No. 7 Joest/Porsche Out.

By P. Michael Clarke

In a dramatic turn of events, the # 7 Joest/Porsche, which was running very steadily in first place of the LMP 1 category, drove straight off in one of the chicanes on the Hunaudiere straight. It was finding its way back to the pits for repairs, when it came to a stop on the straight line. Michele Alboreto was driving and, after conferring with his pits on the car's radio, it was determined that the problem was of an electrical nature.

Le Mans is somewhat special in that the rules allow a driver to repair his car and return to the pits if he can. The team can actually send some mechanics to guide the driver, but they are not allowed to physically help or supply him with any tools. The driver must remain within 100 meters of the car in order for the car to remain in the running. Car #7 was the very car which had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996 and 1997. Reinhold Joest was hoping to make three in a row.

As the mechanics were on the way, the # 8 Joest/Porsche driven by Pierre-Henri Raphanel came in for a routine pit stop and Raphanel reported that he was having intermittent problems with the electronic dashboard, giving the team an indication of what might be wrong with Alboreto's car...