94 is out. Engine problems … Not much more I can say about that. 93 is running p14 (GT), p18 (overall) as of now. Fastest lap a 1:49.614; Brake pads just changed up front. Car is running OK. Just running as smooth as possible, staying out of trouble and see what we can do. Porsches are fast and are getting better fuel mileage. If we get some lucky breaks we can get up front.

After that e-mail I asked Jay about the drivers and their feelings on the 93 BMW M3:

Overall car feels good. Handling is balanced. Braking is good. Car is strong. Germans like the car but have trouble getting used to tired. Car is much more of a point and shoot car unlike the finesse cars they are use to.

Overall no huge complaints. Drivers are holding up fine. Marsal has had one stint. Werner Muller and Auberlen have all had multiple stints. Some visibility issues with mirrors in car. Have been relying on a spotter.

The number 93 car having mirror issues isn’t good. Granted, while it’s most important to be able to see out of the windshield, it certainly doesn’t make life easy not being able to see what’s about to pass you. Luckily Daytona Prototypes will typically flash their lights when passing certain GT cars.

You can follow all that Turner Motorsport are doing via Facebook, their 100% live pit stream (below), or if you go to the link provided, you can get involved in the live chat room. Don’t forget to follow the #50thRolex24 search on Twitter to keep up to date on all cars. Or you can go to Grand-Am’s website to listen to live radio (audio starts automatically), and check out the live timing and scoring.

As usual, spottersguide.com has you covered for this year’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. There you can save the pictures showing all Daytona Prototypes and GT cars.

I’d post the pictures here, but it would be against their policy… so you need to go to their website.

The race starts this Saturday the 28th at 3:30 PM ET, ending at 3:30 PM ET Sunday afternoon.

If you don’t know about Turner Motorsport, then let me clue you in. They’re a team that runs in the GT segment with two BMW M3s. The driver line-up for this year’s Daytona 24 in the 93 and 94 numbered M3s will be Bill Auberlen and Paul Dalla Lana -who are listed as driving both cars- Jorg Muller, Dirk Werner, Michael Marsal, Dirk Muller, Boris Said, and Billy Johnson.

You’ll see more blog posts over the course of this weekend, so stay tuned and enjoy!

Feel like watching Turner Motorsport’s live broadcast of the full race? Well, you can watch all their coverage below via their Ustream profile. You can also check out Turner Motorsport via their Facebook page, where they’ll be updating the whole 24 hours with pictures, video, interviews, etc.

The crash happened on the 13th lap between two other cars in front of him, catching him and a total of 14 other cars. Wheldon was caught by a catch fence and stayed there until emergency vehicles arrived. He was pronounced dead 2 hours later in the hospital, having succumbed to his injuries.

It was the final race of the IndyCar season, and the race was declared over following a 5 lap goodbye by all able drivers.

Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife Susie Behm, whom he married in 2008. He has two sons: Sebastian, who was born on 1 February 2009, and Oliver, born 19 March 2011. The family lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

RawAutos would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Wheldon’s family and friends, but most importantly his wife and two very young children.

Here is the video of the accident, but be warned, some may find it graphic:

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can see pictures of the actual accident(s) in AutoWeek’s gallery.

You can imagine that it’s not easy coming from a paved and dirt track oval to some of the road courses of USF2000 isn’t easy for anyone, especially when you’re used to oversteer, not understeer. However, Shannon has made it look quite easy. I, for one, am jealous, because she could probably demolish me on the race track. She claims that she’s also talented at driving a manual transmission car in high heels… We chatted about this a little in Baltimore, and came to the conclusion that she has to do so in my M3 in order to win a friendly bet. If this ever happens, you can expect a camera in the footwell of the car. Thank God she has nicer legs than I do, otherwise the camera would be forgotten about.

But that’s all beside the point. At the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix USF2000 had two races to end their season, and Shannon was kind enough to give me the video from the GoPro attached to her white #2 Glass Hammer Racing car (pictured above).

Let’s take a ride with Ms. McIntosh as she shows us the way ’round the Streets of Baltimore, shall we?

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Video credit: Shannon McIntosh]

Here are a few pictures I snapped between yesterday and today that I thought you guys might enjoy. I love this event so far. It’s been great fun, however there are so many people that the bridge that you use to walk over the area of turns 9-10 on the track is always packed! And I don’t mean, like, a lot of people. No, it’s so many people that both sides have lines of close to a half mile long… That’s ridiculous! It’s all because the car corrals and American Le Mans team paddocks are in the back. So when the teams aren’t on the track, they’re back there working on the cars, and thousands of people are watching.

