TRG has dropped from the race with a trani problem, not sure if it is terminal or not....

Jim

lead prototype car is in the pits with a right rear suspension problem, has only a two lap lead, 40 min left in the race, body work coming off

broken rear suspension, trying to wedge a 2x4 of wood into the suspension, gave up on that sending the car out...still broken


Jim

third place Prototype car has dropped, broken CV joint.....started raining again...

LEad Prototype car is being driven by Tony Stewart, front driver side tire is off the ground most of the time, becasue of the broken rear.

third place prototype car is out, broken drive shaft



Jim

Wow, this is getting interesting. The crawford car is broken, and the rain is comming!!!

flying lizard 996 GT car, same team that raced in the Thunderhill 25 hour is now third overall...

Looked like one of my repairs.......Hmmmm.....2x4 + mallett....Race getting interesting now, predicting 2nd place can catch them with 30 minutes left.....

lead prototype car is gone, rear suspension broke completely!!!!

Jim

this should put a GT car in 2nd

Back to the first post - gee, now they're covering the GT class!!!

run Forest run......

12 seconds between 2nd and 3rd....two 996s battle at the end, 3 minutes left in the race

Jim

interval down to 10 seconds, one car on slicks, one on rains....

So pontiac Protoytpe in 1st, 996's 2nd, and 3rd, 6.9 sec apart

WOW, Awesome race...This really says something about the GT3-RS. To have two on the podium is amazing. This must really bum out the DP class organizers. Fantastic job for all involved!!!

Cheers, James

Yeah..but a Pontiac prototype is ahead of both .. and won ... :(

--Wil Ferch

OK, somebody help me here, I guess I don't know the difference between the Carrera Cup cars and the GT3RSR. The announcers said the rear wheel sizes are the same but that since the race rubber on the GT3 car is taller, it needs the wider fender flares.
Not wider wheels and tires, taller. What are the wheel sizes the two cars run? 18 X 11 rears? They said that straight line speed for the Cup cars is actually a little better due to the lack of wider fender flares. Interesting....

I got the impression from the TV commentators early on in the race that the newer prototypes (i.e. Pontiac and Lexus) were faster than the older prototypes (i.e. Porsche) because they had an extra year of aerodynamics development in them. Is this true or were the TV guys just blowing smoke?

Otherwise, I agree with the general consensus that it was an amazing finish.

There are many differences between the Cup cars and an RS to the tune of 100K. The motors are higher strung, I believe they run 19" wheels and the brakes are bigger/better, just off the top of my head.

Cheers, James

Cup cars have a bigger fuel tank.

JanusCole- No, they are not blowing smoke. I don't know the lap times off the top of my head but, the DPs this season are going to be faster than last years cars for all of the normal reasons. Engine suppliers ( Yates, Katech, Comptech, PNMA, ect.) have had a year to sort out engine mapping, airbox design, stuff like that. The chassis manufactures have worked on aero issues, and teams have now two off seasons and one race season of testing and racing under their belts, this could mean that shock valving is closer to what they need, set-ups are closer to the potential of the tyres, just basic understanding of a new car.

I'm not saying these cars are going to be an insane amout faster at the sprint races compared to last season and they will not be as fast as their FIA/ACO counterparts, but if they are not alittle faster, than the teams have not been doing their jobs.

Granted all.....I'm making a different point...

Picture this....

It's Monday in the office. Guys there know you're a motorhead, but they're not. Question put to you, "Hey Wil, how'd your favorite Porsches do this year?" Answer: " Really well...2nd and 3rd". Of course their curiosity is peaked, and follow up with, " Yeah fine but who WON? A Ferrari? A Lamborghini? A Jaguar? ( they have no clue how modern sports car races work)

" Ahhh... nope ... a Pontiac ".

Catch my drift?

---Wil Ferch