IMSA DPi Discussion

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgRS

Unless Mazda starts getting consistently better results, a change in their operating team could be something they have in mind. If MSR ends up looking for a program next year outside of the HPD family, it could be a nice pairing.

This makes sense.

[Akrapovic]

If they're going to change operators then might as well do it right and go talk to Mr Joest.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

The Cadillacs supposedly also have 600+bhp, something that LMP1s allegedly didn't have back then outside of the factory cars.

And I'd bet that those LMP1s still cornered faster than the DPIs did.

The Cadillac started the year with around 600hp, but following the avalanche of BoP, it probably only produces around 520-530hp. The big difference around Long Beach is probably torque.

Chris

[TF110]

I'm willing to bet they started out well above 600hp. Possibly closer to 700hp than 600. The torque advantage is still there of course but it does seem lessened with the gearing change.

Anyone have the top speed stats from the Long Beach race?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'm willing to bet they started out well above 600hp. Possibly closer to 700hp than 600. The torque advantage is still there of course but it does seem lessened with the gearing change.

Anyone have the top speed stats from the Long Beach race?

http://results.imsa.com/

Select race, then "Event Maximum Speed"

[chernaudi]

It is for real that the DPIs couldn't break 145mph? The older LMP1s had to have gone faster than that.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

It is for real that the DPIs couldn't break 145mph? The older LMP1s had to have gone faster than that.

It's quite possible(though not guaranteed) they broke 145 but it wasn't recorded. IIRC, those are the trap speeds, not onboard telemetry. Speed traps are set a lot sooner than where the prototypes would start braking because GT cars brake a fair bit sooner and would not catch anything close to their top speeds of the trap was placed just before the prototype braking point.

[carbsmith]

The speed trap is at start/finish.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

The speed trap is at start/finish.

That's way before they reach the top end! I think it's safe to say they were doing a good 15+mph before they brake.

[Matt]

Factory Audi driver Marco Bonanomi testing PR1's Ligier at CoTA today...

[Akrapovic]

Unfortunately Bonanomi isn't a factory Audi driver anymore. That came to an end at the end of 2016. He's been doing Rallying recently, which is a bit of a waste of talent!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Unfortunately Bonanomi isn't a factory Audi driver anymore. That came to an end at the end of 2016. He's been doing Rallying recently, which is a bit of a waste of talent!

Copy, thought he still was.

[joeb]

Looks like there will be two new DPi's on the grid for COTA, Action Express Dallara (31 car) and the Visit Florida Riley are switching to spare tubs after suffering crash damage at Long Beach.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/13968...ng-beach-crash

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/13969...quired-for-axr

Both teams note how well the tubs did at keeping the driver safe, and Flis wondered how that impact would have impacted the driver in an old tube-frame DP. Either way, the repairs are expensive and could impact the teams testing plans.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by joeb

Looks like there will be two new DPi's on the grid for COTA, Action Express Dallara (31 car) and the Visit Florida Riley are switching to spare tubs after suffering crash damage at Long Beach.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/13968...ng-beach-crash

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/13969...quired-for-axr

Both teams note how well the tubs did at keeping the driver safe, and Flis wondered how that impact would have impacted the driver in an old tube-frame DP. Either way, the repairs are expensive and could impact the teams testing plans.

You mean two new prototypes - only one's a DPi.

/pedanticness

[RWill2073]

I read this,

Originally Posted by joeb

Looks like there will be two new DPi's on the grid for COTA,

And got excited. Such a tease to start the post that way.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by RWill2073

I read this,



And got excited. Such a tease to start the post that way.

Glad you liked it!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by RWill2073

I read this,



And got excited. Such a tease to start the post that way.

SAME hahahaha

[joeb]

The DPi section of Mariantic has some good info if you haven't been on there in a while:
http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/DPI1.asp

Oreca thinks they will have a DPi customer for 2018, and possibly another for 2019.