I will say, though, the Baltimore Grand Prix definitely needs to come back in 2012, but there should be more seating areas for everyone. I could see Grand-Am even potentially doing a race here, too.

I’m a little partial to this area because it’s where I was born and raised. So being at the first ever Streets of Baltimore feels great, but it’s even better when you’re part of the media and get to mingle with the drivers and teams on a more personable level.

So enjoy the photos from the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix.

1234►

So what did happen? Well the track was not finished…yet. Close, but no cigar. So all of the practice sessions for Star Mazda, US F2000, IndyLights, ALMS and IndyCar were just bunched together with very little time between practice, qualifying setup, and then finally qualifying.

But the cars made out quite well, and the American Le Mans Series at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix proved to be interesting for the fans. So is the timing for the ALMS qualifying session.

Before you get to see the lap times, let me explain to you via American Le Mans’ website what the different classes are and mean:

LMP1:Featuring some of the most technically sophisticated race cars in the world, Le Mans Prototypes are purpose-built racing machines. Multiple manufacturers build and race prototypes including the

diesel-powered Audi R18 and Peugeot 908 along with offerings from HPD, Lola and others. These ultra-engineered racing cars typically produce between 475-575 horsepower, have a minimum weight of 900

kilograms (approximately 1,985 pounds), can accelerate from 0-100 mph in four (4) seconds and reach top speeds near 200 mph. All LMP1 race cars have red Leader Light System race position lights and red

car numbers.

GT: Production-based, moderately modified two-wheel drive race cars comprise the GT class – BMW M3, Corvette C6.R, Ferrari F458 GT, Ford GT-R, Jaguar XKR GT, Lamborghini Gallardo, Panoz Abruzzi and

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The GT cars share many similarities to their showroom brands. With top speeds of up to 180 mph, these elite GTs produce between 450-500 horsepower and have a minimum weight of

1,145 kilograms (2,480 pounds). All GT race cars have green Leader Light System race position lights and green car numbers.

LMPC: The LMP Challenge class features the ORECACourage FLM09 prototype. The race car has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms – without driver and fuel like its LMP brethren – with 430 hp and speeds

up to 170 mph. The FLM09 features a full carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifting. All LMPC cars will race on single-supply Michelin tires. All LMPC race cars

have yellow car numbers and a single green light at the rear of the car.

GTC: The GT Challenge class features the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. As in GT, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars are based on the road-going Porsche 911 GT3 RS. With 450 hp and top speeds of up to 150 mph,

the minimum weight is 1,205 kilograms (approx. 2,655 pounds). All GTC race cars have orange car numbers and a single green light at the rear of the car.

POS/Class POS/Car #/Class – Drivers – Qualifying time/Manufacturer and chassis
1 1 16 P1 Dyson/Smith 1:27.750 Lola B09 86 Mazda

2 2 20 P1 Al Masaood/Kane 1:27.896 Lola B09/86

3 1 06 PC Jeannette/Gonzalez 1:29.407 Oreca FLM09

4 2 37 PC Marcelli/Drissi 1:29.473 Oreca FLM09

5 3 63 PC Lux/Julian 1:30.407 Oreca FLM09

6 1 55 GT Auberlen/Werner 1:31.362 BMW M3 GT

7 2 4 GT Gavin/Magnussen 1:31.950 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

8 3 45 GT Bergmeister/Long 1:31.992 Porsche 911 RSR

9 4 56 GT Mueller/Hand 1:32.010 BMW M3 GT

10 5 3 GT Beretta/Milner 1:32.224 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

11 3 12 P1 Burgess/McMurry 1:32.587 Lola B06 10

12 6 62 GT Melo/Vilander 1:32.699 Ferrari F458 Italia

13 7 17 GT Henzler/Sellers 1:32.772 Porsche 911 RSR

14 4 05 PC Bennett/Montecalvo 1:32.983Oreca FLM09

15 5 52 PC Dobson/Lewis 1:33.051 Oreca FLM09

16 8 44 GT Neiman/Law 1:33.964 Porsche 911 RSR

17 9 01 GT Sharp/van Overbeek 1:34.151 Ferrari 458 Italia

18 10 99 GT Junqueira/Wilden 1:34.360 Jaguar XKR

19 11 48 GT Miller/Maassen 1:34.609 Porsche 911 RSR

20 12 98 GT Jones/Moran 1:35.911 Jaguar XKR

21 6 18 PC Nicolosi/Boon 1:36.046 Oreca FLM09

22 1 54 GTC Pappas/Bleekemolen 1:36.794 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

23 2 23 GTC Sweedler/Keen 1:37.160 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

24 7 89 PC Ducote/Ducote 1:37.569 Oreca FLM09

25 3 34 GTC LeSaffre/Davis 1:37.917 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

26 13 02 GT Brown/Cosmo 1:38.674 Ferrari 458 Italia

27 4 68 GTC von Moltke/Bunting 1:41.131 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

28 5 77 GTC Potter/Stanton 1:41.462 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

29 4 6 P1 Dumas/Graf -.— — Aston Martin Lola B08 62

30 6 66 GTC Ende/Pumpelly -.— — Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Fastest Drivers:
GT Dirk Werner
GTC Jeroen Bleekemolen
P1 Guy Smith
PC Gunnar Jeannette

Congratulations to Mazda and Dyson for putting their two cars atop the qualifying session and starting first and second, as well as BMW for putting their M3s on first and third in GT.

