BADBOYVETTES.COM - P3 And P4 In RoadAm Race

Are the cars running to ACO spec? I can’t seem to find what IMSA has added/decreased in weight or restrictors? The cars look artificially heavy and seemed to plow through corners and braking late was an exercise in futility. It looks like they took a lot of down force off the car to gain some top end; great for qualifying, not so great for racing in traffic. A respectable finish, but not good enough for Corvette Racing. I wonder also if they will continue with the 5.5 liter, they lost their torque advantage when they abandon the LS7 based engine because of a rule change that never went into effect. I think they need a race car based on the Z06 Carbon not the ZR1.

--- JackFlash from Pensacola, FL on 08.23.10 at 10:32am

The Corvette GT's cars have the same weight and air restrictors as they did at the begain of the year, that's the reason the car performance like it does. IMSA will not adjust the weight and air-restrictors for the the corvette's to be more compative, because there afraid of them winning all the time.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 08.23.10 at 1:00am

Corvette Racing doesn't make excuses but it's sure as hell frustrating that the ACO and IMSA have been considerable jerks towards Corvette Racing for fielding a truly world-beating sportscar. It scares the living shit outta them.

Stay focused on the prize, CR. Take no prisoners, bitches.

--- SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 08.23.10 at 2:38pm

I sure had a blast up at Road America yesterday. The only thing I can complain about is I wish the race was still 4 hours long or longer... Longer tracks like this should have longer races. These are endurance cars, why so many 2 hour and 45 min races on these wonderful tracks?!?!

--- ride250s from Iowa on 08.23.10 at 5:48pm

It's really sad to see what has happened to this once mighty team, whatever the reasons.

--- C64ME from Southern California on 08.23.10 at 6:54pm

This is really just a speed bump the cars are carring to much weight because the series is affaird of what these car can do when equal to everyone eles. We have already run off the competion in GT1 now they don't want it to happen in GT2 so they added more weight to the vettes. TIME TO DIG IN AND KICK SOME ASS!!!

--- fireball111 from unknown on 08.23.10 at 7:28pm

Yes, and why the he_l are the Corvettes still at 1260? The heaviest car in class! Its clear that the other cars are at an advantage and the envelope is having to be pushed past the point of reason and poo poo is occuring. Nobody got a set to tell Braselton to pull their heads out??

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.23.10 at 7:55pm

I can tell you why horndawg. Because IMSA and the ACO doen't want Corvette Raceing to win ever single race, and or no race at all. And even if Corvette Raceing ran a perfect 2010 racing season, they still would be middle to end of the pack performance.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 08.23.10 at 11:34pm

Meh, it was still a very good race!

--- Shifter from Tucson, AZ on 08.23.10 at 12:38pm

Not a bad race, strong finish by both. DON'T FORGET to vote for most popular driver in ALMS- O'Connell and Beretta are doing well currently!

--- Corn-vette from NY on 08.24.10 at 10:57am

Someone posted a few races back that all GT cars run at 1245kg except C6r @ 1260kg. Also, other cars, bmw,fer,porche are 4.0 ltr engines vs 5.5 of C6r so air restrictors are smaller to even things out. Don't think 15kg is the big diff but restrictors are.

--- Levi from Tampa,Fla on 08.24.10 at 10:59am

The Vettes are not running under any adjustment to the restrictors, at least not a published one! They should be at ACO/IMSA/ALMS spec which is on page 23 and 24 of the GT-2 regs., they get an adjustment (pg. 23) for being 2 valve cam in block engines.
http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources/Pdf/24heures_auto_2010/reglements_sportifs/2010_05_25_reglement_lmgt2_2010.pdf

The 15kg>33lbs makes a difference!! Ask the team.

