ALMS should run shorter races...

[jonovision_man]

Seeing those kick-*** cars go toe-to-toe in a "sprint" (relatively speaking) in Long Beach was pretty awesome.

2h45 is just too long to keep my interest, and tends to end up separating cars by laps instead of seconds... 1h40 was perfect.

Keep the 12-hour races 12-hours, obviously 24 hours of Le Mans stays 24 hours, but 2h45 was never really long enough to be "endurance" anyway. Might as well shorten it to a more entertaining length!

jono

[nissan gtp]

see the Andretti team totally F-up race tactics was great :D

[G.]

Embarrassing, stupid question: Was the race on TV, and will it be replayed?:o

[Gnam]

1) Yes.
2) No.

schedule (http://www.americanlemans.com/Schedule/SeasonSchedule.aspx)

[jonovision_man]

Anyone know if Houston will be the same length (1h40?)

jono

[oddlycalm]

2h45 is just too long to keep my interest, and tends to end up separating cars by laps instead of seconds... 1h40 was perfect. Agreed, the cars have more endurance than my butt does.

oc

[Wheel-Nut]

Anyone know if Houston will be the same length (1h40?)

jono



5:30 PM - 8:15 PM Lone Star Grand Prix (ALMS Race)

[cameraman]

You do know that there are treatments available for ADD :shakehead

[pchall]

2 hours 45 min is only a long time when you're stuck in the bleachers.

But I do think that ALMS races would be a lot better if they had 200 mile sprints without driver changes. All P2 with no air restrictors. Screw the European endurance racing crapola unless the minimum race distance is 1000KM. How many ALMS teams actually wind up at the Sarthe Circuit in June anyhow?

[jonovision_man]

Agreed, the cars have more endurance than my butt does.

oc

LOL! :D

jono

[jonovision_man]

5:30 PM - 8:15 PM Lone Star Grand Prix (ALMS Race)

Oh. Too bad.

jono

[Methanolandbrats]

see the Andretti team totally F-up race tactics was great :D That was sweet. And what did Whiney Mikey say about it "I don't know". :D Clearly he is dating Tony George and they have become one on many levels.

[opinionated ow]

2 hours 45 min is only a long time when you're stuck in the bleachers.

But I do think that ALMS races would be a lot better if they had 200 mile sprints without driver changes. All P2 with no air restrictors. Screw the European endurance racing crapola unless the minimum race distance is 1000KM. How many ALMS teams actually wind up at the Sarthe Circuit in June anyhow?

the answer to the last part is quite a lot. the answer to the other part is why ruin an already great product?

[FCYTravis]

the answer to the last part is quite a lot.
Well, no, not really.

ALMS full-time teams going to Le Mans:

P1:
Audi x2 (duh)

P2:
<This space intentionally left blank>

GT1:
Corvette x2 (duh)

GT2:
Flying Lizard x1
Risi x2

So, a total of seven cars from four teams, two of which are basically the only teams in the entire class. Not a single North American P2 is making the trip across the pond.

[opinionated ow]

Well, no, not really.

ALMS full-time teams going to Le Mans:

P1:
Audi x2 (duh)

P2:
<This space intentionally left blank>

GT1:
Corvette x2 (duh)

GT2:
Flying Lizard x1
Risi x2

So, a total of seven cars from four teams, two of which are basically the only teams in the entire class. Not a single North American P2 is making the trip across the pond.
that is this year though travis. intersport and binnie and others all made the trek in the last couple of years. and one of the GT2 teams isn't going because they have severely damaged cars.

[FCYTravis]

and one of the GT2 teams isn't going because they have severely damaged cars.
I know Petersen/White Lightning had an entry but I think they withdrew because they lacked the funding for it. You're probably right in that writing off one of their cars probably didn't help that cash situation.

Fair use from DSC follows:
"Mike and I became concerned that the level of commitment to do a proper Le Mans program would draw too much away from our American Le Mans Series effort. Since our program here in the States is our first focus, we were not willing to risk it or willing to go to Le Mans with anything but the highest commitment to win."

"Level of commitment" = PRspeak for funding ;)

As for the others - yes, they did at one time. They're not this year - probably for the same reason as PWL. No bucks.

It's no small endeavor for a sports car racing team to pack everything up, ship it across the pond, run the test days, put the crew up for several weeks in hotels in France, fly them across and back, across and back... My guess is that you could run a fairly competitive full season in GT in some series for what it costs an American team just to run Le Mans.

[ferrarigod]

12 hours and 24 hours have been fine with me. After 24, 2:45 sounds like a quick drunkenness.

[extramundane]

that is this year though travis. intersport and binnie and others all made the trek in the last couple of years. and one of the GT2 teams isn't going because they have severely damaged cars.

Binnie's not an ALMS team.

[opinionated ow]

Binnie's not an ALMS team.

was though

[extramundane]

was though

Nope. Bill Binnie drove some for Intersport a few years back, but aside from occasional Sebring, Petit & Laguna appearances, Binnie Motorsports has been a LMS team.

[RHR_Fan]

2:45 isn't long at a track like Road America where you can walk around. My dad and I had a great time at the ALMS race there last year. However I can see if you are at a track like Long Beach where you sit in one spot for the entire race that almost 2:45 is a long time.

Kind of on topic, how long were the typical 500-miler races at Fontana and MIS?

~Nicole

[cameraman]

Fontana was 2.5 to 3.75 hours depending on the number of yellows.
Michigan was just under 3 hours.

[jonovision_man]

2:45 isn't long at a track like Road America where you can walk around. My dad and I had a great time at the ALMS race there last year. However I can see if you are at a track like Long Beach where you sit in one spot for the entire race that almost 2:45 is a long time.


At the track is a different story... I go to Mosport every year for ALMS, and it's like you said, you're up and around, not always paying attention. Sometimes BBQ'ing, sometimes drinking. I've lost count of how many times I got lost in the infield. :)

But you know, even there, I found the Speed WC races much more entertaining... the ALMS cars are so much better, but a couple hours in it's just cars doing laps, not really racing each other.

I guess that's the nature of endurance racing. But like I said, 2h45 isn't really endurance, but it's not really a sprint. Just a long race.

jono