2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona

No one deserves a lane. He slid off without any help. Its BS. If he had stayed on the black and was pushed off and lost a spot that would be different. He came in and overcooked the entrance and was wide.

 

The replay did not show contact, and it also did not look like the Ferrari forced the Audi off the track. It looked like a clean pass, and that the Audi accelerated too soon. To not consider this a racing incident is BS.

I remember a few years back at Sebring, coming out of the last turn, a Ferrari and a Porsche were side by side. Definite contact, the Ferrari won that. No penalty, they were racing.

Same today. And I thought this new TUDOR program wanted to have close racing?

 

Can the call be reversed post race?

 

Love the way they talk about 'Lanes', what is it Scalextrics???

 

+1

 

It should have been a "no call" on that move.

You have to give racing room. However, because of the geometry of that corner, there is not room for both cars "at speed." The Audi didn't have enough of a lead to demand the Ferrari to completely back out of the throttle. They both were able to continue, so the stewards should have been silent on this one.

 

Did Audi protest or did the stewards do this on their own?

 

All true.
The 555 nudged him the lap before, taking more than the racing line, avoidable contact no question and a penalty could have been called. Although this wasn't the call, the following lap he squeezed him, the only reason there was no contact was due to the professionalism of Winklehock. Never a fan of rulings to determine a finish, but hopefully the time penalty stands.
Pier Guidi could have waited until they were on the banking, the 458 certainly had the legs.

 

If contact is the criterion, half the field could have been penalized at one time or another during the race. Total bull**** ruling.

 

Stewards

 

^^^^ Are you enjoying your dose of Regis Philbin?

 

There is a difference between avoidable and unavoidable contact.

 

That dumb show is Regis' new gig. My eyes bled from leaving on for 30 secs.

Also, I get what you're saying and I'm certain that's what the stewards are basing their ruling on.

 

Oh. Right after the race ended they cut to some sports/game show that had Regis Philbin and some other people on it doing curling (olympic sport) in the TV studio. He was wearing a Norwegian team jacket. Maybe it's over now.

 

So first they throw a highly questionable yellow, and then decide the outcome of GTD on their own. It must be good to be the king.

 

Yep. The rules state "in the sole opinion of the Race Director" where the Race Director is King. It's not like SCCA racing.

 

More and more like the NFL......

 

My view - the last 60 minutes of this race was NASCAR-esque.

The final caution flag thrown for Leh Keen going off? The car never stopped moving, was quickly out of the impact zone and continued on. Was almost like they were looking for a reason to throw a "competition caution". Compared to what must be at least a dozen other "delayed cautions" (i.e a car goes off, but time is given to see if they can continue. Obviously not used where there is a huge impact, parts are strewn and/or tire walls damaged), this last FCC was conjured.

My view is the contact going into the bus stop was "racing" - the entry to the bus stop is always contested and both cars were legit. If anything, the Audi did a bit of an optimistic move, the 555 car had the line and was ahead. The incident at the kink was identical. I know how the rules read, but the 555 kept his line. The Audi did have a nose ahead but the cars were essentially side by side. The 555 did not turn out on him. People ALL weekend were going wide at the kink...and going off on their own.

In post-race interview, I think Winkelhock (who is a good driver!) showed the he knew this was not a clean win. Just my $0.02.

 

Spot on.

 

+1

 

All true! I got the feeling that Winklehock felt a bit embarrassed by the call.

 

On the plus side they are stuck driving that R8 ugly paint or wrap or whatever is stuck on it for the rest of the year. The black and silver 458 looks and drives just about perfect with anybody on board...