Mergification II Electric Boogaloo [Archive] - Page 2

Gnam

12-19-12, 05:17 PM

This may have been reported elsewhere, but I hadn't seen it.

There are six seats on the board for the combined series -- four are held by Grand-Am owner NASCAR, two by ALMS. Know that NASCAR will ultimately be calling the shots for 2014. Consider the 2013 season for both sanctioning bodies to be one big petri dish, in preparation for the huge experiment scheduled to launch at Daytona in 2014.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121219/GRAND_AM/121219859
I assume the ALMS board members are Atherton and Panoz. Wonder who will fill the other four seats?

Gnam

01-02-13, 07:24 PM

Moar news soon. Please Standby...

Friday at noon ET, officials from Grand-Am and its rival, the American Le Mans Series, will host a press conference. Beginning at Daytona in 2014, the two series will combine under the leadership of NASCAR-backed Grand-Am, and the press conference will begin the process of determining what cars and what classes will be raced in the new single series.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130102/GRAND_AM/130109995

SteveH

01-02-13, 09:44 PM

begin the process of determining :rofl:

cameraman

01-02-13, 11:00 PM

They are starting the decision process with a press conference:saywhat:

extramundane

01-02-13, 11:25 PM

They are starting the decision process with a press conference:saywhat:

Supposedly the teams already know. Unless they don't. Depends who you ask, apparently.

Twitterverse is blowing up over word of DPs at LeMans 2014. Bow to your new tube-frame overlords. :gomer:

nissan gtp

01-02-13, 11:33 PM

Supposedly the teams already know. Unless they don't. Depends who you ask, apparently.

Twitterverse is blowing up over word of DPs at LeMans 2014. Bow to your new tube-frame overlords. :gomer:

Audi, Toyota, Porsche P1's will lap them at least once an hour. bring it on. :laugh:

opinionated ow

01-03-13, 01:03 AM

Audi, Toyota, Porsche P1's will lap them at least once an hour. bring it on. :laugh:
say hello to 5:30 laps of circuit de la sarthe!

Elmo T

01-03-13, 09:21 AM

They are starting the decision process with a press conference:saywhat:

ICONIC 2.0? :rolleyes:

manic mechanic

01-04-13, 02:17 AM

MORONIC 2.0? :rolleyes:

There..fixered it fer ya! :D

TRDfan

01-04-13, 12:40 PM

Bye Bye P1 (as expected)

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-2014-class-structure-announced/

Gnam

01-04-13, 12:59 PM

Would a P2 car with performance balancing measures, made to ensure close competition with a DP car, have any useful setup data for Le Mans?

Rogue Leader

01-04-13, 01:51 PM

Bye Bye P1 (as expected)

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-2014-class-structure-announced/

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no great loss. Watching 3 to 5 cars (tops) race for the past couple years in that class is almost straight out boring. It reminds me of GTP in 92/93 watching the Toyotas shellac anyone who dared to show up. Eventually hopefully P2 cars will start getting more numerous and show some of the outright speed/innovation we look for.

01-04-13, 02:11 PM

Elmo T

01-04-13, 03:35 PM

with performance balancing measures being made to ensure close competition between all three platforms.

So someone gets "dumbed down"? :shakehead

If I want spec racing, I can look elsewhere.

extramundane

01-04-13, 05:48 PM

So someone gets "dumbed down"? :shakehead

If I want spec racing, I can look elsewhere.

Rumors of DPs getting upgraded (carbon brakes, non-spec tire, HP & aero work), but nothing's announced yet.

Not there's gonna be any P2s to merge. :\

nissan gtp

01-04-13, 07:22 PM

Am I understanding this correctly, that the new P2 GRALMS series will provide P2's for LeMans, or are they saying that P2's are the new P1's?

I will not be happy if the American-based sports car series is not the proving grounds for entry into the top class at LM.

I think they're trying to keep the P2 cars in LeMan spec (or "near" whatever that turns out to be). Gonna have to put speed in the DP's.

P1 (top class) has never been in consideration, but it would be cool. Chev vs. Ford in P1 ?? haha

Gnam

01-31-13, 05:06 PM

Will there be any P2 cars in ALMS this year?

