ALMS: Laguna Seca

[dougiemeats]

Round: 10
Race Duration: 4 hrs
Track Type: permanent; 2.238 miles; 11 turns
Date/Location: October 21 - Monterey, California
TV Broadcast (U.S./Live): SPEED Channel October 21 - 5:30 PM Eastern

P1
2x Audi R10
1x Autocon Lola AER
1x Dyson Lola AER
1x Zytek
1x Creation Judd

P2
2x Penske Porsche
1x Intersport Lola AER
1x van der Steur Radical
1x Horag Lola Judd
1x B-K Courage Mazda
1x Bruichladdich Radical

GT1
2x Corvette C6.R
2x Aston Martin

GT2
2x BMW
1x AJR Porsche
1x Petersen/WL Porsche
2x Flying Lizard Porsche
2x Multimatic Panoz
2x Risi Competizione

Notes:
* Season finale
* "Race into the night"
* Zytek won this race last year
* Dyson will race only one Lola
* No Highcroft
* Aston Martin is back to "normal weight"
* For those keeping track, that's the 7th performance adjustment for the GT1 class this season!
* Seven championships still to be decided

 

[YIN]

i can't wait to see how the new RS spyder go against audi,imo light weight should be the key at the tight and slippery Laguna Seca

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Hopefully, this one will be as good as last year's race.

 

[RACECAR]

looks like the championship chase has had a few twists added. can't wait to see it.

 

[m.piedgros]

Still no word on the expected debut of the 997's. I guess we'll have to wait for Sebring, huh? Oh well... I'm excited to see non-SPEED, non-CBS, non-NBC coverage of the event; It'll be interesting to compare and contrast coverage.

m.piedgros

 

[JohnBM01]

How about it? Final ALMS event for 2006. Sad to see something good go. But it's okay. The ALMS will be back in full song for Sebring unless some freak financial incident or something ruins the 2007 season. How about one last FACT OR FICTION for 2006?

Remember:
FACT = we can likely expect this to happen
FICTION = too good to be true, not going to happen


LAGUNA SECA - FACT OR FICTION?

1.) Porsche will not win in either/or both P2 and GT2.
2.) There will be yet another Audi 1-2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.
3.) The lone Radical will not finish.
4.) The only Dyson entry will get a podium in either/or P1 or Overall.
5.) Risi Competizione will win in GT2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.
6.) Either or both Panoz will not finish.
7.) Aston Martin won in GT1 at Road Atlanta. So they'll win again to end the season on a happy note.
8.) The lone Courage Mazda will upset EVERYONE in P2 at Laguna Seca.
9.) The Zytek will finish, but not on the P1 or overall podium.
10.) At least one BMW in GT2 will make up for a tough break at Road America by finishing third or higher in GT2.


One last time. How 'bout it?

 

[m.piedgros]

LAGUNA SECA - FACT OR FICTION?

1.) Porsche will not win in either/or both P2 and GT2.

Fact. As much as I'd like to see them win both, Ferrari will win in GT2.

2.) There will be yet another Audi 1-2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.

Fact.

3.) The lone Radical will not finish.

Fiction. This car is real good guys. I suppose it is relatively fresh off the assembly line but the car looked pretty good in Europe!

4.) The only Dyson entry will get a podium in either/or P1 or Overall.

Fact. I see them podiuming (did I just make that up?) in P1 at least.

5.) Risi Competizione will win in GT2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.

Fact.

6.) Either or both Panoz will not finish.

Fact.

7.) Aston Martin won in GT1 at Road Atlanta. So they'll win again to end the season on a happy note.

Fiction. Corvette, searching for the championships are going to bring the hurt.

8.) The lone Courage Mazda will upset EVERYONE in P2 at Laguna Seca.[/QUOTE

HAHAHA! Is that a sick joke?! I mean... fiction.

9.) The Zytek will finish, but not on the P1 or overall podium.

