The Bear’s hearing precious few rumors – and that’s a worry. It’s a worry because this is usually the time of year when stuff is happening. Hearing good news (or not so good) from sponsors, putting together budgets, talking to drivers, suppliers, engine and car builders. But there’s little of that going on, and little has gone on over the summer. To borrow a rather overused term, there’s not much “buzz.”

Engines

Some asked why Murphy wasn’t “on the case” for the engine announcements. Remember the Cosworth sports car engine? Right. Engine announcements are just that; announcements. Judd announces they’ll be in the next sports car engine market. Surprise, right? Right. The real question is who starts “kicking the tires.” (Ok, not the right metaphor, but it will have to do.) And that’s exactly the problem with the crickets thing.

Civility

It seems certain Braselbergers who should know better (because it’s their job) have a problem with civil communication. That’s not escaped the notice of the paddock, where it’s “just one more thing.”

Disappointment

Disappointment with the Schedule? Of course. Whatever the spin, that huge gap in the middle is a disaster for sponsors (and for getting sponsors). All you have to know is “activation.” In simple terms (that’s all the Bear knows) that means a sponsor wants (no, needs) to supplement his “direct” racing exposure with other related marketing. Remember Office Depot’s full sized cut-outs of Tony Stewart? Or this classy little item? A big gap ruins that related marketing program.

Farewell, we hardly knew ya. (No Saleen)

Sadly, there will be no Saleen to see at Petit. Not a big surprise – though we started with the expectation of two Saleens – more a disappointment, a chance lost for North American fans to say farewell to one of their own. Come to think of it, this car was so rarely raced in North America, we’d forgotten it.

What’s the team? (No Abruzzi)

Late last week, “PTG” was dropped from the Abruzzi PLM entry; “Team Panoz PTG – as it was in past years and in the first two PLM entries – became just “Team Panoz.” Was it simply a change of language, or does it portend a (last minute) change in the program? One of Murphy’s forest creatures said he heard “a couple of weeks ago” that Krohn would run the Abruzzi, so perhaps Braselburg’s entry sheet is just catching up with “old news.” Another friend of the Bear’s thinks Krohn’s involvement is unlikely. Still another rumor has a prototype in that Krohn shop, while earlier Krohn was connected to the new McLaren sports car.

The entry name change may be just the tip of a Titanic-like iceberg.  “They are well behind in the car build; it’s the typical Panoz/EMT corner-cutting operation,” the Bear was told. In confirmation of that comes a report that even Braselbergers admitted at a South Carolina event that the rebodied Esperante wouldn’t make it to the grid. It’s now likely there will be a static display at Petit; might that be better than a moving chicane?

Body by Comprent, chassis by Multimatic, assembly by PTG, and raced by Krohn (or no one)? There’s not much Panoz in there. There’s about that much left of the Panoz automotive “empire.”

Murphy hears that David Price will be a guest of the Don at Petit; just renewing old acquantances, or something more?

Where’s the business case? (No Audi)

Marshall Pruett reported today that Audi wouldn’t be back in the American Le Mans Series in 2011. That can’t have come as a surprise to Paddock Poop readers, though, can it? As Murphy wrote on June 25th, “If it (the Audi board) does (say Jawohl), Murphy expects to see the new prototype in the Intercontinental Cup events and nowhere else.”

There were always two steps in Audi prototype programs: (1) approve and fund the car, a corporate decision at the highest level, and (2) fund the operation of racing programs. The first of those was done this summer, and the second has just failed after Dr.Ulrich’s public plea for funding from North America. Mr. Pruett puts it down to a “rift” between Ingolstadt and Audi North America, but Murphy’s sources don’t see it that way. Audi’s “national” divisions have always paid the bulk of the bill for racing the R8, R10, and R15.

After years of funding the American Le Mans prototype racing program – including significant payments for television sponsorships and other “promotional considerations” – the North American sales division concluded that the ALMS “platform,” though helpful, was not pulling its weight in the marketing program. In fact the quality of exposure was slipping. So it was an easy decision to follow Porsche out in 2009. Proof that it wasn’t a cost, but rather a decision on return has been seen in Audi’s expanded advertising in other sports since, including Super Bowl buys, about which Murphy wrote in February 2009.

When Audi didn’t return in 2010, it had nothing to do with rules, and everything to do with hard-nosed marketing decisions. Audi had the R15 pretty much ready to race at Sebring, but passed. The Bear wrote then that Audi had pretty much given up on getting value out of an ALMS campaign commensurate with its cost.

Hoping all that means an R8 will be on the GTC (or GT2) grid? The Bear’s take remains that a Grand Am GT R8 is far more likely than an ALMS entry of any kind.

State of the Series

In the absence of the announcement of next year’s schedule – the main reason we’ve sat through the talking heads in past years the Bear is wondering if there will be a “State of the Series” on Friday at Petit Le Mans. Wonder no more. Acting on a tip from the Braselburg mole, the Bear Brigade captured a clandestine courier en route to France, Murphy has come into possession of a document he believes to be the outline of the much-anticipated speech.