Last year's competitors (Level 5, Conquest, and Dempsey Racing) are not planning to run. Nuts.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-level-5-stands-down-from-p2-for-2013/

Easy

01-31-13, 07:58 PM

Gnam

02-02-13, 06:03 PM

Wikipedia has summary of the ALMS entries for the 2013 season:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_American_Le_Mans_Series_season

Good to see Risi is back with a Ferrari 458 in the GT class and that Patrick Long will still be racing a Porsche in the GT class with CORE.

The Doctor

03-16-13, 11:16 PM

The Split, v3.0...?

From DSC Editor Graham Goodwin on the twitter machine

Breakaway US sportscar series rumoured with LMP1 as lead class - Sebring paddock sources have confirmed potential rival 2014 series to USCR

FCYTravis

03-17-13, 01:23 AM

1. Who's got the money?
2. Who's got the cars?
3. Who's got the tracks?

I mean, Paul Gentilozzi ran Trans-Am as his personal fiefdom for a couple years, so I suppose someone could bankroll a self-aggrandizing P1 series for all three American teams who've bothered to show up and run P1s the last couple of years. But what's the point of an exhibition parade at a club circuit with no TV coverage, besides wanking off about how awesome your cars are in front of teeming dozens?

As dysondnf put it over on ALMSfans:

So, this groundswell of P1 support, which chose not to show up the past 5 years when there was a series with a P1 class, now allegedly wants to create its own series now that ISC owns all the marquee sports car races in the US.

Easy

03-17-13, 01:26 AM

Rather than spend the (relatively minor) extra $$ to run the WEC lets start a new series featuring equipment that will be obsolete in 18 months and will have no support from the ACO or access to good tracks.

So, Dyson and Pickett plus a few vintage LMPs and some NASA spec ESRs running 50 minute sprints on SCCA Major weekends. Great idea. If they really feel the need to set fire to money they could just promote a couple extra WEC stops here.

03-26-13, 06:39 PM

So what's the verdict? Are they doing it right?

I think they might be...

New North American DTM to support United SportsCar Racing (http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-series-confirms-dtm-itr-agreement/)

Exploring an opportunity that could additionally change the face, and the future, of road racing, GRAND-AM Road Racing and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) tonight announced a license and cooperation agreement with the Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen (ITR e.V.), which administers DTM racing.

The collective goal is a North American version of DTM, the popular German touring car series. Representatives from all three organizations gathered for the announcement during a press conference at the InterContinental New York Times Square Hotel’s Gotham Ballroom, an event highlighted by GRAND-AM founder Jim France and ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht signing the agreement.

The earliest the new series would begin would be 2015, possibly running as part of United SportsCar Racing event weekends.

Easy

03-26-13, 07:27 PM

So what's the verdict? Are they doing it right?

I think they might be...

New North American DTM to support United SportsCar Racing (http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-series-confirms-dtm-itr-agreement/)

Hopefully the MFRs (add in TRD/Lexus and HPD/Acura?) maintain heavy involvement and make DTM NA a top line series with limited ride buyers.

Run as a high profile support race at the USCR enduros, co-headline at COTA & Road America sprints, LBGP, and stand alone headline at the tracks abandoned by the merger and in some new markets that may be underserved.

Gnam

03-26-13, 08:37 PM

Would DTM compete with the GT LeMans category of USCR for teams and sponsors?

Indy

03-26-13, 09:37 PM

Cautiously optimistic. This is looking better all the time.

Trevor Longman

03-26-13, 10:04 PM

I really don't get this move at all. Everyone knows ALMS GT is the place to be for manufacturers and teams. DTM falls right into the same budget range as that and I can see them cannibalizing each other now.

Instead of creating this glorified support series that relies entirely on factory involvement, why not persuade brands to join the GT ranks? Like Audi with their R8. The Global GT platform will debut in 2015 combining GT3 and GTE into one spec. I think everyone would love to see that competing with Corvette, SRT, and Risi instead of this.

Or Honda, they're probably joining GTE with their new NSX in 2015. With this on the table they'll just run their Super GT car in US DTM instead. BMW is also strongly in support of US DTM. You just know that will spell the end of their ALMS efforts.

If Nascar wants to give this new USCR series a fair chance they can't be fighting against themselves. Everybody there needs to be moving forward in a common direction if USCR is to have any chance at success.

03-26-13, 11:11 PM

I guess I kind of assumed that the DTM would be for manufacturers, and that they'd leave the GT to privateers.

There might actually be a plan behind this. We ain't dealing with Toney's Cronies here.

(wishful thinking?)

