The last program Murphy ever thought would move too fast to keep up with was The Don’s Abruzzi. Saturday started with Murphy’s Hoschton source saying the Abruzzi will indeed make the trip to Florida next month, where it will spend the Saturday after St. Patty’s day in a tent due to (excuse here) “problems with suppliers.” It ended when the real story – or a part of it – was told in a Gary Watkins AutoWeak article.

Redesign required. Boneheaded mistake – illegal greenhouse size. The Bear asked his Braselburg mole to watch the obits in the Gwinnett Daily Post – someone had to break the news to the Don.

All that just adds more BS to the biggest load about a single car – ok, there are actually 2 cars – in memory. Murphy wishes Mr. Milner good luck. He needs it.

“Doubtful” to “Questionable”

Highcroft may get it done after all. While the search for sponsors is always “iffy,” and tougher now than ever, recent statements from Connecticut have a more hopeful tone. For you punters, that means about 50-50. If it goes to “Probable,” Murphy thinks it will happen this week.

Pecking Order

Cytosport starts at the head of the class at the Sebring Test. Dyson Racing Team got within a half second or so in one session.  Our first read on the new season? An indication of the direction of things for Dyson is the addition of middle-aged Long Beach socialite and rent-a-ride driver Jay Cochran.

Tire Strategy

Wanting a tire that didn’t last long, and after studying performance for its racing cousins in sports cars, F1 did the obvious thing. They selected Pirelli. Do they get the girls?

Sebring Entry

Intersport Racing’s on the Sebring entry, but then, so was the Abruzzi. Seriously, the Bear will make Intersport “Probable,” meaning not completely healthy, but likely to “play.”

Everybody, including the Bear, is pretty happy with the Sebring ILMC entry, but at what price does this come? Is it cannibalizing the ALMS grid? Many around the sport think so. Except for GT(2) the American Le Mans Series is dependent on once-separate single-make racing to make up nearly half its grid. By Murphy’s count 23 of 59 entries (that total including that unlikely Abruzzi entry) will not continue to Long Beach and beyond. The missing will include what will be (at least) the first five finishers in LMP1 and overall.

Driver On Ice

A Ferrari pilot of demonstrated ability in sports cars doesn’t yet have a drive for 2011, and if stories circulating (regardless of frantic efforts to keep it all quiet) are true, he won’t any time soon.

The Other Porsche

With its Winter Test fire damage easily repairable – and mostly repaired in a day – the former Farnbacher Loles via Tim Pappas Porsche will be back for an ALMS season under the Miller Racing banner. Is it the much-needed backup for Flying Lizard’s No. 45, 2010’s only competitive Porsche? (Falken has yet to prove it has a tire that can last an entire stint.) The Bear thought so, but others in the racing biz say that’s the case only if the owner’s kid stays out of the driver’s seat. Otherwise it’s another Flying Lizard No. 44.

Failure is a Prerequisite

IMSA removed long-time Director of operations to a consulting role, just the latest in a long line of replacing key personnel with refugees from defunct open wheel racing series. Having worked for Champ Car – or, in this latest example, Altantics – seems to be primary qualification for catching on to the Braselburg gravy train. Murphy finds that odd.

A Farewell to the Lord

Drayson will not race in 2011. Expect an announcement about moving to a new shop in which a new car can be developed, pushing green science in racing, blah, blah. A return to the ALMS? Probably never.

The Risi Competizione Game Plan

Though Guiseppi considered four possible 2011 programs, “ALMS entirely and only” is the one settled on. Even though the 458 clocked better around the Fiorano circuit than any other Ferrari production car in history – including the Enzo – it’s still believed to need development, certainly more than the F430 GT, which, aside from a sticking wheel nut, came out of the box pretty much ready to race.

Murphy hears that development challenge will be taken up without the team’s long-time Technical Director, a casualty – along with some championships and a pile of cash – of the disastrous mistake at Road Atlanta last October. The Bear concludes it’s a team that takes its motto seriously. Risi Competizione — doing things the right way, everytime.  

Grand Am GT

Ferrari was the first to publically support Grand Am’s new GT3-based direction. Unless, of course, you consider that Porsche went from zero to light speed in jumping back into the World Center of Racing’s sports car series. That hatchet got buried faster than a terrier hides a bone from an Irish Wolfhound. Audi say’s it “won’t build a car specifically for Grand Am.” That’s after spending months in detailed talks with World Center management. Still to be heard from are BMW, Mercedes, and a few others. Still, with Porsche and Ferrari firmly in support, Grand Am will likely be able to launch a “new look” GT field by the time the 50th Rolex 24 rolls around. If that goes with a “new look” DP field, it will truly be a Brave New World (thanks to Aldous Huxley).

Bud Shootout

What Murphy does at his local BWW? Nah, it’s that funny (25 laps, take a break, 50 laps, no championship points) thing at the World Center of Racing.  It was watch that or Lifetime’s Romance Movie Marathon. Murphy did the latter (hey, the Bear’s a babe magnet. Are you? Ok, case closed, then). He just checked in on the Bud thing on commercials. That was enough to see some really weird racing. You think Daytona was two-by-two drafting before the repave? You ain’t seen nuttin’ til you’ve seen this. Weird, just weird. Two sets of two, followed by three sets of two. Speed? 206 mph. Speed alone? 186 by Junior. Murphy’s been a fan of the Earnhardt kid since a time at Sonoma.

A Valentine Recipe

Murphy hasn’t passed on a recipe in, well…years. But it’s Valentine’s Day, and about time. Is this for lobster tails, then? Hell, no…broil and be done with it. A porterhouse? Same thing. How about something really cool for that really cool babe. What’s cool? Something that will take some talent – not really, but will seem to – but is simple and good. Don’t like “seafood?” Sorry, you’re out of luck.

Honey Orange Tilapia (or salmon, or walleye, or any nice white fish) for two (of course).

2 tilapia fillets
2 tbsp honey
¾ cup orange juice (or 2 tbsp frozen oj concentrate)
1 tsp dill – dried (or 1 tbsp fresh)
2 tsp olive oil
Zest of 1 orange (use juice)

Mix all except fish in bowl, put fish in 1 quart plastic bag, add sauce, marinate in refrigerator for one hour or more.

Put fillets and sauce in skillet, poach fish on medium heat until done, reducing sauce by about ½. Plate fish, cover with poaching sauce. Serve. Sides? Asparagus. A nice Chardonnay.

Flying Lizards to Daytona

Before Seth Neiman and Flying Lizard Motorsports leased a Daytona Prototype from Brumos, he talked to Penske about one of the Captain’s cars. Near term, it was decided a lease was more attractive than an outright purchase. Seth will be one of at least two ALMS stalwarts we’ll see at the Rolex 24; what happens after that is still unknown.

Chip to Ford

It’s possible that Chip Ganassi will go with Ford in NASCAR. If he does, it’s likely his DP’s will also be powered by Ford. (Edit: Murphy tweeted an update on November 2: At a team celebration this week, it was announced Ganassi will stay with GM motors. Presumably, that will mean the BMW power in Grand Am continues also.)

Peugeot Power

The test of Peugeot’s new prototype exclusively reported by Autosport was sans engine – the new one, that is. Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director, claims it hasn’t even made that decision yet. A hybrid power unit has been rumored, and one of the Bear’s correspondents was convinced of it by the new roof air intake. “A new-rules 2 liter turbo, with KERS,” he wrote. One of Murphy’s technical wizards acknowledged the air intake but pointed out the 90X also has the fender intakes used with the turbo diesel. “They’ll stick with the diesel,” he said. “It still makes better technical and marketing sense.” The Bear has decided it will be one or the other. (Edit: One of the Bear’s favorite tech gurus points out that a diesel/KERS combination remains in the mix, and might even be likely. Whoops! Murphy now believes it will be one of those three. Any other ideas?)

Television and Alternative Media

The American Le Mans Series still doesn’t have a “broadcast” (obsolete word, isn’t it?) package it can announce. What gives? The Bear heard at Petit that the “traditional broadcast” (and its on-air talent) would be history, that 2011 would be docudramas on Versus with live coverage via web streaming. Murphy knows some will cheer that, but he’s not one of them.

So do we get Hindy and crew? Probably, but the Bear hears sponsorship and contract issues remain. (If that is “unhelpful,” Radio Show Limited can issue a statement – again. Murphy’s not in the “helpful” business; plenty in the media have accepted that charter.) A SpeedTV deal is crippled – in terms of value, at least – by the ACO’s grab of the rights to Sebring and Petit. A professional sport needs the revenue that’s possible only with “big league” television coverage. It’s not certain that’s going to happen. Among teams and drivers in the paddock who race for a living, this is a topic of great concern.

Japan to Join GT Ranks?

That’s what the world’s leading sports car racing blog wrote, admitting it was a “rumour.”  (What’s with all the poaching on the Bear’s territory lately?) Two manufacturers mentioned – Toyota and Honda – have had on-again-off-again programs over the past couple of years; nothing new there.

