2014 IMSA TUSC - Round 1 - Rolex 24 at Daytona

[carbon_titanium]

The turner Z4 is a simple Z4 GT3 with a spec rear wing, am I right? why is allowed to run unrestricted?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by carbon_titanium

The turner Z4 is a simple Z4 GT3 with a spec rear wing, am I right? why is allowed to run unrestricted?

The Z4 has never been fast in a straight line, and the GTD car has none of the electronic driver aids of the regular GT3 car.

[somebodysb2]

Its not hard to see why the GT America is the most abundant GTD car. You can never go wrong with the "baseline" that every other car is BOP'ed to. Shame about all those unused GAGT 997's though, they were literally narrow-bodied RSR's.

[JoestForEver]

GT America is merely an upgrade pack for cup cars, 2/3 the price of the cheapest gt3 to retain ALMS GTC teams in the game.

[Dyson Mazda]

This was a question I that I have been thinking about a lot recently, and I was wondering what you guys thought. If you had to rank all of the driver lineups in the Rolex 24 for this year, what would your Top 20 list look like. I keep ending up with a heavy bias on GTLM, though I could be well off the mark. One thing I will say is that the Rolex 24 is a race that favors the car over the drivers. Here is mine:

1. GTLM - 911 Porsche North America
2. GTLM - 62 Risi Competizione
3. GTLM - 3 Corvette Racing
4. GTLM - 912 Porsche North America
5. GTLM - 56 BMW Team RLL
6. P - 02 Chip Ganassi Racing
7. GTLM - 55 BMW Team RLL
8. GTLM - 4 Corvette Racing
9. GTLM - 91 SRT Motorsports
10. GTLM - 97 Aston Martin Racing
11. P - 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing
12. P - 90 Spirit of Daytona
13. P - 1 Extreme Speed Motorsports
14. P - 01 Chip Ganassi Racing
15. P - 5 Action Express Racing
16. GTLM - 93 SRT Motorsports
17. P - 10 Wayne Taylor Racing
18. P - 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing
19. P - 60 Michael Shank Racing
20. P - 0 DeltaWing Racing Cars

In the AM classes my top 10 are

1. GTD - 33 Riley Motorsports
2. GTD - 23 Alex Job Racing / Team Seattle
3. GTD - 48 Paul Miller Racing
4. PC - 8 Starworks Motorsports
5. GTD - 27 Dempsey Racing
6. GTD - 58 Snow Racing
7. GTD - 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari
8. PC - 08 RSR Racing
9. GTD - 94 Turner Motorsports
10. GTD - 44 Magnus Racing

[joeb]

These changes are likely all just temporary, there is another Sebring test in February. After that expect some new bop updates.

[Jack Spratt]

Originally Posted by joeb

These changes are likely all just temporary, there is another Sebring test in February. After that expect some new bop updates.

Of course, that was always the plan. Daytona first then adjust for a proper road course.

The normal, race to race BoP is primarily based on an average of the 20 fastest race laps although, once again, Daytona is an animal unto itself. I don't mind the concept of a BoP as long as it is applied fairly and to everyone. As it stands and has been discussed ad finitum since the announcement, it is virtually impossible to balance the DP's against the P2's. Apples, oranges.

My major concern is that some form of parity is achieved between the two but more importantly that the DP's are matched equally amongst themselves and likewise the P2's. Without that parity it smacks of favoritism and I hope that never rears its ugly head.

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Daytona is a special track that rewards horsepower and higher rpms. I knew there would be a bop headache at daytona and same for sebring but not to the same effect of daytona.after sebring I expect bops from race to race but only very minimal changes from track to track.

So last year after bops everyone knew the bmw engines were clear winners, so with bop so far who is the clear winner.if anyone can tell from bops yet?i don't see a clear winner but I feel like a corvette dp will take it, if the fords last maybe they wil have a chance.

[Maelochs]

I'd never count out Ganassi---the only time he has lost recently was when his tranny packed it with a few hours to go. If Ford has fixed the motor 9I bet thy have tried hard) then preparation, skill, and cubic dollars have to get the nod.

Otherwise, AEXP and WTR look like the best bets. Oak might be about as quick when everything is balanced out, but when battleships fight cruisers ...

I want Muscle Milk to win.

