'09 ALMS Round 2 • St. Pete April 3-4 - Page 7

WMUCarGuy · 4 Apr 2009, 23:00 (Ref:2433629)

It was my first ALMS race in HD and that REALLY makes things more entertaining!

Audi Racer · 4 Apr 2009, 23:10 (Ref:2433630)

Who won the green challenge. The imsa page says it was the De ferran car for proto and PAnoz for GT. Speedtv website says Fernandez Acura and MIlner,Mueller BMW

I highly doubt the IMSA winners. The De Ferran car did not finish the race. The panoz(look! pigs are flying) That gas guzzling Elan FOrd V8. What a disgrace saying the PAnoz was the most fuel efficient. Are the others that bad. I think speedtv is right.

Also the dunlop tire held up beautifully on the BMW

Acid09 · 5 Apr 2009, 00:11 (Ref:2433646)

The BMW was in the lead during the race so I doubt the Panoz won.

Efficient Dynamics made the difference

WMUCarGuy · 5 Apr 2009, 00:44 (Ref:2433656)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acid09

The BMW was in the lead during the race so I doubt the Panoz won.

Efficient Dynamics made the difference

They said the Panoz won it on the TV broadcast...

The359 · 5 Apr 2009, 01:00 (Ref:2433662)

Green Challenge isn't simply fuel consumption.

fer312t · 5 Apr 2009, 01:46 (Ref:2433677)

Quote:

That race had to go down as one of the greatest snoozers of all the ALMS races I have ever watched

I have to agree...that was thoroughly depressing. It's going to be a long season unless something changes drastically...

Purist · 5 Apr 2009, 02:07 (Ref:2433682)

Actually, I quite enjoyed the GT2 race. There was pretty much always something happening there, though they didn't have the cameras quite catch it all. BTW, the #87 Porsche was well in front before the #62 Ferrari broke, and really, the Ferrari had fallen to third before it broke. And if the racing was so dull, when was the last time any class had cars of four different makes finish in the top five?

Hopefully they remember to put Jon Field in the #37 for the opening stint next time. The Dyson cars are on pace and look great. Frankly, if you expected a barn burner in the prototype ranks, you were just setting yourself up, and you have nobody else to blame for that.

All-in-all, it was a fun race to watch, even if that meant focusing my attention primarily on GT2. And if the LG Corvette gets a good jump at the start of Long Beach, look out. Its top-end will be giving everyone hell on Shoreline in a couple weeks.

cthib10 · 5 Apr 2009, 15:00 (Ref:2434255)

I just got back from St. Pete I took some pictures at the race so I will be putting them up shortly. I have to say I was quite disappointed in the lack of cars at the race and then the count just kept dropping as the race went on. The race was still fun due the the awesome race for GT2 but not nearly as fun as last year.

The Farnbacher Loles Porsche was faster than the Risi Ferrari and slowly chased them down each lap and then opened up a half a straight lead within 2 laps of passing the the Ferrari. I think that is when the problems might have started for Risi there is no way they would have fallen back as quick as they did on without the suspension problem.

The LG Corvette looked great on the straights during the fight with the Panoz and BMW. All 3 would come out of the last corner and the LG Corvette would put 2-3 car lengths on them before getting out braked in the first corner.

Also it was a shame that de Ferran had technical problems because they were completely dominating the race very unlucky.

cthib10 · 5 Apr 2009, 15:29 (Ref:2434310)

Here are some of the pictures I took. I haven't had the chance to edit and crop them but they are very high quality if anyone wants to take the time.

http://gs88.photobucket.com/groups/k167/G2Q37Y82EY/

Just noticed there are a few pictures of my little Integra too that's bonus footage haha.

**joeb** · 5 Apr 2009, 16:09 (Ref:2434367)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

Actually, I quite enjoyed the GT2 race. There was pretty much always something happening there, though they didn't have the cameras quite catch it all. BTW, the #87 Porsche was well in front before the #62 Ferrari broke, and really, the Ferrari had fallen to third before it broke. And if the racing was so dull, when was the last time any class had cars of four different makes finish in the top five?

Hopefully they remember to put Jon Field in the #37 for the opening stint next time. The Dyson cars are on pace and look great. Frankly, if you expected a barn burner in the prototype ranks, you were just setting yourself up, and you have nobody else to blame for that.

All-in-all, it was a fun race to watch, even if that meant focusing my attention primarily on GT2. And if the LG Corvette gets a good jump at the start of Long Beach, look out. Its top-end will be giving everyone hell on Shoreline in a couple weeks.

I thought the race was fairly entertaining, the short races are always a bit more exciting because the pit stop(s) are even more important.
I found it interesting that Intersport went with 3 drivers, and the Robertson's didn't. That equaled an extra stop for Intersport who could have been one more spot up in the finishing order overall. They still got 2nd in P2, but were behind the leader in GT2! Oh well, they finished and kept the car clean, looks good!

Hugewally · 5 Apr 2009, 20:20 (Ref:2434560)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

IMSA must do something immediately

What do you suggest they do?

