ALMS & Grand-Am to Merge, Hooray Options

[Type 47]

European teams are not going to come to US to race...

But their drivers will...Euro sports car racing sucks comparied to ALMS GT racing

[ThinAir]

This stinks. I stopped watching ALMS because the races were both boring and confusing - too many classes on the track at once to keep track of. I stopped watching F1 for similar reasons - the races are boring because there is so little chance to change positions.

I've really enjoyed the Rolex Grand-Am series and it has become the only races that I faithfully watch. I was already waring of GA's announcement of adding another class next year, and I'm afraid that such a merger will sink a great series.

[ThePaintedMan]

This stinks. I stopped watching ALMS because the races were both boring and confusing - too many classes on the track at once to keep track of. I stopped watching F1 for similar reasons - the races are boring because there is so little chance to change positions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPEU65Nywk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDWzGEyzgd4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brNtbaMadX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys2am69Iu2c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bG2wvdGbCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce9LIM9JSQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua6kpasDf2s
.... and those were just 2010-2012.

Of course, there is always the 2007 Sebring finish as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjWo8VdMb8I

[URY914]

Yea, I read that sentence too and thought different. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Rleog]

More comments by owners and drivers:

http://www.racer.com/insight-sports-car-ra...article/257462/

[seanery]

Details of tomorrow's announcement start to leak...

[Zimms]

The Announcement will be streamed live @ 10 EST from Daytona. The link is here:

ALMS/GA Unification stream

[dlestep]

"- too many classes on the track at once to keep track of.

I gather, from your statement, that you don't enjoy LeMans. (Way too many different classes there).
Sounds like a NASCAR fan in denial. (Where all the cars are the same and there are no more than 3 turns, and easier to keep track of).

As far as F1, I think that it has over grown itself in all respects. It was far better when 1.5 litters was the base, and more relative, especially now.

[Zimms]

Nothing groundbreaking. The details:

No new name yet

Class structure still being organized.

LM GTE will be retained as it's seen as the best of both series.

LMP1/P1 is dead.

The Delta Wing may be included somehow.

They have to work on a lot of the technical details such as tires (ALMS has many brands, GA is spec) and the GTs,

The premiere prototype class has a goal of being the best in the world.

They aim to keep the Le Mans relationship in some manner (Speculating, but most likely with GTE)

12 races in 2014 starting with Daytona and then Sebring.

[seanery]

I could see some type of DP/P2 melding set to happen in a few years not to obsolete the new chassis in DP right away.

[carr914]

I optimisticly look for the 2 Groups to work together to get it "Right".

It was good to hear that they look for a Connection to the FIA/ACO and LeMans

The one downside is 2013 and that the fact the TV & Sponsors can't work together to make it happen quicker. 2013 will be a Lame Duck season - if you were a Team Owner, would you invest in equipment that might be eliminated soon. The answer is No and what you will see is decreased fields & corresponding apathy from fans for a Year. I think IndyCar will benefit from this, as their fields have been growing and the racing has been very good.

[seanery]

yeah, I agree, and from a fan perspective, I wish they could have picked 14 or 16 races...12 races total means we have less racing to see during the season.

[Zimms]

I optimisticly look for the 2 Groups to work together to get it "Right".

I agree. I hope they put there heads together and egos aside. This could be fantastic.

The one downside is 2013 and that the fact the TV & Sponsors can't work together to make it happen quicker. 2013 will be a Lame Duck season - if you were a Team Owner, would you invest in equipment that might be eliminated soon. The answer is No and what you will see is decreased fields & corresponding apathy from fans for a Year. I think IndyCar will benefit from this, as their fields have been growing and the racing has been very good.

I think GTE is at least safe. The new 911 GTE is due in 2014 and this is the first year of a big update, so I do not see Falken/FLM/or Miller upgrading to new cars. The vette and viper teams are committed. I don't see Patron/Ed Brown leaving, and BMW has been up in the air because they need a different car. Maybe this kills any chance of seeing RLL in a Z4 GTE. I hope AJR stays, but I guess that depends on his deal with Lotus or their ability to get other sponsorship. I was hoping to see Cooper MacNeil move up to GTE-AM with a GTE Porsche fielded by AJR.

I think CORE was thinking of going to LMP2 next year. I can see that in jeopardy if the new series principals do not lay down some guidelines for 2014. If P2 cars can be used in the new series, I think we would see Dyson and MMR move to P2 and some of the PC cars move up to P2. That would make a nice field...

