Now for what I REALLY wanted to say after being Internet sidelined. I got to see the event (finally) when I came home after going out on the road with my mom at 3PM CDT. Here are some of my comments...
--- The Porsche RS Spyder and Ferrari F430 GT Changes ---
Remember Petersen White Lightning? They used to campaign a Porsche. Now, they campaign a Ferrari F430GT. I've best known the Dyson crew for using Lolas. I think they used an older Riley & Scott prototype in the ALMS and (the other series). Now, Dyson's using Porsche RS Spyders. Funny how things change.
--- Car Counts ---
I normally don't complain about car counts at times. But it's really surprising how there are more GT2 cars in the field than P1, P2, and GT1 COMBINED. Here is a count I kept:
P1 - 4
P2 - 9
GT1 - 3
GT2 - 18
P1 + P2 + GT1 = 16
GT2 = 18
--- Sound Off!: Is Audi and Corvette Running Out All Competition in ALMS? ---
If I have a question for you all to debate on, I'll be sure to offer something to you in my ALMS comments. This was something I thought about while this race was going on- are the Audis and Corvettes too good that not many teams are really stepping up and looking to enter?
Let me answer my own debate. Then, you can offer your comments as well.
I mentioned earlier that the Audi R10s and Corvettes are the strongest in the two highest classes of the series. I think teams have to be able to have a March Madness mindset. You know how there are some of the schools who don't stand a chance against more powerful teams on paper? Teams who aren't as capable aren't as able to compete every race every season. I'm not saying any privateer will knock off an Audi or Corvette, but at least give it a shot. What we have seen from this race is a majority of the competition in P2 and GT2 (especially GT2). Maybe it comes down to money. There's a saying that goes: "how fast do you want to go? How much money do you have?" Racing these high-quality machines in any of the four classes means high-quality money. Maybe more European teams should field some cars in America. Come and see American race tracks. We have a wide variety of great road courses like Mid-Ohio, Sears Point, Laguna Seca, Road America, Road Atlanta... among many more including the new Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.
But that's me. What about you?
--- Impact of ALMS Makes in Relation to Car Dealers ---
During the broadcast, the Speed Channel crew of Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, and Dorsey Schroder(?) talked about what Acura wants to acheive. They mentioned that Porsche has over 260 dealers in the United States. People walked into Audi dealerships and basically know who drives the cars. Acura looks to acheive the same sort of recognition in Acura dealerships. I think it's great we have a series like the American Le Mans Series with the kind of cars out on the track, not to mention knowlegable race fans that know their favorite makes and drivers. Really amazing stuff in my view.
Or just take make when I'm at the Houston Auto Show. I commented to representatives at the show (ranging from professionally-dressed men to sultry ladies) about racing. I comment to people about stuff like Mazda's racing success at the Mazda section. As I've said before, this style of racing is what I love most and have loved since seeing such cars. I have nothing but love for these Le Mans prototypes and GT cars. It's the love I try to give in many of my ALMS and Le Mans-type posts on GTPlanet and on other message boards and in real life.
--- See? Even the ALMS Can Have Finishes Like in GT2! ---
A year ago, the shortest margin of victory was 5.6 seconds. Now, that record was obliterated with a GREAT race between Houston's Risi Competizione and the Flying Lizard boys. That was hard racing, but it was clean. None of that dirty, foul racing in NASCAR and (the other American sportscar racing series). People who think that close racing is nonexistant in the ALMS... look at that GT2 finish between Risi and Flying Lizard. I dare the NASCAR types knock the ALMS on finishes like this.
--- The Style Game ---
I'm introducing style this year. Talk about best and worst looking cars, in addition to best and worst looking paintschemes. Remember that this has nothing to do with car positions. Here are some of my favorites and least favorites:
* Good/Great Paintschemes:
---Dyson Racing--- Blue is beautiful. Don't you think? The typical white and blue colors of Dyson Racing look amazing on this Porsche RS Spyder. And oh... did I mention that blue is beautiful?
---Andretti Green Racing---
That XM Satellite Radio Acura looks great! The combination of black and blue with yellow accents and outlines worked wonderfully with this car. Hats off to the designer of this paint scheme. Great design.
---Penske Motorsports DHL Porsche RS Spyder---
This is one of the few examples in which yellow isn't a bad color to have as a base color. These yellow cars with red accents look great. I think it would be a great scheme even if the colors were reversed (red car with yellow accents). There's a new white section outlined in red. I was okay with it.
