2009 American Le Mans Series Thread

[seanyb505]

Autoblog has some nice pics of it all finished and racing, at Sebring
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lmp1-testing-at-12-hours-of-sebring

 

[RACECAR]

"sigh" Its official, the GT1 class in ALMS is dead. Until there is actually more then two cars that aren't the corvettes, GT1 is dead. Even wit hthe factory cars going to GT2(and probably killing the competion there come 2011), no one has the balls(or money) to step up. Also, The peugeot set the fastest time so far with Sarrazan behimnd the wheel. The battle is definately on now.

And keep your eyes out for these only 2 good shows on Speed Thursday:

American Le Mans Preview - 6:00
Acura: Advance to Victory - 7:00

*times may vary depending on timezones*

 

[Crashbroke23]

Acura on Pole! You also gotta give Props to Robertson Racing for getting a 5th in GT2 with their Doran Ford GT-R.

 

[RACECAR]

Acura on Pole!

In both classes might I add:

Acura sweeps the prototype classes

The Gauntlet has officially has been thrown down.



Also, Panoz is coming back!

Its amazing what kind of things are happening in motorsports while the recession is happening.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I don't read ALMS news so it was a bit of a shock, yet not a surprise, that Corvette team is moving to GT1 next year.

I admit, I didn't watch over half the races last year, since GT1 is my favorite category, yet nobody really wants to participate in it thanks the the dominance of the Corvette team.

 

[NapoleonMikey]

I don't read ALMS news so it was a bit of a shock, yet not a surprise, that Corvette team is moving to GT1 next year.

I admit, I didn't watch over half the races last year, since GT1 is my favorite category, yet nobody really wants to participate in it thanks the the dominance of the Corvette team.

you mean there moving to GT2 next year? ihavnt herd anything from pratt and miller about going back to GT1 after there switching to GT2 after the 24 hours of le mans.

 

[Earth]

I think they should kill off LMP2 and GT1

Just have 2 classes, prototype and GT.

Only 3 cars in LMP2 and just 2 in GT1 race for 12 hours is rediculous.

 

[JohnBM01]

Two classes would just make things like (the other sportscar racing series), but I can see your logic. Front-engine coupe from Panoz? Front/RWD is their speciality, so I'd like to imagine what a modern LMP1 coupe would be like. COULD be the hottest closed-top car since the Esperante GT1. Sure love to stay informed on this baby.

 

[RACECAR]

Two classes would just make things like (the other sportscar racing series)

While I would agree that it would not be the ALMS without four classes, its not exactly a bad idea. If you look and Grand am, They have stablised fields and competiton not only for the big races but for the entire season. I'm still trying to fathom how they pulled of having five classes in 2001, but have just two isn't all bad as it seems.


And hello Earth, you make yet another rare appearance

 

[Solid Lifters]

Yeah, I obviously meant GT2, not GT1 when I spoke about Team Corvette switching classes.

What are ALMS supposed to do about GT1? Punish Corvette for having a winning formula? At the same time, GT1 is now a class that's not wanted due to lack of interest outside Team Corvette. Must ALMS step in and 'save' it? I don't really know. It's my favorite class, but I didn't watch last year. It was pointless. No competition and no fun watching the races. I watched as many races in the 2008 season as Ron Fellows participated. I'm not into LMP1. I completely ignore LMP2, and I have little interest in GT2. However, that has now changed.

My personal feeling has now changed. I'm now interested in GT2, a lot more than before. Did the recent decision by Team Corvette to switch next year to GT2 help with that change of feeling? A little, but not completely.

I now enjoy the GT2 more because it's a lot closer to what I would drive if I was going around on a race track. I think more guys have interest in this class because of the same reason. It's a lot closer to what they can build and race themselves. Not a lot of drivers can build and race safely a 600HP car.

Second, there are a lot of different teams in this class, all with great history in car racing. Really, it's going to be a grand racing class this season that you'd have to be crazy not to want to watch.

Also, I'm really excited about the LMP1 class this year. Look at the results below for the reason why. Three different car manufacturers in the top five positions in this class, all tenth of a second close to each other. Now that's going to be fun to watch!



