DBK, don't waste your breath on him, it's not worth it. Glad you had such a good time at Le Mans. Awesome pics and write up about your trip over on Svtp, I really enjoyed it. Now the wait for your car to come back to the states.
Wonderful answer Let's try it again : YOU said you heard your version from one of a "tiny handful of people involved in the discussion at the time". Was that person there, in Risi's garage? In your version, how many people did Ford send to Risi's garage? I told you ... and the whole board ... my source: Giuseppe Risi himself. Who is your source? (Of course, i can also quote any number of online reports that pretty much agree with me) You're saying that Ford sent representatives to Risi's garage ... twice ... for a simple, equal application of the rules. Ford had been penalized for a number light (a known safety issue), so ... according to your version ... Ford was upset that Risi had not been penalized for a leader light (a known non-safety issue, an issue the stewards were already well aware). So i ask : why would Ford visit Risi ... twice ... for a straightforward "equal application of the rules"? Why wouldn't they visit the stewards directly, instead? Are you planning to answer any of these questions, after calling the truth "bull****" ?
Oh relax, it was never about a "fair" fight on the track as they hobbled the class of the field(Team Corvette) at the last possible moment-dropping them from the fastest in practice to 4-5 seconds a lap slower. Porsche was also done no favors. I am happy that Ford won the race but give me a break-the rules "equalizers" are out of hand.
Corvette was fastest in Practice 1 of the test day the week prior, and lost 0.3mm restrictor I believe. Corvette sandbagged qualifying, going 0.7 slower than they did in practice while the field picked up ~2 seconds (including the non-adjusted AM cars), while Ford & Ferrari had an additional ~2 sec in the bag. Post qualifying Corvette was given back it's power and was within 2 seconds of Ferrari & Fords best lap. Lots of games being played...
DBK, any idea if they've already allocated all the cars? Never saw any news about anything since applications finished.
I'm glad you like it. It wasn't made in jest. You can call your close personal friend, and based on how the situation occurred, he will be able to tell you who I heard it from.
That's just silly. The only guy from Ford (well, Multimatic) present in Risi's garage, was Larry Holt. He was the one demanding that Risi accept second place, under threat of the frivolous complaint. So I'll give you the benefit of the doubt ... and i'll just assume that this is who you heard your version from (rather than even further-removed hearsay). So Risi (who i've known for years, and never once had reason to question his integrity) told me what happened, and Holt told you his version. Risi's version fits the facts, Holt's doesn't (as i've mentioned more than once, over the last several posts ... with no answer or response). MANY online reports agree with me, as well. But there's no point in discussing this further. Believe what you will.
Guys, there is a lot of politics involved in motorsport, always has been and always will be. After all a lot of money is involved. I'm sure there is a lot of clever stuff going on behind the scenes to permit the recent Audi steam rolling, and now Porsche have tipped the balance. Pete
If he has so much integrity, why doesn't he just say it publicly then? Wouldn't that be the moral thing and honest thing to do?
I've presented a true and accurate account of what happened in Risi's garage in the last hours of the race. I've divulged my (first-party) source, and also quoted one (of several) online reports that agrees with, and supports, the true account. No "alternate version" that makes sense, or fits the facts, has been offered ... by anyone. Exactly none of my questions in this thread have been answered. I'm out guys. Believe what you will.
If the choice for Risi was to take 2nd place or come under threat of a frivolous complaint that might make you lose anyway, why wouldn't he just take his chances with a frivolous complaint? There is no upside to accepting 2nd place. 2nd place means you lost. No one cares if you got 2nd or 5th. None of these teams show up at Lemans looking for a respectable finish. They race to win. There is no logical reason why you'd accept 2nd place rather than fight a frivolous complaint. It doesn't make sense.
Exactly. IMO, Le Mans/FIA were hell bent on having a Ford/Ferrari showdown on the 50th anniversary of the first one. Watching the race, it was almost comical how the Ford GT drove around the Corvettes and Porsches like they were tethered to a tree. I find it hard to believe that the Corvette team and the numerous Porsche teams got stupid overnight..... Ford deserves kudos for bringing a brand new car that held together(no mean feat, that), but the BoP was very clearly enforced to provide a wanted result. FIA needs to be careful, this kind of stuff makes them look like pro wrestling. Jimmy
It is easier to fool a man than to convince him he has been fooled. Risi took him for a ride and your simplified post explains reality pretty clearly.
the thread is about the NEW Ford GT ...can we please stay on track here guys... ....Please take your "disagreement" to another thread if you'd like that to continue.. .... I'm curious, and word on when Ford will advise who is getting a new GT.. I heard it may be as early as the 12th of this month... Has anyone hear this? Originally, it was to be 90 days from the app. closing...
LOL @ pro wrestling. Well said - slippery slope and at the end, no one will trust the racing. I don't know what happened here, but it seems odd that Porsche and Chevy were not competitive. Let's also not forget that Ferrari didn't race; private teams raced in Ferraris. I love the new Ford GT and the 488, but was hardly the environment in which Ford and Ferrari competed previously.
Perhaps they said, "stop and fix the light, then you have a chance of recovering to win". Vs, "If you continue with it out, we will protest and no way you will get 1st; this way you have a tiny chance vs none." I would have kept racing also, but I could see that being used as a tactic.
