2009 American Le Mans Series Thread

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BLITZ_69
Too bad they didnt show the full 4 hours, only 2. :indiff:
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Yeah, that was my only gripe was how suddenly time went by and it was only after one commecial break, lol. Other then that, it was spectacular. Their were battles everywhere!
 
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RACECAR
Yeah, that was my only gripe was how suddenly time went by and it was only after one commecial break, lol. Other then that, it was spectacular. Their were battles everywhere!
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There were some odd breaks in the action. They'd be following a close battle between two cars, break for commercial, then start at a later restart from a caution period, with completely different cars leading. WTF! Call me old but I felt that flashing headlights from behind just to try and unsettle the driver ahead was rude and unsportsmanlike. I understand flashing a slower car to let them know you're coming, that's fine. To do that when you're wheel-to-wheel racing is pretty sad.

I think I learned how to take the Andretti Hairpin better by observing how the pros do it.
 
oh well im glad the year is over. im a huge vette fan and the lack of competition in the GT1 class this year was just pityful. with the GT1 aston wreckign almost every race it came back it just seems like bell motorsport had horible luck. at least there GT2 car managed to stay together and give the LG vette some competition.

though i gotta say for the first rear of the Lola built GT2 corvette it didnt do to bad. in some races it even was running for podium for awhile. but do to the car not being finished before the season and LG having to send it back to lola after mid season to have the car finsihed with its development and finaicial issues on LG's part it still did surprisingly well.

now im sure P&M wont have the same problems next year with there GT2 corvette. seeing as theyve already started development on it and the car wont hit the track until after Le Mans next year i think it should be in in good shape to run ahead of the other cars such except for the ferraris and posrches. ill say it will probably take until mid 2010 for P&M to be able to run in contention for first.

other then that next year looks like it should be fun. no more GT1 class after mid season (or at least the only remaining cars in GT1 wont be there any longer) and an even more competitive GT2 field. dont expect much to happen in P2 and in P1 not much will change stateside but i do hope the puegots will come out swinging at sebring, le mans, and petit le mans and finaly beat the audis.
 
NapoleonMikey
other then that next year looks like it should be fun. no more GT1 class after mid season (or at least the only remaining cars in GT1 wont be there any longer)
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I wouldn't rule that out just yet. With the Factory Corvettes now only doing a limited schedule, this could mean the priveteers could actually have a shot at winning. Maybe Doran will return with that Maserati MC12 they had or perhaps Bell Motorsports may come back with alot more R&D on their Aston Martin. I wouldn't throw out GT1 just et, especially after hearing the possibilty of a GT1 class Ford GT.

NapoleonMikey
dont expect much to happen in P2 and in P1 not much will change stateside but i do hope the puegots will come out swinging at sebring, le mans, and petit le mans and finaly beat the audis.
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Assuming they don't just rely on their outright speed because as we have witnessed three times, Speed doesn't win the race.
 
RACECAR
Assuming they don't just rely on their outright speed because as we have witnessed three times, Speed doesn't win the race.
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yes of course thats what i meant by swinging of putting up more of a fight. using the off season to do some R&D and get that fast thing able to put some speed down in the corners too.
 
NapoleonMikey
yes of course thats what i meant by swinging of putting up more of a fight. using the off season to do some R&D and get that fast thing able to put some speed down in the corners too.
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The Pug don´t need more speed anywhere, as it infact is the fastest sportscar in the world, over one lap. What they need is to practice racestrategy and make sure the car holds together for the entire race.

Sadly, we don´t know yet what Audi are up to. I´ve heard rumour that they may not participate in anything except DTM next year, wich would mean a Peugeot clensweep. It´s just a rumour though, so I actually don´t hold it for being very reliable. I mean, it has no logic to it. Why would Audi just hand over all the trophies to Peugeot without a fight?

About GT1; it may very well be so, that after Le Mans, there will be no GT1 in the ALMS. GT1 will be live and kicking in FIA GT though.
 
Mt. Lynx
The Pug don´t need more speed anywhere, as it infact is the fastest sportscar in the world, over one lap. What they need is to practice racestrategy and make sure the car holds together for the entire race.
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From what I have seen the machine is faster than the Audi, but it is also a closed top. However, their weakness is in the people mainly. They lose the race in the pits. If you can get a lead and then lose it all in the pits you have problems. And judging by Petit Le Mans they need to practice driving on a course that isn't well lit.

I want to say they have reliability issues too, but they did fine at Petit on that front. I hope they have it worked out so that we can see more close racing.

