The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 129

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER MOTORSPORTS SUNDAY APRIL 2 2000 11H To subscribe call 7043586000 or toll-free 1 8005325350 makes run at BI to cye-Ope 1 I Celeb A ro April Htlr April 16th Come celebrate with us and win! Tournament 3nd raffle prizes Will include merchandise gift certificates to some of finest uptown restaurants free golf and weekend getaways to Myrtle Beach and Hilfon Head Island including hotel and golf! But you have to wait to play -get a sneak preview and golf the all-new Paw Creek today! Call proshop for reservations! A WM THP co rl UB AT 7043945890 VPMVCREM 1 Pawtucket! R(1 Charlotte NC 28214 Play the Paw! FRANCISCO KJOLSETHStaff Team pit crew hops to action Saturday to change tires on its Porche 911 GT3 during Saturday American Le Mans Grand Prix of Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway Lehto Muller combine to take prototype victory By JIM UTTER StaffWriter The duo from Monaco took home the title at the inaugural Grand Prix of Charlotte Teammates JJ Lehto and Jorg Muller combined to dominate much of the 2-hour 45-minute race Saturday on the road course at Motor Speedway as Muller drove the final 88 laps in the No 42 BMW V12 in the prototype class Muller crossed the finish line 7884 seconds ahead of David Brabham driving the No 1 Panoz LMP-1 Roadster Lehto and Muller improved on their first American Le Mans series event this season when they finished third March 18 in Se-bring Fla The next event is May 13 in Silverstone England think we won today because of fantastic team said MuUer were just in the pits at the right time Our car was bulletproof and was running like a Swiss clock I have to thank my team and especially JJ who did a fantastic job in the first Lehto qualified the car Thursday and Friday and earned the pole and drove the first 37 laps Saturday was the easiest win for me I did only 37 laps in the beginning before Jorg jumped Lehto said did a good job It was his win I was just watching and getting The Panoz team of Brabham and Jan Magnussen redeemed themselves after the Panoz entries at Sebring encountered engine problems and faired poorly Saturday the team was the only one to stay on the lead lap with Lehto and Muller Late in the race two lapped cars helped maintain a working distance between Muller and Brabham In the GTS class the Dodge Viper of Karl Wendlinger and Olivier Beretta who posted the best qualifying time in their class finished first Their nearest competitor was the team of Zak Brown and Vic Rice driving a Porsche 911 Turbo five laps behind is true that there were not so many cars in this Beretta said worked weU It was a relaxed race for us and we got some good The Dick Barbour Racing team of Bob Wollek and Sascha Maas-sen took home first in the GT class driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Maassen drove the second stint and battled Peter Cunningham in his No 10 BMW over the final five minutes At the finish Maassen finished 2674 seconds ahead of Cunningham with both drivers completing 113 laps 12 fewer than the prototype class winner Other winners Saturday: Divina Galica made good on her pole-winning qualifying run by leading every lap in 30-minute Global GT series race It was third series win and first of the season She finished 2726 seconds ahead of Belinda Endress who tied her Arnold Palmer Cadillac Proudly Presents Complete Automotive Detailing Protect your investment from environmental fallout ACID RAIN AND THE HARMFUL RAYS OF THE SUN COMPLETE Save $35 WASH 4 OiQO WINDOWS CLEAN ENGINE PROFESSIONAL CARPET ft UPHOLSTERY CLEANING INTERIOR TRUCK DETAIL COMPLETE INTERIOR a EXTERIOR DRESSING TREATMENT PAINT RECONDITIONER BUFF best series finish Sarah Wahl who spun in the infield early came back to finish third Reigning series champion Cindi Lux who started second had mechanical problems and ran off the course on Lap 3 The 30-minute race went 20 laps I drove down to Charlotte (from Connecticut) I made up my mind I was going to win this race a 14-hour drive and for 14 hours I was thinking about winning this said Galica the runner-up at the opener at Sebring She holds the series points lead 47-38 over Sonja Bayer no secret that 55 and everyone thinks too old to race and tried to prove them that Galica said Endress whose previous second-place finish came last season at Road Atlanta