ALMS cars on track in Sebring

The American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring has officially started. The first few cars are on the track to start the three-day session. The action will pick up as the day goes on. Here are a couple of pre-test notes until the first times come in.

• Chris Dyson and Andy Wallace have their names on the No. 16 Dyson Racing Porsche RS Spyder. The full lineup will be at Sebring though. Butch Leitzinger is expected in later today with Guy Smith scheduled to arrive tomorrow. “Everyone wants to see the new toy," team manager Randall Kelsey said. “We can’t keep them away."
• Intersport Racing will be using this week for a second round of tire tests with new partner Kumho. The team made the switch about a month ago and noticed immediate improvements. “We’ve only had the one test day at Mid-Ohio," said team manager Brian Alder. “We’ll know a lot more after today and this week." After taking the fight to Penske Motorsports last year, Intersport is ready to renew that battle along with fighting first-year Acura entries from Andretti Green Racing, Lowe’s Fernandez Racing and Highcroft Racing.
• Monday morning marked a bit of a homecoming for Bill Auberlen. He’s back behind the wheel of a Panoz Esperante GTLM, this time under the banner of Panoz Team PTG. The California resident was part of the factory Panoz Motor Sports effort in 2005 and recorded a race win. The PTG-run entries have retained the familiar black and red livery of the BMW efforts. The Esperantes also have been fitted with Yokohama tires and have retained the Performance Friction Brake sponsorship is back as well.