After hastily announcing and error-plagued 2011 schedule at Road America, Murphy didn’t expect a mea culpa, but he thought there might be an update of sorts. Like what about Road America. The track now lists the American Le Mans Series as a Saturday race, and the Plymouth Town Board has approved late-running. Why the silence?

The Boss said there might be an “event” stuck into the big summer gap. Then, on Saturday he said there would be no race added to the season schedule. So what’s “The Event” other than that new television series rip-off of “Lost?” Braselberg claims 12,000 showed up for something-or-other-on-Main in Greenville, but is that any compensation for teams without a sponsor and sitting on their duffs for three months? An “event” is to a race like a docudrama is to live coverage.

As if The Gap wasn’t enough, it turns out the Le Mans test day will be on April 24, just one week after Long Beach. That’s another major black eye for the series.

The Coverage

Another big non-announcement was the television contract (or lack of one). Some say to expect the same as this season, meaning live coverage of about half – including the two ILMC races – on Speed, and some major network telecasts, docudramas included, but not exclusively. All that done by that new “in house” production department. If you think they’ve shown their management skills in other areas, why not have the Braselbergers get into the media production business?

Murphy continues to think it’s going to be quite different. There was a party Friday night by the television folks, including the “on-air talent.” It was a farewell party. The Bear’s been told we’ll not see them again. But who will we see? And what does that say about the Speedtv coverage that the Boss praised in his Friday oration? Gone, Murphy hears. Gone to flowers… Sorry, wrong song… Gone to docudramas on Versus, with occasional runs on a network. Like the IRL. Did you watch much of the IRL this year? Neither did the Bear.

Speaking of in-house production, did you see the nubile college girls running around in blue vests with entry-level camera gear? The ones with no clue, pointing lenses at random? That’s in-house production, intern division. Let’s see, motorsports pro photographers are Hugewally, Rizzo, and Jimmy, and the available photo interns are Athens sorority girls?

In a week when reduced television coverage was rumored, the series scored perhaps its biggest – most visible, anyway – print media coup, a cover and forty page article in Road & Track featuring the principal GT contenders.

The Event

Not that fictional place-holder sometime in 2011, but the big Petit Le Mans right there at Road Atlanta. No one the Bear knows claims to have seen a bigger crowd – ever, with 124,000 was mentioned. In 2008 113,000 was reported, and in 2009 a rainy week drew 102,000.

The year in attendance was a split decision, the Bear hears – five up, four down.

Grids

Looking ahead to 2011, the Braselbergers were happy to announce Mexican Lambos, and perhaps a pair of Panozies, both likely to keep the Cats company, but no R8 in ALMS. Bet on R8’s in the Florida-based series, though.

ACS says they’ll run a pair of Fords all year. The Bear hopes so. CORE Autosport wants to run some kind of an ALMS prototype. So far, that’s little more than a fishing expedition for sponsors and funded drivers.

An accomplished prototype driver whose family had a long history with Mercedes and Nissan will plot a GT Porker with a famous North American racing team, itself leaving the prototype ranks to contest GT in the 2011 season.

The “Green Racing Leader” can’t figure out what to do with a hybrid GT, so there will be no electric Porsche, nor any other.

Rumored BMW motorsport cuts will leave BMW North America and Rahal without much help in 2011. How long can that continue?
      
Daytona champion to stay with Porsche, add second DP; given what the Bear’s heard about the teams’ source of funding, the choice of package says a lot about the relationships being built/rebuilt at International Speedway Blvd.

On balance, the paddock chatter indicates improvement on the margin of the ALMS GT grid with Lamborghini and more Fords for 2011. Meanwhile, Grand Am will make revolutionary changes, leading to a major remake of its GT field.

Miscellany

The Bear poked fun at the official cheese of the American Le Mans Series, but that was before he tried Yancy’s Fancy at Petit. It’s really yummy. Leave some of that in your car, and any self-respecting Bear will rip it to pieces to get in.

Braselberg said they were working on a “more accessible” Green Challenge. Does that mean it won’t be restricted to slide rule geeks (for those few living who still remember slide rules)? That’s the objective, but the real problem remains: There’s never been a  non-visual sport.

Seen at Paddy’s (beyond the usual suspects): Gordon Murray, David Price, Gil Campbell, a Porsche ALMS factory driver reunion, a working Abruzzi , miscellaneous eye candy with drivers and executives (not sure which of the latter were groupies or rentals).

No road cars are necessary to homologate the Abruzzi. You did notice it was entered in GT at Petit, didn’t you? How do you suppose that happened?

Not a big surprise, but there was some angst in the paddock about the cost to teams of the 2011 prototype rule changes. One source called it a “revolt of sorts” that could lead abandonment of some proposals. So there’s turbulence in the ACO’s world. Are you surprised?

Porsche to F1, Audi in sports cars? Murphy’s hearing, “snicker, snicker.” The Bear can’t find anyone in the sport who believes it.

The Bear’s been told the Münchenbergers will be in DTM by 2012. Motorsport chief Mario Theissen will be gone by the end of the year.

Up the road at the Stud Garden, the prototype project has been canned. Something about refinancing €14 billion, and more billions of liability from allegations of market manipulation by boss Wiedeking and finance chief Härter.

Closer to home, Brumos has let go some well-known sports car racing names in a significant downsize.

The View from Belgium

 Not surprisingly, the American Le Mans Series was thought by many to be in dire straits. That’s become pretty routine, whether one is in on the Atlantic in Florida, or across the Atlantic in Europe. Does the fact that so many seem to believe it mean it’s close to the truth? Or perhaps, like the negative views of the stock market, it’s an indicator things are about to get better?

The series has cut costs, changed its television package and, as a result of that, it’s exposure, added to its fields with the Challenge classes, and seems to be moving toward two new street race venues. Are those the right moves? Are they enough? Should be expect more changes before the end of 2010?

Intercontinental Bust?

