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STRANGE MORNING TURNS INTO A GOOD DAY FOR BMW TEAM PTG |
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Written by Jeff Seabrook
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Tuesday March 11, 2003 |
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After a layoff of one year, the first day back to the track for BMW Team PTG ended more positively than it began as the two BMW M3s of Bill Auberlen and Hans Stuck continued to lower their lap times. As darkness fell over Sebring International Raceway one question mark remained. With the team
waiting for repair parts to be sent in from their Winchester, Virginia, shop no can say when the No. 6 M3 of Boris Said will be repaired from an early morning accident.
TOM MILNER, OWNER, BMW TEAM PTG:
"It does feel good to be back even though at the beginning of the day I was thinking that maybe we should take another year off. What happened to Boris is something that was very unfortunate and I believe that getting wrecked while leaving the pit lane is definitely a first for us in all these years of racing. We had a suspension piece fail on Jeff McMillinıs car (with Hans Stuck driving), but that was easily fixed. We are grateful to Jeff for letting us borrow his car so Hans can drive it. Billıs car seemed to be fine. I have to say that it seems our cars are on the mark. It is a completely new ball game for us. We donıt know about tire pressures, camber settings but for the first day I would have to say we are pleased."
BILL AUBERLEN, DRIVER, NO. 7 BMW TEAM PTG M3:
"We solved our throttle problem which was a concern earlier and continued to make set-up changes. The M3 responded to everything and is now quite nice to drive." CAN YOU COMPARE THIS WORLD CHALLENGE M3 TO THE V8 M3 GTR RACED IN 2001? "I thought that because we are now on street tires with a narrower body with less aero that we would be very far away. I am surprised at how similar the cars feel. Some of the mechanical grip of this new car is surprisingly close to the GTR. Of course the power is less and the aerodynamics is down a little, but all in all the package
is very, very good."
HANS STUCK, DRIVER, NO. 8 BMW TEAM PTG M3:
"In summary, I believe we are going in the right direction. Small adjustments to the shock absorbers, roll bar and wing have made the M3 faster. One thing we need to do tomorrow is to get the seat in a better position as it is too far back for me now."
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A RACE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME? "First of all the brakes. As soon as I go out of the pits I apply the brakes and see how the pedal moves if it is a long or a short pedal, how much force I need for the wheels to lock up. Second, on the straight I do some wiggling with the wheel right and left to see what the car feels like. By this time I have reached the first corner and begin to look for the grip. At the first straightaway you aim for some power to see if the engine is hanging up or accelerating nicely, watching for any vibration and listen for any noises. It takes roughly one lap before you know what your new wife is doing. It is like getting married and you need some time to get to know each other. Even a machine like the M3 has its own character like I have my own character and we have to get used to each other. One of the most important things I
learned from my good friend, the late Ronnie Peterson, who was one on the fastest men on earth, is that as soon as he got familiar with the car he then tried to go as fast as possible. No matter what understeer or oversteer -- he tried to take everything out of the car that was possible. That is what I try to do as well and then I get to work."
WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE WORLD CHALLENGE M3? "The speed down the straight is very good. I was told that the street tires would not have the same level of grip that I am used to, but I tell you it feels all right. Team PTG always assembles their cars to a very high level. We have a very good base to work from."
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BMW Racing News 
Sunday September 07, 2008
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