Houston front-runner stats

The best of the best will start from pole position in each of the American Le Mans Series’ four sports car classes later this afternoon in Houston for the Lone Star Grand Prix. The four drivers, led by overall fast qualifier David Brabham, have fashioned bodies of work that place them among the American Le Mans Series elite.

The numbers are quite impressive. Brabham, Allan McNish, Olivier Beretta and Mika Salo have made a combined 176 starts in the nine-year history of the American Le Mans Series. The quartet also has collected 66 wins, 117 podium finishes and 39 class pole positions between them.

They also have combined for 168 career starts in Formula 1 with Salo competing in 111 races with two podiums, both coming in the 1999 season (second at the 1999 German Grand Prix and third at Monza).

Here’s the breakdown of class career statistics in the American Le Mans Series:

David Brabham: 64 starts, 12 wins, 33 podium finishes and 7 poles (at least one in four different classes)
Allan McNish: 33 starts, 17 wins, 25 podium finishes and nine poles
Olivier Beretta: 59 starts, 31 wins (career leader), 52 podiums and 20 poles (career leader)
Mika Salo: 10 starts, six wins, seven podium finishes and three poles.

The Lone Star Grand Prix at Houston’s JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park is set for 5:30 p.m. CDT on Saturday, April 21. The race will be broadcast on CBS Sports at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 29. International coverage will be available on MotorsTV, SPEED Latin America and 7TV in Russia. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA’s Live Timing and Scoring will be available at americanlemans.com.