IMSA IMSA : 2019

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Oh, I hear you, no difference at all but we're talking FIA (WEC) here so you do the maths..

In regard to...?
'Very hard to follow.... Do the maths about what?

Whatever...what will be will be. I just don't get what the fuss is all about.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

There is probably no point to speculate GTD grid, especially since sprint and endurance are two different seasons with different grids now. For the rest here is what I got right now. Anybody care to follow up or confirm?:

Prototype

Penske Acura DPI 6
Penske Acura DPI 7
Joest Mazda DPI 55
Joest Mazda DPI 70
Action Express Cadillac 5
Action Express Cadillac 31
WTR Cadillac 10
JDC Cadillac 84
JDC Cadillac 85
Juncos Cadillac 32
Spirit of Daytona Cadillac 90 (status unknown)
CORE Nissan 54
PR1 Oreca 07 LMP2
Performance Tech LMP2
DragonSpeed Oreca 07 LMP2, Daytona only
DragonSpeed Oreca 07 LMP2, Daytona only
RLR MSport Ligier LMP2, Daytona only

GTLM
Same 9 cars as 2018.

So, just 2 full season entries for lmp2?
Anyway, SoD unlikely will be in grid next year, as risi ferrari in GTLM

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by canaglia

So, just 2 full season entries for lmp2?

And they have to miss a couple of the races?

https://www.autosport.com/imsa/news/...-lmp2-schedule

LMP2 competitors will still be eligible for the overall IMSA title, but will not contest either of the IndyCar-supporting rounds at Long Beach in April or in Detroit two months later.

[gert]

That means LMP2 is most likely as good as dead now, apart from Daytona and Sebring?

Terminated. Mission accomplished?

[Tique]

It is a shame for the LMP2. We were starting to have an interest from good European teams such as United Autosports or DC Racing. Other as Panis-Barthez Compétition were also thinking about having a go at the 24H of Daytona

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by gert

That means LMP2 is most likely as good as dead now, apart from Daytona and Sebring?

Terminated. Mission accomplished?

I think that's most of it, think we'll only see LMP2s at the endurance events. Which is basically when we would see decent fields with the Euro teams coming over

[Coach Ep]

The solution is simple: Allow performance improvements (relatively easy to accomplish with BoP, no need for bigger engines or aero development) to the P2s to keep 'm competitive with the DPi-s - so they can vie for the overall win. Keep the Am requirement for a 'LMPC' award + LM invites but let teams run an all pro line up if they wish (United for example).

The Am requirement could be applied to DPi-s as well if teams wish to cater to gentlemen driver wishes (like Core).

It won't change anything for P2s competing outside IMSA or eligible cars for LM (the IMSA invite goes to the driver - not the team or car) so no need for the ACO to throw a fit.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

The solution is simple: Allow performance improvements (relatively easy to accomplish with BoP, no need for bigger engines or aero development) to the P2s to keep 'm competitive with the DPi-s - so they can vie for the overall win. Keep the Am requirement for a 'LMPC' award + LM invites but let teams run an all pro line up if they wish (United for example).

The Am requirement could be applied to DPi-s as well if teams wish to cater to gentlemen driver wishes (like Core).

It won't change anything for P2s competing outside IMSA or eligible cars for LM (the IMSA invite goes to the driver - not the team or car) so no need for the ACO to throw a fit.

Well it is the ACO so the need to throw a fit is always there. But I think part of the allowance of the LMP2 name and the auto invite are tied to them using the wordwide homologation. They start speeding up the P2s and watch the ACO, and the field most likely, get all kinds of angry and loud.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by gert

That means LMP2 is most likely as good as dead now, apart from Daytona and Sebring?

Terminated. Mission accomplished?

I would have liked to see the classes stay as one, but the series went another way.

I think the series thought that more people would show up if they separated the classes, but that hasn't happened. If they really wanted to kill the lmp2 crowd though they would have kept them as a part of the Proto class and just made the DPi's faster.

[Deleted]

As for speeding up 'DPi', if you listened to the Pruett-Goodwin podcast this year you'll see that those teams don't want to spend any more time and money on anything, much as with the old Daytona Prototype ideology

Anyway the should just make LMP2 (and IMO LMP3) classes eligible for Daytona/Sebring/PLM only and allow them to run whatever drivers they wished, there's enough of proam in the world already. The cars might be fairly sterile and boring but at least it's not BoP nonsense and rebranding like in the other class

[TF110]

I think they're going to have to bop the cars extra this coming season to be faster than lmp2 and not miles away from the Cadillacs.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by joeb

I think the series thought that more people would show up if they separated the classes, but that hasn't happened.

Funnily enough, if ESM hadn't hit their troubles they might have had FOUR cars in LMP2. I've been hearing some whispers that the money Core spent on acquiring the Nissan DPis was originally meant to add a second LMP2 to their lineup.

But four cars may still be possible - apparently BAR1 is still looking to get a program and Performance Tech may be seeking sponsorship for a possible second entry. They pretty much have until the Roar to get things sorted, and with the car count on the lighter side they might be able to entice some paying am drivers a bit more easily.

This means there was potential for as many as six LMP2s had Patron not withdrawn from racing. Not the healthiest of class numbers, but not awful in a four-class championship.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Chiana

As for speeding up 'DPi', if you listened to the Pruett-Goodwin podcast this year you'll see that those teams don't want to spend any more time and money on anything, much as with the old Daytona Prototype ideology

I wondered about this as well. I thought I remember hearing in some other interviews that the DPi cars won't be much (if any) faster than they currently are. Then I wondered if we look back at the last 2 seasons of bop changes, can we track how much heavier, more restricted, less fuel, etc. are the dpi's than they were before? Is that worth a second or two?