Others at Spa were bemoaning the status of the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, some even saying it’s near to being a non-starter. We heard a lot of that about the Asian Le Mans races last year, but at least some of that schedule finally happened. The clearest indicator we’ll have of at least short term viability, if not long term potential will be the number of teams that contest Petit Le Mans because it’s a required ILMC  round. Among possible GT entries, Team Felbermayr Proton and BMS Scuderia Italia, one the Le Mans winner, and the other the victor at Spa, are getting mention.

Yet another sage sports car racing observer wonders, “if the ACO is between a rock and hard place with the new InterContinental Challenge.” Whose rules will they use? What fuel at Sebring and PLM? What will happen to the local junior classes if the entry is over subscribed? “(Daniel) Poissenot could or would not give me an answer on these questions,” he tells the Bear.

The FIA, GT 1 through 4, and Grand Am

There’s widespread belief that GT1 won’t go into another year, but Le Rat is still clinging to the concept despite its precarious financial position. There are rumbles that Freddie Dor is going to build another car and an Alpina B6 is on the way, it seems. But all the teams are strapped. One observer reckoned, “It feels like the first season of A1 GP and we all know where that went.”

The North America division of an auto manufacturer believes FIA GT3 cars in Grand Am (reported recently by http://lastturnclub.com ) is close to a done deal. Murphy hears two about Grand Am’s FIA quasi-alliance: (1) putting butts in the seats, and (2) managing its competitive balance in GT.

A GT2, GT3, and GT4-based  series could do well with Spa 24 as the centerpiece, according to analysts. That’s important with the FIA’s push to create national series at least roughly compliant with those rules in North America and Asia. And as some one said, “It gives Le Rat a path to retreat to if the Gt1 thing goes tits.” Consider this, said our source, “GT3 makes a lot of sense (for Grand Am) as the cars can run at Spa and Nurburgring 24 Hours.  It will give GA a shot at the wine and cheese crowd without bringing in Peugeot and Audi LMP’s.”

Black Hole

Will the American Le Mans Series disappear into the same television black hole that has captured the IRL? Murphy tweeted on Friday that IMSA was considering a no-pit-stops-under-caution rule for Mid-Ohio. That obviously didn’t happen. Speculation at the time was the idea was triggered by concerns over pit congestion due to the larger-than-normal IndyCar entry and the smaller-than-normal pit lane; the headline series (that would be IndyCar, fans) leaves its equipment along the pits throughout the weekend, contributing to the problem. One rumor now says that wasn’t the reason – not the real one, anyway. It’s all connected to a plan that will end SpeedTV coverage of the American Le Mans Series next year, and move all its races to Versus, presented in the same truncated 1 hour programs by the same company that’s doing a trial run with CBS events this season. The editing of those packages gets a whole lot easier if pit stops are all under green, doesn’t it?

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.”

There’s a rumor out there that the ALMS is “close” to an agreement to return to Infineon Raceway (Sears Point for you purists and old folks) in 2011.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City’s council has authorized “negotiations” to obtain a 2011 ALMS street race – following in the tradition, Murphy supposes, of Miami, Trois Rivieres, Houston, Detroit, and St. Pete. More about such things from the Bear’s friends here at The Last Turn Clubhouse. 

When the Bear wrote in Paddock Poop 136, back on August 19 that, “St. Petersburg will be missing from the 2010 schedule, but (surprising even to the Bear) it’s rumored that Infineon will be back.” St. Pete officially disappeared soon after, but the Infineon deal didn’t come together in time for the California track to make the 2010 schedule. It still hasn’t, but it’s rumored that it  will, soon. Perhaps.
But perhaps not. Grand Am is also intent on returning to Sonoma. In fact, the Daytona Beach series, in another rumor, also it will be back at Sear Point soon.

But take heart, Braselburgers. Grand Am may be about to catch the street race disease. In Daytona’s case the idea seems to have taken root in the disappointment over its anemic race attendance. In the all-too-common “it-can’t-be-our-product” delusion that management in all endeavors suffers from, the theory is circulating in Florida that fans don’t want to travel to traditional road course tracks. It’s “just too far.” The solution? City-center street courses for Grand Am. Some at the World Center of Racing even think the Prototurtles might eventually return to Long Beach. The Bear’s convinced that there’s nothing like a string of “Festivals of Speed” to screw up a race series.

In the heart of Cheese Country

The Bear mentioned the ALMS’s “official cheese,” Yancey’s Fancy, in Paddock Poop 157. Since, then, Murphy (and his readers) has been eager to know how this important new would be received by the press and the racing community. The immediate reaction was ambiguous, to say the least. At the announcement press conference at Sebring, heard in the cheap seats occupied by the assembled  sports car racing journalists (hand picked for their loyalty) was an incredulous whispered, “Did he say official cheese?” That was before the unveiling of the cheese sculpture of our dearly-departed Panoz LMGT.

The real cheese aficionados, to be found, ironically , around Road America, long a host (although not very enthusiastically) of the series, were miffed, to say the least. They accuse the “official cheese” of not being real cheese at all, but rather cheese curds, a creamery by-product, even though they grudgingly admit it’s a tasty morsel. A native of Dairyland USA affectionately refers to them as cheese turds.

It all sets up for a big dust-up come August, since the Bear’s been reliably informed by a source who grew up playing with toy sports cars virtually on the shore of Elkhart Lake it’s illegal to be in possession of non-Wisconsin cheese north of Waukegan, Illinois or east of Minneapolis. Don’t be surprised to see Wisconsin cows (they’re the ornery ones; the happy cows are in California) picketing the Road America gates.

So has the wine and cheese series become the tequila and milk by-product series?

Not that George and his band of merry boys (and girls) at Road America are much affected by any of this. Big George’s marketing campaign last year consisted of a video that spent ten minutes on the attractions of golf cart scavenger hunts (seriously) and club racing events before it ever got around to mentioning there were actually spectator events at North America’s most revered road racing track. The season ticket mailer featured photos of little SCCA racers that looked like Malibu Grand Prix cars, doing nothing to convey this was a place where one might actually find professional racing. The Bear got his 2010 mailer a couple of weeks ago. The feature this time? NASCAR. Seriously. On the other side it’s got a 1969 Can Am picture of a dead guy and Augie Pabst, Jr.

