Honda Car Forum

The three new Acura American Le Mans Series teams made a spectacular debut Saturday
by taking the first, second and fourth positions in the LMP2 class at the 55th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring,
one of the world's most prestigious road-racing events.

The Andretti Green Racing effort, with drivers Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, scored the
LMP2 class victory over the Lowe's Fernandez Racing team of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz after the grueling
12-hour endurance contest. The AGR trio finished second overall to the factory Audi LMP1, racing on the lead lap
against the more powerful German manufacturer before gearbox woes slowed the Acura ARX-01a driven by Herta
in the final hour. The Fernandez team placed third overall, just two laps shy of the AGR team.

The Highcroft Racing team, with drivers David Brabham, Stefan Johansson and Duncan Dayton, placed
fourth in the ALMS and sixth overall in its Acura ARX-01a sports car.

The victory was special for the staff of Honda Performance Development as the winning machine was designed
and developed, in partnership with chassis specialist Wirth Research, at the HPD headquarters in Santa
Clarita, Calif. It marked the first time an HPD-designed engine and car had competed in a U.S. racing event.

The overall winning Audi completed 364 laps, with the Andretti Green Acura ARX-01a finishing with 358
laps and Fernandez Racing at 356. Highcroft Racing recorded 351 laps Saturday.

The LMP2 race was set up to be a battle between the factory Porsches from Penske Racing and the three
Acura factory cars. But early brake trouble for the Porsches
proved to be German marque's demise.

The Acuras from AGR and Highcroft set the pace in the
class while the Fernandez car had a steering issue in the first
three hours. An electrical problem slowed the Highcroft car and
the Andretti Green XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01a ran strong
into the evening hours. The ARX-01a chassis will unveiled Thursday
in a special media event.

Until the final hour, the AGR machine challenged the
more-powerful Audi lap for lap, before the late race gearbox problem
slowed Herta in the final hour.

The Acura finish was one of the most impressive debuts
ever seen in the 55-year history of the famed Sebring International
Raceway and set the stage for the reminder of the 12-race
American Le Mans Series.

The next Acura event is Saturday, March 31, on the
streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., the three-hour Acura Sports Car
Challenge.

12 Hours Of Sebring Results

LMP2 Class

1. ANDRETTI GREEN RACING (Herta, Franchitti, Kanaan)

2. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ RACING ACURA (Fernandez, Diaz)

4. HIGHCROFT RACING ACURA (Brabham, Johansson, Dayton)

Acura Quotes:

ROBERT CLARKE, HPD President: "I can't
put it into words. I would rate it as one of the
highest emotional experiences I've had. So
much work went into this program. We won on
multiple levels. I could not have imagine it
would finish this way. It's been a long road, not
just for HPD but for Acura, our teams, sponsors,
drivers and everyone who is involved in the
program."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, co-owner, No. 26 XM
Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01a car that
Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony
Kanaan drove to LMP2 victory Saturday: "This was a fun race, except for those last 20 laps. We had some issues
with Bryan at the end and we got through them. It was a real cliffhanger for us with the gearbox. It was a
great way to start out in Acura's first factory sports car race. It was a tough race and we knew it coming into this
weekend. But the 12-hour simulation race last month here helped us, and all of the Acura teams were prepared for
today's race. Obviously, it paid off for all three teams."

BRYAN HERTA (#26 XM Satellite Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "Everyone at AGR and
Acura worked so hard to put this program together. And in such a short time. I didn't know what to expect here at
Sebring. It is such a tough race. I couldn't imagine coming out and winning right out of the box. It's a tremendous
effort for Acura in its first American Le Mans Series race and its first Sebring race. The 12-hour simulation race we
ran in February was a huge help for our team and all of the Acura teams. We learned so much from that experience.
It was very nervous for us in the last hour since we had some gearbox problems. I wasn't sure if we were
going to make it to the finish. But the AGR guys talked me through the problems and we cruised home for the win.
It was fun to win with my good friends Dario [Franchitti] and Tony [Kanaan]."

DARIO FRANCHITTI (#26 XM Satellite Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "It's amazing just to
think about where the Acura program was six months ago and what the guys at the AGR shop were looking at for
this project. We were able to work from nearly scratch to make a car that was fast and reliable. The team - the
engineers and mechanics - was flawless today. We had a great race car. That last hour I had my heart in my
mouth when Bryan had the gearbox problem. It was tough to sit there and watch. But he brought it home and that
is all that matters. It is so nice to be on the podium with your friends. Bryan, Tony and I have raced together for a
long time. So this is very special for all of us. You could not have asked for a better finish here at Sebring."

TONY KANAAN (#26 XM Satellite Radio AGR Acura ARX-01a - Co-winner in LMP2): "This win is special in
many ways. I have been with the Honda and Acura family for many years and they have been with me for most of
my success here in the United States. It is a dream to win a race with two of my best friends. And for Acura. They
have been behind me for years and to win in their first sports car race is fantastic. I don't want to take anything
away from the other races or championships I have won. But this victory is something I will never forget. I wasn't
that comfortable in the car coming here, since I only drove twice before. Bryan and Dario helped me get used to the
car and I want to thank them for helping me. The AGR guys did a tremendous job with the car and the race strategy
to take the XM car to the winner's circle. This win is very exciting." Upcoming: Acura Sports Car Challenge
Date: March 30-31, 2007
Location: St. Petersburg, Fla. street course
Track Type: 1.8-mile street circuit
Race: Round 2 of 12 Races, 5:05 p.m.
American Le Mans Series
Distance: 2 hours, 45 minutes