ALMS Lime Rock - I hate tape delay

From the posted results, looks like Porsche kicked butt. Top two finishers in in P2 (as well as being 1/2 overall) and in GT2.

Anyone know details as to why the first P1 car was fifth overall? And how did the RSRs get so much faster than the F430s all of a sudden? Salo finished WAY back.

What happened? I hate (lack of) news coverage of ALMS events. (sigh)

 

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PLEASE DO NOT READ MY NEXT POST IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE RACE TOMORROW ON CBS!!!!!!

 

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Here's what happened-Lime Rock is a tight, small track-literally the RSRs started lapping everyone within 5 laps-the Audis were too constricted at this track-like putting a thouroughbred horse on a dog-racing track.

As for Salo, pure bad luck-apparently there was contact which resulted in a bent halfshaft on the Risi Ferrari-too bad as it was easily leading the GT2 category...the 911s weren't as fast as you may think....
Salo's a good guy.

 

Is the F430 faster, or just Salo? lol It seems like him and Melo are faster than the GT3s, but then the GT3s seem to finish consistently ahead of the rest of the F430s. I would have thought the F430s would have excelled on a tighter-shorter coarse.

Bad luck for half-shaft problems. I will still watch the race. Thanks for the info!

 

the worst part is that the alms coverage and the british gp are on at the exact same time, and i can't tivo them both.

 

Tons of crashes today... TONS... I was there, I must've seen 5 cars wipe out in front of me. The F430's were way out in front, the 31 car in the lead, the 62 car(Salo/Melo) right behind... The 62 car's teammate, the 61 car, decides to try to help by constantly blocking the 31 car since he's lapped anyways... The 31 car finally had enough, big 3 car crash, turned the lead over to Bergmeister/van Overbeek's 45. I didn't see this crash, so I myself am going to have to watch the rerun tomorrow. if you need more details, contact me.

By the way, I didn't see ONE F-car (outside of the competitors) at the track today. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? Boatloads of Porsches, ZO6's as far as the eye can see... Not one Ferrari.

 

The Porsches were running the same lap times as the F430's (usually 53-55 second range), I timed plenty of laps myself to keep up with them. In the very beginning, on the first stretch, the 45 Porsche crashed and had to pit. It started off a lap and a half behind the other cars, that's why it "wasn't as fast as you may think" I guess... It gained an entire lap on the rest of the pack in the next 2 hours, until Salo was involved in that crash. I'm glad Bergmeister got the win today after how Melo cheated him out of a win the last time these 2 met:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fbl_Yjm7VBk

Bergmeister: Knows how to pass
Melo: Knows how to play it like Nascar

P.S., Whoever didn't get the chance to attend, it's a great fan atmosphere. Autograph sessions were awesome, too... Free posters signed, and I got to chat it up with Bergmeister about that Melo pass... ;-)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/The300ZX/LeMansAutographs.jpg?t=1183873305

 

The Risi team needs to learn to race without blocking constantly, the 31 car should've passed the 61 car on 50 different occasions (lasted about 5 laps). As for leading the GT2 category easily, THE 31 CAR WAS IN FRONT. Other than just about everything, you're right.

 

I solved this type of problem with a two tuner DVR. You can even set the PIP so that you have both events on same size screens side-by-side and then swap the sound back and forth (especially nice when one goes to commercial break).

 

Until F1 fixes the current format (ie 95% boooooooring), ALMS wins hands down for me. Cool cars can't make up for lack of drama.

 

it was a good day for racin
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Nice shot. It is now a part of my desktop backgounds rotation.

 

They were all busy coordinating their Ferrari apparel for watching the GP race today. It isn't easy mixing and matching Ferrari hats, shirts, pants, underwear, socks, and shoes. lol

Just look at the post mix on this board. They only recognize F1 as a valid racing format.

 

Finished watching the race a bit ago...kudos to the White Lightning guys for taking out both Risi cars (as well as himself) in one crash! I bet there will be some sharp words spoken.

 

Yeah bad luck for the Ferraris-you are so right about the lack of F-Cars-saw 2 alfas, 1 lambo and 1 Maserati Spyder....that was it for Italian cars...

 

IT'S CALLED RACING ! ! ! and holding your line. It was Tomas' agressiveness that caused the incident - he did get a penalty for avoidable contact. Risi did nothing wrong. Tomas has a great record going for the F430 - fire at Sebring (saw that happen live) - sent car back to Italy, one new Ferrari after St. Pete, really banged up Ferrari yesterday . . . I think I remember seeing it all in one piece at Salt Lake City!

Great race obviously didn't end the way I wanted it to but glad that Highcroft was third overall. Great work by the Audi guys to get Marco's car repaired (it was pretty sad looking on the flatbed) and I was elated to see Marco driving it out of the paddock into the pit area. We'll go back again next year.