Rus'L

03-27-13, 02:42 PM

Would DTM compete with the GT LeMans category of USCR for teams and sponsors?

Not to mention SCCA's World Challenge.

Gnam

03-27-13, 06:24 PM

How about DTM as another class in USCR? GT DTM.

NismoZ

04-12-13, 11:07 PM

And Japan Super GTs with DTMs sharing a weekend at Watkins Glen and Sonoma with NASCAR? Are they nuts? Trans Am made for a pretty sad comparison awhile ago...why would they want to do THAT again? If this new GLOBAL GT ends up slower on a road course than Danica then screw the whole idea! What's the NNWS for? That or WTCC. But Super GTs and DTMs blowing away Bad Brad, Krazy Kyle and Jimmy J ? Can't BELIEVE USCR would (be allowed) to do that to "The World's Greatest Drivers." Johnson should ask for a seat in one of those Super GTRs if he wants us to believe that claim...and you know what...I think he (and a few others) could actually DO it! Now, somebody straighten me out...are we looking at a new spec formula for GT cars that can all race in Japan, Germany, Le Mans AND Sebring and Daytona? Geez, that ought to lead to larger grids! And gigantic budgets, I suppose? Only room for a very few at the top! Good luck.

FCYTravis

04-13-13, 02:50 AM

Grand-Am has run the same weekend and the same course as NASCAR at The Glen for years. They've never cared that Grand-Am is significantly faster before. Why would they care now?

NismoZ

04-13-13, 02:51 PM

Are you talking DPs? They SHOULD be faster. Will the new USCR top GT category be faster? Is the current one? If it is then I think NASCAR does itself no favor by showing their fans "stock" GT cars that could beat the hell out of their obese 800hp ground pounders. Ok, by me!

NismoZ

04-14-13, 08:01 PM

Also note that Grand Am and ALMS are sharing an August weekend at RA. Nice. GA on Sat...ALMS on Sun...50 bucks ea. Are they doing this anywhere else? Should be a historic weekend...of sorts. Think I'll be there. Then of course I'd have to be there in '14 to compare and see if 'united' means BETTER! Hope so. Just think, at this rate I might even have to see an IndyCar weekend someday!:eek: Maybe Barber...that was actually a pretty good race this year.

Indy

04-14-13, 09:14 PM

Got my camping reservation in for GA/ALMS at RA. Not many good spots left, so if you are going check the website! The mergification seems to be selling it out faster than usual.

Rus'L

04-15-13, 02:43 PM

Also note that Grand Am and ALMS are sharing an August weekend at RA. Nice. GA on Sat...ALMS on Sun...50 bucks ea. Are they doing this anywhere else?

No. RA only doubleheader. Some tracks are running both series, but on different weekends.

However, there will be an ALMS and WEC doubleheader at Austin.

manic mechanic

04-16-13, 12:01 AM

No. RA only doubleheader. Some tracks are running both series, but on different weekends.

However, there will be an ALMS and WEC doubleheader at Austin.

What needs to happen now is for ONE driver to drive prototype classes both days (and maybe practice/co-drive an LMPC) on the same track.

I nominate Ryan Dalziel. :cool:

Gnam

08-19-13, 03:00 AM

I am curious to see what the pit stop rules will be next year. During the Grand Am race at Kansas this weekend, a Ferrari GT left pit lane with the fuel nozzle still attached. Grand Am allows the tires to be changed while the car is fueled, so the car's release was synchronized with the fuel man removing the nozzle. When the nozzle became stuck, there was no time to alert the driver. As he accelerated back into the pit lane, the fuel hose was torn from the refueling rig sending crew members and gas flying. Very dangerous and totally avoidable by following the ALMS rule book.

A couple of other differences:
* to save time, teams changed just the two outside tires. How very NASCAR. I didn't know sports cars had "outside" tires. ;)

* burnouts were allowed in pit lane. ALMS doesn't have a no wheel spin rule like Le Mans, but I don't recall seeing wheel smoking burnouts anywhere but a victory lap.

I don't know enough about Grand Am racing to notice any other rule differences, but I expect next year will have a few "What in THE hell are you doin'?" moments. :)

SurfaceUnits

08-19-13, 02:37 PM

Grand Am allows chicken buckets and Bud cans thrown onto the track

DagoFast

08-19-13, 06:25 PM

Grand Am encourages chicken buckets and Bud cans thrown onto the track

Fixed to reflect Jim Frances hopes and dreams.