Sadly, we don´t know yet what Audi are up to. I´ve heard rumour that they may not participate in anything except DTM next year, wich would mean a Peugeot clensweep. It´s just a rumour though, so I actually don´t hold it for being very reliable. I mean, it has no logic to it. Why would Audi just hand over all the trophies to Peugeot without a fight?
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I'm curious too. But every year it seems rumors circulate about Audi pulling out of LMP1. The way they were talking about Pirro running his last race for Audi at Laguna Seca it made it sound like they are fully expected to be back.

About GT1; it may very well be so, that after Le Mans, there will be no GT1 in the ALMS. GT1 will be live and kicking in FIA GT though.
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I am hoping that with Corvette out of GT1 more teams will come in. When ALMS got started it was my favorite class.
 
FoolKiller
From what I have seen the machine is faster than the Audi, but it is also a closed top. However, their weakness is in the people mainly. They lose the race in the pits. If you can get a lead and then lose it all in the pits you have problems. And judging by Petit Le Mans they need to practice driving on a course that isn't well lit.
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I agree about the people, that´s basically what I meant about race-strategy.
Racing in the dark is no issue I think, they have plenty of experience with that. What they do need though, might be more experienced drivers. None of the Pug drivers can hold a candle to McNish or for Le Mans, Tom Kristensen.

FoolKiller
I want to say they have reliability issues too, but they did fine at Petit on that front. I hope they have it worked out so that we can see more close racing.
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Didn´t they run into some snag and had to make a longer stop?


FoolKiller
I'm curious too. But every year it seems rumors circulate about Audi pulling out of LMP1. The way they were talking about Pirro running his last race for Audi at Laguna Seca it made it sound like they are fully expected to be back.
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I´m pretty sure they have a new car in the works. It´s called the R15, and is sort of confirmed. Audis latest DTM car was called R14, and the recently unveild GT3 contender was nicked R16, so it´s prtty safe to say an R15 is on the way.


FoolKiller
I am hoping that with Corvette out of GT1 more teams will come in. When ALMS got started it was my favorite class.
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It is my favorite class of racecars alltogether, and I´m really curious about the 2010 rules for these amazing cars.
 
Mt. Lynx
I agree about the people, that´s basically what I meant about race-strategy.
Racing in the dark is no issue I think, they have plenty of experience with that. What they do need though, might be more experienced drivers. None of the Pug drivers can hold a candle to McNish or for Le Mans, Tom Kristensen.
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During the Petit the announcers were saying that Klein's endurance experience was mostly on lit courses and that Road Atlanta's minimal lighting was something he didn't have a lot of experience with. In the daylight they were keeping ahead of the Audis fairly well but when it turned dark McNish got his pass in and then just kept pulling away while the #2 car stayed on his tail the whole time.

Although, I am now starting to wonder about where Pirro will go now that he is finished with Audi. He said he wants to keep racing and Peugeot would be wise to at least consider giving him an offer.

Didn´t they run into some snag and had to make a longer stop?
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The only pit I remember where they got out quicker than Audi was where they double-stinted tires. It caught the announcers so off guard that they had to send the pit reporter down to see what they did differently.

But since I didn't see it on TV I didn't see every pit stop and could only hear my small sports radio or the live call when cars weren't in my general vicinity.

I´m pretty sure they have a new car in the works. It´s called the R15, and is sort of confirmed. Audis latest DTM car was called R14, and the recently unveild GT3 contender was nicked R16, so it´s prtty safe to say an R15 is on the way.
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Is that supposed to be a closed cockpit? I know there was talk about that rule for 2010, but haven't heard a whole lot for a while now.

I really hope Audi stays in LMP1 because if Acura can get their LMP1 cars in reliable condition it should be some fun racing that can get the fans interested in LMP1 for more than just watching expert engineering and driving. I am also interested to see how the hybrids fair down the road.

It is my favorite class of racecars alltogether, and I´m really curious about the 2010 rules for these amazing cars.
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Same here.
 
FoolKiller
Although, I am now starting to wonder about where Pirro will go now that he is finished with Audi. He said he wants to keep racing and Peugeot would be wise to at least consider giving him an offer.
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I agree. I wouldn´t know how Pirros contract with Audi looks, but there is a fair chance that Pirro will stay with Audi in Europe, maybe for testing. But I don´t actually know, that is pure specualtion.

FoolKiller
Is that supposed to be a closed cockpit? I know there was talk about that rule for 2010, but haven't heard a whole lot for a while now.
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Nobody knows. Audi have said that they want an open top car, but like I said - nobody knows but Audi.
The EVO rules have done like they are called and evolved. The closed top rules for 2010 has been scrapped, and what the EVO deal is now about seems to be aero, fuel and hybrids.
 
There are rumours Penske will return to the ALMS with Porsche P1 cars in 2010.

From 2011 P1 chassis will be unchanged, but the engines will be current 550bhp P2 ones, in addition to an 80bhp hybrid system.
 
