Comments on: Should IMS Host A Grand-Am Race?

By: Edward

Edward — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:59:50 +0000

I do follow Grand-Am-as well as all types of motorsports-and yes, the cars are underpowered, not techologically advanced and frankly, are closer to the anachronisms that NASCAR is. I would only run GA at Indy in a horse-trading situation. That is, ISC gives IndyCar dates at Michigan and Phoenix-good dates and proper promotion- in exchange for the Grand-Am race at Indy. If ISC doesn’t agree to that, no GA race at Indy.

By: Jack in NC

Jack in NC — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:28:45 +0000

Slightly off the topic (but you opened the door to it, George) – I’d like to see an aviation event in June of 2010, 100 years after the “week long aviation meet in June of 1910″. How about a Red Bull Air Race? Probably too late to get into the schedule for 2010, but it would be fun. There aren’t any big aviation events in June. Oshkosh isn’t until late July, and Idianapolis is closer to being in the middle of the country than Oshkosh is.

By: The Speedgeek

The Speedgeek — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:56:25 +0000

To that suggestion that GrandAm and ALMS share the track, either separate events on the same weekend or on the track at the same time: never happen. NASCAR effectively owns GrandAm. NASCAR will not want to portray GrandAm in any sort of negative light, unless it’s a negative light that they themselves shine on the series (see my blog from this week for an explanation there). Fact: GrandAm DPs are only marginally faster than ALMS’s GT2 cars, and would absolutely be embarrassed by ALMS’s prototypes. Pole speeds at Mid-Ohio from this year:
ALMS P1 – 1:09.443
ALMS P2 – 1:10.464
GrandAm DP – 1:18.059
ALMS GT2 – 1:21.022
GrandAm GT – 1:25.257

Under no circumstances would GrandAm share the track with ALMS, as they’d be so visibly slower than all of the ALMS cars that they’d be impossible to take seriously again as “top-level” sportscars. You can scratch that idea right out. It’s fun to consider, but it’s not realistic in any way.

I don’t think that any sports car event at IMS is a guarantee that either GrandAm teams or non-American Le Mans-style teams (Audi, Peugeot, Oreca, etc.) will show up just because it’s Indy. There is no equity in Indy for any of the European teams. By the same token, there’s not really any large scale fan following for either series in the US. There is absolutely no proof that you could draw 100,000 people for a sports car race at IMS. Sebring draws huge numbers because it’s a spring break destination of sorts, has 50 years of history and sports car fans have been starved of action for 5 months by the time the event rolls around. None of these things will be true for Indy. Daytona draws enough fans for the 24 to semi-fill the infield, but how many fans do you think that actually is? 20,000? At the most? On top of all of this, the economy has not really turned around yet. People are going to fewer races nowadays, not more. Personally, living 500+ miles away from Indy, I can only afford to attend one race per year there. What am I going to pick, a sports car race of questionable quality and probably scant fields, or the 500? That doesn’t even take five seconds of consideration on my part.

What I’m saying is this: just because there are cars going around the track at Indy is no guarantee that you’re going to attract a crowd (or sponsorhip, or a TV deal) good enough to justify putting on an event. Until somebody proves to me that the numbers are going to work out, I’m not going to believe that it’s going to happen.

By: dylan

dylan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:16:28 +0000

Exactly, both series are stuggling, but, ALMS is a better series, sorta an America F1

By: AZZO45

AZZO45 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:42:44 +0000

I don’t follow that type of racing, but I was under the impression that ALMS was on it’s way out of business. Any truth to that?

NO to ALMS “death” rumors. GA has bad news too. Porsche rumored to be pulling factory support. Pontiac teams to run what? Camaros maybe replacing GXP-R’s?

BTW: ALMS car count @ Mosport 19 cars Grand Am @ Montreal 28 cars (15DPs/ 13 GTs) Add 1 if you count the Edwards/ Ambrose DP that DNS Add Audi (2), Peugeot (2),Pickett’s P2 RS Spyder (1) & ORECA (2?) to the ALMS grid for PLM as well. An Indy date could attract morevELMS teams

One last thought… ALMS adding their “DP” class in 2010. the ORECA “spec” proto with Elan track support & Ford power plants… (that or Chevy LS3 motors). Refugees from GA/DP could allow these rules to be adjusted as well.

By: AZZO45

AZZO45 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:24:11 +0000

IMO, the 500, BY 400, & Moto GP, tell the world Indianapolis is the USA’s Racing Capital. GA/DP’s only grab crowds when aligned with NASCAR (maybe… ) I don’t see an Indy/ Grand Am event as a “Gotta Have” event for IMS. ALMS would be a different story

I love Scott Pruett’s concept of a day into night 6 or 12 hour race… however with one BIG change… ALMS & their cars that would bring the WORLD to Indy.

Add IMSA’s Atlantics, Playboy MX5 Cup, Patron GT3′s & Star Mazda as the support events. One kick a$$ road racing weekend. Another issue would be the empty grandstands. IMS has WAY MORE than Daytona (also empty during that event) Is Indy set up to pack in crowds & camping in their infield?

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:18:36 +0000

The 24 Hours at Daytona is a great event with drivers that come from all fields of motorsport in North America. It’s the perfect time of year because it’s right at the end of the off season when all of these drivers are able to make this one off effort. However, the race doesn’t draw any people. A similar race at Indy would not be able to draw as many drivers because you would have to hold while most championships are underway. ALMS cars would be great there but the facility is not arranged to provide for the type of event that the series puts on. Alan McNish summed it up nicely on this weeks Mid Week Motorsport podcast on Radio Le Mans.

By the way, “Katrina Flood” from the last turn club is another pen name for Tom Kjos’ line up a la Murphy the Bear.

You’ll see a shared weekend with ALMS and Grand-Am when NASCAR and Formula One share a weekend.

By: Travis R

Travis R — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:56:56 +0000

Wow, I thought I was going to be in the minority if I mentioned that I’d rather see the ALMS run, but judging from the previous comments, I guess I’m not the only one! I could see a combination Grand Am and ALMS race weekend. That would be pretty cool.

By: Rick Hunt

Rick Hunt — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:02:37 +0000

Count me as another vote for ALMS. Another possibility mentioned at Last Turn Clubhouse http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=587&Itemid=55 is a shared event. Put ALMS and GrandAm cars on the track at the same time.

By: Filipe

Filipe — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:24:30 +0000

ALMS = Fast cars, great looking, high technology, often small fields

Grand Am = slow low technology ugly cars, decent fields