ALMS: 2007 Houston

[dougiemeats]

2007 Lone Star Grand Prix
Saturday, April 21 - Houston, TX

Race Information:

• Round: 4 of 12
• Race Start: 5:30PM CDT
• Duration: 2 hr 45 min
• Track Type: Reliant Park Complex; city street circuit; 1.7 miles; 10 turns
• TV Broadcast (U.S.): CBS; April 29; 12:00PM CDT (Tape Delay +8 days)

• Entry List
• Live Timing & Scoring
• Radio Le Mans

 

[JohnBM01]

Let me be The Rock for a moment... FINALLY... the ALMS has come back to Houston! If you smell what the ALMS is cooking. Looks like the ALMS is ready to cook up some good ol' fashioned Texas barbeque. I'm probably not going to be at the big race, but I will surely want to see what happens. It seems like I'll have to wait one week if we don't get any same-day or close coverage. Maybe CBS thinks some tennis match is better than ALMS road racing. Still, it is a track that is punishing. Reliant Park is no stranger to racing because Champ Car raced there as well as Formula D among others.

As far as this race goes, I have a big storyline here- homecoming for Risi Competizione. They are 3-0 this season looking to make it 4-0. Hell, they could be 0-3 and still have a chance to win in their hometown. I'd personally love to see Risi get it done at home. The other three classes can b:censored:slap each other for the winning team. I'll prepare FACT OR FICTION sometime later.

This track is pretty bumpy and even technical. I think the track should have that chicane section after Turn 2 like we saw last year in the ALMS and in Champ Car. All safety reasons, of course. As for the rest of the track, I been to Reliant Park several times to see the Houston Auto Show at Reliant Center. I even seen a college football game in the wonderful Reliant Stadium once. Only place I probably haven't been to is the Astrodome. The part of the track I like most is the sweeping right corner after the wicked hairpin. I think cars need to have a nice high-speed setup, but still have a proper setup to take on the different variety of corners. Turns 5 through 9 are pretty much right angle turns. It's kind of like the first few corners of the Adelaide street course (excluding that chicane and subsequent corner after the chicane).

How about it, boys and girls?

 

[dougiemeats]

Keep in mind that, at least here in the United States, we will not be seeing the race on television this weekend. We will have to wait until next weekend to watch a tape-delayed, edited-for-time version of the event.

As a personal protest, I will not be watching the race via U.S. television. It's almost unacceptable not to air the race at on the same weekend. The ALMS is merely a support race for other series nowadays, and now we have to wait more than a week until we see part of the race. That's what I call "World Class."

Instead, I'll be listening to the excellent online radio broadcast by the Radio Le Mans team, as well as IMSA timing and scoring. It's live and exciting, I don't have to go through the "How big is your 'board'? Do you 'wax your board'?" nonsense, and I don't have to live in fear of spoilers for eight days.

 

[m.piedgros]

Keep in mind it is the Speed Broadcast you are mad at about being so lude. Keep in mind the ALMS is "World Class" and it is the big draw on Champ Car weekends. All North American series' appear to be very self-conscious when it comes to their gate. ALMS seems to be able to draw huge gates and should be confident, however they, like all other series' here, seem to act like teenagers. They claim their stuff is the best all-the-while wondering if they can survive. That is why we see Champ Car/ALMS weekends, IRL/ALMS weekends, Grand-Am/IRL weekends, Grand-Am/NASCAR weekends (the latter really is just Grand-Am showing their ties to NASCAR but again to get gate) - shared weekend "double feature" perhaps double crowd? While there may be no double the crowd going on I can assure you ALMS is bringing fans to Champ Car races and die-hard Champ Car fans are becoming ALMS fans. As are IRL fans on those weekends and so forth. It was the old argument with Speed World Challenge, are they really helping each other? Well, one would assume ALMS fans would be turned on by a WC race and WC fans would be turned on by an ALMS race. Mutual growth kind of a deal, they can only be good for one another and other non-sense put together by someone sitting at a desk in a job where he is paid by the series. Aside from the Indianapolis 500 there really isn't an exceptionally popular open-wheel race in America when talking about IRL and Champ Car, so they use the ALMS (remember, ALMS has a huge draw at the gate) to get tickets sold to their weekend events. Historically speaking all F1-type, Indy-type races are supposed to be run Sundays at 1pm and in sports car racing Saturday races are not uncommon (Sebring anyone?) so ALMS can talk themselves into being one of the support races for that, and because they know they will get a cut of the $$ and won't have to pay for the event because they know Champ Car or the IRL are paying the brunt.

