THE OLDSMOBILE UPDATE

"AMERICA'S TEAM" AT LE MANS: THE BID FOR RACING'S TRIPLE CROWN


Saturday, June 15, 1996; 4:00 p.m. 

                FIRST HOUR NOTES

     ONE DOWN, 23 TO GO.  The Doyle Racing Oldsmobile Riley & 
Scott Mk-III completed an uneventful first hour in the 24 Hours 
of Le Mans.  Lead driver WAYNE TAYLOR quickly settled into a 
comfortable and conservative race pace, turning laps between 3:55 
and 3:57.

     The track temperature today is significantly warmer than the 
conditions during qualifying and practice (qualifying sessions 
began at 7:00 p.m., as compared to the 3:00 p.m. race start).  
The crew is monitoring the tires closely, but has elected not to 
change tires through the first and second stops.

     Taylor was running in eleventh place until he made his first 
scheduled pit stop at 3:33 p.m.  The Riley & Scott crew was 
refueled, a larger air restrictor was fitted to the radiator 
inlet, and the Pirelli tires were inspected but not replaced.

     The second routine stop for fuel came at 4:12 p.m.  Taylor 
remained in the car, which was running 19th and remained on the 
lead lap.

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Saturday, June 15, 1996; 6:00 p.m. 

                        THREE HOUR NOTES

5:00 p.m. (2 hours):  Taylor is 12th, 29 laps (one lap behind the 
leading TWR Porsche).

5:47 p.m.:  Taylor pits, and SCOTT SHARP replaces him.  Sharp 
runs consistent laps at 3:55.

     "The third stint of my three was very good," said Taylor.  
"Our lack of experience at Le Mans showed in the first stint when 
we restricted the air to the radiator too much, and the coolant 
temperatures ran a little hot.  I had to back out of it and let 
everyone go until we could make the necessary changes [increasing 
the size of radiator air inlet opening] at the first stop.  That 
brought the temperatures down, and now we're able to run the lap 
times we expected.  We've run the same Pirelli tires for four 
stints now; if we are able to run long stretches without changing 
tires, you'll see the race come to us."

5:35.  Sharp pits for fuel only.  Tires are inspected but not 
changed.

6:00 (three hours):  The Riley & Scott Oldsmobile is 6th, 43 
laps, one lap behind the leading TWR Porsche of 
Reuter/Jones/Wurz.

6:02:  Sharp in for fuel and first tire change.

     PIT STOP STRATEGY is almost certain to play a role in 
determining the outcome of the 64th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans.  
Americans who are accustomed to watching lightning-quick NASCAR 
and Indy Car stops would find the stops at La Sarthe agonizingly 
slow.  In fact, the slow-motion stops are a product of the unique 
rules under which the 24 Hours of Le Mans is contested.

     The car must come to a complete stop and the engine turned 
off before any work commences.  No one may touch the car while it 
is being refueled.  Only after the fuel nozzle is withdrawn are 
the four mechanics permitted to begin working.  Since tire 
changes dramatically increase the time spent in the pits, it is a 
strategic advantage to use the same tires as long as possible.

     Each member of the crew wears a brightly colored vest which 
designates his function.  The four mechanics wear orange; the 
scorers wear blue; the crew chief wears red, and the suppliers 
wear green armbands.  The organizers have assigned a marshal to 
every pit; the marshal's job is to ensure that all rules are 
obeyed.  The penalties for violations are almost as severe as 
those imposed during the French Revolution.

     One additional crew man can assist the driver in buckling 
his safety belts.  Kevin Pranger, the WSC engine program manager 
at Katech, Inc. (which builds the Motorsport Aurora V8 engines 
that power the Doyle Racing Riley & Scott Mk-III) is assigned the 
role of "manservant" at Le Mans.

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