Just Champion for Kristensen at Sebring

The car will be campaigned in 2002 by the Florida-based Champion Racing squad, which was fielding the machine in the test session. Five ALMS cars were on hand for the first day of the test.

In the latter half of 2001, part of the Sebring circuit received new asphalt, though the old 'airport' parts of the track remained in their original concrete, complete with bumps and dips.

"This is a very challenging track because it has so many different types of corners," said Kristensen. "The new pavement has changed it some, but because there are two types of surfaces here, it's still difficult."

Team Cadillac revealed its new Northstar LMP 02 on Monday, and the car took to the track on Tuesday as part of the Michelin-organised test. Wayne Taylor, Eric Bernard and Emmanuel Collard took turns behind the wheel of the new machine.

Panoz Motor Sports had two of its LMP-1 Prototypes at the test, with longtime drivers David Brabham and Jan Magnussen sharing one car and new team members Bryan Herta and Terry Borcheller driving the other.

Also on hand was Sascha Maassen, who co-drove to the GT class win at Sebring last year. Maassen was driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for Alex Job Racing in the test, the same team he competed for in 2001.

The test will continue today (Wednesday) and Thursday.