---(that blue #24 Ferrari F430GT)---
Blue and gold is more like my paint scheme if I were racing. Think of the University of West Virginia or University of California colors. This Ferrari may have been plain to most, but it looked very nice. Sometimes, minimalistic style works best. Even the fashion world knows that (or at least SHOULD know that).
* Bad/Not-Very-Good Paintschemes:
---Ron Fellows' Corvette--- I've hated when Corvette switched from the black and silver Goodwrench colors in 1999 to these variations of yellow. Yellow usually isn't a great color for race cars. The move for Ron Fellows to go to white with his 'Vette is a bit off for me. I kind of miss the yellow color, but white isn't really a good choice. White with blue is a nice combo often times, but not white with red. Corvette... you're free to go to the black and silver Goodwrench colors or blue Compuware (2003 Le Mans?) colors any time you like. Either that, or find something better than the usual yellow colors.
---Krohn Racing Ferrari F430GT---
It says Risi Competizione, and I love Ferrari of Texas (Risi Competizione)... but I didn't like the #61 car. Lots of mismatch in color.
* Good/Great Cars
---The Courage LC75 Acura---
I love some of the Acura LMPs racing this season. The headlights somewhat seem more like a road-going car than a full-on race car. I usually say that tall headlights are for car companies that can design cars wonderfully enough without looking extremely tall and bulky. The bread and butter of tall headlights is on these prototypes.
---The Spyker C8---
I don't know about you, but I like those Spyker GT2 race cars. They used to be these topless GT2 cars. These hardtop C8's are pretty nice.
---The Newer F430GT's---
The endurance-spec F430GT looks wonderful. I heard the newer F430GT's had air conditioning to help cool the car down during a race. This should be helpful since they're coming down to Houston on April 21st. People who come down here to Houston (or the greater Houston area) know how hot it can be when the temperatures get pretty warm. I'm not talking about the hot ladies in this city ^_^, but the hot temperatures. Anyhow, looking great, Ferrari. Quite an Italian stallion.
* Bad/Not-Very-Good Cars
(none to report)
Now, let's review FACT OR FICTION. I always go through these in random order. So take a look:
FACT OR FICTION? - RESULTS
* #2 Audi R10 will win overall.
RESULT: FACT
The #1 Audi had a rough ride in central Florida. They'll need to get it together for St. Petersburg on out.
* Team Modena will upset Corvette.
RESULT: FICTION
This championship is pretty much all in Corvette's hands until someone from America, Europe, or even the Asia-Pacific (I don't think Mooncraft's prototype-looking Super GT car would hang or be legal in the ALMS to run in the GT1 class. Hell, bring some of those Lister Storm GT cars (not that I'm a huge fan of them). Make the Maserati MC12 ACO legal. There needs to be more competition in the higher classes of racing.
* Panoz denied GT2 podium.
RESULT: FACT
The manufacturer podium was in the order of Ferrari, Porsche, Porsche. So this turned out fact.
* Both Risi Competizione entries will finish.
RESULT: FACT
Hell, one of them had a great finish carrying the flag for "Ferrari of Texas!" Great job by Giuseppe Risi's boys.
* All three Acuras will finish.
RESULT: FACT
The stunning aspect is on how Acura's mock 12-hour test paid off. Impressive teams do impressive things. You can't mock a 24-hour test at the Circuit de la Sarthe (you could at the Bugatti circuit) since it's a temporary road course that uses public roads. So for Acura to have something like this is impressive. Great job by Acura for winning the race and just having an overall great debut in the demise of Porsche. It takes courage to capitalize on others' mistakes to win. Acura had plenty of courage in this sensational result.
* 1-2 Corvette finish.
RESULT: FACT
Which ultimately means...
* Team Modena will upset the Corvettes.
RESULT: FICTION
To paraphrase Mr. T- "I pity a fool who messes with Corvette!" Team Modena lost this one. When will there be more competition to make GT1 and P1 more interesting?
* At least one Penske Porsche RS Spyder will DNF.
RESULT: FACT
The Porsches were off the pace, but none (that I know of) were out of the race. The highest-placed Porsche RS Spyder finished 5th overall and 3rd in P2. Penske still managed to finish.
No car outside of Top 4 won in class in 30 years until this race. This was a great event. You got to earn your pay to go to Le Mans. And to the teams invited to Le Mans, congratulations. You earned it.
JohnBM01 for a fantastic write up with some really interesting observations! 👍