And the cub reporter or whatever they were called was Speed's twisted way of trying to let us get an impression of the ALMS drivers' personalities. Though lude I enjoyed it (teenage boy perhaps? Hehe, potty humor!) and getting to know the drivers is a step in the right direction for the series. So I think us die-hards and the ALMS itself owe a big thank you to Speed for doing a job that ALMS should be doing anyway. PROMOTE YOUR DRIVERS!!!

m.piedgros

 

[JohnBM01]

I actually thought the Cub Reporter things can be a bit entertaining. Maybe not the longboard deal, but entertaining. Good news is probably that you won't have to worry about this with CBS coverage.

I decided I'd bring back my Long Beach debate questions because I don't think I got too many debate answers. Feel free to answer. So here they are:

D1 (three parts). People think that the Audis and Corvettes could probably find better competition if they moved to the LMS. Assuming that their departure from the ALMS to the LMS happens, (a) will their respective departures improve the ALMS, downgrade the ALMS, or have no effect? (b) How would the Audis and Corvettes do competiting under the LMS schedule? (c) How could American car enthusiasts respond to Pratt and Miller for going to the LMS rather than stay in America so that Americans can see them dominate?

D2. Do you think Riverside would make a great ALMS course if the classic Riverside circuit was still around? Do you think that the ALMS should race both Riverside and Long Beach granted Riverside still existed? Or do you think only Long Beach or Riverside should be raced?

D3. Should LMS GT competitors (especially in GT1) be allowed to compete in America to fill the GT1 gaps when the LMS is not racing? Do you also think that prototype competitors in the LMS compete in the ALMS to allow more entries to race in prototype ranks? Or should LMS competitors stay with the LMS and not try to befuddle the ALMS? Explain.

D4. This could be the most popular question I'll ask. (a) How do you enhance P1 and GT1 in the ALMS? (b) Define "good car count" in regards to the ALMS. The number of cars on the track are usually in the general range of 20-25 to a track nowadays. What is a better range of cars that race an event in the ALMS? PLEASE offer realistic values. Take road courses and street courses into consideration.

D5. St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Houston, and Detroit include four certain racing markets in four different parts of the country. Most of these cities that host street course racing don't have any minor or major road courses that greatly represent that city's major market. (a) What major American (and even Canadian) cities cities could benefit from either a permanent road course or some sort of temporary circuit among the ALMS? For example (and you can use this as an answer), do you think St. Louis and Denver would be great major market representatives for a greater area race in each city's general market?

D6. What car companies who used to race prototypes could shine again someday if they returned to prototypes? Imagine if Panoz decides to come up with a brand-new prototype to try to return to big league ALMS racing. Or imagine if Ferrari creates a prototype or teams up with some racing constructor to build a car even more beautiful than the 333SP to maybe make a privateer or factory effort. What car companies that once raced prototypes could succeed best if they returned to prototype racing?

D7. The Long Beach race is one hour and 45 minutes long. Do you think they should perform an endurance race (more than 3 hours) here instead of this short event? I sort of imagined a six-hour race which the race starts in the evening and goes into the night, much like the four-hour endurance at Laguna Seca. Would a race like this happen at Long Beach someday with this series? Would it be a realistic race if there was a six-hour race on these streets through the night air?

D8a. Which of the following race tracks would be most likely to host an ALMS round:
(a) Circuit de Gilles Villenue (Montreal)
(b) Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant
(c) Interlagos
(d) Autodromo de los Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City)

D8b. Which of the following non-Western Hemisphere tracks would be most likely to host an ALMS round (even if a non-points race):
(a) Monza
(b) Misano
(c) Silverstone**
(d) Bahrain
(e) Nurburgring* (not the Nordschleife)
(f) Imola
(g) Brands Hatch - Grand Prix
(h) Sepang
(i) Eastern Creek (Australia)
(j) Suzuka - Grand Prix
(k) Monte Carlo
(l) Kyliami (South Africa)
(m) Bugatti
(n) Autopolis (Japan)


D9. One of the most underrated aspects of big time racing is driver fitness. How much of a testament to the ALMS (much less any other form of racing) is it to be in great physical shape to race in any of the four classes in the ALMS?