Murphy got his second mailer, with ticket prices, today. The American Le Mans Series is still buried in the “also running” column. But it always has been. The dead guy Mustang reunion at the urinal weekend seems to be the feature event. The only thing about the ALMS weekend that’s big is the price. The most on the Series’ schedule, more than Sebring, way more than Laguna Seca. The same as Road America’s NASCAR Nationwide, and more than the big faucet weekend featuring the dead guy’s reunion. And they wonder why they don’t draw flies?

With the Wisconsin track drawing a paltry 40,000 in three days last season – only Utah was worse – can it last long on the ALMS calendar? The geniuses at Grand Am will tell you it’s hopeless – too far from Chicago. Murphy will be there in August, anyway. Look for him at the track, at Siebken’s or, if you want to steep yourself real cheesehead culture, at the Commercial Break in Neenah.

Audi Angst

The Bear’s Thesaurus lists “tormet” as an “angst” near-synonym, which is the least fans at Sebring are going to feel with new Audi R15′s, ready for the 2010 season, on track in Monday-Tuesday test sessions at Sebring. It turns out that Murphy’s source that they would actually enter was closer than we thought. In fact, given the build-test schedule there’s been every reason to think they could and should. Fans of a sport are usually benefitted by bitter rivalries, but not when they can just not show up. Most sports have enough leverage through their organizing bodies – leagues, conferences, etc. – to enforce participation. That’s even true in motorsport at the highest levels.

The Bear’s friend Marshall Pruett says over on speedtv.com that he’s be “saddened” to see them on track at Sebring but not racing in the 12 Hours. Murphy would use a different word to describe this circus.

Jaguar building

Rocket Sports’ shop was pushing hard – working long hours –  to complete a second Jaguar before Sebring, but the best guess is that it won’t make it.

Lola Ferrari

Murphy hears Lola’s building an LMP 1 to be powered by a Ferrari engine from the defunct A1GP series. Bunches of the powerplants are available at South African businessman Tony Teixeira’s liquidation sale. The Bear’s trying to figure out how the motors will work, since they’re 4.5 liters. Will they be destroked to 3.4? Did they originate in a non-racing Ferrari, so they can be homologated under the GT loophole?  Or will the Lola actually be powered by the 3.4 liter Zytek used in A1GP’s inaugural season? Don’t look for the new Lola to make it to the USA, though; this is an LMS-oriented project.

In other Ferrari news, a new Grand Am GT looks more likely to debut in Virginia than in Alabama. To further confuse the anoraks, it’s a Prep 2 with a Ferrari-built unit-body chassis (making it a real Ferrari to collectors). So much for simple definitions of the Grand Am rules.

Driving Corvettes

With changes in Team Corvette’s chauffeur ranks widely expected in 2011, the Bear is looking beyond “the usual suspects.” A new whole-schedule Team Corvette driver may be known at  the highest levels, but remains “under the radar.”  He (or she) may not be among those identified as a 2010 enduro “third.” 

Who is Scott Tucker and What is Westfund?

Murphy has no idea.

The Color of Money

A color no one is seeing much of in road racing these days. The Bear’s pretty sure that ALMS – after a real good season as recently as 2008 – is flirting with red ink. Loosing series sanctions doesn’t help, and the manufacturers that once played Sugar Daddy are gone, replaced by cheese, tequila, pearls, and personal lubricants (ok, G-Oil is for motors, but Murphy just can’t help himself). Meanwhile, he’s hearing that the boys in Daytona were $2 million upside down for 2009. IRL is believed by many (including some who should know) to be a financial disaster hanging by a thread. Is everything going to be silhouette roundy-round racing?

Dithering

The gang that can’t shoot straight finally got around to issuing a butanol bulletin today, and they approved it provisionally, with a 30 kilo penalty for the firs two races…that might be continued…or might not.

If they really wanted an alternate fuel they’d have made a definitive decision soon after the close of the 2009 season, allowing teams and manufacturers to make plans, obtain sponsorships, and test. Who the hell needs teams to have sponsorships, anyway? Who the hell wants to promote alternate fuels? Not the “Leader Green Racing.”

Anyone give Dyson Racing’s Mazda a chance at Sebring? Or perhaps they won’t be running butanol after all, since the boneheaded treatment of the fuel in the last two races of 2009 has already driven off BP.

(Murphy adds a note: As has become usual, this bulletin was reissued the next day, adding language after “approved for use” in LMP-LMP1-LMP2 only.)

Dead Horse Department

The Bear sadly watched (and provided some insight into) USF1’s failure. He’d rather now let it go, but Mr. Anderson’s interview requires some comment. The captain of this ship is blaming the FIA, FOTA, Bernie, Max, an unknown lost sponsor and just about everybody except himself. Nonsense. He says the car was “on track” until mid-January. Hogwash. He thinks USF1 has a chance to be on the 2011 grid. Horsefeathers.

Look for the Bear’s Annual Sebring Punter’s Guide soon.

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

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

Murphy, A.C., and Katrina Flood brought you right into the action at the Daytona 24, as AC calls it, “the World’s Greatest Race.” This time it almost was, with the Bear (a “Daytona Denier”) on the edge of his seat (with the rest of you – admit it), over the final hour and last laps.

A.C. gave ya’ll ten rools in “How to Enjoy the Rolex 24”

As he did for the previous year, Murphy listed the five entries most likely to win and contend for the win. In 2008, first, second, and third were from his top five. This year he had 1 and 2, and all five of his picks were in the first seven.

There was an interesting exchange with wrestlerrob in Paddock Poop 109 after the race. Wrestler wondered if the Bear would stick to his “Riley only” rool for his 2010 picks. Murphy answered he didn’t see any change, writing that, “Seriously, there’s no challenge in sight to Riley’s dominance. Certainly not Lola, in a partnership of which they are not enamored…or so the Bear hears.” There was your first clue that Lola and Krohn weren’t getting along, nearly a year ago. That “relationship” has now landed in court; if Krohn runs those cars (he’s entered them) it won’t be with any help from Lola.

