2014 United Sports Car Championship

[cnd01]

I did a little searching the past few hours on lap time data at Laguna Seca. The results are very interesting.

DP pole time last year: 1.21.042
DP practice lap last year: 1.21.285
DP pole time in 2009(Pirelli tires): 1.19.874
DP practice lap 2009(Pirelli tires): 1.20.079
GAGT pole time last year: 1.27.594
GAGT practice time last year: 1.27.721
ALMS GT practice lap this year: 1.24.022
ALMS P2 practice lap this year: 1.18.578
ALMS PC practice lap this year: 1.20.300

 

[lemansfanatic]

That is promising to see. I took that and looked up 2012 ALMS qualifying times at Laguna. Looks like Daytona prototype and P2 class will about as close in times as P1 was to P2


Pos Class Team Driver Lap Time
1 P1 #6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Klaus Graf 1:13.573
2 P1 #16 Dyson Racing Team Guy Smith 1:15.358
3 P2 #055 Level 5 Motorsports Christophe Bouchut 1:15.846
4 P2 #95 Level 5 Motorsports Franck Montagny 1:15.935
5 P2 #27 Dempsey Racing Jonny Cocker 1:17.494
6 PC #9 RSR Racing Bruno Junqueira 1:17.867
7 PC #06 CORE Autosport Tom Kimber-Smith 1:18.092
8 PC #5 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Memo Gidley 1:18.114
9 PC #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports B. Leitzinger 1:18.396
10 PC #05 CORE Autosport Colin Braun 1:18.423

 

[cnd01]

Alms has huge differences from qualifying to practice. Grand am looks like about 2/10s of a second improvement from practice in qualifying. Laguna seca is a track I think would produce the largest gap between DP and p2.

 

[cnd01]

Sorry for double post, but http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-level-5-proposes-p2-trial-integration-at-kansas/

 

[Earth]

Well, its at least good to know P2 teams are seriously considering competing next year

 

[cnd01]

Well, its at least good to know P2 teams are seriously considering competing next year

Yea. I think L5 will have at least 1 car in pc next year. Scott Tucker pretty much won't drive without a pro-am requirement.

 

[Mac K]

Why Kansas? The DP's will kick the snot out of the LMP2 around there, I'd rather see it go to Watkins Glen or Mid-Ohio. I will say that is a cool idea, props to Level 5.

 

[RACECAR]

Why Kansas? The DP's will kick the snot out of the LMP2 around there, I'd rather see it go to Watkins Glen or Mid-Ohio. I will say that is a cool idea, props to Level 5.

Think about the location: That's where Level 5 is headquarted. its where Scott Tucker resides.

 

[BROHAM]

Those Level 5 cars running but not for points, I'm thinking that will be the case with P1 cars at Sebring next year if Audi and/or Toyota want to run next year. That makes sense right?

 

[Mac K]

Think about the location: That's where Level 5 is headquarted. its where Scott Tucker resides.

Ah yes that's very true..

 

[cnd01]

Those Level 5 cars running but not for points, I'm thinking that will be the case with P1 cars at Sebring next year if Audi and/or Toyota want to run next year. That makes sense right?

The L5 at Kansas is more/less a spec test. Imsa won't let Audi and Toyota come to Sebring next year more than likely unless they run a DP. The P class car owners will all be against Audi coming back because then all of those cars have zero shot at the overall win with Audi there. The thing I fear about the L5 test is that they will crash a championship contender by accident. That would not go over well.

 

[FoolKiller]

The L5 at Kansas is more/less a spec test. Imsa won't let Audi and Toyota come to Sebring next year more than likely unless they run a DP. The P class car owners will all be against Audi coming back because then all of those cars have zero shot at the overall win with Audi there. The thing I fear about the L5 test is that they will crash a championship contender by accident. That would not go over well.

They did say they would accept whatever restrictions necessary to avoid disrupting the championship standings.

I think your fear is of something that is no greater of a risk than would occur when LeMans races allow test and experimental entries, or ALMS even allows European teams to use Sebring or Petit as test races, or ALMS teams go to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. If this is a legitimate concern then maybe some DP team could volunteer to race in an ALMS race, where they are used to the occasional one-off.