But what i really liked were the side by side comparisons from Pan_Nullo. It really allows you to see what the differences are (or aren't) between the base P2 and the DPi bodywork of Mazda, Caddy, and Nissan.

[joeb]

MP does a little "imagine if" type of article on the upcoming Honda DPi project driver possibilities. Pretty good scenarios possible for the drivers:

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints...=&limitstart=1

He thinks Penske might get to choose drivers for 1 car and Honda for the other.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by joeb

MP does a little "imagine if" type of article on the upcoming Honda DPi project driver possibilities. Pretty good scenarios possible for the drivers:

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints...=&limitstart=1

He thinks Penske might get to choose drivers for 1 car and Honda for the other.

I think that is what MSR has done with their full season lineup, I believe 86 is Shank-chosen, and 93 was selected by HPD.

Chris

[Dyson Mazda]

How do you guys think that Rickey and Jordan rank as drivers among the global sportscar elites (the Toyota, Porsche, fmr Audi drivers)? I know that Jordan proved he was worthy of respect at Daytona and Sebring up against the European crew.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

How do you guys think that Rickey and Jordan rank as drivers among the global sportscar elites (the Toyota, Porsche, fmr Audi drivers)? I know that Jordan proved he was worthy of respect at Daytona and Sebring up against the European crew.

While they maybe wouldn't be the fastest drivers in their respective line-ups, I think neither would look out of place.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

How do you guys think that Rickey and Jordan rank as drivers among the global sportscar elites (the Toyota, Porsche, fmr Audi drivers)? I know that Jordan proved he was worthy of respect at Daytona and Sebring up against the European crew.

I don't think they're up with the Lotterrers, Janis and Davidsons of the world, but I do think that if there was 1 or 2 more factory cars, they'd probably be good enough to be in them. If Porsche were willing to look outside of their programs a bit more, and Toyota decided to stop using Japanese drivers for the sake of nationality, I imagine they'd both get a serious consideration for a seat. If 2 more factory teams arrived, I think the Taylors would be in them, 100%. I think they're the best Prototype drivers in North America right now.

If you put them in WEC P2, they'd be some of, if not the best, pros to pair with Ams. They'd be mega in that class.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I don't think they're up with the Lotterrers, Janis and Davidsons of the world, but I do think that if there was 1 or 2 more factory cars, they'd probably be good enough to be in them. If Porsche were willing to look outside of their programs a bit more, and Toyota decided to stop using Japanese drivers for the sake of nationality, I imagine they'd both get a serious consideration for a seat. If 2 more factory teams arrived, I think the Taylors would be in them, 100%. I think they're the best Prototype drivers in North America right now.

If you put them in WEC P2, they'd be some of, if not the best, pros to pair with Ams. They'd be mega in that class.

You can say that about Porsche or Audi using German drivers. I don't think they're as good as Kobayashi or Nakajima. Maybe better than Kunimoto, but he's a rookie, a Super Formula champion rookie lol. Give him some time and he'll be fine. He needs to up his pace in traffic that's the main problem. Who's to say that the Taylor's would do any better though? It takes getting used to the hybrids. The lift and coast, the traffic management, the double stinting, the different tires etc. Maybe GM can put up some money for a real p1 effort and they can be their own stars instead?

[chernaudi]

Actually, Audi Sport employed relatively few German drivers, certainly not enough at one time on their LMP1 program to put one German in each car. Even Porsche employ only a couple of German drivers, though that's just the same as saying the same thing with Toyota and Japanese drivers. At least Kaz and Kamui have earned their keep if one wants to claim nationalistic nepotism.

If you really want to play the nationalism card, you need to look at Peugeot. The majority of their drivers were usually French, though they had to perform to stay there.

The Taylor kids it can be argued are there in part because of their father Wayne's ties to GM, but they're earning their keep and both have impressed the guys at Corvette Racing. And if anything, they're as good as if not better behind the wheel than their old man was, and Wayne was more than plenty formidable in his time.