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.24.10 at 2:15pm

The weight is based on the engine size. And IMSA can add more weight or take weight away based on the cars performance. If it looks like or is winning all of the time it will add weight and if it is running at the back of the pack it will let the team lighten the car. They can also impose smaller air restrictors to slow you down. I believe Corvette Racing has one of if not the largest engine displacements in the GT class that is why the extra weight. Also as mentioned IMSA does not want Corvette to become a dominate car in this class as they did in the GT1 class. Don't forget at one time GT1 had Aston Martin, Viper, Saleen and Ferrari. But after a year or so Corvette was almost unbeatable and the teams dropped out. They could not justify the money it cost to run in the GT1 class and always be chasing the Corvette, plus it did not look good for cars that sell for three to four times that of a Corvette to lose to CR all the time. IMSA does not want that to happen again, although with the more restrictive rules in the GT class I thing you will always see the four major brands (Ferrari, Porsche, BMW & Corvette) at this time be very competitive.

--- TR6speed from Florida on 08.24.10 at 2:23pm

@TR6speed: Wrong! The restrictors are determined by weight and engine size! Weight is determined on tire size. Almost all of the GT class is now on the 'big' tire and running @ 1245 w corresponding restrictors to engine size and valve configuration. The Vettes are getting csre_ed with the extra weight, period. It is above the ACO spec for class, which all the others are running at. The BMW was also running at 1260 but that has been lifted at it now runs at 1245 Comp. (Bulletin #10-17). GT-1 was GT-1! This is GT-2 and it is clear that the Veetes are being held back, which is utter BS!!! They are being adjusted into non-winning cars, and that is wrong, IMO, period.

http://www.imsaracing.net/2010/ALMS/bulletins/IMSA%20COMPETITION%20BULLETIN%20ALMS%2010-17.pdf

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.24.10 at 2:45pm

The extra weight was very apparent in the braking zones at road america. You just had to watch the race to see the 2 passes in turn one where we went wide cause we can't late brake like the BMWs and the ferrari's

--- fireball111 from unknown on 08.24.10 at 4:05pm

IMO the Corvettes have not been overwhelming for three reasons. 1. The Risi Ferraris, Lizard Porsche and Rahal Letterman BMWs are very talented teams with great drivers and fast race cars. 2. The Corvette racing team has been shooting itself in the foot with unnecessary penalties (like running over hoses in the pits), running into each other, making painfully long pit stops, and making some questionable race strategy decisions. 3. The 5.5 liter Corvette GT engines are being built in-house by the GM Powertrain Group rather than by a proven race car engine builder. Is this a case of being “Penny wise and pound foolish?” There are some very talented people running the Corvette Racing Team, and you can bet your butt they will not let the current level of performance continue.

--- Rick Baker from Harbor Springs on 08.24.10 at 4:23pm

Come on!, rick baker, if corvette raceing didn't make any mistakes they would be mid to end of the pack performance. As for Gm's Powertrain Group in house 5.5-liter V8 engine, that engine is not underpower nor are they being penny wise or pound foolish.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 08.24.10 at 4:47pm

P.S. If you think that GM/Katech V8 engine will make them have better performance. No!, if they went too a larger displacement, they would have more weight added and even smaller restricrtors.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 08.24.10 at 4:54pm

Did the team just make the wrong calls? Did they use the soft tires to get good position just to loose it as the race progressed? Did they take all the downforce out and put in their Lemans set up and get out driven in the corners,etc?This was all posted by the drivers before and during the race.I think they know why they arent winning but naturally arent commenting.Why dont some of the weekend track racing guys comment?

--- Levi from Tampa,Fla on 08.24.10 at 5:25pm

I'm going crazy waiting for Petite. I really hope everything falls in line for Road Atlanta. Also IMSA should look into the BMW set ups cause you put that kinda of distance on other cars without a clearly better power to weight ratio. Heard a few months back that they were aloud bigger restrictors because the front of their car was wider than the others in GT. WTF??? If they did that for corvette, the whole sport would collapse.

--- Yellow99TJ from unknown on 08.24.10 at 5:44pm

Sometimes I think ALMS needs Corvette more than Corvette needs ALMS. Maybe GM can show some guts and press this point for more equality. I wonder how attendance would be affected if CR dropped out.