Fiction. This is a good car, good team, they have what it takes to take it to the ALMS regulars (especially at this short race, compared to what they're used to that is...)

10.) At least one BMW in GT2 will make up for a tough break at Road America by finishing third or higher in GT2.

Fiction.


Gossip: Another two car Ferrari team making an announcement at Laguna (Scottish-Italian)? Rahal-Letterman GT2 program, announced at Laguna? Porsche execs. won't completely shoot down the idea of a P1 program. The impression all my conspiracy buddies are getting is; not until after '07 when fuel issues are worked out by ACO. TRG 997/996 program for '07? TRG LM P2 program for '07? Farenbacherloles Racing 996 full season in '07? Rides in ALMS for Aschenbach and Imrey for '07?

Ahhh, so much to gossip about so little time... I'll check you kids later.

m.piedgros

 

[dougiemeats]

3.) The lone Radical will not finish.

Just double-checking here, John, because you might know something I don't:

I see two Radicals on the entry-list

 

[JohnBM01]

Oh. I didn't notice the two Radicals. I thought there was only one. So...


LAGUNA SECA - FACT OR FICTION? (REVISED)
3. Either or both Radicals will not finish.


How now?

 

[YIN]

some sad news for me....aco just made some regulation adjustments,5% restrictor size reduction for LMP2,thus reigning in the performance of the LMP2s relative to LMP1. With this the ACO is aiming at a 1.5% lap time difference and noted that if hasn't been achieved, then further adjustments will be made at the end of the year.

 

[dougiemeats]

It's sad to see that this will be the final Fact or Fiction this year, but I look forward to 12 more next year!

LAGUNA SECA - FACT OR FICTION?

1.) Porsche will not win in either/or both P2 and GT2.

Fiction. I can't guarantee a Porsche win in GT2, but they should win P2.

2.) There will be yet another Audi 1-2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.

Fiction. Audi might win this event, but look for Dyson, Zytek, or Creation in second place.

3.) Either or both Radicals will not finish.

Fact. They'll both have a strong showing, but there will be no Radicals on the track after 4 hours.

4.) The only Dyson entry will get a podium in either/or P1 or Overall.

Fact. Go Dyson!

5.) Risi Competizione will win in GT2 regardless of whichever car finishes first.

Fact. This is a tough call, since the other GT2 entries seem to get stronger after every race, but I'd bet on a Ferrari win.

6.) Either or both Panoz will not finish.

Fact. At least one will drop out before the race is over.

7.) Aston Martin won in GT1 at Road Atlanta. So they'll win again to end the season on a happy note.

Fiction. They won't have the same breaks that they've enjoyed earlier this season, so look for a Corvette win.

8.) The lone Courage Mazda will upset EVERYONE in P2 at Laguna Seca.

Fiction. But man, I hope they do! That will be quite the upset.

9.) The Zytek will finish, but not on the P1 or overall podium.

Fiction. Zytek will make it on the podium. Who knows, maybe even an overall win?

10.) At least one BMW in GT2 will make up for a tough break at Road America by finishing third or higher in GT2.

Fiction. They'll come close to a podium, but come up short.

 

[JohnBM01]

Another revision... I meant "Road Atlanta" and not "Road America" for the 10th statement! Maybe I should think these through a little more before posting them!

 

[m.piedgros]

Starting line-up for Laguna:

