|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
8 Mar 2010, 05:51 (Ref:2647213) | #1 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,736
|
ALMS will return to Infineon/Sonoma/Sears Point in 2011!
I spoke with a rep from Infineon Raceway today, and before I even mentioned my interest in sports car racing, he mentioned that the ALMS would be returning the track in 2011 in a joint race weekend with the IRL in August. He also stated that they were extremely close to getting them there for this season, but it just didn't work out.
It'll be great to see some real sports cars back at Sears Point! |
|
|
8 Mar 2010, 07:19 (Ref:2647227) | #2 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 405
|
Awesome news, my first ALMS race I ever attended was at Sears Point, not to mention I live only 30 min away!
|
||
|
8 Mar 2010, 13:01 (Ref:2647388) | #3 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,249
|
Cool! always enjoy any race there!
There's been a few changes since the ALMS last raced at Sonama... get any idea on more changes to the track or which portions will be used? I guess they'll use the same layout as the IRL runs since they are sharing the weekend? do they still go through the "carousel"? |
||
__________________
"Knowing that it's in you and you never let it out Is worse than blowing any engine or any wreck you'll ever have." -Mike Cooley |
8 Mar 2010, 13:15 (Ref:2647399) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,711
|
That and add St. Pete for 2011.
|
||
__________________
It's great to be here! |
8 Mar 2010, 14:35 (Ref:2647464) | #5 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,042
|
I just hope there is an ALMS in 2011.
|
||
__________________
Eat Sportscars Sleep Sportscars Drink Gulf |
8 Mar 2010, 15:40 (Ref:2647506) | #6 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,892
|
I would think that the ALMS will use the "Sportscar" circuit (2.52 miles), and ICS will use the 'Motorcycle' circuit (2.32 miles). When GA has run with ICS the last few seasons, they've still used the regular circuit for sportscars: no chicane before Turn 10, and using the hairpin right by the pits at Turn 11.
If SMI is softening its line, and the ALMS is getting cozier with ICS, it could bode well for having an opening to get into Watkins Glen. RD, I seriously doubt things are that dire. We may have the Challenge classes now to help out how things looks, but getting new blood into the series during tough times is a VERY good thing no matter how you slice it. When things improve, these teams may well be in a position to move up into the main classes: GT2 and LMP1/2. |
||
__________________
The only certainty is that nothing is certain. |
8 Mar 2010, 15:58 (Ref:2647513) | #7 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 286
|
That would be awesome, and they are currently doing a bunch of work at the Glen too, redoing runoff areas, adding safer barriers and new curbing that is FIA spec as well as other things.
|
||
|
8 Mar 2010, 16:04 (Ref:2647515) | #8 | |
Racer
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 385
|
||
|
8 Mar 2010, 16:24 (Ref:2647528) | #9 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 627
|
That was funny!
|
||
|
8 Mar 2010, 18:20 (Ref:2647601) | #10 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,958
|
More cars in the ALMS, more cars in Patron GT3 Challenge and more cars in Cooper Lights series at Sebring, than last year. Every IMSA (owned) series has growth year/year. While it is feasible there could be more changes next year, I don't think these series are going anywhere.
I like Sears Point, and look forward to the races there, assuming the information is correct. If it is, it looks like Mosport's date might get moved again, but that doesn't seem to bother the Tundra Monkeys. |
||
|
8 Mar 2010, 21:22 (Ref:2647747) | #11 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 626
|
Let's cross our fingers.
|
||
__________________
-Peder Baeckman- 2017 695 Abarth XSR 180hp Brembo, Koni |
8 Mar 2010, 23:23 (Ref:2647819) | #12 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,025
|
Quote:
Chris |
|||
__________________
Member: Ecurie Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. EFR & Greg Pickett fan. |
9 Mar 2010, 17:04 (Ref:2648308) | #13 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,746
|
There are two Californian races in 2010's 9-race ALMS season. Is there any reason to add a third one? What they need is a second Southern race (Barber or Virginia), a Mid-Atlantic race (Watkins Glen or New Jersey) and perhaps a second Canadian race and a second Floridan race. But that could only happen if Grand-Am loses theirs.
|
||
__________________
Nitropteron - Fly fast or get crushed! by NaBUrean Prodooktionz naburu38.itch.io |
9 Mar 2010, 17:51 (Ref:2648355) | #14 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,919
|
Quote:
There are 3 races west of the Mississippi, the whole Western half of the country. 1 in the N.E. of the Central US (R/A) and 5 in the Eastern corridor including Mosport. Give me a break, if any races need adding they should be west of the Mississippi. A third race in Cali. might be a bit much (?), but that would be better than in the Eastern corridor. L.P. |
|||
__________________
Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae enitent |
9 Mar 2010, 18:38 (Ref:2648405) | #15 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,735
|
I'd be happy with Portland...
