IMSA 2023

I get that “distressed” tracks can make for a better show (NASCAR ovals in particular), but Sebring is too far gone IMO. track surface has big chunks missing filled with tar. massive expansion joints, etc.

it’s to the point of being unsafe IMO, look at all the accidents over the bumps in turn 1 or 17. they could really improve the track surface a lot without losing the fundamental character of the track

 

Whenever this comes up they mention that since it was an old airport a lot of the really bad parts are on 6ft thick concrete slabs and it would be impossible to do anything about it.

Truth or BS?

 

they repave airport runways, no?

it is probably very expensive though.

 

They basically put asphalt over the original runway surface. My recollection is when you taxi onto the ramp it’s rough. But they do offer a free van ride from the fbo to the main gate

 

I’ve logged many miles at Sebring. The track surface is a POS. Exit track out at T1 is insanely horrible…same under the bridge at T17. Some undulations is fine but as the track is now it’s horrible. The fans viewing areas, restrooms etc are ancient and not up to par either. When NASCAR took it over I thought they were going to improve many things.

 

Apparently attendance at Daytona was large, largest ever in modern era or something like that.

Why is that? Ferrari’s P car bringing people in? And it’s not like Acura is the most exciting brand. Cadillac?

Why the increase in interest in sports car racing?

 

And Ferrari's P car wasn't even in the race!

 

Porsche and BMW?

 

Maybe it's not as predictable as F1 yet ?

 

Nostalgia of great battles from the past I guess.
And a more affordable and popular Motorsport for sure..

 

I was at Daytona with the winning P3 team. They had an excellent and 100% problem free run so while they were not the fastest they did keep it clean and bring home the hardware. The whole team was made up of a really nice group of people and it was good to see them win.

The P2 finish was absolutely insane. I was on the podium and the car owner of the 2nd place car had his head down and would not shake anyone's hand. It is not fair to call him a sore looser because it is difficult to appreciate how hard loosing like that is.

The 296 just did nothing for me. I was excited to see it and there were 4 or 5 of them in different colours which really let you see the lines. The back half looks really awkward and they barely make a sound on track. 911's are far and away my favorite sounding GT car. One thing that is cool on the 296 is how it comes apart for servicing. It is like a prototype in the way it comes apart.

Crowds were huge and the pre-race on the grid was absolutely packed. Nice to see all the enthusiasm by the fans.

 

I am with you there. I thought I was the only one to find the 296 rear looking a bit ... weird and clumsy.

Like designed by a child or something ...

 

At Daytona I did have a huge thrill that I was prepared for just in case. Spent a few minutes talking to one of my great hero's and he signed something really special that I will hang on my office wall with pride

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To my modest opinion, 296 gtb isn’t a nice looking car.
Nevertheless the engine is a masterpiece.

 

The Ferraris have never been the same since Pininfarina stopped designing them, IMO.

 

Yup. And they had new-car issues and didn't figure in the results. It was basicaly an Acura vs Cadillac race.

 

I have been 6 of the last 8 years to Daytona. Each year is a crowd bigger than the year before. I usually make it to 3 or 4 races each year. Each one seems to have increasing crowds each year. IMSA just has a lot of momentum right now. I think there was a ton of excitement over the new GTP cars and that was probably a lot of the excitement. But a full grid and a few new GT cars in there helps as well.

 

Picked up where last year left off lol

 

I can't say I understand the logic, but a 'driver' was quoted saying that since the Acuras aren't going to LeMans, they may not have been sandbagging.

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BMW isn't either..

 

So.....possibilities are 1) BMW is really, really slow, or sandbagging really a lot 2) the Acura is sandbagging story is bogus 3) or...how many others?

 

If there is sandbagging going on I don't think it has anything to do with LeMans. Cadillac and Porsche are also running in WEC for the full season so they will be gathering their own data to se the BoP for LeMans.

Porsche had some pace but also reliability issues. BMW seemed not to have a ton of pace and had reliability issues. It was really only between Cadillac and Acura and the MSR car was the fastest from the roar through the 24. The WTR car just didn't seem to have the same pace.

 

Porsche will get it together. They are not new at this as we all know. I firmly believe there is no sandbagging going on in the race. Too much on the line with points, how a manufacture is perceived and investment with sponsors. they all are in it to win it.

 

What are the points awarded for each race? How far down the finishing order are points awarded? I don't know...but a while ago, the answers to the questions didn't support your argument, at least 'too much on the line'.
Even if you are right, I'd like to see the points system; it's hard to find.

 

Here ya go...research away ;-)
https://www.imsa.com/competitors/2023-imsa-rules-regulations/

In a nutshell:
12.20. (SSR) Championship Points Table. Championship points are awarded in each Race to the finishers that have met the eligibility requirements in each championship per the following table:

1st 350 Points 2nd 320 Points 3rd 300 Points 4th 280 Points 5th 260 Points 6th 250 Points 7th 240 Points 8th 230 Points 9th 220 Points 10th 210 Points

11th 200 Points 21st 12th 190 Points 22nd 13th 180 Points 23rd 14th 170 Points 24th 15th 160 Points 25th 16th 150 Points 26th 17th 140 Points 27th 18th 130 Points 28th 19th 120 Points 29th 20th 110 Points 30th+

100 Points 90 Points 80 Points 70 Points 60 Points 50 Points 40 Points 30 Points 20 Points 10 Points