Grand Am And ALMS To Merge According To Speed

Jim that is the BIG mystery isn't it? I certainly hope they do not phase out the European based LMP1 and LMP2 cars as they bring a very prestigious format to sportscar racing as where the Daytona Prototypes used in GA now are simply tube-framed cars with composite bodies.

 

If there is no relationship with the ACO then the LMP's are gone but I can't see that happening. Manufacturers need a non-spec series to develop their wares in the US & Grand -Am as it stands is not the place for that. The new series would be foolish to not welcome factory LMP efforts with an eye toward the Le Man 24. I imagine the series will want to hang onto Sebring as a WEC round and maintain the LMP & GTE classes to be in line with ACO regs. Penske was/is in line to run the new Porsche LMP1 program. Maybe Ganassi will try to secure a similar program from another manufacturer...who knows. It could be a great merger or a complete cluster f#@k.

GA was a more affordable alternative than ALMS. As such, I don't think the smaller DP teams would feel pressure to step up to LMP1. As I mentioned, I think the DP's could slot into the current cost capped LMP2 slot.

 

I can't see Grand AM not having the DP's as the top class. Grand Am is now in total control. Interesting Times.

 

Yep. It is Grand Am buying them after all. That also means they will take over ownership of Road Atlanta and Sebring

 

yep.

what's interesting is how many "insiders" went from "oh yay, this is great news!" to "oh crap, the end of American sports car racing" so quickly when they discovered that it was really GA buying ALMS.

tomorrow's press conference should be interesting.

 

This just aids Scott Tucker in his apparent quest to race in every series ever on the same weekend.

 

I think calling it a "merger" confused a lot of people.

Panoz has been shopping ALMS for a while, I guess he found a buyer.....

still I think this is a net positive for the sport.

 

yeah I think there were some strings attached to Dagys' "exclusive story".

I doubt we'll ever know but I wonder what Panoz got for ALMS and the tracks....

and yes I saw the Singer piece...very nice. still not sure it's a $300k car.

 

I think DeLorenzo is a putz. his blog has little to no credibility IMO.

would you buy a Singer 964 for the same money as a GT2RS, or a CGT? I'm not convinced. great car, yes. $300k worth of great car? not so sure.

 

I hear there's a 4.0 in Germany for sale, one careful owner....
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bingo! nascar has also ruined ama road racing. if you like grand am racing you will like this consolidation. if you prefer to see alms type racing...go to europe.

funny...just think how under any scenario do you see pretty lmp cars playing nicely with those horrid dp cars?

 

i did not see your post jim...i suspect you are correct. add lmp2 as well. they will make the dp's look like barely moving chicanes and i don't suspect the france family will let the dp investors/owners be shown up.

sad really.

 

Judging by what happened to Indy cars versus the old CART cars, the DP cars will become more like the LMP cars in the next few years. They will call them DP but they will really be Americanized LMP1/2 cars. I really hope they leave GT alone. They could maybe adopt some European sportscar rules(such as like Belcar) to attract more international entries and fold the Grand Am GT cars into the lower level GT class. That last part is a sure thing.


If they are smart this could turn out even better.............................

 

I concur. There's nothing good to come of this, much like the IRL / Champ Car merger.

Ok - to be fair, I can't say that "NOTHING" good has come from the IRL / CC merger - we do have turbo cars (although they are BUTT UGLY) and a decent field of drivers, but it's still not in the mainstream.

Sorry guys, I loved Panoz' maverick spirit. This in one more notch in the France's belt. I'll reserve final judgement, but I'm not hopeful.

 

the france crime family has no interest nor do they have the bandwidth to see to the success of anything beyond nascar. i believe (with some basis) that this acquisition would be another way to control and regain nascar market share and and have nascar branded events no longer fight for top of wallet.

look at the stands at nearly all nascar events...they aint what they use to be.

 

Just what market share has NASCAR ever lost to ALMS? It's rare ALMS was even on cable and other than Sebring what huge crowds attended the races ?

 

NASCAR is fighting for each dollar it can and views each dollar spent on any other racing event as money lost. They get to further thin the field. Know that. If you think for one second that they want alms in order to improve professional road racing in America you may be disappointed.

 

I agree, although Petit Le Mans has drawn massive crowds over the years.

One thing is for sure, there will be fewer opportunities for drivers and crew men with a consolidated series.