|
||
|
9 Mar 2010, 18:40 (Ref:2648408) | #16 | |||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,669
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
9 Mar 2010, 19:38 (Ref:2648455) | #17 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 508
|
St Pete back in plus Infineon (and beyond... :-p)
Apparently two more street races being discussed (not Houston) any ideas? Ben |
||
|
9 Mar 2010, 21:17 (Ref:2648509) | #18 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,958
|
Quote:
Oklahoma City is one. http://www.okblitz.com/Article.aspx?id=18006 http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...50094835_x.htm |
|||
|
10 Mar 2010, 00:48 (Ref:2648625) | #19 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,746
|
HORNDAWG, the population west of N-S Dakota / Nebraska / Kansas / Oklahoma (them included, no Texas) is 80 million. Mid-Atlantic + New England has some 60 million, the Midwest some 60 million, the South + Florida some 70... I believe that the west/east race ratio should be more or less the same as the population ratio.
Last edited by NaBUru38; 10 Mar 2010 at 00:55. |
||
__________________
Nitropteron - Fly fast or get crushed! by NaBUrean Prodooktionz naburu38.itch.io |
10 Mar 2010, 01:05 (Ref:2648632) | #20 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,983
|
In my, admittedly European, opinion, the west coast needs more, full stop.
First off, Portland is a brilliant city to visit - so please give me another excuse to do so. Second, CA is vast - there's no reason why a quality product can't talk to a decent body of consumers in the markets served by Laguna Seca, Long Beach, and Sears Point. I will say that from my perspective having had jobs that have taken me a lot to to DC area and the NE more generally that an additional presence there would have been nice, but given my signal ability to be in the right geographic space at almost exactly the wrong time is legendary (missed the Dubai 24 by about 8 hours this year) not sure I can, hand on heart, really make any comment on locations... Do see there's comment about Oklahoma elsewhere on the forum - this likely to be a runner or a pipe dream? |
||
|
10 Mar 2010, 01:44 (Ref:2648645) | #21 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,958
|
Impossible to say. The City is taking a look at the feasibility. We'll see what the results of this, and any potential negotiations with the ALMS go. Who knows if the ALMS even wants to go there, or that particular track.
|
||
|
10 Mar 2010, 02:01 (Ref:2648651) | #22 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,249
|
i must be under the "eastern US granite" rock and to lazy to look. how long have they been pondering Okie City and where the hell is the track? is it any good?
and if isynge considers Cali is vast, what about the entire mid west? it's huge...you could have a race in one spot and still not be feasible for someone from the other part of the mid west to go... i'd like to see them at Portland as well...not the most thrilling of tracks but has two or three quick and exciting sections. VIR would be my pick for adds but i've also enjoyed them at Sonoma. |
||
__________________
"Knowing that it's in you and you never let it out Is worse than blowing any engine or any wreck you'll ever have." -Mike Cooley |
10 Mar 2010, 02:22 (Ref:2648655) | #23 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,711
|
Vancouver would be brilliant to go to. The last Champcar race was good, but had to move because of the Olympics. Since that's now over with, it could also run as part of the Asian Series (since it's part of the Pacific Rim).
|
||
__________________
It's great to be here! |
10 Mar 2010, 14:57 (Ref:2648944) | #24 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,892
|
FoD79, the proposed street circuit is in Bricktown: the revitalized, old downtown area of the city. It's just south and east of the high rises of cureent downtown. That layout itself isn't anything fancy (a six-turn "L" shape), but the major streets in the area are certainly wide enough. And with two ~600m straights, and a roughly 1km straight, there will be overtaking potential.
Three races in California wouldn't be unprecedented. In fact, on the West Coast, IMSA ran Portland, Sears Point, Laguna Seca, and Riverside concurrently. VIR would be a nice addition to the calendar. Barber, unfortunately, just doesn't allow the room for the cars to really stretch their legs. And in this middle part of the country, the only potential, permanent venues I see are Brainerd and Heartland Park. Last edited by Purist; 10 Mar 2010 at 15:02. |
||
__________________
The only certainty is that nothing is certain. |
10 Mar 2010, 16:40 (Ref:2648991) | #25 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,919
|
I thoght about Topeka. I have not paid any attention to it lately, how much would it take to run the series there, FIAizing etc...?
L.P. |
||
__________________
Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae enitent |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Infineon/Sears Point Now Confirmed | Tim Northcutt | IRL Indycar Series | 1 | 12 Oct 2006 19:35 |
Champion to run second Audi at Sears Point (Sonoma arggh) | Fogelhund | Sportscar & GT Racing | 99 | 1 Sep 2004 07:20 |
ALMS at Sears Point Thread | Tim Northcutt | North American Racing | 68 | 19 Jul 2004 20:03 |
Sears Point-Sonoma-Infineon | gttouring | Sportscar & GT Racing | 2 | 23 Jun 2003 22:55 |
results from sears point and ALMS points | marcus | North American Racing | 4 | 25 Jul 2000 22:58 |