ALMS Round 4: Salt Lake City

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by 1969MGCGTdriver

Would be nice to get one of the "A" squad drivers back. Nothing against the guys driving now but Nishy is definately at a different level. Does that mean Audi have conceded the LMS to Pugeot and decided it's time to get serious here in ALMS?

If that's the case, wouldn't Pirro's seat also be up for grabs, since Allan would probably want Dindo to come along?

[broadrun96]

It does kinda surprise me they would concede so quick. Think it may have more to do with McNish not liking the LMS tracks in the R10? And if they do leave/transfer drivers without testing the new aero doesn't seem like an racing thing to do.

[chernaudi]

Aren't all Audi drivers supposed to be testing the new aero package for LM/ALMS/LMS? And it's possible that McNish and Capello could do double duty between the ALMS and LMS, as there's only two more LMS races, and they don't clash with ALMS dates.

I also think that it's not McNish not liking the R10 at the Euro track, maybe he just doesn't like the Euro tracks period, as most are F1 circuits that have been neutred by the request of Max Mosley and Bernie Eccostone? Spa, Monza, and Silverstone are the only "real man's" tracks in Europe, but they're no Road America or Mosport or Road Atlanta.

Also, Biela and Pirro(especially Pirro) have been under pressure from their wives and kids to semi retire or retire from full time racing. Audi will hold on on to Frankie and Emanuele, as they're great ambassadors for the brand, but their time as far as racing for Audi full time definently may be running out.

[NightStalk3r]

IMO Audi have nothing left to race for in the ALMS, there practically alone in LMP1 and getting crushed by the LMP2 cars, so why take your best drivers back there when in the LMS they have tons of competition in LMP1 and another Factory Diesel team to prove they can beat.

[Zurbert82]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

IMO Audi have nothing left to race for in the ALMS, there practically alone in LMP1 and getting crushed by the LMP2 cars, so why take your best drivers back there when in the LMS they have tons of competition in LMP1 and another Factory Diesel team to prove they can beat.

There are no more conflicting LMS/ALMS weekends, so why not bring McNish back? He can still duke it out with Peugeot and the other factory P1's in the LMS while doing the same with the P2's in the ALMS. Hopefully this rumor is true.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

IMO Audi have nothing left to race for in the ALMS, there practically alone in LMP1 and getting crushed by the LMP2 cars, so why take your best drivers back there when in the LMS they have tons of competition in LMP1 and another Factory Diesel team to prove they can beat.

Getting crushed? Hardly. 2/4 this year thus far in the ALMS overall, and with the pace to win at Sebring if reliability had not let them down. I don't really get this 'more competition in LMP1' argument for the LMS either. They rest of the pack beyond the Peugeots are no more competitive relative to them than Intersport in the ALMS. At least in the ALMS there are some 10 cars that can compete for overall victory, so 8 valid opponents to the Audi.

[JAG]

It isn't a level playing field, Audi are being penalised for building a car for overall wins.

To add insult to injury GT1 and GT2 aren't performance balanced, would GM walk away if Porsche and Ferrari were beating them?

Let's hope Acura go to P1 in 2009.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

IMO Audi have nothing left to race for in the ALMS, there practically alone in LMP1 and getting crushed by the LMP2 cars, so why take your best drivers back there when in the LMS they have tons of competition in LMP1 and another Factory Diesel team to prove they can beat.

Audi Marketing in North America.

[The Badger]

Can somebody please explain something to me .

A fuel cell is a bag tank , right ? Meaning that it is basically a rubber tank , manufactured to a given dimension , and is supported by the surrounding structure of the fuel cell bay . How can it be oversize , unless its manufactured to an oversize dimension , or can it strech ?!?!?

Im sorry , its gone over my head .

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Audi Marketing in North America.

Being Beaten by the "Slower" P2 class cars would put me off buying an Audi.

[Zurbert82]

They're not slower at every track

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Can somebody please explain something to me .

A fuel cell is a bag tank , right ? Meaning that it is basically a rubber tank , manufactured to a given dimension , and is supported by the surrounding structure of the fuel cell bay . How can it be oversize , unless its manufactured to an oversize dimension , or can it strech ?!?!?

Im sorry , its gone over my head .

I believe youre right there, the only thing I can think of is not enough foam in the cell box surrounding the cell itself or an improperly sourced part at the factory. Was it a newly delivered car, maybe a GT3 Cup cell installed by mistake or manufacturing defect at the original plant. I know it's not really a concern of IMSA but I'm sure it will get Porsche's attention if it is a bad part.

