View source for American Le Mans Series

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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |[[Image:alms.JPEG|250px]]
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! colspan=2 |'''American Le Mans Series season'''
|-
| Country/region    ||   [[United States]], [[Canada]]
|-
| Inaugural         ||   1999
|-
| Folded            ||   
|-
| LMP classes       ||   LMP1, LMP2
|-
| GT classes        ||   GT1, GT2
|-
| Races             ||   12 (2007)
|-
| Champion driver   ||   P1:[[Rinaldo Capello]], [[Allan McNish]]<br/>P2:[[Romain Dumas]], [[Timo Bernhard]]<br/>GT1:[[Olivier Beretta]], [[Oliver Gavin]]<br/>GT2:[[Mika Salo]], [[Jaime Melo]]
|-
| Champion team     ||   P1:[[Audi Sport North America]]<br/>P2:[[Penske Racing]]<br/>GT1:[[Corvette Racing]]<br/>GT2:[[Risi Competizione]]
|-
| Manufacturer      ||   P1:[[Audi]]<br/>P2:[[Porsche]]<br/>GT1:[[Chevrolet]]<br/>GT2:[[Ferrari]]
|-
| Website           ||   [http://www.americanlemans.com americanlemans.com]
|}


The '''American Le Mans Series''' ('''ALMS''') is a [[sports car racing]] series based in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. It consists of a series of [[endurance racing|endurance]] and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].  Teams compete in one of four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for [[Le Mans Prototype]]s, and GT1 and GT2 for [[Grand tourer|
Grand Touring]] cars.  Race lengths vary from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 12 hours.

==History== 
The series was created by Georgia-based businessman [[Don Panoz]] and ran its first season in 1999. Panoz created a partnership with the [[Automobile Club de L'Ouest]] (ACO), the organizers of the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], to begin a 10-hour race in the spirit of Le Mans, dubbed the [[Petit Le Mans]].  The inaugural Petit Le Mans took place in 1998 as a part of the [[Professional SportsCar Racing]] series, in which Panoz was an investor.  For 1999, the series changed its name to the American Le Mans Series, and adopted the ACO's rulebook. 

The partnership with the ACO allows ALMS teams to earn automatic entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours.  This was a practice that began with the inaugural Petit Le Mans, a practice that continues today, where 1st and 2nd place teams in each class earn entries to the next year's 24 Hours. The ALMS race at [[Adelaide Street Circuit|Adelaide]] in 2000 also received automatic entries. Invitations were extended to the series champions beginning in 2003, for the 2004 race. The ACO has always given high consideration to teams competing in ALMS races, and many ALMS teams have seen success in the 24 Hours.

[[Image:OldALMSLogo.gif|left|thumb|Old ALMS Logo.]]

The series began with eight races in [[1999 American Le Mans Series season|1999]], beginning with the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], and ending at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]].  The schedule expanded to 12 races in [[2000 American Le Mans Series season|2000]], including two races in Europe, and one in Australia. In subsequent years, the European races disappeared, with the creation of the short-lived [[European Le Mans Series]], and later the [[Le Mans Series]].  The series also began to move away from the [[roval]]s, road courses in the infield of large [[superspeedway]]s, at [[Charlotte Motor Speedway]], Las Vegas, and [[Texas Motor Speedway]].  Lately, the series has visited more temporary street courses, many in conjunction with the [[Indy Racing League]].  The series has raced at [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]], [[Mosport]], [[Road Atlanta]] and [[Sebring Raceway|Sebring]] in every year of its existence.

The series was the first motorsport racing series in North America to be recognized by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (the EPA), the [[United States Department of Energy]] and the [[Society of Automotive Engineers]] (SAE International) to be recognized as a "Green Racing Series", and is planned to hold an all-new series implemented on series races dedicated to the environment by holding their first-ever ''Green Challenge'' during the [[2008 Petit Le Mans]] and would continue at least up to the entire [[2009 American Le Mans Series season|2009 season]].


==Overview==
[[Image:Porsche slips by the Ferrari.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[2007 Northeast Grand Prix|Northeast Grand Prix 2007]]]]
The American Le Mans Series uses essentially the same rules as the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]. As with the 24 Hours, the cars are divided into four classes. Purpose-built race cars with closed fenders compete in the ''Prototype'' classes (LMP1 and LMP2) and modified production sports cars compete in the ''Grand Touring'' classes (GT1 and GT2, formerly GTS and GT).  Each car is driven by multiple drivers (2 or 3, depending on the length of the race), and all cars compete together simultaneously.

The team points champions and runners-up in each class at the end of the season receive an automatic invitation to the next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Additionally, privateer teams (teams that are not supported by manufacturers) compete for the IMSA Cup as well as special prizes for each race.  Currently, factory teams exist in all four classes, with [[Audi]] in LMP1, [[Porsche]], [[Mazda]], and [[Acura]] in LMP2, [[Chevrolet]] in GT1, and [[Aston Martin]], [[Panoz]], [[Ferrari]], and [[Porsche]] in GT2.  Other manufacturers include [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[Dodge]].  [[BMW]], [[Cadillac]], and [[Chrysler]] factory teams have competed in the past.

== Green Challenge ==
In January, the American Le Mans Series announced it would hold its first "Green Challenge" competition during Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in October, ahead of the Challenge being implemented at all ALMS races in 2009.  In conjunction with the [[Department of Energy]], the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] and [[SAE International]], the Series has unveiled the Green Challenge's rules and regulations. Two class leading vehicles currently run low [[CO2]] or green engines including the GT1 [[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]] with a E85 [[cellulosic ethanol]] powered 7.0 litre V8 and the LMP1 [[Audi R10 TDI]] with a 5.5 litre [[turbodiesel]] V12.