Honda told the ALMS two years ago it would like to field an NSX-based GT1/2, but only after the then-planned new model was introduced – soon after, they cancelled the new car. That would seem to have ended the idea, except that Honda got special permission to race the not-to-be-produced design as the HSV-010 GT and promptly won the Super GT championship in the GT500 class. Since the ACO is similarly perfectly willing to wink at its rules when it suits (see, for reference, the magic homologation of the Abuzzi), don’t be surprised to see an “NSX-something” somewhere in ACO racing.

Toyota might be working on something with the LFA – then again they might not. Old story again.

There is nothing ACO-oriented going on at Nissan that either NISMO or NA knows anything about.

The 2011 ALMS Prototype GridMurphy summarizes what he is hearing around the paddock about the likely 2011 entry for races not part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

LMP1
Highcroft – Expect Duncan to continue with HPD for another season, but don’t take his dalliance with IRL too lightly.
Dyson – Not happy being let down by Mazda just weeks before the 2010 Sebring Winter Test, Dyson will start 2011 with “a foot in each camp.” Though they repeatedly say they want to be in the American Le Mans Series, where the team goes from here is largely funding-dependent.
Cytosport – If no good hardware option is found (Porsche is out of the picture), Cytosport could stay on the sidelines. For now, at least, they aren’t happy with the options.
Intersport – We don’t know why, but someone will come up with just enough cash for Intersport to run about half the season’s miles. In a tough 2010, they had to finish Petit to get near that magic “halfway.”
Drayson –  If the announced ILMC full schedule becomes certain in 2011, this team is much more likely to contest that than a full ALMS schedule.
Autocon – Zytek is likely not an option. If the only thing on the table is a return to the Lola AER, will Autocon race, take some time off, or drop to P2?
ARES (nee Corsa) – No activity on facebook, nor in a race shop, since April.

LMP2
CORE – More likely to be an LMPC entry.
HVM – Broke and looking for funded drivers.
Level 5 – ILMC is likely, ALMS less so.
Libra (nee Taurus, nee ECO) – Libra, Ian Dawson’s act 3, is on track to be as successful as acts 1 and 2.
Signature – The team’s own hope is only for the second half of 2011. This reality show won’t make prime time.

LMPC
Dick Barbour – Katherine Legge? Not likely.  Terri O’Connell (nee J.T. Hayes)? The Bear likes real girls. Too much hype, too little substance (or cash). Reminds Murphy of DBM in 2001: Elford, Panoz, Mugen, Holt, Duno, Graham, de Radigues. Sounded good, didn’t it?
Green Earth Team Gunnar – The real 2010 LMPC champs say they’ll be back.
Intersport – The Ohio team’s cash cow.
Performance Tech, Genoa, and Mathiasen – All possible
CORE – They’ll be here if anywhere.

Once again, the series will struggle to field a dozen prototypes in three classes outside of the two ILMC events.

Bad luck? Hardly. According to the Bear’s sources, the Keystone Kops routine was on display all week, from an embarrassing rented transporter that ultimately had to be covered up, to an empty hospitality suite for Jaguar executives and their guests  – no furniture, not even a cup of coffee.

Even the mainstream press had serious doubts about the program continuing once they saw it at Le Mans. The Daily Telegraph, UK’s largest circulation broadsheet newspaper, noted Jaguar’s “approval (of RSR’s official support) became rather strained” at Le Mans. Twenty years after the Tony Dowe-managed XJR-12 win, the Gentilozzi Jag went just 18 minutes 30 seconds into the 24-hour race before expiring. Murphy hears now that Jaguar will likely end its support for the RSR program before the American Le Mans Series gets to Miller. Will Jaguar continue with some other arrangement? Perhaps, but not immediately. Meanwhile, some suggest that since it’s been largely a privateer effort anyway, Gentilozzi may try to continue.

Bavarians aren’t thrilled, either

Jaguar wasn’t the only famous make that had a troubled Le Mans. insiders admit Schnitzer was an embarrassment to BMW, too. The betting is that the Bavarians will – or have – express their unhappiness, but won’t “changing horses.” For now Schnitzer will continue as BMW’s most important racing partner.

Porsche wins Le Mans GT2 – maybe

Le Mans GT2 winners – or not? What could possibly be in doubt about the winning Porsche’s motor that would take until “early next month” to sort out. Some wag wondered if the timing was dependent on “the check clearing.” Meanwhile, any marketing value in having won Le Mans is frittering away – except, of course, Porsche has been happy to claim its 98th class win anyway. Since the runner up Ferrari is also under review, perhaps Porsche feels secure because the third place car is another Porker?

A Dane Sprints – and Likes it

Jan Magnussen had his Sprint Cup series debut and loved it. He called it “fantastic; unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
“They go two wide and three wide. That’ll never happen in ALMS…here (in NASCAR), they allow you to race and to be two and three wide. Fantastic.”  Yuppers, Jan, the ALMS will pull you into the pits for “avoidable contact.”

Kevin to “Start and Park”

Given the instruction by cash-strapped Kevin Buckler’s TRG to “start and park,” 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte decided to walk. Andy Lally will get the opportunity to try to make the field, then park for the cash. That’s good for Andy, who gets a chance to show his skills to the Cup paddock.

Murphy told you about Buckler’s plans for new digs at New Jersey – and his sponsorship troubles – last August. Any chance Buckler’s fancy new shop will progress beyond this photo appears to be fading fast.

Mid-Ohio still “on” for IRL

Murphy’s been sorting through the comments on the 2011 schedule by IndyCar VP Terry Angstadt. Of most import to ALMS fans is his confirmation that Mid-Ohio will remain on the IRL schedule, albeit on a different date, the current one having now been committed to the new-in-2011 Baltimore street race.

With Baltimore and Loudon added, two current events will necessarily be dumped to achieve the series’ preferred 17 events. There could be more, but two seem certain according to Angstadt’s latest comments. Also implied in his remarks to the Elmira (NY) Star Gazette is that any “drops” will be within the events that occur before August on this year’s schedule. Since Long Beach is sacrosanct, it seems certain the only impact on the American Le Mans Series is the changed date for Mid-Ohio. Still to be answered, of course, is whether the ALMS will “follow” the IRL to the new date.

Prototypes Prospects

Expect Highcroft to return as Honda’s “Semi-Official Foot-in-the-Door” entry in Le Mans-style sports car racing. Although there have been statements of interest in an LMP1 engine under the new rules (since that would be a 3.4 liter NA designed-for-racing V8 they actually already have one, don’t they?) what they do will be determined by analysis of the final 2011 IMSA rules (if it and the ACO ever actually get around to publishing those). There’s no way there will be enough prototype entries for the series to restore its LMP1/LMP2 structure, so that class distinction is irrelevant and whichever engine appears to have the best chance to win will be the way this goes.

Murphy similarly thinks you can count on Dyson Racing to return, even though both Mazda money (cut this season) and BP petrodollars (other obligations to worry about) are “problematic” at best. Will Dyson stick to the so-called “little four-banger?” Yes, if the redesigned-for-2010 engine proves to be good over the remainder of this season, and the feeling on the team is it’s off to a pretty good start. As with HPD and Highcroft, the idea of a Dyson “class change” is moot as long as IMSA stays with a single LMP class – which it will do if it isn’t planning seppuku (though it does seem to be working on that).

Autocon’s LMP1 entry depends on Bryan Willman’s largess. He loves to race, but sooner or later will “hit the wall” (see Tom Weickardt). How does the Le Mans disappointment figure in that? Will the team be able to replace Shrek if it needs to? The Bear will score a 2011 return as “probably not.”

Intersport likewise needs one or more Sugar Daddies. Futility got old for Richard Berry, and the new Beverly Hills mark (er, driver) has hardly turned a wheel with a third of the season already gone. It’s a crap shoot to predict a top-class LMP entry for this team the rest of this year, say nothing of next, though the Bear expects continuation of its LMPC and IMSA Lites programs.

There’s some speculation that rule changes could end Cytosport’s Porsche run. Some of that appears to be rooted in an idea that a Porsche LMP1 (not just a modification of the RS Spyder) is imminent. Murphy doesn’t believe it is. So, will Cytosport continue? The team is not (like Highcroft or Dyson) an  ALMS competitor of many years. Greg Pickett is “getting on in years” (his lap times show it). Porsche doesn’t seem eager to support the Spyder (though they will continue to do so if adequately paid). Murphy thinks there’s no more than an “even chance” Pickett and his team will return.

Will Audi return? Yes and no. The “no” first. The R18 is about as substantial as any other video game, meaning it hasn’t made it off the hard drive of the design computer, and won’t until Audi’s board says “jawohl.” 

If it does, Murphy expects to see the new prototype in the Intercontinental Cup events and nowhere else. Herr Doktor Ulrich told a respected radio personality earlier in the spring  that a GT program in the American Le Mans Series is probably the way to go. Murphy would be disappointed if an Audi GT effort was wasted on a GTC entry, but it’s not clear which of those directions (GTC or GT), if any, Audi will finally take.