If it were up to me, I'd like for Audi to bring their R8 GT3 race car into the ALMS. Audi is very involved in racing. It would keep Audi Sport North America busy with this hot new car. It could race in GT2 against the downgraded Corvettes, Porsche GT2 cars, and the lovely Ferraris. This will almost truly signal the end of four classes in the ALMS. It would just be two prototype classes and one class of various GT cars. Four classes of racing isn't going to be sustainable without any strong GT1 competition. The Corvettes have almost basically ran out the GT1 competition. Even while Audi's been kicking everyone's butts in P1, there's still a good number of P1 contenders even if they know they're probably going to lose against the Audis.

Acura is going to be one hell of a favorite in P1. Add Porsche to P1, and that will be a great rivalry will be even more intense because you're racing for the pride of your company on a global stage. The next few years should be interesting. VERY much so.
 
Hmmm, that sounds all and well, but GT1 is not only an ALMS occurance, these cars also race in the LMS and FIA GT. And mainly FIA GT tbh, wich is where the development of a new ruleset for GT1 takes pace. The racepromotor, SRO, wants to have "transferkits" available for GT3 cars, wich easily turns them into either GT2 or GT1. If he gets his way - and by the looks of things atm, he will get to where he wants, wich is a GT1 world championship governed by FIA, in cooperation with ACO. And the ACO are crucial here, because their involvment means Le Mans 24hrs, ALMS and LMS, with GT1 cars even beyond 2009.
 
Mt. Lynx
Nobody knows. Audi have said that they want an open top car, but like I said - nobody knows but Audi.
The EVO rules have done like they are called and evolved. The closed top rules for 2010 has been scrapped, and what the EVO deal is now about seems to be aero, fuel and hybrids.
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Audi came up with this concept for this years LA Auto Show. Although it's obviously not a realistic LMP, perhaps it is an indication that Audi are interested in a closed cockpit LMP?
 
V1P3R
:grumpy: Nothing there. Thanks though. As for recording on NBC... can't do it even with stone age VCR. 👎
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Same here. I didn't even know there was a race this weekend. Oh well what can you do:grumpy:
 
you guys didnt miss much. it was all prerecorded and cut apart and pasted back together to fit a 4 hour race into 1 hour and a half with commercials to fill up the other half.
 
That Audi R25 concept thing... how much more futuristic will cars get? Starting to remind me a lot of those futuristic racing games with these ultra-futuristic-looking cars. I would have liked a headlight design like road-going Audis. Something sleek and beautiful. I've always had my doubts with GTP cars with very narrow canopies stemming back to the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Why don't they widen the canopy unless you're going to make the car a center-drive car (like the McLaren F1 or almost any single-seater formula car?

That FIA + ACO thing for GT1 is extremely tempting. I probably doubt we'll see the Vitaphone or Oreca Saleens zooming around Sebring and Long Beach and Mid-Ohio. Would be interesting if it did happen. Now I know I mentioned the Audi R8 GT3 car deal. Not going to ask if you think it would happen, but do you think it would be interesting to see these lovely Audi R8 GT3s compete here in the States?
 
i think the addition of audi would look great in the GT2 class. if one of the teams that buys the GT3 would modify it to GT2 setup then i would be extremly happy. GT2 has never looked more full then what it will in 2009 with the BMW entering the mix plus the addition of the LG vette this year. all your really missing is audi from the major sports cars sold here in america. i wouldnt expect a car from one of the solely european companys to come compete here but maybe a Mercedes to add to the mix and the circle would look complete..
 
JohnBM01
That Audi R25 concept thing... how much more futuristic will cars get? Starting to remind me a lot of those futuristic racing games with these ultra-futuristic-looking cars. I would have liked a headlight design like road-going Audis. Something sleek and beautiful. I've always had my doubts with GTP cars with very narrow canopies stemming back to the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Why don't they widen the canopy unless you're going to make the car a center-drive car (like the McLaren F1 or almost any single-seater formula car?
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A wide canopy means more drag. And that´s just it. The sleeker the design, the more efficient the aerodynamics.

JohnBM01
That FIA + ACO thing for GT1 is extremely tempting. I probably doubt we'll see the Vitaphone or Oreca Saleens zooming around Sebring and Long Beach and Mid-Ohio. Would be interesting if it did happen. Now I know I mentioned the Audi R8 GT3 car deal. Not going to ask if you think it would happen, but do you think it would be interesting to see these lovely Audi R8 GT3s compete here in the States?
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Sadly, the proposal I mentioned means the end of cars like Saleen S7R and Maserati MC12.
I´ll post a couple of pics from an SRO meeting to hopefully clarify a few things about the future;

Source: http://endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=6120
I would certainly like for the Audi R8 GT3 to compete in the ALMS, and LMS, and FIA GT!
 
kjb
Same here. I didn't even know there was a race this weekend. Oh well what can you do:grumpy:
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V1P3R
I thought it was this weekend actually, not that I wouldn't miss it then too...
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You guys might benefit from http://www.tvracer.com
I use it a lot. Every year I go on and check the TV schedules on there for any races I am interested in and set up my PC to record them. Then about once a month I double check in case the televised schedules change.

