The top two at the Rolex once again came from Murphy’s top 5. After putting both Ganassi cars on the list (a bit of a no-brainer, even if your head is stuffed like a mattress), plus Brumos and two-time Grand Am Champion GAINSCO, the Bear mused in Paddock Poop 152 about the fifth, finally settling on the No. 9 Action Express because it fit all three Bear rools. Including the one about established teams, since in crew, staff, and owner, it was largely the “other” Brumos entry, the one vacated by the accused Daytona Beach druggie.

One Ganassi car blew an engine, a rarity in recent years; it had 8 hours on it at race’s start. Is it a measure of the economy that Ganassi’s ran a well-used motor? Even if his race engine was replaced because of an oil leak, no fresh engine was available?

Readers wondered about the Bear’s bullishness on the BMW M6 entries, but they’re thinking like ALMS fans, where ‘new cars’ are new cars. In Grand Am, tubers shed their skins like snakes, yesterday’s Pontiac becoming today’s Chebby, and tomorrow’s Bimmer. Finishing 8th and 11th, they didn’t have any more trouble than any other make in the field – less, in fact.

Two of Murphy’s five favorites finished in the top five, one on the podium; among the 30 GT entries, the Bear’s Five were 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 12th.

Saab-Spyker Saga

So Spyker’s ‘buying Saab?’ Everyone knows that the one-time Dutch F1 team masquerading as an automaker doesn’t have a guilder to its name, so how does this happen? The devil’s in the details. The Dutch want their pet car company, as do the Swedes, so the Dutch arrange a $562 million loan for Spyker and get the Swedes to guarantee it. GM will ‘sell’ Saab to Spyker for $74 million in cash and $326 million in Spyker-Saab preferred stock (what’s that worth, given neither has made a guilder or krona in living memory?).  Spyker pockets $488 million in cash (perhaps some of that will buy out the 30% Spyker holdings of Vladimir Antonov, suspected (by Swedish Intelligence) of money laundering and links to organized crime.

Rolex Rumor

Northeastern Florida isn’t exactly populated by ALMS well-wishers at this time of the year, so Murphy has learned to anticipate one or more pretty nasty rumors. Some have a kernel of truth, some are just off-the-wall. The 2010 annual ‘Daytona ALMS Rumor?’ Widely circulated in the paddock on International Speedway Boulevard was the story that ALMS has not yet paid 2009 prize money, so teams, in a kind of “strike,” are sending in their 2010 entries with no money. Of course the Bear is more than a little suspicious of the whole thing, but the “fact of the rumor” is surprise – just a measure of the ‘bad blood’ between these two competing sports car racing series.

Murphy’s sources indicated that at least the ‘strike’ part of that is untrue. If any team was withholding entry funds it wasn’t in concert with any other teams, and likely wasn’t in any ‘retaliation’ for nonpayment. Prize payments have dragged in a bit late – sometimes in installments – in recent seasons, and apparently this one is no different. The Series has suggested that prize money be credited against the new season’s entry fee, which seems perfectly reasonable to the Bear.

Defecting

Expect more than one Grand-Am team to “defect to LMPC” after Daytona. Alex Job is said to be one of them (interest by AJR was expressed early) along with Level 5, and at least one other. The LMPC count for Sebring will be 4 or 5, with 2 or 3 to join the series after that – consistent with ALMS Supremo Scott Atherton’s recent pronouncements.

From one quarter Murphy is told, “the Grand-Am fields will be horrific after Daytona,” and that “NASCAR upper management is fed up with Grand-Am.” If that’s true it didn’t keep Jim-Bob from winning the Rolex with his own entry. Close connections to Action Express’ owner Bob Johnson – along with other information – would suggest so. Mr. Johnson is Jim-Bob’s personal CPA; the company funding Action Express is something called High Rev Racing. Entering your own race series isn’t exactly revolutionary (Don Panoz being another example); the Bear takes it as a vote of confidence rather than something nefarious.

GAINSCO Gone?

