2014 United Sports Car Championship

[01GTP]

What's everyones feelings towards splitting the classes and having two separate races on the same day?

Racing, itself, is a challenge.
Multiple class racing is a different challenge altogether.

I love to see a track full of cars when I attend a race.
I do prefer to see multiple classes of cars.

From the competitor's point of view I would like to see spec races where all have an equal chance of winning. Read IROC. NASCAR is close but not quite exactly the same cars with the same setup.
From an avid fan's point of view I would like to see multiple classes with multiple types of cars in each class. And sure a trophy for every class.

When talking about the TUSCC grids, sure a big grid with all 4 classes is a great scenario, as it has been in the past, but for the first 2 races there may have been too many cars.
This is certainly a reason for which venues IMSA has picked for the schedule.
I would prefer to see smaller fields to enable more venues but I'm not sure IMSA wants more than the 12 events.

In the past at Lime Rock the Conti (Koni in past) series races are separated as the track is too small for the large grid of cars.
As a fan I love it as I get to attend/watch twice the racing.
Competitors liked the fact that they had no worries about the other class of cars interfering with the outcome of the race and likewise the championship as it was the last race of the season.

To answer the question I would like to see more events with separate races if it means more events in a season.
I am a bit upset that the races at Mazda are only 2 hours, a bit short IMO.
I don't want to see more events if it means omitting classes from the event.
Kansas comes to mind. Why bother with a stand-alone PC race.


So yeah, I like the upcoming event at Mazda Raceway.
TV coverage looks good too!!
Unfortunately the first race (PC/GTD) is the same time as the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega, boo.

 

[cnd01]

And how is it not okay to hear them out but it's okay to hear out the Nationalist U.S. fans that really can't be bothered to understand technology? <- A question you've been asked before and didn't answer.

My answer: I'm all about the best driver that runs the best race with the team that executes the best winning. I want a series where the car's ability doesn't pre-determine where you'll finish. I'm not totally against technology. I want each team equal access to whatever technology is being allowed for a better race.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

My answer: I'm all about the best driver that runs the best race with the team that executes the best winning. I want a series where the car's ability doesn't pre-determine where you'll finish. I'm not totally against technology. I want each team equal access to whatever technology is being allowed for a better race.

So you want something that is spec and unrealistic. And even time and time again spec series show us that the driver does matter to an extent but the machine they are in usually determines where they finish. A driver is a lower team in a spec series is highly unlikely to finish well like a team with tons of money in them NASCAR has HMS and JGR, Indy has Andretti and Penske, Rolex had Ganassi. And equal access should be developed not handed over because it's deemed "unfair", that's not realistic and racing isn't one of idealist expecting to win because it should be fair.

 

[pidevildog07]

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/433650-tuscc-releases-final-competition-rules/

"Lap down wave by" that's what I don't like. Also don't like the fact that top level teams are dropping out with virtually no explanation for the rest of the series and the overbearing effort the new series is taking in the entertainment aspect of it. Sure I want to be entertained but not if they are intentionally trying to make it so with rules changes. I want to see a race, not "here's some free laps to make it more entertaining."

 

[RACECAR]

My answer: I'm all about the best driver that runs the best race with the team that executes the best winning. I want a series where the car's ability doesn't pre-determine where you'll finish. I'm not totally against technology. I want each team equal access to whatever technology is being allowed for a better race.

I feel like judging from all the viewing I've done of the spec series, you're looking for a ship that has long sailed. Even in series where the cars are the same and many of the specs are frozen, the teams with the most money still are the ones winning the most. Look at LMPC. Remember Level 5? Core Autosport? Those aren't small teams and they've dominated that class, again using the same car/engine combination as everyone else. I'll bet you its the same story in GP2, GP3 and many other series.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I feel like judging from all the viewing I've done of the spec series, you're looking for a ship that has long sailed. Even in series where the cars are the same and many of the specs are frozen, the teams with the most money still are the ones winning the most. Look at LMPC. Remember Level 5? Core Autosport? Those aren't small teams and they've dominated that class, again using the same car/engine combination as everyone else. I'll bet you its the same story in GP2, GP3 and many other series.

