ec: Take us through a typical race lap at Sebring during one of your stints, and don't forget the traffic. Isn't that McNish coming up behind you?
MF: I had to pass Allan on the entry to turn 10 after he had just come out of the pits during my last stint. That was fun. It seemed to take the Audi a few laps to gain tire temp, but he motored past on the back stretch once they did. Again, that was a good example of him and I working together (he was a lap or so behind after mechanical issues) to lose each other the minimum amount of time, which was important at that stage as I was closing in on Collard and pulling away bit by bit from Diaz in the Acura.
As for typical race laps, they don't exist. Every lap is unique in some way and I really enjoy that. For me, the tough part of a lap of Sebring is catching slower cars in the faster corners--turns 1, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17--as you're trying not to lose too much momentum. A huge amount of lap time is won and lost here. Forward thinking is what keeps the loss to a minimum and your average lap time for the stint looking good. In the slower corners, I find it's much easier to pass cars in a consistent manner if you catch them on entry then out-brake them. If not, try and carry the momentum through the turn and get a run at them on corner exit.
ec: Did the Dyson team double-stint your Michelins? How were the tires?
MF: We did double-stint and the Michelins were first-class throughout. Our Michelin tire engineer was on top of the situation all race. On my last stint, the tires went from the heat of the day into the cool of the night and performed very well in both. That's hugely impressive and it's why Michelin has won Sebring 10 years in a row.
ec: What was your reaction to getting tagged with the `Drive of the Race Award' from Speed TV? Are you wearing sunglasses in the shower now?
MF: Not quite. Though my long-term sponsor, Oakley, would love it if I did. It was a lovely surprise and touching to receive it, especially when I looked at some of the amazing sports car drivers I was competing with. As I said then, I accepted it on behalf of the whole Dyson racing team, especially my teammate Butch Leitzinger, as they deserve it for all their hard work. I hope we can continue to improve and put ourselves in the position to be considered for it again.
ec: The ALMS schedule is a good mix of circuits. Which ones are your favorites in order of preference?
Wow, tough one. OK, here goes... Mosport, Road America, St. Petersburg, Mid Ohio, Road Atlanta, Salt Lake City. I love all the tracks, just those more than the others.
ec: How much testing time did you have in the Porsche Spyder? Race conditions are always far more difficult than a test. Do you come to the track on race day in any particular mindset? Is there a standard routine you follow? Or is it just get in, belts on and nail it?
MF: Not a huge amount, but enough that I knew which button and switch did what. I did the ALMS winter test, which lasts three days, but we had very few on-track sessions and then the test sessions in race week.Of course race day feels different, but each time I drive the car, practice or race, I prepare the same way. I do a lot of stretching and have my own mind management routine. It's more than jump in and nail it for me.