ALMS: Grand Prix of Houston

  • Thread starter Thread starter dougiemeats
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I believe/hope that will change now that they have a new Lola. One built to LMP1 standards instead of the old fragile LMP675. Once they get the teething problems sorted out, I believe they will give the Audis a run for their money.
 
Mulsanne
I believe/hope that will change now that they have a new Lola. One built to LMP1 standards instead of the old fragile LMP675. Once they get the teething problems sorted out, I believe they will give the Audis a run for their money.
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I hear that they've been very busy since Sebring, so we might see some good results next weekend.

It's great to have this race kick off my summer break. I'll be burned out by the end of this week so the only thing I'll want to do is lay down and watch some ALMS action. But for now, back to the library...:indiff:
 
As usual, I'll be behind Corvette Racing all the way. Here's to what will hopefully be the first of many 1-2 finishes for the C6-R this season. 👍 Or 1-3. Either way, I don't think Aston will win if they bring the same type of rubber they used at Sebring to Houston. They need something that can last more than a couple of laps without starting to wear down badly.
 
only five days away and I will get to see the Audi R8 race again. with the competition ajustments to the old Lola EX257s, I wonder what will they do to the R8?
 
RACECAR
only five days away and I will get to see the Audi R8 race again. with the competition ajustments to the old Lola EX257s, I wonder what will they do to the R8?
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I really wish Highcroft was there. Not to take anything away from Autocon, but with Andy Wallace in the Highcroft, I think they could have taken it to the Audi.
 
I'm really looking forward to the Autocon VS. Highcroft battle. it will be interesting to see them all at mid-ohio.
 
Speed Channel previewed the race event coming up in Houston. While the focus isn't about the ALMS, they at least talk about how the course is going to be like. Paul Tracy admitted that the Houston GP in the shadow of downtown wasn't one of the best courses, but one he was thankful to win. The race has a distinct advantage since it's going to take place at night and on a mostly smooth surface. You know that I welcome a street course challenge. People complain all the time about thees courses, but I tend to have a liking of an urban environment. Maybe that's because I'm so much of a city boy. Street courses test your ability to go for the win where there isn't much runoff or grass to save you. Races award the cautious racer who can still take care of his/her car and not make silly mistakes to ruin the race weekend.

The Houston GP course for the ALMS and Champ Car World Series seems like a very nice course which shouldn't be a disappointment, if at all. You're in the shadow of [what used to be] Six Flags Houston, Reliant Stadium (where the Houston Texans play, not to mention where I seen my first college football game. Beuatiful facility. And uh, GO TEXANS!), and the historic Reliant Astrodome (famous for baseball with the Houston Astros, and then the home for where the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) used to play many moons ago). It also features Reliant Center, which is where you can see the Houston Auto Show around the 24 Hours of Daytona. A trip up Fannin Street will have you about 3-5 minutes away from the Texas Medical Center, in which I think is one of the largest medical sectors of a city in the world. Northwest of the Texas Medical Center lies Rice University (Houston Cougar fans, "boo" away). Rice University is a private university with their mascot known as the Owls. A very cute Japanese friend of mine attended Rice and probably had a chance to check out Rice Village. Rice Village is pretty much walking distance away from Rice U and features all sorts of shops and a wonderful Jason's Deli.

So this GP should be a good one for both the ALMS and the Champ Car World Series. You know that I'm going to support anything either Texan or anything Houston-based. So that's why I hope Risi Competizione has a great race in their home town. I don't know much about current CCWS competition, so I can't root for any Texans or Houstonians here. But I do think Sebastian Bourdais (recently married, so congratulations!) is the man.

Should be a fun event both Friday and Saturday night.
 
Anyone have predictions? I guess I'll stick to the ones I made during an earlier post.

The Corvette C6.R will be 176 lbs. heavier than the Aston Martin DBR9. I'm going for AM but I think that's a little harsh on the Corvettes. This is their reward for being a top-notch team?

I want the Aston to win because of superior engineering, strategy, and driving quality. I don't want them to win because their competion was handicapped. Oh well, at least we'll see a great battle between the two teams. I don't see the weight holding back a good team like Team Corvette.
 
dougiemeats
Anyone have predictions? I guess I'll stick to the ones I made during an earlier post.

The Corvette C6.R will be 176 lbs. heavier than the Aston Martin DBR9. I'm going for AM but I think that's a little harsh on the Corvettes. This is their reward for being a top-notch team?

I want the Aston to win because of superior engineering, strategy, and driving quality. I don't want them to win because their competion was handicapped. Oh well, at least we'll see a great battle between the two teams. I don't see the weight holding back a good team like Team Corvette.
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Don't forget Aston's tire troubles. They pulled off the split at Sebring only because the cooler night air helped keep their temps down. There won't be any help like that this time around. I'm sticking to my guns, too...if Aston wants to win, they need better tires. They've already got the horsepower part down, though.
 
