Uscc
01-10-2014, 07:06 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Hillsborough NC
Posts: 21,065
Received 745 Likes
on
429 Posts
NC Events Coordinator
Uscc
They haven't even run one race and it seems the conspiracy theorists are already out:
AutoExtremist.com
Make no mistake, there are plenty of positive developments about the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, with the unified schedule being one of the most visible positives. But let me be very clear here and there's no need to sugarcoat it: It's obvious that the "performance balancing" that went down since the merger was announced has been executed with the thought that the Daytona Prototypes will be faster than the former ALMS P2 cars. I would go so far as to say it has been preordained by Jim France, because it was so obvious as to be almost laughable. I mean, we all get it, don't we? Jim France wrote a $20 million check (or thereabouts) for the ALMS, Road Atlanta, the rights to Sebring (and other prizes), and anyone who thought that the P2 cars would stand a chance after the "balancing" took place was kidding themselves.
If I had just invested serious cash in a P2 team - and believe me at this level it's all serious cash - I wouldn't be just pissed-off, however, I would be stark-raving livid. And I would be permanently camped on Jim France's doorstep demanding substantive and serious action right now. For the sake of the integrity of this new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series - and the integrity of the sport of road racing in this country itself - this situation must be rectified, preferably before the Rolex 24 and definitely before the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, or it will be the biggest travesty in this young new racing year.
If I had just invested serious cash in a P2 team - and believe me at this level it's all serious cash - I wouldn't be just pissed-off, however, I would be stark-raving livid. And I would be permanently camped on Jim France's doorstep demanding substantive and serious action right now. For the sake of the integrity of this new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series - and the integrity of the sport of road racing in this country itself - this situation must be rectified, preferably before the Rolex 24 and definitely before the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, or it will be the biggest travesty in this young new racing year.
01-10-2014, 07:40 AM
#2
Racer
They are very different animals, you can stand trackside and visually tell that the P2 cars brake later and get through the bus stop quicker. The closed cockpit DP's are pretty fast on the oval with the new motor. Not sure Daytona will be a good track to measure the balance of performance between the two. It'll get more interesting on high speed, high downforce road courses
01-10-2014, 11:31 AM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Hillsborough NC
Posts: 21,065
Received 745 Likes
on
429 Posts
NC Events Coordinator
They are very different animals, you can stand trackside and visually tell that the P2 cars brake later and get through the bus stop quicker. The closed cockpit DP's are pretty fast on the oval with the new motor. Not sure Daytona will be a good track to measure the balance of performance between the two. It'll get more interesting on high speed, high downforce road courses
01-10-2014, 12:55 PM
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Hillsborough NC
Posts: 21,065
Received 745 Likes
on
429 Posts
NC Events Coordinator
I thought it was interesting to see that Nissan and Mazda chose the P2 chassis instead of the DP. With the resources they have, they could've chosen almost any car or team for their motors.
01-11-2014, 08:30 AM
#8
Racer
The Lola chassis Mazda is using is much lighter than a DP chassis, and Mazda is already well behind the 8 ball coming up with enough power to make the Lola chassis fast.
01-11-2014, 08:00 PM
#9
Drifting
There's a good write up on Jalopnik if I remember correctly about IMSA having both DP and P2 teams testing different inlet restrictions and other measures during The Roar to help adjust regulations before Daytona for just this very reason. They know they have a gap to close. And don't let the outright speed fool you - there is a substantial difference in fuel mileage between DP and P2 which has a strategic affect.