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>> LE MANS -- IT'S A LIFE
JOURNEY.
>> IT'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST
MOTOR RACE -- BAR NONE.
>> BUT THE MONEY BURN IS JUST
OUTRAGEOUS.
>> HOW MUCH ARE WE GONNA BE IN
THE HOLE AT THE END OF IT ALL?
>> WE'LL BE $400,000 IN THE
HOLE.
>> [ Sighing ] Oh, God.
>> PATRICK DEMPSEY PUSHED INTO
THE WALL.
>> THAT WAS THE CRASH AND BURN
OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.
>> WE'RE NOT LETTING ANYBODY IN
RIGHT NOW.
>> LE MANS -- CAN I GET THE
MONEY TO GET THERE?
WILL I BE INVITED TO GET THERE?
I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE, OH, THE
ACTOR.
I WANT TO BE THE RACER WHO WINS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
>> IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT
STAYS THE SAME IN RACING, IT'S
THAT NOTHING STAYS THE SAME.
CARS ARE CONSTANTLY TORN APART
AND REASSEMBLED.
NEW IDEAS ARE EMBRACED AND
ABANDONED.
DRIVERS AND PIT CREWS COME AND
GO.
CALIBRATING THE MACHINE IS A
NEVER-ENDING PURSUIT, A
CONTINUAL SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT
FIT.
>> DRIVING A MODERN RACECAR
TODAY IS PROBABLY MORE SCIENCE
THAN ART.
RACING IS ALL ABOUT WHO'S GOT
THE BEST TEAM, THE BEST DRIVERS,
THE BEST ENGINEERS, THE MOST
INNOVATION.
>> SOME TEAMS, YOU KNOW, GO
THROUGH ALL THE MOTIONS, CHECK
OFF ALL THE BOXES ON THEIR LIST
AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEY WON'T
REALLY JELL AS A TEAM.
AND YOU CAN JUST SEE IT.
THEY'LL BE OUT THERE, BUT
THEY'LL MISS SOMETHING.
AND OTHER TEAMS JUST ARE INFUSED
WITH THIS SPIRIT AND THIS FOCUS,
AND TO BE PART OF ONE OF THOSE
TEAMS IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
>> FOR PATRICK DEMPSEY AND
JOE FOSTER, A DISASTROUS END TO
THE 2012 SEASON HAS DISMANTLED
THEIR TEAM, LEAVING THEM WITH NO
CAR, NO MONEY, AND NO ENGINE
PARTNER.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
TEAM OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T
STRUGGLE FOR FUNDING AT ONE
POINT OR ANOTHER.
WE NEED A NEW PARTNER.
WE HAVE A COUPLE POTENTIAL
PARTNERS, BUT NOTHING CONCRETE
AT THE MOMENT, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT
COMES TOGETHER.
BUT WE NEED FUNDING.
>> PATRICK'S BUMMED.
HOW AND WHAT HE WAS GOING TO BE
DOING THIS YEAR CHANGED.
HOW AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NEXT
YEAR IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR.
>> IT FEELS REALLY DIRE RIGHT
NOW.
AND, YEAH, WE ARE A LITTLE
NERVOUS AND A LITTLE ANXIOUS.
BUT I THINK WE JUST BELIEVE IN
WHAT WE'VE GOT, AND WE'RE GONNA
MAKE IT WORK.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW.
>> JOE, HOW MUCH CAN YOU TELL US
ABOUT MICHAEL AVENATTI JOINING
THE TEAM.
>> HOW MUCH CAN I TALK ABOUT IT
OR SHOULD I TALK ABOUT IT?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING, AND ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT'S VERY
ATTRACTIVE TO ME FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, IS THAT THESE GUYS
ESCROW FUNDS FROM DAY 1.
>> OKAY.
>> FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEARS.
>> LIKE PATRICK, ATTORNEY
MICHAEL AVENATTI IS A
NONPROFESSIONAL RACER, OR WHAT
IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS A GENTLEMAN
DRIVER.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HE'S
BEEN RACING PORSCHE CUP CARS.
>> I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU CAN
DRIVE A NINE ALIVE IN A BASED
RACECAR, YOU CAN DRIVE ANYTHING
IN THE WORLD.
>> FROM THIS FIRST MEETING WITH
JOE AND PATRICK IN LONG BEACH
LAST YEAR, AVENATTI HAS BEEN
OFFERING THE POTENTIAL OF
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BACKING.
>> I THINK WE COULD THEN GO AND
SELL THEM ON, "HEY, WE NEED
ANOTHER MILLION BUCKS OR A
MILLION AND A HALF."
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I THINK WE COULD GET IT
DONE IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
>> IF THAT'S A REALITY, THAT'D
BE GREAT.
>> MIKE AVENATTI IS QUITE A
MERCURIAL CHARACTER.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME
OVER THE YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT A SIT-BY-THE-POOL KIND
OF A GUY.
I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ENGAGING
IN PASSIVE RELAXATION.
>> AVENATTI WANTS TO JOIN FORCES
WITH PATRICK AND JOE.
HE'S ATTACHED SOCCER STAR
ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO TO THE
BRAND AND ARRANGED AN 11th-HOUR
MEETING WITH PORSCHE TO SUPPORT
THE TEAM.
>> IT'S A CRAZY TIME.
SERIOUSLY, THE LAST 36 HOURS
HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CRAZIEST
36 HOURS I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED
WITH.
>> WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS
PROGRAM IF WE WOULDN'T BE
CONVINCED THAT, WITH THE PROPER
PREPARATION, WE COULD ACTUALLY
BE VERY COMPETITIVE.
>> FOR PATRICK, THE TEAM'S
PREDICAMENT COULDN'T COME AT A
MORE IRONIC TIME.
WITH THE INK STILL DRYING ON
CONTRACTS AT HOME, HE HAS
RECEIVED THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL
OF HIS RACING CAREER, AN
INVITATION TO BRING HIS TEAM TO
THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF
RACING...
[ APPLAUSE ]
...THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS.
>> IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE
ANYTIME YOU GET IN A RACECAR,
BUT TO DO IT HERE IS JUST
REMARKABLE, AND I'M VERY
THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS
EVENT.
>> AS US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SO ARE YOU HAPPY?
>> VERY, VERY HAPPY.
>> YOU ARE LUCKY.
>> VERY LUCKY, YES.
EXTREMELY LUCKY.
>> FOR PATRICK, THE INVITATION
VALIDATES A DECADE OF BLOOD,
SWEAT, AND TEARS ON THE
RACETRACK.
FOR THE FRENCH, IT'S A CHANCE TO
INTRODUCE LE MANS TO A NEW
AUDIENCE.
>> PATRICK IS CERTAINLY SOMEONE
WHO TAKES TO HEART WHAT HE'S
DOING IN LIFE AND IN HIS ACTING.
HE BECAME A DRIVER NOT JUST FOR
SHOW, BUT TO LIVE HIS PASSION.
>> PATRICK ON THE STAGE IN
PARIS, GETTING THE INVITATION
FOR LE MANS WAS PROBABLY HIS
ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING
PERFORMANCE IF PEOPLE REALLY
KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND
THE SCENES.
>> PATRICK'S AN ACTOR AND A
BUSINESSMAN, AND STANDING ON THE
STAGE IS PARIS WAS PROBABLY WHAT
PUSHED HIS LIMITS IN THOSE TWO
DISCIPLINES THE MOST.