 

[Mac K]

Level 5 taking out Ganassi? Imagine the lolz

 

[RACECAR]

The L5 at Kansas is more/less a spec test. Imsa won't let Audi and Toyota come to Sebring next year more than likely unless they run a DP. The P class car owners will all be against Audi coming back because then all of those cars have zero shot at the overall win with Audi there. The thing I fear about the L5 test is that they will crash a championship contender by accident. That would not go over well.

Seems abit extreme to jump to that conclusion. Marino and Ryan aren't really known for being clumsy so I doubt theres a big chance that'll happen. Besides, I'm more of the impression that a certain Ganassi will more likely take himself out if indy is any indication.

 

[cnd01]

They did say they would accept whatever restrictions necessary to avoid disrupting the championship standings.

I think your fear is of something that is no greater of a risk than would occur when LeMans races allow test and experimental entries, or ALMS even allows European teams to use Sebring or Petit as test races, or ALMS teams go to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. If this is a legitimate concern then maybe some DP team could volunteer to race in an ALMS race, where they are used to the occasional one-off.

Level 5 taking out Ganassi? Imagine the lolz

Seems abit extreme to jump to that conclusion. Marino and Ryan aren't really known for being clumsy so I doubt theres a big chance that'll happen. Besides, I'm more of the impression that a certain Ganassi will more likely take himself out if indy is any indication.

Personally, I think Grand am should subsidize L5 or whomever wants to bring their P2 car to a promoter test day that happens the Thursday before the Grand am races. The ALMS should do the same for a DP in order to get the BoP started as they haven't done anything constructive besides tell Grand am teams to make their DPs 6 seconds a lap faster. IMSA hopes to have a P2 in a wind tunnel by July. That's over a year after the merger announcement... Teams have to get funding for races months ahead of time especially when Grand am teams are having to add Sebring and Petit Le Mans. That's 19:15 more hours of racing to pay for right there. The ALMS teams have to have funding for 30 hours of racing from the Sahlen's 6 at the Glen and the Rolex 24. Whatever they decide to do needs to be decided soon, or we will see a major "charlie foxtrot"

 

[FoolKiller]

That additional 19:15 could be longer since Petit times have been based on P1 speeds. If they slow P2 down at all that time extends more.

They need to be way ahead of where they are now. An in-between season allowing teams to jump in the other series whenever possible would be the best way to get the best data for rules adjustments.

I feel sorry for the officials here. They have a working relationship history with the Grand Am teams, but are wanting to incorporate new teams with international prospects. Do too many changes one way and you destroy your current fan base. Do too many the other way and anyone not wanting to only race in the US will be gone and the merger is pointless.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if they can do this without ruining it.

 

[cnd01]

That additional 19:15 could be longer since Petit times have been based on P1 speeds. If they slow P2 down at all that time extends more.

They need to be way ahead of where they are now. An in-between season allowing teams to jump in the other series whenever possible would be the best way to get the best data for rules adjustments.

I feel sorry for the officials here. They have a working relationship history with the Grand Am teams, but are wanting to incorporate new teams with international prospects. Do too many changes one way and you destroy your current fan base. Do too many the other way and anyone not wanting to only race in the US will be gone and the merger is pointless.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if they can do this without ruining it.

It's impossible to make everyone happy. The PC and ALMS GT teams are probably the best off from the merger as they aren't being touched for the most part. GTLM will probably gain a few entrants from the merger. GAGT teams are the teams getting the short end of the stick the most. They either have to downgrade their cars significantly to ALMS GTC/USCR GTD spec, or they have to significantly increase their budgets for GTLM. One GAGT team, Marsh racing, is already planning on running a Corvette DP next year in collaboration with Spirit of Daytona because their Corvette won't fit in GTD. Plus, they have a pro-pro driver lineup. GTD is 99.99% certain pro-am mandated. The only other teams really getting the shaft are the P1 teams. I'm not counting the delta wing because at current spec, it only ran a 1.22.038 in qualifying at Laguna Seca. That's a second off last year's DP pole time. Dyson is already converting to a P2 program, so Dyson won't be cut off completely. That leaves MMPR and Rebellion. Rebellion will probably just go back to only racing the WEC. I'm not sure what Greg Pickett is going to do. L5 and ESM are getting spec adjustments as well as all 9 full season DP teams plus all the part time teams like Doran racing, BTE sport, Krohn racing, and 50+/Alegra.