Everything the Bear hears about Corsa/ARES screams “dead on arrival.” Even the most recent team Facebook update couldn’t find anything more positive to say than “we are in a bit of a holding pattern,” and though they “want to race this year,” the “main concern” is 2011. Murphy puts the odds of even that happening about equal to those he gives to full seasons from Creation and ECO Racing. Both of those are slim and none, hoping in vain for one (or more) of those “sugar daddies,” so much in short supply. It’s a measure of the dearth of interest in racing in the American Le Mans Series that beyond ARES and ECO, Murphy can’t even find a good rumor about 2011 prototype entrants.

Drayson Racing is the one entrant for whom prospects for next season (and this one) have actually improved, due to Labour’s UK election loss. That left Lord Drayson “unemployed,” but now free to take on partners and sponsors. His current Judd V10 will be obsolete by the rules in 2011, and his enthusiasm for losing will be tested at some point (See Bryan Willman), but for now the Bear expect’s the Lord to return.

Unless there’s something out there completely under the radar, the American Le Mans Series top class will include no more than the six entries on this year’s grids with “bumps” in the two Intercontinental Cup races at Sebring and Road Atlanta.

LMP2 Kit Car

Kit car builder Bailey Edwards Cars claims it has six people working on a new-rules LMP2 to be built entirely in South Africa. Nearly two years into the project, there’s nothing to show but Greg Bailey’s chatter about testing in October and some artists drawings. To the Bear it looks like a small-scale US F1. Speaking of whom, they auctioned off US F1’s assets the other day, getting about a million dollars for tools, desks, parts and pieces, the largest of which, one tub, brought a mere $8,000. The You Tube guy, who’s turned out to be more big mouth than big money, seems perfectly happy to let his employees get stiffed on the pay due them. Class.

Peugeot’s Plan

Peugeot’s plan to participate in Petit – or in any of the remaining Intercontinental Cup and Le Mans Series races remains in some doubt. At the start of the season, it was Sebring oui, and PLM non. Then they said PLM ( and China) ouah! (Murphy dutifully booked his trip.) Following the Le Mans debacle, though, reports spread that it was now ah non Petit! (At least.) “Directly from the boss,” wrote one of the Bear’s trusted sources. Whatever. Girls and Frogs reserve the right to change their minds – often. As long as Paddy’s is open, Murphy will be happy.

Where’s T-Mobile?

 An article appearing in “Wall Street 24/7” lists the “10 Brands Most Likely to Disappear” T-Mobile, Kia, BP, Blockbuster, RadioShack, Moody’s, Merrill Lynch. Murphy had to laugh when he saw T-Mobile on that list. The chuckleheads ripping the poor Bear lately are the same ones who were touting VICI Racing’s Porsche T-Mobile sponsorship as “all set for 2010.” Murphy’s still looking for it…maybe later? Hey, corporate budget cycles don’t work like that – approving 2010 money in early 2009. What you saw in 2009 was all that was committed. 2010 was just hope – or hooey. The Bear told you as much.

Abruzzi

Le Mans was something short of a complete success for Don, Danny and the rest of the Braselburg gang. The Abruzzi made it across the Atlantic, but worries it might not make it around cancelled its scheduled demo laps. After a run up and down a nearby airport runway revealed a little problem or two (including wrong-length pushrods – “hey, we were in a hurry”), the Italian-inspired automotive sculpture became a static display at Le Mans, and remains in Europe. Parts packages are headed to Winchester, Virginia, so it’s now up to Tom Milner to see if he can build a racer. According to an observer, “It’s 75-1 on making PLM…against.”

Falken sent three wheels bounding down the track. One took out the Flying Lizard’s defending champions. Does that trifecta wipe out a previous Robertson Racing record of two stray wheels in a single race?

Sebring – Competence (continued)

All excuses (and resigned shrugs) aside. The fact that the GT2 race was ended nearly five hours before the checkered flag by IMSA rules (or the sloppy implementation of same) is stupid. Murphy thinks the ALMS is in the entertainment business, not just for the ticket-buying public, but for the sponsors of Flying Lizards Motorsports and Rahal Letterman Racing, and the rest, struggling for sponsors, all of them. The Braselburg puzzle palace better figure out how to keep those competitors in the show until they lose (or win) the race through their own efforts.

Another AJR

Alex and Holly’s fourth Porsche entry will go to Patrón GT3, not to ALMS GTC.

Fancy Fromage

If you searched Sebring thoroughly, you might have found the elusive cheese curd company. There was this pick ‘em up with a little trailer…

Driving Mr Fehan (part deux)

Murphy tipped his readers that Paul Edwards, Graham Rahal, and Butch Leitzinger  would test with Corvette Racing at Sebring after the 12 Hours. Many, however, were taken by surprise. Perhaps they were thinking that the two new “enduro drivers” who debuted at Sebring meant the cohort of pilots was nicely set.

Oh, contraire! (Some very cultured bears know a little Français.) It may seem that not much changes at Corvette Racing, because, well, it seems everyone else in the sport is swapping out drivers every few minutes. For Corvette turnover has been less frequent. Still, 19 drivers have piloted the team’s Corvettes in the American Le Mans Series.

In 2011, that number will increase by one or more. Driver No. 20 – believed to be a 2011 full-timer – was selected in January.

Not Amused in Winchester

To have someone say the Abruzzi is being built Georgia. Speaking of which, the Abruzzi may be as much Panoz as its GT1 was. Exactly so, perhaps.

Tequila Patrón

First the Braselburger in charge of marketing was yelling at the burger in charge of TV, or, more like yelling at each other. Then it was the agave farmer’s marketing guy yelling at the Braselburger marketing guy.

Someone “forgot” you can’t have liquor on TV before 11:00 AM. (Murphy’s always thought it’s not a good idea before noon, but well, you know the old thing, it’s, like noon somewhere, maybe in the Canary Islands or something.) Anyway, that’s a problem, because it was like 7:00 AM in California when they started the Sebring telecast, so it was “The American Le Mans Series presented by Patrón” instead of “…presented by Tequila Patrón.”

The Bear’s pretty sure if anyone could be expected to know the rules for booze ads and such, it would be an agave farmer’s marketing guy, so Murphy’s not sure why he was handing out the business. On the other hand, Braselburg played in the sportsbook.com fiasco a while back, so you’d think they’d have an organizational memory even if these particular burgers weren’t around.

Le Rat sans Fromage

With the addition of GT2 to the Intercontinental Challenge, the ACO would seem to have settled on GT2 as its premier (or only?) GT class, dumping GT1 in the LMS and at Le Mans in 2011. Will manufacturers ignore the Le Rat-run FIA GT1 championship? Murphy hears yes, which will put the poor little rodent in a big bind when Aston Martin, Corvette, and Maserati leave after 2011, given his GT2 series is already a non-starter in 2010. Le Rat invited the discomfort of manufacturers by excluding them in the first place. What would be your motivation to put your name on the line in a world championship entirely in the hands of…who knows?

The “smart money,” (obviously that’s not the Bear, is it?), is saying not only is GT1 deader than a mackerel, the ACO is looking at the fast disappearance of its lucrative manufacturer LMP franchise (you didn’t really think the club’s only benefit from Audi, Peugeot, and the rest was entry fees, did you?).

So if they’re smart (even – especially? – the French know how their palm is greased), we’ll see somewhat less restrictive 2011 rules (kind of grandfathering without saying so), and increasingly large GT(2) fields, maybe even a class that looks a little like GT3 (no, not the big buck stuff it’s been allowed to become in Yurrup). The Frogs won’t let the premium (or only) GT class be “2”-anything, so look for a nomenclature change.

Music City Motors

The Nashville car builder may now find itself in a lonely position, having built a car to the FIA GT1 spec. Now what do they do with it (or without it). The Bear suggests get serious about the ALMS program they’ve recently toyed with.

There’s a Law against that, isn’t there?

The American Le Mans Series is a bigger poacher than a redneck possum hunter. Lock up your daughters. They got Freescale.  They went after Kohler (from Road America) and lost, but it took the cake when a Braselburger went after Cytosport without knowing it’s Greg Pickett’s own company. Desperation, no shame, or just dumb?  

Where’s the Button?

Scott’s button – the one he wore at Lime Rock – has disappeared. The Bear can spell W-o-r-l-d C-e-n-t-, aw hell, you know who.

The Tucker Rule

Scott Tucker entered two cars. He drove 79 minutes in No. 55; it won, and he collected the points. He drove No. 95 for the required 2 hours. It was excluded. The Tucker Rule (as it stands now, and as the Bear interprets it) is that a driver can meet the newly-mandated minimum by combining the time he drives in two cars, even if one of those rides is excluded by rule. So, the car is excluded, but a driver’s time in it is good?

There are lots of combination that will win a pro-am race if you have two entries.

How did Murphy do?

Once again, the Bear published his Punter’s Guide (Tip Sheet in the colonies). It’s time he owns up to the result.