>> HE'S THE CONFIDENT RACECAR
DRIVER AND THE CONFIDENT OWNER.
BUT BACK HOME, ALL WE HAVE IS A
COUPLE OF PROMISES, AND EVEN
THOSE PROMISES AREN'T EXACTLY
FIRM.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DO WE HAVE
FOR A TEAM, WHAT'S IT GONNA LOOK
LIKE.
WE HAD NO IDEA.
THINGS WERE KIND OF IN SHAMBLES.
>> WE ARE FINALIZING A PRESS
RELEASE THAT WILL BE ISSUED
TOMORROW, WHICH WILL ALLOW
PATRICK, JOE, AND MYSELF AND OUR
NEWLY FORMED TEAM,
DEMPSEY-DEL PIERO RACING, TO
RACE AT LE MANS
>> THE PROSPECT OF TWO GENTLEMAN
DRIVERS RACING AT LE MANS IS
CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
>> MOST OF THE TEAMS HAVE CHOSE
IN THE PAST TO GO THE ROUTE OF
TWO PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND
ONLY ONE AMATEUR DRIVER.
SO IF YOU WANT TO WIN LE MANS,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PACKAGE OF A
CAR, DRIVERS, AND TEAM WITH MOST
EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE.
EXPERIENCE ASIDE, MIKE AVENATTI
WILL BE JUGGLING HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES AS DRIVER WITH
THE JOB OF BRINGING IN DOLLARS.
>> MY ROLE REALLY IS TO SECURE
SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS.
I DON'T FIND THAT DAUNTING BY
ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY DOABLE
>> WE HAVE HONESTLY TAKEN SOME
RISKS, AND WE'VE PUT OUR EGGS IN
THIS BASKET, AND WE'VE TURNED
AWAY OTHER DEALS ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF THIS WILL
WORK.
>> THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GROWING
PAINS.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GIVE AND
TAKE.
WE'RE LIKE MERGING TWO
HOUSEHOLDS IF YOU WILL, AND
ANYTIME YOU DO THAT, THERE'S
GOING TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOVE EACH OTHER
ONE MINUTE AND THEY'RE GONNA
HATE EACH OTHER THE NEXT.
NUMBER ONE, I DON'T WANT TO RUN
AT THE BACK.
NUMBER TWO, IF WE HAVE TO SPEND
ANOTHER HUNDRED-GRAND, THEN
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>> WE NEED NOW TO FULFILL OUR
DESTINY WITH THIS GUY AND THIS
DEAL BECAUSE ALL OF OUR
REPUTATIONS ARE ON THE LINE.
THIS ISN'T JUST "CAN WE SHOW
UP?" NOW.
THIS IS ME AND PATRICK'S
REPUTATION.
>> HEY, GUYS. GOOD MORNING.
>> IT'S A NEW DAY FOR PATRICK
DEMPSEY, AND WITH ONLY SIX
MONTHS TO FIND A RHYTHM IN A NEW
CAR WITH A NEW TEAM, WINNING
RACES IS A TOP PRIORITY.
>> WHAT'S UP, BUDDY?
>> TIME -- TIME IS RUNNING OUT,
YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, GETTING THE TIME TO
TRAIN PROPERLY.
AND CERTAINLY, GOING INTO THIS
YEAR AFTER STARTING LAST YEAR, I
WASN'T IN GOOD SHAPE.
THIS YEAR, I'M IN MUCH BETTER
SHAPE -- LEANER, MORE FOCUSED,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> SO YOU PUSH THIS ON.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
>> PLUS, I DON'T WANT TO
HALF-*** IT ANYMORE.
I WANT TO SHOW UP AND BE
PREPARED AND BE PROFESSIONAL AND
BE AT THE LEVEL WE SHOULD BE AT.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT FUN TO
SHOW UP AND JUST BE PARADING
AROUND THE BACK.
THAT'S NOT THE POINT OF IT
ANYMORE.
>> ALONE AT BUTTONWILLOW, AWAY
FROM FANS AND THE MEDIA, PATRICK
GETS HIS FIRST TASTE OF RACING
THE ICONIC PORSCHE 911.
>> PORSCHE IS SO MUCH FUN TO
DRIVE AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
THAN AN LMP2 CAR.
>> IT MOVES AROUND A LOT.
IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S A
PORSCHE, SO THERE IS A LEVEL OF
EXCELLENCE THAT IS EXPECTED OF
OF ANY DRIVER WHO GETS IN A
PORSCHE, AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE UP
TO THAT.
AND AFTER LAST YEAR WITH THE
LMP2 CAR, I DIDN'T HAVE THE
CONFIDENCE OR THE LOVE OF
DRIVING, AND THEN, AS SOON AS I
GOT IN THIS CAR THE FIRST TIME,
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH RACING
AGAIN.
OH, MY GOD! IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
>> WITH RACES AT SEBRING,
LONG BEACH, AND LAGUNA SECA
COMING QUICKLY, THE COUNTDOWN TO
LE MANS IS ON, BUT FOR PATRICK,
IT'S A LONG ROAD FROM HERE TO
THERE.
>> NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO,
NO!
>> THIS IS WHAT SEBRING LOOKS
LIKE TO DAN GURNEY.
ALL HE SEES IS 5.2 MILES OF FLAT
ROAD AS IT TWISTS AND TURNS
THROUGH THE S's AND STRAIGHTENS
OUT FOR THE APPROACH TO THE
HAIRPIN.
>> 50 YEARS AFTER DAN GURNEY DID
HIS LAPS AT SEBRING RACEWAY,
PATRICK DEMPSEY IS DOING HIS
OWN.
INCREDIBLY, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED
OVER THE YEARS.
>> ASK ANY DRIVER, SEBRING IS BY
FAR THE HARDEST TRACK TO DRIVE.
IT'S HOT. IT'S BUMPY.
>> SEBRING IS A GREAT WAY TO
START THE SEASON.
TOUGH CIRCUIT, OLD-SCHOOL
CIRCUIT.
SAME RACETRACK THAT FANGIO
[CHUCKLES] ANDRETTI,
STIRLING MOSS.
THE 12 HOURS ON THE GRUELING
TRACK, IN A WAY, IT'S A BIG
WAKE-UP CALL FOR LE MANS.
>> WITH LE MANS ONLY FOUR MONTHS
AWAY, PATRICK IS IN SEBRING,
TESTING WITH HIS NEW TEAMMATES
ON ONE OF RACING'S MOST GRUELING
TRACKS.
HE'S FOLLOWING THE PATH OF
ANOTHER ACTOR/RACER, WHOSE
LEGACY HERE IS FELT THROUGH
EVERY TURN.
>> I BUSTED IT IN A MOTORCYCLE
RACE UP AT LAKE ELSINORE.
IT WAS A HUNDRED-MILER.
BUSTED IT IN SIX PLACES, AND I'D
ALREADY SAID I'D DRIVE.
>> STEVE McQUEEN WAS A BAD-***
DUDE!
THERE ARE FAMOUS PICTURES OF HIM
RUNNING AROUND THE TRACK WITH
ONE CRUTCH, HOBBLING, LIMPING.
HE WAS OUT THERE RACING WITH A
BROKEN FOOT HELD TOGETHER BY
TAPE.
>> WHAT ABOUT SHIFTING AND
CLUTCHING?
