IMSA Race 2016 12 Hours of Sebring

[Dyson Mazda]

This is such an awesome post race photo. This might be the dirtiest sports car I have ever seen after a race.

[Louie Loper]

Just great race overall this year. Wonderful, and though it was difficult, saw most of it via the help of all here as always. Did they ever get the couches burning at Green Park or were they too soaked from rain?

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

This is such an awesome post race photo. This might be the dirtiest sports car I have ever seen after a race.

Wow, that is seriously impressive! Baja cars end up looking cleaner.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

This is such an awesome post race photo. This might be the dirtiest sports car I have ever seen after a race.

I do believe that car went well off-track a couple of times after the red flag. Not terribly surprising.

But still quite funny.

[rich07]

Theres something beautiful about seeing such a worn and weathered race car. Great image.

[skycafe]

Throw back time: Bolus and Snopes would have given the car a complete wash before the finish. Ah, the good ole days.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by skycafe

Throw back time: Bolus and Snopes would have given the car a complete wash before the finish. Ah, the good ole days.

Yep, I remember back in the 90's or early 00's watching the Rolex and seeing the leading cars coming in near the end for a clean up if they were far enough ahead.

[wdave0]

Originally Posted by Matt

Yep, I remember back in the 90's or early 00's watching the Rolex and seeing the leading cars coming in near the end for a clean up if they were far enough ahead.

As a cost saving measure the teams no longer have detailers at the track!

[skycafe]

back to the now, and a 'popular' subject: what keeps happening to PC cars? I tune into, buffering connections, race coverage and it is really common for a PC car to just shut off. They of course stay on the track surface to pull a FCY and get a tow back without losing too much time. They either just stop, or trundle around for bit, resetting the main system constantly, until they just stop. Is it fuel? An instability in the electrical system?

I don't think it is the driver, it seems like a common fault on what are identical cars.

[nasportscar]

Data analysis from Ben Wedge http://nasportscar.com/bens-analysis...rs-of-sebring/

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by wdave0

As a cost saving measure the teams no longer have detailers at the track!

There were times where it seemed like that's all they did to the Audi R8s; detail them. There was some dude wiping down the bodywork while another vacuumed out the inner workings. Meanwhile, two garages down, Dyson and the Fields had their Lolas completely disassembled and were thrashing relentlessly on them, for those dozen laps batshit crazy speed, only to have it all end in a massive turbo fire and Jon Field punting him and someone else off the course.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by skycafe

back to the now, and a 'popular' subject: what keeps happening to PC cars? I tune into, buffering connections, race coverage and it is really common for a PC car to just shut off. They of course stay on the track surface to pull a FCY and get a tow back without losing too much time. They either just stop, or trundle around for bit, resetting the main system constantly, until they just stop. Is it fuel? An instability in the electrical system?

I don't think it is the driver, it seems like a common fault on what are identical cars.

I'm not smart enough to know why they can't re-fired easily and I don't know if this has always been an issue with them. What I do know, is the cars are dated and there's two or three teams that really seem to have a hot shoe with 1 or 2 decent gentlemen drivers. The rest just seem to have a great deal of difficulty not cocking up in the most inopportune times.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Got back home last night after the long drive from Sebring. Thought I would share a couple of things with you all.

First was an unforgettable experience. On Friday a few of my friends and I got to do a hot lap in a BMW M3 with one of their drivers. Was exciting and terrifying all at the same time. He pushed the car pretty darn good, taking the racing line, squealing the tires, braking at the last second. At one point I saw us get up to 140MPH. Something that left me breathless and something I will never forget.

I'll preface my next anecdote with a story from a couple of years ago. Two Petit Le Mans ago a fellow forum member and I were doing the grid walk and ran into one Scot Atherton. My friend said something along the lines of his concern as to the direction we were headed with the series. Atherton goes on to say something along the lines of, "Talk with me again this time next year, I'm sure you won't be disappointed".

