Sebring | FerrariChat

Sebring

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by jknight, Mar 20, 2005.

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  1. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    The ALMS season is off to an interesting start. Aston Martin, in their inaugural venture, took the fight to the Corvettes (too bad Aston won't run the entire season), the Maserati MC12 did well in it's first ALMS outing (though sadly for no points) and the final hour battle between the Audis for the overall win was a good show. The season looks to be a good one. Now if Ferrari would come out with a factory GT or prototype effort . . . . . . .
    John
     
  2. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
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    The Bad Guy
    They did, but they disguised it as a Maserati to save face.
     
  3. Sloan83qv

    Sloan83qv F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Mar 8, 2001
    2,537
    with BIG Dave M.
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    Little Dave M.

    Actually they did it as a marketing ploy to fool potential Maerati Buyers into thinking Maserati is a car company that races their cars when in fact in races Enzo's dressed up like Maserati's. The hole thing is SAD!

    The pit crew was all Ferrari people (in Blue) including the Ferrari NA Boss in his RED Ferrari Race suit.....in a sea of Maserati Blue.
     
  4. FLATOUTRACING

    FLATOUTRACING F1 Rookie

    Aug 20, 2001
    2,684
    East Coast
    Full Name:
    Jon K.
    I've been somewhat critical of ALMS the past year or so. To me the race was quite boring. Only three LMP cars were running at the end and by the mid point of the race only about 20 cars were running. It was yet another forgone conclusion that the Audi team (Champion) would plaster the lone competition (Dyon's two four bangers). The other LMP cars are all "budget" run privateers with an odd assortment of chassis manufacturers and engines.

    Only real treat of the entire 12 hours was watching McNish try to chase down the lead Audi and watching the Aston Martin v12's.

    The cars are great but there aren't enough of them and the racing is watered down to the two Audi's fighting with each other and a Corvette and a Aston Martin. It was certainly better than last year but not very exciting to watch.

    Only 37 cars present and if you take out the Porsche Cup ......ughhh excuse me the GT2 class there weren't many exciting cars to watch or much exciting racing to watch.

    I miss the heyday of sports car racing from the 80's with all the IMSA cars.

    If some manufacturers don't step up next year it will get even more boring with the Audi R8 replacement coming out.

    Regards,

    Jon P. Kofod
    www.flatoutracing.net
     
  5. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    It would be more fun if some of the other folks such as Mercedes Benz, Jaguar and Ford could be persuaded to come out and play in the upper level classes
     
  6. zjpj

    zjpj F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,124
    USA
    Would have liked to see the MC12 do better.

    The Aston is gorgeous and, wow, first in class. Too bad the road version is more GT than sports car. I want to love the DB9.
     
  7. Bart

    Bart Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,522
    Orange County, Calif
    Full Name:
    Bart
    The Maranello which raced was a 550. Now how old is the 550?

    Why cannot Ferrari think about road races and support them?

    NUTS!
     
  8. 400iGuy

    400iGuy Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 26, 2004
    1,079
    Central Florida
    Full Name:
    Al
    Jon, I have to agree on both counts. There has been plenty of discussion here for and against both Grand AM and ALMS but six P1 cars ten GT1 cars in a field of 38 for 12 hours was boooorrrrriiiinnnngggg. Thank goodness for the Aston Martins for adding some interest and stopping the Vette juggernaut.

    It's odd that the IMSA name is now owned by the organization that is the furthest from the initial intent of IMSA. Grand Am is much more like the IMSA of old.

    400iGuy
     
  9. Godfather

    Godfather Formula Junior

    Nov 7, 2002
    487
    Fiorano
    Could not agree more!
     
  10. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran

    Nov 3, 2003
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    En El 305
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    Barton Workman
    Agreed, lack of entry hurt Sebring this year but good fights for overall and class victories added some spice. Tom Kristensen's presence alone makes the event as his records attest.

    The announcements of the new Mazda LMP-2 entry, new Audi R-10, and potential of Porsche coming in this year with P-2 and then P-1 entries next year are interesting.

    Anthony Lazarro told me on the grid Saturday morning that a second MC-12 will be entered by the end of the season. We should have had two Maseratis and more 550 GT Maranellos in the mix as we were told by the Care Racing/Labre Competition team that they will have three 550's at Le Mans
    which have already gained entry by virtue of their FIA GT and LMES participation.

    BMW are said to also be in the frame to come back to the GT class so the future isnt as bleak as many would lead us to believe.

    BHW
     
  11. FLATOUTRACING

    FLATOUTRACING F1 Rookie

    Aug 20, 2001
    2,684
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    Jon K.
    I don't want to keep making this a bash the "ALMS" topic. I do watch the ALMS races and I love the cars (LMP's, 550's, Maseratis, Astons, and even the RSR's) it just that there is little racing goin on.

    Grand Am is the exact opposite. I don't really care much for the cars (Daytona prototypes or the legion of Porsche Cup cars) but the racing is close.

    The best of both worlds is of course the ALMS cars with fields the size of the GA Rolex series. Until that happens we have watered down racing in one series and watered down cars in the other.

    I do however have some resentment, as a long time Porsche fan, the all the hype about the Audi's. Yes the car is amazing and they have had some of the best drivers but they haven't beat any of the true giants of sportscar racing. While this is not ALMS's fault, nor Audi's, it gets me in a tiff when Audi uses lack of competition to market their products.

    I really hope that Porsche gets back into the top tear of racing in ALMS.

    In the end I am a race fan and watch all racing. I fail to understand those who are totally against one or the other (CART vs. IRL or GA vs. ALMS).

    Racin' is racin' !!!

    Regards,

    Jon P. Kofod
    www.flatoutracing.net
     
  12. Papa G

    Papa G Formula 3

    Dec 29, 2003
    1,406
    The sad truth is it doesn't look like either of the racing series are ready to kiss and make-up just yet or if ever. Hopefully, maybe one day they will reform and give us the best of both worlds.
     
  13. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran

    Nov 3, 2003
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    Barton Workman
    That will only happen when Lake Lloyd freezes over.

    BHW
     
  14. bmiller411

    bmiller411 Formula Junior

    May 6, 2004
    405
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bruce B Miller
  15. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2005
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    Bob
    Bruce,

    Thanks for the pictures.

    I really like the one of the Maserati at night in the rain with all of the glare of the lights.

    Very very nice.

    Bob S.
     
  16. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    Thanks for posting the pictures.
    John
     

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