MUST BE PRETTY DIFFICULT.
>> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE
DIFFICULT.
I CAN'T USE A FOOTREST.
WE'VE HAD TO CUT PART OF IT OFF
BECAUSE I'M 5 1/8 INCHES ACROSS
THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT, AND WE'VE
PUT SOME SANDPAPER ON THE
BOTTOM, TAPED IT ON SO I CAN
KEEP IT ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND
ADJUSTED IT.
>> AT SEBRING, IN 1970, McQUEEN
AND PETER REVSON, IN AN
ABSOLUTELY OUTPACED, OUTGUNNED,
AND OUTCLASSED LITTLE 3 LITER
PORSCHE ROADSTER, CAME IN SECOND
TO MARIO ANDRETTI IN THE FACTORY
TEAM FERRARI.
HE WAS NO DILETTANTE
ACTOR/RACER, NOR IS
PATRICK DEMPSEY.
>> SEBRING, YOU'RE RACING
AGAINST McQUEEN, HOW GOOD A
DRIVER WAS HE?
>> McQUEEN...
>> UH-HUH.
>> YOU KNOW, HE MIXED HIS
CAREER AS AN ACTOR.
>> RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
>> AND HE FIGURED, "YOU KNOW
WHAT?
I CAN HAVE TWO CAREERS."
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT I THINK HE DID IT
FLAWLESSLY.
>> SEBRING HAS BEEN A PROVING
GROUND FOR RACERS AND RACE TEAMS
FOR DECADES.
NOW IT'S PATRICK'S TURN.
>> STAYS LEFT, GET THOSE
DOWNSHIFTS DONE EARLY.
USE THAT CURBING, ALL THAT
CURBING INSIDE.
GETTING SOME GOOD ACCELERATION
ON IT.
JUST DON'T STOMP AND ROMP ON THE
THING 100% YET.
>> GT CHAMPION ANDY LALLY IS
JOINING JOE FOSTER FOR THE
UPCOMING SEASON.
THE ROAD TO LE MANS BEGINS HERE
AT SEBRING, AND ANDY IS PUSHING
PATRICK TO PERFORM.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY GOOD TEAMS AND
SO MANY GOOD DRIVERS COMING FROM
ACROSS THE WORLD TO COMPETE THAT
US SHOWING UP TO SEBRING FOR
THIS FIRST RACE AND THROWING
DOWN THE GAUNTLET IS GONNA BE
REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT COMING ONTO
THE BACK STRAIGHT THERE?
YOU GOING DOWN TO THIRD?
>> AS PART OF THE NEW
DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO TEAM,
ANDREW DAVIS WILL ALSO BE
MENTORING PATRICK AND DRIVING A
SECOND PORSCHE WITH
MIKE AVENATTI.
>> IF YOU GO IN TOO EARLY, WHAT
ENDS UP HAPPENING -- IT PUSHES
YOU OUT EARLY HERE, AND THEN IT
MAKES YOU EARLY HERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> PATRICK DID HIS FIRST STINT
IN THE CAR TODAY, AND HE LOOKED
GREAT.
I EXPECT THE NEXT SESSION FOR
PATRICK TO PROBABLY BE A HUGE
IMPROVEMENT AS FAR AS LAP TIMES.
AND THAT'LL HAPPEN EACH TIME HE
GETS IN THE CAR.
WITH WINNING RACES AS THE
PRIMARY GOAL, PATRICK'S MORNING
LAP TIMES ARE OFF THE PACE.
MASTERING THE DEMANDS OF THE
PORSCHE IS CHALLENGING, BUT
CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS IN LE MANS.
>> IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO THE
GYM.
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE GYM IN
LIKE THREE MONTHS.
AND LAST TIME YOU WERE IN, YOU
FELT REALLY GOOD.
THIS TIME YOU COME IN, YOU'RE
WORKING HARD AT EVERYTHING.
THAT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE TODAY.
>> INSTRUCTION IS CONSTANT --
BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK.
>> THE LINE'S GOOD THROUGH 1.
JUST GOT TO PICK THAT POWER UP A
LITTLE EARLIER.
>> THE PORSCHE IS A VERY
SOPHISTICATED RACECAR.
IT'S GOT TELEMETRY, SO WE'RE
SEEING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING
ON IN THE CAR.
YOU COULD JUST LEARN SO MUCH,
WHICH I THINK I BRILLIANT.
>> WHEN I GET TO HERE IS HERE IS
WHERE I RELEASE THE BREAK.
>> THAT'S THE CORNER YOU SAID I
SHOULD GO STRAIGHT INTO.
>> EXACTLY. YES.
>> RIGHT.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
ANYTHING ELSE?
>> NO, I REALLY THINK YOU
JUST --
>> YOU NEED TO POUND AROUND,
THOUGH.
>> YOU JUST NEED TO POUND AROUND
SOME, JUST RUN SOME LAPS.
>> GET SOME CONFIDENCE.
>> YEAH.
>> PATRICK'S MORNING LAP TIMES
HOVERED IN THE 2 MINUTE, 14
AREA.
ANDY SETS A GOAL OF 2:10 FOR THE
AFTERNOON.
>> 2:13. GOOD JOB, BUDDY.
2:12.8.
WATCH THAT PORSCHE.
HE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
>> AS PATRICK FINDS HIS RHYTHM,
HE MAKES SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT.
>> WHAT WAS THAT?
>> 2:10.1.
>> THAT WAS A 2:10.1.
THAT'S YOUR BEST LAP YET.
GET THAT CAR OUT OF THE CORNER.
STAY TIGHT INSIDE -- SMOOTH, BUT
AGGRESSIVE.
KEEP ON DIGGING.
I KNOW YOU GOT A 9 IN YOU.
FLAT THROUGH HERE.
FLAT, FLAT, FLAT. HOLD IT DOWN.
9.1, BUDDY. EXCELLENT.
GREAT LAP.
>> Narrator: FIVE SECONDS SHAVED
OFF LAP TIMES AND A WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE IN A SINGLE DAY.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> WAY TO GO, DUDE.
>> YEAH, WE WERE CLOSE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> THAT WAS GOOD.
>> A DRIVER HOLDS THE LAP IN HIS
MIND LIKE A POEM AND WORKS ON IT
ALL THE TIME.
YOU HAVE THE WHOLE POEM
MEMORIZED, BUT IT'S HOW ARE YOU
GONNA ACCENT IT?
PUT SOMETHING ON THIS SYLLABLE
HERE, SAY THIS COMBINATION OF
WORDS A LITTLE FASTER HERE.
THAT'S WHAT HOLDING A LAP IS
LIKE IN YOUR MIND.
AND ACTORS ARE TERRIFIC AT THAT.
>> ONE THING THAT YOU LEARN IN
ACTING IS TO GO OUT THERE AND
MAKE MISTAKES.
IN ORDER TO DO IT RIGHT, YOU
HAVE TO DO IT WRONG.
AND THE SAME THING IS TRUE IN
RACING.
>> PAT SET A TIME A SECOND
FASTER THAN THE GOAL THAT WE SET
FOR HIM, SO HE'S AMPED UP ON THE
PLANE RIGHT NOW.
HE'S FLYING HOME.
HE DID A 209.1 TODAY.
THE GOAL WAS TO DO A 210
ANYTHING.
I THINK HE'S MAD THAT HE DIDN'T
DO A 208.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE ATTITUDE
I WANT FROM HIM.