[broadrun96]

PMR is staying in IMSA GTD with Sellers and Ryan Hardwick, Super Trofeo NA and world champion, Corey Lewis in for the enduros as well. Same chassis as this season updated to the EVO spec.

Park Place is back to full season in GTD with Long and Lindsey again. Plus a GT4 in Michelin as well.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

PMR is staying in IMSA GTD with Sellers and Ryan Hardwick, Super Trofeo NA and world champion, Corey Lewis in for the enduros as well. Same chassis as this season updated to the EVO spec.

Park Place is back to full season in GTD with Long and Lindsey again. Plus a GT4 in Michelin as well.

The Park Place car seems to be full season, but i didn't see what the Paul Miller car is doing? Full or sprint?

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by joeb

The Park Place car seems to be full season, but i didn't see what the Paul Miller car is doing? Full or sprint?

Full season.

Wondering where this leaves Wright as both their fulltime drivers from last season [Long and Nielsen] (seem to) have departed the team.

[carbsmith]

Actually if you're going to run a standalone LMP2 class, 100% the most logical thing you can do is not do that stupid Le Mans conflicting race in Detroit like GTE. I've said in the past how the eligibility of DPi at Le Mans is irrelevant because the cars would never actually be freighted to France anyways, but now it's actually possible for the LMP2 teams and using the same rules as Le Mans actually accomplishes what it's supposed to.

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

The solution is simple: Allow performance improvements (relatively easy to accomplish with BoP, no need for bigger engines or aero development) to the P2s

I don't think you'd get much of any take there.

Originally Posted by Chiana

Anyway the should just make LMP2 (and IMO LMP3) classes eligible for Daytona/Sebring/PLM only and allow them to run whatever drivers they wished, there's enough of proam in the world already.

All but like two teams in the world already run ProAm lineups in their LMP2 cars anyways.

Originally Posted by joeb

Then I wondered if we look back at the last 2 seasons of bop changes, can we track how much heavier, more restricted, less fuel, etc. are the dpi's than they were before? Is that worth a second or two?

From Daytona 2017 to Road Atlanta 2018
Cadillac +20kg -1.5mm restrictor -5L fuel
Mazda -25kg -~6% boost +4L
Nissan +10kg -~5% boost +2L

Cadillac has proven before it can run like 2s/lap faster but since you (supposedly) balance to the slowest car the question should be how fast the Mazda can go.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

All but like two teams in the world already run ProAm lineups in their LMP2 cars anyways.

It's not like they were given any choice even if they wanted to

[Nick Woodbury]

New Lexus livery for the AIM Vasser-Sullivan Racing squad.

[lemansnsx]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

New Lexus livery for the AIM Vasser-Sullivan Racing squad.

Ooooh!
Won't photograph as nicely as the blue chrome one but at least it looks interesting.

[joeb]

Pla and Bernhard may be in line for a Mazda drive this year:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...-joest-drives/

Also in the article, Spirit of Daytona is set to announce their 2019 plans soon. Not sure what that means. they have run a Riley, Ligier, and Caddy thus far, is a P2 return in the works? or did they find support for the Caddy?

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by joeb

Pla and Bernhard may be in line for a Mazda drive this year:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...-joest-drives/

Also in the article, Spirit of Daytona is set to announce their 2019 plans soon. Not sure what that means. they have run a Riley, Ligier, and Caddy thus far, is a P2 return in the works? or did they find support for the Caddy?

There's speculation about a third (works?) Mazda, seems a bit of stretch to me. And not a fan of Pla, he's too much of a 'forcer' imo. Not sure why Rast wouldn't be available, that guy is a bullet, let's hope he'll be back.

Not counting on SoD at this stage - anything other than a no show would be a pleasant surprise! Too bad, the blue Caddy was the best looking car of the field last year (minus the awful looking tire rack sponsorship decals).

[Nick Woodbury]

https://www.facebook.com/DaytonaInte...4990415031027/

First video surfaces from the DIS facebook page of todays IMSA Michelin test. The first car to pass by the camera is the 911


*EDIT* I haven't heard anything from Turner Motorsport about their 2019 plans, but this picture makes me hopeful that they are committed to a full season next year. (Taken from their FB page from today's IMSA test at Daytona)

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...11&oe=5C9DC44D


From twitter....a full body shot of the new AIM Lexus livery. Very nice!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DuJPyNyWsAEJ8BI.jpg:large

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

https://www.facebook.com/DaytonaInte...4990415031027/

First video surfaces from the DIS facebook page of todays IMSA Michelin test. The first car to pass by the camera is the 911


*EDIT* I haven't heard anything from Turner Motorsport about their 2019 plans, but this picture makes me hopeful that they are committed to a full season next year. (Taken from their FB page from today's IMSA test at Daytona)

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...11&oe=5C9DC44D


From twitter....a full body shot of the new AIM Lexus livery. Very nice!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DuJPyNyWsAEJ8BI.jpg:large

Was that the Land Audi I saw there at the end?

[Damian Baldi]

AgustÃ*n Canapino trying the Junco's Cadillac for the first time. Everything new for all them.

https://twitter.com/Campeonesnet/sta...50252483313664

Will Owen trying a bit of spanish at the end of the brief

https://twitter.com/AgustinCanapino/...32088329510914

Spanish explanation about FCY from Ricardo Juncos to Canapino

https://twitter.com/juncosracing/sta...41863087927296


Last time an argentinian was at Daytona 24hs after Oscar Larrauri and Juan Manuel Fangio II, was in 1993, when there was a group of drivers drove two Oldsmobile Cultass Supreme from Kreider Racing Enterprises.


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