==Past champions==
Note: Driver champions may not have necessarily driven for the same team which won the Teams Championship.

{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:center; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:800px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
|- tr BGCOLOR=darkred
! colspan=2| &nbsp;
! LMP/LMP900/LMP1
! LMP675/LMP2
! GTS/GT1
! GT/GT2
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[1999 American Le Mans Series season|1999]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Panoz Motorsports]] <br> ([[Panoz GTR-1]]<br>[[Panoz LMP-1]] - [[Élan Motorsport Technologies|Élan]])
| rowspan=2 | 
| {{flagiconFRA}} [[Dodge Viper|Viper]] [[Oreca|Team Oreca]] <br> ([[Dodge Viper GTS-R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Prototype Technology Group]] <br> ([[BMW M3 GTR]])
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Elliott Forbes-Robinson]]
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Cort Wagner]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2000 American Le Mans Series season|2000]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8R]])<br>([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| rowspan=2 | 
| {{flagiconFRA}} [[Dodge Viper|Viper]] [[Oreca|Team Oreca]] <br> ([[Dodge Viper GTS-R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dick Barbour Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-R)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Dirk Müller]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2001 American Le Mans Series season|2001]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dick Barbour Racing]] <br> ([[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 01Q]] - [[Judd (engine)|Judd]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
| {{flagiconGER}} [[BMW Motorsport]] <br> ([[BMW M3 GTR]])
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]]
| {{flagiconBEL}} [[Didier de Radigues]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Terry Borcheller]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Müller]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2002 American Le Mans Series season|2002]]
! Team
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Joest Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[KnightHawk Racing]] <br> ([[MG-Lola EX257]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RS)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconDEN}} [[Tom Kristensen]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Jon Field]]
| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2003 American Le Mans Series season|2003]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Infineon]] [[Joest Racing|Team Joest]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Dyson Racing]] <br> ([[MG-Lola EX257]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RS)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Frank Biela]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Marco Werner]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Chris Dyson]]
| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]<br>{{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2004 American Le Mans Series season|2004]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] [[Champion Racing]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Miracle Motorsports]] <br> ([[Lola B2K/40]] - [[Nissan Motors|Nissan]]) <br> ([[Courage Compétition|Courage C65]] - [[Advanced Engine Research|AER]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Alex Job Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3]]-RSR)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Marco Werner]]<br>{{flagiconFIN}} [[JJ Lehto]]
| {{flagiconGBR}} Ian James
| {{flagiconCAN}} [[Ron Fellows]]<br>{{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Timo Bernhard]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2005 American Le Mans Series season|2005]]
! Team <br> (Vehicle)
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] [[Champion Racing]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Intersport Racing]] <br> ([[Lola B05/40]] - [[Advanced Engine Research|AER]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} Petersen/White Lightning <br> ([[Porsche 911 GT3|Porsche 911 GT3 RSR]])
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Frank Biela]]<br>{{flagiconITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Clint Field]]
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Patrick Long]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2006 American Le Mans Series season|2006]]
! Team
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]]) <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]]) 
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Risi Competizione]] <br> ([[Ferrari F430]] GT2)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconGER}} [[Sascha Maassen]]
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2007 American Le Mans Series season|2007]]
! Team
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]] <br> ([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]]) 
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Risi Competizione]] <br> ([[Ferrari F430]] GT2)
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconITA}} [[Rinaldo Capello]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Allan McNish]]
| {{flagiconGER}} [[Timo Bernhard]]<br>{{flagiconFRA}} [[Romain Dumas]]
| {{flagiconMON}} [[Olivier Beretta]]<br>{{flagiconGBR}} [[Oliver Gavin]]
| {{flagiconFIN}} [[Mika Salo]]<br>{{flagiconBRA}} [[Jaime Melo]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[2008 American Le Mans Series season|2008]]
! Team
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Champion Racing|Audi Sport North America]] <br> ([[Audi R10 TDI]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Penske Racing]]<br>([[Porsche RS Spyder]])
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Corvette Racing]] <br> ([[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]]) 
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Flying Lizard Motorsports]]<br>([[Porsche 911 GT3|Porsche 997 GT3-RSR]])
|-
! Driver(s)
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Lucas Luhr]]<br>{{flagiconDEU}} [[Marco Werner]]
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Timo Bernhard]]<br>{{flagiconFRA}} [[Romain Dumas]]
| {{flagiconUSA}} [[Johnny O'Connell]]<br>{{flagiconDEN}} [[Jan Magnussen]]
| {{flagiconDEU}} [[Jörg Bergmeister]]<br>{{flagiconDEU}} [[Wolf Henzler]]
|}


== See also ==

* [[Le Mans Series]]
* [[European Le Mans Series]]
* [[American Le Mans Series seasons]]
* [[Radio Le Mans]]



==External links==
*[http://www.americanlemans.com American Le Mans official site]
*[http://www.imsaracing.net International Motor Sports Association official site]
*[http://www.lemans.org/accueil/index_gb.html ACO official site]
*[http://www.spotterguides.com  Downloadable 2008 PDF Spotters Guide]
*[http://www.the-paddock.net the-Paddock.net - daily ALMS news]

[[Category:American Le Mans Series]]
[[Category:Sports car racing series]]
[[Category:Auto racing organizations]]
[[Category:International Motor Sports Association]]