The American Le Mans Series Offical Thread

[Solid Lifters]

Well, it's nice you were there to talk to people, but talk is bull****. The facts are, Lehto was leading, and would have stayed leading, if the blowout never happen. If the blowout never happened, he also would have led more laps, so that lap leader list is worthless, now iisn't it.

As I said before, after being a good 47 seconds behind the leader, and then ended up just 16 seconds from the leader at the end of the race, shows, without a doubt, that Audiwas going to win if it wasn't for the stupid mistake.

But, there was a mistake, and for it, a win was lost for Audi. It pointless to argue this fact, but you can keep going if you want to. I know what I saw, and no Dyson fanboy is going to change my mind about it.

 

[Fogelhund]

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=163864&FS=ALMS-LEMANS

Dyson Press release

Fastest all weekend, the #16 Dyson car led handily from the drop of the green flag, with Weaver extending his lead seemingly at will. Weaver's torrid pace -- he also set the race's fastest lap -- apparently forced the Audi team to gamble on not changing to fresh tires on their second pit stop. ALMS rules forbid the pit crew from working on the car while it is being refueled. By foregoing a tire change Lehto, who had been several seconds behind the leading Dyson car, was able to emerge from the pits 18 seconds ahead of Leitzinger, now at the wheel of the #16 Dyson entry.

But by then the issue was decided and Leitzinger was able to ease his pace by about a second a lap, keeping the second-place Audi a safe distance behind as he continued his high-speed cruise to the checkered flag.

Champion Press release

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?NewsID=417

Brad Kettler (Technical Director): "The No. 16 Dyson was very good today. They've been quicker than us all week in practice. We played what tactics we could to try and beat them and it just didn't work out.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=163849&FS=ALMS-LEMANS

"When Champion pitted for fuel only, that was a cause for concern," explained Leitzinger. "Then when JJ (Lehto) hit the wall and only came in for new tires, well, that says a lot about that car.

"I was eating into them (Champion Audi) pretty hard. I think we would have caught them

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?NewsID=411

he Audi team gambled by not changing tires on its final pit stop, putting Lehto ahead of Leitzinger by nearly 30 seconds with 45 minutes remaining in the timed event of two hours and 45 minutes. But 10 minutes later, with Leitzinger slicing seconds off the lead every lap, Lehto slid off the track in the fifth turn of the 10-turn, 2.459-mile road course due to a flat tire, handing the lead back to Leitzinger for the final time.

Wow, ALMS staff are wrong, the Champion Team Members were wrong, The Dyson drivers all got it wrong, people at the track were wrong.... I guess either you are the only one right, or you watched a different race then everybody else.

Dyson fan boy? Bwaaaah!!!!! Guess that explains the Champion Team shirt I wore on Sunday.

 

[Firestarter75]

DOWN FOR THE COUNT!

 

[Solid Lifters]

When did I say all that was wrong? Some of it proves my point. I agree with most, if not all, of it.

JJ was 30 seconds ahead of the Dyson when the tire blew out. So, after the previous pit stop, JJ went from +17 seconds to a +30 second lead with older tires, then started to slow from having too worn tires on his car. Then, the blowout of his tire happened.

You see what I mean when I say JJ was going to win that race? He made an, at least, 15 to 20 second jump while on older tires, perhaps even more than that. Then gained as much as five seconds on certain laps while in second place. Your claim Dyson only lost ground of the lead because they held back was not a fair, or accurate, statement. I don't care if that is what Dyson said. Frankly, they're full of **** for saying so, if they did say so.

 

[Fogelhund]

Sorry, your absolutely wrong. JJ did not pull a lead after the tire stop. The lead reduced.

Oh well, no sense arguing with you. Obviously you know more then everyone else.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Sorry, your absolutely wrong. JJ did not pull a lead after the tire stop. The lead reduced.

Oh well, no sense arguing with you. Obviously you know more then everyone else.

Oh, stop acting so damn childish just because you can't prove your point.

I never said JJ took the lead after the tire stop, I said he gained on the leader, reducing the time distance from +40 seconds, to just 17 seconds. Try to pay better attention.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'm sorry. Everytime I see an "OWN3D!!!" picture, I can't help but laugh crazily.

Are you in charge of some management team or something in sportscar racing, Fogelhund? You tried to put deals together and stuff. Seems like you play some pretty heavy roles in sportscar racing. I honor you, my friend.

