USCC (leave your axe outside)

[Speed-King]

I am not quite sure the DPs will be done for in 2016.... Ford is still developing their DP-bodykit and would they really do so for just two seasons?

I could imagine the bodykits carrying over to the next set of prototype rules...

[Maelochs]

"It seems by default that many of the traces of GA are being forced out just due to market demands within the series, even with some pretty virulent defenders of the GA formula."

Add to this that FIA has said that P2 will hardly be changed if at all for 2016, and the simple economics of the situation make P2 look like a better choice.

Maybe this is what Scott Atherton was thinking when he said that the future of the top class in USCR would be based on market forces.

[CyberMotor]

It seems that the issues of speeding up the DPs with more power then causes them to more inefficient with the use of their fuel which puts them into the pits more often negating any increases they gain on the track. Therefore, increased power does not seem to be the way to go in leveling the field. Nor does shoehorning a DP engined into a P2 which puts them more into the inefficient area of a class that is headed toward more efficiency with the 2016 rule changes.

Any changes that negate the advances made in efficiency over the past are headed in the wrong direction, IMHO.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I am not quite sure the DPs will be done for in 2016.... Ford is still developing their DP-bodykit and would they really do so for just two seasons?

I could imagine the bodykits carrying over to the next set of prototype rules...

We may very well see the outer skins (profiles) into the next set of rules, but what will they be mounted to?




L.P.

[Purist]

Chernaudi, the fastest speed last year in Cup Qualifying was Jimmie Johnson at 183-mph, and most of the front-runners were doing 180-181-mph. In less-than-ideal conditions, they can't run the Esses flat-out, which means they lose several miles an hour on that uphill run, and that gets you to that 173-175-mph figure I mentioned.

For another reference, at least in race trim, the Indy Cars couldn't do better than about 175-mph into the Inner Loop. The old Dallara IR-03/07 was running 625-650-hp, but was draggy as hell, especially with that barn door of a rear wing.

And yes, like you and others have said, I've contended for some time that you can't have one group of cars (the DPs) having too much of a straight-line advantage over the others (the LMP2s). If you do, the ones who are slow in the corners will just hold everyone up, and then pull away on the straight, leaving very little chance of overtaking them. It's a bit like watching the 1981 F1 races with the turbo Ferraris being road blocks in the turns, and then running away down the straights.

[nkoske]

Originally Posted by Purist

It's a bit like watching the 1981 F1 races with the turbo Ferraris being road blocks in the turns, and then running away down the straights.

A more current example would be Laguna Seca 2007 RS Spyder v. R10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLGMZDKBv8

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by nkoske

A more current example would be Laguna Seca 2007 RS Spyder v. R10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLGMZDKBv8

That was super exciting.

[Maelochs]

Thankfully the rules were changed so that kind of thing wouldn't happen again.

[Purist]

Between the Porsche/VW ownership stuff, and Acura moving to LMP1, it was made a moot point anyway.

[David Land]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Thankfully the rules were changed so that kind of thing wouldn't happen again.

Yeah boy I sure did hate the 2007-2008 era of the ALMS, that was the worst racing ever...

[Maelochs]

Fer shoor ... all those P2s hindering the P1s ... Glad we won't be going back to Those days ...

(I assume the USCR management isn't quite sharp enough and strong enough to get us back there. I'd happily be wrong.)

[Ken_T]

Angelelli just topped first practice with a best time on 2:02.1. That is just 3 seconds slower than Tucker's best race lap last year...... in a D Sports Racer for the SCCA Runoffs. Not too bad.

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by CyberMotor

It seems that the issues of speeding up the DPs with more power then causes them to more inefficient with the use of their fuel which puts them into the pits more often negating any increases they gain on the track. Therefore, increased power does not seem to be the way to go in leveling the field. Nor does shoehorning a DP engined into a P2 which puts them more into the inefficient area of a class that is headed toward more efficiency with the 2016 rule changes.

Any changes that negate the advances made in efficiency over the past are headed in the wrong direction, IMHO.

