IMSA Race Road America 2015

**joeb** · 4 Aug 2015, 17:42 (Ref:3563756)

Road America is a great place.

I'm not sure if this thread needs any more introduction than that! All 4 classes will be back on track for the first time since Watkins in June, but there is plenty of room along the 4 miles of track so I expect few cautions. The race is a standard 2:45 affair and will be live on FS1 stateside.

There has been testing this week, with the new Ford GT, Mazda (petrol), some GTD, and other cars as well. Could we see the Petrol Mazda debut this week? There is a 20% chance of rain for the weekend just to make things interesting.

Schedule

Entries

Weather

Spotters Guide

Track Map

Fantasy Racing

nasportscar · 4 Aug 2015, 20:41 (Ref:3563787)

Pick 'Em if anyone is interested: http://nasportscar.com/2014-tusc-pick-em/

nickyf1 · 5 Aug 2015, 23:02 (Ref:3564021)

Bring it on. Road America straight after Mosport! What a treat!

**joeb** · 6 Aug 2015, 13:28 (Ref:3564162)

Looks like single diesel for Mazda again this week. After all the talk of how great the petrol engine has been testing this is a bit disappointing....

Deleted · 6 Aug 2015, 19:23 (Ref:3564214)

This whole petrol thing might just be an excuse for Speedsource to run downsized operation everywhere without actually admitting it.

MoraineSweep · 6 Aug 2015, 20:09 (Ref:3564221)

The way I understand it is that Mazda is putting the brakes on the switch to the petrol engine. I don't think it would look good from a PR perspective to switch the program from diesel to petrol and instantly have a 5 second per lap increase.

Even though everyone knows the petrol engine would be more competitive, I don't think Mazda wants to make their diesel look bad with that direct comparison.

Deleted · 6 Aug 2015, 20:20 (Ref:3564224)

Yes I suspect they will continue the enter both Lolas for all remaining races this year, yet still only actually running the singleton diesel and giving excuses over the petrol no-shows (= makes diesel also look better in addition to smaller budget requirements), and wait till Daytona to have petrol on both. That way when the performance suddenly jumps up by X amount they can excuse the garbage-diesel iteration and performance change by saying "well we improved the MAZDA PROTOTYPE chassis, components and all other areas substantially over the winter in the workshop and literally everything has transformed blaa blaa blaa". No-one will bother to question the legitimacy of that...

**joeb** · 6 Aug 2015, 21:20 (Ref:3564235)

I could see them debuting at Petit since they are the main sponsor. They haven't been shy in interviews talking about the struggles with the diesel. I think they could easily make the switch with legitimacy this season.

HORNDAWG · 6 Aug 2015, 23:15 (Ref:3564260)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I could see them debuting at Petit since they are the main sponsor. They haven't been shy in interviews talking about the struggles with the diesel. I think they could easily make the switch with legitimacy this season.

Not to mention that the Mazda diesel is still not in the U.S. market.

L.P.

BullMan · 6 Aug 2015, 23:56 (Ref:3564272)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I could see them debuting at Petit since they are the main sponsor. They haven't been shy in interviews talking about the struggles with the diesel. I think they could easily make the switch with legitimacy this season.

That would be like keeping Mike Trout in the minors because you don't want the regular outfielder to feel bad.

DeezPutz · 7 Aug 2015, 00:42 (Ref:3564278)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Not to mention that the Mazda diesel is still not in the U.S. market.

L.P.

And it's never going to be which is why this is so stupid.

TzeiTzei · 7 Aug 2015, 05:20 (Ref:3564302)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoraineSweep

The way I understand it is that Mazda is putting the brakes on the switch to the petrol engine. I don't think it would look good from a PR perspective to switch the program from diesel to petrol and instantly have a 5 second per lap increase.

Even though everyone knows the petrol engine would be more competitive, I don't think Mazda wants to make their diesel look bad with that direct comparison.

In some way I understand the PR aspect of this, but I think they should just admit defeat. Every sportscar fan knows that the diesel isn't good. The casual fans are probably just wondering why those great looking cars are so slow. That diesel is never going to be competitive. IMO the benefits of having a competitive petrol car would by far exceed the embarrassment of it being compared to the diesel. Mazda would be happy. The fans would be happy. What do they have to lose?

jasonjessica09 · 7 Aug 2015, 12:43 (Ref:3564359)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoraineSweep

The way I understand it is that Mazda is putting the brakes on the switch to the petrol engine. I don't think it would look good from a PR perspective to switch the program from diesel to petrol and instantly have a 5 second per lap increase.

Even though everyone knows the petrol engine would be more competitive, I don't think Mazda wants to make their diesel look bad with that direct comparison.

What terrible logic. I guess that is why Mazda is way down the pecking order in worldwide car sales and why I will never buy one.