1 1 66 P1 de Ferran/Pagenaud/Dixon 1:45.278 126.522 11 -.--- 11 Acura ARX 02a
2 2 2 P1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish 1:45.360 126.424 7 0.082 9 Audi R15 / TDI
3 3 07 P1 Minassian/Lamy/Klien 1:45.462 126.301 2 0.184 3 Peugeot 908
4 4 1 P1 Luhr/Rockenfeller/Werner 1:45.551 126.195 4 0.273 5 Audi R15 / TDI
5 5 08 P1 Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais 1:45.559 126.185 1 0.281 2 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP
6 6 9 P1 Brabham/Sharp/Franchitti 1:46.504 125.066 10 1.226 11 Acura ARX 02a
7 1 15 P2 Fernandez/Diaz 1:49.686 121.438 2 4.408 4 Acura ARX-01B
8 2 16 P2 Dyson/Smith/Lally 1:51.534 119.425 8 6.256 10 Lola B09 86 Mazda
9 7 12 P1 Willman/McMurry/Burgess 1:51.598 119.357 10 6.320 11 Lola B06/10
10 3 20 P2 Leitzinger/Franchitti/Devlin 1:51.840 119.099 8 6.562 11 Lola B08 86 Mazda
11 1 4 GT1 Beretta/Gavin/Faessler 1:57.882 112.994 2 12.604 4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
12 2 3 GT1 Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia 1:58.203 112.687 3 12.925 4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
13 1 87 GT2 Henzler/Werner/Lietz 2:03.051 108.248 2 17.773 6 Porsche 911 RSR
14 2 45 GT2 Bergmeister/Long/Lieb 2:03.433 107.913 3 18.155 5 Porsche 911 RSR
15 3 95 GT2 Companc/Russo/Bruni 2:03.487 107.866 5 18.209 7 Ferrari 430 GT
16 4 62 GT2 Melo/Kaffer/Salo 2:03.829 107.568 8 18.551 9 Ferrari 430 Berlinetta GT
17 5 40 GT2 D.Robertson/A.Robertson/Murry 2:04.333 107.132 3 19.055 5 Doran Ford GT-R
18 6 21 GT2 Farnbacher/James/TBA 2:04.437 107.042 7 19.159 8 Panoz Esperante
19 7 90 GT2 Hand/Auberlen 2:04.566 106.931 4 19.288 6 BMW E92 M3
20 8 11 GT2 Feinberg/Hall/Holt 2:05.619 106.035 5 20.341 6 Dodge Viper
21 9 007 GT2 Drayson/Cocker/Bell 2:05.692 105.973 4 20.414 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT
22 10 18 GT2 N.Pastorelli/Stuck/Stuck 2:05.805 105.878 7 20.527 8 Porsche 911 RSR
23 11 28 GT2 Gigliotti/Curran/Molo 2:06.678 105.148 9 21.400 10 Chevrolet Riley Corvette
24 12 61 GT2 Krohn/Jonsson/van de Poele 2:08.386 103.750 6 23.108 8 Ferrari 430 Berlinetta GT
25 13 44 GT2 Law/Neiman/van Overbeek 2:10.912 101.748 2 25.634 10 Porsche 911 RSR
26 14 5 GT2 Westbrook/Basseng/David -.--- --- 0 0 Porsche 911 RSR
27 8 37 P1 J.Field/C.Field/Ducote -.--- --- 0 0 Lola B06/10
28 15 92 GT2 Mueller/Milner -.--- --- 0 0 BMW E92 M3
Fastest Drivers:


Again, I think I'll watch a lot more ALMS races this year, but by the looks of it, GT1 will be another yawn fest. There's only ONE team listed above! Guess who? Shame, as I really do love this class, though my interest is waning.

But, what are we to expect next year in class GT1 now that Team Corvette will be out? Ford GT, Dodge Viper, Maserati, Aston Martin, Panoz, MClaren, Nissan (GT-R), (etc.)?

Yes, I said Nissan GT-R...

 

[Crashbroke23]

Primetime's Joel Feinberg thoughts on Sebring so far.


Why IMSA Why. A 20% Restrictor for being the quickest Privateer? Just because some Factory team thinks they're too Fast?


SHAME ON YOU IMSA.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Primetime's Joel Feinberg thoughts on Sebring so far.


Why IMSA Why. A 20% Restrictor for being the quickest Privateer? Just because some Factory team thinks they're too Fast?


SHAME ON YOU IMSA.

What's his complaint? His car isn't an ACO homologated GT2 car! He said it himself!

