IMSA Race TUSC: Lone Star Le Mans at COTA

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

For a new F1 track, I think it's pretty good with the esses and the substantial elevation changes. I'd rate it above Detroit at least. The selection of tracks in the Tudor series is outstanding though so it's up against some pretty tough competition. There's really no filler like the abysmal Homestead roval or the Indy roadcourse which I consider to be tracks to really be bummed about.

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Have you been to COTA? It's a lot better in person than it looks on TV. I enjoy it.

Oh, I'm sure it's wonderful to spectate at and all that, I'm just not a fan of all the asphalt everywhere. Feels very sterile.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Based on recent races, I'd expect a few of the cars on the entry list to not show up. Wright Motorsports Porsche, Starworks DP, one of the Mazdas.

Seems we will see both Mazdas at COTA as Diesels.







L.P.

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Seems we will see both Mazdas at COTA as Diesels.







L.P.

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out next year. Speedsource are ready and determined to put that AER out on the track but it seems like Mazda keeps saying no. Three years in, racing the Skyactiv diesels in America and they're still not competitive and there's still no diesels at the dealerships.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out next year. Speedsource are ready and determined to put that AER out on the track but it seems like Mazda keeps saying no. Three years in, racing the Skyactiv diesels in America and they're still not competitive and there's still no diesels at the dealerships.

Pure SWAG here but I think next year we will see the MZR.R gasoline engine back as their engine of choice. It feels as if Mazda does not want to switch engines in the middle of the year.







L.P.

[schmidder]

Originally Posted by rich07

Sorry to hear Rennen

Hope you make a quick recovery. What is it with tenthers falling off bikes recently? Hope Schmidders arms and jaw are healing good.

I'm doing ok. No more cast or brace on arms. Started therapy yesterday. Figure another week or 10 days and I'll be on road bike..maybe 3 for mtn bike. Jaw bands come off next monday..just it time for rennsport. I'm in camping spot 570 if anyone wants to stop by..have a beer. I know..wrong thread. Rennen..speedy recovery...

[nasportscar]

Just a fun look at GTE vs GTLM at COTA in 2014 http://nasportscar.com/gte-v-gtlm-cota/

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

Just a fun look at GTE vs GTLM at COTA in 2014 http://nasportscar.com/gte-v-gtlm-cota/

Hence the reason that a large contingent of IMSA's staff was at Ladoux for the GTE test.

They will get faster.

[Artur]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Hence the reason that a large contingent of IMSA's staff was at Ladoux for the GTE test.

They will get faster.

The reason for a large contingent of IMSA's staff to test at Ladoux is because they were already 2s faster than WEC? I didn't get what you meant

Btw, this 2s gap is due to what? IMSA having softer compounds, a weight advantage(a consequence of different BoPs) or more power?

@Chiana, tire competition is great but when we see that Falken is constantly 1,5s slower than Michelin, it indicates that, likely, the situation doesn't encourage other manufacturers to take part.

[TF110]

I thought they ran the start/finish line in a different area on the straight?

[Rcz]

So it seems the Ford DP can at least be as fast as the WEC P2.

However the IMSA Protoype are about 10seconds of the P1s.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Rcz

So it seems the Ford DP can at least be as fast as the WEC P2.

However the IMSA Protoype are about 10seconds of the P1s.

However, what is the point of the second observation?
As you stated in the first sentence the comparative WEC class runs in a very similar performance window.








L.P.

[Rcz]

I'm just thinking of what IMSA could do with its P2s in 2017. I bet they could cut that 10sec gap. I remember hearing the old IMSA GTP cars could be almost as fast as CART Indycars. Of course it's not likely with the current mentality. I just want to see fast record breaking cars in the future in IMSA.


COTA seems to be good with the Turbo Protos so far but the Vette DP is a better racer I think. I wonder if the smooth surface will help with the Ford DP's balance.

[Danske]

Originally Posted by Rcz

I'm just thinking of what IMSA could do with its P2s in 2017.

They still have to keep them balanced with the WEC P2, which are going to be included in the class too.

[BullMan]

The guys in the Conti Challenge race are running video game lines out of the corners. It looks ridiculous.

[seanyb505]

What was the reason that IMSA isn't going to enforce track limits to the degree WEC is/will be? I know commentary mentioned it, I didn't catch it.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

What was the reason that IMSA isn't going to enforce track limits to the degree WEC is/will be? I know commentary mentioned it, I didn't catch it.

They said that they couldn't failry police everyone, so they will police no one. Odd though, because they're still policing corner apexes. If they can do one, why not the other? Makes no sense.

[BullMan]

Starworks tweeted they only have one car out there now. Did both cars show up to the track? The remaining car is the Renger VZ and Hedlund car though.

[canamman]

The #88 starworks involved in a practice crash.
Anyone know a status on it?

Just saw a tweet Starworks down to one car. 88 in the bin.
2 car red flag incident. Don't know specifics.

[tux]

Will the track limit rules be the same tomorrow as they are in the CTSCC race? If so i wont be watching, absolutely ridiculous track limit abuse.

I understand the reasoning behind it but it just looks so bad.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by canamman

The #88 starworks involved in a practice crash.
Anyone know a status on it?

OK, that must have been what I saw Starworks tweet. That car is done. Only the Hedlund car remains.

[BullMan]

Seems the BAR1 LMPC is done too. Down to 7 cars in LMPC and 36 overall.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/co...ay-notebook-2/

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Artur

The reason for a large contingent of IMSA's staff to test at Ladoux is because they were already 2s faster than WEC? I didn't get what you meant

So the ACO/FIA staff can meet with IMSA to put them on par with the IMSA cars, and so the IMSA staff can judge 2016 speed for an early BoP chart.

Btw, this 2s gap is due to what? IMSA having softer compounds, a weight advantage(a consequence of different BoPs) or more power?

And aero. So.... yes.

@Chiana, tire competition is great but when we see that Falken is constantly 1,5s slower than Michelin, it indicates that, likely, the situation doesn't encourage other manufacturers to take part.

Falken has stopped development, I know that they've said otherwise, but, it's pretty clear that little to no development has gone on since. They've only tested a handful of times this year.

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by BullMan

Seems the BAR1 LMPC is done too. Down to 7 cars in LMPC and 36 overall.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/co...ay-notebook-2/

Not a bad thing at all!

[MoraineSweep]

These GTLM drivers are loving this paved runoff. IMSA apparently does not care about track limits. I've never quite seen anything like this GT qualifying.

Probably explains this pace gap in the sessions so far. Makes the series look amateur when viewed side by side with the WEC IMO.

[Porsche917K]

Originally Posted by MoraineSweep

These GTLM drivers are loving this paved runoff. IMSA apparently does not care about track limits. I've never quite seen anything like this GT qualifying.

I was glancing at it while doing some work and stopped to say "wtf?". Then they explained it and made it a bit less odd for me. They aren't doing it for the race as I understand it though.