'09 ALMS Round One Sebring Mar.18-21 - Page 3

Gingers4Justice · 15 Mar 2009, 16:50 (Ref:2416039)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sssssssss

Honestly, I have serious doubts that times will be that low (around 1:40) with the new regs... I mean, remember what ACO claimed to be the times target for this year: getting the Le Mans lap back to around 3:30 (with the new, significantly faster Tetre Rouge, that is). Cars will almost surely be slower than last year. 2008 was the big year in terms of statistics

If the Acura did 1:44, I suppose Audi and Peugeot won't go under 1:42 either (of course, this is testing-pace, but anyhow). The ultra-mighty 908 of last year did a 1:42 lap at Sebring (true, it would have surely gone faster than that in qualifying, if the session wouldn't have been stopped) so I'd be surprised to see this year's cars better that.

The idea with the new regs are to slow the cars on big straights like the Mulsanne, aren't they?

I would guess there wouldnt be much difference on circuits like Sebring.

cmk · 15 Mar 2009, 16:51 (Ref:2416040)

Think about the changes to rear aerodynamics. Do you really believe that the rear wing shrinking won't affect corner speeds.

PS: Sebring has 2 long straights.

Mr. Le mans · 15 Mar 2009, 16:56 (Ref:2416041)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

1:39.765 Audi Sport North America No.2 Audi R15 TDI
1:40.844 Audi Sport North America No.1 Audi R15 TDI

where do you get these times from? because i think this ist very fast....

Gingers4Justice · 15 Mar 2009, 17:00 (Ref:2416046)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

Think about the changes to rear aerodynamics. Do you really believe that the rear wing shrinking won't affect corner speeds.

PS: Sebring has 2 long straights.

I wouldn't put Sebring's straight in the same breathe as Mulsanne in terms of length!

Well, the regs are supposed to slow the cars down at Le Mans more than anywhere, and it's not just the rear wing glueing the cars to the circuit anyway.

cmk · 15 Mar 2009, 17:24 (Ref:2416054)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Le mans

where do you get these times from? because i think this ist very fast....

His mind.

chernaudi · 15 Mar 2009, 18:30 (Ref:2416095)

I highly doubt that those times are fact, but the 10% drop in power may be fairly insignificant-I'll bet you that the R15's torque and power is probably at least equal to what Audi claimed in the R10's press release in 2006(650+hp and 1100nm+/810+ft/lbs), and we all know that real life figures are probably close to those quoted by Peugeot(700hp and 885ft/lbs).

Sebring has plenty of sections where handling is as important(if not more important) than sheer brute power. I doubt that 1:39-1:40 are possible, but 1:42's and maybe 1:41's are possible-just imagine what an R10 with slightly less power and torque but with more downforce(inspite of the wing reduction) and weight distrubution closer to the optimal 50/50 split could do, or even an R8 that's had as much R&D done to it as the R10 and R15 have had done.

I think that based on Acura's times from testing and Peugeot's struggles to make the 908 competitive under the new regs(adapting an old car to new rules), the Audi R15 may be easily 1-2, maybe even 3 seconds a lap faster on a clear flyer.

And there's reliablity, which is somewhat of an unknown with the R15. However, the Audi R10 was a good training ground as it was the first of it's kind. I doubt that most of those problems will surface on the R15-having slightly less power may make the car more relialble. My only big concern is the electrical system, being the first of it's kind(lithium ion battery being the main electrical power source), and the R15 did have a minor electrical glitch at a test in Italy(where the R15 photos first sufaced).

However, Acura's power steering system has seemed to be a lacuna coil of problems-perhaps they're regreting the wide front tires deal now, especially if they can't get those issues fixed soon. Add a high revving flatcrank V8 to the mix, they may have problems. And the Pug hasn't been particularly reliable, ever-reliablity has cost them both years at Le Mans, in the LMS, and the Pug's inerter damper system doesn't like bumpy racetracks.

If the Audis can hold together long enough(which they usually do), Sebring may be their's for the taking. We may find out on Wind Tunnel from Mr. McNish how things are going-but don't expect any earth-shattering announcements.

HORNDAWG · 15 Mar 2009, 18:32 (Ref:2416098)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I wouldn't put Sebring's straight in the same breathe as Mulsanne in terms of length!

Well, the regs are supposed to slow the cars down at Le Mans more than anywhere, and it's not just the rear wing glueing the cars to the circuit anyway.

Hmm. Just what is the terminal velocity difference between the 2 tracks, say, for the Audi R-10? Or is this just a rabbit out of the hat, also.

L.P.