"...the Viper is not an ACO homologated GT2 car, it is an FIA GT3 car that IMSA has allowed to run in an effort to develop it into a proper GT2 car."

Get it homologated, and the factory teams can complain all they want, but there would be nothing they could do about it.

 

[Crashbroke23]

You got a point. My aggressive fanboy-ism took the best of me. I still think a 20% restrictor is too much and that there is a second gap from them to 7th in GT2 quali, isn't right.

 

[RACECAR]

Truth in 24 airs tonight on ESPN at 7:00 GMT
*Times may vary depending on timeszone*

 

[JohnBM01]

Let me say something quickly...

On ESPN at 8:00 PM EDT, "Truth in 24," a documentary on Audi's sportscar racing successes is about to start! Just an interesting thing I wanted to point out.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Let me say something quickly...

On ESPN at 8:00 PM EDT, "Truth in 24," a documentary on Audi's sportscar racing successes is about to start! Just an interesting thing I wanted to point out.

This is the last chance in two weeks to watch it. It's on RIGHT NOW. I'm watching it in HD. The narrator's voice is very familiar.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Yeah, I obviously meant GT2, not GT1 when I spoke about Team Corvette switching classes.

What are ALMS supposed to do about GT1? Punish Corvette for having a winning formula? At the same time, GT1 is now a class that's not wanted due to lack of interest outside Team Corvette. Must ALMS step in and 'save' it? I don't really know. It's my favorite class, but I didn't watch last year. It was pointless. No competition and no fun watching the races. I watched as many races in the 2008 season as Ron Fellows participated. I'm not into LMP1. I completely ignore LMP2, and I have little interest in GT2. However, that has now changed.

The ALMS is a kind of "outside dog" when it comes to GT racing. Just about no GT1, and an extremely diverse GT2 field. In LMS, GT1 has at least a couple more entrants (Vette, Saleen x 2 and a Lamborghini), but the GT2 field is nowhere near that of ALMS, since it´s mainly Ferraris (9 of them, 4 Porsches, 3 Astons, 1 Spyker and 1 Lambo Gallardo).
Looking at FIA GT, the diversety is actually greater in GT1 than in GT2, since GT2 are only Ferrari and Porsche so far. GT1 is Maserati MC12 (not LM eligiable), Saleen S7-R, Corvette C6.R, Nissan GT-R and Ford GT1. Nissan And Ford will only be there for a few races though.
I have a feeling GT1 will revive itself after this season is over, and that we´ll most likely see a few GT2 cars reworked for GT1 by next season.

My personal feeling has now changed. I'm now interested in GT2, a lot more than before. Did the recent decision by Team Corvette to switch next year to GT2 help with that change of feeling? A little, but not completely.

I now enjoy the GT2 more because it's a lot closer to what I would drive if I was going around on a race track. I think more guys have interest in this class because of the same reason. It's a lot closer to what they can build and race themselves. Not a lot of drivers can build and race safely a 600HP car.

Second, there are a lot of different teams in this class, all with great history in car racing. Really, it's going to be a grand racing class this season that you'd have to be crazy not to want to watch.

Also, I'm really excited about the LMP1 class this year. Look at the results below for the reason why. Three different car manufacturers in the top five positions in this class, all tenth of a second close to each other. Now that's going to be fun to watch!

Again, I think I'll watch a lot more ALMS races this year, but by the looks of it, GT1 will be another yawn fest. There's only ONE team listed above! Guess who? Shame, as I really do love this class, though my interest is waning.

But, what are we to expect next year in class GT1 now that Team Corvette will be out? Ford GT, Dodge Viper, Maserati, Aston Martin, Panoz, MClaren, Nissan (GT-R), (etc.)?

Yes, I said Nissan GT-R...

And who will be in GT1 after Le Mans? Noone!

 

[Keef]

I just started up the DVR and am watching the Acura special and Sebring coverage from this morning. Interesting stuff!

Apparently the Acura is running the same size tires front and rear, which is not typical with these kinds of cars. It seems like its a big deal because they spoke quite a lot about the benefits and detriments of that. Also, a gasoline engine, which I predicted. I mean, it's Honda, come on. Diesels are for people who can't figure out how to make a gasoline engine run, run, run.

 

[JohnBM01]

Okay. Allow me to make some quick comments on the racing action and of certain observations.

* I still think Audi will win, even with an unproven car. Nice-looking car.

