2014 Daytona 24 Hours - provide me driver questions

I would be interested in hearing their thoughts on the merger. Especially any drivers coming from ALMS that haven't raced at the Daytona 24 before.

 

While I was at the Roar Before The 24 on Saturday someone mentioned that some of the drivers were unhappy because the now single series has reduced their opportunities to be paid to race (they raced in both ALMS and Grand Am). Clearly this isn't an issue for all drivers but there are some. (I think I'll go research who has been driving in both series).

 

I've always wondered about the setup compromises for a race like Daytona or LeMans, or lesser so for Sebring or Petit...so many challenges:

-weather (rain/dry, big ambient and track temp swings, etc)
-driver style across 3/4/5 drivers (brake balance, understeer/oversteer/neutral, etc)-pro vs gentleman driver, etc
-fuel economy vs speed
-speed vs downtime (brake pads, tire wear/alignment)
-gearing for clear track vs traffic

getting a car properly set up for an endurance race seems like an impossible challenge-I'd like to hear the driver's perspective, especially if it's a proper "pro" and not a gentleman driver.

 

also, big picture thinking..pushing vs slow and steady, when to force a pass and when to hang back, etc. the psychology of endurance racing I guess is the big question there.

I love endurance racing...so many more issues/strategies than sprint races.

 

I believe the DP teams have to treat Daytona as a looonng sprint race. I don't think a "tortoise & hare" approach works any more. Too many good teams. Guess it's a good thing to get it out of the way at the start of the season, rather than the tail-end. Could help teams discover their weak links early.

 

to an extent yes, you don't have to manage engines or gearboxes like you used to, but you still have to factor a lot of things into it....tire wear/double triple stinting tires, fuel stops, brakes, keeping bodywork/aero bits intact, etc.

 

True enough, and preserving the car is important (as is avoiding self-inflicted damage), but within those parameters, to win, it's pretty much flat out for the duration.

CW

 

no, but you can pretty much use the Roar entry list as a proxy. the teams should be the same, with some driver lineups changing slightly (or becoming more complete)

 

CORRECT! Daytona 24 Hour is flat out for the entire race...

 

James Sofronas was at the test in the GMG Audi (he's a Babson alumni too!)

From Scuderia Corse, Balzan, Vilander, Wilden and Empringham are all studs.

 

Although not on a world scale, I did this many years ago with a touring series in the midwest, I asked all drivers:

- 'blonde, brunette or redhead' << That was the exact question
- t*t$, a$$ or legs
- favorite cartoon character
- favorite movie
- favorite book (a test to see who lies)
- favorite musical group
- favorite driver of all time
- favorite driver nobody has ever heard of
- four drivers they would like to race with/against

The one that stumped most of them was cartoon character

 

How the fact that so much of the budget gets used up in the first 2 races of the year limits opportunities.

 

now THAT is a great question!

 

fixed it fer ya.

 

Was just fine the way it was thanks. The way things are limit opportunities for teams and drivers.

 

what would you suggest otherwise...without Daytona and Sebring, there's no series.

like CART after they left the Indy 500

 

Not sure if Mike Hedlund has a drive for this, but he just secured a drive with ESM.
He is an owner and member

 

I would like to know what the drivers think about these super cars like the 458 being restricted more than 100 horses from stock and whether they would like to see a GT class that was much more extreme. IE 6-7-800 Hp and the chassis, suspension , tires and downforce to go with it.