Daytona 24 *** warning spoiler***

Some of the DPs are having some rear suspension/axle problems early in the race. Hopefully this won't be something they have to keep replacing every 2hrs or so.

Great start to '06. Many big name drivers , but only one Ferrari

 

Terrible luck for the Suntrust team... I hope they will be able to get back out on the track later and be able to finish the race.

I can't believe there were basically two accidents within minutes of each other with the same cause. Seriously damaged 3 of the DPs, and definitely knocked one of the GT cars out entirely.

Atleast there have not been any injuries.

Luckily it looks like its gotten a little bit better now.

Hopefully there won't be too many incidents tonight...

Great weekend to have the Rolex 24... I've got an organic chemistry exam on monday! aaaaaaaaaaarrrrgggghhh

 

I was surprised by the pace of the Mazda RX-8 in the GT class. I looked up the spec and found out it has carbon-fiber bodywork and a 3-rotor engine in place of the production car's 2-rotor unit. Still, it's bizarre to see a Mazda running ahead of Porsches, Corvettes, and a Ferrari.

 

Serious, multi-car incidents in a GrandAM DP race?

Get out!

BHW

 

I must say, it is a good thing that Speed didn't televise all of it last night... I would not have slept last night, and that would not have been a good thing.

I just woke up and immediately turned it on. I immediately said 'holy crap' 4 on the lead lap??? STILL??? This is amazing.

Even in the GT class there is soo much ridiculous driving going on. This is such an incredible race this year.

3:11 left in the race. Haven't even had time to figure out who is exactly where yet this morning... but soon I have to start studying for an exam..... aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh

 

And what about that joker who totalled an RX8??? Good grief! They'll let anybody drive a race car these days.

(Oh, not the 24... but still at Daytona, by an Fchatter who will remain anonymous)
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Under 1hr to go, the 02 Lexus is still in the lead. I was hoping the 01 Lexus would still be in it.

The 23 Porsche still impresses.

Too bad about the 10 Pontiac.

 

Youre BEGINNING to think that GrandAM officials are from NASCAR?

The entire concept of GrandAM is out of the fertile minds of the France family and the ISC in an attempt to bring sports car racing in this country below the level of NASCAR.

They have made no secret of this as from the it's very beginnings, the president of GrandAM came out and said, "We do not care about traditional
sports car fans" and "We want to make the cars irrelevant".

Thus, in response to the blinding speeds of the GTP and WSC era cars which were visably faster and more nimble on the track than NASCAR, GrandAM officials created the DP class which is an intentionally low-tech, low-eye appeal, contrived racing (a-la NASCAR).

Thus, we have seen these melancholy results at the 24 Hours, an event which actually used to have importance on the international motorsports calendar, now reduced to a mere farce with what sounds like another attempt by officialdom to create false drama.

Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves.

BHW

 

Yes, Barton, and your misrepresentations and biases are one of mine.

Almost every statement you made is either incorrect, taken out of context, or deliberately wrong.

I understand that you (and others) don't like GrandAm. Fine. Your call. But then why do you feel the need to lecture the rest of us who don't share your refined tastes? Why not just ignore the thread rather than trolling?

Some of actually like racing, and right now GrandAm is offering some of the best racing in the U.S. (And please don't give me all the traditionalist stuff -- I was going to and enjoying traditional sports car racing before you were born.) I've covered both series, and I've talked to the car owners who are choosing to run DPs in GrandAm. They have good reasons, and they don't involve NASCAR.

Oh well. Just go away from this thread. Please.

Old Guy

 

The Daytona 24 race is definately a world-wide interest for some drivers to come out and only participate in this race but there were a lot of IRL, Champ Car and Trans-Am drivers that entered as well as the NASCAR icons. There is a lot of talent in Grand-Am and you can't say anything more than a complete turnaround from 3 years ago. Like it or not, Grand-Am is under the ISC umbrella and is very successful with it's competition formula. Now, if we could just get the sponsors and TV to have a closer look...

 

Barton, as a driver, I politely disagree. Although my friends say that the DPs are easy to drive, I look forward to driving one in '07 or '08.

Unfortunately for those of us who like sports car racing, these are not the heady sports car days of the '80s.

 

There going 1:44s!!! Sloow!! 600cc motorcycles go that fast. Old men (62 years old) on 1000cc motorcycles go 1:45s!!! (me)

Slooow. Used to be the cars were faster than the bikes. Spies, when tire testing went 1:34s, I think, and he isn't the best.

Art

 

Final results:

1. #02-Wheldon/Mears/Dixon, DP, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Lexus Riley
2. #60-Negri/Patterson/Allmendinger, DP, Michael Shank Racing, Lexus Riley
3. #23-Luhr/Rockefeller/Long, DP, Alex Job Racing, Porsche Crawford

GT Class:

1. #36-Pobst/Levitas/Baas/Pumpelly, 9th Overall, TPC Racing, Porsche GT3 Cup
2. #65-Lally/ Bunting/ Valentine/ O'Connell, 10th Overall, TRG, Pontiac GTO.R
3. #82-Werner/ Peter/ Quester/ Riccit, 12th Overall, Farnbacher Racing, Porsche GT3 Cup

So, those NASCAR and IRL drivers suck and can only turn left, huh? Congrats to those guys, its good evidence that "redneck left-turners" can road race too!

