ALMS Grid

[Sean O'Gorman]

1. James Weaver, England; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Lola EX257 AER (P1), 1:11.241, 128.35mph
2. JJ Lehto, Espoo, Finland; Marco Werner, Germany; Audi R8 (P1), 1:11.668, 127.59
3. Frank Biela, Germany; Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Audi R8 (P1), 1:11.765, 127.42
4. Andy Wallace, England; Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Lola EX257 AER (P1), 1:12.184, 126.68
5. Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B05/40/AER (P2), 1:12.678, 125.82

That is a pretty small gap between the P1 and P2 poles, just how fast is this Lola anyway?

[extramundane]

That is a pretty small gap between the P1 and P2 poles, just how fast is this Lola anyway?

Really f'n fast. Jon Field was reported disappointed that he didn't outqualify any P1 cars. Right now, though, it's as fragile as it is fast, although Chamberlain's identical package seems to be holding up well at Spa. By the end of the year, that thing's going to be a monster.

[RusH]

Good race day.
Watching LMES live right now too!
http://www.race-rally.be/2005/1000km2005/multimedia/streaming/livedyn/videolive.asp

[Amanda B.'s Mom]

This should be a fun race. Looking forward to seeing it and seeing how the Mazda in P2 holds up.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Really f'n fast. Jon Field was reported disappointed that he didn't outqualify any P1 cars. Right now, though, it's as fragile as it is fast, although Chamberlain's identical package seems to be holding up well at Spa. By the end of the year, that thing's going to be a monster.

I have to wonder how much smaller that gap would be if the LMP1s had second roll hoops creating drag like the Lola did.

[RusH]

Now THAT was entertainment, best battle for GT2 in a long time. Great for ALMS, that must have gotten a some new fans on national TV today.

[Sean O'Gorman]

But I thought that wheel-to-wheel eggcitement was considered dumbed down racing around here? :gomer:

Even with the punt, THAT was easily the best racing action I've seen all year. Two fast, evenly matched cars with two great drivers running together at the absolute limit, that is what it comes down to when you want to talk about an enjoyable racing experience. :thumbup: :thumbup: :cool:

[NismoZ]

As far as the 1 vs. 2 times...I have no doubt Porsche/Penske think they can challange for the overall win. Geez, will we see another rules-changing "unfair advantage" in auto racing history?

[NismoZ]

PS...any thoughts on how that little P2 turbo 4 would work in a lighter ChampCar chassis? What's the power to weight #s, 675 kg = ? lbs? What's a CC, 1350lb. w/750hp? Just wondering if something like that might work for a new Atlantic engine, OR CC. (pardon my engineering ignorance :gomer: )

[FCYTravis]

Definitely wouldn't work for a Champ Car. The P2 turbo AER four-cylinder is about 550 bhp.

[pchall]

Definitely wouldn't work for a Champ Car. The P2 turbo AER four-cylinder is about 550 bhp.

How badly is the P2 engine hobbled by the air restrictor? There could be a couple of hundered HP more on tap without it and with higher revs.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Yeah, because the AER engine isn't fragile enough as it is... :p

[Amanda B.'s Mom]

A friend from England said that there used to be a F1 car with a Rotary engine long ago? Any idea which team? he couldn;t remember, but said he loved the sound of the car.

[Ziggy]

I watched the race on TV, and I liked it!

None of the cars had crappy roof lines, and they sounded well on TV. Plus, I didn't have 5 dweebs telling me I had to like it.

[Skater_36]

Good race overall. Close racing and the drivers treated each other with respect. The Bernhard/Liddell incident is a tough one to call, may have just been a slight mistake but the officials thought otherwise. Also nice to see a race without drivers doing donuts or burnouts down the straightaways after taking the checkers.

[Jervis Tetch 1]

Definitely fun to watch.

[pchall]

A friend from England said that there used to be a F1 car with a Rotary engine long ago? Any idea which team? he couldn;t remember, but said he loved the sound of the car.

I don't think so. Mazda went to LeMans, but never F1. Have you ever seen NSU-Wankel F1 entry?

[RacinM3]

Awesome GT2 race. I've been telling people to watch the lower class races in ALMS and Grand Am for some time now, there's been some great action, and it doesn't matter how you feel about prototypes.

Agree with the Porsche/P2 comment above. I'm expecting Porsche to be going for overalls from the P2 class.....lower power, but lower weight!

[Accipiter]

That is a pretty small gap between the P1 and P2 poles, just how fast is this Lola anyway?


Fast enough for it to be the first ever P2 car to beat the GTS/GT1 field.

Loved that GT2 race. Great edge of the seat action!

[Sean O'Gorman]

Fast enough for it to be the first ever P2 car to beat the GTS/GT1 field.

Wrong:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/events/midohio04/ALMS_FinalGrid.pdf

[FCYTravis]

he only reason the B05/40 P2 is so fast compared to current P1s is that all the "P1s" on the ALMS grid are actually grandfathered P900s and P675s with smaller air restrictors choking the life out of the motors. Once the real, 2004-rules P1 cars show up on the grid, P2s will be rendered overall-uncompetitive again.

If P2s really *could* go for overall wins, why would anyone buy the B05/40 *P1* design coming out?

[extramundane]

Wrong:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/events/midohio04/ALMS_FinalGrid.pdf

That's qualifying, not the final race results.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Oops, I thought he was talking about qualifying. :o

[Sean O'Gorman]

he only reason the B05/40 P2 is so fast compared to current P1s is that all the "P1s" on the ALMS grid are actually grandfathered P900s and P675s with smaller air restrictors choking the life out of the motors. Once the real, 2004-rules P1 cars show up on the grid, P2s will be rendered overall-uncompetitive again.

If P2s really *could* go for overall wins, why would anyone buy the B05/40 *P1* design coming out?

Exactly. I didn't think it made much sense to go back to having 2 classes of Prototypes that can compete for the overall win, especially since LMP1 has 2 configurations of cars that can win that class.

[pchall]

A friend from England said that there used to be a F1 car with a Rotary engine long ago? Any idea which team? he couldn;t remember, but said he loved the sound of the car.



I don't think so. Mazda went to LeMans, but never F1. Have you ever seen NSU-Wankel F1 entry?

The more I think about it your friend might be referring to the bizarre Trossi-Monaco GP car from the thirties. But that Frankenstein used a radial aircooled aircraft engine, and not a rotary as in Wankel today or LeRhone or Oberrusel in the teens. Imagine the torque roll of an old aircraft rotary -- it would almost match that of the 63 Buick Riviera my dad inherited from his aunt. ;)

[Accipiter]

Oops, I thought he was talking about qualifying. :o

I did mean race results, but I could have been clearer.