Elegy
Don't forget Aston's tire troubles. They pulled off the split at Sebring only because the cooler night air helped keep their temps down. There won't be any help like that this time around. I'm sticking to my guns, too...if Aston wants to win, they need better tires. They've already got the horsepower part down, though.
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Don't forget that this race starts at 8 p.m. But I agree though, they still need better tires for this race. I think we'll see an Aston Martin on the pole. They had the GT1 pole at Le Mans and Sebring without a victory, maybe we'll see that change at Houston.
 
dougiemeats
Don't forget that this race starts at 8 p.m. But I agree though, they still need better tires for this race. I think we'll see an Aston Martin on the pole. They had the GT1 pole at Le Mans and Sebring without a victory, maybe we'll see that change at Houston.
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Does it start that late? Huh, maybe fate will be with them, then. I also wouldn't be surprised if they took pole. They're fast as hell, but with weaker tires, somewhat poorer handling, and Corvette Racing's mad pit skillz, they're going to have to scratch for every inch if they want the victory. Either way, it'll be a hell of a race. But I really want the Corvettes to keep winning. Particularly at Le Mans...it's practically the only way the make has any face at all in Europe...they can't afford to lose it.
 
Either way, the ALMS needs some night racing other than in endurances. There's always a special magic about night racing. A street course at night is like a Gran Turismo gamer's best dream. Well, there are no downtown streets for this event, but there will be a number of cars circling around a modified parking lot for Reliant Park. I actually like this course. It all seems very interesting. If the weather holds up, skies should be lovely for night racing on Friday for the ALMS and Saturday for the Champ Car World Series. One of my friends from school actually wants to work in the pits as part of volunteer work for the Saturday event.

But again. It's nice to see racing return to Houston. Now all Houston (or at least in surrounding areas) needs is a true and complete permanent road course that may get a little love from the major motorsports series in America and maybe even some international attention. Can you imagine something like FIM World Superbike (I'd like MotoGP, but let's be realistic for a moment) or somebody racing on a permanent course not too far away in the greater Houston area? Maybe the Barber Motorsports Park designers can come up with a wonderful course in the Houston area so we won't have to go all the way to Cresson or someplace.

Carry on...
 
I'm heading to Houston tommorow morning (IMSA and SCCA competitor sign-ins and trailor parking begins) I'm getting really, really ansy(sp.?) all I know is this will be one of the last times I get to see an R8 up close and personal in competition. Almost sad. Anyway... It doesn't look like the greatest grid ever but I expect there to be much action.

m.piedgros
 
This post is more like a segway to my "Risi Competitzione" thread. Local channel, KTRK Channel 13 featured Giuseppe Risi. He mostly said that racing in his literal back yard is a treat for him and his team. Many Houston sportscar racing fans would love to see one of their own win in class. I haven't been to Ferrari of Houston, but I've been around there a few times. I'm sure the will to win would be exceptional for this team. G. Risi is also the owner of Ferrari of Houston. His team hopes to take the fight to the Porsches, Panozes, and even the BMWs or whomever else is racing in class. I'll be behind Risi Competizione in their efforts to pick up a potentially big win this Friday. I probably may not be there, so I may have to check out some tape-delayed crap or maybe see the results... no. I'd rather watch for myself and tape both the Champ Car race and the ALMS event. It should fill up a full tape on whatever the lowest VHS setting is.
 
Since there are many members from Texas in this thread:tup:, I thought I would post this article from Planetlemans.com.

Risi Looking to Further Ferrari Success

Giuseppe Risi, the Managing Director of Risi Competizione, has said the Houston American Le Mans Series Race to be run on Friday, May 12th, will be “a street fight”.

If so, he’s not going into battle un-armed as new team drivers Jaime Melo and Mika Salo both drove their way onto the podium racing Ferrari 430GTs at the FIA GT race held at England’s tricky Silverstone track on 7 May 2006.

“I see this as a very encouraging sign for Ferrari in sports car racing,” Risi noted. “The Ferraris ran very well in the opening round of the FIA GT event and of course we’re pleased that both Jaime Melo and Mika Salo were on the podium at the end of the race. With Schumacher’s win at the Nürburgring, this was quite a weekend for Ferrari.”

Racing for AF Corse out of Placenza, Italy, Brazilian Jaime Melo, driving with former Risi Competizione driver Matteo Bobbi, took 1st place in the GT2 class; Finnish driver Mika Salo, paired with Rui Aguas of Portugal took 3rd in the second AF Corse F430GT. A Porsche 996 GT3RSR was second. Melo and Salo will pair up together to race the lone Ferrari F430GT for Risi Competizione in the Lone Star Grand Prix, a two-hour and forty-five minute race on a street course in Houston, Texas. The Lone Star Grand Prix has an 8:00PM start-time.