[Fogelhund]

It isn't for IMSA to determine whether the out of specification part was intentional, or a manufacturer error. The bottom line is it was out of spec, and a penalty has been rightly issued. The team will likely learn from this mistake, and measure their tanks before installation in the future.

[1969MGCGTdriver]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

Being Beaten by the "Slower" P2 class cars would put me off buying an Audi.

Except for the fact that they were given performance breaks in order to allow them to beat the P1s.

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by 1969MGCGTdriver

Except for the fact that they were given performance breaks in order to allow them to beat the P1s.

Your average Joe that Audi Marketing is targeting wouldn't know that tho.

[prototype]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

It isn't for IMSA to determine whether the out of specification part was intentional, or a manufacturer error. The bottom line is it was out of spec, and a penalty has been rightly issued. The team will likely learn from this mistake, and measure their tanks before installation in the future.

What is scrutineering for then?

I thought items like this were caught in scrutineering so we didn't have issues like this creep up.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by 1969MGCGTdriver

Except for the fact that they were given performance breaks in order to allow them to beat the P1s.

I suppose it is how you look at it. The reality is that the ACO has penalized the P2's, for being too fast. So, there hasn't been performance breaks, as much as there has been performance penalties. Similarly, IMSA has reduced the performance potential of the LMP2 category two years in a row, though this year they didn't go as far as the ACO did.

I suppose you could say that in the American Le Mans Series, the LMP2 category has breaks, they don't get in the Le Mans Series and Le Mans itself, at least breaks in penalties received this year.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

Being Beaten by the "Slower" P2 class cars would put me off buying an Audi.

But they aren't always beaten. And if there are interesting battles for the win, the series gets more viewers, which might be more useful from a marketing point of view than constant walkovers that nobody watches

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by prototype

What is scrutineering for then?

I thought items like this were caught in scrutineering so we didn't have issues like this creep up.

Scrutineering happens at the beginning of the race weekend. Components be changed over the course of a weekend, can stress or break, or containers can change in volume depending on temperature. This is of course why cars are inspected after the race as well.

Still, it isn't IMSA's responsibility to ensure a car meets the rules, it is the teams.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I suppose it is how you look at it. The reality is that the ACO has penalized the P2's, for being too fast. So, there hasn't been performance breaks, as much as there has been performance penalties. Similarly, IMSA has reduced the performance potential of the LMP2 category two years in a row, though this year they didn't go as far as the ACO did.

I suppose you could say that in the American Le Mans Series, the LMP2 category has breaks, they don't get in the Le Mans Series and Le Mans itself, at least breaks in penalties received this year.

In the ALMS I don't actually mind P2's being as quick as P2's, but Audi continually show a clean pair of heals to them, then have to pit for fuel.

It feels like they're being cheated of a well deseved win.

I also miss the lack of distinct class battles, the ALMS ATM is effectively a two class series.

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by JAG

I also miss the lack of distinct class battles, the ALMS ATM is effectively a two class series.

There was actually a hint of a P1 class battle for about 15 minutes as the Intersport Lola was able to mix it up with the Audis for the early laps. They actually even got between the two Audis for awhile. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see them do that for a whole race?

DK

[KSR88]

Originally Posted by JAG

In the ALMS I don't actually mind P2's being as quick as P2's, but Audi continually show a clean pair of heals to them, then have to pit for fuel.

It feels like they're being cheated of a well deseved win.

I also miss the lack of distinct class battles, the ALMS ATM is effectively a two class series.

Audi has lost this year due to poor race management and poor driving decisions-----both in LMS and ALMS. Wreck-a-racers seldom win endurance type races. Penske has won races with slower cars than even the Acuras!

[porsche45]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I believe youre right there, the only thing I can think of is not enough foam in the cell box surrounding the cell itself or an improperly sourced part at the factory. Was it a newly delivered car, maybe a GT3 Cup cell installed by mistake or manufacturing defect at the original plant. I know it's not really a concern of IMSA but I'm sure it will get Porsche's attention if it is a bad part.

Not saying they did, but parts can be removed, and different ones installed...

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by Kai

Ironically it's because their fuel cell was found to be bigger than regulation spec.

An American who knows the definition of irony!

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by minimangler

An American who knows the definition of irony!

Oh the irony of it all!

DK