Gopeddle

08-20-13, 09:02 PM

Grand Am allows chicken buckets and Bud cans thrown onto the track

That made me laugh. Thanks for that!

Rus'L

08-21-13, 12:55 PM

I am curious to see what the pit stop rules will be next year. During the Grand Am race at Kansas this weekend, a Ferrari GT left pit lane with the fuel nozzle still attached. Grand Am allows the tires to be changed while the car is fueled, so the car's release was synchronized with the fuel man removing the nozzle. When the nozzle became stuck, there was no time to alert the driver. As he accelerated back into the pit lane, the fuel hose was torn from the refueling rig sending crew members and gas flying. Very dangerous and totally avoidable by following the ALMS rule book.

They will be similar to what Grand Am does this year. This was announced at Mosport. You can find the press release on either the Grand Am or ALMS site.

And just to be factual, the idea that the Le Mans/ALMS pit rules were done for safety is not true. At least that was not the original intention, even if they are safer to implement now. The original reason for those rules goes back years ago when the ACO missed on equivalency rules, and thus added in the pit stop rule for the cars running to the "faster" rules in order to force them to take longer pit stops, thus negating the extra speed they had on the track.

Gnam

08-21-13, 01:18 PM

Found the article. http://www.alms.com/articles/driver-ratings-pitpaddock-rules-2014-announced

Thanks.

nissan gtp

08-21-13, 04:10 PM

They will be similar to what Grand Am does this year. This was announced at Mosport. You can find the press release on either the Grand Am or ALMS site.

And just to be factual, the idea that the Le Mans/ALMS pit rules were done for safety is not true. At least that was not the original intention, even if they are safer to implement now. The original reason for those rules goes back years ago when the ACO missed on equivalency rules, and thus added in the pit stop rule for the cars running to the "faster" rules in order to force them to take longer pit stops, thus negating the extra speed they had on the track.

interesting :cool:

Gnam

09-09-13, 03:44 PM

USCR Monday media mondial

8star Motorsports would like to run one LMP2 and one DP next year. But, they will swap the A-team of drivers between the two cars depending on the track and which class is faster.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109677

Bentley wants to race their Continental GT3 in the USCR next year, but no one wants to be their friend.
http://www.racer.com/uscr-bentley-still-hunting-for-an-american-partner/article/310305/

Krohn Racing says it's hard to make plans without the USCR regulations. Hopes they are released soon.
http://www.motorsport.com/uscr/news/krohn-racing-contemplates-uscr/

Gnam

09-11-13, 12:43 PM

Grand-Am drivers to be rated with FIA "precious metal” rating system

The ACO's driver rating system, one that classifies driver eligibility based on age and experience, is used to filter drivers in and out of certain classes by assigning either Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze status. Through its IMSA sanctioning arm, the American Le Mans Series applied the ratings system to its drivers soon after it was announced, and with the ALMS paddock and Rolex Series paddocks set to combine next year under the USCR banner, Grand-Am drivers will now undergo the same rating process.

http://www.racer.com/changes-coming-to-uscr-driver-rating-procedure/article/311075/
Can they open this up to internet voting? :D

The article also mentions that DP/P2 cars can now field a complete pro driver lineup. They no longer have to use a "Silver," or non-pro driver.

Gnam

09-13-13, 05:53 PM

What is an 'entitlement partner'? Whatever it is, USCR now has one called Tudor.
Tudor is a brand of Rolex watches, m'kay.

http://www.racer.com/tudor-watches-named-entitlement-partner-for-uscr/article/311358/

http://s2.postimg.org/eiwzpyiqx/2014_tudor_unitedsportscarcham_456608.jpg

SurfaceUnits

09-15-13, 05:39 PM

http://editor.des02.com/vo/?FileID=2708aa2a-c3f6-420e-99e2-29becc15da1a&m=6448e147-23c4-4088-9c0f-b671317c5691&MailID=27216109

Gnam

12-03-13, 08:44 PM

USCR media update

USCR is no longer the preferred nomenclature. It is now TUSC, short for TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Flying Lizard Motorsports switches from Porsche to Audi R8. I haven't seen if the drivers have been announced.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131111/alms/131119979

http://s24.postimg.org/y1hk34ar9/s1_21768.jpg

opinionated ow

12-04-13, 04:19 AM

One assumes that R8 is built to the international GT3 regulations?

