Pirelli World Challenge Rounds 5: Long Beach

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Hey don't forget America's National Park of Speed - Road America!
(I'm planning on attending PWC at RA, got tickets already. Should be a good one! )

Absolutely, you're right!

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

"Three strikes and you're out!" means they better get it right at Barber...

Of course it takes three outs to make an inning and nine innings to make a ball game.
I think PWC will be able to bounce back from this.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Hey don't forget America's National Park of Speed - Road America!
(I'm planning on attending PWC at RA, got tickets already. Should be a good one! )

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Absolutely, you're right!

+1

[nasportscar]

Before the race was even completed, the series was working on correcting the issues, so hopefully everything works out. It's not a fun place to be currently, but I think we'll see a great event at Barber and improvement from there on.

Look at Indycar and also TUSC for series that have done great turnarounds after taking a lot of heat

[joeb]

Any word on all the cars under investigation yet?

[fieldodreams79]

Not sure about the investigations, but Johnny O had some interesting comments on 365:

http://sportscar365.com/features/com...ach-debrief-2/

I'd add that in addition to the "gaming mindset", much of the modern safety measures have taken a little fear out of motor racing (in many series), allowing drivers to take risks they perhaps wouldn't 10 years ago.

Still think the biggest problem this weekend was too many cars on too tight of a circuit, coupled with a short timed event.

[nasportscar]

I think we'll get some news sooner than later

[ttdriver2009]

Why not sit the drivers out for a race or two? I'd think that would send a message to the whole field that they need to behave.

[Mike Hedlund]

Here's a couple clips from inside my #65 car during the Long Beach weekend--

Standing start for the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3VFQwdMQLQ

The last restart to the checkered flag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDstqbD_rMM

And a little bonus clip of 2 laps on Friday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iIJdLSGxXY

-mike

[TheMightyM]

Marshall Pruett has a column out on the Long Beach race, complete with comments from Ryan Dalziel, Johnny O’Connell, Brian Till, Peter Cunningham, and Chris Dyson. You can read it here.

[Deleted]

Somehow I doubt few of those words against Beretta had been said if he was still driving under the GM umbrella... But he's been out of control for years now.

[Bob Baldwin]

" Drivers Driving out of Control "
" Drivers with Big Ego's "
Series MGMT that will respond quickly ? LOL !!!
I have Never heard such a thing

[TheMightyM]

Per Sportcar 365, here's the Long Beach penalty list in car number order:

• Johnny O’Connell, No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R, $3000 and 30 driver points for driver conduct.
• Bryan Heitkotter (GTA), No. 05 AE Nissan GT Academy Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, $5000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct; loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for movement prior to start.
• Robert Thorne, No. 6 K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsports McLaren 650S GT3, $5000 and 30 driver points, start Round 6 from pit lane for driver conduct.
• Martin Fuentes (GTA), No. 07 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Christina Nielsen (GTA), No. 7 TRG-AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• Eric Lux (GTA), No. 08 DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for being out of position on a restart.
• Kevin Estre, No. 9 K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsports McLaren 650S GT3, $3000 and 30 driver points for driver conduct; loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for being out of position on a restart.
• Henrik Hedman (GTA), No. 10 DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• Colin Thompson (GT Cup), No. 11 Kelly-Moss Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Lorenzo Trefethen (GT Cup), No. 13 ANSA Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow; $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• James Sofronas, No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct, using pit lane to pass.
• Chris Dyson, No. 16 Bentley Team Dyson Racing Bentley Continental GT3, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Drew Regitz (GTA), No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• David Welch (GTA), No. 21 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Ryan Dalziel, No. 31 EFFORT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, 20 driver points for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Bret Curtis (GTA), No. 32 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3, start next race from pit lane, perform three successful standing starts during practice.
• Michael Lewis (GTA), No. 41 EFFORT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Olivier Beretta, No. 61 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $3000 and 30 driver points for driving conduct, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct, loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for movement prior to start.
• Mike Hedlund, No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct contact.
• Bill Ziegler (GTA), No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct contact.

[kevin993]

The drivers meeting at Barber will be quite lively. I'm sure the WC Racing staff will be asked a few questions.

[Matt]

[TheMightyM]

Yeah, this will make for a really interesting driver's meeting. If the atmosphere in the paddock was bad before, then this will make it even worse.

One thing that sticks out is that apparently PWC considers passing under the yellow ($5,000 fine and 40 driver points) to be a worse offense than the Beretta/Estre/O’Connell incident for which each was fined $3,000 and lost 30 driver points. Or for that matter Heitkotter's move on Butch Leitzinger, which only got a $5,000 fine and a 20 driver points hit.