Race time is set for 4:30 PM ET today, so stay tuned to RawAutos for some live updates of the Baltimore Grand Prix.

To give you a taste of some of the action I’ve compiled a few shots that I took from Mazda’s private suite at the Marriott in Camden Yards. So a big thanks goes out to Mazdaspeed Motorsport and Mazda for allowing me access to their suite overlooking turns 10 through 11 and down to turn 12, the final corner that puts you on the start/finish straight broken up by a quick chicane before the actual start/finish line.

Tomorrow I’ll have some video footage for you guys from at least one Star Mazda team who’s willing to either attach my Contour+ HD camera to their racecar, or lone me the footage from one of their cameras.

The photo gallery below has IndyCar and ALMS cars going from turn 10 to 11 and slowing down for turn 12 at the Baltimore Grand Prix street circuit. A few had trouble slowing down in time. Also there are a couple of shots of the cars going through the chicane.

I’ve also added a video from IndyCar that has a virtual lap of the Baltimore Grand Prix.

1234►

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can catch the Baltimore Grand Prix coverage on either ABC Sunday, September 4th, or on ESPN3 on Saturday, September 3rd.

Giorgio Ascanelli, Toro Rosso director, has recently highlighted similarities in ability between the German prodigy Sebastian Vettel and the late great Ayrton Senna. With public interest in Senna reaching new highs with the current theatrical release of the eponymous documentary, the time is right for an exploration of some similarities between these two racing greats, and to find out whether this heralds another golden age of racing.

Ascanelli’s statement is based on strong experience; he has worked with both drivers in the past –with Vettel during 2007 and 2008 and with Senna during his McLaren career. ‘Perfection’ is the word he uses to describe both drivers’ skills on the track. He goes on to point towards a natural talent in both men that contributes to their success, “With those two it was something else.” Both drivers achieved considerable success in their youth; Senna made his Formula One debut at the tender age of 24, while Vettel won his world title five years younger than the Brazilian. All statistics point to Vettel’s upward rise and many consider him the best driver in the world, with much attention diverting from Alonso to Vettel in recent times. Still only 23 years old, Vettel is surely destined for a fruitful career. However, Formula One is anything but predictable, most famously typified in the tragic death of Senna while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Ayrton Senna was the last driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car.

Much was made of the rivalry between Senna and the legendary French racing driver Alain Prost. The two were locked in fierce competition during the former’s active years from 1984 to 1994. The two sported very different driving styles. Ayrton Senna drove a risky and fast race, all while Prost’s more philosophical approach gained him the nickname, ‘The Professor’. With competition heating up between Vettel and Fernando Alonso, could we be seeing a return to a historic battleground between two formidable opponents? Alonso, racing for Ferrari as Prost once did, is a two-time World Champion who favors himself against Vettel, even though recent races have put him behind his competitor. Fans –eager to experience the historic bouts between Senna and Prost once again– can relive much of it on the footage from the current documentary. This is a movie for those who want more from cinematic car chases than Bond’s Aston Martin driving skills. The footage – collected from numerous track days – reflects the struggles of the two sportsmen, but also their mutual respect.

Much can be hoped for the coming competitions in 2011 between these latest young giants of Formula One: Vettel and Alonso.

If you click here you can watch SPEED’s live coverage of the whole race online, just make sure to click on the LeMans 2011 on the right side so you’re not watching a live Corvette Racing feed the whole time.

You can click play below to watch Fast Lane Daily’s 25 hour coverage of the race, which is rather entertaining with Alex Roy, Leo Parente, Mike Spinelli, JF Musial and company.

Live TV : Ustream

If you’d prefer, you can click here to go to Radio LeMans’ website, then click on the “Listen Live” on the left side of the website.

You can also go over to Wheelspin.tv to have some of this stuff on one page without having to go anywhere.

Enjoy the race, kids. Remember, drink your fluids, get some rest and have some food, otherwise you’ll feel horrible, just like I did after my FULL 24 Hours of Daytona coverage months ago.