The Bear’s been told that the Rolex was GAINSCO’s last race. Miami hotel reservations have been cancelled.

Audi In, Peugeot Overboard?

The Bear hears that Braselburg is considering allowing Audi to enter Sebring, pending the outcome of the new car’s testing, now underway. If the entry accepted is the “transitional” car, and not the “new rules” R15, then there’s little doubt the effect will be to toss Peugeot overboard. Peugeot may jump anyway, of course. The new Audi just might be ready for Sebring, anyway, since Audi Sport Joest has turned up as a “full season” LMS entry. That would mean the car is now believed to be ready by April…March 20th isn’t all that much earlier, is it?

There’s Cars and…

…then there’s cars. Ferrari can’t be happy about the two street-car based (barely more than that) Ferrari 430 Challenge cars entered at Daytona. One was turned away (‘not ready to race’ is a kind description) the Bear hears. The other muddled around, thoroughly uncompetitive. Look for entries from Tony Dowe later in the Grand Am season to be much more representative of the iconic marque.

Inlimbo Racing League

Izod is the IRL’s new title sponsor; you’ve probably seen the ads. Other noises from the surviving – for now – North American open wheel series aren’t so good. Ganassi is just the latest to join the ‘new car’ discussion, having produced a mock-up – a sign, according to one source, that the series is “just blundering around.”

The addition of Lanigan to Newman Haas was the work of the late Paul Newman; Carl’s family’s not on speaking terms with the new partner. Are we seeing the unraveling of Newman-Haas-Lanigan? That’s one opinion Murphy’s heard.

Unemployment Line

Here’s a measure of the weakness of the racing industry world-wide: Butch Leitzinger, Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller, Sascha Maassen, Emanuele Collard, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, all ‘available and looking.’ And that’s just a few.

USF1

What the Bear is hearing is pretty grim. The chassis hasn’t been ‘crunch tested’ yet. There’s no motor on hand, payments to Cosworth reportedly now in arrears. The team has applied to the World Motorsports Council for dispensation to miss the first three races without penalty – more a courtesy than a rule, since guaranteed participation is not a part of the new concorde, as it was in the old.

It’s  not over yet. USF1 owner Chad Hurley (one of Youtube’s three original founders) could rescue the operation – with new management – if he so chooses. Meanwhile, Bernie is in his element, the eminance gris trying to arrange an interim chassis, but that’s wrapped up in a ride for Bruno Senna. If Bernie can’t get USF1 onto the grid, he might be stuck with the Russians, who’ve grabbed the rights to the ex-Toyota chassis (someone will have to check the accelerator pedal).

Lou News

Murphy’s friend Lou Gigliotti is running for Congress – here’s his web site. Meanwhile, he’s charging ahead with his Grand Am Corvette entries. 

Unlike others in Grand Am GT, Lou tells the Bear that, “Our Corvettes are ‘Prep 1’ using stock frames like ALMS cars. We learned a lot from that car and we are moving the technology over to Grand Am.” It makes particular sense for Lou to stick with ‘the real thing’ because Lou’s business is selling Corvette performance parts. Lou says a result of the new program will be   ‘really nice Corvette parts’ that will one day make their way into LG Motorsports’ catalog.
 
Eric Lux and Kelly Collins are set for the season in the first Corvette, with a hoped-for second car possible as early as Birmingham, depending on finding a good driving partner for the Boss.

Pssssssst…anyone interested in a nice ALMS Corvette? Murphy knows where to find one.

Follow the Bear on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Murphythebear

Another important debut will more likely be at Laguna Seca than at Petit Le Mans. The shirts may say Ohio, but the accents will say suburban Salzburg. The pilots will be factory – only.

A to Z

It’s gone pretty quiet out there in the Aston Martin/Bell Motorsports front. That’s never good.

Zytek thinks it has a deal with Forsythe – and they could be right – but the papers haven’t yet been signed. If they intend to debut at Road America, that’s got to get done soon, even for used cars.

The new model Zyteks – the hybrid project that’s been the subject of much buzz for months – is close to a “go,” but that one doesn’t involve Forsythe.

