ALMS: 2007 Utah

dougiemeats

dougiemeats

Racing in the Rain
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2007 Utah Grand Prix
Saturday, May 19 - Salt Lake City, UT

millerca5.jpg


Race Information:
  • Round: 5 of 12
  • Race Start: 5:05PM MDT
  • Duration: 2 hr 45 min
  • Track: Miller Motorsports Park; 4.5 miles; 24 turns
  • TV Broadcast (U.S.): CBS; May 20; 11:00AM MDT (Tape Delay +1 day)


* Note: Times are MDT
 
For a while there were a group of "insiders" who were adamant about this being the last of the sub-30 car entry lists. What is so special I ask about thirty anyhow? I think we can all admit we are at a point where 27 is better than 26 and 26 better than 25 if you know what I mean. The more the merrier. On that front now we have to sit through nearly two months of "starting at Lime Rock we will see the first of the new 30+ car fields." Frankly I won't be happy until we see AT LEAST a half-dozen full-time cars in the struggling P1 and GT1 classes (which could quite possibly happen this season in P1.) We are given this half hearted attempt at reporting saying Aston Martin will be back at Detroit. We are supposed to assume this means two ProDrive "Aston Martin Racing" cars, that will remain in the series full time (if they come back and want a shot at Corvette a deal with Michelin tires would help!) But in this pessimists' head I see Team Modena returning with their 63 car to trip over themselves for the rewards money of third place, proving no real challenge for Snorevette Racing.

Now that the pessimism is out of the way, this looks like a return to Audi domination overall. However, the P2 class should be fun to watch and GT2 always provides the best racing in the world. I will be rooting for Flying Lizard... heck, I have no real favorite, I just want to see the Ferrari domination come to an end. I real embarrassment to by the Porsche's would just make my day.

m.piedgros
 
This track really caught on with the American media... and for good reason. We commented sometime last year about how this track seems more like a desert track more than your average track with grassy sections and all. Someone even talked about how this track's desert-like settings is part of its character. Well, this race is really going to be a test of pure endurance on America's new longest track. It's longer than Road America and a tad more challenging. Whoever gets it done on this track is going to have a lot of momentum heading into Le Mans (granted some ALMS teams get the green light to go to Le Mans). Thankfully, CBS isn't too good to show a race one week later (like they did in my hometown of Houston, TX) as we'll get to see this race delayed by one day (which is fine).

Now let me holler at my North Texas buddy for a moment. M. Piedgros, you mention a 30+ car field for Lime Rock. I think the only chance of this happening is if the ALMS goes the way of (the other series) and have seperate races. Grand Touring machines in one race, then all prototypes in the other. I think it's the way to go if there aren't enough pit stalls and a lot of cars ready to go racing. It's also the first time I've heard of Corvette Racing known as "Snorvette Racing." I do hope that more competition comes along in GT1. Like when I read the latest Road and Track[/B] magazine, I heard of a Pagani Zonda R priced at about $1,500,000 (I want one in Gran Turismo 5). Check this bellissima beast out: < http://www.leftlanenews.com/pagani-zonda-r.html >. Now, Pagani raced before. I think some Pagani Zondas did some rounds at the 12 Hours of Sebring and maybe Le Mans as well. I still miss the Murci&#233;lago GT-R in ALMS competition, but this is another Italian stallion I'd love to see racing in the States.

Carry on, people.
 
There have been a few attempts to get this (the Zonda) car racing in the past and they have failed. Aside from the cars wretched aerodynamics the main reason it failed was because of the half arsed attempts by very bottom end privateer teams. Granted, the BMW M3 has never been the most aero-efficient car in its class (perhaps when it was a touring car...) and it saw success what for 7 or 10 years? The M3 did have the advantage of BMW Motorsport, AC Schnitzer, and PTG pushing it along. So until a Champion Racing, PTG, Oreca, or one of those type of quality privateer teams picks up the program (see Reiter Engineering and Audi turning around the ship headed for the ice burg known as Lamborghini with their Murcielago - it was failing... well, I don't know why!) because Lord knows Pagani aren't going to foot the bill, the dream all of y'all Zonda fans have of seeing this thing take the fight to Le Mans is just that - a dream.