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I'd never count out Ganassi---the only time he has lost recently was when his tranny packed it with a few hours to go. If Ford has fixed the motor 9I bet thy have tried hard) then preparation, skill, and cubic dollars have to get the nod.

Otherwise, AEXP and WTR look like the best bets. Oak might be about as quick when everything is balanced out, but when battleships fight cruisers ...

I want Muscle Milk to win.

Agreed

[JHamilton]

I haven't been this excited to see a sportscar race in a really long time. Really looking forward to next weekend.

[Baigu]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I haven't been this excited to see a sportscar race in a really long time. Really looking forward to next weekend.

Same here, just sad that there will be no audio/video coverage of practice sessions and qualifying (?)!

[Beetle]

I feel really bad for Andy Blackmore... new liveries have never been so hard to find. And so many!

[jasonjessica09]

Originally Posted by Beetle

I feel really bad for Andy Blackmore... new liveries have never been so hard to find. And so many!

I heard it was taken down? Luckily I saved the pdf file first thing when I opened it.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Beetle

I feel really bad for Andy Blackmore... new liveries have never been so hard to find. And so many!

The teams are working directly with Andy. IMSA put out a bulletin that said teams had to send him livery info.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by BullMan

The teams are working directly with Andy. IMSA put out a bulletin that said teams had to send him livery info.

That's a shame. I hope the FIA WEC staff aren't as strict about it.

[Louie Loper]

Hey kind of off topic but TUSC related, I'm trying to get an new Tudor decal or IMSA sticker but their shop on IMSA's website is not working for me.

[david5]

Apologies as it's probably already been covered.........but, is there any streams available for the race and any truth to the rumour that Channel 10 Australia is showing some of the race ? Thanks in advance.

[canamman]

Originally Posted by Beetle

I feel really bad for Andy Blackmore... new liveries have never been so hard to find. And so many!

Just curious, is it possible teams are still working on sponsorships right up to race time thus the livery will then be determined?

This pre race has so far met all my wildest expectations. A year ago
from reading some posts you would think we would be lucky to get 35 total entries for the 24. I knew this was going to be a can't miss event.
IMO, this is NOW the superbowl of sportscar racing in North America.
Could not really say that in the GA/ALMS days.

Hate to do it...... but...... the 10 day weather is looooooking gooooooood!

[Maelochs]

well, now we know who to blame if the forecast changes ...

I didn't doubt the race would get a healthy grid---the Rolex always does--but I doubted there would be much racing worth watching because I doubted the series could ever find a solution to the different classes.

Now it looks like it might look like ... just another ALMS race, except with Rolex cars included. Nothing wrong with that.

It's going to be a real race, with a wide variety of chassis and engines, and the typical Rolex 24 stew of national and international driving stars.

Bravo, TUSC.

I am even more excited for Sebring.

[ACFlinn]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Now it looks like it might look like ... just another ALMS race, except with Rolex cars included. Nothing wrong with that.

If you review the 2014 Rolex24 entry list you'll notice that 39 of the entries would have been eligible for the ALMS and 38 would have been eligible for the Grand-Am.

Far from being just another ALMS race, the 2014 Rolex24 (and Sebring and the series in general) will be exactly what the new owners and organizers said it would be - a merger.

I am unbelievably excited - just like I always knew I would be. I can't wait to leave for Daytona on Thursday.

Andy Flinn

[PointDSM]

Not including GTD (which is nearly impossible to allocate due to the similarities), Daytona has 27 ALMS cars and 11 Grand-Am cars (DP).

Obviously GTD is a big class, but the teams are about 1/2 and 1/2 on GA and ALMS.

I can't wait to see pictures of the haulers arriving!

[GT-Eins]

We did a short overview analysis on the P-Class (Laptimes & Top-Speeds) Maybe some are interested in that:

http://www.gt-eins.at/cms/index.php?...=8990&Itemid=1

[rwintle]

Even more astonishing, the Ten-Tenths discussion forum seems to be converging on overall positive outlook for the race!!!

Seriously though, I tend to agree with Maelochs', JHamilton and others above - this has the potential to be a really exciting dust-up (in a good way). Tons of talent, lots of very experienced teams fielding a wide variety of cars... no matter what kibbitzing about BoP takes place after the fact, this is likely to be one heck of an entertaining 24 hours.

[FstrthnU]

LMP1 or not, I think the Daytona 24 is on the right track to regaining it's former glory alongside Le Mans and Sebring. Let's go racing!