Like you said, it will all depend on their execution of the new series. Petit in 5ish weeks!

[seanery]

Ed Brown shouldn't be going anywhere, Jim France mentioned in the press conference that Ed put the bug in Jim's ear to talk to Don.

[ThinAir]

"- too many classes on the track at once to keep track of.

I gather, from your statement, that you don't enjoy LeMans. (Way too many different classes there).
Sounds like a NASCAR fan in denial. (Where all the cars are the same and there are no more than 3 turns, and easier to keep track of).

As far as F1, I think that it has over grown itself in all respects. It was far better when 1.5 litters was the base, and more relative, especially now.

Actually, I love Le Mans and watch it every year. For some reason the multiple classes aren't an issue in that race, but when it comes to the available offerings on North American road races I prefer the simplicity of Grand Am. Even then, it's tough for the commentators to remember that the GT class exists as something more than a challenge for the DP cars.

[Rleog]

2013 ALMS trivia question:

Which owner, and in which class, did the livery "Lame Duck Racing" run?

[Cap'n Krusty]

With NASCAR attendance and interest sinking, I see the ALMS and Grand-Am merger/takeover as potentially a positive, IF they continue to do the things that make it popular. What makes it popular is that the fans have access and direct connection to the teams, prices are reasonable and you have lots of choices of races. NASCAR used to be the grass roots of American Racing, Grand Am and ALMS now hold that title becasue of the access the fans have to the product. Don't screw with that.

I could see the new series replace either the truck tour or Nationwide series.

This could mean more TV coverage, and a more stable product. The negatives are that smaller teams will have a very hard time competing because more money will flow into one series.

I am not sure what they are going to do with P1, will be strange to see P1 and DP on the same track.

Lemme see. NASCAR, operated by the France family, is in the dumper. Grand Am, also operated by (and for the financial benefit and egos of) the France family, is in the dumper and has a difficult time getting anyone to attend most of the races. They also race cars nobody else recognizes. Now they are buying the most successful professional road racing
organization in the US, and they're most likely gonna run it in the very same successful manner as their other properties. For TV, will they restrict where the cameras point like they do in NASCAR? Wouldn't want the TV fans to see how empty the stands are ................... I see the dumper approaching!

The Cap'n

[bcheney]

With NASCAR attendance and interest sinking, I see the ALMS and Grand-Am merger/takeover as potentially a positive, IF they continue to do the things that make it popular. What makes it popular is that the fans have access and direct connection to the teams, prices are reasonable and you have lots of choices of races. NASCAR used to be the grass roots of American Racing, Grand Am and ALMS now hold that title becasue of the access the fans have to the product. Don't screw with that.

I could see the new series replace either the truck tour or Nationwide series.

This could mean more TV coverage, and a more stable product. The negatives are that smaller teams will have a very hard time competing because more money will flow into one series.

I am not sure what they are going to do with P1, will be strange to see P1 and DP on the same track.

Lemme see. NASCAR, operated by the France family, is in the dumper. Grand Am, also operated by (and for the financial benefit and egos of) the France family, is in the dumper and has a difficult time getting anyone to attend most of the races. They also race cars nobody else recognizes. Now they are buying the most successful professional road racing
organization in the US, and they're most likely gonna run it in the very same successful manner as their other properties. For TV, will they restrict where the cameras point like they do in NASCAR? Wouldn't want the TV fans to see how empty the stands are ................... I see the dumper approaching!

The Cap'n

I agree about the France family comments by the Cap'n...If you watched the press conference today the clear brains of this new partnership are Atherton and Panoz. I really want to see this succeed... Having Daytona and Sebring in one series is magic and reminds me of the "Good Ole Days" when I crewed on a several different GTP teams in IMSA back in the 80's.

[carr914]

I kinda Disagree, Jim France is a Sports Car Guy unlike others in AssCar.

It has great possibilities, But they they have One Chance to do it right , & many chances to Fuch it Up. Let's hope they do it right

As Lee Diffey said "negativity breeds mistakes, optimisim brings hope & good results" or something like that

[carr914]

Gregg Pickett of Muscle Milk has gone on Record saying he will Never race a DP

of course Paul Tracy called the IRL cars CrapWagons but then raced them, so (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)