The FIA GT overall winner at Silverstone was the Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12, driven by another former Risi Competizione driver, Andrea Bertolini and German Michael Bartels.

While Melo and Salo were winning at Silverstone, the Risi Competizione team was making final preparations for the Houston race. “At this level of the sport, the preparation must be done in the shop, not at the race track during the race meeting. You fine tune at the track, but you prepare and test prior to moving in for the race.”

Asked what fans should expect in Houston, Risi continued, “it’s going to be an old-fashioned Texas shoot out. Street courses are notoriously hard on race cars. The course for the Lone Star Grand is very demanding, with some tight, blind corners and a straight that will see cars hit speeds over 150mph. It’s going to be a real test of preparation and, to some extent, nerve. It’s a night race so that means even more of a spectacle for the fans and a tougher test for the drivers and teams.” Risi Competizione is based in Houston so this weekend’s race will be their ‘home’ round and the team are looking forward to a good result.

The GT2 Class at the Lone Star Grand Prix will be contested by Porsche, Panoz—the winner of the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring—and the lone Risi Competizione F430GT. BMW has entered two M3s in the race; it is not known if the Lexus team, which has announced for the series, will be ready in time to make the Houston Race. The race will take place on the brand-new, purpose-built 1.7-mile, 9-turn Reliant Park course.

In terms of preparation for Houston, Risi Competizione engineer Rick Mayer will only say that “development never stops on the car and we know that none of the other teams remain static either. We expect to improve team and car performance with every race. We’ve been very satisfied with the speed of the 430GT from the day we first put it on the track.”

Track proceedings get underway tomorrow morning (Thursday 12th May) with 50 minutes of free practice for the ALMS teams from 1110-1200. Qualifying for the GT1 and GT2 teams is scheduled to run from 1820-1840 that same evening. Friday (13th May) sees the ALMS competitors running a ‘warm up’ session from 1345-1415 before the Lone Star Grand Prix gets underway at 2000. The 2 hour 45 minute duration race is expected to finish at around 2245.

www.planetlemans.com
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That sounds like a hell of a Friday night! Eh, Fighting Illini?

Anyway, I'm proud of Risi Competizione. If they give if their all, I'll be proud of them regardless of where they finish. But if they have breakdown after breakdown and heartbreak, then it will be a sad deal. But I'll still respect Risi Competizione. I would maybe like for Houston privateers to compete maybe. Houston has its own SCCA chapter { http://www.houscca.com/ }, so I'm sure a team could get their own car together and race in the ALMS if they wanted to and if they could enter an ALMS race. For what I'm hearing, the forecast for Thursday and Friday could be beautiful clear nights. Weather may not be an issue unless May nights in Houston get pretty hot. I actually like the course they are using. It's tough, while not being too tough. That sharp corner around the Reliant Astrodome leads to a nice sweeping right turn that's kind of like its own ultra-wide skidpad. Then the complex around Reliant Stadium should really test some nerves of the drivers. It really seems like a nice track. There has to be sufficient lighting to make this course fair at best. It is not exactly the dream street course event like we've played in most racing games (downtown city streets at night), but this is about as close as you can get. I may have to start thinking about a course in the Houston Galleria for nighttime use! I had this idea for Gran Turismo, but not real sure about this deal in real life.

Thanks for the info, dougiemeats.
 
No problem, John.

I have an exam tonight and move-out day tommorow so this will be my last post until Sunday. Since the race will not be shown on TV here in the U.S. until Saturday, I will not be checking this thread until Sunday in case there are members that are keeping track of the race via coverage outside the U.S., live timing and scoring, or internet radio. So please feel free to discuss the race during its progress, and for those that will be watching the CBS broadcast, stay away from this thread until after the broadcast if you don't want to hear any spoilers. :)

Here's a nice race preview of the race courtesy of the-paddock.net.

The "street fight" begins tommorow night!
 
Hey guys, don't expect the dyson lolas to get away that easily. the Audi R8 was the fastest in the first practice session. looks like the thing diffenently has some energy left in it. and for you john and your question regarding the looks of the paint scheme, think of it as it temporarily wearing the R10's Clothes.
 

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Have fun at the race, guys. I'll just have to wait for CBS to show it.

BTW, just wanted to pass along some rumors from other forums/sites. Word is Subaru is looking to enter just like Acura, with their engine in an established P2 chassis, like a Courage or Lola.