You'd be right it is...

 

[IforceV8]

I hope this is just a press release designed to gain feedback. http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/102968-imsa-talks-continue-on-2017-spec-prototype-chassis

Build all P2 cars as closed tops by 2017 is the only big change that is needed.The only thing i would change is to bump up the HP to increase the gap from the GT cars.

Edit:Elkins clarified his comments on twitter.

Scot Elkins ‏@scotelkins 17h
All, pls realize that for the 2017 car, spec is specification-not single make-all p1 tubs are same specification-exactly the same idea

Scot Elkins ‏@scotelkins 17h
Actually the idea is to use the p1 specification for the tub of the new car-latest safety spec And room for taller drivers

 

[cnd01]

So you want something that is spec and unrealistic. And even time and time again spec series show us that the driver does matter to an extent but the machine they are in usually determines where they finish. A driver is a lower team in a spec series is highly unlikely to finish well like a team with tons of money in them NASCAR has HMS and JGR, Indy has Andretti and Penske, Rolex had Ganassi. And equal access should be developed not handed over because it's deemed "unfair", that's not realistic and racing isn't one of idealist expecting to win because it should be fair.

Of course money plays a part no matter where you race. If the playing field is level, at least there's more people out there battling rather than a handful of cars each obviously at different performance levels. Yes there's teams that are better than others. I'd rather see the Ganassi or the Penske win because they work the hardest, execute the best, and earn the good sponsorship as a result. That's team work paying off. Racing is a team sport more than any other imo.

I feel like judging from all the viewing I've done of the spec series, you're looking for a ship that has long sailed. Even in series where the cars are the same and many of the specs are frozen, the teams with the most money still are the ones winning the most. Look at LMPC. Remember Level 5? Core Autosport? Those aren't small teams and they've dominated that class, again using the same car/engine combination as everyone else. I'll bet you its the same story in GP2, GP3 and many other series.

If all those big teams were put in the same, mostly spec class, I'd bet there would be some excellent racing. The problem with the ALMS was that there were enough classes for the highly funded teams to spread out to and dominate all of them. It's not quite as bad in TUSCC, but there's still too many classes. I'd love to see CORE get out there with an LMP2 or DP and see if they can compete.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Of course money plays a part no matter where you race. If the playing field is level, at least there's more people out there battling rather than a handful of cars each obviously at different performance levels. Yes there's teams that are better than others. I'd rather see the Ganassi or the Penske win because they work the hardest, execute the best, and earn the good sponsorship as a result. That's team work paying off. Racing is a team sport more than any other imo.

You'd rather see them win because they're familiar to you, but in classes of spec group it wasn't hard work that helped them win, but more so money. I'm not saying they don't work hard, I'm just saying there is no proof or ability to quantify the working any harder than the other teams, but there money was well seen. Hell thanks to Penske dominating LMP2 in ALMS the rules for LMP2 had to be altered.

 

[cnd01]

You'd rather see them win because they're familiar to you, but in classes of spec group it wasn't hard work that helped them win, but more so money. I'm not saying they don't work hard, I'm just saying there is no proof or ability to quantify the working any harder than the other teams, but there money was well seen. Hell thanks to Penske dominating LMP2 in ALMS the rules for LMP2 had to be altered.

I'd rather see them win because Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi make a living off of racing. That's why I'm so pro-DP. It's all privateer so the teams won't end up like SRT Viper and stopping after not even 2 full seasons because of no fault of their own. Ganassi, WTR, Shank, SAMAX/Starworks, SoD, and AXR/Brumos have all been competing in the DP category for about 10 years now(not to mention Gainsco/Stallings, Doran, and Southard motorsports have 7+ years in there as well). How many factory teams have been competing in Le Mans LMP1 for 10 years since 2003? The only one to do so is Audi. No other mfr has been competing for more than a handful of years in this timespan. I like the commitment of the privateer teams which give consistently larger grids, better competition, and a better on track product. That's why I think there should be 1 prototype class much like DP. No driver rankings. Spec tire, spec fuel, chassis locked in for 5+ years to make the investment not as much of a risk for the owners. Cost containment measures put in place to keep a lot of the Penske/Ganassi effect from happening although it will still happen some. That class will have all the premier US teams that want in as well as any overseas team that buys a car and throws its hat in the ring.

