Comments on: 153. GAINSCO Gone, USF1 Teetering, Jim-Bob Wins his own Race, More LMPC’s, Audi at Sebring?

By: murphy

murphy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:20:42 +0000

wrestlerrob, you are right, the ‘out of fuel’ is unusual, but hardly unheard of. The rule does, however, allow a GT car to come in immediately – ahead of, or with the DP’s – if it is low on fuel and in danger of running out. It can get a “splash” (enough to continue until the pits open for the GT field) without penalty. That happened a few times to other GT entries during the Rolex.

So, though others have made the same error, it was still an error by the team/driver.

By: murphy

murphy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:15:00 +0000

It’s been an open secret – or a rampant rumor – that a significant portion (double figures) of the DP field was “on the dole” from the series owners. Murphy mentioned it during the season. The range of that support it thought to be wide (from ‘not much,’ to ‘a lot’). That’s the best the Bear can do for you…such things aren’t readily shared, of course.

As for Daytona, you’d think, given the economy, that at least some of that support would have carried over into this season, but the Bear doesn’t know that for sure. Also, see the second paragraph above under “Defecting.” It’s rumored that most – maybe all – of the checks written for No. 9 came from the same account. You do know who Jim-Bob is, don’t you?

By: jeffpk

jeffpk — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:00:08 +0000

The question was simple and I, too, would like to hear from The Bear if he knows how many, if any, of the 24 Rolex, non-sponsored cars had Nascar backing. The entry list on the official website of the race showed 14 DP’s, of which, 7 had no sponsor. Numerous GT cars had no sponsorship either.

So, the question is well put and I hope to hear an answer, too.

By: Privateer Motorsports

Privateer Motorsports — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:54:17 +0000

The question to the Bear is “Any idea of how many of the 44 cars that started were funded by NASCRAP, in full or partially ?

But you’d have to read the question to see that.

No, I read the question. I gave it the full respect it deserved.

Non-manufacturer sportscar racing is traditionally dependent on ride buyers or the owner financing it so he puts his company on the hood. So sponsors on a car in sportscars do not really show sponsorship. Paul Menard’s car in NASCAR (not NASCRAP, show an ounce of class; I know that’s pretty ludicrous to expect class on an internet blog but try) is not really sponsored by Menards even though Menards is on the hood. The cars that finished in the top 10 because they had good drivers in the car instead of ride buyers. Everyone in the winning DP for example were real racecar drivers. So pointing out that a car is unsponsored and correlating that to “oh, NASCAR is funding the teams”, would be little different to seeing an unsponsored car at Sebring and thinking “oh, ALMS is funding the teams”. Not saying that doesn’t happen some, just pointing out flaws in your logic algorithms.

By: 321start

321start — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:50:35 +0000

Privateer Motorsports says:
February 4, 2010 at 7:48 pm

I noticed that 4 of the top 10 finishers at the snooze-fest at Daytona, including the top finisher, had no visible sponsors.

That’s different from how sportscar racing has normally operated how?
—————————-
The question to the Bear is “Any idea of how many of the 44 cars that started were funded by NASCRAP, in full or partially ?

But you’d have to read the question to see that.

By: wrestlerrob

wrestlerrob — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:00:35 +0000

Labonte ran out of fuel because of the yellow. GTs are not allowed to pit until after the Prototurtles. He didn’t have enough fuel to go around. I wouldn’t say it is amateur night though:

Frank Biela in 2003 at Lemans: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Biela
Felipe Massa in the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/05/11/webbers-fine-drive-and-rosbergs-troubles-spanish-grand-prix-analysis/

Daytona was boring! Except for the Bimmer being non competitive

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:41:58 +0000

How come its not a surprise that both Lou and Bill are both Republicans? I am temped to call Lou a Rethungalian because he’s already said “Take Our Country Back” (back from what? A Black Man????). Maybe I’ll make a visit to his shops, tell him the worst thing he ever did was disgrace his butt in a Saleen Mustang when Mis-guided Steve asked him to take over his World Challenge Team.

No surprise Bill is not racing, takes a ton of money to run a Senate campaign, is his Lola for sale?

Daytona was boring but I didn’t think the Bimmer stood a chance (too new, Tuner Motorsports out of their element) it was down to the Porsche Cup cars and the tube framed Mazda, with full support from Mazda BTW.

Grand Am always has a feel of amateur night, its especially highlighted in 24 race. How are you going to run out of fuel Bobby Labonte???

The top class cars are just hard to watch, horribly ugly and just feels like NASCAR on a Road Course.

Speaking of the Road Course, I think it would be COOL for NASCAR to switch up the Coke Zero 400 (shakes head…) and run it on the Infield and Tri-Oval, you know Road Racing… Now THAT would be INTERESTING…

By: Privateer Motorsports

Privateer Motorsports — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:48:50 +0000

I noticed that 4 of the top 10 finishers at the snooze-fest at Daytona, including the top finisher, had no visible sponsors.

That’s different from how sportscar racing has normally operated how?

By: 321start

321start — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:42:24 +0000

I noticed that 4 of the top 10 finishers at the snooze-fest at Daytona, including the top finisher, had no visible sponsors. Any idea of how many of the 44 cars that started were funded by NASCRAP, in full or partially ?

By: Magical Trevor

Magical Trevor — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:32:53 +0000

Lou’s not the only one: http://www.binnie2010.com/