Collision dents De Ferran title hopes

The De Ferran Acura team's American Le Mans Series title hopes have received a major blow as the car had to return to the paddock for repairs following a collision an hour into the Petit Le Mans

Matt Beer Sep 26, 2009, 4:39 PM

Owner/driver Gil de Ferran had just lost third place to the #1 Audi of Marco Werner when he was hit by Jon Field's lapped Intersport Lola under braking. Field has received a stop/go penalty for causing the crash.

The Acura had to limp back to the pitlane with broken left rear suspension and go behind the wall for repairs. Rapid efforts by the De Ferran crew got the car on track again after an 11-lap delay, leaving it 10th in class after 90 minutes of the 10-hour race.

De Ferran's title rival Highcroft crew are now up to fourth in the car built up to replace the one destroyed by Scott Sharp's practice crash on Thursday. Sharp and David Braham lead de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud by 17 points coming into the penultimate round.