 

[Earth]

Grand Am's Jim France will wave flags to start next June's Le Mans 24 hours

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107635​

 

[BKGlover]

This is.....unexpected. I guess this goes further than I though. LEGIT Goodwill from the FIA? A sign of things to come? I guess now we wait and see.

 

[RACECAR]

This is.....unexpected. I guess this goes further than I though. LEGIT Goodwill from the FIA? A sign of things to come? I guess now we wait and see.

Thought it was a pretty cool deal, first time in a while a member of the France will do it as his brother, Bill France Jr did it as well.

 

[cnd01]

Thought t was a pretty cool deal, first time in a while a member of the France will do it as his brother, Bill France Jr did it as well.

Yep. That was the year two nascar spec cars ran the race. I don't know if this is a sign of good things to come, or if the fia is wining and dining the France family.

 

[BROHAM]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5508588715/

 

[freshseth83]

Nothing is getting accomplished it seems-

http://starworksmotorsport.com/pete...e-blackhawks-ahead-of-belle-isle-rolex-round/

seems DP owners are still stuck in their ways and want everything slowed down to make DP's seem faster, instead of actually making them faster

 

[polarbear345]

Nothing is getting accomplished it seems-

http://starworksmotorsport.com/peter-baron-talks-about-detroit-uscr-the-blackhawks-ahead-of-belle-isle-rolex-round/

seems DP owners are still stuck in their ways and want everything slowed down to make DP's seem faster, instead of actually making them faster

Ugh, not what we wanted to hear!

At the Indy 500 Chevrolet had their GTE car at the tent, and they said it makes ~470 HP.

Personally, I would be embarrassed if someone had to slow down a "lesser" (not the right word, but hopefully you understand) so my prototype car is still fastest.

At this point, why don't they just not change anything? It's really late now and anything they do will be rushed.

 

[MrWednesday]

seems DP owners are still stuck in their ways and want everything slowed down to make DP's seem faster, instead of actually making them faster

Speed costs money. Surely it's not shocking that DP owners would need some convincing to spend more money primarily to help everyone else out?

 

[cnd01]

Nothing is getting accomplished it seems-

http://starworksmotorsport.com/peter-baron-talks-about-detroit-uscr-the-blackhawks-ahead-of-belle-isle-rolex-round/

seems DP owners are still stuck in their ways and want everything slowed down to make DP's seem faster, instead of actually making them faster

Alms teams are just as adament about not changing anything

My problem is: Nothing is getting done. Im to the point where I think this merger is going to end up failing completely.

 

[Mac K]

Are we really surprised?

 

[polarbear345]

Im to the point where I think this merger is going to end up failing completely.

I think that club is growing.

New season is in less than 12 months and it seems like they have done about as much as we know...

 

[cnd01]

I think that club is growing.

New season is in less than 12 months and it seems like they have done about as much as we know...

Teams have to have budgets and sponsors lined up by November at the LATEST for the upcoming season. If they don't know the regs, they don't know what the budgets are. That's not good.

 

[freshseth83]

Speed costs money. Surely it's not shocking that DP owners would need some convincing to spend more money primarily to help everyone else out?

Really? They even had proposals where GA would foot the bill for upgrades. Seems that was shot down as well.

Alms teams are just as adament about not changing anything

My problem is: Nothing is getting done. Im to the point where I think this merger is going to end up failing completely.

Uh, they shouldn't have to if it's a merger. DP owners are acting like their cars are good enough as-is, but they're not (in terms of performance of the 'top class'). That's the issue here, bud. Better tires, wings, brakes and 'bolt on' parts will NOT break the bank of these guys. They're not trying to make ANY adjustments but calling for EVERY OTHER class to? That's not a compromise at all.