LMP1 – He nailed it,  but that really didn’t take any talent, did it? If the Frog diesels hadn’t cruised, he’d be closer to that 10 lap deficit he thought likely for the Lola Aston Martin Lola. Some of his readers thought that car had a chance separate from “the field,” but it never did. Drayson’s Lola Judd is a better car. Unfortunately Lord Drayson is one of its drivers. (You Brits better hope the Lord doesn’t buy Manchester United, he’ll look like dog doo in shorts, and play like it, too.)

LMP2 – He blew it. In his defense, you want to make it a parlay with those three teams? Murphy will bet that Highcroft is the better finisher of the three in no less than six of the remaining races on the ALMS calendar. Takers?

GT2 – The poor Bear screwed the pooch again, but Corvette Racing taking both cars out of the running in one incident is grassy knoll stuff. His next pick – same odds as the No. 4 Vette – was Risi (62), with the Lizard’s No. 45 next (taken out by a rolling tire? Give the Bear a break!), and then the two BMW’s. Take out the freak stuff, and Murphy’s got ‘em nailed.

The Bear didn’t provide a line for either LMPC or GTC, and for good reason. Cars fall to pieces, drivers find tire walls, and questionable (even after the fact) rule interpretation. Murphy can’t say he’s much surprised at Alex Job’s sweep of GTC, or a win by Leh Keen.

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

And read Last Turn Clubhouse for a more serious spin on this stuff.

Sebring and Petit Le Mans will  be different, not just in degree, but in kind, from the other races on the American Le Mans Series schedule in that they will run ACO classes to ACO class rules. That means that LMP-1 and 2, and GT-1 and 2 entrants will be required to adhere to the French club’s weight, restrictor, and aerodynamic rools for Le Mans, the Le Mans Series, and the Intercontinental Cup. The principle impact is to keep the prototype classes – such as they are – separated.

The new IMSA spec classes – LMP-C, and GT-C – will be allowed to compete alongside the “official” ACO-recognized racers (a version of LMP-C will also be allowed by the LMS this season).

Murphy has been given the best thinking, speculation, and inside knowledge of all his elves. That still leaves more than one ‘gap,’ but for now, here is the consensus of the Bear’s forest creature friends (aka elves).

LMP-P (Peugeot Class) – Barring a change of heart because of a lack of competition, Peugeot is in. Given they are the cause of no competition, having vetoed an ACO-accepted “interim” Audi, the Bear expects the Frogs to show. This is worse than Audi’s diesel domination, occurring years after the diesel advantage should have been resolved, and in a race in which competition (Audi) was possible, but rejected due to Peugeot’s narrow self-interest and the lack of balls in Georgia. The Frogs will score a meaningless – perhaps Pyrrhic – victory. One of the Bear’s elves took exception to that, writing “There are no meaningless wins at Sebring.” Murphy sees his point, and agrees given Sebring’s historic place in racing, so he’ll put it this way: If the political leverage of an entrant could render Sebring less than it should be, this is it. If the current care-takers of this race – ALMS/IMSA – had a sense of its importance (much greater than their own) they’d at least strongly protest. Audi could seize the moral high ground here, of course, by “facilitating” a Kolles entry (or two) of the R10 – a driver or two, a bit of engineering, etc., etc. – things they did with Champion.

LMP-1 – With the French diesels in their own race, LMP-1 is mostly left to privateers, three of which are confirmed or certain (Intersport, Drayson, and Autocon) one “maybe” (Corsa), and two “when hell freezes over”: Creation and an unidentified, but rumored, Lola Aston Martin (the latter having gone to a collector, according to the Bear’s best sources). Murphy leans toward expecting only the three currently “confirmed” privateer entries to make the Sebring grid. The Bear’s heard that Oreca may return to North America with a Sebring entry of its AIM-powered 01. What? Not the Peugeot 908 they have agreed to race in the LMS and alongside the factory entries at Le Mans? Not according to Murphy’s source, leaving the Bear scratching his furry head. He’ll rate this one just “possible.” That still leaves his likely LMP-1 (exclusive of diesels) entry at three.

LMP-2 – These will be the best of then non-diesel entries (again proving that absent artificially slowing these guys down, the prototype world is upside down). Highcroft, Dyson, and Cytosport will enter an Acura, Lola-Mazda, and Porsche Spyder each. Any or all of the three could enter a second car; Murphy’s odds on that are Highcroft 4-1 against, Dyson 2-1 (an elf rates this probable), and Cytosport 3-2, the latter’s better odds based on rumor of a direct interest by Porsche in adding a Spyder to a race they could well win overall (if the Peugeots find trouble along the way). A rumored OAK Racing Pescarolo falls into the Bear’s infamous “when hell freezes over,” category. On balance then, Murphy thinks we might end up with (figuring, in his usual optimistic way, that one of the “big three” will be able to field a second car) four total LMP-2 entries.

Total “legitimate” prototypes on the grid will be nine.

GT-1 – Won’t be any.

GT-2 – (Except for Sebring and Petit, just “GT”) Corvette will be there, as will BMW, Porsche and Ferrari, each represented by a sort-of-quasi-more-or-less-factory team, Pratt & Miller for Corvette, Rahal Letterman Racing for BMW, Flying Lizards for Porsche, and Risi Competizione for Ferrari. Of those the “less” in terms of factory participation/support Ferrari, and the “more” is Corvette. Those “premier” teams account for 7 entries, and are “confirmed.” Also certain-to-be on hand are three more Ferraris (2 Sharp’s Extreme team, and 1 AF Corse), a Falken Porsche, and a Robertson Ford. Some of the elves count Rocket Sport’s Cat as a sure thing, but the Bear isn’t entirely convinced. There have been rumors of significant (and expensive) homologation problems. He’ll call it “probable.” The Black Swan Porsche is a “maybe” – Murphy thinks there’s an even chance they’ll land in GT Challenge instead. There’s rumor of an unidentified Porsche floating around, too ephemeral to get above “doubtful” in the Bear’s pantheon. Twelve, then, one probable, two less likely. Taken together, perhaps 13 starters?

So, before we get to the spec/club racer specials, the Sebring field totals just 22.

The field filler doesn’t add much – aesthetically or numerically. In LMP Challenge, four are “possible,” but only one (Intersport) is “confirmed” thus far, and even in that case the Bear’s waiting for the Ohio team to name a second driver-with-a-budget. (Murphy’s heard Richard Berry has finally sold his Lola and assorted parts to the Fields, however.) None of the others (Comprent, Genoa, and Gunnar) can be considered to be firm entries; two of three would seem likely. Three on the grid, then.

GT Challenge? That’s an interesting question. Remember this class is made up of racers that originally set out to do a few short sprints in a one-driver, one-make series. Sebring’s 12 hours is a huge jump. Murphy’s been told to expect something closer to the low side of an entry rumored to be between 5 and 9. Other imput – from an “insider” – says the self imposed limit of 10 will be fully subscribed. Professional prevaricator he is, the Bear will go with 7.

So there you have it. Twenty-two cars based on last year’s classes – the structure we’ve had for about a decade. Add the “new stuff,” (field filler of little interest, at least to Bears) and you’ve got 32; just one more than the Bear predicted about this time in 2009. Only 26 actually started that 2009 race – Murphy told you he’s the eternal optimist. Whether the “filler” keeps the 58th Annual 12 Hours of Sebring from being a disaster is an individual judgment. The Bear knows what he thinks.

Around the Paddock

With a lousy ALMS entry anticipated, the potential for a strong LMS entry is striking. What gives? Is the economy worse here than in Europe? (Not really.) Is the ALMS’ “green” initiative hurting rather than helping (Their European cousins are still promoting great racing, so probably.) Does the North American sports car endurance “split” continue to hurt? (Undoubtedly, according to European Car’s motorsport editor in its January issue, “Something’s gotta give, as the saying goes. As CART and the IRL have shown, nothing lasts forever. Both GA and the ALMS have seen their grid numbers fall considerably… Insiders expect both series to chug along but eventually the bottom line will force the issue.”)

The Bear hears rumblings of infighting amongst the Braselburgers, undoubtedly symptomatic of declining fields and finances, particularly in critical television-related revenues (including “wrap-around” contracts with manufacturers).

The new guy in charge of IMSA rools side of things is riling teams and others over what’s to be done with/to prototypes in 2010. Not just disagreement with content, but failure to consider teams’ input, and now delay in getting the rools settled.

There’s growing disaffection amongst Sebring fans with the stewardship of Sebring in recent years. The ACO marginalized its importance in regard to Le Mans by selecting its field before the Florida classic’s green flag. With its preoccupation with being green, logos, and cute lights in the sides of cars, the ALMS has presided over a steady decline in Sebring fields. That will be just one of the things that bites its butt in this and coming seasons.

Follow Murphy on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Murphythebear

With Le Mans behind us – an perhaps too much time on everyone’s hands – the rumors of a Grand Am-ALMS merger/acquisition came roaring back. A.C. surreptitiously met with Murphy at a Daytona watering hole, dutifully reported by the Bear in  130. Shocking news at a Clandestine Meeting.

Soon after, Grand Am sources added even more information, even as Miller abandoned the story. Finally, ALMS reacted, a source telling the Bear the whole thing was a disinformation campaign floated from Daytona, something the Braselburgers claimed was a regular tactic of their Florida antagonists. 

