TROUBLES ASIDE, HERTA PRAISES TEAM EFFORT.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK Auto Racing

Both Panoz Motor Sports teams competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last weekend shared the same fate, failing to finish the race because of cooling problems.

Valencia's Bryan Herta teamed with David Brabham and Jan Magnussen in the No. 11 Panoz entry. The No. 12 Panoz entry was driven by Bill Auberlen, Gunnar Jeanette and David Donohue.

As expected, the Audi Sport North America team dominated the endurance race, taking the top three spots. Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro teamed to win the 70th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de le Sarthe.

As for the Panoz team, it spent the weekend battling brake problems, a car fire and ultimately overheating.

``We may not have won the race, but I could not be more proud of the effort our team put in,'' said team owner Don Panoz. ``The effort to simply make the race was amazing. After the fire on Thursday night, most teams would have thrown in the towel, but these guys are incredible.''

Herta's car experienced a car fire after the last day of qualifying. But the team was able to make repairs on the No. 11 entry and have it ready for the race, which started on June 15. But Herta's car began overheating later that night. He tried to take the car out on Sunday morning, but the overheating problems were too much to overcome.

``The real positive we take away from Le Mans is the great effort the crew put in,'' said Herta, a veteran of the CART series who is making his debut in endurance racing with Panoz Motor Sports. ``I have been with a lot of different teams and these guys are as good as anybody. No matter what happens and what the car throws at them, they will not give up.

``Unfortunately, they had a lot more thrown at them than they really would have wanted, but the entire team really rose to the occasion.''

The No. 12 entry withdrew from the race moments after the No. 11 with the same overheating problems.

``The fighting effort our guys put up is a real credit to them,'' Panoz said. ``As a team we are now even more determined to come back next year and give this race our best shot.''

The next race on the American Le Mans Series is at the Mid Ohio Sports Course on June 30.

--NASCAR Southwest Series: M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park has been chipping away to catch NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series points leader Eddy McKean all season.

After a disappointing start to the season at Phoenix International Raceway, where Kanke was knocked out of the race in the opening lap, the driver of the No. 98 Crown Motor Sports Chevy has reeled off five straight top-five finishes, including a win at Cajon Speedway.

Kanke finished second in the Irwindale Speedway race two weeks ago and now sits 15 points behind McKean.

The next race on the Southwest Series is the Snap-On Tools/Jelly Belly 200 today at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, a 1.99-mile road course.

Kanke has his work cut out for him, though, if he wants to continue his streak of top fives. NASCAR Winston Cup stars and Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon and Jeff Green are entered in the Southwest Series race. In addition, two-time Sears Point winner Jim Inglebright and road-racing specialist Boris Said will also be entered in the Southwest Series event.

In addition, Kanke will be returning to the track where his season ended a year ago in a nasty crash that left him with a broken leg.

Sean Woodside of Saugus, who sits third in points on the Southwest Series, will be racing today. Frank Maronski Jr. of Quartz Hill, seventh in points, and Bob Lyon of Acton are also entered in the race.

THIS WEEKEND

NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series

Snap-On Tools/Jelly Belly 200

Site: Sonoma.

Schedule: Today, race, 1 p.m.

Track: Sears Point Raceway (1.99-mile paved road course).

Distance: 127.36 miles/64 laps.

Posted awards: $84,300.

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THIS WEEKEND (see text)