 

[IforceV8]

Irrelevant 'Murica centric cars run by rich guys with subsidies from the sanctioning body with no fanbase,sound like a dream series.

If there was a way a car could be created that would be a customer car,cost capped,and capable of running at Daytona,Sebring,Lemans,WEC,ELMS,etc etc.💡

Nah forget that idea, that would be stupid.

 

[cnd01]

Let's ditch those irrelevant DPs because they're not real sports cars because they've never been to Le Mans. Every pure sports car has been to Le Mans. Let's ditch PC because it's spec too and therefore dumb. Let's also ditch GTD because there's too many of them and that's bad.

Let's bring LMP HY to America and make it LMP HY TO MY FAMILY AT HOME for Scott Pruett. Of course, we'll need an LMP am for those rich guys who want to race too. We also need an LMP JR for drivers under the age of 16 because that's a growing racing market now.

For GT, let's keep GTLM because it's factory pure and bring on GTLM am and GTLM JR. Let's introduce GTLM-HY as well because those Prius GT cars in Japan need a home too

The DW doesn't belong anywhere, so we'll make a DW, DW-HY, DW am, and DW JR too.

Now that's a series we can believe in

 

[Mac K]

I'm glad everyone has pretty much confirmed that Viper is pulling out despite being past the date of the supposed "news". Come on guys..

 

[cnd01]

I'm glad everyone has pretty much confirmed that Viper is pulling out despite being past the date of the supposed "news". Come on guys..

Haven't you heard? Every single team is pulling out in protest of IMSA letting those irrelevant DPs on the track. It's not fair to anyone letting a car that's a dumbed down trans-am/NASCAR deathtrap have an 8000 horsepower advantage and weigh twice as much because that gets heat in tires faster equal that's a 4 lap advantage right there. Any team with 2 eyes and a brain should run away and head for the IndyCar LMP1 series that's 1000% gonna happen. I'm buying my tickets to the 24 hours of St. Pete now

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I'd rather see them win because Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi make a living off of racing. That's why I'm so pro-DP. It's all privateer so the teams won't end up like SRT Viper and stopping after not even 2 full seasons because of no fault of their own. Ganassi, WTR, Shank, SAMAX/Starworks, SoD, and AXR/Brumos have all been competing in the DP category for about 10 years now(not to mention Gainsco/Stallings, Doran, and Southard motorsports have 7+ years in there as well). How many factory teams have been competing in Le Mans LMP1 for 10 years since 2003? The only one to do so is Audi. No other mfr has been competing for more than a handful of years in this timespan. I like the commitment of the privateer teams which give consistently larger grids, better competition, and a better on track product. That's why I think there should be 1 prototype class much like DP. No driver rankings. Spec tire, spec fuel, chassis locked in for 5+ years to make the investment not as much of a risk for the owners. Cost containment measures put in place to keep a lot of the Penske/Ganassi effect from happening although it will still happen some. That class will have all the premier US teams that want in as well as any overseas team that buys a car and throws its hat in the ring.

Once again how do the others not do so, or work any less harder than Penske and Ganassi? Also it's not fully privater, DP had manufactures investing money and still do as far as engines go and obviously investing quite a bit to ensure they're winning. Penske I already explained and you've done nothing to point otherwise.

Team SRT Viper is owned by Chrysler so it is of their own fault, they knew what the budget would look like going into this they knew what they're sales were especially as they kept it going. So if they don't pull out obviously they think their budget can support it if they do then obviously it can't support it, however it's not like someone robbed them and boo hoo Chrysler. It's like Peugeot, they did well in LMS and even won a 24h but that did little to help them sell cars and thus they pulled out. No one else is to blame but the works group, especially when they know how much it cost to go racing in top level series.

