ALMS Rnd 3: Long Beach 13-15 April 2007

[jhansen]

As I was watching the race, it struck me, I never heard (or paid attention to) the official reason for the short race format. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

[Danske]

Originally Posted by jhansen

As I was watching the race, it struck me, I never heard (or paid attention to) the official reason for the short race format. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

With Champ Car, ALMS, Atlantics, Toyota Pro/Celebrity, SWC GT, and drifting all on the weekend's schedule that's how much time the ALMS was given. It wasn't by choice.

<tinfoilhat>And somehow I don't think CC would allow a "support" series race to be as long as or longer than the headliner.</tinfoilhat>

[extramundane]

Originally Posted by Danske

<tinfoilhat>And somehow I don't think CC would allow a "support" series race to be as long as or longer than the headliner.</tinfoilhat>

Actually, they were just about the same length. CC switched to 1h45m timed races this year.

[porsche45]

Here's an interesting take on Long Beach...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20070415-9999-1s15grandprx.html

[SebringMG]

Certainly thought provoking Does make sense though - Champ Car looks like a series in decline from this side of the pond, still seems to provide decent racing and some lovely tracks - but people want to watch star names in single seaters and Champ Car has none otehr than Bourdais!!!

ALMS at least has manufacturers - perhaps they ought to push for greater coverage ?

[porsche45]

Originally Posted by gttouring

What is crazy is the event had so many fences blocked up with adverts- you couldn't see the track or the cars!
the Carousel at the fountain has been long my fave spot- yet you couldn' t see any cars through there, except a tiny photographer hole...
rubbish
and the ALMS had like 12 car finish the race...It looked pretty dire
good finish for the Porsche team, and wow is that Audi quite! just a whisper very cool
of course- who sounds better the Corvettes? (the lone GT1 racers) or the GT2 Panoz?
I think the Panoz has a little better sound, just a touch though.
wow the race had its moments

Heres the LBGP adddress for email comments, I sent them one with the same complaint about the banners, and other things that they've changed over the past couple of years. Make your complaints and concerns heard.

[porsche45]

I'll try again,

'info@gpalb.com'

[Purist]

Doesn't CART have a substantial owners stake in the Long Beach event? If that's the case, the ALMS is not going to become the feature event.

If Servia and Power keep performing well, and Rahal picks it up, we could have three more known drivers to go with Tracy and Bourdais. Hopefully Servia gets a drive again after his stint as a sub.

[Mal]

Why not make it a clear double heater with a 3 hour ALMS race into the night on Saturday and CC retaining the Sunday slot

[Purist]

I assume that the rest of Shoreline Drive is still there, but are the other roads that the old F1 circuit used still around (the 1976-1981 F1 circuit)? It looked like the road that came in onto what is now the back straight is still there.

[porsche45]

The old F1 track went up the hill onto Ocean Blvd., then back down onto Shoreline. Due to construction that has gone on over the years, and other factors, they don't use Ocean anymore. Which really is too bad.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Purist

Doesn't CART have a substantial owners stake in the Long Beach event? If that's the case, the ALMS is not going to become the feature event.

If Servia and Power keep performing well, and Rahal picks it up, we could have three more known drivers to go with Tracy and Bourdais. Hopefully Servia gets a drive again after his stint as a sub.

Dover Downs Entertainment LLC (DVD) is the sole owner of the LBGP. And I see no connection to Champ Car even as far as their SEC (EDGAR) form 4.

L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Dover Downs Entertainment LLC (DVD) is the sole owner of the LBGP. And I see no connection to Champ Car even as far as their SEC (EDGAR) form 4.

L.P.

http://www.dovermotorsportsinc.com/t...=200505&id=174

Release date: May 24, 2005


Dover, Delaware

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE Symbol: DVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Inc. ("Grand Prix"), has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its Grand Prix of Long Beach event for $ 15 million in cash to Aquarium Asset Management, LLC, an affiliate of Champ Car World Series, LLC.

[The Badger]

Ive been away for a few days , what exactly happened to the Audi's that they finished so far down the field ?

[vorsprung]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Ive been away for a few days , what exactly happened to the Audi's that they finished so far down the field ?

Neither of them pitted during safety car period. #1 had a late splash and dash. #2 was hit by #45 Lizard at the hairpin and suffered a puncture. But even a best case finish would have been only one or two places higher.

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by porsche45

The old F1 track went up the hill onto Ocean Blvd., then back down onto Shoreline. Due to construction that has gone on over the years, and other factors, they don't use Ocean anymore. Which really is too bad.

Is it too bad, the best config was fresh off F1 when they went on Ocean and under the Hotel, that still provides the best visual on TV, not so much in person.

The current track is OKAY, I still rather have it turn RIGHT not LEFT at the end of Shoreline.

[Purist]

I'm pretty sure the old hairpin went because of Regazzoni's crash. And I'm guessing construction may have had something to do with the switch from Turn 1 going right to it going left. The other thing that occurs to me is that the circuit was 0.4 of a mile shorter than it is now without the old bit on Ocean or the new Fountain Complex; it may have been considered too short by 1998 (1.563-miles IIRC). I think reinstating the longer run on Shoreline, as well as the esse that used to lead onto the current back straight, would definitely improve the circuit, and overtaking on it.