All that blew over by mid-month (except for SA’s “We’re Not For Sale” button at Lime Rock), so Murphy turned to the soap opera in F1 with a story about Bernie’s ouster. That was, it seems, premature.

At Lime Rock a rumor surfaced of an “equivalency” formula for DP’s, reported in Murphy’s after-Lime Rock Paddock Poop 132. Ultimately that went nowhere, but the real story behind it was likely the addition to the ALMS field of the spec LMPC’s. Just about the same thing for many endurance sports car fans. They look better than DP’s but are just as much – no, more – outside the historical spirit of the sport.

There was also a great deal of “background noise” about ALMS finally dropping GT1 (which had already been “a dead man walking” for years) and re-combining LMP (they’d achieved that finally in a 2008 season that will likely go down as the high water mark of the series before (stupidly) abandoning it in 2009. The two-class thing turned out to be correct, of course, but Panoz, chasing revenue rather than racing, screwed it up by adding two spec classes back in.

The race wasn’t bad, but the highlight of Murphy’s Lime Rock trip was Red Molly at Bodle’s Opera House in Chester, New York.

At the end of the month in 133. PLM prospects. What next for BMW? the Bear considered the likelihood that Audi would finally join Peugeot at Petit Le Mans – he thought they would, but ominously also wrote that, “More important, Audi is by no means committed to the ALMS in 2010, but an improving economy and settling the “Mouse and Elephant thing” with Porsche clears the decks for a return. Unfortunately, some are saying that full ALMS seasons will come to an end if a seven race (with Le Mans) “world championship” of sorts happens. Manufacturers will get as much – or more - value from two appearances each in Europe, North America, and Asia, plus Le Mans. That’s the reasoning the Bear is hearing, anyway.”

Sadly, the Intercontinental Cup has since become reality, as has exactly what Murphy predicted based on what he was hearing. Audi has announced a PLM-only 2010 ALMS schedule, likely a permanent change for them and for any Porsche LMP that might come along, too. ALMS fans will need to resign themselves to a few “big” races, with the rest of them being decidedly “national” in character, their fields populated by mostly spec-racers.

Paddock Poop 133 brought the first news of a trash can for BMW’s F1 program, continuing delays for Rocketsport’s Jag, Farnbacher Loles hiring better mechanical talent (with other people’s money, of course), and a 1,000,000 visit milestone for Murphy and LTC.

August

On the 6th, in Paddock Poop 134. Murphy spilled the beans on Atherton’s upcoming confab at Road America:

“What he Knows (that you didn’t – until now)

“The American Le Mans Series will add a prototype class based on the ACO’s nascent Courage-Ford V-8 series. The prototypes, selling for $345,000 complete, will be built by EMT in Braselton. To control costs, engines will be sealed (and available only from EMT), only two sets of gears can be used (long and short circuit), and only a “small range” of springs can be used to modify set-up.”
Thus, in a stroke, and for PMG’s short term gain, the ALMS created the class that will kill it.

A few days later, the Bear told you Audi would be at Petit Le Mans (you had to think a little bit on that one…but just a little). Drayson’s purchase of a Judd-powered Lola coupe was in the same Poop, and Murphy told you the idea that de Ferran would field an ALMS team (along with an IRL team) was fanciful, to say the least.

Over two different columns the Bear (who’s not particularly technically inclined) garbled the Porsche weight “penalty.” In part, that was because he had a hard time believing that Porsche had the ACO so completely by the short hairs that it would do something so completely meaningless for a blatant and serious rule violation.

A.C. brought us up to date on the Evil Empire in “AntiTRUST Me,” reminding us that Henri Zogaib beat Greg Loles to the Ponzi Punch. Though the NASCAR crowd did pretty well keeping that one relatively quiet (so, too, is ALMS, Porsche and the ACO on Loles) it was likely a bigger cash take for the Daytona crook. Our erstwhile NASCAR correspondent backed off his earlier prediction that Grand Am would devour the ALMS in 2010 (but not much) when he wrote:

“I guess I ruffled a few feathers about NASCAR taking over Sebring and Road Atlanta next year (they don’t want Mosport because its too hard to learn to speak Canadian).  As mentioned above, NASCAR believes in fair competition, so instead of taking over Sebring and Road Atlanta, NASCAR will just wait for Darwin to finish the job, if you know what I mean.” Not sure about the rest of it, but the reason not to include Mosport in the deal rings true to Murphy.

A.C. told us a bit about the topics he’d deal with on his radio show (2-4 am on WZQU Ormond Beach, 1850 AM): “I am happy to talk about how Scott Pruett freed those journalists held in North Korea, or why the Riley DP is the most technically advanced prototype in the world, or how the Rolex Series has record crowds everywhere it races, or whether Enzyte really works.”

August brought word that the ALMS would be exclusively on Speed in the coming year; that changed later with the announcement of two CBS dates. Inexplicably, one is the 6-hour Monterey endure, delayed a week, an event uniquely suited to Speed. Are you going to hope they’ll do some quality editing? Murphy rates that chance slim and none.

The Bear told you Greg Loles would have Pratt & Miller build a pair of BMW’s for Grand Am, but he got the model wrong. He told you Farnbacher would split to concentrate on Ferraris in Europe. Horst knew something the rest of us didn’t. He told you St. Pete would be missing from the 2010 schedule, but also reported that Infineon was rumored to be back: 50%, then. He told you that Audi would not go on to Laguna Seca after Petit Le Mans.

Midweek Motorsport called Lord Drayson’s Lola Judd “a major new LMP effort.” For the Bear, who reported it a week earlier, it was still just a one-eyed old guy, but in faster hardware. It couldn’t be worse than blowing an engine a day in an Aston Martin GT2,, but it wouldn’t be much better, either.

Murphy thought the remaining Japan round of the Asian Le Mans Series would be cancelled. That was wishful thinking. It survived, morphing into a stop on the upcoming (and ill-advised) Intercontinental Cup.

Following leaks, interviews, and rumors to the contrary, the Bear was finally able to tell you, that “the on-again, off-again Panoz LMP is finally dead…including a recent Frankenstein-like reincarnation of the original 01.  Undeniably and reliably dead. Not only merely dead. Really, most sincerely dead! (Murphy’s thanks to his friends the Munchkins.)”

He plugged his friends over at sportscarpros.com in Paddock Poop 137, currently on another of its not-infrequent hiatuses. He’s told, however, that “Rumours of demise may be greatly exaggerated.” We all hope so.

September

On the 3rd of the month, Murphy took his first shot at the Petit Le Mans field, figuring the grid would fall between 29 and 33, with 31 likely starters.

He reported rumors that Grand Am’s DP fields would be depleted in 2010, including the departure of Brumos (though he included the contrarian rumor that Brumos would continue with a single Riley powered by the Cayenne V8). Also in Grand Am, he wrote that the Krohn-Lola dispute had hit a wall, and “…the big-time racing car builder and its oil magnate partner may be headed to court.”
The Bear got Camaros and Corvettes mixed up in a Grand Am GT story about a switch from Pontiac in 2010. Well, hell, it’s the same tuber chassis, anyway.

A.C. was off to Vegas, hoping to “recoup from the Zogaib debacle.” It didn’t help. He also wrote, “One day, fans will return to the Rolex 24. We don’t care about technology, or green racing, or Le Mans … Braselton will never defeat Daytona. That is a sure bet.” Though both are weak, could we see some trends in that direction in 2010? For the first time in a decade, Murphy thinks so.

The Don made one more “run,” trying to raise money for his “supercar,” the one we thought was “truly dead.” Mercifully, it went nowhere – again.

The Bear “took a shot” at the 2010 ALMS schedule; it was off the mark, with Monterey staying at the end, and Sonoma in May. Turns out of course that Sonoma was a no, and Monterey went to May. Perhaps the Don needs the party income at the Chateau?

NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter was the designated attack dog on the American Le Mans Series for its proposed “Challenge Class” rules. In a lengthy blog, he called the ALMS’ new rules, “misguided,” and “counter-productive,” while accusing the Braselton-based race series of circulating “calculated misinformation and propaganda” to “undermine Grand Am’s success.” Pretty frantic stuff.

With the ACO floating new aero rules for 2010 that would make the R15 obsolete, and incur costs for others, Murphy opined that IMSA shouldn’t “commit hiri kuri with the French.” It did, of course. ACO/IMSA rules then exempted everyone else from the aero changes, making the net effect just the whacking of Audi from ALMS/LMS grids. A fine thank-you for decade of support – including millions of Ingolstadt cash into ALMS coffers.

At the end of the month, it was off to the North Georgia Mud Bowl (red mud at that). It not only rained Cats and Dogs, they were also seen celebrating in Paddy’s.
Murphy was the first to tell you that Mercedes would dump McLaren in favor of Brawn, and reviewed the rumors that would “rationalize” the VW-Audi-Porsche product line and racing programs. Time will tell.

