IMSA Race 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona

[joeb]

The race is only a week away so I thought it was time to get the official discussion started. We have 47 cars on the entry list, and there has been very little BOP changes made since the Roar. The first practice is a week from today so we will be able to see all the retro liveries the cars will be sporting in support of IMSA's 50th anniversary. As of now the weather looks good, but things can change quickly.

There should be good battles throughout the race in all the classes. DPi speeds are going to be up, and if conditions are right, we will see the track record broken. It was broken (unofficially) by Mazda during the Roar and they weren't hit with any BOP changes. If the Mazdas don't self destruct they are going to be quick, and the Nissan and Acuras look pretty good as well, but the Caddy's have to be the favorite based on sheer numbers if nothing else. The P2 contingent is small this year, but I think one of those cars could be in the top 5 overall once the DPi's starting hitting trouble, or each other.

GTLM is tight as ever, so it is anybody's race to win/lose there, and I have no idea who will be strong in GTD. There are lots of quality teams and driver lineups. The biggest question mark is with the tires. We have seen the tires are fast from Michelin, but how they race is an unknown. Especially through the cool of the night. It is going to be an enjoyable race no matter what, especially if the number of cautions stays low.


Schedule

Entry List

Track Map

Weather

IMSA Timing

Alkamel Timing

Session Results

[Nick Woodbury]

https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/stat...C8zDOJHdMAa6h4

Commentary line-up has been released for the D24. Some notables here...

Bell = Townsend Bell
Allen = Rick Allen (ugh)
Parker = Parker Kligerman

The rest are obvious.

A significant nascar/Indycar/crossover for this event. While some might scoff at some of the incoming nascar voices coming in to this event I can't help but see this as a huge opportunity for IMSA. The fact alone that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be present in the "Peacock Box" will draw thousands, if not tens of thousands of Earnhardt and nascar fans to the broadcast. A win win!

However, I feel Steve Letarte, Krista Voda and Earnhardt's overall knowledge of IMSA and sportscar racing will be suspect...we'll see.


*EDIT* Thanks for starting the thread by the way, Joeb!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/stat...C8zDOJHdMAa6h4

Commentary line-up has been released for the D24. Some notables here...

Bell = Townsend Bell
Allen = Rick Allen (ugh)
Parker = Parker Kligerman

The rest are obvious.

A significant nascar/Indycar/crossover for this event. While some might scoff at some of the incoming nascar voices coming in to this event I can't help but see this as a huge opportunity for IMSA. The fact alone that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be present in the "Peacock Box" will draw thousands, if not tens of thousands of Earnhardt and nascar fans to the broadcast. A win win!

However, I feel Steve Letarte, Krista Voda and Earnhardt's overall knowledge of IMSA and sportscar racing will be suspect...we'll see.


*EDIT* Thanks for starting the thread by the way, Joeb!

I don't recall seeing a commentary schedule like that in the past. and what is the Peacock Box?

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by joeb

I don't recall seeing a commentary schedule like that in the past. and what is the Peacock Box?

The peacock box is a trackside pitbox that nascar debuted a couple of years ago.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

The peacock box is a trackside pitbox that nascar debuted a couple of years ago.

Thanks. That seems unnecessary, just more people to show and talk instead of showing the racing.

[skycafe]

Don't forget that Earnhardt has done the 24 Hours a couple of times, so he has some experience of the race, traffic, and changing conditions.

The bird box looks like a cool vantage point, although the are facing the wrong way.

[crown point]

Good day race fans!

Happy to be part of the community. I'm thrilled at the "lack" of BOP. Hopefully we'll be treated to excellent battles. In DPi and GTD, I suspect it boils down to which teams come to grips with the new Michelin's best. Caddy and Lambo are well represented (should there be "data sharing").

[Deleted]

I still think stock Oreca 07 could win this. Their general pace is lower now, but not particularly lower to most of the years they've been balanced against the rebadged chassis or DPG3 earlier... it doesn't require too many of the lead class cars to retire to have normal LMP2 up there. And I'm not just talking about the AERs in Riley-'Mazdas' eventually and obviously expiring, there have been some gremlins in the others too

And yes they have pay drivers in rotation in them but that doesn't matter in a race where you receive gift laps back for free of charge, just stick your platinum for the last restarts. Now, last year you only had four cautions, and some suggested that being due to the lack of LMPC / low amount of cars but I'm not entirely convinced of that event just being odd duck... happy to be proven wrong of course

Anyway. NBC ad breaks surely can't be as bad as with FOX? Not that the international viewers will see it, nor the peacock box. And for BoP, it can still get reversed after practice and qualifying, one shouldn't really get too fixed on that yet...

[carbsmith]

Daytona in recent years is a race where the most important factor is your short run pace on the last restart followed by your straight line speed for overtaking/defending on the banking, of which an LMP2 car has absolutely none. If there's a single DPi in contention their chances of keeping the lead at the end are tiny.

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Anyway. NBC ad breaks surely can't be as bad as with FOX? .

It won't be much different than it was during the Fox days. That is simply the reality of American broadcasting, commercials/ads pay the bills and keep the shows running.

[joeb]

For those in the US, the broadcast schedule for Daytona can be found here:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/n...x-24-coverage/

Only portion of the race not on NBCSN is a 4 hour period from 5-9 saturday night when the coverage switches to the NBC Sports App.

[TF110]

I'm hoping for a low caution count but in reality I'm expecting it to be in double digits.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

Daytona in recent years is a race where the most important factor is your short run pace on the last restart followed by your straight line speed for overtaking/defending on the banking, of which an LMP2 car has absolutely none. If there's a single DPi in contention their chances of keeping the lead at the end are tiny.

Last year the surviving Dallara-Cadillacs had overheating engines by the end of the race, resulting in terrible crawling pace for much of it, that may happen again?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by joeb

For those in the US, the broadcast schedule for Daytona can be found here:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/n...x-24-coverage/

Only portion of the race not on NBCSN is a 4 hour period from 5-9 saturday night when the coverage switches to the NBC Sports App.

This is already a sight better than Fox. Number of ad breaks aside, there's no breaks to cover international football, the Greg Bifle hour or Big East Basketball.

I'll give them a go, but will also hope for the occasional YouTube linky with IMSA Radio coverage and no ads, if its available.

For the app, that's all I got as I have a Roku only so this should be interesting...

[The Fat Clerk]

Can't find any sign of coverage in the U.K.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

Can't find any sign of coverage in the U.K.

https://imsatv.imsa.com/

[Adam43]

Will it be available on the app?

Edit: thanks Akrapovic

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Will it be available on the app?

Edit: thanks Akrapovic

In the UK it should be.

This is assuming they haven't changed since last year.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

https://imsatv.imsa.com/

Many thanks

[Aysedasi]

Yes, thanks from me too!

[GriffM3]

Tom Blomqvist work visa is delayed so Farfus will be stepping in his place in the #25 M8 for the race...is Thais purely having to do with the current government shutdown?

[Adam43]

Would the government shutdown delay visas?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Would the government shutdown delay visas?

The last guidance issued on this said that there would be no impact on visas, however, that could change if the shutdown time extended. That guidance was issued in December, so it's possible we've hit that mark now.

[skycafe]

Makes you wonder about other personel, or parts/suppies. Hope not.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

The last guidance issued on this said that there would be no impact on visas, however, that could change if the shutdown time extended. That guidance was issued in December, so it's possible we've hit that mark now.

The state department is mostly clear under the shutdown and are still processing things as usual. Importation inspections could be tougher as the inspectors are working but only as they're required to as "essential employees." They're required to work with only the promise of pay upon the end of the shutdown.