D10. Some say the Audi R8 is among some of the best-ever sportscar racing machines. Some say it's the best ever. I usually tend to disagree and say that the Porsche 917 was the best-ever sportscar. Who do you agree with- me for picking the Porsche 917 as the best-ever, people who pick the Audi R8 as the best-ever, or neither? If you respond "neither," then what is the best-ever sportscar and why?



Here is an article from americanlemans.com regarding how ALMS racers feel about street courses:

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3082



In addition, I've prepared some FACT OR FICTION questions for the race in Houston. As usual, you are invited to respond to these statements with your ideas. Remember to respond "Fact" for if the statement is very likely to happen and "Fiction" for things that won't even happen. Very possible or too good to be true? Let's do this!


LONE STAR GRAND PRIX OF HOUSTON - FACT OR FICTION?
1. Audi will miss an outright win for the second-successive time (regardless of where the Audis classify in P1).

2. Risi Competizione is 3-0 in GT2. They will make it 4-0 after a homecoming win.

3. Dyson Racing will be the highest-placed Porsche RS Spyder upsetting Penske.

4. Both of the lone Corvettes will finish.

5. Rahal-Letterman Racing will be on the GT2 podium.

6. Flying Lizard will be the highest-placed Porsche in GT2.

7. Petersen White Lightning's Ferrari will not finish.

8. Both Panoz Team PTG models will finish.

9. Intersport will finish 6th or lower overall (assuming they finish).

10. The BK Motorsports Mazda will finish dead last in P2.





Well, that's it from me. Take a stand on the debate questions and on my Houston FACT OR FICTION? statements.

 

[m.piedgros]

Fact or Fiction Answers

1. Fiction. Look out, here come a ton of pissed of Germans. They are coming back with a vengeance!

2. Fact. Though I will be screaming my guts out when this happens because I expected immediate results (that is to say WINS) for the 997. I just have to keep telling myself it is a year younger, and therefore a year away from domination!

3. Fiction. I just don't see it happening yet. Keep in mind Dyson are good here and they think they've learned something substantial over the past weekend.

4.Fact.

5.Fiction.

6. Fact. Obviously the 1a and 1b Porsche teams are Flying Lizard and Tafel Racing (in no particular order, though so far the Lizards have the edge) so it isn't set in stone.

7. Fiction.

8. Fact. Though I am doubting it now...

9. Fact. Development is lacking beyond Laguna and Road Atlanta. Come Petite and those types of tracks expect competitive Autocon and Intersport Creations as well as a competitive Cytosport Lola (at least) but I digress.

10. Fiction. Going off of what Speed taught me: They appear to be on a role, though Speed tend to sensationalize EVERYTHING in their broadcasts, so the jury is still out on this one.

m.piedgros

 

[dougiemeats]

Personally, I didn't find the comments to be lewd and offensive, nor am I angry at the network. I simply found them to be unprofessional. While I agree that it's beneficial to promote the drivers, I also believe that there is a proper way to present it to the viewers. During the heat of battle is typically not the time to cut to a segment about Liz Halliday passion for horseback riding, or asking Guy Cosmo what his favorite flavor of popcorn is while watching a movie (both CBS, I believe). Perhaps I'm used to Speed Channel's Formula 1 broadcasts. They seem very professional and I actually laugh at their offbeat comments. There's a difference between clever and lame.

I also believe that you looked too much into my "sports cars on Saturday and open-wheel on Sunday" comment. I actually enjoy watching both series on a weekend. I just hope it's seen as a "double-feature" as you put it, instead of ALMS being dependent on another series (with all due respect to other series). The fact that the ALMS was not granted the 2 hours and 45 minutes at Long Beach and the CBS broadcast of the Houston race will be edited and delayed 8 days makes me believe that it isn't.

Remember that the main point of my previous rant was the tape-delay, not surf boards and ChampCar.

 

[MustangSVT]

I don't get what the tape delay thing is about. So not only it's not on Speed, it's on CBS, it's delayed a week? Jeez... I didn't mind the longboard/surfboard thing, I thought that was funny.

 

[RACECAR]

I don't get what the tape delay thing is about. So not only it's not on Speed, it's on CBS, it's delayed a week? Jeez... I didn't mind the longboard/surfboard thing, I thought that was funny.

I did too. now me, I honestly can't tell what is supposely "professional", I just like that kind of humor. as long as I've been watching ALMS, I've never heard it on there and its welcome in my book.