Ferrari recently devised their lovely 612 Scaglietti, or whatever it's called. Do you sense this being some kind of factory effort for GT or GTS or something? Interesting how you said that Honda never really had interest in international sportscar racing, even though they have an effort in Formula One with Takuma Sato and Jensen Button this season.

A Japanese car company I probably forgot to mention was Toyota. Toyota did sportscar racing before, having won with beautiful IMSA GTP race cars and taking their Supra GTs to Le Mans. And let's not forget the car that WOULD have given Japan its second Le Mans outright winners, the GT-One. I think Toyota is stepping up into the serious sports car market. And based on concept drawings I've seen, the next Supra will probably come out around 2006 or 2007. Also based on drawings, it will take cues from what I called the most beautiful Japanese car of all-time, the Toyota 2000GT. While Toyota hasn't come up with any concept models (for what I know), it would be quite an opening for Toyota to come back to the States since discontinuing the Supra in America in 1998 (correct me if I'm wrong). Do you think Toyota has a chance in America with the American Le Mans Series, if they decide to enter any of the four classes?

Also, I guess we're kind of over the Mosport finish. So let's look to Road America. Any favorites, newsmakers, car manufacturers, race teams, etc. you want to talk about for this race? By the way, great commentary from you, Fogelhund, in response to my last post.

 

[Firestarter75]

Oh, stop acting so damn childish just because you can't prove your point.

I never said JJ took the lead after the tire stop, I said he gained on the leader, reducing the time distance from +40 seconds, to just 17 seconds. Try to pay better attention.

Damn, did they stop teaching reading comprehension in California? Are you a born idiot or did you work hard at it? Read this:

But by then the issue was decided and Leitzinger was able to ease his pace by about a second a lap, keeping the second-place Audi a safe distance behind as he continued his high-speed cruise to the checkered flag.

Just admit you are are wrong and take a glass of STFU and drink it.

 

[Darin]

Damn, did they stop teaching reading comprehension in California? Are you a born idiot or did you work hard at it? Read this:

But by then the issue was decided and Leitzinger was able to ease his pace by about a second a lap, keeping the second-place Audi a safe distance behind as he continued his high-speed cruise to the checkered flag.

Just admit you are are wrong and take a glass of STFU and drink it.

Well - congratulations. You've ruined a perfectly good thread.

I'm quiet surprised that you're called someone a idiot, when you are acting like a idiot.

Now that you've headed of off-topic.
Welcome to the world wide web. You made yourself look like a fool in front of the entire world.

 

[Firestarter75]

LMAO. Im the fool? Holy crap, thanks for the laugh. Please keep me laughing some more. I suppose now reporters, Champion and Dyson are all wrong but Solid Lifters an internet poster is right.

 

[Darin]

LMAO. Im the fool? Holy crap, thanks for the laugh. Please keep me laughing some more. I suppose now reporters, Champion and Dyson are all wrong but Solid Lifters an internet poster is right.

No problem.
Thats what I do all day myself.. Sit back and laugh.

I will not answer your question though.

Prodrives Aston Martin is kinda gonna suck next year I bet...

 

[Solid Lifters]

Damn, did they stop teaching reading comprehension in California? Are you a born idiot or did you work hard at it? Read this:

But by then the issue was decided and Leitzinger was able to ease his pace by about a second a lap, keeping the second-place Audi a safe distance behind as he continued his high-speed cruise to the checkered flag.

Just admit you are are wrong and take a glass of STFU and drink it.

You're trying to convince me that Dyson lost at least a second a lap, and as much as five seconds a lap, on purpose!?

No, you're the idiot.

 

[Firestarter75]

You're trying to tell me that Butch Leitzinger is going to push as hard as possible making bold moves to try to lap the 2nd place car with less then 30 minutes left? Especially considering whether its 1lap or 15 seconds the team still wins?

No, you're the idiot.

 

[Solid Lifters]

You're trying to tell me that Butch Leitzinger is going to push as hard as possible making bold moves to try to lap the 2nd place car with less then 30 minutes left? Especially considering whether its 1lap or 15 seconds the team still wins?

No, you're the idiot.

That's right 'professor,' winning is winning, but that's not what you're trying argue about, now is it?

You can say, with honesty, that it makes sense to you, to slow down and relax with a driver on your tail that was better than you, with 40 minutes left to race, and more than 30 laps to go, becuase you calculated the possible win down to just 16.3 seconds ahead of the second place driver? Stick to selling wieners from your wiener cart.

