Lexus' SC430 Takes Top Two Spots At Fuji 500 Over Acura's NSX

The race started at 14:00. The skies cleared of the morning began to change as a humid breeze blew in and dark clouds began to form over the surrounding mountains, but it did not rain.

In the early stages of the race the No. 17 REAL NSX (Toshihiro Kaneishi) lost a couple of places, dropping from 4th on the starting grid to 6th before 10th lap. Meanwhile, the pole-sitter No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX (Takashi Kogure) was running strong in the lead lap after lap until the Dunlop Corner of the 22nd lap, when Kogure spun out and off the track while running alone. Although Kogure managed to get back on the track almost immediately, he lost the lead to the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Yuji Tachikawa). At this point the order of the top six runners was No. 38, No. 18, the No. 35 houzan KRAFT SC430 (Peter Dumbreck), the No. 100 RAYBRIG NSX (Yuji Ide), No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 (Andre Lotterer), and the No. 32 EPSON NSX (Loic Duval).

At the end of lap 26, the No. 1 ARTA NSX (Ralph Firman) was the first of the GT500 class to make its pit stop. They changed the two rear wheels and refueled, with Firman remaining at the wheel. After the 30th lap the other teams began to make their first pit stop. The 2nd-place runner, No. 18, made its pit stop on lap 33, while the leader, No. 38, waited until lap 38. Kogure remained at the wheel of No. 18, while No. 38 changed drivers from Tachikawa to Richard Lyons.
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w209w114 - 5/5/2008 12:24:02 PM

+3 Boost

The title is misleading (like most titles here). This is no Lexus SC430.

Bmw8ter - 5/5/2008 1:10:12 PM

+1 Boost

You must be blind, because that's obviously an SC430.

Bmw8ter - 5/5/2008 1:16:14 PM

+1 Boost

You're probably looking at the bimmerfest photo of a 6 series convertible.

Rupert - 5/5/2008 2:33:33 PM

+1 Boost

BMW8ter, you must be blind. That racer is an SC in name only, it clearly has nothing to do with the normal SC.

Agent009 - 5/5/2008 2:50:07 PM

+1 Boost

w209w114- Maybe if you read to the second paragraph you will see there clearly is in this series.

Don't limit you knowledge to just the US, and you will find there is a whole new world out there.

First reference to the car is:
"lost the lead to the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430"

w209w114 - 5/6/2008 1:51:42 AM

0 Boost

Maybe if you actually looked at it or read the article you would know that its not an "SC430" You cant just go to a dealership and order this. Therefore its not an SC430. Its a modified car based on an SC430 that has completely different parts and drivetrain, suspension etc. Do you really think an SC430 would win any competition????? If so you need to start getting out more

Sigh.... Asking people on this site to think past the headlines and outside the box is clearly too much

Bmw8ter - 5/6/2008 8:05:25 AM

+1 Boost

Race car? What tipped you guys off?

I'm well aware it's a race car, but it's clearly identified as an SC430, just like 009 pointed out; just like I observed the first time I read the article.

The average enthusiast will identify the car as an SC430, not some "Lexus SC triple mocha latte double turbo charged LM spec" race car.

w209w114 - 5/6/2008 12:23:34 PM

0 Boost

"The average enthusiast will identify the car as an SC430, not some "Lexus SC triple mocha latte double turbo charged LM spec" race car"

YEAHHH!!! In their dreams

macker83 - 5/6/2008 1:40:20 PM

+2 Boost

w209w114 you are an idiot do you think that any of these cars are stock and that you can just go in to the dealership and buy them you are the one who is being biased in your opinion of lexus. they won so give them credit! And its the same as the BMW M3 stock car series you cant go in to any old BMW dealership and order one of those either! stop being a jerk

lexusrox123 - 5/7/2008 9:06:22 AM

+1 Boost

are we done bickering about it now? please?

hao420 - 5/5/2008 1:50:54 PM

-3 Boost

agreed.

Wimmer - 5/5/2008 2:06:34 PM

+1 Boost

The Lexus SC has "racing heritage"? What? You've got to be sh*tting me.

Ever heard of the Mercedes SL and Jaguar E-Type (which became the XK)? Those cars have more racing heritage than Toyota combined, literally.

The stuff you Lexus fans claim sometimes is just plain retarded. No offense.

bimmer - 5/5/2008 2:09:37 PM

-2 Boost

Hmmm... Lexus racing...!!!?

2JayZee - 5/5/2008 2:16:34 PM

+2 Boost

Wimmer, I agree with you in that the SC hasn't done much of any racing..[WTF Taylor, are you for real??!!?]

But to say that the SL and E type have more racing heritage than the whole of Toyota?

Utter BS. In fact, that is an even Bigger heap of BS than Taylor saying that the SC has heaps of racing heritage.

2JayZee - 5/5/2008 2:17:25 PM

+1 Boost

@bimmer .....

Sounds weird doesn't it? Might be something we will be hearing more often in the future.

Wimmer - 5/5/2008 2:20:44 PM

-1 Boost

@ 2JayZee,

"Those cars have more racing heritage than Toyota combined, ---> LITERALLY <---."


Look at the last word. ;-)

Rupert - 5/5/2008 2:32:51 PM

-1 Boost

Well, literally means, um, literally. What do you mean Wimmer?

dlin - 5/5/2008 3:42:55 PM

+1 Boost

Where are GT-Rs this time? They are not racing?

ThierryHenry14 - 5/5/2008 5:15:17 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like the GT-Rs didnt fare too well this race... should be an interesting series when it gets to the later rounds...

btw, I think all the people who responded to the Lexus SC racing heritage comment really fell for it. It was all about getting attention, and you guys went for it...

lexusrox123 - 5/5/2008 6:22:49 PM

+1 Boost

lol!

Htay7500 - 5/5/2008 8:22:28 PM

0 Boost

scrw tht! this is what someone saw there!

http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/146959/car/103412/884450/photo.aspx

stash84 - 5/6/2008 3:18:22 PM

+1 Boost

something about it reminds me of the 3rd gen rx7 tt