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A Honda Sweep In Real Time: Kleinubing Goes Wire To Wire
SCCA Speed Touring
ONE TEAM STARS: Pierre Kleinubing leads his teammates around Sebring Int’l Raceway during Friday’s Speed Touring season opener. (Doug Day Photo)
SEBRING, Fla. — Pierre Kleinubing led the entire way to capture his 27th-career SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Car triumph, his third at Sebring Int’l Raceway, to start the 2008 season at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh From Florida weekend.
Teammates Kuno Wittmer and Peter Cunningham completed the podium.
Starting from his record 31st pole, Kleinubing led the field away from the standing start under sunny skies in his No. 43 Acura/RealTime/ Eibach/Red Line Acura TSX. While his gap to second place never eclipsed two seconds, Kleinubing was never seriously challenged for the lead in the 18-lap, 66.6-mile race that went caution free. He averaged 92.963 miles per hour in beating Wittmer to the checkered flag by 0.645 seconds.
“It feels awesome,” Kleinubing said. “I’m so glad to be here with a RealTime sweep.
“I think I had the same pace as these guys [Cunningham and Wittmer], but they were fighting a little bit. They actually caught up to me for a little bit, but then I think Kuno made a mistake in turn 17 and then on the same lap into turn one, so I opened up that gap again and maintained it. The new tires [Toyo R888] stayed consistent throughout the race. I was able to run the last lap and the first lap at the same pace.”
Wittmer started second in his No. 44 Acura TSX and withstood attempts by teammate Peter Cunningham’s No. 42 Acura to hold onto second — equaling his career-best finish.
Cunningham completed the second-straight RealTime Racing podium sweep, but had to fend off challenges from Charles Espenlaub’s No. 73 MAZDA6, which finished fourth.
The finish:
Showing driver, car and laps completed: 1. Pierre Kleinubing, Acura TSX, 18; 2. Kuno Wittmer, Acura TSX, 18; 3. Peter Cunningham, Acura TSX, 18; 4. Charles Espenlaub, MAZDA6, 18; 5. Jeff Altenburg, MAZDA6, 18; 6. Seth Thomas, BMW 325i, 18; 7. Jason Martinelli, BMW 325i, 18; 8. Dino Crescentini, Acura TSX, 18; 9. Jason Saini, MAZDA6, 18; 10. James Clay, BMW 325i, 18; 11. Michael Galati, MAZDA6, 18; 12. Patrick Lindsey, MAZDA6, 18; 13. Chip Herr, MAZDA6, 18; 14. Charlie Putman, MAZDA6, 18; 15. Nick Esayian, BMW 325i, 17; 16. Glenn Bocchino, Acura RSX, 16; 17. Jim Osborn, Volkswagen Jetta TDI, 3.