As far as 30+ fields at Lime Rock, I believe they managed 30+ with the Grand-Am GT challenge last year, and are set to again this year (Memorial Day weekend, hearkening back to the IMSA days!!) If the rumors of the four new cars from CET/Solaroli Motorsports are true (two 997 and two Spyders) as well as entries from Cytomax and th'other Lola P1 team (which would bring me to my personal milestone of a half dozen in P1) than we have got ourselves a grid of 30+. Also we have got the return of van der Steur racing's Radical. Perhaps we have a bright end of year in sight for our beloved series, no? Well, 30+ car fields consistently. Milestone reached.

**Don't count out the very "out there" rumors of an Aston return - and I mean AN Aston return! And lastly we should expect one-off's by American team Binnie Motorsports (now full-time LMS) Didier Theys et al (Horag-Lista Racing), a Team Modena test of the waters at the Petit and Sports Car Championships in preparation for the finale of the LMS at Interlagos, as well as factory Creations and/or Zyteks showing up for the last two events as has become the norm in the ALMS.**

m.piedgros
 
You I didn't even know the race was happening this week until I saw a blurb in the US Today' sport section. It will be exciting to see if Porshe can up their win streak or will the Audi's return to dominance. I'm surprised there is no fact or fiction this time around.
 
Shocker in the desert!!! Who knew there was a SPEED Latin America? And WHY pray tell don't I have it?!

All I can say is... well, you gotta read it to believe it. Not just Penske, but LMP2 dominate in a topsy-turvy world at Miller so far this weekend. Audi's fail to make the tremendous gains that the P2's seem to have made and the GT2 class pole-sitter (shocker) is Tomas Enge! Enge put in a lap in his Ferrari F430 Berlinetta GT2 or GT2 Berlinetta, whatever they call it, rivaling that of what he managed in the big Aston Martin's pulled off for pole. Meanwhile, in an Astonless GT1 class, Corvette aren't so bogged down that they are now allowed to run more reasonable, GT1-esc times.

m.piedgros
 
I wanted to surprise dougiemeats by allowing him to come up with "FACT OR FICTION" for this race. Since I failed to try to sneak up on him with this offer, I'll offer my own. It's the final test before Le Mans. So here goes. Remember to note something as FACT if it's very likely to happen and FICTION if it's very UNlikely to happen. So let's do it.


Utah Grand Prix - FACT OR FICTION?

1.) The overall winner will be another P2 car regardless of whichever car finishes. (Do you remember last year's race in which the Penske Porsches almost won?)

2.) Both Corvettes will finish in the Top 10 overall.

3.) Flying Lizard will win in GT2.

4.) At least one Dyson Racing entry will not finish.

5.) At least one Acura will be on the P2 podium.

6.) The Rahal-Letterman Racing Porsche will finish.

7.) At least one Risi Competizione Ferrari will not finish.

8.) Porsche will finish 1-2-3 in GT2.

9.) Autocon will finish.

10.) Intersport Racing will finish 3rd or higher in P1.


What do you all think?
 
I haven't finished watching this race as of yet (thank God for DVRs) but after seeing Pirro make that power move on the Penskes at the beginning of the race I'm hyped. I hope the rest of the race is just as good.
 
Well, Risi's unbeaten streak is no more. However, Ferrari's winning streak in GT2 continues. It's stunning the P2 boys are taking the fight to the Audi R10s. I thought these cars were meant for Le Mans (sarcasm)... go to a permanent road course and THIS happens? Audi has to get it together for Le Mans because they are going to have one hell of a fight against Peugeot next month.

Sorry I didn't update this any earlier.
 
I can't believe Penske has one three straight races. Audi finally has some competition. This should make for an interesting LeMans
 
Part of the reason the Porsche's are so competitive is because the ALMS have yet to enforce the 5% restrictor rule to their P2 cars that ACO have done and are quite... miffed to say the least because ALMS haven't. Also, no Porsche's will be at Le Mans in 2007 and the real titanic battle should be between Peugeot and Audi.

m.piedgros
 

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