I already explained to you were manufactures are taking their support for the most part, also you're once again wrong about manufactures overall since they were popular in LMP2 since it didn't cost nearly as much as P1, or they race in GTE/GTLM. Also it doesn't change the fact that you're still wrong about the overall manufactures effort in ALMS, and what does bringing it up have to do with anything? Are you trying to prove something?

 

[aarror]

LMP HY TO MY FAMILY AT HOME

The DW doesn't belong anywhere, so we'll make a DW, DW-HY, DW am, and DW JR too.

Now that's a series we can believe in

Lol to LMP HY to my family at home! That's properly Americanizing things!

I'd watch that DW series!

I get that we all have different views, but the whole point of sportscar racing is to pioneer technology that will trickle down to road cars. Windshield wipers, ABS, TC and more all came from race cars. What's the point of a series that provides nothing in that regard?

I prefer Le Mans style series for not only the racing, but because some of the technology you see might some day be on your daily driver. (Like flywheel energy recovery systems, which when perfected could help extend the range of an electric car massively.) not to mention all the data tire manufacturers like Michelin get that is transferred down to their road tires as well.

 

[hawkeye122]

Let's ditch those irrelevant DPs because they're not real sports cars because they've never been to Le Mans. Every pure sports car has been to Le Mans. Let's ditch PC because it's spec too and therefore dumb. Let's also ditch GTD because there's too many of them and that's bad.

Let's bring LMP HY to America and make it LMP HY TO MY FAMILY AT HOME for Scott Pruett. Of course, we'll need an LMP am for those rich guys who want to race too. We also need an LMP JR for drivers under the age of 16 because that's a growing racing market now.

For GT, let's keep GTLM because it's factory pure and bring on GTLM am and GTLM JR. Let's introduce GTLM-HY as well because those Prius GT cars in Japan need a home too

The DW doesn't belong anywhere, so we'll make a DW, DW-HY, DW am, and DW JR too.

Now that's a series we can believe in

There's making a point, and there's being an ass.
Like it or not, private money has been at the heart of sports car racing. If the Am guys have nowhere to race, they'll take their money and leave, which nicely disposes of GTD, which you claim to like. If you wanted to go drive at Daytona in a Viper, would you find it fair to drive against Farnbacher and co? No. You'd want to compare yourself with all the rich guys, and have your driving coach (the one pro per car) race with you. Hence, a Pro and Am class.

This "Junior" thing is obnoxious. That isn't the case, it never has been. Sit down.

I don't think P1 works in a regional level. Should there be a P2 class? Certainly. Should there be a PC class? Yup, 2 hours before the main event. The ALMS had a good set-up: Miata's, Spec Porsches, and then if they'd had either GT3 or GTE for their Am class during the race it would've been perfect. A clear ladder system.

The 2017 P2 needs to have two things:
- a homologated, cost-capped chassis from each manufacturer. You want it to resemble a DP? Go for it. You want it to look like a current LMP2 car? Have at it.
-A homologated, cost-capped, stock-block engine package. Tired of Nissan having the best engine? This encourages all the other manufacturers to develop better engines, without the burden falling on the teams. Side effect? The stuff they do to prod more power/efficiency from the engines gets back to you on the road.

Enforce the Pro/Am requirement OR allow PC/(upcoming) LMP3. These should be spec or BoP homologated like GT3 is now.

 

[MustangManiac]

I never did understand this "us" against "them" mentality of most race fans. This is exactly what caused the destruction of open wheel racing here in the states you know? If you are not familiar with the history of that perhaps you should look it up. Way to go guys, keep up the good work. Me personally? I just love racing...the more the merrier 👍

I do kind of like that LMP HY TO MY FAMILY AT HOME deal though

 

[ProjectWHaT]

How NOT to lose at endurance racing

 

[cnd01]

Like it or not, private money has been at the heart of sports car racing. If the Am guys have nowhere to race, they'll take their money and leave, which nicely disposes of GTD, which you claim to like. If you wanted to go drive at Daytona in a Viper, would you find it fair to drive against Farnbacher and co? No. You'd want to compare yourself with all the rich guys, and have your driving coach (the one pro per car) race with you. Hence, a Pro and Am class.