The Bear said “the other Japanese F1 team” (that would be Toyota) would soon exit F1, but for a sports car program to follow, “don’t hold  your breath.”

October

The test of the new LMPC after Petit was a success, and clearly disturbing to the Empire on International Speedway Boulevard. The Lola-Krohn fight heated up. Murphy observed that the ALMS’ crack PR machine couldn’t even get Scott Sharp’s Sebring crash on Sports Center. NASCAR got a routine barrel roll on at the top of the show, though. Braselton was trying to dump most of the operating cost of Sebring on its biggest tenant, Central Florida SCCA, while keeping the lion’s share of the revenue. Another sign that things are dire in Georgia, the Bear thinks.

Murphy said Audi’s return to the ALMS was unlikely, and Acura was certainly gone. (Since then, privateer Duncan Dayton might have saved the series by deciding to field an old Acura P2 with leased engines.)

A.C. wrote about a little incident on the Florida coast in Daytona Vice.

Mid-month the Bear reported on his return to his favorite place (and former home) the Monterey Peninsula. He dropped in to see David (Mike was on vacation) at the Sardine Factory and Gannady over at Clint’s place. He partied below the hairpin with friends of Enzo (and of the Bear, of course).

After the race it was off to the Mucky Duck, band in the back and friends from Poughkeepsie, England, and a few other places in the front. The Bear agreed if Mazda were to “step up” in the coming season, the Lola AER just might turn into a nice little package. It seems clear that they have not, likely making that entry one more disappointment of 2010. If – as is rumored – two drivers do not return, it will be a disappointment to Murphy whatever else happens.

Murphy told you about a Ferrari being prepared to Grand Am Prep 1 rules for competition in the coming season. The cat was having some homologation troubles. Momentarily there was a rumor of two more BMW’s, but it turned out they are for Europe. The Bear noted a press release was issued by “Farnbacher Loles” about a pair of KONI M3’s (it seems KONI is no longer the sponsor of that Grand Am series, by the way), but pointed out, “Murphy has more than once reported rumors they would split.” Of course they had. We’re reminded once again that press releases are as often as fictional as paddock rumors.

The Bear went over 25,000 readers for the month.

November

November included rumors of Penske testing “something from Aichi in Spain.” No legs. Likewise, stories of a Duncan Dayton Peugeot; about those Murphy wrote, “If you take winning Le Mans out of the picture, the Peugeot rumor fades into oblivion, and you take Dayton at face value that another Acura season is in the cards – completely independent of Acura.” That’s pretty much how it’s turned out. The Acura “support” amounts to little more than keeping the engines running.

A Dinan-built Ferrari motor was slated to power a DP at Daytona and after, run by Scott Tucker. Murphy thought the F430 Prep 1 GT would make the Daytona grid, too, but it will not.

The Bear threw out a few ALMS and Sebring possibilities and dismissed a few, too. In the latter category was Creation, about which Murphy wrote (again), “Creation advertised (via another of those “interviews” in which nothing new is revealed) for a funded driver (déjà vu).” He reported three Ferraris were probable, one Risi and two Sharps.

Murphy planned a trip to see Michael in Las Vegas, but a deadline for his second recipe book and work on his inaugural Christmas quiz derailed that plan.

Comprent, tagged for an LMPC entry, was still looking for funded drivers. Mercedes dumped McLaren in favor of Brawn, just as the Bear said it would.

December

Murphy started the month “Sweeping out the Bear Cave,” a few odds and ends heard around the paddock. The Bear bade farewell to PTG and any Panoz race car. (They really hadn’t been any good since the Tony Dowe-engineered Reynard-based GT1/LMP01, had they?)
Risi Competizione was “in again, out again,” as a full season entry. Murphy stayed skeptical. In Grand Am DP, the Bear heard – and passed on – that Ganassi would switch from Lexus to BMW power.

One of those “odds and ends” was this little item entitled “No Farnbacher, No Loles, “The Bear’s repeatedly reported rumors that pointed to the termination of the Farnbacher and Loles partnership – that’s happened now, of course. Lately he’s questioned whether Greg Loles would continue in ALMS, or even be able to bring his ambitious Grand Am plans to fruition. This week the mill has been churning. That includes a medical event earlier in the week, chattels in the Georgia shop packed for shipping to Connecticut, missed payments, and an RSR of disputed ownership.” Little did the Bear know that just a few days later, one day after announcing his 1st Annual Christmas Quiz, the crap would hit the fan for Greg Loles…or Loles would be the crap…

Loles invented another way to finance his racing; steal from a church (and its members). Is that one better than Grand Am’s Henri Zogaib, who stole from his fellow racers? Two crooks. One in each sports car series. Talk about competing with each other!

The same day, Murphy reported that Dyson Racing would likely field just a single car and Audi would contest just one ALMS race – Petit Le Mans. As if that wasn’t enough, Lou was selling his ALMS Corvette and heading for Grand Am. It wasn’t a good day for anyone in sports car endurance racing.

Cytosport was rumored to be planning a bigger ALMS program and to have a “secret project” after Muscle Milk dumped its SCCA Trans Am sponsorship. Would they run a second Spyder for Porsche and for Bernhard and Dumas?

Murphy published, scored, and announced the winners of his Christmas Quiz.

Paddock Poop 148 fittingly closed out a lousy year, with stories of massive pay cuts in two of North America’s leading racing teams. Greg Loles was in the slammer with scant chance of getting out any time soon. Papers filed with a Michigan court concerning Loles’ Grand Am GT project revealed that GT costs in Grand Am aren’t substantially different than they are in ALMS. Of course we knew that already, didn’t we?

The Bear went over 30,000 readers for the month.

Happy New Year, every one of you.

One of Murphy’s friends was telling him in the fall that this would be the worst winter in motorsports in many years. It seems he was right. Porsche works drivers with (so far) nowhere to go, de Ferran on life support (at best, see below), possible reduced programs at Dyson and Risi, rampant rumors of IRL troubles, an F1 scandal, even NASCAR cuts.

Penske, Hendrick Slash Pay

The Bear’s just been told that Penske Racing has slashed pay “20% across the board.” Hard on the heels of that comes news that Hendrick Motorsports has imposed “salary caps” on all it its departments. Pay above that limit will be cut back. It’s believed that amounts to as much as a 30% payroll cut in aggregate. It’s the holiday season – but it’s also the season when 2009 sponsor contracts expire, and if they haven’t been replaced….

Loles in the Slammer

Greg Loles is no longer a free man. The Bear’s read the complaint. Classic Ponzi, way back to 2001. No way to put a positive spin on this one. The championships and awards were won by stolen money. Porsche seems to be the favorite marque, of con men and crooks, doesn’t it? Paul, Lanier, Whittington, Solaroli, Loles. Someone over there should look into the “due diligence department.”

Meanwhile, Loles’ detention hearing has been postponed indefinately. Seems he doesn’t have the money to get out of jail. Prosecutors said at a hearing earlier this week that “investors” are out between $6 million and $8 million. There was a Farnbacher Loles transporter headed north from the Atlanta area this morning. Making a run for it?

Car Costs

The numbers in the Pratt & Miller suit against Greg Loles are revealing: “Loles contracted Pratt & Miller in Detroit to build him two GAGT-BMW-M3Rs, each costing $340,000. The custom parts installed on the cars pushed the total price to $929,750.” Murphy deciphers that this way: the Pratt and Miller “space frames” and whatever content is mandated (or allowed) by Grand Am to be “shared” across all platforms amount to $340,000 each. Turning one into a BMW (as apposed to a Pontiac, Mazda, or Corvette) is another $125,000, a total of $465,000. The Bear was told tonight that Pratt & Miller number is before engine, which will come from Dinan for another $100,000, or the wiring loom and ECU from Bosch (the first one will be discounted to about $18,000). Grand total? $585,000. The 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR could be had for $493,000, add a bunch of incidentals (including shipping and taxes) and you can figure the Porsche is what, $600,000 before it gets to the track?

Since the body panels are molded copies (not BMW in other words), we’ll guess that the actual “BMW content” of a GT entry built under Grand Am’s “Prep 2” rules, is less than $25,000, or about 5% by value, before engine; with engine, about 20%. Murphy had heard that BMW resisted allowing such cars to be identified as M3’s and were more accepting of  “M6’s” (which the Bavarians do not race “in their native chassis form” as they do the M3).

Meanwhile Porsche’s new owners are talking about putting their R8 into the ALMS’ Challenge GT Class. They can change the rules for 2011 if they want to overturn their own subsidiaries’ exclusivity agreement with the series. Here’s a “rub,” though. A “Cup” 911 goes (fob Weissach) for around €150,000, an 2010 R8 for €293,000. Volkswagen builds both. Quite a difference, eh? 

Cons Part Deux

There’s another “big one” on the way. It seems an intermediary brought a Heinkel sponsorship to Ross Brawn worth €100 million over three years in the middle of this past season. In due course it was signed, the agreement becoming an item of value in Mercedes acquisition of Brawn F1. When the check didn’t arrive on time, Brawn suggested Daimler’s CEO call the boss at Heinkel. The response from the former bomber builder now into soaps and such? “Never heard of it, and it’s nothing we’d do anyway.” Whoops! Murphy thinks Daimler Benz been taking “due diligence” lessons from Porsche Motorsport. (Remember Solo Al?) Seems the con man took the signed agreement to a European financial institution of some kind, got a loan of €16 million, and disappeared.