That has got to be the dumbest racing strategy I have ever heard. And no, this wasn't Dyson's game plan, but this is what happened.

You truly are an idiot!

 

[Darin]

How about we stop the fighting before the thread closes.

 

[Solid Lifters]

How about we stop the fighting before the thread closes.

So, then that is what's going to happen. But, if somebody attacks me, and calls me names just because that can't prove their point, then I will defend myself. Especially from some asshole who argues with eveybody, including mods that know more about motorsports than he ever will.

He keeps stating that I disagree with everbody who wrote an article about the race, and it goes no where for him because that is simply not true. He's too stupid to see it from my point of view, and from the pit and race data, that without the tire blow out, JJ was on a pace to win the race, from the evidence of his pace before, and after the time the blow out happened.

Fin.

 

[Firestarter75]

That's right 'professor,' winning is winning, but that's not what you're trying argue about, now is it?

You can say, with honesty, that it makes sense to you, to slow down and relax with a driver on your tail that was better than you, with 40 minutes left to race, and more than 30 laps to go, becuase you calculated the possible win down to just 16.3 seconds ahead of the second place driver? Stick to selling wieners from your wiener cart.

That has got to be the dumbest racing strategy I have ever heard. And no, this wasn't Dyson's game plan, but this is what happened.

You truly are an idiot!

Actually yes, you would be surprised but they have this thing calling timing and scoring. See, when each car comes across a copper loop in the ground the identity of the transponder is transmitted to a computer which records the time the car crossed the line. This information is available to all teams so they can see what lap times their competitors are turning thereby keeping the driver advised of the situation. The driver is then told or can decide based on this information what pace to run and where pushing the car would be approriate. Its actually rather neat if you think about it.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Actually yes, you would be surprised but they have this thing calling timing and scoring. See, when each car comes across a copper loop in the ground the identity of the transponder is transmitted to a computer which records the time the car crossed the line. This information is available to all teams so they can see what lap times their competitors are turning thereby keeping the driver advised of the situation. The driver is then told or can decide based on this information what pace to run and where pushing the car would be approriate. Its actually rather neat if you think about it.

So, they send you this info to your wiener cart?

 

[Firestarter75]

They could!! If my weiner cart was equipped with a powered transponder and lapping Mosport. They can also take this information and distribute to a variety of sources, including team monitors, webserver for online display and even i-card. So everyone will know how much time is left, what the splits are between cars and how hard the cars have to push. Its called race strategy, rather neat when combined with timing and scoring. See you have to be scored in first place when the checker flag falls, using all this data you can extrapolate what pace is needed to run based on the oppositions pace. Its rather neato!

 

[Darin]

So, then that is what's going to happen. But, if somebody attacks me, and calls me names just because that can't prove their point, then I will defend myself. Especially from some asshole who argues with eveybody, including mods that know more about motorsports than he ever will.

He keeps stating that I disagree with everbody who wrote an article about the race, and it goes no where for him because that is simply not true. He's too stupid to see it from my point of view, and from the pit and race data, that without the tire blow out, JJ was on a pace to win the race, from the evidence of his pace before, and after the time the blow out happened.

Fin.

Thats when that Ignore list comes handy...

 

[Solid Lifters]

Thats when that Ignore list comes handy...

Ha-ha! Yes, you're correct, but conversing with the idiot is too much fun to stop! If you can't make fun of the idiots, then what fun are they?

 

[JohnBM01]

(pounds gavel three times) Order in the court!

Darin, isn't the Prodrive team going to race the Aston Martin DBR9s? Keep in mind, there is pretty much a big learning curve in sportscar racing. I think that the DBR9 will do pretty well as they make a return to sportscar racing. About one of their coolest cars they've created was the Aston Martin AMR-1 of the late 1980s or early 1990s. I have full respect for Aston Martin to pull this off as best as possible. In addition to Aston Martin's foray, I'd also want to hope that Ferrari can eventually pull off a big surge to win over the Porsches. That 360 Modena is so lovely. Good luck to Risi Competizione, and others whi Ferrari power to beat the Porsches in GT. With that Viper Performance Coupe, Dodge needs to come back to sportscar racing. I would really love to see Team Oreca come back. You know what I'm talking about. Red car, white stripes, and kicking Corvette ass.