Murphy mentioned another prototype – of much greater interest – on January 15, “There are multiple hints that there is a Porsche LMP1 in the wings that could debut as early as 2010 – if Herr Dr. Wiedeking will allow it.” Now that Wiedeking is gone his successor is talking openly of the prospect, though a 2011 debut seems most likely.

A.C. proudly declared, “I am A.C. Guillermo, and I’m a Grand-Am Writer.” In his race review, “The Grassy Knoll 24” A.C. ridiculed the conspiracy buffs, with his usual insightful expert analysis, observing, “I was watching the TV coverage of the race today and I saw no evidence of any cheating, aside from all those male enhancement product commercials (that stuff doesn’t work, trust me).”

On January 21, in Paddock Poop 108. “Murphy on Sebring’s Likely Starters,” the Bear wrote, “When the flag flies at Sebring on March 21, 30 entries will thunder into the old airbase’s Turn 1. It’s a different mix, but nearly the same number (31) Murphy gave you on December 10. If Sebring starts the Bear’s 30, it will have done well, indeed, in tough times for racing, losing only 10% from last year’s 33.”

The next day the Bear revised that, summarizing in Paddock Poop 109, “For now, those changes will cut his likely P1 starters to seven. Murphy’s going to keep his expected GT starters at 17, making Sebring’s total grid 29.” Contrary to his reputation in some quarters, in the event, the Bear would prove to be far too optimistic.

February

On February 3rd , the Bear reported that negotiations to bring back “Radio Le Mans,” seemed stalled; that the coverage could end in the new season. “Your favorite internet audio coverage will be gone in the 2009 season unless funding from Braselton is replaced from some other source. Perhaps Murphy’s will have to send what he’d budgeted for a forum hat to England to help out. Time to register your displeasure?  It’s said that the at-track-PA coverage by Mr. H. will be back – if the offer is accepted.”

The content of that was never questioned, though there eventually was an agreement, and much ado about the stuffed animal having written “Radio Le Mans,” rather than “ALMS Radio Web.” He said he was very, very sorry. Roll this story a year forward, and that’s exactly what has happened: It’s been announced ALMS Radio Web will not be funded by the American Le Mans Series. The good news is that Hindy and company at Radio Show Limited seem optimistic the needed sponsorship will be forthcoming.

The other item in Paddock Poop 110 was this:

“The Bear’s  been told that as of yesterday an enterprise in a small Northeastern Georgia town will have across-the-board pay cuts.”
That one leaked so fast that phone calls from Braselton to Murphy’s acquaintances quickly followed, trying to ferret (cute little things, aren’t they?) out the Bear’s source. The Great Georgia Mole Hunt was on! Later in the year, when this or that Braselburger head would roll, it would be rumored that the mole had been excised. But Murphy continues to report what goes on in the Broadway Avenue puzzle palace, doesn’t he?

Murphy’s optimism about the Sebring entry (if 30 can be characterized that way) faded quickly. On Valentine’s Day he wrote, “In mid February, there are 25 Sebring entries (P1 = 7, P2 = 3, GT1 = 2, GT2 = 13). Though more – as many as 35 – are possible, Murphy thinks the grid will grow by only two net (P1 = 7, P2 = 3, GT1 = 2, GT2 = 15) to 27.” The entry dated February 19 totaled exactly that, in a bit different class mix. There finally were 26 on the grid in March (P1 = 8, P2 = 3, GT1 = 2, GT2 = 13).

Not on that grid was VICI Racing. On the 24th of February, the Bear wrote, “In GT2, VICI has added two Porsches to the entry, oddly with drivers TBA. Murphy says “oddly” because it seemed clear that the VICI program was very much dependent on drivers with budgets, so if the entries are firm, the drivers should already be “on board.” Other opinion from the paddock (shared with the Bear yesterday) remained doubtful about at least the second of the two entries, and dismissed any possibility of a third.”

VICI stories continue to this day, with the Pollyannas convinced that the telephone sponsorship on the car last year would actually be funded in 2010. As if corporate budgeting worked that way. Might happen, likely won’t.

March

An Audi R8 was rumored early in the month. That came to nothing, of course. Now it’s rumored for GT Challenge – a “future maybe.” It would be a pretty expensive way to go, about twice the cost of the 911’s that likely would beat it like a redheaded stepchild.
The Riley-Lou-Pratt & Miller-Corvette Racing-GM soap opera continued with a Riley, left standing at the alter, filing lawsuit charging GM with “breach of promise.”

Murphy’s Prototype Punter’s Guide made the two Audi R15s the co-favorites, with the two Peugeots right behind. Big deal,  you say? OK, it wasn’t hard, given the rest of the field was pretty much helpless against the diesels. Those four were all in the top five, with Fernandez’ Acura P2 sneaking into fourth ahead of a broken-down Peugeot. It was a field worth traveling to Florida for. 2010? No Audi, no Acura P1, just two Peugeots to crush a sorry lot of non-contenders. Murphy knows (it’s that mole again) Braselton takes Sebring for granted, believing the rubes will show up no matter what junk is on the grid. Are they right?

In his GT Punter’s Guide, Flying Lizard’s Bergmeister and Long (lang und kurz – having nothing to do with their names) were the Bear’s 3-2 favorites, followed by Risi Competizione’s Melo and Kaffer (3-1). The Ferrari won it, the Lizards falling to 4th . He still had VICI as a “player,” since they were claiming factory pilots, a load of bull droppings, as usual.

At Sebring, the Bear tipped a few with friends away from the track.
And at.
Cruised the paddock for stories – and found a few.
Under the heading of “Fantasyland,” he wrote, “Saleens, ECO Racing, Creations, Zyteks, Jaguars…well that last one might be possible, but the silence is ominous.” The Cat finally came straggling in – remindful of a tabby that’s fallen into the cattle watering trough – at Laguna Seca. That bull crap (the bull is a friend of the Bear’s) at Petit Le Mans was an embarrassment.