Fast forward to a couple of days ago. I'm doing the grid walk and see him again. I couldn't help myself and walked up to him and said, "I really miss seeing those Audis Mr. Atherton. How did we screw things up so bad that we don't get to see them anymore?" I was completely baffled with the lunacy of his response, "We're going to have all new prototypes next year". And then he literally said, "You're going to forget all about those Audis!" I didn't even know how to respond...

[Matt]

Ask a dickish question, get a dickish response.

[skycafe]

The future is always so bright ya gotta wear shades

[Bob Baldwin]

Not sure WHY but I had to leave around 6:00 PM Parked in the infield and decided to drive around the infield and eventually OVER the drive across bridge . at a few points I thought I was driving thru a Garbage Landfill . DAMMMM!!! there sure are a lot of Sloppy fans there

[nasdriv87]

I'd like to know what's IMSA is thinking now about the BoP done and another ESM win?!?!?

1. ESM won't race any more race, that's cool. don't worry DPs...

2. That was a lucky day for ESM and it won't occur again...

3. Gentleman, what we can do now??!?! A P2 won again in our series...

4. S.O.S. to anyone!!!!

kkkkkk

[ATLFalconsFAN]

I'm not going to go with it being a "dickish" question. I will agree to it being a loaded question. I knew that it wasn't really a fair question to ask, I was just giving the man another opportunity to level with me and give a fair, non-sugar coated, non-party line answer. He was not busy at the time, he was standing there twiddling his thumbs surveying the landscape.

I would have been happy to have engaged in a civil, brief discussion with the man. Wherein he could have heard my displeasure with things but also heard that as I have done with every other race, I brought three new people with me who had never been there.

Here's the response that I would have appreciated and been totally cool with:

"I hear your disappointment and I feel it to. I'm just as big a fan of the factory P1s as you are and also wish that they could still be here. Unfortunately the business environment that we were in was unsustainable and we are trying to do our best to provide an exciting product with the resources that we have. Please continue to be a fan".

Just for one engage with me as a fan and not just a customer. Instead he insulted me by trying to tell me what I should be interested in, and what in his opinion I would "forget all about".

[Matt]

Originally Posted by nasdriv87

I'd like to know what's IMSA is thinking now about the BoP done and another ESM win?!?!?

1. ESM won't race any more race, that's cool. don't worry DPs...

2. That was a lucky day for ESM and it won't occur again...

3. Gentleman, what we can do now??!?! A P2 won again in our series...

4. S.O.S. to anyone!!!!

kkkkkk

That was all down to Pipo being Pipo F***ing Derani and the fact he is the quickest driver in the series. Put him in any of the cars in the P field and he would have done the same thing. This is the same team with Ed Brown on it and they've won the 36 Hours of Florida.

[Akrapovic]

DPs were 2nd and 3rd, and they were faster over a stint when Derani wasn't at the wheel. Pla was the only other one close over a distance. And a P on new tyres should be faster than a P on old tyres.

If we're going to adjust the BoP for that one then it looks like we'll be doing driver specific BoPs. Presumably everyone will just have to put weights in their pockets, whilst Derani wears medieval Armour.

The BoP was fine. Dernai won the race through being the best driver and having new tyres.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

I'm not going to go with it being a "dickish" question. I will agree to it being a loaded question. I knew that it wasn't really a fair question to ask, I was just giving the man another opportunity to level with me and give a fair, non-sugar coated, non-party line answer. He was not busy at the time, he was standing there twiddling his thumbs surveying the landscape.

I would have been happy to have engaged in a civil, brief discussion with the man. Wherein he could have heard my displeasure with things but also heard that as I have done with every other race, I brought three new people with me who had never been there.

Here's the response that I would have appreciated and been totally cool with:

"I hear your disappointment and I feel it to. I'm just as big a fan of the factory P1s as you are and also wish that they could still be here. Unfortunately the business environment that we were in was unsustainable and we are trying to do our best to provide an exciting product with the resources that we have. Please continue to be a fan".

Just for one engage with me as a fan and not just a customer. Instead he insulted me by trying to tell me what I should be interested in, and what in his opinion I would "forget all about".