>> COMING UP, A
CONFIDENCE-SHAKING CRISIS IN PIT
LANE.
>> WE GOT A SPEED VIOLATION.
>> I JUST BLEW THE RACE, AND I
JUST GOT IN THE CAR.
[ BAGPIPES PLAYING ]
>> SEBRING IS SUCH A HISTORIC
TRACK.
IT'S A BUCKET-LIST RACE.
AS A RACE FAN, THIS IS AS BIG
AND AS A RACE FAN, THIS IS AS
BIG AND AS GREAT AS IT GETS IN
THE U.S.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS
HERE -- INTENSE ENERGY -- ALL
WINTER HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR
THIS MOMENT.
IT'S NO MORE EXCUSES.
IT'S TIME TO GO.
>> IT'S RACE DAY AT SEBRING, AND
AFTER A RAPID REBUILDING OF A
BROKEN PROGRAM, PATRICK DEMPSEY
IS HERE WITH HIS NEW TEAM.
>> IT'S VERY HISTORIC CONCRETE
WE'RE STANDING ON HERE.
>> YEAH.
CERTAINLY, THIS TURN 17 IS
PHENOMENAL.
YOU HEAR ABOUT IT, AND THEN YOU
FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO DO IT,
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OH, NOW I
UNDERSTAND."
>> THE DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO TEAM
WAS ARRIVING WITH TWO NEW
PORSCHE GTC CUP CARS, A SLEEK
NEW LIVERY AND A NEW DRIVER
LINEUP.
PATRICK WILL BE DRIVING WITH
JOE FOSTER AND ANDY LALLY IN THE
27 CAR.
MIKE AVENATTI IS IN THE NUMBER
10, WITH THE MANUFACTURER
WATCHING BOTH CARS CAREFULLY.
>> WE'RE JUST WATCHING VERY
CLOSELY.
THEY ARE HERE TO KIND OF GAUGE
OUR AUTHENTICITY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO LE MANS WITH
IT WITH A PORSCHE, TOO, SO WE
GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STEPPING
UP, JUST TO GET PREPARED.
INTEREST FROM PORSCHE IS
ESPECIALLY KEY, THANKS TO
ANDY LALLY'S BLISTERING LAST LAP
IN QUALIFYING THE DAY BEFORE.
>> ANDY LALLY HAS [INDISTINCT]
>> YES! WHOO-HOO!
>> FLYING FROM LAST PLACE TO
FIRST ON HIS FINAL LAP, ANDY
PUTS THE TEAM ON THE POLE FOR
THE SEASON OPENER.
AND SUDDENLY, ALL EYES ARE ON
THE NEW DEMPSEY TEAM.
>> OH, WHAT A GREAT THRILL.
THIS IS WHY YOU'RE HERE.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> THE TWO WHISPERING AUDIS COME
TOWARDS THE GREEN FLAG.
AND WE ARE RACING FOR THE 61st
ANNUAL SEBRING 1 12 HOURS.
THE TULLY'S COFFEE CAR IS ON THE
POLE, A GREAT JOB BY ANDY LALLY.
BUT THAT PUTS ENORMOUS PRESSURE
ON THE TEAM OWNER AND, OF
COURSE, HIS CO-DRIVER -- NONE
OTHER THAN PATRICK DEMPSEY.
>> COULDN'T HAVE PUT IT INTO
BETTER HANDS TO START THE RACE
THAN ANDY LALLY.
WHAT A GREAT DRIVER HE IS.
>> [INDISTINCT] BEHIND YOU ARE
THE ONLY GUYS THAT CAN RUN 207s
RIGHT NOW.
>> ANDY LALLY IS ONE OF THE
GREATS OF SPORTS-CAR RACING, AND
HE'S ALSO NOT A SELFISH DRIVER.
ANDY CAN SHARE THE EXPERIENCE
THAT HE'S BUILT UP OVER HIS
CAREER.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THAT, PARTICULARLY FOR
SOMEBODY LIKE PATRICK.
HE'S GOING INTO THE BIG TIME.
>> ANDY LALLY STILL LEADS.
>> FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS, ANDY
RUNS AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK,
IN FIRST PLACE.
AND AMAZINGLY, THE DEMPSEY 27 IS
NOW THE CAR TO BEAT.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME KNOW
IF WE'RE DOING A DRIVER CHANGE?
>> WE ARE DOING DRIVER CHANGE.
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HELMET BLOWER
OFF WHEN READY.
>> BEHIND PIT LANE, PATRICK RUNS
THE CIRCUIT THROUGH HIS MIND ONE
LAST TIME, UNAWARE OF HOW EVENTS
ARE ABOUT TO PLAY OUT.
>> JUST TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A
TIME.
GO OVER EVERYTHING I NEED TO DO
BEFORE I GET IN THE CAR.
AND THEN WHEN I GET IN THE CAR,
WHAT'S THE NEXT THING I'M GONNA
DO?
AND MAINTAIN THAT MENTAL FOCUS.
WINNING THE RACE IS ALL ABOUT
GETTING FROM ONE LAP TO THE NEXT
LAP WITHOUT MAKING MISTAKES AND
NOT FORGETTING WHAT THAT MISTAKE
WAS AND DOING IT AGAIN.
AND SO, IT'S A GREAT METAPHOR
FOR LIFE, I THINK.
>> SO GET ROLLING.
>> PATRICK DEMPSEY HAS GOT INTO
THE POLE SITTING --
DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO TULLY'S COFFEE
PORSCHE GTC.
>> HIGHER UP. GOOD TO GO.
GOOD JOB. VERY GOOD JOB.
KEEP THE PIT SPEED ON ALL THE
WAY OUT.
>> DRIVERS LEAVING PIT LANE HAVE
STRICT SPEED REGULATIONS.
BUT BEGINNING HIS STINT, PATRICK
MAKES A MASSIVE MISTAKE.
WE GOT A SPEED VIOLATION IN PIT
LANE, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO
A PENALTY.
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE
PIT-SPEED INDICATION LIGHT WAS
NOT ON.
AND I'M GOING DOWN TO PIT LANE.
I'M LIKE, "***.
I'M GONNA GET BUSTED."
>> COME IN THIS LAP, THIS LAP
FOR A PENALTY.
GO TO THE PENALTY BOX.
>> AN IMMEDIATE STOP-AND-GO
PENALTY 20 SECOND INTO HIS
STINT.
>> I WAS LIKE, "I JUST BLEW THE
RACE, AND I JUST GOT IN THE
CAR."
>> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S
HAPPENED.
>> COPY THAT.
>> AND JUST WHEN THINGS SEEMED
LIKE THEY COULDN'T GET WORSE,
THEY DID.
DESPERATE TO GET UP TO SPEED,
PATRICK MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE
AGAIN.
>> AND WE'RE HEARING A SECOND
STOP-AND-GO PIT-LANE SPEED
VIOLATION.
THAT'S GONNA REALLY HURT THE
DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO CAR.
DOWN TO 11th POSITION IN CLASS
FOR PATRICK DEMPSEY.
>> FROM FIRST PLACE TO LAST --
ALL INSIDE PIT LANE.
>> IT WAS OVER AT THAT POINT.
IT WAS OVER.
IT WAS OVER BEFORE IT STARTED.
AND ANDY GOT ON THE POLE.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN THAT
CAR.
