IMSA: USCR 2018 - Page 28

Speed-King · 17 Aug 2017, 07:26 (Ref:3759884)

I absolutely love the fact that there's a proper drivers market in IMSA these days. Just adds lots of intrigue to see teams squabbling for the best drivers, poaching each other's stars, etc.

JLGarcia · 17 Aug 2017, 11:34 (Ref:3759922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamus

Don't understand why Ricky would leave WTR.

He did once before, y'know.

J Jay · 17 Aug 2017, 11:42 (Ref:3759925)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamus

Don't understand why Ricky would leave WTR.

You've answered your own question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamus

Plus, he's with his father and brother.

He's a great driver in his own right, but he'll always be the second Taylor you think of at WTR.

**joeb** · 17 Aug 2017, 12:09 (Ref:3759930)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I absolutely love the fact that there's a proper drivers market in IMSA these days. Just adds lots of intrigue to see teams squabbling for the best drivers, poaching each other's stars, etc.

Indeed. We are still waiting in the 2nd Penske announcement for 2 full time and 2 part time drivers. A driver to replace Cameron at Whelen, and are we sure the other 3 seats at ESM are fully claimed? Plus we have no idea who will be kept on in the Mazda program. I'd suspect they will keep Nunez at a minimum, but wouldn't be surprised to see 3 of the drivers kept.

We also aren't sure on who will be piloting the P2 cars. Hopefully JDC can bring back their current drivers, but what about the 2nd car they have mentioned? Will PR1 have new drivers? What about Visit Florida? Lots of announcements left I think.

broadrun96 · 17 Aug 2017, 12:22 (Ref:3759934)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

Indeed. We are still waiting in the 2nd Penske announcement for 2 full time and 2 part time drivers. A driver to replace Cameron at Whelen, and are we sure the other 3 seats at ESM are fully claimed? Plus we have no idea who will be kept on in the Mazda program. I'd suspect they will keep Nunez at a minimum, but wouldn't be surprised to see 3 of the drivers kept.

We also aren't sure on who will be piloting the P2 cars. Hopefully JDC can bring back their current drivers, but what about the 2nd car they have mentioned? Will PR1 have new drivers? What about Visit Florida? Lots of announcements left I think.

I think one is probably fairly safe, don't see Sharp stepping back any time soon. Interesting to see who they pair with Pipo and who the third drivers are.

JLGarcia · 17 Aug 2017, 12:32 (Ref:3759936)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I think one is probably fairly safe, don't see Sharp stepping back any time soon. Interesting to see who they pair with Pipo and who the third drivers are.

If they retain the others from this year, they'd be foolish not to put Dalziel & Derani together.

Articus · 17 Aug 2017, 23:49 (Ref:3760046)

If ESM are serious about next year, then Scott Sharp cannot drive for them...That goes without saying...Purely from a performance standpoint, they need Pipo Derani and similarly spectacular drivers of which their are plenty.

pach233 · 18 Aug 2017, 01:19 (Ref:3760058)

Agreed it would be wise for ESM to pair Dalziel with Derani assuming Dalziel stays with them. They are consistently the quickest two on the squad.

Any word on Performence Tech plans for next year. They've obviously been dominant in PC. Could they step up to Prototypes with Masson perhaps?

**joeb** · 18 Aug 2017, 01:48 (Ref:3760066)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pach233

Agreed it would be wise for ESM to pair Dalziel with Derani assuming Dalziel stays with them. They are consistently the quickest two on the squad.

Any word on Performence Tech plans for next year. They've obviously been dominant in PC. Could they step up to Prototypes with Masson perhaps?

That might be a big step for Kyle, but he appears to be a skilled driver. And I guess he wouldn't be the first to make the transition. Nunez has done well.

HORNDAWG · 18 Aug 2017, 02:14 (Ref:3760071)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

If ESM are serious about next year, then Scott Sharp cannot drive for them...That goes without saying...Purely from a performance standpoint, they need Pipo Derani and similarly spectacular drivers of which their are plenty.

You mean to say that he cannot drive for himself? Really?

L.P.

AoB Special Stage · 18 Aug 2017, 02:26 (Ref:3760074)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

You mean to say that he cannot drive for himself? Really?

Not if he wants to win consistently.

Matt · 18 Aug 2017, 02:30 (Ref:3760075)

Who says Dalziel won't fill a seat in one of the Cadillacs?

HORNDAWG · 18 Aug 2017, 02:51 (Ref:3760079)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

Not if he wants to win consistently.

Some teams exist just so the owner can drive, period.

L.P.

Akrapovic · 18 Aug 2017, 06:51 (Ref:3760101)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Some teams exist just so the owner can drive, period.

L.P.

Yes he knows, that's what he's saying. It exists for him. If they want to win then they need to change that.

Bcarr6 · 18 Aug 2017, 07:49 (Ref:3760107)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Yes he knows, that's what he's saying. It exists for him. If they want to win then they need to change that.