Actually, as I and a couple of others have pointed out, DP and LMP2 engine rules as similar as far as the type of engines allowed.

LMP2: 3.2 liter V6 TC/SC, 5.0 NA V8

DP: 3.5 V6 TC/SC, 5.0 NA V8.

Only major difference is how BOP is handled. In DP, and engine is BOP'd though RPM, and torque/power curves. In LMP2, BOP is handled though air restrictors and boost pressure in terms of forced induction engines.

Only reason that a DP engine gets worse fuel economy is that they're making at least a 100 more BHP than a LMP2 engine, and the engines often rev higher to achieve that power gain.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Ken_T

Angelelli just topped first practice with a best time on 2:02.1. That is just 3 seconds slower than Tucker's best race lap last year...... in a D Sports Racer for the SCCA Runoffs. Not too bad.

In all fairness, the DP cost half as much as the D Sports Racer.

[Ken_T]

His DSR, maybe. The others in competition much less, but hit the the 2:00 mark with a 1 liter Suzuki motor in qualy and a 2:02 in the race..... As amateurs out of their garage.

[Tim240z]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

In all fairness, the DP cost half as much as the D Sports Racer.

What about the regular DSRs that run 2:02s at Road America...

[Christian Mogami]

The Big Weekend is here with Grand-Am and ALMS at Road America(suppose to announce schedule)but the boss just announce they're not even close yet because of the track and tv contracts of the two series(bottomline its the money....tv will pay less and the tracks what their contracts honored or they want money).

[Beetle]

DP sure has a long way to go to catch up to LMP2 pace... I wonder how they are going to figure that one out. Because if current DP regs are tampered with, I'm sure a lot of people aren't going to be happy about spending the extra cabbage to get their cars up to date. Oh well, times are a changin'.

Again, Duff, excellent post. Not long-winded at all - just nice, concise facts. You, sir, are the voice of reason in a sea of silly season insanity.

[EricS]

USCR, Fox, ink TV deal

http://www.racer.com/uscr-fox-ink-tv...rticle/306686/

Be prepared for everything to be on Fox Sports 2.

[Danske]

For people in the States, a five-year TV deal with Fox Sports 1/2 is being reported, not that anyone watches television any more or will watch the series. I guess the two channels may mean more live broadcasts on FS2 rather than being just delayed on FS1. The Kansas round for Grand-Am this year is being shown live on FS2 with a replay the following day on FS1, and Laguna this year is also live on FS1.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by EricS

USCR, Fox, ink TV deal

http://www.racer.com/uscr-fox-ink-tv...rticle/306686/

Be prepared for everything to be on Fox Sports 2.

Interesting. Fox Sports2 is going to be the channel that is currently called Fuel. I have never heard of that channel but looked it up and it looks like I have access to it on Dish Network, so that is good for me. No details on international coverage or streaming as of yet.

[Maelochs]

I do Not have access to Fuel, and will not pay the considerable fee to get it. FOX1 needs to either get in a step lower down the cable package tier or write it off.

I already pay extra for Fox1 (formerly Speed, né Speedvision ) and even more extra for NBC-SN (ex-Versus né OLN.)These people think I am going to tell my wife we need to spend even more money each month so I can have what I want? If they are so powerful, they can get Fox2 on the same package as Fox1.

USCR needs to think hard about this stuff. How many race fans are willing to buy another tier of sports channels just for 12 races a year?

On the other hand, for the price of another tier of cable, I could go to another race each season.

On the other other hand, that would cause even worse problems with my wife.

[NaBUru38]

Come, people, its good news!

1. A major television network is interested in broadcasting USCR and Conti Challenge.
2. They signed a 5-year deal.
3. It's no less than Fox, so they will surely put the channels into millions of homes.
4. The channels will have lots of other sports, so there will be cross promotion (unlike the Speed era).

[Matt]

Fox Sorts 1/2 are not major networks.

[StarkNaked]

Just checked.... I don't get Fuel on my network and it's not on a higher tier even if I was willing to pay for it.