The ALMS has so much promise. Been that way since 1999. Let's try to hold together and not worry so much about the ALMS finish at Mosport. One time on "WindTunnel with Dave Despain," Daytona Prototype racer Scott Pruett said something about if the ALMS loses a lot of money in their operations, Grand-Am will likely be the best sportscar series in America. He even suggested (get this!), wanting to build a bond between rivals ALMS and Grand-Am. I know the obvious answer going to be made, but my question: Should they?

And if you want to conversate on a one-week old race, do it on WindTunnel. Let's try to keep focus.

 

[JohnBM01]

So as we try to keep the thread going on a positive note, you'll note that the ALMS is "For the Fans." So grade the ALMS on the fan involvement and the bond between racing and racing fans.

 

[paul-collins]

JJ was 30 seconds ahead of the Dyson when the tire blew out. So, after the previous pit stop, JJ went from +17 seconds to a +30 second lead with older tires, then started to slow from having too worn tires on his car. Then, the blowout of his tire happened.

Incorrect.

For background, I was at the track, with a few friends, and there were a few of us who had stopwatches on the intervals. At the time of the second round of pitstops, when James pitted for tires, fuel and driver change, he had about a 6 second lead on the Audi. Butch emerged just ahead of the Audi on track, almost a lap down, and JJ was unable to make any ground on Butch before it was time for his pitstop.

Champion then gambled, and chose to pit for fuel only, no tires, to save time in the pits and get out in front of Butch. JJ came out and the gap was about 20 seconds. Over the next 8 laps, Butch cut the lead down to about 10.5 seconds, and then JJ had the blowout and stuffed it into Moss corner's tire wall. Butch got past at that point.

It's fair to say that the blowout would not have occurred if Champion had've changed tires, but that they would have come out behind Butch anyway. It's also fair to say that it was obvious to the outside observer that the choice was a mistake, as the Audi was unmanageable for the last 15 or 20 laps before the blowout, and JJ was sliding and smoking the tires pretty consistently through turns 8 and 9, which I could see directly.

JJ limped around, got fresh tires, and emerged 40 seconds in arrears. This was about 40 minutes from the end, and he put the charge on - but Butch held the gap steady for the first 20 minutes, before easing off.

At no time did JJ actually threaten Butch's position, and the Audi never ran a faster lap than the fastest lap of either of the two Lolas.

Go ahead, add me to your ignore list.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Incorrect.

For background, I was at the track, with a few friends, and there were a few of us who had stopwatches on the intervals. At the time of the second round of pitstops, when James pitted for tires, fuel and driver change, he had about a 6 second lead on the Audi. Butch emerged just ahead of the Audi on track, almost a lap down, and JJ was unable to make any ground on Butch before it was time for his pitstop.

Champion then gambled, and chose to pit for fuel only, no tires, to save time in the pits and get out in front of Butch. JJ came out and the gap was about 20 seconds. Over the next 8 laps, Butch cut the lead down to about 10.5 seconds, and then JJ had the blowout and stuffed it into Moss corner's tire wall. Butch got past at that point.

It's fair to say that the blowout would not have occurred if Champion had've changed tires, but that they would have come out behind Butch anyway. It's also fair to say that it was obvious to the outside observer that the choice was a mistake, as the Audi was unmanageable for the last 15 or 20 laps before the blowout, and JJ was sliding and smoking the tires pretty consistently through turns 8 and 9, which I could see directly.

JJ limped around, got fresh tires, and emerged 40 seconds in arrears. This was about 40 minutes from the end, and he put the charge on - but Butch held the gap steady for the first 20 minutes, before easing off.

At no time did JJ actually threaten Butch's position, and the Audi never ran a faster lap than the fastest lap of either of the two Lolas.

Go ahead, add me to your ignore list.

Why would I add you to my ignore list? You don't behave like the few GTX assholes that show up here for the sole purpose of irritating and harassing the members of GTPlanet. The information you gave was correct, and accurate and it corrected a few of my mistakes. If anything, I want to welcome you to GTPlanet, and hope that you get a good look around before you leave. It can be a fun and silly place to hang out, provided a GTX asshole doesn't try to ruin your fun.

Not to start the arguement over, I will just say this; I saw the race from start to finish. I saw the race and heard the commentary while the race was on. I know there stood an excellent chance for JJ to win this race if the stupid mistake of leaving the pits without a fresh set of tires never took place. I knew the race was over for JJ when he left the pit without a fresh set of tires, but I was hoping the tires would last. I know I'm not the only person that feels this way. So, lets end it here and now with our difference of opinion.

