Montoya leading in DP as the TV stopped. Stevenson Motorsports leading GT in the Camaro. Last year's ending will be hard to repeat, but I see this getting good. As always, nobody acts like there's 18 hrs. to go.
The "Prototurtles" are lameass excuses for race cars. Sad to see what was once such a great event reduced to those POS. Kinda like Indy. Racing in America sucks right now worse than any time in recent memory. That said, I hope JPM or Jimmy Vasser wins. Seabass would be OK as well. They all kicked ass and won championships in CART.
I like that the Camaro (seems as though it has the same ground clearance as a CJ-5 for some reason) is competitive, but Sylvain seems to be calmer than tree sloth on Vicodin, so I'm assuming the Wankels have plenty of speed in reserve and will be there when the home stretch presents itself. Can't believe how hard some of the DP drivers were pushing only hours into the event. I'm guessing these cars must be mechanically understressed, otherwise there is no reason why some of the 24 hour veterans would take chance after chance in the first quarter of the race. Franchitti stated the track had one line after the downpour and it explains why the cars seem twitchy when passing the GTs in low speed turns. They're all over the place, especially under braking.
Speed's coverage returned with the Camaro a nice surprise leader in GT this morning. Lasted all of one lap. They pitted and found fifth gear missing. Big news was the Ganassi flyer #02 with JPM et al. securing a dnf. At 7 am, Cayenne powered Riley #9 leading DP, Pumpelly TRG 911 in GT, both with 3 lap margins over class P2. 5 cars with a chance to win in DP, 4 in GT. Looks COLD out....
Watch out for that curb in the chicane...don't drop a wheel on the wrong side or carbon fiber everywhere... Wild watching them swap out the splitter so quickly. 2-2:30 minutes and back on the track. Nice work. Bummer...time for me to sleep. It'll be hard knowing racing is on TV. Ugh, at least I'll be back among the "living" to watch the final bits of the race in 8 hours.
the long endurance races have become 24 hour sprint races (even McNish will tell you this) - LeMans was that way the past several years and I suspect this will be similar! ! ! Carol I was anxious to see the Camaro but the paint scheme was so "busy looking" you lost the lines of the car! ! Guess I'll go turn the tv on...
Long way to go. Wouldn't take much to open up the GT class big time. In DP I'll have to go with the No. 6 Michael Shank car. Shop is 30 miles from me. Been there a few times. If I ever went to this race they would turn me into a water boy. Michael Shank lives next to my buddy Steve. He comes over for beers all the time. Steve's wife wore an old AJ Allmendinger drivers suit for Halloween. Shank hangs at the VFW hall for the weekly drawing. He dosen't say much about what he does and very few know. And agree with Carol. The beautiful Camaro is absorbed with a busy paint job.
Good grief, Carol. That is NUTS! All of these drivers must have a pulse rate in the teens... Would have been nice for Sunoco to have sponsored one of the Camaros. Hope #97 moves up a spot....
I'm watching on live timing and I must admit that the GrandAm live timing is far better than that of ALMS. You're absolutely correct Isobel....to be as fit as most of them is a dream! Saw across the top that the #6 is limping back to the pits...... here's the link if you don't already have it: http://grandam.racersites-cluster.com/OrbitsServer/grandam/TimingView.html?sid=692&VN=61456 We're headed up to the Stock Show in Fort Worth but I guess I'll have to plug my iPhone in and leave it on live timing on the way up. I tell you, I'd be dead in the water without techno toys!! I am so glad to see Mike Rockenfeller sitting in first place. Looks like he's really increasing the lead over Pruett. Carol
Watching live timing enroute to ftw thinking April won't get here soon enuff for the 3G iPad with a bigger display than this iPhone !! Looks like three incidents within 7 minutes of each other and Labonte running out of fuel on the front straight is stupid and inexcusable! Bet car owner isn't a happy camper. Carol
Brumos car blows up big time and makes me think Dorsey may be calling this a 2 car race a little early with 4 hrs to go.
They just showed Bobby Labonte's Pcar being refilled in basically a parking area. A large Saints flag was mounted on a pole in the bed of a truck and easily seen flapping in the lower corner of the screen. Geaux Saints!
As far as I am concerned the #71 is still leading the GT class. The only way I would ever consider a 3 rotor Mazda win legitimate is if it beats an 8 cylinder 911, a 10 cylinder Camaro, and a 12 cylinder M6.
Sitting here waiting for the start of the Gypsy Horse novice halter class with 17 entries. Catching up on the race - I sure would like to see Rocky pull ahead and get a Rolex. It certainly has been a two car race for the vast majority of the event. Isobel, it appears you and I will be the lone females on both racing sections again!!! Carol the info at the top of live timing has some great info, read where Hurley has officially retired from professional racingbuy would compete in vintage racing. FYI this class is absolutley AWESOME, as they come in there's Enya music playing.....too bad the price is $$$. There is a full page ad in Cavalino or Forza for a gypsy farm in the northeast. Wahoo.....I picked the 1st place horse under both judges, guess I need to get back showing my horses! !
Under two hours left and a close battle is unmentioned by Speed. 4th thru 7th in GT is an open battle with four cars on virtually the same lap. 4th #43 Sahlen RX8, 5th #57 Stevenson Camaro, 6th #44 Magnus 911, 7th #40 Dempsey RX8. All are 10 laps behind the third place #66 TRG 911.
snow here in the carolinas means i have been in front of the tv for the entire race...it has been quite good. i still miss the bishop days...the old footage they show of 935's brings a tear to the eye. still, not a bad show! pcb
Good race. Would have been much more exciting if JPM's car didn't have an engine go south. Glad to see new the bee team beat the others BUT VERY glad to see Rocky get the Rolex. He's a terrific guy and awesome racer. Also very happy to see the Lizards (TRG) take second, well done guys. Carol
