Murphy’s back from Petit Le Mans. He had a great time, had his head rubbed for luck on Friday night at Paddy’s by an underdog team owner – who was back to give him a “thank you” pat on Saturday after the finish of a Petit Le Mans that some will call “great” and some will describe as merely “good.”
Obviously, if you’re Audi, Champion Racing (or ASNA – anyway, the guys from Pompano Beach), or Allan McNish, “great” is the right word. If you’re Acura, Duncan Dayton, or Scott Sharp, your descriptive language is something else.
This was a Petit not to miss, because Murphy thinks it was something of a “high water mark,” at least for a while.
The Bear was out googling the other day and just for laughs put himself in the search. One of a few hundred hits was an archived thread from the former Champ Car fan site, now called crapwagons or something. So, Murphy’s reading the names he was called in a thread about last season’s Road America Paddock Poop, in which he sounded the Champ Car death knell and was struck by the deja vu all over again he encountered at Petit Le Mans.
No, he doesn’t see the end of the road for the American Le Mans Series, but neither does he expect a “growth” year. Come on, fans, put down the sports section and pick up the business section. The Bear’s friend Tim couldn’t have been more clear when talking about schedule expansions, more than one of which was attractive, “next season is not the time.” Stability, baby. Weather the storm. Brazil can wait.
Betting the Black (Label)
Nope, the stuffed one is talking about being a pretty looped little bear the night before Petit in 2009. He made a couple of bets. If the NASCAR sports car series is alive and well then, he’ll be buying the scotch and the wine. If by then it’s been put out of its misery, he quaffs the good stuff for free. (He’ll want to throw a Jameson in there. Heck, the first Scots were Irish anyway.)
Some say, “I heard from International Speedway Boulevard,” or “I heard from my brother-in-law’s cousin…” yadda, yadda, yadda. Murphy will even grant that the “insiders” over there remain true believers, but then they were that in CCWS right until January this year, weren’t they? I mean, Murphy’s friend didn’t name them the “cognoscenti” for nothing.
Even aside from the ongoing Grand Am coup d’état (some prefer “palace revolt”) the fissures are pretty clear. Sixteen DPs finished the season in Utah; after a bump at Daytona, about ten are now likely to continue. Alex Job Racing has proposals out for both series, but no guarantee of either. Could they end up on hiatus for 2009? SAMAX will most likely be taking the year off. Riley isn’t selling the transporter and golf cart because it wants to upgrade its race car. (No kidding, that was one bright idea the Bear ran across.) There was bad news around the paddock about Cheever Racing. Roger to the rescue? Read below.
Right in the middle of an ALMS awards banquet a few years ago, now-defunct Century Mortgage got a pitch to jump to Grand Am “where you’ll have access to the big boys.” How’s that worked out? Chickens headed back to the roost?
An Indianapolis-based team tried a jail break once before; this time they might just make it. The view on the street on SunTrust is mixed; some say the Florida mortgage exposure is too high, some disagree, but they’ve needed to add to capital twice in the past few months, and even if they’re hunky-dory, the Atlanta-based bank is widely believed to be a takeover target. Any way you look at it, easy access to motorsports financing is a thing of the past. Whether at SunTrust or elsewhere, that affects everyone – but some series are more affected than others.
Whatever one thinks in October, if by Christmas Sprint Cup and Nationwide sponsor funding is lean, how much money gets shoveled down hill just for ego?
Braselton Bits
Audi Sport North America program will continue for two more seasons. New car? It may not be ready in time for the first event of 2009. Other things still “up in the air” (and keep reading the business pages) include: Will Acura land a second LMP2 team? Will the Walker deal come through? Will Mazda increase its works support?
GT2 Hot, GT1 Not
We know that Corvette Racing will contest only Sebring and Long Beach in GT1. IMSA has heard that Bell will return. There hasn’t been a squeak of anyone else entering that class at anytime with anything. Murphy’s suggestion? Give it a decent (and quick) burial. It can only detract from the good stuff happening in GT2.
Though the Bear doesn’t count on any V8 Aston Martins (we’ll miss his Lordship and the kid ). Ferrari will return with its two 2008 teams, the Lizards should return with two cars, and Farnbacher Loles will be a full-on, two car, Porsche-supported assault. BMW could field two teams. Corvette may well adopt the “Porsche model,” with a pair of teams, including a former champion (in another racing series).
Comings and Goings
Martin Short’s Detroit business was historic racing related – a chassis swap – not about getting a chebby motor. Rob Dyson hasn’t been to Europe lately.
No Connection
More than one occupant of the Road Atlanta paddock employs a prominent Michigan sports attorney, which led to speculation the nearest cell phone tower was all jammed up on Thursday morning.
Roger Rumors Department
Yup, a whole department, just for Roger. Is Penske going to Grand Am? Staying in ALMS? Penske with Porsches? Toyotas? Hell, how about Penske buying Grand Am? Or buying out the Don? Murphy doesn’t have enough ink to catalogue every Roger rumor and variation. (Actually, DSC did reasonably well with that). What the Bear can do here is cut to the quick. Are these predictions? Well, just kinda, sorta, because Murphy pretty much just reports what he hears around the paddock. Sometimes, though, the poop is flying so fast, he has to sort it out, add some things up, give the “good guys” (the ones most often right) a little weight, and “bottom line” it. So…here goes. Roger will race a DP or two at Daytona. There are a couple available. He may do another Grand Am race. Roger will likely (not 100%, but close) race a full ALMS schedule in 2009. It likely will not be with Porsche.
Relax
Those worried the ACO float of LMP2 engines as the future of LMP1 will be happy to learn that the final rule will likely accommodate multiple configurations.
Hmm, a New Century for Corvette Racing?
Penske plus… Toyota?
I have to agree that Petit could have been the “high water mark” because of the business page and because endurance racing seems to have 10 year cycles. But with that said Audi could have a new car and the Acura P1, GT2 new BMW and Corvette, and Penske could stay in ALMS with Porsche/Toyota. Doesn’t sound all that bad.
I add to your bet – if you’re right, stop by the S2000 car corral for some free Guinness……..
Bear, I am making my first trip to Laguna this week. Our usual haunts of the Southeast US just aren’t enough. One more ALMS race is needed before we head into the HSR race season here in Florida. Do you have any recommendations on hangouts for Friday evening after the days events?
Tom