12 Hours of Sebring

Panoz Pro GT Series March 14, 15, 16, 2001

I love this track in these cars and especially turn 17. The bumps are so much fun and in a stiffer car you can bet your teeth would get jarred. I relish the fact that the track is so long. What a great place to race.

Practice was so much fun! I was running so well in the first go round, way ahead of the field. I drew car #2, which I had driven before and I really loved the way it handled. Rain was forecast for the afternoon of Qualifying Day so I knew the late morning session was going to be the best bet to get the fastest time. Everything felt so good. These Michelins like one hot lap to temp up, then it's the best time to run them, so that's what I did.

 I let the car in front of me give ground so I could take a run and by the time I got to 17 she held up. I was fine until I hit marbles and went into a 4-wheel drift. These tires like to drift and then take a set. As we drifted I faintly lifted to balance the car and then the front wheels hooked. This turn is concrete and very adhesive. I had no idea it would be too adhesive, then the front wheels hooked like on rails, tossing the back of the car in the opposite direction, and off we went, hard, into the tire barrier. To every action there is a reaction and we bounced up and flipped on the roof. Ouch! Got it all on tape from the in-car camcorder.

At first a bit confused, wow, I'm hanging upside down! I turned the ignition off and looked for a way out. When I saw fluids dripping down all bets were off! I wanted out of there! The release on the belt was great. My shoulders freed and then my torso, and out the passenger side I crawled. It must have been pretty entertaining, I wanted to let the corner workers know I was OK so I threw both arms in the air. They must have thought, "What's she doing in a victory pose?"

NOTE: These cars are safe. There are a lot of cars out there you don't want to get in. These cars are made to break away, and they do.

I immediately asked to be put in another car. The crew even brought me out one. However the wreck was so severe they had to cancel the qualifying session. I felt very sorry that I had ruined the session for everyone.

I remember getting flipped by a horse named Wild Again who won the first 3 million dollar Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. This horse liked to walk on his hind legs though the backstretch. A new pony girl held on too tight and would not let go of him and before I could get my saddle cinched over we went. I ended up in a drainage ditch under the horse. I got pretty smashed up but got back on and off we went, with a different pony rider. As a rider you get on a lot of horses that pitch you, drop you like a bad habit, send you flying and throw you to the ground so hard that you puke for the next 3 days. But you have to get back on.

Sitting out the next qualifying session was the hardest part, as with these spec cars, qualifying is so very important. It gave me a lot of time to think. I have a voracious appetite to achieve, learn and win. In retrospect, perhaps I was too relaxed and as with a racehorse that is a luxury you cannot afford. Blink your eye and your whole life can change in an instant.

The situation was a unique one for Panoz, and Geoff Lee, the new boss, had some serious decisions to be made and he needed time to sort out the situation and mull over the facts. Meanwhile I was all suited up for the next session but time would not allow me to qualify at all. We finally figured it all out and I got to start the race on Friday. I started at the rear, but I started. I was grateful to have the opportunity to race and stay in the hunt for points.

I got a real good lesson in how much better scrubbed in tires perform (even if they're street tires) and how it reflects on times. As I didn't get a hardship lap I just had to sort it out. It took about 10 minutes and the tires were as good as they were going to get. It did not take me long to get back up to speed. I finished 15th overall and 5th in my class.

The awesome thing was all the fans cheering me on! And most importantly, all the crew and officials giving me a special round of applause as I passed the checkered flag and came into the pits. That was so endearing to me, and to have people like that pulling for you is wonderful. I earned their respect, which cannot be bought.

God is gracious and gives us the strength in times of adversity. It's when your true colors come out. What's really remarkable is that when you give it all to God, He gives you things that you didn't realize were in the program, then gives it all back to you, with blessings! His program is the ultimate. You get what you pray for, sometimes not what you had in mind. His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts.

Being a sports-car driver my road racing experience has been with the Panoz Racing organization. It's been nothing short of being a remarkable, wonderful and challenging experience. I am so blessed that I have a sponsor that supports me with this Series. And granted the changes that Panoz has made and the goal they aspire to have created a program not seen elsewhere in the market.

A special note to the Officials to Sports Car;

All you volunteers, paramedics, corner workers, stewards etc… You guys are the unsung heroes. With all my heart I thank you for your time, dedication. passion and perseverance. You pick up where we (drivers etc..) leave off. And without you we are like going to war without our shield and rear flank. Your battles and awareness are as strong as ours, for you are even more venerable than us. My victory when I got out of the car was one for you! Besides, how else would you know I was OK.

A special big thanks to all of you.

Take on His shield. Continue to keep on your toes and always relate to your tenacity with wisdom and reverence.

Ehps. 6.