Murphy closed out the month with a rare single-topic Poop: “Acura Rumor Review – Smoke or Fire?”

The Bear opined that “…there is usually some fire under such a large volume of smoke.” In retrospect we were hearing the first rumblings of the complete shutdown of the Honda/Acura racing program.

April

Off we went to St. Pete. Well, everyone but Murphy, who gets to burned out partying at Sebring to go up the road 90 minutes for a pale imitation of road racing. We’re all spared that monumental waste of time this year, aren’t we? The Bear feels sorry for his pal Huge, but hey, how many “home events” do you need? Seventeen cars started on Tampa Bay, twelve in three classes were running at the finish. Even a stuffed animal knows how to spell J-O-K-E. Who wants to pay real money for that?

A.C. returned from a well-earned vacation at Dollywood to a full mailbag, which he dutifully dug into, treating the rest of us to the best snippets.

VICI was floating bull crap again, this time about a Long Beach entry. A couple of guys were promising a second Aston Martin GT entry. Never happened, just more hot air.

The grid was marginally better at Long Beach – 21, of which 18 were running at the end. Murphy was there. Shockingly, the ALMS drew very well compared to the IRL. That’s more an  indictment of the latter than anything particularly good about the former.

May

Tim Mayer left IMSA/ALMS. Murphy published a “quick” Poop the day before the announcement. The Bear always thought Mayer was the best of the bunch. That may sound like “faint praise” in some quarters, but Tim stood out as a good guy and a competent manager.

The Honda rumors continued, the Bear reporting that “Honda’s is taking financial steps to facilitate a Yankee team’s move to IRL next season. It’s widely believed that Acura will only return if there is major manufacturer competition, and that it currently assumes that will not be the case.” The first part of that wasn’t the case (rather than helping anyone, Honda’s thrown them all under the bus), but the second part was sadly quite true. Been nice knowin’ ya.

Endurance-info got into the “Creation promotion business” with DSC, printing what some of the cool aid drinkers called a “confirmation” that Creation will be on the ALMS grid soon. “We plan to return to the ALMS Series, when we are ready,” said Andy Woolgar. Murphy wrote, “‘when we are ready’ will not likely be sooner than 2010.” At least dailysportscar gets its bad information from the chief rather than a North Carolina-based minion. The Bear’s pretty sure pigs will fly before a Creation chassis graces an ALMS grid. What has Creation accomplished lately other than the periodic trashing of Bicks and the Bear? (In a theater near y0u soon?)

A.C. was back with a column about Grand Am at Thunderbolt in New Jersey. He reported that Scott Pruett invented the internet without Al Gore’s help. Now he working on some investigative journalism stuff about global warming.

There was a race somewhere in Utah. No one went. Corsa was there not running its hybrid gear. Good place for such shenanigans.

Murphy’s elf inside F1 was keeping him (and you) abreast of those sordid happenings. Murphy reported that de Ferran was negotiating to acquire the cars, engines, tools, transporters, and pit equipment of a part time IRL team.

When Robin Miller was roasted for reporting that TG would be out at the brickyard, tossed by his mother and sisters, Murphy was one of just a few that knew he was right, and said so. So much for blood…  The Bear wrote at the time, “What the Tony kerfuffle is really about is creating separation between the finances of IMS (which Tony’s sisters and mother care about) and the IRL (which they do not)…” Having created that separation, the IRL is truly in dire straights according to Murphy’s best inside sources. There are more than just a few that wonder whether it can survive the 2010 season.

In Braselton, the layoffs and a fire sale were underway. Haas was looking the place over, and though a sale wasn’t closed then, some agreement leading to a joint venture in the coming year was put in place.

June

The Bear led the month off with his Le Mans Prototype Punter’s Guide, published jointly with Last Turn Clubhouse. If there are any punters out there that pay any attention to a stuffed animal, they deserve to be broke – and probably are. Murphy gave the nod to Audi again. Ah, well…

Later he thought D.R. should “give it a rest,” a rather common sentiment in the sport, and told “A Medieval Bear’s Fable.” 

The “Grand Am buying ALMS” rumor was floated by that same IRL scribe (Murphy doesn’t have to tell you who, does he?). Murphy reviewed the evidence and wrote, “Some might sum all that and come up with an imminent sale. Murphy doesn’t.” It was roundly denied, and nothing came of it, other than SA walking around with a button at Lime Rock that read “We are not for sale.” Funny.

The Boss was dealing with important things like planting trees in public parks (can someone send those guys to Miller Motorsports Park?) and organic T shirts. Then he (SA) told us we should, “Look for an announcement of a major new licensing deal in the third quarter that will greatly enhance our product position and global exposure.” Murphy thinks he missed that announcement. Was it the LMP Challenge? Naw, that doesn’t do any of that stuff.

A.C. closed out the first half of the 2009 season with his usual insightful ruminations about NASCAR and Grand Am.

Next: Murphy’s Year in Review, Part 2

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

Sushi, anyone?

Down another one – NAVI Team Goh (P2) is a scratch from the Asian Le Mans Series, joining Signature (P1) and KSM (P2) in dropping out of the race at Okayama, Japan. The latter two were gone before the ACO’s recent press release. Speaking of which, Drayson’s Lola Judd coupé won’t be a “debut” either. Does the ACO even read its own press releases? Or is public relations, like Gallic military prowess, a lost art?

Maserati Redux?

Don’t discount completely the rumors of an MC-12 as a 2010 ALMS competitor. Though it remains little more than an idle thought by a current owner, engineers (who can make the hardware fit) and accountants (who can make a check clear) are really quite inventive people. Working together they can do wonders.

Tony Tired?