Audi Racer · 15 Mar 2009, 18:33 (Ref:2416102)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

1:39.765 Audi Sport North America No.2 Audi R15 TDI
1:40.844 Audi Sport North America No.1 Audi R15 TDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

jk

JK

Audi Racer · 15 Mar 2009, 19:10 (Ref:2416127)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

JK

J(o)K(e)

chernaudi · 15 Mar 2009, 19:24 (Ref:2416136)

Anyone know of anything even close to the actual times-Doubt 1:39-1:40s, but 1:42s and maybe even 1:41s seem possible as I wrote earlier.

Audi Racer · 15 Mar 2009, 19:40 (Ref:2416143)

It will most likely be in the low 1:44s maybe dipping into the high 1:43s . The audi only managed 1:43 as the fastest they could run. THe reduction in power should slow it down a sec

sssssssss · 15 Mar 2009, 21:49 (Ref:2416227)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

It will most likely be in the low 1:44s maybe dipping into the high 1:43s . The audi only managed 1:43 as the fastest they could run. THe reduction in power should slow it down a sec

Let's also not forget that last year it was the R10 doing a 1:43, this year we'll have the R15, which is conceived to compensate for the new rules and seemingly it's got lots of added downforce when compared to the R10, which is very important - I guess - for a track Sebring (as well as most circuits in fact). I wouldn't be surprised if the R15 will be faster than the R10 at Sebring, Laguna Seca and even Road Atlanta.
As for Le Mans, I don't think the top speed will be necesarily reduced, I think Audi and Peugeot might try to rely on top speed in order to gain back what they'll lose with those 1.6 meter wide rear wings. The 3:30 times are to be achieved in 2011, if I remember correctly, as the new rules are applied gradually, not all in one, for 2009. I still expect times around 3:25 this year at Le Mans, or in any case, under 3:30. You can't bring the 908 HDI down from 3:18 to 3:30 in one single year.

cmk · 15 Mar 2009, 23:10 (Ref:2416300)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

JK

Which brings up the point that, since you did not indicate it was a joke and a lot of readers believed you, it might be best not to do that in the future. Where's the good in it?!

cmk · 15 Mar 2009, 23:11 (Ref:2416303)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Hmm. Just what is the terminal velocity difference between the 2 tracks, say, for the Audi R-10? Or is this just a rabbit out of the hat, also.

L.P.

That's what I'm getting at. In the post-chicane Mulsanne, I don't think the runs are long enough to totally trim the cars out anymore, and I doubt the terminal velocity is extremely different at the 2 tracks.

Tom908V12 · 15 Mar 2009, 23:12 (Ref:2416304)

No pics of saturday free unofficial practices ???

andy_b · 15 Mar 2009, 23:18 (Ref:2416306)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

Which brings up the point that, since you did not indicate it was a joke and a lot of readers believed you, it might be best not to do that in the future. Where's the good in it?!

agreed

Audi Racer · 16 Mar 2009, 00:32 (Ref:2416333)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

1:39.765 Audi Sport North America No.2 Audi R15 TDI
1:40.844 Audi Sport North America No.1 Audi R15 TDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewymonster

For real, or are you just guessing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Obviously they're real...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

jk

Here are the post in the original order that they came when i put the fake times up
I indicated it was a joke within 4 post. Yet everyone is going bonkers with times that are unrealistic. It has less power. There are no driver names or speeds coming across the finish line. Why would they even be running that hard risking the car in a test any way. They haven't even had alot of dry running. So they were probably just trying to find a base setup to work on during the week.
JK=J(Just)K(Kidding)

Audi Racer · 16 Mar 2009, 00:48 (Ref:2416342)

It would be expected that the 2 car with mcnish ran faster than the 1 car. So i gave a faster time to the two car with the one car not far behind. Apparently i did a good job. how hard is it to make a time 1:49.343,1:39.845,1:23.456, i could go on forever

Lewicette · 16 Mar 2009, 09:44 (Ref:2416497)

Hello!
I'm a french girl (sorry for the spelling), a great motorsports fan and I'm going to watch my first ALMS race!
I've found out an preview about the 2009 season : http://www.motorstv.com/car/enduranc...s-preview-2009

LC2guy · 16 Mar 2009, 10:05 (Ref:2416514)

Thanks for the heads-up , and Welcome to 10/10ths Lewicette.

Mr. Le mans · 16 Mar 2009, 14:47 (Ref:2416703)

am i wrong or is this a old 2008er rear wing?

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...l?page=44&np=0

Stefvh · 16 Mar 2009, 14:50 (Ref:2416706)

I think you're wrong

Mr. Le mans · 16 Mar 2009, 14:51 (Ref:2416707)

another picture here: http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...l?page=44&np=0

Tom908V12 · 16 Mar 2009, 14:53 (Ref:2416708)

So free practice for LMPs should have started now

http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

Mr. Le mans · 16 Mar 2009, 14:55 (Ref:2416709)

at the moment i can only see the gt times from the session before

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