IMSA IMSA 2024

[broadrun96]

I thought they are running all of the WEC as is required by the regs?

[Adam43]

Yeah. I suppose all races are longer in WEC! But it’s odd way to express it, so just checking I hadn’t missed anything.

[tomcug]

Full season in the WEC, pretty sure of that. Endurance cup only in IMSA.

[Adam43]

[veeten]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Full season in the WEC, pretty sure of that. Endurance cup only in IMSA.

That's what I meant to say. Thanks, tom.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...or-long-beach/
That's interesting.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...n-never-stops/

To help GTP teams to attack the 1.968-mile temporary circuit, IMSA has adjusted the GTP weekend tire allocation to permit use of three of the four allotted set tires in qualifying and the 100-minute race.
With quicker tire warm up, a more aggressive Michelin compound and a third set of tires now available, the GTP cars can choose to be on full attack for the entire race.

So are Porsche going for 1 set of tyres again or this time they don't?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...n-never-stops/
So are Porsche going for 1 set of tyres again or this time they don't?

That was the call of the race last season, wonder if a caution will sway their decisions one way or the other.

[joeb]

Free Practice 1 is over and things went well for GM. Caddy topped GTP and Corvette in GTD.

[Adam43]

Sandbags!

[joeb]

And in FP2 Caddy again at top but Mcaleer takes the Gradient Acura to the top in GTD

Of course the top 15 cars were less than one second apart, so really we are close in GTD

[tomcug]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyOWvNQZ1JY
GTP qualifying starts now Lexus on top in GTD.
Derani on pole, also crashed on the last lap.

[veeten]

BMW not too shabby, right beside the Caddy. Only one more lap, and they would've snatched pole from them.

[tomcug]

Some notes from me:

• same as Sebring, wasn't the quickest qualifying session in GTP (1:09.909 in 2023 vs 1:11.388 this year)
• as veeten already pointed out, BMW and Caddy super close but Porsche and Acura not far behind
• two factory Porsches and the JDC car quite close on pace but the Proton Porsche massively off-pace (driver error? wrong setup? tyre strategy mistake?)
• last year's poleman (Albuquerque) didn't have a good run this year
• Derani crashes again after Sebring (small incident this time)
• JDC's Porsche could have challenged Penske but van der Helm locked up on his (potentially) best attempt (purple S1)
• JDC are doing good progress with that car in general, good to see a small team performing well
• most cars joined the track immediately after green flag, some waited a bit but the 01 didn't leave the pits until about 5 minutes remaining (wonder why)

Race will be on YouTube as well for international viewers

[veeten]

And here we go!!!!!!

[veeten]

Hot pass by the Ferrari to break up the Lexus' ... (Lexi?)

[tomcug]

FCY...

[Adam43]

Tidy so far.

Porsche, BMW and Cadillac all over each other.

Spoke too soon. FCY. Stalled car on the track.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Spoke too soon.

Happens so often

[veeten]

McLaren lost it in the corner and got the 911 real good. Should have the corner cleaned up fast, but that RS, that's gonna take a bit.

[tomcug]

Hindy thinking it's Monza tomorrow

[Adam43]

Poor John is missing Monza

[veeten]

Okay, back to the action!

[Adam43]

Does the sculpture in the fountain have a name? I suspect it is So Long and Thanks for all the Fish.

[Adam43]

The BMW looks quicker than the Porsche.