said she got tired of foUowing Galica Galica is an incredible Endress said been doing it a long time Driving behind her you learn a lot I know what happened to Cindi but when she pulled out it gave me an Paul Gentilozzi who started on the pole for the 1-hour 15-min FRANCISCO KJOLSETHStaff Sports car racing isn't NASCAR Three series ran simultaneously during the 2-hour 45-minute American Le Mans Grand Prix of Charlotte The combtnanon of Arnold Palmer quality and our 12 professional detatlers will keep your car looking showroom new and increase us resale value Largest detail shop the Carohnas Call now for appointment or estimate on any car or light truck you have to own a Cadillac to take advantage of this special! Other dealers are encouraged to try our service We pick up and deliver consecutive of the season think about that until the last lap and the last couple corners but Paul was right said Simo was strong on tire infield and we were feeling pretty good on the banking It was kind of a trade-off It was one of those deals where I had the track position and we were going to hang on to ute Trans Am race fell to the rear of the lead lap early after puncturing a tire but challenged leader Brian Simo with three laps left Simo in his No 88 Qyale Man-gusta held off Gentilozzi in his No 1 Jaguar XKR by 0689 seconds to earn the win Cornelius resident Jack Willes driving a Chevrolet Corvette was third The win was second EAST LOCATION 8218 INDEPENDENCE BlVO 5319700 Ask for Tony Mike or Brian Pineville Location 1 10725 Pineville Rd at 1485 ano Hwy 521 556-7400 1-800232-6260 Ask for Melanie Shawn Donnie or Mark 'j qjWPWVP" I All ports and laborfor one low monthly price Come see the 4 ti 'j 4 5 SENIOR PGA: TOUR no estimates no cashiers to pay No deductibles no appointments necessary No tong term obllgatlomCancel anytime Say goodbye to repair bill surprises hriv V1 4 6JNew car plans os low as 495month A- VM ValuePact Preventive Maintenance Service Plan $Jni95 plus monthly plans as low as $14 95 Call for details Ideal for new car owners wextended warranties! Service Includes: Gated Waterfront Community 3500-acre Recreational Lake 1- to 3-acre Wooded Homesites Water Access from $27900 Only 10 Down Available Oil changes Wheel Alignments Belts and Hoses Radiator Flushes Tine-ups Air Filters Shocks and Struts AC Service Transmission Service Battery Wipers and bulbs Brake pads shoes Bruce Fleisher Defending Champion 1 Arnold Palmer Tournament Host Over 75 service items in all Add up the value Imagine what this costs at the national repair shops Preventive Maintenance Special 195 s29 Service includes up to 5 quarts of Valvoline Motor Oil and Niw I liter Route and Inspect four tires heck Brake System Inspect Lxhaust Inspect I lorn Inspect Wiper Blades heck Lxterior I ighting heck Belts Hoses Check CV Shalls associated Suspension Parts lop off all lluid levels $3995 tor same with Air I liter service autop car 5130 South Blvd (cornu of South and lyvola) 672-1373 IMG 5006 Albemarle Rd (corner of Albemarle and Sharon Amity) 567-4700 wwwautopactusacom M-F 730am-6 00pm Sat 800am-4 00pm OPEN SUNDAYS 1 1 00am-4 OOprn wwwbomedepotimitatwnalpgatourcom Admission Order Form mmmmZk La Carte'BServIce Specials Try Us Out! 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If you are not sincere about starting a new business or do not meet the financial requirements above please call! 1-800-854-2382 I Ask for Charlotte District Manager MAINTENANCE TUNE-UP $1295 OIL CHANGE WmM Most (ars Plus 1 00 waste disposal 4cyl 6cyi $2995- $3995 $49 95 Replace Plugs Analvzc I nginc Maiiiuiunu liisp Pljtimim plugs extra Scyl I vpir t-1 MX) lo Quarts 10WA0 oil I New oil filter l-xp 4-16-00 lubrication o( (irease lutings $59 95 BRAKE pale Mini Can SERVICE 1 Replace Fads or Shoes Repack Hearings Resurface Rttlors I xp 4-1MKI I Wheel Alignment I Thrust Angle 4-Wheel i s2995 3995 spires 4-16-00 I 4-Wheel Tire 19 95 I Rotation Balance I Mick-on Weights Extra Expires 4-16-00 msm mmm- rtf Signature (required for credit card orders) Charlotte NC 28247 Tickets may also be purchased at: NORTH CAROLINA INSPECTION STATION CAROLINA CUSTOM GOLF Call 889 4671 Of 531 7335 Please Note Tickets will be mailed three weeks in advance of the tournament SORRY NO REFUNDS RAINCHECKS or EXCHANGES No cameras permitted Fnday Saturday or Sunday r'lRST Cl 1 11 BUNK Al ParhopHting Locations smartway to service yourcarf i.