That way even if I forget to watch they get recorded, and then I can stream them to my PS3 and watch them on my TV. If I have time I will even edit out the commercials first.

Of course a DVR that is set to record all of a certain program would work just as well.
 
V1P3R
I like, Thanks. 👍
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I can't even remember the Google search I used to find that. I just know that I realized that I randomly ran across non-NASCAR racing on TV and started looking for a schedule for all racing coverage. Little did I know there was actually a site devoted to it.

Although looking at that site makes you realize just how hard the US is for NASCAR.
 
It's something I try... to ignore, believe me. I think it's also the reason I don't go on speed unless there's an actual scheduled race I know about.
 
I had a chance to study Post #353 and those three images. I then looked at the source website from those images.

First the potential evolution of existing GT1 and GT2 cars two years from now ( http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_FIA-GT/05_Spa/2010_PressConference_03.jpg ). So it looks like the Aston Martin DBR9, Maserati MC12, and Saleen S7R (all very capable race cars) won't be around too much longer from one of those images. The Corvette C6R, BMW M3, and Porsche 997 will make a very good GT2 contingent. As I studied the list, I saw that the Aston Martin V8 Vantage will be in GT2, but have a V12 variant in GT1. Also of note is the Ferrari F430 to be raced in GT2 as well as GT1. The unknown here is the Nissan Skyline GT-R. It will probably do much better rather than when mostly (then) JGTC-style cars that were too heavy to race around against the more capable European GT cars. It's going to race in GT1. However, you see a question mark by its current class name.

Now a look at that existing GT3 class ( http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_FIA-GT/05_Spa/2010_PressConference_04.jpg ). The Audi R8 road car (to avoid confusion with the dominating Audi R8 LMP car), Ford Mustang FR500C (which I didn't know is in international racing trim), the Jaguar XKR, Lamborghini Gallardo, and the Morgan Aero could/will jump to GT2. The R8, XKR, and Gallardo will also have GT1 variants. The ones going straight into GT1 are the Alpina BMW M6, Ascari K12R (only "Test Drive Unlimited" was the only game where I drove an Ascari), Aston Martin DBRS9, Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper Competition Coupe (which SERIOUSLY needs to be updated to something like the latest hardtop Viper SRT10), and the Ford GT.



Just on those two pictures, there are a few I wouldn't mind race here in the ALMS and the round in Canada. The Audi R8 is my favorite as well as the Nissan GT-R. The Mustang FR500C would be great for American car lovers. Last time I can remember Mustangs in big time sportscar racing was when those Cirtek Mustangs were raced in 1998 or 1999 (from my "Test Drive: Le Mans" experience). I'd love to see Lamborghini return. Perhaps I get so enticed listening to the Murciélago in GTR that hearing that beast is sweet music. Plus, it's a very fast car as well. I've never liked the Gallardo that much, but that would be fine in the ALMS as well. Those are my real favorites. Doesn't mean we'll get them in the ALMS, but wouldn't it just be great to see them race? They say variety is the spice of life. Well, variety is also the spice of sportscar racing as well as what makes sportscar racing so fun for me.

One last thing (speaking of variety), a Morgan wouldn't hurt to see in the ALMS! I planned on talking about that tenative calendar, but I'll reserve that for another discussion (not to mention it's outside of the ALMS context).
 
Keep in mind that all of that is still under works, and nothing is finished at all, so much can change still. Wich car goes where is just what could be done with them, not necessarily will be done. The only GT3 car I know will be developed for GT1 is the Ford GT.
Speaking of GT3, I mighht recommend it if anyone´s interested in American muscle! Corvettes, Vipers, Ford GT´s and one Mustang! Against Astons, Ferraris, Porsches and Morgans.

Back ont topic; Anyone know what happened to the Radical SR10 AER? I only saw the NBC coverage, and that car wasn´t even mentioned, much less shown on screen.
I think the car is fascinating. Biodiesel in a roadcarderived AER-tweaked engine, and instead of fibreglass, they have used hemp for the bodypanels.
 
Mt. Lynx
Ke
Back ont topic; Anyone know what happened to the Radical SR10 AER? I only saw the NBC coverage, and that car wasn´t even mentioned, much less shown on screen.
I think the car is fascinating. Biodiesel in a roadcarderived AER-tweaked engine, and instead of fibreglass, they have used hemp for the bodypanels.
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According to the Timing & scoring, it retired because of mechaniocal failure
 

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