I WAS LIKE, "***.
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
HERE WE GO AGAIN."
>> HIS JOB NOW IS JUST TO FOCUS
FORWARD AND TO CONCENTRATE ON
HIS STINT AND GO IMMEDIATELY
BACK INTO THAT PURE STATE OF
WHAT I CALL INTENT AND
PERFORMANCE.
>> IF YOU DO MAKE A MISTAKE,
THEN YOU GOT TO LET IT GO AND
NOT DWELL ON IT.
YOU GOT TO JUST KEEP GOING
FORWARD.
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T AND YOU
START TO DWELL, YOU'LL MAKE MORE
AND MORE MISTAKES.
>> SHAKING OFF HIS DOUBLE
PENALTY, PATRICK FINDS HIS
RHYTHM AND DRIVES MISTAKE-FREE
FOR THE NEXT 90 MINUTES, BEFORE
HANDING THE CAR OFF TO
JOE FOSTER.
ONCE OUT OF THE CAR, A FEW
MOMENTS ALONE TO REFLECT.
>> IT'S JUST THINGS HAPPEN.
YOU CAN'T MAKE A MISTAKE AND WIN
IN THIS SERIES.
YOU HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
YOU JUST CAN'T DO A STOP AND GO
AT LE MANS.
IT'D BE GAME OVER.
BUT YOU JUST GO ON.
YOU HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE CAR.
WHICH IS WHY THE WHOLE
[INDISTINCT] TRAINING COMES IN.
THE MENTAL ASPECT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> I RECOVERED FROM THE BIG, BIG
MISTAKE.
I JUST WAS LIKE, "OKAY.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLIC PLACE
TO BE LEARNING.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD, BURNS
YOUR [BLEEP] EGO LIKE NOBODY'S
BUSINESS.
YOU JUST GOT TO GET OVER IT AND
JUST DRIVE WITHIN MYSELF AND NOT
GET OUT OF CONTROL.
>> FOR THE NEXT SIX HOURS,
PATRICK, ANDY, AND JOE FOSTER
DRIVE WELL, CHASING THE LEAD
THEY LOST EARLIER.
BUT AS NIGHT FALLS,
MIKE AVENATTI, DRIVING THE OTHER
DEMPSEY PORSCHE, FINDS TROUBLE
OF HIS OWN.
>> THIS IS MICHAEL AVENATTI.
AH, WHAT A SHAME.
HE'S GOT A RIGHT-REAR PUNCTURE.
>> SO, I'VE DONE A BIT OF DAMAGE
TO THE REAR BODYWORK.
>> THE TEAM THAT STARTED THE DAY
IN SEARCH OF A WIN IS NOW HOPING
JUST TO FINISH.
AND WITH TWO HOURS REMAINING IN
THE RACE, GEARBOX ISSUES
THREATEN TO SIDELINE THE 27 CAR.
>> THE GEARBOX IS JUST ABOUT TO
LET GO.
SO WE'LL GET YOU IN, DO A COUPLE
OF LAPS, AND PARK IT.
BEFORE IT BLOWS UP.
WELL, I GOT TO ASK THE MONEY
PEOPLE.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
>> LET'S DO THAT ONCE I GET OUT
THERE.
AND THEN THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT
PARKING IT.
JUST SAY, "IF THE GEARBOX
EXPLODES, IT'S GONNA BE MORE
MONEY."
IF WE KEEP GOING AND THOSE GUYS
CRASH OUT, SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE
STILL ACTUALLY HAVE A LEGIT SHOT
AT A PODIUM.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'M ALL FOR
THAT.
IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO DO
IT.
I MEAN, IF IT EXPLODES, IT COULD
BE REALLY BAD.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET ANDY IN,
LET HIM ASSESS THE GEARBOX.
THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
DOLLARS PROMISED TO FUND THE
TEAM ARE LATE IN ARRIVING,
PUTTING PATRICK AT FINANCIAL
RISK.
WITH THE 10 CAR DAMAGED AND A
$40,000 GEARBOX ON THE LINE IN
THE 27, A FINISH AT SEBRING
RESTS ON HIS SHOULDERS.
>> WELL, WE COULD LOSE A
GEARBOX.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA MAKE
IT.
SO THE QUESTION WAS, "DO WE NOT
GO, BRING THE CAR IN, OR JUST GO
FOR IT?"
SO WE DECIDED TO [BLEEP] IT.
GO FOR IT.
ESSENTIALLY, ANDY'S IN THE CAR
TILL EITHER THE CHECKERED FLAG
OR THE GEARBOX EXPLODES.
>> HOW MANY SECONDS CAN I LOSE A
LAP?
BECAUSE WE GOT TO NURSE THIS
THING HOME.
>> WITH FUMES FILLING THE
COCKPIT, ANDY LALLY BRINGS THE
CAR HOME TO A CHECKERED FLAG.
AN IMPRESSIVE OPENING WEEKEND,
BUT NOT THE WIN THEY WANTED.
>> WE GOT A REAL GOOD START TO
THE YEAR.
THANK YOU, GUYS.
THEY KNOW WE'RE HERE.
>> IT'S A BITTERSWEET START TO
THE SEASON -- NO PODIUM, BUT BIG
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE ROAD TO
LE MANS.
>> NOW HERE WE ARE IN ANOTHER
GLAMOROUS LOCATION.
DIRT, LOTS OF DIRT.
>> FOR YEARS, THE DESERT HAS
BEEN A MAGNET FOR RACECAR
DRIVERS.
FREE FROM THE STRICT RULES OF
ASPHALT TRACKS AND A TRUE TEST
OF CAR CONTROL.
>> IT'S LIKE
"LAWRENCE OF ARABIA," RIGHT?
THE CAMELS ARE COMING UP OVER
THE DUNES THERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> TAKING A BREAK FROM THE
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, PATRICK
IS IN NEVADA WITH ANDY LALLY TO
RACE THE LEGENDARY MINT 400.
>> WE'RE OUT IN VEGAS, PLAYING
IN THE DUST.
JUST GETTING A LITTLE PRACTICE
IN BEFORE THE BIG DAY TOMORROW.
>> THE BIG DAY TOMORROW WILL
CONSIST OF 300-MILE STINTS
ACROSS A BONE-JARRING DESERT IN
PURPOSE-BUILT CARS.
>> THESE CARS ARE A LOT OF FUN
'CAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH
SUSPENSION.
THE TRAVEL AND THE SUSPENSION
AND THE CAR CONTROL -- IT'S LIKE
A RALLY RACE ON STEROIDS.
>> RACING'S RACING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE IN
A GO-CART, IN A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT TYPE OF RACING, BUT
IT'S BEING OUT THERE, BEING
AMONG COMPETITORS.
AND THAT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER
IT'S AN EIGHT-TIME LE MANS
WINNER LIKE TOM KRISTENSEN,
PATRICK DEMPSEY, ANDY LALLY --
ANY OF THOSE GUYS.
YOU GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RACE, THEY'LL GO AND TAKE IT TO
RACE.
>> AH, IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
>> PUTTING EVERY DRIVING SKILL
TO THE TEST, THE DESERT HAS BEE
CALLING OUT TO HOLLYWOOD RACERS
FOR YEARS.
>> I GOT UP AT 4:00 IN THE
MORNING TO DO THIS.
