IMSA Race 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

What would have been gained with a two-lap crash-fest?

We would have witnessed the drivers that had the intelligente not to deserving victory. That's what.
Endurance racing....victory of man and machine, not just wimp calling.

If they can't handle it, they should go play golf or something.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by jimclark

We would have witnessed the drivers that had the intelligente not to deserving victory. That's what.

I love irony. It's my favourite rhetorical device.

I'm gonna go play Golf.

Anyway - Sebring next. Will Mazda make it to the end?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by jimclark

We would have witnessed the drivers that had the intelligente not to deserving victory. That's what.
Endurance racing....victory of man and machine, not just wimp calling.

If they can't handle it, they should go play golf or something.

The only golf that would be taking place in that weather, would be at the 19th Hole.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The only golf that would be taking place in that weather, would be at the 19th Hole.

At least that would be real.

[Adam43]

Your point is made and noted by all. Everyone understands it. It doesn’t need repeating and arguing to the nth degree.

Neither does your point need putting down again. That’s happened enough.

Suffice to say it was a shame it was stopped.

[fieldodreams79]

It's probably stopped raining now.

Here. In the thread. Not at the speedway. It's gonna rain til Tuesday!

[Maelochs]

If fieldodreams79 had stayed at church, we might have had a green-flag finish!

[broadrun96]

The CGR guys are still crying and whining about the red flag being a "kick in the nuts." You rolled the dice pitting early and it cost ya guys, that happens. Although the extra 60 seconds added on because they didn't get to do their full service is stupid. They didn't get to pit again because you threw the red flag guys, no advantage was gained.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

If fieldodreams79 had stayed at church, we might have had a green-flag finish!

And putting on Black Sabbath when I got home was the final nail in the coffin.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

And putting on Black Sabbath when I got home was the final nail in the coffin.

That's an interesting combination and the coffin bit.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It says under the photo of the car.

"The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac team scored victory in a Daytona 24 Hours cut short by bad weather, as Fernando Alonso won the American classic at his second attempt."

...and the sponsor's logos are displayed on the car, which is why they put up the money to fund the effort.

[S griffin]

Well done Fred, multi talented. Wayne Taylor does it again. Sounds like this was the worst weather at this race since the 83 or 84 race. Also Nasr really seems to have taken to American sportscars

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by skycafe

...and the sponsor's logos are displayed on the car, which is why they put up the money to fund the effort.

Yep.

[GTRMagic]

Not much to be done when the weather turns to absolute cack.
Not just the rain, or the horrible drainage/standing water, but the strong winds that likely cranked up the intensity of the rain, and also fiddled with the effectiveness of the aero on the prototypes and on the GT cars alike.

There were some super pros at the front of the field at Daytona, warmed up, lots of miles that day splish splashing, and the further back you went on the grid, the more crashes that happened.

Losing the WeatherTech Ferrari like that was the eye opener for me.
The warning systems and rear facing lights didn’t do their job, and we didn’t see the Black Swan Porsche on the incar till contact ensued.

That accident alone was telling... especially when some of the GT cars had their less experienced pilots aboard.

Congratulations to Wayne Taylor Racing sponsored by Konica Minolta & Cadillac, to Mr Alonso, to Mr Kobayashi, to Mr Taylor and to Mr van der Zande on a great achievement.

There were times when Mr Alonso was brainjng them, stuff not always picked up in by the commentators... a champion drive.

[GTRMagic]

[joeb]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

I enjoy hearing what various drivers thought of the conditions. I wish there would have been more interviews with them during the reds.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It says under the photo of the car.

"The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac team scored victory in a Daytona 24 Hours cut short by bad weather, as Fernando Alonso won the American classic at his second attempt."

I know that. My point was the headline of the BIG BOLDED words of Alonso winning it. I get he had a part but the headline is about a single name instead of a team winning it, even if they're mentioned in the fine print at the bottom. It's cool and all but I'd like it if the motorsport media lead with something team oriented for once in a team oriented race.

[Umai Naa]

Any reason the race couldn't be finished behind the safety car, as opposed to being parked up in pit lane?

[kevin993]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Any reason the race couldn't be finished behind the safety car, as opposed to being parked up in pit lane?

Apparently the safety car almost lost it coming out of the bus stop just before they put out the red. That's what Alonso went up to the safety car driver to talk about. If the safety car is getting sideways under yellow, that's a good indication that parking the field is the right move.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Any reason the race couldn't be finished behind the safety car, as opposed to being parked up in pit lane?

The cars had already been redflagged for an extended period, restarting and lapping in increased rain just to circulate and get running time across the line would have resulted in teams likely telling IMSA to screw off and coming up with reasons to not do it given the team and driver comments. I think we would have seen a mass protest from the field

I think we could see the teams approach IMSA for improved wets given they know there are better Michelins out there. It's not like they'd be starting from scratch like Continental would have.

[Umai Naa]

Fair points, all things considered.

[CyberMotor]

Due to all the restrictions, I watched the race through in-car cameras and heard it through Radio Le Mans. The in-car video was incredible. Floating a car around a corner was the most amazing thing to watch and hear through the in-cars. Alonso is the master of this... late and delicate braking and then floating the car through the apex and then applying the gas.

In the most horrendous conditions, the master driver won.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Any reason the race couldn't be finished behind the safety car, as opposed to being parked up in pit lane?

Lot of other good reasons already stated, but rlm also mentioned that with cars being soaked, and sitting for so long, imagine the controversy if a car in the top three in class or worse yet, in the lead, couldn't start back up just to do some parade laps and take the checker under yellow. Would have been a huge risk for no reason.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by RWill2073

Lot of other good reasons already stated, but rlm also mentioned that with cars being soaked, and sitting for so long, imagine the controversy if a car in the top three in class or worse yet, in the lead, couldn't start back up just to do some parade laps and take the checker under yellow. Would have been a huge risk for no reason.

Indy cars tried that at Loudon and it was a giant excrement show with half the field wrecking. IMSA may have actually learned from someone

[Umai Naa]

Perhaps IMSA/circuit management will learn from this one, and improve drainage?

But then again, history shows us that this never happens...