Penske Racing takes title

Penske Racings' Ryan Briscoe and Sascha Maassen were the overall victors, as well as the LMP2 class, Saturday night at the Utah Grand Prix's headliner event, the American Le Mans Series race.

"We had the perfect race," said Maassen.

Rinaldo Capello and Allan McNish of Audi Sport North America won the LMP1 class and came up second overall. Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin of Corvette Racing won the GT1 class and finished eighth overall. Darren Turner and Tomas Enge of Peterson White Lightning won the GT2 class and finished 11th overall.

For Briscoe, it was his 22nd career victory. For Maassen, it was his 28th career victory, and the first time he's finished first overall.

"I won my first overall race, which I'm really happy about," gushed Maassen.

Team Penske won the LMP2 class for a third-straight race with a sound strategy, which didn't include too many risks.

"We had such a good car, we did not want to take risks," Maassen said.

As for Audi Sport North America, it was its fourth class win this year and fourth in a row. It was Capello's 32nd career win, which leads the American Le Mans Series. But he and his partner, McNish, didn't seem completely satisfied with their No. 2 overall finish.

"Today, to be honest, was a little bit a shame," said Capello.

"It's not nice to finish second," said McNish.

Audi Sport North America has won the American Le Mans Series three years and counting.

Beretta and Gavin seemed a little bit more pleased with their win in the GT1 class.

"We had a successful race," said Gavin.

The only repeat winners from last year were Turner, and Enge although they won in the GT1 class last year as opposed to this year's victory in the GT2. It was especially gratifying for Enge because it was his first race back since a crash at St. Petersburg shattered his elbow, injured his lung and cracked his ribs. He had to wear a protective pad on his elbow while he was driving.

"Physically I didn't feel healthy enough to do more than one stint," Enge said. That is why he only drove the first hour and then turned the reins over to Turner.

Besides Enge's injury problems, Peterson White Lightning had to battle engine problems earlier in the week.

"This team seems to thrive with adversity," said Michael Peterson, team owner.