IRL and Grand Am races at Sears

[trekkor]

I spent the whole day watching some really fast, well prepared and expensive cars run on my favorite track.

The Grand Am and vintage Grand Prix cars were running 1:29's on the "sports car" configuration ( normal ). I do a 2:00 flat...

The IRL cars were running the "Indy Car" configuration ( by-pass at turn 8a with a chicane right at the exit of 9, also an earlier turn 11 ).
They were doing 1:17's and the Indy Pro cars were doing 1:24's on the same circuit.

Awesome cars. Endless supply of tires/wheels ( $2400 sets )

One of the IRL car's came in after the first session and did an engine change.
Pretty amazing to see a crew totally break down the entire car in a bout 1/2 hour!.

I asked the chief: : "How many engines do you bring"?

He says: "We don't bring any. Honda does".

So I say: "How many do you use"?
"As many as we need"...

Well, now.

So I get home after a long day. Lot's of walking. Looking from every vantage point and I have a message on the phone.

A buddy of mine wants to know if I want to go out to the Rolex Grand Am race tomorrow.
He has luxury box/garage/pit passes including food and parking... Hmmmm.


Ah, yeah


So much for watching it on TV.


I need to find my binoculars.


KT

[trekkor]

Jon Fogarty, who with co-driver Alex Gurney trails the championship leaders by four points, turned a fast lap of 1:28.028 (103.058 mph) on the wine country road course - a new track record.

Insane!

http://www.grand-am.com/Home.asp



KT

[trekkor]

The race is on SPEED now. ( tape delay ) I must say, the race was fantastic.

These seats were AMAZING

We were in suite #1, which is closest to the garages.
From our seats we could clearly see the exit of 6, 7, 8, 8a, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 1!
Plus we had closed cuircuit TV of the leaders in all turns from all angles.
Then right below us was the hot pit lane with all the pit stalls in our field of view.

We could watch from inside the suite or outside on the upper grandstand seating.
One of the monitor showed the current and high DbA readings. The IRL cars were pegging 115, the Indy Pro cars were at 116 and the Rolex cars were at 109.

Normal sound limits at Sears are 103 ( which is very loud )
We had earplugs ( provided ).

Then the food and drinks.
Pastries and coffee in the morning.
Salads, roast beef, grilled chicken breast, vegatables and dessert for lunch.
Vegetable sticks, chips and dip, three different chicken wings as a late snack.
Endless bottled water, soda and a variety of beer.

It was basically a motor sports fan dream come true.
The guy that gave us these tickets paid $1250 each for them.

I'm spoiled...

By about mid race there were only 6 of us in the suite!!


KT

[trekkor]

During lunch we got a personal tour by Scott Pruett of their team's semi trailers, paddock and car itself.

He signed autographs and answered questions.
I asked him about his approach to driving turn seven as it is still troubling me.
He asked me what car I drive.
He said he thought the 914-6 was a good car.

He agrees, sawing at the steering wheel is not good.



There were only five of us on this tour. Tremendous!!


KT

[trekkor]

During the day we also watched the Indy Pro race, the Historic Grand Prix and the IRL qualifying sessions.


KT

[bornrich]

Cool, Trekkor. I'd would have like to go see the race but you know how stuff gets pilled on when you least expect it. I watched the race on SPEED.
I might have picked up a tip or two just watching those guys. I didn't notice them using the bypass on 8. Was that just the IRL or all the races?

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by bornrich

I didn't notice them using the bypass on 8. Was that just the IRL or all the races?

The IRL and Pro Indy used the bypass, while the Historic Grand Prix and the Rolex cars ran the "sports car" configuration.

The Rolex cars ran a 1:27 in practice Saturday morning!!


KT