Lowe's Fernandez Racing drivers Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz came out of the box strong in the ALMS season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring but were stripped of their second-place overall podium finish following post-race technical inspection.
Fernandez and Diaz were on pace from the onset of the grueling test of endurance with Diaz making a great start to take the LMP2 lead. The pair were consistently among the frontrunners with Fernandez setting the fastest lap of the race as the team's new #15 Lowe's Acura ARX chassis performed flawlessly � a testament not only to manufacturers' Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research, but Lowe's Fernandez Racing who had just over two months and two tests to become familiar with its new equipment package.
The only setback came when Fernandez encountered a fuel pickup problem in the third hour as he was preparing to come in for a scheduled pit stop. The result was an extremely slow in-lap which relegated the #15 Lowe's machine two laps down to the leaders. But savvy strategy by the team and a blistering pace by Fernandez and Diaz regained the two laps and let Fernandez mount a challenge to the winning #7 Penske Porsche in the closing stages.
It was the highest of highs followed by the lowest of lows when Fernandez and Diaz returned from the Victory podium to find the #15 Lowe's machine had failed an engine "stall test" in post-race inspection. Consequently, the car was disqualified.
As Team Co-Owner/Managing Director Tom Anderson explains: "By the rules, each class of engine has an air restrictor mandated by ALMS and only air that passes through this restrictor may be utilized by the engine. The rules require that if a plug were to be inserted into this restrictor, the engine would shut off if running or not start at all.
"The Acura engine in the #15 Lowe's ARX passed the �plug' test performed by HPD [Honda Performance Development] prior to the start of the race. However, when the test was performed by ALMS officials after the race, the engine did not shut off thereby disqualifying the car. It has been found that the carbon fiber air intake system which holds the restrictor had broken sometime during the 12-hour rough ride around the Sebring circuit resulting in a leak which allowed the engine to continue to run when the plug was installed."
The disappointment of seeing a podium finish evaporate was not only felt throughout Lowe's Fernandez Racing but the Acura camp as well.
"With this design, which was carried over from last year, we have never failed a "stall" test for the duration of our participation in the American Le Mans Series," noted HPD President Erik Berkman. "A detailed analysis must be performed to determine root causes and appropriate remedies. We have let the supporters of our program down, and I particularly want to apologize to everyone in the Lowe's Fernandez organization who worked hard to achieve an excellent result today, and through no fault of their own had it snatched from their grasp."
Despite the setback, Fernandez remained positive.
"Sometimes these things happen in racing. I am very proud of everyone on this team. Everyone operated at the maximum for 12 hours. We were by far the best car on the track with consistency throughout the race, and that is proof of the great job the whole team did in the preparation of the car.
"We know that we now have a fast car, and I know we will be winning races this year and the competition is aware of it. I can assure you that we will be coming like a bull for St. Petersburg. We will be fighting strong for a win."
The Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg will take place on April 5 and will be broadcast on ABC at 1:30 pm ET.