MY BUDDY SCOOTER PATRICK AND I
ARE GONNA RACE THIS BRONCO ABOUT
850 MILES THROUGH HOT, DRY
DESERT MOUNTAINS, SAND, AND WHAT
HAVE YOU.
IF YOU ASK ME IF I'M A LITTLE
CRAZY FOR DOING THIS, YOU'LL
PROBABLY GET ONE OF THESE.
>> BOTH STEVE McQUEEN AND
JAMES GARNER LOVE TO RACE OFF
ROAD.
>> HOW LONG AGO WAS PARNELLI
HERE?
BAJA 500, 1000 AND MINT 400 AND
ALL THOSE OTHER WACKY OFF-ROAD
RACES THAT THEY HAD IN THE '60s
AND EARLY '70s.
AND BOTH OF THESE GUYS RACED IN
THOSE SERIES, AND THEY WERE VERY
GOOD.
>> IT'S A GOOD SPORT.
IT'S CATCHING ON LIKE WILDFIRE,
AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL
KIND OF KEEN FOR OUT HERE IN
CALIFORNIA.
>> STEVE ALWAYS DID BAJA.
HE LOVED CARS BECAUSE OF THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE MACHINERY, BUT
I THINK HE LOVED BIKES MORE
BECAUSE HE REALLY COULD HANDLE
IT BETTER AND FASTER.
MACHINES WERE HIS LIFE.
MACHINES WERE HIS BALLS.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT.
BUT THAT WAS HIM.
THAT'S WHO HE WAS.
>> THE MINT 400 BEGINS IN THE
PREDAWN LIGHT, AND PATRICK KICKS
OFF HIS FIRST HUNDRED-MILE STINT
THROUGH THE DESERT.
>> DESERT RACING IS THE MOST
EXCITING AND TECHNICALLY MOST
INTERESTING AND TAKES THE MOST
AMOUNT OF DRIVING SKILL.
THERE IS GIANT CREVASSES THAT
ARE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF FEET
DEEP OR THE ROAD LEFT SOFT OR
THERE'S ROCKS IN THE ROAD OR
WHATEVER.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN
THAT IN ABOUT THE NEXT THREE
SECONDS, THE CAR'S GONNA CRASH
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE END OF
IT.
>> ASK ME IF WE THINK WE CAN GO
DOWN A ROAD QUICKER THAN 300
OTHER GUYS, WELL, I'D PROBABLY
SAY, "WE'RE SURE AS HELL GONNA
FIND OUT."
>> THESE CARS ARE SO REMARKABLE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU
REALIZE...
YOU'RE KING KONG.
>> TWO HOURS IN, PATRICK IS
RUNNING IN FIRST PLACE.
>> TO HAVE THAT FOCUS TO
COMPETE, THAT YOU COULD PICK UP
NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING,
WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING -- AS LONG
AS YOU'RE COMPETING.
AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER THE
VENUE YOU'RE RACING IN.
IT COULD BE OFF ROAD.
PATRICK'S SUCCESS IN OFF-ROAD
RACING DIRECTLY CORRESPONDS TO
HIS MENTAL ABILITY TO COMPETE AT
LE MANS.
>> I'M GOING AFTER THIS, AND I'M
GONNA WORK AT A LEVEL I'VE NEVER
WORKED AT BEFORE BECAUSE EVERY
MOMENT OF THE DAY IS A MEANS TO
AN END OF GETTING TO GOAL OF
GETTING TO LE MANS AND BEYOND.
>> IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY SEVEN
HOURS TO COMPLETE THE MINT.
DURING HIS STINT, ANDY LALLY IS
ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE FIRST-PLACE
LEAD THAT PATRICK HAD GIVEN HIM.
AND BY THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S
UP TO PATRICK KEEP THE LEAD
THROUGH THE FINAL HUNDRED MILES.
>> THE CLOSER WE GOT, THE MORE I
COULD FEEL LIKE, "OKAY, WE HAVE
A POSSIBILITY OF WINNING."
AND EVERYTHING I DO IS BUILDING
TO LE MANS.
AND I'M LIKE, "OKAY, SO IF I'M
IN THE LEAD RIGHT NOW AND I'M AT
LE MANS, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO
WIN?"
'CAUSE I KNOW I'VE GOT A
CUSHION.
I'VE GOT -- THE SECOND-PLACE CAR
IS BEHIND ME BY 30 MINUTES OR
SO, SO I DIDN'T NEED TO BE AS
AGGRESSIVE AS I WAS IN THE FIRST
LAP, SO I BACKED OFF AND MADE
SURE I DIDN'T MAKE ANY MISTAKES.
>> IT'S A STRATEGY THAT PAYS
OFF.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS
RACING CAREER, PATRICK DEMPSEY
HAS CHALKED UP A WIN.
>> THIS IS OUR FIRST WIN, BUDDY.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
YEAH.
SICK.
>> GOOD JOB!
>> [ LAUGHS ] GOT IT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WITH THIS WIN IN THE DESERT,
PATRICK GETS THE CONFIDENCE
BOOST HE'S NEEDED TOWARDS
LE MANS.
THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THE
TEAM'S DRIVER LINEUP CAN BE
COMPETITIVE THERE.
WITH TWO RACES TO GO, TIME WILL
TELL.
>> PATRICK'S TRAINING -- HE'S AT
HIS FIGHTING WEIGHT.
I GUESS HE'S LOST LIKE 15
POUNDS.
HE'S WORKING OUT EVERY DAY.
HE'S GO-CARTING AS OFTEN AS HE
CAN.
AND HE'S GETTING THAT MIND-SET
IN THE RIGHT PLACE, WHICH IS AS
CRITICAL AS ALL THE PHYSICAL
PREPARATIONS.
>> THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME
WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO STEP UP AND
DO IT.
AND BY DOING THAT, YOU'RE
PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME, AND
YOU'RE SAYING, "I'M GOING AFTER
THIS, AND I'M GONNA WORK AT A
LEVEL I'VE NEVER WORKED AT
BEFORE.
AND IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE.
>> COMING UP OFF HIS OFF-ROAD
WIN IN THE DESERT, PATRICK'S
PASSION TO COMPETE IS AMPED UP.
TRAINING IN ALL AREAS INCREASES
DRAMATICALLY, AND THE
REALIZATION THAT LE MANS IS
NEARING KEEPS THE FLAME UP HIGH.
>> CREDIBILITY.
CREDIBILITY AND RESPECT FROM MY
FELLOW DRIVERS IS VERY
IMPORTANT -- REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN A WORLD OF,
YOU KNOW, A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF
ROAD RACING -- I MEAN, THESE
DRIVERS WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL
LIKE TOM KRISTENSEN OR
ANDY LALLY -- IT'S A DIFFERENT
MIND-SET.
>> WITH LE MANS DRAWING EVER
CLOSER, CONCERN OVER THE
COMPETITIVENESS OF THE TEAM IS
GROWING.
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THE CAR
IS GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE.
THE CAR WILL BE WELL-PREPARED.
IT WILL BE FAST ENOUGH.
WE HAVE TWO GENTLEMAN DRIVERS,
AND, THEN, JOE'S A PROFESSIONAL
DRIVER.
THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY
CHALLENGING PAIRING FOR US
BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE WITH
OTHER DRIVERS AND TEAMS WHO HAVE
PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS WITH
INCREDIBLE PACE.