Well, if they put Daziel or a similar calibre driver in with Derani, that would be a super strong line up, so I'd argue then it'd be fair enough if Sharp wanted to run the second car

I believe that's what JDC are doing next year. One hot shoe car, one pro am

It's fair enough, remember you have to pay people like Derani, whereas the Am's pay to be there, so I think it's a fair deal for a two car team

On a driver note- I'd like to see Senna back in an ESM car next year, maybe not full time but he'd make a nice addition for the endurance races

Coach Ep · 18 Aug 2017, 12:44 (Ref:3760154)

I hope we get to see Alex Lynn getting a full time seat in a proto, he impressed big time earlier in the year.

Any idea if Fittipaldi and Barbosa are to continue their careers?

HORNDAWG · 18 Aug 2017, 14:48 (Ref:3760180)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Yes he knows, that's what he's saying. It exists for him. If they want to win then they need to change that.

You mean the car in which he drove that came third to the winning team car (with the gremlins seemingly tamed). Yes, a shame he seems mired back among the GTDs.

L.P.

AoB Special Stage · 18 Aug 2017, 15:28 (Ref:3760187)

It's the old conundrum of putting all of your eggs in one basket or compromising both cars.

Akrapovic · 18 Aug 2017, 16:16 (Ref:3760197)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

You mean the car in which he drove that came third to the winning team car (with the gremlins seemingly tamed). Yes, a shame he seems mired back among the GTDs.

Third place is not winning, that's his point.

Don't know why people are being so difficult about it. It's not like it's a massively revelation is it? Sharp is the weakest link, and removing the weakest link improves the chances of winning. It'd be the same if Hedman, Krohn and Ed Brown all gave up too. Everybody understands they pay the bills, but this creates an artificial problem they have to overcome to become championship contenders. It isn't a shock.

MaskedRacer · 18 Aug 2017, 17:51 (Ref:3760217)

The car number color code which goes back to ALMS is great. I'm sure that will continue. I have stated before what I hope the colors for the GT classes are going to be in 2018.

In addition. I hope IMSA does away with requiring the GT cars to have the class color pasted on the sides at the top of the windshield, the mirrors, and the rear wing sides. Just a color for the car number is good enough. Like they did with DPI this year.

Articus · 18 Aug 2017, 18:43 (Ref:3760239)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Some teams exist just so the owner can drive, period.

L.P.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Well, if they put Daziel or a similar calibre driver in with Derani, that would be a super strong line up, so I'd argue then it'd be fair enough if Sharp wanted to run the second car

I believe that's what JDC are doing next year. One hot shoe car, one pro am

It's fair enough, remember you have to pay people like Derani, whereas the Am's pay to be there, so I think it's a fair deal for a two car team

On a driver note- I'd like to see Senna back in an ESM car next year, maybe not full time but he'd make a nice addition for the endurance races

Maybe this is the difference between sports car racing in American and other forms for Motorsport (in a positive way). No harm for owners to race, and maybe it's not all about winning but just enjoying the time.

If ESM as a two car team wants owners and drivers having fun even if they don't win, it's a stark contrast in philosophy to Penske or Joest, or WTR. Maybe that's my real observation. Didnt mean to single out Scott Sharp. He's just doing his thing and rightly so.

chernaudi · 18 Aug 2017, 21:50 (Ref:3760279)

Plenty of pay drivers and ride buyers in European road racing--the LMS is now all pro-am basically and the ACO have two classes that cater for them in the WEC.

And plenty of those guys are driver/owners if you want to be fair about it. And some of them race for the fun of it, not because it's a business.

Akrapovic · 18 Aug 2017, 21:55 (Ref:3760280)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Plenty of pay drivers and ride buyers in European road racing--the LMS is now all pro-am basically and the ACO have two classes that cater for them in the WEC.

And plenty of those guys are driver/owners if you want to be fair about it. And some of them race for the fun of it, not because it's a business.

ELMS isn't basically Pro-Am, it IS Pro-Am. This is fine because everybody is running Pro-Am so nobody is as at a disadvantage by running a pay/amateur/gentleman driver (ignoring the driver rating argument). That's a bit different in IMSA.

ESM are well within their right to continue running as they are. But then they have to prepare to not win. It sounds blunt but that's the black and white of it. Fine they finished third with Sharp at a race. That's before Penske and Joest are on the scene.

carbsmith · 18 Aug 2017, 23:19 (Ref:3760287)

ProAm isn't even relevant here. Scott Sharp is a clear cut Platinum until he gets downgraded to Gold for the 2019 season.

**joeb** · 18 Aug 2017, 23:38 (Ref:3760289)

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbsmith

ProAm isn't even relevant here. Scott Sharp is a clear cut Platinum until he gets downgraded to Gold for the 2019 season.

Plus he isn't terrible, not as fast as Pipo, but still not bad.

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