ALMS Round 2 St.Pete April 4-6 - Page 2 - The Race Forums - A Social Network for Fans of the American Le Mans

apc_monk · 03-23-2008, 04:11 AM

I was wondering if anybody is going to St. Pete if possible pick up a Mazda/BK t-shirt if any are available. More than willing to send money in advance to pay for a beer or two in appreciation for the effort.

HORNDAWG · 03-25-2008, 03:52 AM

Well, I for one am glad to see VDS on the entry list for St.Pete. I only hope we will get to see them several times this year!

John Dagys · 03-25-2008, 10:35 AM

yes, but we've lost the second Tafel Racing Ferrari... It's not on the entry list.

Suedehead · 03-25-2008, 11:31 AM

Does anyone know why the race has been shortened to 1 hour 55 minutes?

John Dagys · 03-25-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suedehead

Does anyone know why the race has been shortened to 1 hour 55 minutes?

I have a feeling it has to do with TV, although don't quote me on that. ABC has a 1:30-3:30 PM timeslot for the race, and with a race start of 1:25 PM, a full 2:45 race wouldn't have ended in time for the network to show the finish. This is just speculation though..

John Thawley · 03-25-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suedehead

Does anyone know why the race has been shortened to 1 hour 55 minutes?

Live television coverage.

joeb · 03-25-2008, 02:16 PM

I'm not sure what I like better, a live race, or a longer race that is tape delayed.

I like the live race so I can listen to Hindy at the same time as seeing the race, but that is a short race!

Also, a few teams (intersport, robertson) have 3 drivers listed, will they actually make 2 driver changes in the 1:55 race? That just seems like an extra disadvantage that those teams don't need.

John Dagys · 03-25-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I'm not sure what I like better, a live race, or a longer race that is tape delayed.

I like the live race so I can listen to Hindy at the same time as seeing the race, but that is a short race!

Also, a few teams (intersport, robertson) have 3 drivers listed, will they actually make 2 driver changes in the 1:55 race? That just seems like an extra disadvantage that those teams don't need.

Well, that's just part of the game I guess. Intersport had three drivers at Long Beach last year, when that race was 100 minutes. When they went from 3 hour to 2 hour races, the FIA GT Championship mandated two pit stops during each race. That worked out well for the three-driver squads, but the rule was really put in place for gentleman drivers. There's not as much of that in the ALMS, so I really don't see them ever doing it over here.

HORNDAWG · 03-26-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dagys

yes, but we've lost the second Tafel Racing Ferrari... It's not on the entry list.

And won't be back until SLC in its Le Mans trim. They will use MMP, which is being run in the perimeter configuration, for their Le Mans low downforce set-up testing. And will probably debut an ex-Indy car driver to 2nd seat with Jim for the rest of the season.

Magical Trevor · 03-26-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

And won't be back until SLC in its Le Mans trim. They will use MMP, which is being run in the perimeter configuration, for their Le Mans low downforce set-up testing. And will probably debut an ex-Indy car driver to 2nd seat with Jim for the rest of the season.

...off topic, but is anyone else disappointed in the switch of configuration? I think this venue will always be pretty boring (until they find something to put in the sandbox-castles?), but this move from the "premier" layout to a simpler one doesn't seem right for our race series (would be more akin to Grand-Am IMO)...

And I mean no offence to those that love MMP-but I just wish it had more to offer than a couple pretty buildings (that I am not shown in the broadcast-there is a museum there...) and black new pavement.