 S.O.S.

• Down is the new Up
• Television: Less is More
• Seven traditional tracks that still want us
• Why Baltimore is a fine place and Oklahoma City isn’t
• Audi who?
• Future entries (If you knew what I know)
• New Class: Legends (EFR)
• Don’s winter vacation plan

The Italiams are on the Case

According to the Wall Street Journal, in Triest, for a game against Padova, and “for the first time in four years, nearly every seat appeared to be taken. On television, the crowd looked impressive. But in person, the scene looked a bit strange. The fans were clad in scarves and winter coats—unusual for a balmy September afternoon. They failed to make a sound when the home team ran out on the field and didn’t budge when the match ended in a scoreless draw.” 

These “fans” were actually two-dimensional images of fans printed on a giant sheet of vinyl and stretched across the empty seats according to the  article. So Braselberg – and Daytona – take heart. The Italians are on the case.

American Open Wheel 

Murphy’s chief elf in Indy reports that the landlord for HVM Racing’s shops showed up last night to change the locks, and security personnel were stationed at the facility.  The gates were locked up this morning to their parking lot and the team apparently “got today off.” All less than a week before they would be loading up to go to the finale at Homestead on oct. 2.

What happens to Simona di Silvestro?  She is second behind Alex Lloyd for Rookie of the Year.  She also was very competitive on the road courses with an underfunded team. Will an ALMS team bring her aboard for 2011? She quickly became a fan favorite in IndyCar and she has more talent and potential than any of the other women in that series.”

 Another source hints that following the finale in Miami, Sarah Fisher will retire as a race driver to become a full-time team owner. Sarah has said in the past that at some point she would retire from driving to start a family. Will there be a “little Sarah” driving sometime in the future?

Politics

The Bear’s been told the Elkhart Lake Town Board voted to approve a 6 hour, into dusk, event at Road America. Now it remains to be seen if the promoter choses to use the permission.

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

A to Z

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

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

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

Was that with Madonna?

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

P1 post Le Mans

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

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

Farewell Frank, hello…?

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

Walker Proposes 

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

ex nihilo creatio

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

No Lion in Summer

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

On the dole in Huntingdon

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

Farewell to Touring

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

Toyoda?

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

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

Corvette Clues

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

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

Nassim Nicholas Taleb or Tyrone Power?

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

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

The four ring’s North American motorsports chief is history as of April 30, unless they keep him on a consulting contract – which they certainly should. The move to Virginia is starting to look as goofy as Nissan’s to, well, wherever they went.

The coupe-with-the-Cosworth story isn’t new, but it does seem to have legs this time. More than one inside wrench confirms. Earliest possible is New England, but later is much more likely. Another oldie but goodie rumor still alive is the big time tire company. Last time Murphy heard anything, it was “late 2008,” but one team reportedly switching will still be involved in championships contests, so the Bear thinks that means Sebring 2009 is the earliest debut – with a big-time team, anyway.

The Bear expects to see a jump in P1 programs in 2009, with further progress in that direction the following year, and he won’t be surprised when IMSA lets the two prototype classes drift apart. P1 will once again be the place where the big dogs play.

Was the Bear speaking of tires? Then he’ll “put this one to bed.” The Ferrari that didn’t start at Sebring is on Dunlops, with which they will likely stay for the remainder of the season. The other tires are not “suspended,” not “up in the air.” Permanently gone. Divorce, not particularly amicable. That company was at Long Beach shopping for another team.

Murphy saw Kumho girls JC and Aspen in civilian clothes. They’re in the newly published yearbook in uniform. Look good either way, don’t they?

There was some talk of another GT1 competitor, but Murphy also heard this one’s been “on again, off again,” for a long time, so he’s not going to get too cranked up, at least for now.

On the other hand, the new manufacturer entrant that’s expected before the end of the year is getting pretty obvious, isn’t it? It looks like a GT1 program to Murphy, who now hears it will come the long way around in route to the ALMS this summer.

In the meantime, Bell aught to be back at Miller, another GT2 Ferrari, and now Gil. ECO said they would, but that seems to have slipped – gone from two cars, to one, to none. They raced once, though, so they’re ahead of Cytosport, 1-0. Will we finally get over thirty entrants for a regular old race?

Champ Car had a nice farewell at Long Beach (Since it was a points-awarding IRL event, was it really a Champ Car race at all?) Danica won at Motegi, and then showed up at Long Beach all the way from Japan. In St. Pete, Graham won. Helio leads the championship. The whole country knows who he is. It doesn’t hurt that he drives one of Roger Penske’s familiar red and white cars.

So North American open wheel racing is “on a roll.” Next, a very popular – mercurial – driver will sign with a top team. It will be a huge – some might say even monster – deal, and a homecoming of sorts for our driver.

Murphy’s got friends who like the “Outback.” Well, so does the bear. Here’s his favorite Outback restaurant, on his way home from La La land.