Sorting through the Driver announcements

Highcroft has announced that Simon Paganaud will partner David Brabham. Insiders expect the ACO rule requiring on “gentleman driver” to apply at Sebring and Petit Le Mans – and certainly at Le Mans itself. If so, the rumor that had Marino Franchitti on board at Highcroft for enduros is false.

Chatter from “insiders” on Risi Competizione’s facebook page takes the Bear to task for suggesting the Houston Ferrari team will run a less-than-full ALMS schedule in 2010. Hey, kids, Murphy can only pass on what he hears. Murphy will stick with his view that “on balance,” good sources suggest Risi will contest the enduros in 2010, the remaining races being uncertain. Aside from that, the best indication Risi might have decided to expand its program is the announcement today of Scott Sharp’s Ferrari drivers; Pierre Kaffer wasn’t one of them, as previously rumored.

Another thing that will likely increase Risi’s 2010 ALMS participation is a loss for Tracy Krohn in the Lola suit in Delaware’s Chancery Court, which (in Murphy’s opinion, based on key court rulings) is likely. If that happens, Krohn will not race the two DP Lolas. The Bear was told he’ll then purchase a Risi Ferrari 430 to field a full time ALMS entry. That would keep his team together (in part, anyway) while keeping the Risi shop busy, too.

de Ferran: Reaching for the Plug

Pagenaud’s decision to contest the full ALMS season with Highcroft Racing may gave us some idea about de Ferran’s progress. Some were speculating that he’d return to ALMS, believing that Pags was his first choise for an IRL entry, and that Simon’s signing with Highcroft indicated there would not be an IRL entry. Murphy heard last week that former Honda F1 pilot Takuma Sato would have that de Ferran IRL seat.

That meant it was down to the nuts in which Honda would be de Ferran’s “sponsor of last resort,” or de Ferran would not field a team of any kind in 2010. Even with ex-Honda exec Robert Clark beating the bushes for funding, it was widely reported that de Ferran had closed its doors on Thursday. Sources tell the Bear that Honda couldn’t be de Ferran’s primary sponsor while it’s IRL’s sole engine supplier. The rumor around Indy was of a de Ferran-Vision combination. That looks likely now, but not as the “merger” that was described, but rather as a place for Gil to land. Then just this morning, Murphy got the following statement from de Ferran:

“At the time of writing I am working very hard to secure de Ferran Motorsports immediate future and my plans to enter the 2010 Indy Car Championship are still very much alive.

“I have continued to employ our staff until now while working towards our 2010 goals but as of yet I am not in a position to announce anything further.  The staff have been kept fully informed of the situation and the current status was communicated to them yesterday.  In the meantime I am continuing to work on the 2010 program and will release further information when our plans are finalised.”

It that definitive? Not quite. “have continued to employ” rather than “continue to employ.” Or “…until now…” how is that clause necessary? A lousy sentence construction, without doubt. What is in doubt is whether that’s due to obfuscation or a failure of communication skills.

Everything available, says “lay offs.” The simple conclusion is that any 2010 de Ferran racing program is on life support. Without a last minute miracle (substantial sponsor) the plug will be pulled soon.

Porsche Pilots

Will Porsche find places for all ten works drivers? They’ve announced the return/placement of five:  Pat Long and Jörg Bergmeister will return to Flying Lizards in the ALMS. Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will defend their Le Mans Series title in 2010 in the Felbermayr Proton 911 GT3 RSR. Patrick Pilet will drive for IMSA Performance Matmut in the LMS.

Porsche is rumored to want to put Dumas and Bernhard in a Spyder with Cytosport. If Porsche foots any significant part of that bill, look to Audi as the decision-maker, since that kind of direct funding is lately very “un-Porsche-like.” (Unless you go back to Porsche Salzburg, and we know who was in charge of that, so it’s no longer out of the question, is it?) As for the other three, Collard, Henzler, and Maassen, the odds are they’ll become “free agents” along with Audi’s Rockenfeller and Primat. That doesn’t mean they won’t be on grids in the coming year. Remember when Porsche fired Bergmeister? Turned out pretty well for him.

Discovering the IRL

The Indy Racing League all but disappeared from public view with its move to Versus in 2009. Now it’s rumored the struggling racing league will the IRL switch from Versus to Discover. True or not, there’s no doubt that the Versus connection is very, very unpopular in the IRL racing community – owners and sponsors included. Is such a change even contractually possible?

Dyson Racing

The Poughkeepsie team was testing in Florida this week. Murphy’s European elves told him Andy Meyrick was on hand as part of a “driver evaluation program,” Murphy’s been told Meyrick “hopes to sign for a full season.” Meyrick drove an Audi R10 for Kolles in the LMS last season. That throws a monkey wrench into all sorts of rumors – some of which were reported here – doesn’t it? Or starts a whole bunch of new ones. At the very least it suggests two Dyson Lola Mazda will be on the grid after all. The Bear will be listening.

Black Swan & the GT Challenge

Black Swan is still deciding between GT Challenge and GT2. Since the Challenge class is “capped” at 10 full-season entries by IMSA, that tells us it’s not yet fully subscribed, doesn’t it?

Pruett on LMPC

Over on speedtv.com, Marshall Pruett writes that five LMP Challenge cars have been sold. The Bear can account for Comprent, Kevin Jeannette’s Gunnar Racing (see  “Paul Newman Week” on its web site at  http://www.gunnarracing.com/ in memory of the Jeannette family’s close friend), Intersport, and Genoa Racing. Jeannette’s interest is well known, though there’s been no announcement. Intersport announced a purchase. Genoa said it “anticipated delivery.” Comprent said it’s interested and wants funded drivers. Have they all bought now? What is the fifth? Has one of these – perhaps Comprent, at one time two were rumored – bought two? What is the Bear missing. Anyone that can clarify in Murphy’s “Comments?”

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

It’s conjectured that arguments between the “diesel big 2” and the ACO have delayed the rules, and in the end  the 2009 R15 is entirely illegal (it’s not included in the “waiver list,” although the R10 is, with restrictions on who can enter and who can drive one). Thus Audi wouldn’t have a ready-to-race Sebring car if they wanted one, but could have one ready to race at PLM if they begin testing in Florida in March. Though there is no shortage of conflicting stories, Murphy believes both Peugeot (and just possibly Audi) will be at the Paul Ricard test in March, Peugeot (but not Audi) will race at Paul Ricard in April, and both will race at Spa. Audi will test at Sebring the week following the 12 hours, and at Paul Ricard the week after the April LMS race, then contest Spa, Le Mans, and PLM.

Unfortunately, the other Audi rumor item is that Mike Rockenfeller and Harold Primat will be dropped from the werks team.

That event – Murphy hears now the ACO will participate with Audi – is scheduled for 2045 CET, just a couple of hours from now.

More Bad News for the ALMS?

When Murphy reported the replacement of BP sponsorship with that of subsidiary Castrol just a week ago, he speculated whether Mazda would ‘step up,’ as hoped by the team at the end of the 2009 season. I seems from a new rumor from two quarters that question has been answered: They will  not.

The Bear heard two days ago that Dyson Racing will field a single entry in 2010 for Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. Newlywed Marino Franchitti will move to Highcroft for enduros, while Butch Leitzinger, Dyson’s ‘senior driver’ will take the year off.

If that’s true (and it remains only a rumor), it says much more about Mazda’s commitment than it does Dyson’s. We know the latter has been there through the years, ‘thick and thin’ as they say. As for Mazda, they chatter on about ‘more Mazda’s racing than any other car,’ meaning of course that there are a whole bunch of your neighbors wrenching and flogging Miatas around local tracks on weekends. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean much for racing as a spectator sport, does it? It’s been nearly 20 since the 787 and the only Le Mans win by a Japanese auto manufacturer.

Going, going, gone  – but Where?

Rumors continue to swirl around the Grand Am successor to the former Farnbacher-Loles team. (Farnbacher having left that partnership at the end of this past season.) Now media reports – and a 2007 SEC action that we all missed (or ignored) – have overtaken the rumors. A story published yesterday by the New Haven Register  regarding St. Barbara’s  Greek Orthodox church in Orange, Connecticut would seem to be enough – if true – to signal the end of those racing adventures. It’s now speculated that an earlier reported medical event might be cover for “a runner.”

One of Murphy’s elves has just sent him an update, from today’s New Haven Register:

“The investigation into a potentially massive embezzlement of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church funds is centering on the man placed in charge of the church’s investments, who has been identified by multiple sources as Gregory Loles.

Loles was in charge of managing the church’s building fund and endowment, and several church members allowed Loles to handle their personal retirement and college investments, several sources within the church community said.

As the federal investigators begin looking at the case, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office is reviewing facts to determine whether state laws were broken. But the U.S. Department of Justice has the lead in the investigation, he said.

