Klaus Graf in the Muscle Milk Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder. Photo credit: Rick Dole

For the first time this American Le Mans Series season, the Muscle Milk Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder topped the time sheets in testing. Klaus Graf was the quickest driver in Thursday evening’s two hour promoter test session, as the only driver to dip into the 1:15 range. Graf lapped the 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at 1:15.444.

Graf’s team also made the headlines Thursday for a last-minute driver change. Citing heavy business commitments, team owner and driver Greg Pickett will step out of the cockpit and former CytoSport racer Memo Gidley will step in. Thursday’s session was Gidley’s first time aboard the RS Spyder. Gidley, Graf, and Sascha Maassen will pilot the car the rest of this weekend.

Clint Field was second quickest for Intersport in a Lola AER at 1:16.007, then David Brabham in the Patron Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01c at 1:16.185.

GT saw three manufacturers in the top three positions, all racing on Michelins. Gianmaria Bruni led Patrick Long and Jan Magnussen, the Risi Ferrari ahead of the Flying Lizard Porsche and factory Corvette Racing ZR1. Bruni posted a lap of 1:23.933 to Long’s 1:24.010 and Magnussen’s 1:24.224.

LMPC was fairly close in the spec-Oreca FLM 09 class. Gunnar Jeannette edged Tom Sutherland, 1:20.426 to just 1:20.449. Jeannette drives for Green Earth Team Gunnar, Sutherland for Genoa Racing. Terry Borcheller in his first ALMS start of the season led the 10-car GTC class of Porsche GT3 Cup cars.

There were a handful of incidents during the two hours, but despite the numerous red flags, no cars suffered significant damage.

Additionally, the track temperatures cooled substantially into the evening hours. The session gave teams a good idea of what to expect as the final couple hours of Saturday’s race will be run in similar conditions. The race runs from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.