We didn't see any Ferraris there yesterday either . . just a bunch of Ferrari wannabees. Saw some beautiful Porsches and a couple RS6's (nice car haven't seen any of those around this area - can't wait for the S5 to be here).

Carol

to Adrift - if you are at all interested in ALMS - all the races are on live timing and Globe Cast radio - when we aren't there at the races I watch them on the computer with Hindy commentating in the background.

 

Carol sorry I missed you....allegedly there was one 355 out in the parking lot-don"t forget the 599 on display....

 

Can you get to those links through the ALMS website? If not, what is the URL?

What I can't understand is how little discussion takes place on the topic of ALMS. Is there a board which has more ALMS talk?

 

I saw the 599 on display, there was a red 355 coupe and 430 spider in the outer parking lot. I didn't drive through it (like i usually do) but those are the ones that i saw.

 

Very little sports car discussion on here - most seem to have tunnel vision for F1. Little do they realize that the BEST racing this year has not been F1 but has been the Ferrari vs Porsche and Ferrari vs Ferrari in GT2. There's a small group of us that are real racing fans! ! !

For live timing and a link to Hindy on Radio LeMans go to: www.imsaracing.net for more on ALMS go to www.americanlemans.com
You can also follow practice and qualifying on the imsa site - get the sked of events from the ALMS site. Qualifying is a relatively short time frame - P1/P2 session and GT1/GT2 session. There's a forum on the ALMS site - lots of in depth stuff on the series.

Liked your post #10 and #13 - you hit the nail on the head. Glad to see someone else who likes sportscars.

Hope this helps.

Carol

Paul - sorry to miss meeting you too! perhaps next year . . we went in the main entrance and parked in the grass at the autocross course so didn't see the 355.

 

So my big questions are:

1) Are they going to change the rules so that the P2 guys stop getting outright wins over the P1 guys? Combine classes? The Audi guys might decide this series isnt in their best interests and go home. I assume it was Porsche's intent from the start to make an even bigger splash by having a P2 car that beats the all conquering Audi P1s (instead of fighting them in P1 directly).

2) I heard a rumor Porsche is coming out with some mid-season mods for the RSRs to try to make them quicker and more competitive with the F430s. Anyone know anything about that? Personally, I would rather see them develop the Cayman platform and fight mid-engined fire with mid-engined fire, but that ain't happening anytime soon (if at all). Retire the 911 to GT land and race the better platform! A previously sacreligious statement, but getting voiced more and more... A year or so ago, I read where Porsche did apply for a patent on a mid-engined Cayman-esque race car design.

3) When will Aston return to give GT1 some punch? I am tired of seeing the vettes nose-to-tail each other around the track all day. Please, SOMEONE else race in GT1. Why no 550s/575s any more?

 

Just wanted to let you know that Ferrari owners are not all wimps. My son and I were to drive our 308 up from Maryland, but for some reason this race did not have a Ferrari corral, like the vettes etc. Without the special parking and access it is not worth it to bring the car and then have to worry what will happen to it during the race. So please before you disparage more Ferrari owners, please explore possible reasons.-Bob

 

Carol, Some of us do truly love the sports cars as I have stated on many posts in the past. I always look forward to your inside look at the races as you seem to attend most of them. I am so jealous. I am one that feel that the sportscars are the real origin of Ferrari's fantastic reputation ( GTO, 250 LM. 250 Testa Rossa, 512 S & M, 512 BBLM, I could go on and on).
I also love the fact that they look somewhat lke the cars I can actually purchase and rive on the road.

Hopefully we will someday meet at one of the races. Bob

For anyone interested in the Ferrari-Porsche duel as well as everyother major sportscars there are many more races in Europe then the USA in the FIA GT Championship series and Le Mans racing. Sometimes ther are 10 f430's and the racing is closer then any other series I have ever watched. Just Google either.

 

My Ferrari sat at home because it holds 2 people and neither of my kids wanted to be stuffed into the luggage compartment for the 3 hour drive.

The racing was great - count me as a huge ALMS fan. The only Formula 1 race I have seen was at Monaco - it was a great parade. The race on Saturday was anything but a parade - except during cautions of course.

I am also a Risi team fan - for them to do so well against the Porsche factory backed teams is amazing. Hey Ferrari, how about supporting Risi and White lightening? and how about a 599 for GT1?

Kirk

 

Is there a way to watch such racing, however, without some sort of satellite system?

@rcraig: No offense man, but do you realize how funny it sounds that you state you are not a wimp (which I am sure is true), but that you didn't attend the race because there was no Ferrari corral for your 308? lol You HAVE to see the humor in that.

Ditto on the request for a 599 for GT1!!! I am hoping the Panamera will be suitable for GT1.