Nah, it was dickish! The facts of the matter have been known for some time, since the merger in fact. That's plenty of time for even the most obtuse to have seen and know the direction in which IMSA was headed with the class. So for someone who has been exposed to the facts for that length of time to prop it up as a 'loaded question' is just wrong, IMO. As to the expectation of the ego stroking answer sought... The Audi (P-1) has not been in the series for some time now, so for you to be asking such a question means you have to have been a fan of some length of time, therefore you should know all of the answers to said question. He gave the only honest answer available. If giving the only truthful, factual, answer to the instantly discernible dickish question asked was offensive, then all I can say is when asking that kind of question you better expect a brief response at best!






L.P.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

DPs were 2nd and 3rd, and they were faster over a stint when Derani wasn't at the wheel. Pla was the only other one close over a distance. And a P on new tyres should be faster than a P on old tyres.

If we're going to adjust the BoP for that one then it looks like we'll be doing driver specific BoPs. Presumably everyone will just have to put weights in their pockets, whilst Derani wears medieval Armour.

The BoP was fine. Dernai won the race through being the best driver and having new tyres.

Yep, BoP looked pretty good! Derani won that race, period.









L.P.

[Bob Baldwin]

I also posed a similar question . with Mr. Atherton on the Grid walk . ME: " Mr. Atherton as a Fan / Customer of the series , HOW much difference would you be saying we will be seeing between the Sebring 2016 Grid and the Sebring 2017 Grid ? Furthermore I am really NOT a fan of the PC cars , Though from what I have seen so far I like the GT3's . Also are there going to be any additional increases either this year and next to increase the size of the GTLM class ? Lastly : Will we ever see anymore P-1 cars at Sebring ?

Mr. Athertons Answers :A
1. You will absolutely love the front end of the grid next year and the increase of the P-2 cars
2.Sorry you feel that way about PC cars they really have a big fan base !!!
3. The GT3's are spectacular
4.As relates to GTLM we would like more MFG involvement and hoping more come on board to showcase their brands !
5. as to the P-1's NOT very likely

I kind of got the feeling he was trying to sugar coat the questions . Thanked him for his time , BUT now I wonder WHY I did so OH WELL !!!
PC's have a BIG fan base ???

[chernaudi]

The only way to get LMP1 back in the IMSA fold is either:

1: A bunch of rich somebodies who want to race them fork over the coin for them, or

2: Their cost comes down a ton or ten. Like to the level of the customer R8s of 10-15 years ago.

A Modern LMP1 car, certainly since the diesel and hybrid powered ones came onto the scene, is essentially a hand cannon of the type of having an Iowa-class battleship 16 inch main gun in a shoulder holster. And by god the cost just as much as one of those solutions.

I love the LMP1 cars and wish that Audi or anyone else who wanted to could still run Sebring. But does anyone here know anyone who'd foot the bill for a privateer or semi-works LMP1 effort? I know only a handful of people capable of it in America, and the fact that they haven't bit IMO speaks volumes. That writing has been on the wall for a few years now at least.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Nah, it was dickish! The facts of the matter have been known for some time, since the merger in fact. That's plenty of time for even the most obtuse to have seen and know the direction in which IMSA was headed with the class. So for someone who has been exposed to the facts for that length of time to prop it up as a 'loaded question' is just wrong, IMO. As to the expectation of the ego stroking answer sought... The Audi (P-1) has not been in the series for some time now, so for you to be asking such a question means you have to have been a fan of some length of time, therefore you should know all of the answers to said question. He gave the only honest answer available. If giving the only truthful, factual, answer to the instantly discernible dickish question asked was offensive, then all I can say is when asking that kind of question you better expect a brief response at best!

Even if it is known, it's irrelevant.

If you are the face of the series, you need to approach EVERY single question as if you are talking to someone who has no clue, or has a poor understanding of the world that IMSA is currently working in.

If what was said is both true, and accurate, Atherton answered this is in an entirely wrong manner.