Braselton, Ga. – After coming so close on two previous occasions, Dindo Capello finally has his American Le Mans Series championship. With two prior runner-up championship finishes, Capello and Allan McNish clinched the LMP1 crown Sunday by winning the Grand Prix of Mosport.
Before this weekend, a title in the American Le Mans Series seemed to be the only thing missing from Capello's extensive résumé. He has won at Le Mans, Sebring, Petit Le Mans and nearly any other major circuit in the world. He ranks second in career P1 victories with 20, good for eighth all-time in Series history.
The most recent was the one that further cemented his legacy in American Le Mans Series annals, though.
"When Allan crossed the line, I thought 'This time it is done,'" Capello said. "And now I can enjoy this title. We don't have to think anymore for the championships and we can race and fight for the race wins."
The 42-year-old Italian Audi factory driver has won six times in the Series this year with McNish, tying the mark for wins in a season they set together in 2000. Due to the championship points structure, McNish earned more "bonus" points for fastest race laps, most laps led and for leading a single lap each race.
"It was a rule I really didn't like," Capello said. "Sometimes you have to be in the car at the right time. It was a question as to where and when you were on the race track. Now, all the team and drivers are working to win the race together and you don't have to worry about extra points."
"I want to say, to me this is Dindo's and my championship," McNish said. "It was only the vagueness of the rules that caused Dindo to not have the championship in 2000. So this is really number two for him, but a long overdue number two."
After finishing third in 2001 behind Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro, Capello finished second to Tom Kristensen by just 2 points, despite winning one more race than the Dane.
But Sunday, none of that seemed to matter. After a stirring early-race duel with Dyson Racing's Butch Leitzinger, Capello watched McNish lead 53 of the race's final 76 laps, including the last 35 for the win. The duo came into the race knowing their victory and a third-place finish by Leitzinger and James Weaver would wrap up the championship.
"We knew that we had to push hard to win the race, but on the other hand we didn't want to make any stupid mistakes," Capello said. "In the Series if you lose one race, it's easy to lose all the momentum you have.
"The first championship I won with Audi was in 1996 (Italian Touring Car in an A4)," added Capello, who owns two Audi dealerships in his homeland. "To be back here 10 years later and in a different car means a lot to me for my career. I've been consistent and working hard. Even in difficult times, I never gave up. At the moment, I'm 42 but I have to say that I feel much better than I did 10 years ago. I'm still ready for a few more years. It would for sure be great to go back and defend the championship next year. I can just hope that Audi gives me a chance."
The 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans, Round 9 of the American Le Mans Series, is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. EDT on Saturday, September 30. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel and MotorsTV in Europe. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage at americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA Live Timing & Scoring.