1. Stefan Johansson, Sweden; Johnny Mowlem, England; Zytek 06S (P1), 1:13.731, 109.27
2. Nicolas Minassian, France; Harold Primat, Switzerland; Creation CA06/H-01 Judd (P1), 1:13.838, 109.11
3. Sascha Maassen, Germany; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:14.030, 108.83
4. Allan McNish, Scotland; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Audi R10 TDI Power (P1), 1:14.116, 108.70
5. Frank Biela, Germany; Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Audi R10 TDI Power (P1), 1:14.351, 108.36
6. Lucas Luhr, Germany; Romain Dumas, France; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:14.364, 108.34
7. James Weaver, England; Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Lola B06/10 AER (P1), 1:15.185, 107.15
8. Michael Vergers, Holland; Stuart Moseley, UK; Radical SR9 AER (P2), 1:15.311, 106.98
9. Gunnar Van der Steur, Chesapeake City, MD; Ben Devlin, England; Adam Pecorari, Aston, PA; Radical SR 9 AER (P2), 1:16.267, 105.63
10. John Graham, Canada; Michael Lewis, San Diego, CA; Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Lola EX257 AER (P1), 1:17.859, 103.47
11. Fredy Lienhard Sr., Switzerland; Didier Theys, Belgium; Lola B05/40 Judd (P2), 1:19.395, 101.47
12. Stephane Sarrazin, France; Pedro Lamy, Portugal; Aston Martin DB9 (GT1), 1:21.012, 99.45
13. Jamie Bach, West Palm Beach, FL; Guy Cosmo, Long Island, NY; Courage C65 Mazda (P2), 1:21.015, 99.44
14. Ron Fellows, Canada; Johnny O`Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:21.229, 99.18
15. Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Oliver Gavin, England; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:21.351, 99.03
16. Darren Turner, England; Tomas Enge, Czech Republic; Aston Martin DB9 (GT1), 1:21.515, 98.83
17. Stephane Ortelli, Monaco; Mika Salo, Finland; Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta (GT2), 1:23.611, 96.36
18. Mike Rockenfeller, Germany; Marcel Tiemann, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:24.140, 95.75
19. Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Jorg Bergmeister, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:24.299, 95.57
20. Maurizio Mediani, Italy; Andrea Bertolini, Italy; Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta (GT2), 1:24.370, 95.49
21. Scott Maxwell, Canada; David Brabham, Australia; Panoz Esperante GTLM (GT2), 1:24.556, 95.28
22. Gunnar Jeannette, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; Panoz Esperante GTLM (GT2), 1:24.644, 95.18
23. Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; BMW E46 M3 (GT2), 1:24.847, 94.95
24. Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:25.203, 94.56
25. Justin Marks, Sacramento, CA; Bryan Sellers, Centerville, OH; Ian James, England; BMW E46 M3 (GT2), 1:25.738, 93.97
26. Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), No Time
27. Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Liz Halliday, Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B05/40 AER (P2), No Time.

I hope that is clear... I took it off SPEEDtv.com. How about the Fields + Lady Halliday at the bottom of the barrel (and that vs. the Penske Spyder!)? How about the Audi's quali performance?!

m.piedgros

 

[dougiemeats]

My town held its bar crawl tonight so I missed most of the race.

I'll be avoiding this thread until I get a chance to see all of it.

 

[m.piedgros]

Heck of a race. I really enjoyed it. Sad to see the end of the season but drooling over the fact that Sebring is 140 odd days away! Er, is the Sebring thread up yet?! I can't wait!

m.piedgros

P.S. I was right about the Rahal-Letterman GT2 program, nee ner nee ner nee ner!

New gossip, Kelly Moss (IMSA GT3 Challenge big shots) Racing GT2 program to be announced soon?

Lawson and Ricardo sit and wait for their numbers to be called for a GT2 seat. With the other rumor of Porsche driver's being, for lack of a better word, called up to the Audi LM P1 seats it wouldn't make sense if Lawson Aschenbach and Ricardo Imrey weren't called up.

Ron Fellows retiring? The way it looks now, no. However, James Weaver calls it quits! Thoughts?

 

[Arkangel]

I went to this race, have 300+ pictures, I'd be happy to post some of them for you guys if you'd like to see them. Was an amazing race to say the least, I was right at corkscrew most of the race and saw the Audi R10 spin out after his bump.

 

[Ford_Fan90]

I sure know I'd like to see some of your pictures.

 

[kjb]

I completely forgot about the race. I'm guessing Audi won but what about the other classes?