Tony George to throw in the towel? He’s rumored to have told his Vision Racing team it’s out of business without a big sponsor. What are the implications of that for the IRL? It hasn’t been good. The league’s been cut off from the IMS gravy train (other than the race-specific benefits) by Tony’s sisters, TG’s leadership seems indifferent, and the Versus deal looks worse every day. (It wasn’t all that popular when announced, either.)

Farewell, friend(s)

The end of the 2009 racing season is in sight, and with it, more departures from Braselton’s staff. Some will hurt more than others. Murphy will miss you.

Nagoya nonsense – or not?

Murphy reported on contacts between Braselton and Nagoya last year. Now increasing signs the latter will leave F1, or at least significantly cut its expenditure, give that much-awaited, on-again-off-again prototype some new “legs.”

Legal beagles

Porsche, caught with an illegal engine, complained to the ACO about Corvette’s (wait for it)…illegal engine. That’s balls, isn’t it? At least Corvette was open about its direct injection when it homologated the its new GT2 C6.R, so technically it wasn’t “illegal,” since the ACO accepted it, even if it was outside published rules. Porsche on the other hand…

All Quiet on the Western Front?

Certainly not. Just in case you thought North American Sports Car racing isn’t at war – Murphy wasn’t sure, himself – Daytona Beach put the illusion of “getting along” to bed by putting NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter out as an attack dog on the American Le Mans Series for its proposed “Challenge Class” rules.

In a lengthy blog, he calls the ALMS’s 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.

The American Le Mans Series (without any reference at all to Grand Am) has created a class that allows cars that meet Grand Am GT specifications (actually all properly prepared Porsche Cup cars regardless of the series they might currently contest, but no other cars now racing in Grand Am) to enter, and another that introduces low-cost prototypes (less cost than Daytona Prototypes) to race alongside other ALMS classes. Let’s be clear. The proposed GT rules affect Grand Am Porsches only, and the proposed prototype rules will make no Grand Am car eligible for any ALMS racing.

Attacking a competing series for doing nothing more than modifying its rules to allow lower-cost entries looks like an act of desperation to Murphy. The panic might be justified; stories circulating point to a DP grid in the single figures next season, and as A.C. wrote in his last column, not everyone on International Speedway Boulevard is happy with the “sporty car experiment.”

Withering away

There are 11 guppies on the Miller Motorsport Park grid. The Bear’s heard from various sources at least five won’t be around next season (though one of those be resurrected). Among the 12 GT entries, Stevenson will be back with a Corvette (actually Camaro – Murphy’s got a “mental block” on that one) body and engine on his tube frame, Greg Loles will enter a single BMW (also a Pratt & Miller project), and the Bear does not believe that TRG will be back with its two Porsches, whatever Kevin said. 23 entries for a series whose claim to fame was robust grids.

BMW

The Bear heard BMW is not happy over at Rahal-Letterman, and though there would seem to be no rational cause for disaffection, it’s said they’re looking around. Is it possible this story is upside down? Or is it simply part of the on-going politics around competition rules? Perhaps the Bavarian’s are upset they’ve had no invitation to the Ed Sullivan Theater?

Bye, bye, Acura

Will Acura return in 2010? Murphy hears the simple answer is “no.” They’ll lease engines (the teams have already bought their ARX-01 and 02 chassis), but that’s all – support for teams and the series, along with HPD work on further development will mostly disappear. It doesn’t take a lot of reading between the lines of the Fernandez Racing announcement of its demise to come to that conclusion, and when the Bear was told that HPD has been laying off folks, well, that kind of clinched it.

Supersomething-or-other

The Don’s supercar is “on the table” again. Literally. The latest flight of fancy will be floated (flown?) at an invitation-only dinner at an undisclosed (but probably obvious) location Friday night of Petit Le Mans. This is a “fund raiser,” a “what we’ll do with the millions you give us” get-together for the unreasonably well-heeled.  In a nutshell, that will be a butanol (Florida algae)-powered road-going “supercar” that will morph (somehow) into a Le Mans-legal racer. (Maybe it’s a Transformer.) The Bear’s invitation to the Friday affair seems to have been lost in the mail. Well, he’d have to turn it down anyway, since he’s already got a social engagement – or two – on that night.

Stupid rules

Well, the Frogs have done it again. More utterly stupid ACO rules. “Petite changes” to chassis aero rules aren’t trivial if you’re the small team that has to pay for them (again).  IMSA has its own problems, it shouldn’t commit hiri kuri with the French for expensive minutia. Braselton should “grandfather” anything currently eligible. Heck, they’re going to run a single prototype class anyway, so what would be the point of such tweaks, particularly with entirely new rules likely for 2011?

Is this the 2010 ALMS Schedule?

Pulling together the stories Murphy hears, his 2010 ALMS schedule might look like this:
Sebring – March 17-20
Long Beach – April 16-17
Sonoma – May 1-2
Salt Lake City – May 8-9
 Lime Rock – July 16-17
Mid-Ohio – August 6-7
Road America – August 19-22
Mosport – September 4-5
Petit Le Mans – September 22-25
Laguna Seca – October 8-9

As always, that’s nothing more than a consensus of scurrilous rumor, and irresponsible speculation.

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

Petite Field
How petite will the field at Petit Le Mans be? Murphy figures it’s 29 firm, with four more possible. The “solid” LMP entries – announced and likely to show up to race (not the same thing) -  include these eleven:

Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 – 2
Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 – 2
Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a
DeFerran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a
Oreca Racing Oreca-Courage LC70 AIM
Intersport Racing Lola B07/10 AER
Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd
Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek 09SH
Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER

The lone possible addition is Team LNT’s Ginetta-Zytek 09S Zytek

Five LMP2’s are likely to occupy the Road Atlanta paddock:

Dyson Lola B09/80 Mazda – 2
Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b
Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder
Van der Steur Racing Radical R9

Murphy’s unaware of any likely additions to LMP2

There are 13 GT2 entries on the list in Braselton:

Corvette Racing Corvette GT2 C6-R – 2
Primetime Racing Dodge Viper CC
Falken Racing Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
 PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM
LG Motorsports Riley Corvette Z06 GT
Robertson Ford GT40 Mk VII
Flying Lizards Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – 2
Risi Competizione Ferrari 430GT
Farnbacher Loles Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Rahal BMW E92 M3 GT2 – 2

Among possible additions are a Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT for Tracy Krohn, a VICI Racing Porsche 997 RSR (not two), and a lone Rocket Sports Racing Jaguar XKR.  The minimum Road Atlanta grid looks like 29, the maximum 33. The Bear takes 31 in the “over-under.”

