Goofy Atlantics theory - maybe

[Jim Wilke]

Let's start with this premise: CC and KK commissioned a bunch of new Atlantics cars and are claiming that they'll have big fields as a support class for the big CCars. Now, according to many, the old cars have outgrown the street courses that comprise the bulk of CC's schedule and others seem to think that this will be the last year for the ovals and the last year for the current car. What happens if KK makes this announcement next fall:

'We have been thrilled with the close, exciting action from our Atlantics series this season. These cars are powered by engines that more closely resemble the engines that our fans are driving. We had plans to introduce the new DP01 that would be powered by our tried and true turbo Ford-Cosworth but the more we looked at it, we realized that this engine is far too powerful and out of step with today's economic realities. Therefore, we are going to put that project on hiatus and next year, our Championship will be contested by our current Atlantics cars but with some significant modifications. We will redesign the suspension to take larger wheels, tires and brakes and we will allow four-cylinder, stock based engines of up to 2.5 liters and, yes, we will keep the turbos that our fans love to hear. Our partners at Ford and Cosworth have already completed work on a new version of the naturally aspirated engine that will produce around 600 h.p. and with this lighter, more nimble car, it should be every bit as quick as our current car at most tracks. In fact, because it is smaller and lighter, it will actually corner quicker and, most important, it is far cheaper than the car it replaces. We all love the big Champ Car but it has just outgrown the tracks and the economy. Going hand in hand with this new program is the idea that we will keep the existing Atlantics series intact so a team could start the season in Atlantics with a naturally aspirated engine and then move up to the Championship class just by changing the engine and a few other components.

We are excited about this new direction and already have solid interest from at least 15 teams that represent over 30 cars. Please join us as we move forward with our series as we take our festivals of speed to your town.'

[SLKRR]

You are absolutely right Jim, that theory is goofy.

[Mark521]

So the theory is "Atlantics and ChampCar share a tub/sidepods starting 2007"? Bolt on different suspension/wheels and a bigger engine and go from Atlantics to CC?

If the new Atlantics car is very racey, then why not.

[tcsparky]

It's not totally crazy. If KK and CC threw a lot of money into a prize fund for Atlantics they could replace current Champ Cars. They'd be turning non-qualifiers away with enough dollars thrown at it. And, it would cost less to run. However, it would hard to claim that these "SuperAlts" would be world class, rivalling IRL let alone F1 cars, no matter how good the racing is. Then again. maybe KK, GF and PG are good enough marketers to convince their fans.

[Tooonces]

This is way over my head technically, but as I was watching the Rolex 24 and seeing how many, diverse engine packages they have, the question - why wouldn't IndyCar partner with Grand Am to run the same engine package as well as partnering up on more weekends?

Economics are reality in racing - even if it is less obvious in the Nascar ranks - so why reinvent the wheel/engine.

Seriously, much like Gov. Daniels shook up the State with his leasing of the Toll Road plan to pay for road projects, it is time to shake up the course of business and do some things that make financial sense, since cents are the biggest hurdle for teams, manufacurers, and sponsors from getting on board.

Is it technically impossible? Would it be easier, more efficient, fiscally responsible to pursue something out of the box or better to tinker and toil, spin wheels at the current level of participation, following, growth that resembles the return rate on a CD?

[rodneyh]

Champ Car needs to do whatever it can to get more entries on the track, preferably competitive ones.

If this can put more cars on the track for the "FEATURE" race, sounds like a good idea.

[chicanery]

This just in off the wire...

Biologists from the University of Alaska at Anchorage said today that they have no explanation for why large numbers of common crows are migrating north into Alaska when the winter season isn't half over with.

Lief Ollafson, Associate Professor of Ornithology, stated that a majority of the birds seem to be congregating around one particular house. "I'm at a loss to explain this phenomena", Ollafson said, adding that he had spoken to the owner of the property and had been told something about "lawsuits and car counts".

"I'm not sure what this has to do with crows, but we will continue investigating it".

[Indyknut]

What happens if KK makes this announcement next fall:

You'd think you'd stop posting silly threads on the validity of the next gen Atlantics chassis......

I'm sure that'd be too much to ask for though.

[downtowndeco]

This is close to what I was saying a few months ago. That CC could probably just replace CC's w/Atlantics and most of the "fans" that show up at SJ & like street festivals wouldn't know the difference, other than 35 Atlantics might put on a better show than 18 CC's on a tight street circuit.

Look, CC has made it no secret that they want to put on festivals of speed on city streets. The people that show up at those things never tune in the next week when the following race is on TV, so we can assume that most are not diehard fans. Why spend all of the money on a new CC chassis, and have short grids, when the majority of people that show up at street races don't really care?

CC is trying to build a traveling festival type series. Sort of like a monster Truck show or an X-Games type deal. Why they even put on the pretenses that they are a serious racing series any more I don't know.

Jim, you might not be far off.

[Jim Wilke]

Here's my reasoning: I don't think - as I have said numerous times - there are enough teams to justify 40+ new cars. It also appears to me that the new DP01 would be 'too much car' for most of the tracks that CC runs or is looking at. Why not kill a bunch of bird with one stone? A cheaper big car, an easy way for Atlantics teams to step up, a way to get a bunch of pretty cars making noise in the streets.

Other than 'That's a dumb idea,' why wouldn't this work?

[bkeske]

If they are going to concentrate on temp courses, I think Jim's idea is a good one, and one I've also wondered about the past couple years. The new car will still be 'over engineered' and 'over powered' for most these venues. Either that or switch to bicycle races

[Jim Wilke]

This is close to what I was saying a few months ago. That CC could probably just replace CC's w/Atlantics and most of the "fans" that show up at SJ & like street festivals wouldn't know the difference, other than 35 Atlantics might put on a better show than 18 CC's on a tight street circuit.

Look, CC has made it no secret that they want to put on festivals of speed on city streets. The people that show up at those things never tune in the next week when the following race is on TV, so we can assume that most are not diehard fans. Why spend all of the money on a new CC chassis, and have short grids, when the majority of people that show up at street races don't really care?

CC is trying to build a traveling festival type series. Sort of like a monster Truck show or an X-Games type deal. Why they even put on the pretenses that they are a serious racing series any more I don't know.

Jim, you might not be far off.

The new Atlantics cars would be too slow - but stick a turbo on them, crank up the boost and the power and what would you have? A bunch of yowling cars sliding around the streets. More cars for a lot less money and a car that would probably work better on street courses and engines that come out of the cars in the parking lots. Why would this be a bad thing?

[jonovision_man]

Other than 'That's a dumb idea,' why wouldn't this work?

Down on power, probably won't sound as cool, will be many seconds down on a ChampCar...

It's a feeder series chassis, not a professional OW car.

jono

[bkeske]

You mean Atlantics are not professional?

I think what Jim is suggesting, (and I agree), is that you could probably put on a better 'show' at some of these venues with a 'pumped up' Atlanic chassis than what is being proposed.

Racing is racing...I've seen more exciting Atlantic racing vs CCWS (CART) racing at some weekends in the past, and it is the consistant excitement of the racing which would make more an impact.

Most those 'droves' that come out for a race like San Jose don't know the difference anyway. If they never saw the 'big cars', who would be the wiser?

[downtowndeco]

Down on power, probably won't sound as cool, will be many seconds down on a ChampCar...

It's a feeder series chassis, not a professional OW car.

jono

Yes, what you say is true. Except you have to take into account the direction and business model CCWS has taken. It's a show. A festival. An event. A parade. It has very little to do with being a professional racing series anymore.