Also, another U.S. based team (supposedly KSS Motorsports) has ordered a Radical. I assume/hope it's the P2 chassis.

Plus, there's talk of three privateer Porsche RS Spyders in the field next year, two of which might go to Flying Lizard. Trouble is, it will cost an arm and a leg to run the car (rumored $4m/year).

And according to John Hindhaugh of ALMS Radio, Aston Martin Racing WILL do the full ALMS season.

Oh, and Highcroft Racing's owner, Duncan Dayton, may be dividing his time between ALMS and historic races during the first half of the year and will then enter the five races with Andy Wallace in the second half of the season. Plus, it's believed they will be back next season with perhaps a new car.

And perhaps the best news, Gordon Murray, who designed the Brabham and McLaren F1 cars of the 70's and 80's and designer of the McLaren F1 road car, is designing a Le Mans Prototype. Anything from the pen of that guy is certainly bound to be interesting.
 
Weather should be beautiful here in Houston. Beautiful, yet hot. I'll try to record whatever I can for this event.
 
CBS Broadcast just got done...

Here are the results w/ the class winners in bold:

1. Audi R8
2. #4 Corvette
3. #3 Corvette
4. 007 Aston Martin
5. 009 Aston Martin
6. #16 Dyson Lola
7. AJR Porsche
8. #45 Flying Lizard Porsche
9. Risi Competizione Ferrari
10. Petersen/WL Porsche
11. Intersport Lola
12. BK Courage Mazda
13. #20 Dyson Lola
14. #6 Penske Porsche
15. #44 Flying Lizard Porsche
16. Van der Steur Lola
17. #7 Penske Porsche
18. #50 Multimatic Panoz
19. #21 BMW
20. #22 BMW
21. #26 Konrad Saleen
22. Autocon Lola
23. #51 Multimatic Panoz
 
RACECAR
Hey guys, don't expect the dyson lolas to get away that easily. looks like the thing diffenently has some energy left in it.
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apparently so. awesome race.
 
Well my predictions were way off as usual :lol:

Intersport outlasts the Porsche RS Spyders once again despite having their own issues with the Lola. Congrats to them. I'll keep predicting a Porsche win, and I hope they keep proving me wrong:tup:

The DBR9, despite having the weight advantage, didn't seem to be in the pace of the Corvettes. Its a shame for Aston Martin, but that's just superior engineering and team strategy on Corvette Racing's part.

Risi Competizione gets another podium. At Sebring, they had a problem with the wheel nuts. This time is was power steering issues. I can't wait to see how well they do in a flawless race. A victory for them will surely come soon. Panoz had a troublesome weekend and Porsche is back on top. For now...

How about that Audi R8? It is certainly aging, has gained weight, and lost some power, yet it still wins (I wish we all aged as well as the R8). The mechanical issues that haunted Dyson last season are back this season:indiff:. I hope they get these issues resolved soon.
 
Well, good news and bad news concerning the ALMS GP of Houston and me taping it all.

Good news: I had a chance to capture just about all of the action on tape.
Bad news: Most of the tape sounds all messed up.

I made sure not to look to any sources until this race was completed. Tough break for Risi Competizione. It would have been a GREAT acheivement to win (basically) at home.

As far as the race itself, it looks like a very nice venue. People had their doubts about the chicane deal. I thought it was a good idea. If you don't add the chicane, you go full wick into Turn 2, and have a greater chance of smacking the wall. That's bad, player. It doesn't look like a traditional street course in which you're actually on city streets like Denver and Surfer's Paradise. The course is pretty exciting. It doesn't seem too challenging, and that long, sweeping right around the Reliant Astrodome has to be pretty cool. I still imagined if the Grand Prix of Houston was a night course on the streets of Houston. Not Reliant Park, but some place like the Houston Galleria, Rice University, River Oaks, Downtown Houston, or any "true" street course area. This course seemed to remind me a lot about Sebring, since I kept seeing Sebring pictures. Only that this course is more narrow between the barriers. Other than that, this was a great event and an enjoyable one. The surprise was about how the drivers didn't have Grand-Am style bang-ups and wicked spinouts and carnage. Everyone seemed controlled and focused around the course.

Now the ALMS does its final race before the mid-June classic (you know what race I'm talking about if you love the ALMS and its roots) at Mid-Ohio.
 
dougiemeats
CBS Broadcast just got done...
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They didn't even air it here :grumpy:. ****ing bastards. Our CBS affiliate decided to air kids' shows and paid programming instead. It's one thing not to air a race live, but it's quite another to promise a tape delay, and then not show that either. CBS Sports can kiss my ass.

[/tantrum]
 
JohnBM01
I had a chance to capture it all on tape.
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so did I!:sly: looks like us texans made sure we didn't miss a minute of it.
 

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