Peugeot 908 HDi FAP leads a Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and an Intersport Racing Oreca FLM09 during practice. Photo credit: Rick Dole

Wednesday marked the first official test session for the American Le Mans Series’ 2010 opening round at Sebring International Raceway.

The pair of factory Peugeots, the turbo diesel 908 HDi FAPs, led the overall and LMP1 charts. Marc Gene was quickest in the No. 07 entry with a time of 1:45.811, edging Pedro Lamy in the No. 08 at 1:46.148.

Marino Franchitti of Highcroft Racing in a Honda Performance Development ARX 01-c was quickest in LMP2, at 1:47.995, third overall. Andy Wallace paced the LMPC class for Genoa Racing, a time of 1:57.101.

The factory Corvette ZR1s led GT2, Jan Magnussen ahead of Oliver Gavin on this occasion. Magnussen was quickest at 2:01.837 to Gavin’s 2:02.020. The No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche GT3 Cup led the GTC class.

Only 28 of the 34 cars running were on track in this practice session. There were two red flags in the afternoon session – the No. 12 Autocon Motorsports Lola B06-10 AER had contact driver’s left at turn 13 and also the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche GT3 Cup car had an off late in the session when just the GT cars were out.

The Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin, yesterday’s quickest petrol-powered P1 entry, was not out today on account of changing to its race engine and gearbox. Five GT2 cars also did not post times, among them the two Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari F430 GTs, the two Rahal Letterman BMW M3s, both of which did likewise, and the Robertson Racing Doran Ford GT-R, which still was on track to return Thursday from its Monday testing accident.