NismoZ

12-08-13, 05:36 PM

No, as I understand it the Audi will run in the GTD (Daytona) class with the new Porsche Americas and the Porsche GT3 RSR will duke it out with Corvette, BMW, SRT Vipers, a Vantage and a couple of F458s in GTLM. Looks like 28 entered in GTD and 12 in GTLM...I'd say a 40 car grid would make a nice stand-alone race! A few "alternates" waiting as well.

The Prototype group has 17 with 3 alternates and PC has 12 and 2 alternates. SO...at Sebring and Daytona there could be a possible 69 car grid? Where else can they run all groups together? RA? The Petite?

PS...Pickett/Muscle Milk WILL be announcing P category entrant soon.

opinionated ow

12-08-13, 07:00 PM

NismoZ

12-08-13, 09:33 PM

opinionated ow

12-08-13, 09:38 PM

Got me. I just have to assume the Aston V-12 in GTD is NOT the equal of the Aston Team V-8 in GTLM...That a Porsche 911 America is NOT the equal of a GT-3 RSR in GTLM...That the Viper GTS R is faster than the GTD Viper GT-3 R...that a Ferrari F458 is not a 458...and a BMW Z4 is not the equal of a BMW Z4 GTE. So, which "GT3s" are the same as the the world regs? All I know is many fans are going to find it tough to figure out who is racing who but I can see how there COULD be a 12-step podium with whole clusters of drivers crowding in to keep from falling off!...Four 3-step podiums might be safer.:)

Well the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is a V12. If they run a DBRS9 that's a V12 too and meets the GT3 regs. I've got no idea what a Porsche 911 America is but I suspect it's more tube frame because they've been running them in GrandSham for so long. There are GT3 versions of the 458, Z4, Viper so one would assume they'd just sell the Americans the same car they sell the rest of the world. There's an example of all four running in Australian GT at the moment. In two years there is supposed to be one international GT standard for all FIA categories. Who knows what the Daytona mafia will do though...

12-09-13, 02:09 PM

Did TUSK come up with a schedule yet?

Gnam

12-09-13, 02:26 PM

Yes, it's a 13 race schedule.

http://www.imsa.com/series/united-sportscar/schedule
http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsa-announces-2014-tudor-united-sportscar-championship-schedule

• Jan. 25-26: Daytona
• March 15 Sebring
• April 12 Long Beach
• May 4 Laguna Seca
• May 31: Detroit Belle Isle
• June 7: Kansas Speedway
• June 29: Watkins Glen
• July 13: MoSport
• July 25: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Aug. 10: Road America
• Aug. 24: Virginia International Raceway
• Sept. 20: Circuit of The Americas
• Oct. 4: Road Atlanta … The Petit Le Mans

NismoZ

12-09-13, 07:04 PM

The 911 America is being built by Porsche specifically for the GTD class and accounts for 12 of the 28 accepted entries. My guess is affordability and support may be an important reason for that? How many GT3 RSRs in GTLM? 3! Two of those are entered by Porsche North America so I suspect cost and support may be less an issue? Two classes, 40 entries, alternates waiting and I am NOT complaining. I'd rather not see "tube-framed Grand Sham" Porsches dominate...or even WIN very often...but the whole united series idea is looking more like a pre-season success...from my viewpoint.

NismoZ

12-17-13, 10:42 PM

Well, there goes ONE thing about the new season that disappoints me. McNish just retired. Was hoping to see him race at least one more time. Thanks to him for all the previous ones, though! Maybe RA will make him an honored guest at the Redman thing someday!:thumbup:

NismoZ

12-22-13, 05:10 PM

Hard to keep track of all the "tweaking" going on at Daytona and Sebring as IMSA attempts to equalize (?) things. Appears, according to Daziel, that with the DPs at +2.0, the tweaks will be accepted. Even at Sebring the DP advantage at the top end was close to 10 mph (into T-17) and about 4.0 sec./lap. I'd say THAT is spec tweaking info! Making the DPs faster with turbos, more power, less weight, diffusers, & more wing MAY have been an OVER reach?...especially combined with ADDED weight and restricted air for the P2s? SO...MAYBE the DPs don't get the diffusers and P2s can remove 60 kilos of ballast...and lower air restriction by FIVE whole %? Looks like that will be the final matchup for the "Roar" tests. Overtweak then BACKtweak, I guess. Anyone know, will there be any pit-stop advantage for either group? Oh, and the spec for other tracks could be changed...again.