* It's good... no, GREAT to see the BMWs racing in the ALMS again. I can still remember the classic Prototype Technology Group (black/white/orange) colors of the '90s as well as the simple white and blue colors of some later BMW M3 GTR's. But it's great to see them back in the series.

* The Mazda-Lolas look pretty sweet as well.




Currently, S. Bourdais leads the race overall with just under 8:13:00 left.

 

[Keef]

I'm not watching the race in real time, and actually just started at the beginning here a bit ago. The bottom line is that the new Acura is simply nowhere near as fast as the diesel cars, even WITH the diesels new 10% air restrictor! Wow. And the lighter weight and bigger front tires just isn't enough on a fast track like Sebring. Oh well, there's always the reliability aspect to look at...

 

[RACECAR]

I'm not watching the race in real time, and actually just started at the beginning here a bit ago. The bottom line is that the new Acura is simply nowhere near as fast as the diesel cars, even WITH the diesels new 10% air restrictor! Wow. And the lighter weight and bigger front tires just isn't enough on a fast track like Sebring. Oh well, there's always the reliability aspect to look at...

Lets face it, no matter what the ACO does or the competition, the Diesels will always win(assuming they aren't at a track like Mid-Ohio or Lime Rock park). They should just have a Diesel and a gasoline class because obviously nothing works.

 

[JohnBM01]

You know, the R15's engine sounds much different and a bit louder than the R10. That is... unless the same engine is used. Anyone noticed if the R15 sounds a bit louder than the mostly quiet R10?

 

[RACECAR]

You know, the R15's engine sounds much different and a bit louder than the R10. That is... unless the same engine is used. Anyone noticed if the R15 sounds a bit louder than the mostly quiet R10?

Yeah, I did. I think its still quiet, just sounds different onboard. It is a smaller engine so I would think it would naturally yeild a different sound.

 

[Keef]

Lets face it, no matter what the ACO does or the competition, the Diesels will always win(assuming they aren't at a track like Mid-Ohio or Lime Rock park). They should just have a Diesel and a gasoline class because obviously nothing works.

Yeah, the diesels are so much more efficient that they can have much higher displacement without sacrificing mileage. They were just talking about the Peugeot having a 5.5L while the Acura has a 4.0L V8, which is pretty much just a bigger version of the LMP2 engine. If they had a 5.5L gas engine, for instance, they might not be able to compete on longevity because fuel mileage would suffer.

But I assume they've got all this stuff figured out. Those engineers couldn't have accidentally underestimated these diesels that drastically, could they?

 

[RACECAR]

But I assume they've got all this stuff figured out. Those engineers couldn't have accidentally underestimated these diesels that drastically, could they?

It looks like they tryed to make up the advantage in the corners and while it works on short circuits, Sebring is by no means short and with a Straight before Turn 1 and Turn 17, the advantage kinda gets cancelled out.

 

[Keef]

Yeah, that's a bummer. I've read that they aren't signed up for Le Mans this year and they aren't committed to racing it at all yet. I'm sure they're using this season to gauge the changes they need to take on the big challenge. Namely more power...

 

[RACECAR]

I think the reason they didn't start from scratch with the engine for LMP1 was just to get the car on the ground running so they used what was already in their inventory.

 

[JohnBM01]

This just in for me... completely new engine for the R15.

This ALSO just in: the #92 BMW is behind the wall. Wow. Great shame. Enjoy the Peugeot/Audi battle up front!

 

[JohnBM01]

Florida may be the Sunshine State, but some rain may be on the way to complicate the racers and the Spring Breakers. Also, it may be possible that the Mazda-powered Lolas may not score any points if they don't make the 70% deal. It's going to be hellishly tough for those coupes to try to make any significant noise in P2 this season.

 

[RACECAR]

Florida may be the Sunshine State, but some rain may be on the way to complicate the racers and the Spring Breakers.

Peugeot are gonna hate this if the Rain comes, Everytime they race in the rain they get left behind. On the up side though, we might see the 15 car join the overall battle and it'll be interesting to see how the ARX-02A does in wet conditions.

Also, it may be possible that the Mazda-powered Lolas may not score any points if they don't make the 70% deal. It's going to be hellishly tough for those coupes to try to make any significant noise in P2 this season.

Yep, it looks like The 15 might as well be called the winner anyhow.