Grand Am and ALMS Merge/Buyout

[EricJ]

Reported tonight on Dave Dispain's Wind Tunnel - Gran Am and ALMS are merging.
No details yet, but he reported it appears Grand Am is buying out ALMS.

[MoonieGT]

Watching the press conference now. They will run independently next year, but in 2014 it will be a combined championship. I'm confused about what that means... DPs on track with LMPs?

[jrj512]

I am not happy about this. I am worried that they will kick out the LMP cars in favor of the crappy Grand Am Prototype cars. Spec series (like Grand Am Prototypes) do nothing but stifle innovation. Indy Car (a good example of boring spec racing in a series that used to be innovative) would be a lot more interesting if they said here's a box that your car must fit inside of, it must have these safety requirements, and you only get x gallons fo gas (or equivalent) for the race. The rest is up to you. Then decrease the amount of fuel allowed very five years.

[MoonieGT]

I prefer the Rolex and continental series to ALMS. But you make a good point re innovation. I don't think the protype racing in ALMS has been very good since the days of the LMP2 Penske Porsche Spider. I watch ALMS for the GT class.

I cant't say that I even understand having three prototype classes in ALMS. And only 2-3 cars in LMP1? Keep LMP2 and LMPC maybe. Also need to ditch the GTC cars. GT is sufficient.

And as a final rant, I hope there is still a rotary in this new series...

[POS Racing]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/05/a...nt-race-named/

Jim France (the son of legendary NASCAR founder, Bill France Sr.) will take on the role of Chairman for the new series, with Panoz serving as Vice Chairman.

Some larger support from NASCAR is seemingly in evidence, too, with three members of that series' executive structure serving as board members for the new sports car racing tie-up.

They are going to go Nascar! Everyone will get the same box to drive and the key thing that will differentiate the groups will be stickers!

[MoonieGT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG2OcW_Hwkg

[jrj512]

More info: http://www.autoextremist.com/fumes1/

This is a weekly column, so if you view this next week, then you will need to click on the previous week's column.

[MoonieGT]

LMP1 gone. That's ok with me as it barely exists now. LMP2 and DP in the same class? Uh, that will be odd...

I didn't see anything about the continental series? Will it keep going as is? Those races are pretty fun to watch.

[johnwag]

LMP1 gone. That's ok with me as it barely exists now. LMP2 and DP in the same class? Uh, that will be odd...

I didn't see anything about the continental series? Will it keep going as is? Those races are pretty fun to watch.

I would imagine that the Continental Series is staying put, since they've had 35-43 cars in each class all season. That series is the money maker.

[MoonieGT]

Hope that's the case. Those are good races and it's nice to see so many makes out there.