Was that with Madonna?

With the cancellation of the Shanghai Surprise, some say scratch that pair of Ferraris expected at PLM and Laguna, but one part of the two-car entry may yet come stateside, if its British driver-investor-owner so decides. Paul Daniels’ Porsche is also a possibility for the final North American events.

P1 post Le Mans

The ex-Charouz Lola Judd debuts in the ALMS with Muscle Milk livery after Le Mans. Meanwhile, their Lola 06/10 AER becomes part of another team’s two-car entry. That’s good field news.

Will the San Diego-Phoenix-Microsoft Axis be full time after Le Mans? Murphy’s hearing conflicting reports. When they’re around, the Bear expects a six-entry P1 field – or eight if the Forsythe Zyteks join the “big” prototype fray. (It’s rumored the Indianapolis team has opted for P2, but Murphy reminds y’all that the Zyteks are notorious swingers.)

Farewell Frank, hello…?

Frankie goes softly into the night after Le Mans, leaving Ingolstadt – and Pompano Beach – with a decision. Murphy polled a few of his friends about four rings driver plans. They were equivocal enough – even some who are very close to those involved – that the Bear can’t say for sure who will be manning the No. 1 Audi R10 from Lime Rock on. R10 No. 2, in the championship battle for both class (a lock) and overall honors, will certainly be piloted to the end by Lucas and Marco. Someone probably already knows, but in the absence of hard news, here are Murphy’s odds: Allan McNish and Emanuele Pirro 5-1; Allan McNish and Dindo Capello 3-2; Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro 3-1; Mike Rockenfeller and Emanuelle Pirro 2-1. Get yer bet down, sports fans, the window is about to close.

Walker Proposes 

Walker Racing has proposals out for a two-car ALMS program. No takers yet. Since it’s not yet clear which “2 class” in which they’ll race, it’s all pretty tenuous.

ex nihilo creatio

First the American half of a partnership was out the door, now the British part is gone on gardening leave. Next? The Japanese connection bails, and Le Mans is the last hurrah. That subtracts one prototype mentioned for PLM and Laguna.

No Lion in Summer

Two wrecks in three weeks have ended any chance of seeing a Pug on this side of the Atlantic this season.

On the dole in Huntingdon

The Bear looked askance at the everybody-and-his-dog-builds-a-prototype trend; it seemed to him that the sport would be better served by a few financially and technically strong builders. But he’s got stuffing for brains, right? On the other hand, if there are layoffs in Huntingdon, maybe Murphy isn’t so stoopid.

Farewell to Touring

A famous WTCC program will be gone in 2009, replaced with GT2. Factory drivers currently occupied in the touring car championship will be on-track in a sports car event before the end of this year.

Toyoda?

Who ran Honda’s Super GT team in 2007? The same team that’s at Le Mans manned by Toyota’s factory drivers. Toyota has said it’s developing another Le Mans contender. With a Toyota motor added, is this it?

If, as reported here, Charlie made a visit to Nippon, what was he looking at? A prototype? A GT car? Both? Murphy thinks a hybrid GT is most likely, since IMSA – not the ACO – is the lead dog on the Green Racing initiative.

Corvette Clues

GT1 may be weak, and a NASCAR lackey may have blocked its proposed P1 program, but Corvette Racing plans to be around a long time, and with Pratt & Miller, too. Will they go to GT2 (or whatever new GT arrangement we get in 2009)? They could. Look for a rules announcement at Le Mans to provide a clue.

With most of Lou’s funding having walked out with his former racing partner (Murphy kept his head down and out of the crossfire at Miller.) the lone GT2 Corvette looks to be in trouble just as it was showing signs of becoming competitive.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb or Tyrone Power?

Elsewhere in GT2 a race team named after a pirate ship (or a philosophical metaphor) still plans a Lime Rock launch – it’s near home to the Boston team.

Might the ALMS have 20 prototypes on a grid this season? Possible. A field of 40 at Petit? Possible.