Gnam

12-27-13, 03:59 PM

TUSC - GTLM media update:
(GTLM is the continuation of the ALMS GT class for cars that meet the Le Mans specs.)

Corvette Racing announces their drivers for the 2014 season:
:: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/19/tusc-corvette-announces-gtlm-lineup-adds-briscoe-liddell/

Porsche announces their drivers for the 2014 season:
:: http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/sports-cars/sportscars-porsche-confirms-2014-tusc-driver-lineup/

Michelin will supply tires to the top GTLM teams:
:: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/10/tusc-february-test-dates-set-michelin-now-official-tire-supplier-for-gtlm-class/

Easy

12-27-13, 04:29 PM

TUSC - GTLM media update:
(GTLM is the continuation of the ALMS GT class for cars that meet the Le Mans specs.)

Michelin will supply tires to the top GTLM teams:
:: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/10/tusc-february-test-dates-set-michelin-now-official-tire-supplier-for-gtlm-class/

For those not clicking links, GTLM is open to all tire manufacturers. Everything else is control Continentals.

Question: Were the IMSA cars of the 80s (Camel GT, GTP, Camel Lights, etc..) identical to ACO spec or did they need heavy mods to compete at the LM24? Or were they so different that crossover was not practical?

nrc

12-28-13, 01:13 AM

For those not clicking links, GTLM is open to all tire manufacturers. Everything else is control Continentals.

Question: Were the IMSA cars of the 80s (Camel GT, GTP, Camel Lights, etc..) identical to ACO spec or did they need heavy mods to compete at the LM24? Or were they so different that crossover was not practical?

My recollection is that the GTO and GTU cars could reasonably be modified to compete at LeMans but the GTX and later GTP cars were too different to make it practical. 962s were built for both GTP and Group C but for the most part they didn't cross over.

Gnam

12-28-13, 02:56 PM

Question: Were the IMSA cars of the 80s (Camel GT, GTP, Camel Lights, etc..) identical to ACO spec or did they need heavy mods to compete at the LM24? Or were they so different that crossover was not practical?
Are you thinking there won't be many LMP2 cars crossing over between TUSC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans even though they are technically allowed in both?

manic mechanic

12-28-13, 10:34 PM

In a perfect world, they would leave the P2s alone, and not "dumb down" the global product...

Oh wait... NASCAR has it's hand in things...

'aint no perfect world there :gomer:

Easy

12-29-13, 01:22 AM

Are you thinking there won't be many LMP2 cars crossing over between TUSC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans even though they are technically allowed in both?

Pretty much. I'm assuming it will be prohibitively expensive for a TUSC P2 car to be competitive at Le Mans unless their chassis builder or another team share a boat load of set up info and an engineer. So, is there precedence for something like that?

NismoZ

12-30-13, 01:33 PM

Just a "for what it's worth" here...I was looking in my car for an appointment card and found some lap-time notes from RA... I THINK it was there before I went to the shared event this year so the times may be from '012. Anyway, it is a "pre-tweak" look at what the dumbing up 'n down guys had to contend with:

P-1/ALMS...1:50.1 v. DP...2:02.7. :eek::eek:
P-2/ALMS...1:54.2:thumbup:
GT ALMS....2:04.4 v. GA-GT...2:12.7. :eek:

So, in 125 laps of a 500 miler at RA a P-2 could lap a DP about...8 times?

C'man's note that it would be cheaper to go the P-2 route instead of up-grading a DP is very true, so is anyone actually doing that? The new bosses could "help" the old home teams be (more) competitive while letting the P-2 guys swing AND get slowed-down? I am interested in seeing how much faster the DPs are going to be MANDATED... in order to be "fair". The P-2s were 4.5 sec./lap faster than the DPs at Atlanta, too.

Bring on the pre-24 Roar so we can see what they come up with!

Gnam

12-30-13, 07:27 PM

This article says the Risi Ferrari has been withdrawn from the Roar Before the 24 test, but it doesn't give a reason why. I can't find another source with more details. Does this mean they just aren't ready to test, or are they having second thoughts about the season?