Audi Racer · 5 Apr 2009, 23:09 (Ref:2434672)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The359

Green Challenge isn't simply fuel consumption.

Tell me something the Panoz had over the BMW. The BMW seems to be more fuel efficient since is does not have that much power. The BMW was faster. It went farther. They both changed tires once. What else is there. The BMW was ahead for most of the race

FLGTFAN · 6 Apr 2009, 01:22 (Ref:2434744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

Tell me something the Panoz had over the BMW. The BMW seems to be more fuel efficient since is does not have that much power. The BMW was faster. It went farther. They both changed tires once. What else is there. The BMW was ahead for most of the race

Nobody except the teams knows the specific power and fuel efficiency numbers, especially when you factor in air restrictors. Also, faster and farther ultimately means more fuel consumed.

FLGTFAN · 6 Apr 2009, 01:29 (Ref:2434746)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I thought the race was fairly entertaining, the short races are always a bit more exciting because the pit stop(s) are even more important.
I found it interesting that Intersport went with 3 drivers, and the Robertson's didn't. That equaled an extra stop for Intersport who could have been one more spot up in the finishing order overall. They still got 2nd in P2, but were behind the leader in GT2! Oh well, they finished and kept the car clean, looks good!

I'm not gonna call it a great race for Intersport, but they had a good run considering a new driver qualified and started the car. As far as the lone GT2 car that finished ahead of them, that car was gifted 2 laps by luck/strategy, and in fact finished 2 laps ahead of the next GT2. Also, St. Pete is not kind of place where LMPs can make up a heap of time over such a short race. Point is, I don't think it's representative of what you will see over the course of the season.

**joeb** · 6 Apr 2009, 13:14 (Ref:2435158)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

Tell me something the Panoz had over the BMW. The BMW seems to be more fuel efficient since is does not have that much power. The BMW was faster. It went farther. They both changed tires once. What else is there. The BMW was ahead for most of the race

I can't find the Green Challenge Podium (if there is such a thing) on the ALMS site, but they have an article saying BMW won the GT and Lowe's Fernandez won the proto prize.

**joeb** · 6 Apr 2009, 13:15 (Ref:2435159)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLGTFAN

I'm not gonna call it a great race for Intersport, but they had a good run considering a new driver qualified and started the car. As far as the lone GT2 car that finished ahead of them, that car was gifted 2 laps by luck/strategy, and in fact finished 2 laps ahead of the next GT2. Also, St. Pete is not kind of place where LMPs can make up a heap of time over such a short race. Point is, I don't think it's representative of what you will see over the course of the season.

True, but I think any race where Intersport keeps their car clean and finishes is a good race! Which makes me wonder if the lack of on track incidents in the race was due to the fewer number of cars and less overtaking attempts?

cthib10 · 6 Apr 2009, 14:34 (Ref:2435190)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

True, but I think any race where Intersport keeps their car clean and finishes is a good race! Which makes me wonder if the lack of on track incidents in the race was due to the fewer number of cars and less overtaking attempts?

I would think that is a given. There were far fewer cars than usual I didn't think there would be any inncidents. Primetime just has horrible luck at St. Petersburg with bad crashes two years in a row. I think Flying Lizards 44 brushed the wall a couple times if I am correct. I didn't have any sound since I was there so I don't know for sure what happened but they had damage to the right rear of the car I saw it when they pit.

Ryan · 6 Apr 2009, 16:00 (Ref:2435276)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

What do you suggest they do?

I would like to know what Audi Racer suggests. Nothing they will do will make the short term better. They need to look to the future to think of things so that this does not happen again.

TWK · 6 Apr 2009, 17:20 (Ref:2435340)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthib10

Primetime just has horrible luck at St. Petersburg with bad crashes two years in a row.

Luck?

cmk · 6 Apr 2009, 23:58 (Ref:2435564)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

What do you suggest they do?

Print money, obviously. Duh.

**skycafe** · 7 Apr 2009, 00:17 (Ref:2435583)

is that money with Doc Don's picture?

Audi Racer · 7 Apr 2009, 20:51 (Ref:2436217)

Add more incentive to go racing(more money. It may be difficult now with the economy but if we don't do anything now there won't be a later

Hugewally · 7 Apr 2009, 22:06 (Ref:2436289)

And if there isn't anymore money to be had, then what?

Fogelhund · 7 Apr 2009, 22:53 (Ref:2436304)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

And if there isn't anymore money to be had, then what?

If more money can't be found, find ways to allow people to race with less money? How about be less restrictive in cars that are allowed to race? Not going to do much at the P end on the grid... but the back end, yes.

**skycafe** · 7 Apr 2009, 23:55 (Ref:2436329)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

If more money can't be found, find ways to allow people to race with less money? How about be less restrictive in cars that are allowed to race? Not going to do much at the P end on the grid... but the back end, yes.

Which means what? Older spec GT2? GT3, or a version of, is on the horizon.

LMP3 would actually slot into speed spectrum on most tracks above GT2 I believe.

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