One & Only Comparo

[JamesC2123]

IMSA uses 'em in ALMS as well... how else to you get an 8.0L V10 in the SRT Viper to run with smaller motors in the rest of GTE?

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story! Also, the ACO, the SRO GT3 series, Super GT....

[ARROWZ46]

Two words- inlet restrictors. It's a Daytona favorite.

IMSA uses 'em in ALMS as well... how else to you get an 8.0L V10 in the SRT Viper to run with smaller motors in the rest of GTE?

[Nigel Red5]

Two words- inlet restrictors. It's a Daytona favorite.

[ARROWZ46]

Here's a good graphic representation, ignoring the P1's since they go away after 2013:

Andy's layout provides the basic info & looks damn nice as well!!!

[Jakester]

I do not envy Scott Elkins and company... they have the makings of a real dilemma on their hands.

Speed up DP? Slow LMP2/LMPC? Some combination of both? And how much will the mods cost the teams (especially galling would be spending money to slow your car down)?

Technically, I think it will have to be some combo as it would be very costly to speed up DP by ~6 seconds/lap (maybe a bit less as the LMP2 go to spec tires for 2014).

Current car counts are strongly tilted towards DP, with ~14 entries/event versus 4 for LMP2 (only two teams and those both occurred at the last minute for 2013). So one would expect DP to see some 'favoritism' in the new specs. OTOH, slowing the LMP2/LMPC cars by much won't be well received by the ALMS fans.

I suppose ideally, LMP2 could have been made the premier class with DP taking the role of the 'new LMP2', but that wasn't gonna fly from the beginning.

Hard to see a win/win situation here.

Some of the same is going to happen in GTLM and GTD as evidenced by Stevenson already planning on departing GTD next season. Perhaps in this case, the USCR bias toward production based cars rather than the 'Prep 2' tube frames originally favored by Grand Am have something to do with it also (what will Turner do with their Prep 2 BMW M3s?).

[SteveK51]

Here's a good graphic representation, ignoring the P1's since they go away after 2013:

[ARROWZ46]

The GA/DP's have a very small splitter in the front, a single element (& spec) rear wing, & no tunnels or underbody aero like the ALMS P2, PC, & even the GTE class cars have.

More HP won't fix everything for DPs in 2014. :nono: The current LMPC car has a 435HP Chevy motor. IIRC the DP's have almost 100HP more right now & still are SLOWER than the ALMS "spec" prototype. I understand the current DP teams wanting to keep their equipment, but how much are they going to have to spend to speed themselves up for 2014?

[nezy37]

Not quite - DP is about 300 pounds heavier in the minimum weight department, which can make a difference in cornering and initial acceleration. However by lowering minimum weight the design of the DP results in a much higher center of gravity, creating setup problems even IF you increase the downforce.

This is by no means a straightforward matter.

well I stand corrected, that is significant, perhaps as much as the aero difference. I will say as much flack as the DP's get for being ugly they are better in person. They look big on TV, walking through the paddock I was surprised how small they were.

If you can't cut the weight you can add a whole lot of HP, I'd imagine with ease. The whole idea was to slow them down around Daytona though was it not?

I don't have a problem with DP racing, its good. I just don't want to have it marketed to me as the pinicle of sports car racing in America because that would be sad.

[JMFVET]

Thanks guys

[FormulaFox]

LMP2 and DP are very similar from a hp, weight, wheelbase perspective. LMP2 makes a whole lot more downforce and is a alot faster as a result.

Not quite - DP is about 300 pounds heavier in the minimum weight department, which can make a difference in cornering and initial acceleration. However by lowering minimum weight the design of the DP results in a much higher center of gravity, creating setup problems even IF you increase the downforce.

This is by no means a straightforward matter.

[ARROWZ46]

Using the Q times is pretty relevant due to the track & weather conditions being pretty damn close the majority of cars set the times. ALMS classes set those times in less than a 2 hour time window...

[nezy37]

http://www.alms.com/results

http://www.grand-am.com/scheduleResults/results.aspx?eid=3485&sid=1

Both results lists give you the car's fast lap. All three prototype classes in ALMS are faster than the DP's. It has to come down to downforce. Saw on drive the other day that the specifications of both the LMP2 and DP are very similar from a hp, weight, wheelbase perspective. LMP2 makes a whole lot more downforce and is a alot faster as a result.

Didn't get a chance to get to the Grand Am race. ALMS was disappointing, too much caution. But as great as the previous two were you can't expect that every time out. Good to see Viper get a win. Good to see the Delta Wing compete. The late caution, killed what would have been an interesting P2 battle but it happens.

I know there are only 3 P1 cars, and Picket is light years ahead of Dyson and the DW so it isn't much to watch but just having that Muscle Milk car fly by every couple of minutes is worth it if you're there. I'm going to miss p1

[ARROWZ46]

Those are Q times on that spreadsheet. Would like to see race times.

2:21.6 during the race for Nissan Z in Continental Challenge - beats two cars in the GrandAm race.

Pathetic...

Aren't the race times usually SLOWER than Q times? 2014 is going to involve some very unpopular BoP IMO...

Congrats to the folks at SRT Motorsport!!! The #93 had pole position & the #91 wins the race.




Check out Fox Production Films FB page for tons of great images (more than just "Snakes"...)

[Automotive]

Those are Q times on that spreadsheet. Would like to see race times.

2:21.6 during the race for Nissan Z in Continental Challenge - beats two cars in the GrandAm race.

[Jakester]

And I really didn't expect the diesel Mazda was RWD.

I believe the GX Mazda 6 diesel is actually last year's RX8 tube frame chassis with mods to accomodate the Mazda 6 'four door' bodywork. A Prep B car per Grand Am rules (as is the Stevenson Camaro).