>> ADDING TO CONCERNS OVER THE
DRIVER LINEUP, MIKE AVENATTI'S
CONFIDENT ASSERTIONS REGARDING
ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS
HAVE NOT MATERIALIZED, SO
PATRICK IS REACHING FURTHER INTO
HIS OWN POCKET TO HELP FUND THE
TEAM.
>> OH, SO THEY'RE THE MOST
RIDICULOUS THING TO DO BECAUSE
YOU JUST WASTE MONEY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT,
YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, SO
YOU MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY YOUR
LIFE.
AND...I'M 47 YEARS OLD.
I BETTER DO IT NOW BECAUSE I'M
NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER.
>> A WEEK BEFORE THE LONG BEACH
GRAND PRIX, PATRICK PRACTICES
THE TIGHT TURNS OF
NORTH AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS
STREET RACE IN A SIMULATOR.
>> I DON'T MIND THE PRESSURE.
I PREFER HAVING PRESSURE BECAUSE
THEN IT FOCUSES YOU TO REALLY
WORK HARD AND GIVE IT 100%.
WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE
TO DO WELL AND TO WIN.
AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING
IT'S GONNA TAKE TO DO THAT.
>> WITH PORSCHE EXECS WATCHING
CLOSELY, THE AFTERNOON AT
LONG BEACH IS LONG INDEED.
A WEAK QUALIFYING ROUND PUTS
PATRICK AT THE BACK OF THE PACK
TO START.
BUT QUICK, CONSISTENT LAPS ALLOW
HIM TO MOVE FROM NINTH PLACE TO
SIXTH BEFORE TURNING THE CAR
OVER TO JOE FOSTER.
>> YOU RAN FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP
THE LEADERS BEHIND US.
WE GOT RIGHT BACK ON THE LEAD
LAP, SO GREAT JOB.
>> THINGS DON'T GO AS WELL FOR
THE 10 CAR AND MIKE AVENATTI.
>> OOH, DEAR.
IT'S ONE OF THE
DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO CARS AROUND.
>> YEAH, THAT'S MIKE AVENATTI
RIGHT THERE WHO JUST HAD TO GO
AROUND ON THEM DOWN IN TURN 1.
AND FORTUNATELY SOME GREAT,
EVASIVE DRIVING BY A LOT OF THE
ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
HE'S GOT A PROBLEM.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED ON A
TRACK SUCH AS LONG BEACH.
THERE'S AVENATTI AGAIN, STILL
HAVING PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET
THAT CAR BACK TO THE PITS.
THAT MIGHT BE THE END OF THE DAY
FOR THAT CAR.
>> THE GTM CATEGORY IN LE MANS
IS A VERY COMPETITIVE CLASS.
YOU COMPETE AGAINST THE BEST, SO
FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, WE
REALLY DISCUSSED WITH THE TEAM
VERY EARLY ON WHETHER THE DRIVER
LINEUP WAS SOMETHING THEY WOULD
LIKE TO CONSIDER.
>> WITH CONCERN GROWING BOTH
INTERNALLY AND FROM PORSCHE, A
DECISION REGARDING THE DRIVER
LINEUP FOR LE MANS NEEDS TO BE
REACHED.
ON THE AFTERNOON BEFORE
LAGUNA SECA, DEMPSEY EXEC
JIM HANCOCK TELLS MIKE AVENATTI
THE TEAM WANTS TO REPLACE HIM IN
FRANCE.
>> I MEAN, I WOULD HAVE NEVER
BROUGHT PORSCHE TO THE TABLE HAD
I KNOWN THAT THERE WAS THEN
GONNA BE AN EFFORT TO REPLACE ME
IN THE CAR.
>> IS HE READY TO GO THIS YEAR?
IN MY OPINION, NO.
>> WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, MY SEAT IN LE MANS BEING
TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
I DON'T SEE TRYING TO REPLACE
JOE IN THE CAR.
>> I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE GET
THE BEST DRIVERS OUT THERE, YOU
KNOW?
>> OKAY.
>> BUT TWO GENTLEMAN DRIVERS IS
THE BIG STUMBLING BLOCK.
TWO GENTLEMAN DRIVERS ARE NOT
GONNA GET YOU THE RESULTS YOU
WANT.
YOU NEED TO PUT THE BEST DRIVER
LINEUP YOU CAN, WHICH IS THE
STRONGEST GENTLEMAN DRIVER YOU
CAN, AND I WOULD ARGUE PATRICK'S
UP THERE RIGHT NOW.
HE'S A STRONG GENTLEMAN DRIVER.
YOU NEED A STRONG SILVER DRIVER
AND A STRONG GOLD DRIVER.
JOE IS ONE OF THE BEST SILVER
DRIVERS OUT THERE.
>> I KNOW 100% OF WHERE YOU AND
I STAND.
AND I KNOW 100% OF WHERE YOUR
FOCUS IS.
>> I TRULY BELIEVE IT WASN'T ME
AGAINST MICHAEL.
IT WAS THE BEST THING FOR THE
TEAM TO DO GOING FORWARD.
>> COMING UP, A FIRST-PLACE
FINISH IS FINALLY WITHIN REACH.
>> THIS PUT US BACK TO WITHIN
ONE LAP.
GREAT JOB.
>> WHAT IS THE MYSTIQUE ABOUT
BEATING THE OTHER GUY, ABOUT
WINNING?
WELL, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S A
MYSTIQUE THAT'S HELD IN HIGH
REVERENCE BY PEOPLE IN RACING
BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT COULD ALL
BE GONE TOMORROW.
>> STILL CHASING THEIR FIRST WIN
ON ASPHALT, THE DEMPSEY TEAM HAS
ARRIVED IN LAGUNA SECA, AND THE
ENERGY IS UP.
>> THIS IS A REALLY BIG WEEKEND
AND A POSSIBLE BREAKOUT WEEKEND
FOR DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO.
>> THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO
REALLY GET TOGETHER BEFORE
LE MANS, AND IT'D BE SO GREAT TO
GO TO LE MANS COMING OFF A
PODIUM HERE.
>> WITH THE TEAM'S DRIVER LINEUP
FROM LE MANS UNRESOLVED,
PATRICK'S IN THE CAR TO KICK OFF
THE FINAL RACE BEFORE HEADING TO
FRANCE.
>> THIS COULD BE OUR DAY IN THE
SUN.
>> HE'S TAKING THE FIRST STINT
IN THIS FOUR-HOUR RACE ON ONE OF
AMERICA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL
CIRCUITS.
>> YEAH, YOU GOT THREE PROTOTYPE
CARS COMING UP ON YOU.
VERY TIGHT. VERY TIGHT.
NOT MUCH ROOM.
>> IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD TO
SEE.
JUST EXPECT THEM TO BE COMING BY
PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> THANK YOU. WILL DO.
>> THE CONTOURS AT LAGUNA SECA
ARE AN IDEAL CHALLENGE IN THE
EVOLUTION OF PATRICK'S RACE
CRAFT.
>> THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL QUALITY
WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO A CORNER
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "WOW, I CAN
STAY AHEAD OF THIS GUY, AND I
CAN GET THROUGH THE CORNER, AND
I CAN DROP HIM AND ACCELERATE
OUT."
OR I'M GONNA BE LIKE, "I HAVE AN
LMP2 CAR COMING ON THE INSIDE,
LMP1.
I'M GONNA LET HIM GO.