I don't think P1 works in a regional level. Should there be a P2 class? Certainly. Should there be a PC class? Yup, 2 hours before the main event.
The 2017 P2/IMSA P needs to have two things:
- a homologated, cost-capped chassis from each manufacturer. You want it to resemble a DP? Go for it. You want it to look like a current LMP2 car? Have at it.
-A homologated, cost-capped, stock-block engine package. Tired of Nissan having the best engine? This encourages all the other manufacturers to develop better engines, without the burden falling on the teams. Side effect? The stuff they do to prod more power/efficiency from the engines gets back to you on the road.

Enforce the Pro/Am requirement OR allow PC/(upcoming) LMP3. These should be spec or BoP homologated like GT3 is now.

I want all of this. My point is that rich old men are the driving force behind sports car racing. Give them the shaft too many times and they leave. I'm optimistic that sports car racing can become popular in mainstream America. To do that, there needs to be changes which I'm about the only one who agrees with. Sports car racing will never be more than a club sport if the same stupid decisions are made over and over again. The longevity of a series needs privateer teams able to compete for overall wins thus attracting the most of the limited sponsorship out there.

P1 will not work at a regional level. Never has for more than a handful of years.

I love the LMP2 and DP variety out there. Keep that if possible while making the chassis/engines equal thus eliminating the huge BoP bonanza that's going on.

PC does not belong in TUSCC for am's and confusion's sake. Make it a ladder system where PC becomes prototype lites race that's 3 hours before the main show.

Keep the 2 GT classes as is. I'd personally make the factory teams go away for a single privateer only GT class, but if the factories have to have a class, leave it there.

Most of all, cut costs so more teams can compete.

I do kind of like that LMP HY TO MY FAMILY AT HOME deal though

I'm trademarking it and sending it to IMSA. I'll await my hefty check and thank you letter

 

[Mac K]

Good news!

http://www.imsa.com/articles/imsacom-stream-tudor-championship-qualifying

Plus Ryan Eversley will drive for Bar-1 in the PC class at Laguna.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/eversley-joins-bar1-motorsports-for-monterey/

 

[Sam48]

IMSA?..Live streaming?.. Qualifying?.. So what's the catch?

 

[ProjectWHaT]

IMSA?..Live streaming?.. Qualifying?.. So what's the catch?

10 minutes of advertisement every 5 minutes

 

[Sam48]

10 minutes of advertisement every 5 minutes

🤬 I knew it. It's a live stream commercial feed. I heard they were planning on using picture in picture to solve this like IndyCar, but they couldn't resist and just filled the other picture with more advertisements.

 

[MustangManiac]

🤬 I knew it. It's a live stream commercial feed. I heard they were planning on using picture in picture to solve this like IndyCar, but they couldn't resist and just filled the other picture with more advertisements.

Don't give them any ideas

 

[Furinkazen]

ESM gets two of these bad boys for 2015... and they could head to La Sarthe...

 

[cnd01]

ESM gets two of these bad boys for 2015... and they could head to La Sarthe...

They could head to La Sarthe now with the car they have. Heck, their current #1 chassis has won its class at Le Mans before.

 

[RACECAR]

10 minutes of advertisement every 5 minutes

So basically, what we got with the ESPN 3 streaming coverage.

 

[Müle]

ESM gets two of these bad boys for 2015... and they could head to La Sarthe...

raging hard-on

that, and the 8Star Ligier.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

They could head to La Sarthe now with the car they have. Heck, their current #1 chassis has won its class at Le Mans before.

Yeah but there are a couple new cars now and the shift for closed canopy and a global P2 car is the reason why they are switching to this and trying to go back. The car they have right now is two years old (even though others are old too) and others are preparing to switch so it's really no benefit to go this year. Plus they didn't get an invite.

They're making a good move by waiting and building now rather than later.