Lola's Sebring Test Update

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Lola's Sebring Test Update
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Car is faster, but problems persist
By Joao Alcino Martins of FormulaNews
Special to SpeedCenter
SAO PAULO, Brasil — After two days of testing at the Sebringcircuit in Florida, the Tasman team is still hunting for speed. The main changeswere made on the chassis engine mounts to attempt to improverigidity of the car. Andre Ribeiro, Tasman driver, said, "The car is gettingbetter, but time will tell regarding our results in future races."
On March 20th, the modified Lola chassis driven by Ribeiro did a lap in 56.5seconds, still well behind Gil de Ferran's unofficial record of 53.9seconds. Back in January, testing in the same track using the '96Lola car, Ribeiro clocked in at 55.6 sconds. Ribeiro commented on thetrack conditions and said that it was slower than in previous sessions. Thiscould have been due to the Sebring 12 Hours race held the previous weekend, causing thetrack to be very slippery. "With all that oil on the track I think we lost sometwo seconds per lap," declared Ribeiro.

Michael Andretti, Newman-Haas driver, was also testing at Sebring and agreedwith Ribeiro. "The track is very, very slippery," saidAndretti. He could not reach his previous best lap time of 54.4 seconds, andcould only manage 57.0 seconds — a half-second slower than Ribeiro. TheNewman-Haas team is concerned about gear box reliability, especially consideringthe next two races will be held on street circuits.
Playing with different car setups last Friday, Ribeiro's times improved in spite of an morningrain shower. He did a lap in 56.2 seconds and bettered Andretti's time of 56.6 seconds.
"We tried a very unusual suspension set up, but it did not work," saidRibeiro. According him the front of the car is sticking better, butthe dangerous sudden oversteering behavior is still there.
After 210 laps, Ribeiro managed a half-smile and commented, "We are slowlymaking progress." He also said that the car balance is better butthe track conditions did not permit a deep evaluation of the modifications.Four Lola engineers were at Sebring to observe the efficiency of chassischanges.


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		Lola's Sebring Test Update ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Car is faster, but problems persist By Joao Alcino Martins of FormulaNews Special to SpeedCenter SAO PAULO, Brasil — After two days of testing at the Sebringcircuit in Florida, the Tasman team is still hunting for speed. The main changeswere made on the chassis engine mounts to attempt to improverigidity of the car. Andre Ribeiro, Tasman driver, said, "The car is gettingbetter, but time will tell regarding our results in future races." On March 20th, the modified Lola chassis driven by Ribeiro did a lap in 56.5seconds, still well behind Gil de Ferran's unofficial record of 53.9seconds. Back in January, testing in the same track using the '96Lola car, Ribeiro clocked in at 55.6 sconds. Ribeiro commented on thetrack conditions and said that it was slower than in previous sessions. Thiscould have been due to the Sebring 12 Hours race held the previous weekend, causing thetrack to be very slippery. "With all that oil on the track I think we lost sometwo seconds per lap," declared Ribeiro. Michael Andretti, Newman-Haas driver, was also testing at Sebring and agreedwith Ribeiro. "The track is very, very slippery," saidAndretti. He could not reach his previous best lap time of 54.4 seconds, andcould only manage 57.0 seconds — a half-second slower than Ribeiro. TheNewman-Haas team is concerned about gear box reliability, especially consideringthe next two races will be held on street circuits. Playing with different car setups last Friday, Ribeiro's times improved in spite of an morningrain shower. He did a lap in 56.2 seconds and bettered Andretti's time of 56.6 seconds. "We tried a very unusual suspension set up, but it did not work," saidRibeiro. According him the front of the car is sticking better, butthe dangerous sudden oversteering behavior is still there. After 210 laps, Ribeiro managed a half-smile and commented, "We are slowlymaking progress." He also said that the car balance is better butthe track conditions did not permit a deep evaluation of the modifications.Four Lola engineers were at Sebring to observe the efficiency of chassischanges.