Oh, BTW, I'm more of a Butch fan, then a JJ fan, if you can believe that.

 

[Fogelhund]

JJ never really had a chance. He was in a slower car on that given weekend, and it was very unlikely that he could have caught a car that was faster all race. The only chance was gambling on tires. It was an effort worth trying and didn't pay off.

Your right, I misunderstood the last post I quoted you on, for that I apologize to you.

SEER?

 

[JohnBM01]

As you may well know, we have the Road America 500 coming up. And unfortunately, I won't be at home watching this race (I'm still 0 for... 2 or 3 in checking out LMES coverage highlights) because my brother's taking me out to Houston Indoor Kartzone for me to race against him and his boys. So while I'll have to trust Speed News not to omit ALMS sportscar racing, I'm sure all of us can talk about the Road America 500 race. Now up for discussion is the Road America 500 and all the competitors from GT to P1. And this time, let's try to stay with other races even though the MoSport race is long done.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, let's look to lovely Elkhart Lake, WI, USA. Man. Road America seems and looks so much like it should be hosting FIA-sanctioned events at that track (imagine F1 racing at ) The #4 Corvette is on pole as one of the Dyson Lolas set a new track record with a time of around 1 min., 51 sec. Road America, as I said, is more like a Formula One track with the nice, long stretches of road. Don't get too comfortable, though. The track also features hellishly technical corners. One of the coolest sights is to see the drivers blast down the front stretch, and the camera sees them go over the hill to the Start/Finish line. Weather seemed like it was pretty nice and sunny for qualifying, so let's see how the race goes.

 

[JohnBM01]

JJ Letho wins more than just the Road America 500, he also clinched the Prototype 1 championship. Corvette wins again, as does Porsche. After a great day karting, I had a chance to check out the results of the race. Congratulations to all the winners.

I want to give a shoutout to Miracle Motorsports. During the race, did you notice that beautiful red prototype? That thing looked like a twin-seater. I like that new Courage machinery. Nice find, and good job on your victory. JJ Letho kind of had some rough driving, had to serve a stop-and-go. Road America is perhaps one of the best circuits in America. It has just about the right edge of European race track design with American attitude. Ha! Just like the ALMS! And unlike most Americanized things, this Euro/American combination works! It's worked for 5 seasons of racing.

Well, people. Road America is done for. So I want you to remember the numbers 10 and 1,000. Why? That's going to be the respective hour and mile lengths of the next race. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's Petit Le Mans! It's live, loud, and proud from Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA, USA! The home of Panoz Motorsports, if I'm not mistaken. I sure hope the GT racing Panoz Esperante will have a good showing with home field advantage. I wanted to make it a seperate thread, but elected not to.

Having started this thread, we can continue this thread with discussion about Road America's race, or if you want to help us preview and speculate the Petit Le Mans for this year. I'm pretty sure Speed Channel will screw up the schedule with NASCAR, or some other form of oval racing, but I'd like to see how PLM will go down this year. After that, it will be 150+ days until the 12 Hours of Sebring of 2005. Alright? Let's keep the thread going, folks!

 

[Firestarter75]

You forgot about the year end party at Laguna.

 

[JohnBM01]

"I am the firestarter... twisted firestarter!" -"Firestarter," from Prodigy.

Yeah, old school techno, I know that. Anyhow, worry not, fiery friend. I haven't forgotten. I'm going to schedule. And in 2 or 3 weeks, Road Atlanta gets some ALMS love. And then after that race, NBC will air tape delay of the ALMS finale at Laguna Seca.


UNOFFICIAL LAGUNA SECA PREVIEW:

While the P1 championship has been locked up, there is still a lot of racing to do after Petit Le Mans. When the move was made to have Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca have a race going into night. The former military base would be converted into a wonderful world class racing facility that has hosted vintage races, CART/Champ Car, World Superbike, MotoGP next year, specialty races, and more. Laguna Seca has the Andretti Hairpin, the Rahal Straight, and among all else, the dreaded Corkscrew. Laguna Seca is usually humbled with lots of sunshine. If you thought sunset at Laguna Seca was cool in Gran Turismo 3, imagine what real life will be like. The track will need sufficient lighting at the Andretti Hairpin, the Corkscrew, the sweeper after the Corkscrew, and the final corner. This race will come your way in October (correct?), weeks after Petit Le Mans.

And good luck to all the teams competing at Road Atlanta in September. Make us proud!