"do you wax?" lol. that comment has such funny double connotations to it.

btw, JohnBM01, you might be interested in this: Ethanol Premotion

 

[JohnBM01]

Interesting read, RACECAR. However, I have no car or license. So I can't take advantage of this thing. It is nice to hear of such an ethanol deal here in Houston. Thanks for the link.

As for everyone else, carry on discussion. Maybe take a stand with my FACT OR FICTION statements or a debate question.

 

[FoolKiller]

ILONE STAR GRAND PRIX OF HOUSTON - FACT OR FICTION?
1. Audi will miss an outright win for the second-successive time (regardless of where the Audis classify in P1).

Fiction. I think there were too many freak circumstances at Long Beach. The oddly timed pit and the bump in the hairpin were the catalysts. The Audi teams rarely makes like the pit timing and while a loss is a loss you can hardly blame anyone at Audi for getting bumped by another car.

It was almost embarrassing and I doubt they want to deal with that any again.

2. Risi Competizione is 3-0 in GT2. They will make it 4-0 after a homecoming win.

Fact. They want to give a gift to the home crowd.

3. Dyson Racing will be the highest-placed Porsche RS Spyder upsetting Penske.

Fiction. They need a little more time and I bet Penske is wanting to prove they can beat Audi right out, not because of freak incidents. You know someone had to feel that it was bittersweet.

4. Both of the lone Corvettes will finish.

Fact.

5. Rahal-Letterman Racing will be on the GT2 podium.

Fact - If they can keep the car on the track.

6. Flying Lizard will be the highest-placed Porsche in GT2.

Fact.

7. Petersen White Lightning's Ferrari will not finish.

Fiction

8. Both Panoz Team PTG models will finish.

Fact

9. Intersport will finish 6th or lower overall (assuming they finish).

Fact. These street courses aren't helping anyone in P1. Audi just happens to have some kind of magic.

10. The BK Motorsports Mazda will finish dead last in P2.

Fiction. They won't be at the podium, but they won't be last.



So, did I understand correctly that Dario Franchitti is finished with ALMS this year? Or will he be back later? I know he is more devoted to Indy. Will he do any ALMS driving at the ALMS IndyCar joint races or is two at once too much? I'm going to Mid-Ohio, so it would be awesome if he raced both. It'll be really awesome if his wife, Ashley, will be there. Us Wildcat fans have to stick together.

 

[RACECAR]

So, did I understand correctly that Dario Franchitti is finished with ALMS this year? Or will he be back later? I know he is more devoted to Indy. Will he do any ALMS driving at the ALMS IndyCar joint races or is two at once too much?.

from what I heard, for now his brother Marino will take over. he might make for the indycar double header weakends.

btw, an interesting guest has arrived at houston:Surprise Visitor

 

[m.piedgros]

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH THE RACE!!!!!!!!!

If only the P2's had this kind of speed on the longer courses when compared to the P1's. Oh well, pretty good race and the field looks good for Miller and exceptional for Lime Rock if Scott Atherton's wishes come true. The Ferrari seemed to simply outpace the Porsche for the win in GT2. 4-0 for Risi in '07. As I keep telling myself, just wait for the Porsche's to develop further!

m.piedgros

 

[dougiemeats]

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH THE RACE!!!!!!!!!

My comments:

* That was an exciting race. Unfortunately, Dyson doesn't seem to be as fast as Penske yet, but as the season progress, I expect the team to do the same.

* Ferrari is very strong. But as m.piedgros pointed out, this is the 997 GT3 RSR's first full season of racing.

* Tomáš Enge was at the race! (as RACECAR posted earlier)

* Intersport seems to be struggling big time with their car. I hope they can be competitive once the other Creation and the two Lolas join the field. I think it will be interesting to witness the race for "the best of the rest" in the LMP1 class.

* As for new cars joining in the following rounds; we've heard the "larger car count" promise before, so I'm not going to hold my breath. However, if what Atherton said is true, it should be very exciting.

* Yes, I'm still bitter about the 8-day tape-delay.

 

[JohnBM01]

Never mind a spoiler. I don't want to wait until April 28th to see video footage of a race in my hometown. So I saw Speed News.


