NEW AUDI TOPS SEBRING TEST.(Audi AG race car tested)

Audi sent a warning to its rivals at the second annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway in Florida on Jan. 23-25. It had tested its new R10, powered by a 5.5-liter, twin-turbo diesel V12, privately in Europe, but the Sebring sessions confirmed the R10 as the car to beat in the March 18 12-hour enduro.

Driver Ivan Capello's best time of 1:47.308 was the test's best, soundly beating the official track record of 1:48.029 set in 2002 by teammate Frank Biela in the old R8. The car "feels like an Audi,'' Capello says, except with way more torque: more than 800 lb-ft total.

Also present was the Penske-campaigned Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 car-car singular, the second car isn't ready. While the R10 had some teething problems-suspension issues, a bad electronic cable, a flat tire-the Porsche, despite "thousands'' of laps, lost an engine and had a cockpit electrical fire that severely limited track time. But the Porsche is a fast car, capable of some overall wins this year.

Lucas Luhr managed a best time of 1:49.93, a tenth of a second slower than the fast qualifier in the 2005 Sebring 12 Hour, JJ Lehto in an Audi R8. But the official line remains: No Le Mans 24 Hour for the Spyder in 2006. Might an overall win at Sebring change Porsche's mind?

Also notable was the general absence of cars: No more than 14 cars took time during any one session, with quite a few teams-Corvette Racing, for instance-planning private tests at Sebring this month. And while Champion Racing's Brad Kettler, last year's Le Mans- winning R8 crew chief, was in Sebring to help Audi, it is unclear whether the Florida-based team will enter a car in the race. This year's effort appears to be the responsibility of the European Joest team, likely with Champion taking a more active role in late 2006 or 2007.

F1 cars break cover

Ferrari, Williams and Honda all launched their new Formula One cars the week of Jan. 23, while McLaren-Mercedes put its new MP4-21 with V8 power to work.