555 hit the Audi lap before last.
But, again, that was with Winkelhock making an aggressive move into the chicane. Level 5 held the racing line. Emotional and wrong-headed decision...that was great racing, imo.
You mean the contact that never happened? Neither guy wanted to give an inch and the Audi got the worst of it. They didn't touch from what we could see in television.
Just saw the close-up replay and the Audi was in front coming out of the turn. The Ferrari accelerated sooner out of the corner and carried it into the racing line, forcing the Audi off the track.(or they would have collided)
No contact but he had been passed and didn't give enough track space. Tough call if it stands and they lose.
Had the Audi stayed on track there would have contact - no doubt about that. But there is no where in hell you can penalize someone for "avoidable contact" if there is no contact! They could possible have penalized the 555 for forcing the Audi of the track, but not for a contact that wasn't there
I say call the sponsors. Park all the Ferrari cars next race after qualifying. Or spend the whole race doing parade laps in protest nose to tail. What total BS
This was nothing more than hard racing. Disappointed in the officials. Easy to examine the cars to look for the telltale signs of contact after the fact. Good race. Good finish. Hope Gidley recovers fully from his injuries. No word on Malucelli's injuries? CW
The replay showed clearly that there was no contact but it also showed the Audi was in front going into the turn. Wouldn't that then make it deserving of at least one lane to race in. The 458 ran right out to the yellow line which forced the Audi off track. I think with the Audi in front it would then be the responsibility of the 458 to give him the outside regardless how he had to adjust for that. Certainly was exciting to watch and I wish the other 458 hadn't messed up the BMW's chance to take the lead because that would've been just as exciting.
Apparently "avoidable contact" does not require actual contact - Article 48.3 http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/files/uploads/2014%20IMSA%20TUDOR%20Championship%20Rules%20010514.pdf This has to be a joke...
I'm sorry but this is racing, people go off the track, the Ferrari if slowed down would have not had the downforce to properly take the corner on the line and would have most likely smacked the rear end of the Audi. and if you look at a corner and where the apex of the corner is from a geometric standpoint the Ferrari is technically ahead when they reach the corner. The Audi can't hold the speed he was bringing into it from the line and ran wide into the dirt. If the Audi had held line and proved he could carry his entry speed at such a bad line and the Ferrari ran into him I would fully say give it to him. However the Audi did not. Sorry to be blunt but it was the final lap and racing came down to the wire if the Audi wanted to hold the line he could have and would have allowed contact, but from what i've seen I can't even clarify that the Audi could take the corner at that speed it was traveling.
Total bull**** call. as was the last "caution." But then, who has the bigger ad budget, Audi or Ferrari? Atrocious officiating. As usual.
I think that's the call. There was no contact, but only because the Audi avoided it. They big problem with the ruling is that the stewards called it "making avoidable contact". Clearly there was no contact.
The Audi places himself on the outside of the bend - the Audi must respect the Ferrari just as much as the Ferrari must respect the Audi