A pot of money – what are the odds?
A rumor at Mosport had a former F1 constructor fielding Audi prototypes in the American Le Mans Series next year, but Tim Cindric told a Euro mag that, “we see no business model that would allow us to return to the ALMS in the near future.” A big pot of money would solve that “business model” problem overnight, of course.

Japan
Murphy saw that the ACO doesn’t know the difference between Road Atlanta and Road America in its September 1 Asian Le Mans press release. The Bear predicted the Japan rounds would follow Shanghai into oblivion, but it seems the ACO is determined to go ahead as an undercard to round 11 of the World Touring Car Championship. Twenty-three entries. That’s after subtracting a couple (Signature and KSM) on the original entry. Only one race is mentioned – has something happened to the second Japan round? Is the putative series salvaging ¼ of its planned schedule.

DP Happenings – or not
Murphy’s exposé of rumors of DP departures in Paddock Poop 136 were not only confirmed by sources in the Mosport paddock, but at Montreal. Even motorsport.com had jumped on this bandwagon. A north Florida car dealer will concentrate on selling street cars (arguably a full-time job these days). Some think they (the car dealer) will stuff a Cayenne engine in the back of a Riley, but Murphy hears it will be someone else that does that with the former car dealer’s chassis.

Not-So-Amiable Split
The partnership stresses that the Bear told you about exploded when one team’s DP’s were withdrawn before crossing the international border. Subtract a pair of Grand Am prototypes for the rest of the season – and for next, too. No, forever, that’s certainly the end of the Brendan Griven (TWR) designed package, of which none were sold except to the US partner. So the big-time racing car builder and its oil magnate partner may be headed to court. Clearly both partners’ expectations were way out of line with reality. If this keeps up, the DP ranks will be as depleted as the ALMS prototype grid.

Stayin’ put with Vette Bodies
A Grand Am team that’s staying put will put a new body on its frame and buy another, going from one now dead “Excitement” to a pair of America’s Sports Cars. A Scot was lead driver and will stick around; with another car they’ll add another. Bet on a Dyson pilot, a long-time friend of the team’s manager, to fill that seat.

Television
The American Le Mans Series has opted to say not a word about its television ratings, even though Grand Am is perfectly willing to hype numbers hovering around .1 (that’s point one) as some great proof of popularity. So how bad could the ALMS broadcasts be? A recent network broadcast had overnights of .4 (that’s point four). That’s evidence that the Speed broadcasts are awful indeed. (Bear message to ALMS PR: If they aren’t lousy, publish them. Otherwise, “go gentle into that good night.” Thanks to Dylan Thomas.)

Quickies
A former IMSA team champion will run a more extensive Patrón Challenge program next year, perhaps supporting more than one ALMS Challenge class competitor.

Scott and Dario will help out a pair of teams (you know who) at Petit.

The English gardner will spend some time with the Poughkeepsie team in a non-driving advisory capacity.

If Grand Am does Indy, it will be in support of the Brickyard 400, not as a stand-alone event.

Versus went dark on Direct TV. Tony can’t be happy. (Nor are IRL sponsors.)

Murphy’s working on his Petit Le Mans trip plan. So should you.

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

2010 Schedule and other Relevant Stuff

Murphy wrote about schedule rumors in his last Poop. Did you connect the dots? Yes, the events purportedly on the bubble are linked by promoter Andretti Green and Honda/Acura. It should be clear what’s fueling this talk: AGR promoted Toronto’s return to urban open wheel racing; calling that a disaster is kind. St. Pete’s observed attendance hasn’t yet reached break-even numbers. Andretti and Green split last week, in part over difficulties in the promotion side of the business, which Kim Green and Kevin Savory will retain while Michael goes his own way with the racing. Meanwhile, you don’t need the Bear to tell you that absent the return of real competition in the ALMS, Acura’s return to the top class is generally seen as problematic. (Even if one or two teams do return as privateers, the issue here is Acura/Honda and the funding it brings to events like St. Pete.) Does that mean St. Pete is gone from the ALMS schedule,  and perhaps Mid-Ohio, too? Not necessarily, but it is enough to keep the tongues wagging in the paddock.

Private to Murphy’s friendly correspondent: The Bear’s anticipation of the next season’s schedule is hardly new – or news. In September 2005, Paddock Poop 5 headlined “The Bear Muses on…the 2006 Schedule…” and launched the “discussion” with this: “After the Miller Motorsports Park announcement, the Bear thought he’d better tell what he’s heard about the 2006 schedule, before Scott A. gets the jump on him.” Then he wrote to expect Edmonton (wrong), Houston (right), Long Beach (a season too soon, but there had been talks), and the departure of the Atlanta spring event (right), and Sonoma (right). Not bad, all things considered, but since the Bear doesn’t purport to know what will happen – he just reports what they’re saying around the paddock – he can’t take much credit.

They’re Baaak! (in prototypes the Porkers ain’t)

Audi finally announced it would contest Petit Le Mans. Not doing so after nine consecutive overall wins would have been something other than sporting, wouldn’t it? So, why not Laguna Seca? Murphy’s has no idea. It doesn’t have to make sense, does it? From multiple sources, it seems Audi is working on a new, 2011-rules prototype. Any assumption that Audi just parked the R15 after Le Mans and forgot about it would be off the mark. Still, even if Ingolstadt’s been working, it’s still the French team’s Petit to lose. So the beat goes on for Audi, and the recurring stories of a Porsche return to the top category are fading.

