Bill France, Sr. was instrumental in the creation of the International Motor Sports Association. France founded NASCAR as a professional oval track series and wanted to do the same for road racing. After discussions with Bishop, IMSA was born and Bishop was given the sole control of the organization (like NASCAR, there was no board of directors). France financed the majority of the organization and owned 75% of the stock; Bishop owned the remaining 25%.
Announcement of the new series class structure is scheduled for 4 Jan in Daytona during the upcoming Daytona 24H test.
I think someone is smoking something funny...just not sure who... The Midweek Motorsport / Specutainment / RadioLemans folk are claiming Grand-Am are telling their teams that Daytona Prototypes will be allowed to run at Le Mans starting in 2014. :skep:
Ok, John Dagys points out that stranger things have happened at Le Mans. For example: Americans in Paris, Nascar goes to Le Mans
As odd as that sounds I think it would be great. We know many of the Grand Am teams can run the distance.
Yep, me thinks the DP's would not only be very entertaining to watch at Le Man's but could do very well there, all things considered!!!
It's possible this means there's going to be a change to the DP class and cars to come with the merger of classes for 2014. I've been wondering how they would mix all those classes together; which will be "equalized" and what will be dropped altogether. One of the issues of the class merge was figuring out how to keep the DPs from ending up as the lowest/slowest of the prototype classes since their lap times are slower than ALMS P1 and P2. P1 is almost guaranteed to go away but that still leaves DP following P2 and NASCAR is unlikely to let that happen. Coincidentally, it looks like the ALMS P2 class is struggling a bit in terms of numbers for 2013. Could be just the economy, etc, but it may also be because the teams have been in on the merger discussions and are reluctant to pour new money into programs that will be obsolete at the end of the season. The P2 class fits into the Le Mans prototype class structure. Maybe the DPs are going to get some additional performance and become the US series equivalent of P2...maybe. Pure speculation. The new class structure plan is scheduled to be released this week during the Daytona test so we'll see.
It will be interesting. I think it will be a tough task to come up with a level field. I'm sure some teams will be crying foul. Now we wait. opcorn:
My money is on DP being given a tic more performance and moving up to the P2 level with still some sort of P1 unlimited class for Le Mans and the crazy big spenders to race....I mean there isn't but a handfull of them know... DP/P2 will be the premiere class week end and week out with a full field of teams competing. .....at least that is from my very cloudy crystal ball...lol:screwy:
Here it is, published early, ahead of the noon (Eastern) press conference. GRAND-AM, ALMS Announce Class Structure For Unified Series (ALMS.com)
One of the telling bits above is DP and P2 as the leading class while keeping the ALMS PC class. Has to mean significant increased performance (and probably better aero) for DP by 2014 because they're not only slower at this point than ALMS P2 but also slower than PC. In other words, since the PCs will remain and run behind the DPs it's not likely about slowing down the P2s to "equalize" them to DP level.
Thinking about it, this is basically all the 2013 classes kept (minus P1 plus DeltaWing) and crammed together for a 2-year trial -- 2014-15 -- during which things will be assessed and adjusted before deciding on something more sensible for 2016. Makes sense in one way as it allows teams to get more out of their investments in the current structures plus an overlapping assessment period should allow for more fact-based decisions going forward. On the other hand, it should make for quite a bit of confusion with all those different car types racing together. It's also potentially a LOT of cars on the track at once. Could end up looking like a full Continental field but at prototype and GT speeds.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW27kyh7PVM]Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed - YouTube[/ame] I think Jalopnik says it best so far... ALMS And Grand Am Announce Plans To Become Most Confusing Thing In The World
In their defense I do think they are trying to make it as easy and inexpensive for teams in both series to stay and not just walk away, hands in the air because everything they now own doesn't have a place on the grid... Cleanest thing would be to certify four or five groups and that's it, but that would mean a lot of parts would become instant junk.. The couple year deal as Steve eluded too will give teams time to transition...and leave as few people as possible not feeling left out... Perfect? Nope....