AND THEN I'M GONNA DIP BACK IN
AND THEN GO ON."
THERE'S A GREAT BALLET OF, YOU
KNOW, GETTING IN AND OUT OF
TRAFFIC AND KEEPING YOUR RHYTHM
AND FLOWING AND COMMUNICATING
AND ALL THAT STUFF.
>> 15 LAPS INTO A STRONG STINT,
PATRICK FEELS HIS LEFT REAR TIRE
GOING FLAT.
>> BE READY.
>> COPY THAT. COPY THAT.
PIT THIS LAP FOR A FLAT TIRE.
>> YEAH, COME ON IN.
>> BUT WHAT SHOULD BE A ROUTINE
TIRE CHANGE BECOMES SOMETHING
ELSE.
>> IS THE REAR STABILITY OKAY?
>> A FAULTY STUB AXLE PREVENTS
THE WHEEL FROM COMING OFF, AND
INSTANTLY, THE CHANCE FOR A WIN
IS SABOTAGED AGAIN.
>> IT'S A BENT LEFT REAR.
>> IT WON'T CUT OFF AT THE LEFT
REAR.
THE LEFT REAR.
>> THE TRUE CHARACTER OF A RACE
TEAM IS HOW IT DEALS WITH
ADVERSITY.
ADVERSITY DOES TEST PEOPLE.
AND THAT TESTING REALLY EITHER
CREATES CHAMPIONS OR CHUMPS, TO
BE HONEST.
>> IT MUSHROOMS THOSE CANS, AND
ONCE IT DOES THAT, YOU CANNOT
GET THE WHEEL OFF.
>> THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO
JUST STAY CALM.
YOU PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN AND YOU
FIGHT IT OUT.
>> WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH
LAGUNA SECA RIGHT NOW.
WE WERE OVER THREE MINUTES STUCK
IN THE PITS, WHERE WE LOST TWO
LAPS.
AND PATRICK WENT BACK OUT, GOT
HIS TWO LAPS BACK.
AND HE GOT THEM BACK FROM PACE.
HE WAS RUNNING AN INCREDIBLE
PACE.
HE WAS THE SECOND-FASTEST
RACE-LAP TIME IN THE CLASS WHEN
HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR.
>> THIS PUT US BACK TO WITHIN
ONE LAP.
GREAT JOB.
REALLY, REALLY GREAT JOB.
>> IT HAD A FLAT TIRE, DROPPED
TWO LAPS, AND HAS COME BACK
THROUGH THE FIELD, DRIVEN BY
PATRICK DEMPSEY, WHO WAS WELL UP
TO SPEED AND JUST MARVELOUS FOR
THE TULLY'S COFFEE MACHINE.
AND THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO
LE MANS AFTER THIS RACE.
>> INTENT ON PUTTING THE TEAM
BACK IN CONTENTION, PATRICK
PICKS UP FIVE POSSESSIONS BEFORE
HANDING THE CAR OVER TO
ANDY LALLY TO FINISH THE RACE.
IN THE PITS, FRUSTRATION AND
EXCITEMENT COLLIDE.
>> I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU,
GETTING THOSE TWO LAPS BACK.
>> [BLEEP]
>> ANDY LALLY IS THROWING IT
DOWN HERE IN THE GT CHALLENGE
CATEGORY.
>> PICKING UP PATRICK'S
MOMENTUM, ANDY LALLY CHARGES
HARD THROUGH THE PACK AND WITHIN
AN HOUR IS IN FIRST PLACE.
>> ANDY LALLY -- THIS GUY AND IN
A PORSCHE IS KILLER -- SO
STRONG.
>> WE WOULD TYPICALLY TALK TO
PATRICK DEMPSEY, WHO IS NEVER
CAMERA SHY, BUT I DON'T THINK HE
WANTS TO TALK RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE ON THE VERGE OF WHAT
WOULD BE HIS VERY FIRST VICTORY.
AND I JUST THINK THAT HE MIGHT
BE A LITTLE SUPERSTITIOUS.
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW
DEMPSEY/DEL PIERO HAVING A GOOD
DAY.
>> WITH ONLY MINUTES LEFT, THE
TEAM'S FIRST AMERICAN LE MANS
SERIES VICTORY IS IN SIGHT.
BUT THEN, A YELLOW FLAG PACKS
THE FIELD.
THE SLOWDOWN ALLOWS THE
SECOND-PLACE CAR TO CLOSE THE
GAP.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS --
PARTICULARLY, HE HAS THE CUSHION
AT LEAST OF ONE CAR IN BETWEEN
HIMSELF AND THE SECOND-PLACE CAR
IN GTC, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY
NICK TANDY.
WE'RE GOING GREEN THIS TIME BY
LIGHTS OUT.
>> GREEN THIS TIME.
>> ONE LAP, BUDDY.
GREEN, GREEN, GREEN.
>> AND THAT IS THE LEADER IN GT
CHALLENGE.
>> WHEN THE RACE RESUMES, ANDY
IS SQUEEZED OUT OF POSITION BY
AN LMPC CAR ON THE LAST LAP,
ALLOWING THE SECOND-PLACE
PORSCHE TO OVERTAKE HIM FOR THE
LEAD.
A FIRST-PLACE VICTORY SNATCHED
AWAY IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE
RACE AND DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE
TEAM.
>> TODAY WAS CLOSE.
TODAY WAS A HEARTBREAKER.
I'M BUMMED ABOUT IT.
>> BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS
SEASON, DEMPSEY RACING IS
FINDING ITSELF ON THE A.L.M.S.
PODIUM.
>> PATRICK DEMPSEY AND
ANDY LALLY!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> YEAH!
>> HOW YOU FEELING ABOUT THE
TEAM'S PROGRESS?
>> OH, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE TEAM, AND I REALLY FEEL WE
CAN WIN NOW.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME EVER FOR ME
RACING THAT I KNOW THAT I CAME
TO RACE.
>> SAVORING THE PODIUM VICTORY
AT LAGUNA SECA IS SWEET, BUT
SHORT-LIVED, WITH THE FOCUS NOW
QUICKLY SHIFTING TO LE MANS.
>> THAT WAS AMAZING.
THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S VERY GOOD.
>> IN MEETINGS THAT NEXT WEEK,
PORSCHE INFORMS PATRICK THAT ITS
NUMBER-ONE AMERICAN DRIVER IS
AVAILABLE TO JOIN THE TEAM IN
FRANCE.
TWO-TIME LE MANS WINNER
PATRICK LONG IS COMING ABOARD,
AND SUDDENLY, THE DEMPSEY DRIVER
LINEUP HAS A LEGITIMATE SHOT TO
WIN.
>> LET'S GO TO LE MANS.
>> CHEERS.
>> NEXT TIME...
>> HERE WE GO. WE'RE HERE.
>> ...PATRICK'S 15-MONTH JOURNEY
COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL 24
HOURS.
>> THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DREAMING
ABOUT.
>> IT'S A VERY VISCERAL
EXPERIENCE.
>> THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LET
EMOTION OR THOUGHT SLIP IN.
NOT NOW, NOT AT 200 MILES AN
HOUR.
>> THIS IS SO GREAT TO BE A PART
OF THIS EVENT.
>> PAT LONG PUTS IN ANOTHER
FASTEST LAP FOR THE TEAM.
WOW!
>> WE HAVE A LEGITIMATE SHOT OF