TV Times: Hurry Up, Super Bowl! We’re Waitin’ on Daytona!

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• Chuck says:

  Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:16 AM

  Personally, I like the Rolex 24 and I like the DP class of car. I like the look, I like the fact that you can see the difference between the model years of DP on the track. The GT class cars are OK too, but in the Rolex 24, I prefer the DP. One thing I think casual American race fans have is the mix of cars on the track. Most American racing has a single class of car and they race and that is it. So whether it is Grand Am racing in general or the Rolex 24, I think the mix of cars is confusing issue, Plus, most Americans do not care about endurance racing like the Dakar, 24 hour races, etc. That type of racing is more for purists, in my opinion.
  • Lou Modestino says:

    Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:22 PM

    Chuck, I used to cover the SCCA Trans-Am when it was the hot set-up and all of the Detroit factories were in it as well as some of the European marques. I understand that in road racing there are seperate class races. I also appreciate that the not so powerful race cars have to get out of the way of the more powerful. Thanks for your comments.
• Andy DeNardi says:

  Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 10:18 AM

  The Daytona Prototypes are not exciting cars; they suffer from the same spec-car status as the stock cars. Unlike most series, the highest class is the filed filler. People go to watch the GT racing, and the DP are only for the high rollers who want to spend big bucks, throw splashy parties and not have a whole lot of competition. The Daytona 24′s position on the racing schedule attracts many big name drivers. Better to place them in the DP class where they won’t be embarrassed by a regular series driver who’s had many hours of practice in that type of car. Attendance at Grand-Am events aside from Daytona was nearly in the negative numbers.

  Had ALMS run Daytona, you would have had big crowds. The Sebring race has more history than Daytona but it’s not a great spectator venue. But don’t expect huge crowds next year after the merger; the LMP1 class has been cast off for lack of manufacturer interest. Just as they did with Indycar, folks are going to wait to see how everything shakes out before they devote any time towards making the races. As great as GT racing is in both organizations, they needed the LeMans aura that they got from LMP1. Both Sebring and Daytona had that benefit in the Sixties and early Seventies, and they did well.

  ALMS was always the superior series but there were infrastructure problems. Grand-Am had infrastructure but (deservedly) lacked respect. The merger could be great. Jim France is a more capable leader than Brian. They have to forget about DP, LMP and any other “prototype” class and just concentrate on GT. Concentrate on semi-recognizable cars that the spectator can envision being in. Sort of like Cup when it was great.
  • Russ says:

    Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 12:09 PM

    DP is nothing but an attempt to bring NASCAR to road racing, notice that there is very little support for the class other than by the stock car types.
    Panoz had been trying to sell ALMS for several years, perhaps because of his other interests. But Grand AM was dying rather quickly. So I suppose this is an attempt to save the Grand AM by buying the more successful brand. Will it work? Who knows. I think a lot of people, seeing the direction stock cars have gone, are afraid the same thing will happen to road racing.
    I differ in that I think the way to go is to adopt the same rules they use in Europe. We live in a global economy and there is no point in not having cars that can compete in multiple series. The prototypes, in some quise, need to be the headliners. GT racing as great as it is,cant carry the show.
    • Lou Modestino says:

      Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:30 PM

      Andy, I think that your right about the ALMS bringing in more race fans. Thanks for you comments.
    • Lou Modestino says:

      Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:32 PM

      Russ, I think your right about going to the LeMans rules. That’s where there is the interest of the endurance road racing fans and the factories. Thanks for you comments.
  • Lou Modestino says:

    Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    Andi DiNardi, I hope all goes well for the merger of the Grand Am and the ALMS. Combining the two series should bring the competitors and fans together. Sportscar racing needs all of the help that they can get. Especially in the ticket department. Thanks for you comments.