ALMS Testing Starts At Sebring

Sebring International Raceway turns the green light on to signal the busy atmosphere. Why? Because race teams are getting ready for the much-awaited American Le Mans Series season. With the upcoming start of the ALMS, every team is checking on their engines, head gaskets, and other race parts to make sure that they’re all reliable. The testing performed by the participating teams is sending steam off the track.

On Thursday, Team Cadillac was joined by Dyson Racing, Penske and the Flying Lizard at the legendary track to start the '08 testing season. In 2007, driver Andy Pilgrim propelled Cadillac to the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT manufacturers championship with a victory in the series' season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, reported Tampa Tribune.

This season, Team Cadillac enlists 2004 SPEED World Challenge GT Rookie of the Year Michael McCann. He will be returning to the track where he savored his very first victory. "I won here in 2006 driving a Viper," McCann said. "I love this track, but these three days are for me to get used to this new car."

McCann, who was the 2000 and 2002 Viper Racing League Champion, had four top-10 finishes last season in the SPEED World Challenge and 12th in the points standings, the report continued. This testing session inks the first full-team test for the automaker and McCann.

Asked to compare the CTS-V and the Viper, McCann has this to say: "When you're driving a Viper, it is almost point and shoot," McCann said. "But it doesn't handle well in the corners. In the Cadillac, it handles a lot better and much smoother, but it has its nuances. I'm still getting up to speed."

More racing action is expected to happen with the upcoming start of the ALMS season. Brace yourself. This will be a pretty hot season.