As far as the race goes: I'm really pulling for the Risi Ferrari this week. They are the only team who have not won in GTLM yet. Look for an early full course yellow to wipe out some AM LMPC guys and then clean green the rest of the way. Can't predict a winner in this one in either P or GTLM. Prototype will be tougher now because we need to see how much the Corvette BoP hit hurts them.

Coach Ep · 7 Aug 2015, 13:11 (Ref:3564367)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I could see them debuting at Petit since they are the main sponsor. They haven't been shy in interviews talking about the struggles with the diesel. I think they could easily make the switch with legitimacy this season.

With possibly the P championship(s) wrapped up by then that might be the perfect timing to bring out an unknown quantity without too much BoP restrictions to surprise the DPs (and Shank) and grab the headlines for Mazda!

Certainly a great incentive from IMSA to keep a loyal manufacturer happy and collect some more sponsoring dollars in the next couple of years from the 'ugly duck that turns into a beautiful swan'.

All that's left to do is grant Honda an entry for that hybrid NSX...

BullMan · 7 Aug 2015, 13:58 (Ref:3564379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

With possibly the P championship(s) wrapped up by then that might be the perfect timing to bring out an unknown quantity without too much BoP restrictions to surprise the DPs (and Shank) and grab the headlines for Mazda!

Certainly a great incentive from IMSA to keep a loyal manufacturer happy and collect some more sponsoring dollars in the next couple of years from the 'ugly duck that turns into a beautiful swan'.

All that's left to do is grant Honda an entry for that hybrid NSX...

The hybrid thing won't happen. Honda will have to yank it out if they want to race it, and it sounds like that may be what they're doing for 2017.

**joeb** · 7 Aug 2015, 14:26 (Ref:3564384)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonjessica09

As far as the race goes: I'm really pulling for the Risi Ferrari this week. They are the only team who have not won in GTLM yet.

The series has noticed this as well, and the Ferrari recently got some performance breaks so they look to be extra competitive this weekend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

With possibly the P championship(s) wrapped up by then that might be the perfect timing to bring out an unknown quantity without too much BoP restrictions to surprise the DPs (and Shank) and grab the headlines for Mazda!

Certainly a great incentive from IMSA to keep a loyal manufacturer happy and collect some more sponsoring dollars in the next couple of years from the 'ugly duck that turns into a beautiful swan'.

I would love to see this happen. It has been hard to get a handle on how good their current lineup of drivers actually are in a prototype since they have been so stymied by their machinery. A fast car could let us really see what the Mazda drivers can do behind the wheel of the Lola.

**joeb** · 7 Aug 2015, 18:12 (Ref:3564430)

A rainy first practice is in the books and not a lot was accomplished. Which I find odd, since the race is predicted to be rainy on Sunday as well.....

Session results
http://imsatiming.com/Results/2015/T...oad%20America/

BullMan · 7 Aug 2015, 20:21 (Ref:3564465)

Conti Challenge qual cancelled. Hindy and Co talking to Barfield, and Beaux says, "Nobody is out in the pit lane. I guess that makes the decision to cancel qualifying a good one."

Well of course they're not going to go out there if they're not required to, Beaux.

MoMedic9019 · 7 Aug 2015, 21:20 (Ref:3564480)

Being local, you absolutely HAVE to run in the rain to understand Road America in wet conditions.

The surface is incredibly polished on the dry line. The wet line has boatloads of grip, but can affect your setup significantly. Also, the run from 10b-12 needs to be run during the wet, as the water runs off the hill, and streams, sometimes heavily, across the track there.

jasonjessica09 · 8 Aug 2015, 15:20 (Ref:3564588)

It looks like that Tandy/Pilet in the #91 Porsche are really hooked up so far.

Rodger Davies · 8 Aug 2015, 18:08 (Ref:3564610)

Anyone watching the Conti race that can explain to me why the Nissan didn't pit on that yellow?

Rcz · 8 Aug 2015, 18:53 (Ref:3564624)

Seems so foggy today.

J Jay · 8 Aug 2015, 19:08 (Ref:3564628)

That's a scary place to have an engine let go. Surely a safety car will be called to recover the #9 Camaro?

Edit - I'm listening without sound so if it was something else ignore me. Also the #57 Mustang has stopped.

BullMan · 8 Aug 2015, 19:12 (Ref:3564632)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Jay

That's a scary place to have an engine let go. Surely a safety car will be called to recover the #9 Camaro?

Edit - I'm listening without sound so if it was something else ignore me. Also the #57 Mustang has stopped.

Quite a strange maneuver. Pulled onto the grass on the left side of the circuit, then drove nearly 90 degrees across and stopped on the circuit on the right side.

Rcz · 8 Aug 2015, 19:13 (Ref:3564635)

Lol at the commentary being all mad at that Camero driver.

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