As far as the DP topic goes, I personally love them. They produce awesome racing! In the GTP days, did you ever see 4 cars fighting for 2nd, on the same lap, with 2 hours to go? So because we dont let them go 240mph down the straightaways, they automatically suck? Several of you guys are just upset that it has NASCAR's fingers on it.

 

So is rehashing old arguements. Yeah there are problems in GA but the same can be said about ALMS. Unfortunetally for the true sports car fan, we are left wanting on both sides of the split.

The DP's aren't on my list of "greatest" sports cars ever but then again what sense does it make to run a series (ALMS) where the cool cars are so expensive you don't even have enough cars in each class to make a full podium.

In my opinion sports car racing was at it's zenith in 80's when the cars were both cool (962, TWR Jaguars, Nissan GTP's....) and the racing was awesome.

Now we are left with one series that has awesome racing, but marginally cool cars at best (GA) and another series with cool cars (R8/R10, Astons, C6R's, 575's...) but absolutely no racing going on.

It's sad that we can't come up with a unified series that does both.

Until then, not much can be said about one series being better than the other.

Both are lacking all the right ingredients.

I thought the race was a good show and I stayed in the stands from start until 3 am, then came back at 7 am to watch the last 5 hours.

Regards,

JK

 

Well, nevermind that the favorites to win and place on the podium had to drop out due to various reasons (mechanical, engine problems), or got taken out in an unfortunate crash.

As for everyone saying the DPs aren't fast... I disagree. I've watched them in person several times at VIR (the first time was, I believe their 2nd year as a class), and they literally FLY through the track with almost no effort at all. I mean sure, they may not have 8 bajillion horsepower, but I would bet that they are more car then most people that watch the race can handle... I feel that GrandAm/Rolex series does a really good job of highlighting Driver capabilities, rather then letting the cars do all the work.

It would mean death to GA if they started to allow the kind of work done on F1 cars and such. No one could afford to run it except maybe 1 or 2 teams with sponsors that have a lot of money to blow, and then what fun would it be?

No competition = no interest.

 

There are absolutely no misrepresentations in any of the quotes attributed to Roger Edmundson.

BHW

 

This being only my second Daytona 24...I drove over 1,000 miles to see this race...in a former challenge car. My race within the race-a terrible case of Walter Mitty I can't seem to get rid of.

I too like both sereis. From what I understand, both of the current types were founded about the same time-1999 for ALMS. Having seen both ALMS races at Road Atlanta last year, it's great to see the DB9's, MC12, Corvettes, Porsches, LMP1 amd LMP2 cars run together. However, you have the same thing you had with the 959-962. Domination by the Audi teams. Still, I think it's great racing for the average fan of which I am one.

I did enjoy seeing the historic cars lap the track at Daytona. It provided a small window into time for folks like me who did not see what has been descibed as the greatest moment in sports car racing. I was surprised to see the GT1 Porsche and 962 go side by side on the banking, and the sound of the BBLM, 333SP and Lola T70 were fabulous. As for what we have today, folks like me only have past video images and paid lunches at the Milestones club with the Legends of Motorsport. This year Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Benny Parsons, and Godon Murry (?) delighted us with their stories about the race as well as their overall careers. I would encourage anyone interested in hearing and meeting these greats to purchase a Milestone ticket next year, as it also includes a few laps on the track. Derek Bell was last years speaker. Also, consider purchase the Champions club ticket, as this gets you in the 4 floor Daytona Club on the infield and includes all meals, some drinks, a well done bar with many flat screen tvs, and a roof top view from where you can see the entire track.

What else do I like about this race? Being able to get close to the action and pits. Where else can you walk up to the teams and drivers on the grid. In the pits, right where the action is. I was standing right at the door of the Suntrust team pit stall when they dumped the car off the flatbed. This type of access is unbelievable. I like the small crowds and ease of movement, which I suppose is an indication of what is wrong-not enough fan support, therefore money from the sponsors. I wonder if it has always been this way?

Has Daytona 24 ever sold out? Also, what is the lap record? How far off are the DP's?

 

Wow, What a race !! I wish I could have seen the old days but still great fun watching the DP's especially at night. One of my friends Steve Johnson raced the #66 Comfort Systems TRG Porsche in the Rolex 24 and finished 4th in the GT class, 13th overall.
I have a lot of pics but I left my camera in the Hauler of Roar racing so in the next couple of weeks I will post them up. I had a clip of one of the Ferrari mechanics firing up the 333SP on Friday Jan 27th when they where setting it up for display.

 

Congrtats to the GT winners Pobst/Levitas/Baas/Pumpelly.

Levitas is a GREAt guy!

 

The track has chaged (especially the infield), so there can not reall be a track record. "Officially", back in the 60s and 70s, the race was often "sold out". I believe the 2006 spec ALMS/Le Mans cars would be at least 10 seconds, if not more, quicker a lap than the DPs.