“Sadly and tragically, this potential fraud seems to be of massive magnitude — making the federal investigation and involvement very appropriate,” Blumenthal said.”

With funds “in the millions” reportedly having gone missing, will (should) Porsche recognize the winner of Grand Am GT at its upcoming annual “bun fight”?

Murphy notes that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillery and other “things that go Boom!”

Lou to Grand Am

Pencil our friend Lou out of ALMS and into Grand Am. He’s building a pair of Grand Am Corvettes, and rumor would connect those to Black Forest Motorsports. Lou may be more than just a supplier to Black Forest in the coming Grand Am season. The ALMS GT2 is for sale with no bites yet. (We all know who “Lou” is, don’t we?)

More ALMS for Cytosport?

The Muscle Milk moniker is gone from SCCA Trans Am. That increases the probability that Cystosport will run more aggressive ALMS program than they have in past years. The team’s relatively quick success with the Porsche Spyder last season and IMSA’s coming equalization of the prototypes should make that likely, right? Another rumor has Pickett working on a project so secret that even the Bear’s elves haven’t been able to pick up more than a scent.

Below is a Spitfire – Wisconsin style.

The Break makes Seibken’s Stop-Inn Tavern, where Murphy Stopped-Inn Friday and Saturday, seem real upscale, though. It was a “say-hey” to rickybaker on Friday. Pictured are two close friends of Murphy’s on Siebken’s patio.

Saturday, he chatted with Wolf and Jörg after the race, and made some new friends, too.

As always, he stopped by to see friends and visit Brian Redman’s cat in the Carousel, too.

2009 Schedule

Braselton thinks that 14 would be a nice schedule, long-term, and doesn’t want to add more than one new race in a season. But there’s a “whoops” to that second part that goes like this: “Unless a good opportunity comes along,” in which case they might “have to” add two. So, waddayaknow, there seems to be a “good opportunity” in the upcoming season.

Murphy’s heard seven venues mentioned in the paddock and around the water cooler. The Rose City is entirely out of the running for the IRL, so that puts the Northwest in play again for the ALMS. Will the third time be the charm? Or has the track finally settled into the minor leagues for good, now listing drifting, bicycle races, and the Cascade Sports Car Club on its “major event” schedule?

NASCAR declared victory (“mission accomplished, we’ve raised motorsports profile here, our work is done,” or some such nonsensical statement that you’d have to be into the Kool Aid to believe) and will take its Nationwide series out of Mexico City. Murphy doesn’t think Grand Am will stay there on its own. Like Portland, Mexico City gets no mention with the open wheel guys, so does the American Le Mans Series step into a void there? That’s the rub, of course, so many think of the Mexican capitol as a big, scary void. Some not particularly eager to race in Ciudad de México are key to making the sports car schedule. On the other hand, there is another former big-league racing venue south of the Texas boarder. Murphy’s heard it could be one of two new venues to make the grade in 2008.

The Bear told you about the NAS and Lukoil, but there’s another option nearby – east, not north, of Philly – that seems more likely now. The track that shares a name with the famous “Jug” that flew in the middle of the last century may be that second 2008 “opportunity.”

Cleveland and Houston have gotten mentions, especially since the promoter has met with the IMSA guys, but inclusion in some future IRL season seems more likely than landing on the ALMS schedule.

Another Cannuckistani race? The Bear hears (as his lion friend once famously said), “not nohow.”

New Porker Lumps for Dyson

Dyson Racing will get its first DI motor at Mosport and the second at Detroit. (That’s the Weissachian promise, anyway.) Seeking to change his luck, this guy rubbed the Bear before starting his Spyder at Road America. It worked.

What will we see at Petit Le Mans? Lots of cars, it seems. Pugs for sure; Connor says they’ll announce this week. (Independent of web broadcasts, Murphy got a “not our announcement to make…”). You can read that anyway you like, but the Bear thinks just two questions remain: One or two? (that’s cars and races) The Lola with the gasoline V12 might be on its way. In fact there may be a plethora of Astons, beyond the two in the ALMS now.

Forget Cytosport, it seems their announcements of their post-Le Mans ALMS program were as bogus as the ones about the pre-Le Mans program – both LMS and ALMS. On the other hand, we’re going to be much happier with the Corsa Zytek, anyway. And maybe Embassy. Don’t forget the AIM Creations.

Y’all know Mazda’s stepped up to the plate and will field a new Lola coupe in place of the B0something/something spyder (sometimes it seems an extra dive plane will get a new model designation). Murphy’s not sure it will put B-K on race pace, but he’s pretty sure it will get more useful notice than another walk-over bridge with “MAZDA” painted on it.

Will Eco make it to Petit? Silverstone will tell us; good if it shows up, bad if it still won’t run or is damaged. So in the meantime the Bear will ignore everything that’s announced, said, printed, or rumored. You should, too.

Murphy thinks the Mansells are telling the truth about wanting to share a Lola, but also are truthful that someone else will have to pay the bill. So, if “Our Nige” is such a hot commodity under St. George’s Cross, will someone step up? The Bear’s waiting for a note from his correspondent in the Empire.

For 2009, the Bear hears that optimism over funding for a Florida team is at an all-time high.

Murphy spent race day morning with some friends down at the “pit-out” end of the paddock, talking with U.B. about the good old days of shade tree (or garage) mechanics, about Kugelfischer FI, and about engine braking on diesels (now the Bear knows why there isn’t any to speak of). The Herr Doktor was there and in good form with a broad smile, as was Murphy’s new favorite Audi driver, (apologies to the wee Scot) who gave him a big hug. Is there another Audi in the DTM driver’s future? Murphy couldn’t get any denials.

There was a printed copy of Peter de Lorenzo’s “Fumes” from last week on various paddock tables. It’s interesting that what Detroit described it wanted from Daytona Beach was a pretty good description of what GM is already getting from Corvette Racing, albeit on a smaller scale. Does that mean the General understands what Corvette in the ALMS does for it? We can hope, can’t we? Doug said “I’ve given it my best shot.”

The Bear’s heard that planning is underway for a very special event for forum fans at Mosport. Look for information soon. (Actually, while finishing this Poop, Murphy’s just now seen the news posted in the ALMS forum’s Mosport thread.) The Bear is planning a “Paddock Poop Special Edition” to be available only at the gathering.

Well, it’s not all bad if a poop brings the denizens of the paddock out of the wordwork, is it?

Murphy said that there was an “if” associated with each of the prototypes that had indicated they’d be at Road America.

The Three “ifs”

First was “due diligence.” Corsa Motorsports said it was “evaluating an opportunity,” that it “would miss the next two races (Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio), but would participate “in the remainder of the season.” That “remainder” would have started at Road America. With this one, there’s good news and bad news. The bad? There will be no Corsa prototype at Road America, and a Ferrari is similarly unlikely. The good, is that Corsa has completed its “due diligence” and a new car will be delivered “in a month.” So, perhaps Petit?

Next, Murphy wrote that the participation of one team would be related to “the cost of salad oil.” The “semi-official” word – just communicated to Braselton today – is that a test of the Eco Racing Radical led the team to conclude that “running a four hour race” at Road America was beyond its capabilities. So they’re going to race at Silverstone (1,000 K), then at Petit Le Mans (1,000 miles). Huh?

Third, at team would have to change its “modus operandi,” which, in a word is “announce, but don’t show up.” (They drove them all a bit nuts in Europe with that one, didn’t they?) Anybody see Cytosport listed on the Road America entry? Murphy was going to say “case closed,” but then he heard that a team-related source said “Cytosport will be at Road America.” We’ll see, won’t we?

Fourteen Races? 

Murphy’s heard that the maximum number of races in a season that is considered acceptable is fourteen. With eleven now, that means the ALMS could add three. They’d like to be orderly about it, the Bear hears, and add no more than one each season. But if an opportunity presents itself….

Cold Water on one Airbase

Related to all that, there’s the quiz, based on a fantastically detailed rumor. (Do people actually make that stuff up? It seems so.) Willow Grove, Paul Newman, the Russian oil company, and corn weren’t exactly ruled out, but a well placed friend of the Bear’s offered the opinion that Thunderbolt still seems more likely for something near Philly – which is an area the series would love to be. Perhaps some of those details apply to an event at the New Jersey track?

Airports seem to be in Vogue

So, that’s why some think that two races could be added in 2009. Perhaps one might be that near-Philly thing? The other is said to be on an airport near a lake, and just might be a combined weekend, The IRL team partner promoter was at Mid-Ohio to meet with ALMS cheeses; was it about the lake place or their other one?

Whatever, it seems that the addition of a pre-Le Mans event is particularly attractive.

Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives

Another visitor at Mid-Ohio was the one-time team manager of Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives. What that’s about is anybody’s guess.

Resurfacing

A much-mentioned team is finally near an agreement that will deliver the funding needed to field a prototype in 2009. What will it be? Not Porsche, not Lola, not Zytek. Something else. Play with that one.

OK, the Bear is caught up. He needs a nap now.