantage. But, working the traffic and the track keeps the driver factor alive when figuring out what it takes to win here."

And the final word on Sebring goes to Oliver.....

* OG- "Sebring is unusual"

Thanks, guys.