Crash curtails Sebring qualifying

The starting grid for the Sebring 12 Hours will be set using combined practice times after qualifying had to be abandoned when Ben Devlin crashed the BK Motorsports Lola-Mazda

Matt Beer Mar 13, 2008, 9:04 PM

Peugeot's Stephane Sarrazin was fastest in the session prior to the accident, but the Audi of Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen is set to claim pole when practice times are considered, having been quickest in third practice. American Le Mans officials have yet to publish a definitive grid.

Initial reports suggested that Devlin escaped injury in the accident on the exit of Turn 1. When the BK driver crashed many leading runners were yet to set a time - including both Penske Porsches and all three Acuras. Had the qualifying session counted, all five cars would have started from the back of the grid.

Sarrazin knocked the No.1 Audi off the top spot just before the red flag, with the Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner No.2 Audi third fastest at the time.

Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows had been quickest for Corvette in the GT1 battle, while Jaime Melo, Mika Salo and Gianmaria Bruni remained on top in GT2 for Risi Ferrari.