In fact, there’s more and more talk that Porsche will openly pursue a GT-only sports car racing course in the future. After dismal North American sales for the race-car-building operation this year (and last), Weissach is looking for substantial increases in sales of 911 GT3 Cup cars of various kinds to cover declining sales of its high-end (RSR) wares. The need to stoke those sales explains Porsche’s strong support for the ALMS Challenge class’ expansion, and according to some sources, those same “commercial considerations” are also behind the limitation (for now) of the new class to 911’s of any color you might want (delivery in white, but you can paint it to suit your taste). 

Sincerely Dead

A trusted source reports 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.)

Hooray for Petit!

The way much of this season has unfolded, Murphy wasn’t very hopeful that Petit Le Mans would be much of an event. Finally, now it looks as if it will be as good as 2008’s classic. So he’s planning his trip. 2005 was the Bear’s first, though his administrative assistant has been heading to Georgia since 1999. Along the way, Murphy’s developed certain habits, including Thursday night in the woods above Turn 10, and Paddy’s at Chateau Élan after the race until the wee hours (and often before). This year he’s prepared to miss a close friend (to whom he owes a Black Label), but hoping that won’t be the case. The Bear often brings you bad nooz, but he loves the racing and the events.

MC12?

The Bear was surprised the other day at a mention of a future MC12 entry. Was that just a “flight of fancy?” Murphy has no idea how that car might fit into the 2010 rules. (Unless the contemplated IMSA “single GT class” is something more than a re-name of GT2.)

Sportscarpros – it’s like Christmas morning

The Brooks-Morse online adventure sportscarpros.com is (putting it very kindly) infrequently updated. But when it is, there’s no better reading (and photography) anywhere in the sports car world. Today was one of those long awaited updates, with articles by Andrew and Michael Cotton, John Elwin, David Soares, Bill Oursler and others. The Bear killed a good part of his morning reading intelligent stuff, including David Soares‘ drive of the new Panamera and consternation at Porsche’s apparent dissing of its sports car heritage at an event in which it was honored (not for it’s sedan).

In particular, this sentence in an Andrew Cotton piece struck the Bear as an illustration of the depth and experience of the site’s writers and photographers (emphasis Murphy’s): “The 1960s and early 1970s are always regarded as the golden age of sports car racing. Michael, my father, remembers it differently, having to write an obituary almost every week, but the cars, the drivers and the events were all in place.”

The Prototype Challenge

The principal is – according to the Bear’s sources – not simply to import a few prototypes from Europe, but rather to build the cars in North America, to the benefit of Élan Motorsport Technologies and its racing industry friends. Though multiple sources say the motor will not be the Chebby LS3, but rather a Ford built by Élan Motorsport Technologies, it’s not unanimous. Some say a deal is in the works to retain the Chebby.

Those who generally know about such things tell the Bear that Xtrac will supply the gearbox, which is interesting, given that Hewland importer Haas will carry the car’s spares inventory. Wishbones and drive shafts will be subbed to Pankel in Austria. The tubs will be done in Canada under license or bought from Oreca, whichever is cheaper. (Multimatic has built Lola tubs in the past.) Body panels will be made by Comprent (Athens, GA). Molds will be done by PTI, a small Athens machining company.

Multimatic will supply shocks from its Dynamic division, then do final assembly of the cars and ship to final customers.

Acura at Petit

What should we expect from Acura at Road Atlanta? Isn’t this the test of whether (in the words of one americanlemansfans.com poster) they were “doing mushrooms at HPD” (with this design)? Perhaps that descriptor better applies to Nick Wirth’s company. Or both. Whatever, when the ARX-02a was designed, it certainly wasn’t anticipated that Audi’s diesel would be gone. It certainly can’t be believed that Road Atlanta wouldn’t have been a track on which the design was intended to be competitive. Acura has to have benefited long Peugeot – and even longer Audi – lay-offs, and whether we believe HPD put the car’s development “on hold,” there was reportedly enough activity (and interest) to develop “Le Mans” (aka low downforce) bodywork. Yet, it seems widely accepted that Acura will hardly be in the same zip code with the diesels at Petit Le Mans. That may be, but should it?

Gathering Storm

Following the Bear’s reporting of the Grand Am-purchase-of-ALMS rumors, at Lime Rock Scott Atherton pinned on a lapel button that read “We are Not for Sale.” Cute stuff. Series officials were adamant that no talks had taken place, and (not for attribution) some were pretty sure such rumors originated from somewhere south-of-Georgia, and often about the same time of the year (or whenever the American Le Mans Series might have good news). Interestingly, Murphy subsequently heard from another, third party, source that indeed, a member of “the family” was heard to say that “there had been talks.”

Disinformation? It seems likely, but whatever the details, the North American Sports Car Wars would appear to be heating up. Consider that the expansion of the GT Challenge class will now be aimed directly at Porsche Grand Am participants, and the Prototype Challenge seems designed to cut into the Daytona Prototype ranks. Add to that the rumblings about Porsche’s declining interest in the Grand Am model (reported by the Bear in Paddock Poop 136), and you can almost hear the black helicopters circling.  Veteran observer Bill Oursler wonders “Will there be War?” in a detailed (and more professional) look at France versus the Don in a piece titled “The Gathering Storm” just this morning over on sportscarpros.com.

Formula 1 In F1 – and the FIA, the two having become “joined at the hip” – teams are more preoccupied with the election of Max’s successor than you might think. The Bear’s excellent sources are adamant that Ari will prevail with another challenger’s campaign soon collapsing.

It was nice to see Rubens win. He’s driving for the sheer love of it this season, so expect a paying contract for him next year, then retirement in 2011. Retirement to what? Sports cars? Rubens is not Micheal, so a place on the Ferrari sports car roster is a possibility.

In North American open wheel, what Murphy hears from within the IRL is dire indeed; much worse than is generally reported. Are drastic changes in the offing for 2010? Will there be a 2010? Stay tuned.

Have fun at Mosport!

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

Serous stuff from Murphy’s friends at http://www.lastturnclub.com/