Here are some FACT OR FICTON? results:

(in random order)

* Risi Competizione- 4-0 in 2007. (RESULT: FACT)
The Risi boys got it done with their biggest win of all. Nothing like winning a race in your home town. Risi Competizione is a great team.

* Audi will lose two straight. (RESULT: FACT)
Some say the Audis weren't designed for courses like this. We still get a chance to see some of the world's finest race cars in a variety of race events. I think the mark of any great team is to adapt to a number of different conditions. These are still race cars nonetheless even if they weren't designed for street courses like Long Beach and Houston. I'm always the advocate of outside-one's-element.


This is the last ALMS race in April. The next race will be on May 19th at the awesome Miller Motorsports Park. But for now, here are some discussion questions I'm willing to ask you all to take part in. Care to take part in this? Let's face it. Between April 21 and May 19th is a bloody long time. So why not pass the time by checking out my debate/discussion questions. You're also free to come up with your own debates and discussions. So have a look:


--- John's Debate! ---

D1. One of the finest racing teams of all-time was Chaparral. The Midland, TX group has done incredibly well in the Can-Am days. Pretend Chaparral returns to bigtime prototype racing. Do you think they should attack P1 or P2 in the ALMS? How would they do? How would they continue the greatness they have provided to sportscar racing back in their day?

D2. Risi Competizione has a 4-0 record in GT2. If this trend continues, do you think GT2 will become as uninteresting as in P1 and GT1? If not, what makes GT2 a better class than P1 and GT1?

D3. Speaking of GT2, you may recall a few years ago that Lexus wanted to break into the ALMS. While their GT2 offering hasn't been in any official ALMS race, do you think Lexus should still take part in the ALMS GT2 ranks? Or do you think they should try out P2 with a nice chassis/engine package?

D4. I think that Courage makes some of the most beautiful Le Mans prototypes, especially some of today's models. What are some of your favorite Courage models if you're a fan of them? Visit this website to see a variety of different Courage models over the years to help you out: < >.

D5. (a) There were banners designed with the layout of the MotorSport Ranch Houston layout. We've had quite a discussion in the Long Beach thread on if this track should host racing action from the ALMS and from some other pro-level series. Do you think MSR Houston should be fully renovated with all sorts of racing facilities and lots of grandstands to make this a top-flight recent race track like Barber Motorsports Park and Miller Motorsports Park? Do you think the track will one day see pro-level sportscar racing at this track? (More info at: http://www.msrhouston.com ) (B)There is a track in the Dallas area in the works called Eagle Canyon Raceway. This is a track seeing FIA accrediation for perhaps hosting some great motorcycle road racing. Any chance this track sees some ALMS action in the future when fully complete? (More information on this track at: ). (C) Which Texas track do you think will be better liked and better respected if both tracks see ALMS action?

D6. Do you think Japan's Team Goh should compete in America when the Japanese Le Mans Challenge isn't in session?


That would be all. Next up is Utah's most famous race track- Miller Motorsports Park. America's new longest race course. I may further update the FACT OR FICTON results in future posts. Anyhow, that's all from me.

 

[m.piedgros]

The lead Audi was forced into a second pit stop, they very well should have won the event, that's just racin' though.

m.piedgros

 

[JohnBM01]

I had a chance to see the long-delayed CBS coverage. Here are my thoughts:

--- John's Notebook: Houston ---

--- The Race ---
* Congratulations to Porsche on the overall win.

* Especially congratulations to Risi Competizione and those five consecutive wins for Mika Salo. Salo is first GT2 competitor to win five in a row.

* I live here in Houston... and didn't know Foyt has a Corvette dealership! This was the forgotten fact about what Houstonian won Le Mans, Daytona 500, and Sebring? There was also the hint of "plus 4 Indy 500 wins." And it was A.J. Foyt. Super Tex.

* I think back on Houstonians in sportscar racing, and I tend to think of Day Jones, who was on the winning 24 Hours of Le Mans team in 1996.

--- Extras ---
* This course at night looks very nice. It does look a bit too desolate when the Astrodome isn't all lit up.

* Clint Field was the Cub Reporter this time.

* I kind of believe these races at Reliant Park may be to perhaps (and this is just a wild imagination) fund to maybe financially support MotorSport Ranch Houston. There are some banners for MSR Houston like when I seen the Champ Car race. Now, this is unless Houston really wants to have street course racing as a year-round affair.



Now, I may come up with some other discussion topics in the future. Otherwise, it was a pretty cool race.