And blowing your clutch out during the standing start means you have to start the next race from pit lane?

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Per Sportcar 365, here's the Long Beach penalty list in car number order:

• Johnny O’Connell, No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R, $3000 and 30 driver points for driver conduct.
• Bryan Heitkotter (GTA), No. 05 AE Nissan GT Academy Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, $5000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct; loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for movement prior to start.
• Robert Thorne, No. 6 K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsports McLaren 650S GT3, $5000 and 30 driver points, start Round 6 from pit lane for driver conduct.
• Martin Fuentes (GTA), No. 07 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Christina Nielsen (GTA), No. 7 TRG-AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• Eric Lux (GTA), No. 08 DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for being out of position on a restart.
• Kevin Estre, No. 9 K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsports McLaren 650S GT3, $3000 and 30 driver points for driver conduct; loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for being out of position on a restart.
• Henrik Hedman (GTA), No. 10 DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• Colin Thompson (GT Cup), No. 11 Kelly-Moss Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Lorenzo Trefethen (GT Cup), No. 13 ANSA Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow; $1000 and 20 driver points for driver conduct.
• James Sofronas, No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct, using pit lane to pass.
• Chris Dyson, No. 16 Bentley Team Dyson Racing Bentley Continental GT3, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Drew Regitz (GTA), No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• David Welch (GTA), No. 21 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Ryan Dalziel, No. 31 EFFORT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, 20 driver points for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Bret Curtis (GTA), No. 32 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3, start next race from pit lane, perform three successful standing starts during practice.
• Michael Lewis (GTA), No. 41 EFFORT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, $5000 and 40 driver points for pass under yellow.
• Olivier Beretta, No. 61 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $3000 and 30 driver points for driving conduct, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct, loss of two grid positions in Round 6 for movement prior to start.
• Mike Hedlund, No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct contact.
• Bill Ziegler (GTA), No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct contact.

WOW just wow..........

[carbsmith]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

One thing that sticks out is that apparently PWC considers passing under the yellow ($5,000 fine and 40 driver points) to be a worse offense than the Beretta/Estre/O’Connell incident for which each was fined $3,000 and lost 30 driver points. Or for that matter Heitkotter's move on Butch Leitzinger, which only got a $5,000 fine and a 20 driver points hit.

Nothing odd about a bigger penalty for the blatantly illegal than the subjectively stupid.

[TF110]

WC at least will make some quick cash from those fines!

[rich07]

How long until the races are uploaded onto YouTube? I keep on hearing about all this but I'd love to see some vision to know what everyone's is talking about.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Matt

This picture really isn't appropriate.

It should be a sawn-off shotgun instead of a revolver...

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

Here's a couple clips from inside my #65 car during the Long Beach weekend--

Standing start for the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3VFQwdMQLQ

The last restart to the checkered flag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDstqbD_rMM

And a little bonus clip of 2 laps on Friday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iIJdLSGxXY

-mike

Those were great. Thanks for showing some patience and thanks a bunch for sharing them!

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Per Sportcar 365, here's the Long Beach penalty list in car number order:

• Johnny O’Connell, No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R, $3000 and 30 driver points for driver conduct.
• Ryan Dalziel, No. 31 EFFORT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, 20 driver points for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Mike Hedlund, No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, $1000 and 20 driver points for driving conduct contact.

Sorry you made the list, Mike, but it's at least pretty decent company, if I say so myself.



I get unsportsmanlike conduct and driving conduct contact, but what is plan old driver conduct? A catch all?

Still would have preferred Beretta to have his win removed but he did at least recieve the heaviest of penalties.

[DeezPutz]

The way penalties should be!

[Danske]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I get unsportsmanlike conduct and driving conduct contact, but what is plan old driver conduct? A catch all?

I think that may be a "snitching/*****ing to the press" penalty.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Sorry you made the list, Mike, but it's at least pretty decent company, if I say so myself.

You are an eternal optimist sir!

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I get unsportsmanlike conduct and driving conduct contact, but what is plan old driver conduct? A catch all?

Originally Posted by Danske

I think that may be a "snitching/*****ing to the press" penalty.

HA!


Seriously though, shouldn't fines and penalties be outlined in the rules, or am I overthinking this? I mean shouldn't we be able to look in the rule book, see what you are not supposed to do, and then see what the outcome of breaking the rule is?