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/67-entries-for-roar-before-rolex-24/

NismoZ

12-31-13, 07:23 PM

I am LOVIN' this...Alexander Rossi in the D'Wang. We ALL should want to take a look at this kid! Shane von Gisbergen in the WetherTech Porsche? YESS! If you haven't treated yourself to the YouTube Aussie V-8 round at Melbourne, race 3, the rain race...you should! What a drive to the front! I think it was 3 laps from 10th to 1st? And good ol' Augusto Farfus at BMW! Who could NOT like a guy who scared the **** out of his wife while taking her for a "leisurely" ride around the Nurburgring!? Hilarious YouTube clip! Pat Long? The list goes on. Heck, Jimmy Johnson? Why not! The guy is GREAT! I will make it a mission to see as many of these yr. 1 shows as possible. Hope the product is HALF as good as the driving talent!:thumbup: Get it right, guys.

NismoZ

01-06-14, 03:20 PM

Great thread, Niz...I see it was sunny and warmer at the final Roar tests! The bastards. Did you get a look at those new GTLM Corvettes? A car wrapped in checkered black and white? Certain to cause a wreck! I get cross-eyed just looking at it. I think it was P-1 on day three. DPs quickest, of course...looks like Jamie McMurray could be a winner! Gag me. Fittipaldi fastest overall. Sam Bird in PC! GP2, "The Road To Daytona!":thumbup: Nice HD YouTube vids from the paddock, cars pulling out to run on Sunday. Saw the Risi transporter, if that makes anyone feel better? So...DPs in 1:38s, PCs in 1:42s, GTLMs in 1:45s, GTDs only about 2 secs. away from that (R-8s)...I THINK the specs are just about set? Until they change 'em.

NismoZ

01-06-14, 03:25 PM

Oh, and check out those Mazdas...pretty sure they are trying to push the "SKYACTIVE" thing...hard to tell though... with that livery!?:D

SteveH

01-06-14, 03:29 PM

Oh, and check out those Mazdas...pretty sure they are trying to push the "SKYACTIVE" thing...hard to tell though... with that livery!?:D

maybe just a little.... :gomer:

599

Gnam

01-06-14, 05:42 PM

Mike Rockenfeller will be driving in the #90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP with Michael Valiente and Richard Westbrook. Nice to see him driving in the States.

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/05/tusc-westbrook-bird-gavin-winkelhock-top-final-day-of-roar-test/

http://www.motorsport.com/#!/tusc/photo/main-gallery/90-spirit-of-daytona-corvette-dp-chevrolet-richard-westbrook-michael-valiante/?i=1&id=1652541&sz=1&q=%252390+spirit+of+daytona&s=2
http://s30.postimg.org/hhsva0nu9/s1_1.jpg

NismoZ

01-06-14, 06:01 PM

Yes...ALL of them...about 20 different guys could win this thing and I really wouldn't mind...in fact how many "winners" WILL there be?:confused: Could BE close to 20, right?

NismoZ

01-06-14, 06:35 PM

PS...looks like the Patron/Honda P2 is only about 1 sec. off the DP fastest lap. That is encouraging. Not certain who was driving at the time.

Gnam

03-06-14, 08:41 PM

Sebring gets hosed, but 8 live races is pretty good.

2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championshp Television Schedule
(all times EST)

March 15 Sebring - first three hours 10 a.m. on FS1 (Live) 3 hrs
March 16 Sebring - cut-down show 8:30 a.m. on FS1 3 hrs

April 12 Long Beach 6 p.m. on FS1 (Live) 2 hrs

May 4 Laguna Seca - Race 1 (PC/GTD) 1 p.m. on FS1 (Live) 2.5 hrs
May 4 Laguna Seca - Race 2 (P/GTLM) 5:30 p.m. on FS1 (Live) 2.5 hrs
May 31 Detroit - 1:30 p.m. on FS1 (SDD) 2 hrs

June 29 Watkins Glen - 11 a.m. on FS1 (Live) 6.5 hrs

July 13 Mosport - 2 p.m. on FS1 (Live) 3 hrs
July 25 Indy - 7 p.m. on FS1 (SDD) 3 hrs

August 10 Road America - 6:30 p.m. on FS1 (SDD) 3 hrs
August 24 VIR - 4 p.m. on FS1 (Live) 3 hrs

Sept 20 Circuit of the Americas - TBD on FS2 3 hrs

October 4 Road Atlanta 11 a.m. on FS2 (Live) 10.5 hrs
October 5 Road Atlanta - cut-down show 8 a.m. on FS1 3hrs