--- Bill from VA on 08.24.10 at 8:44pm

Its tough, we know to maintain equality with the myriad of different cars racing in the GT category, but rednecks at dragstrips everywhere have the idea..."run what ya brung!" If weight, power, braking and aero were based mores strictly on production cars, then what would the competition do? I would love to run all competition off, but at the same time it would be more fun to spank the European makes on a regular basis. The series being ACO regulated I don't see that happening. Corvette will just have to keep improving the brand and thus giving us better streetcars...I'm good with that at the end of the day.

--- screx0472 from unknown on 08.24.10 at 9:37pm

All I am reading is a lot of complaining about the competition... Competition is GOOD, Close competition is BETTER. No matter what regulations they throw at Corvette Racing, they will find a way to become front runners. It just takes time! Enjoy the great racing and bring on the BEST!

--- ride250s from Iowa on 08.24.10 at 9:58pm

Competition is GOOD, when it is true competition! Its even BETTER, when everyone is runnng to the same rules. And it is BEST, when the sanctioning body does not stifle one team before they have even turned a wheel!

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.24.10 at 11:31pm

I thought the Corvette weight penalty was due to a non-spec production block. Someone who knows, please correct if I am wrong.

--- John from Chicago on 08.25.10 at 1:32am

What do you want a Spec GT Series? I believe, as I think IMSA/ACO Believe, that Corvette Racing is such a well adapting team they will become dominant agian at some point. CR has the funding to look beyond the typical items that increase speed and HP. For instance, zero viscosity oils, ceramic wheel bearings, and more efficent A/C compressors. They will continue advanced research and developement. IMSA and the ACO do not hate or pick on CR. CR brings in a substaintial part of their race attendance. I don't think they would jeopardize that amount of income. CR will be back on top eventually, everyone knows this. Additionally, think of all the new things the team is learning from their defeats, things that will make them faster in the future.

Focus on Sunday's race and do your damndest to pound them into the ground- Take No Prisoners!

--- ride250s from Iowa on 08.25.10 at 7:59pm

Ahhh, is somebody upsetting your sensibilities? I have every confidence that CR will eventually work through the BS and come out on top!!!
That however does not change the fact that it is BS!! The other new GT entrant that was castrated at the start of the season, which has the funding and provevance to match CR, have already been allowed a total new aero package and had the extra ballast removed, in a chassis that has a totally manipulated layout! If you want to sing kumbaya until the cows come home, you go right ahead, me, not so much!!!

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.25.10 at 8:45pm

I guess I'm just not as upset about it as everyone else. The fact that they can still finish in the top 3 keeps me happy.

--- ride250s from Iowa on 08.26.10 at 6:56pm

Well I sure as heck do not race to finish third! I do not know of anyone who does. Do you think that CR races for third? I don't. This aint tiddlywinks!

L.P. 8)

--- HORNDAWG from State of Jefferson on 08.26.10 at 8:39pm

LoL, thats not entirely what I meant. The level of competition they are up against, and the restrictions they have, they can still hold their own pretty well. Sure I would like to see the CR restrictions loosened, but they are not. Drive on to dominate another day.

--- ride250s from Iowa on 08.26.10 at 9:21pm

So how long are you willing to wait for Corvette to have a legitimate shot at winning? I am not talking about a victory because the other teams failed somehow and Corvette is the lucky recipient; I am talking about an honest victory with fair rules in place. The GT2 car is relatively new, but we are now a year without a victory from a very good team; and it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out something is amiss. Yes the team has had its share of mistakes, but I would argue most are born out of trying to make up for the unfair BOP that has been placed on them. There seems to be a trend to the injustice too, In FIA GT3 the Z06 R was doing rather well to the Euro-makes dismay, can’t have that can we, so they added 242 pounds of ballast to the car and restricted the engine yet again. This is in a class where a Ferrari F430 runs ballast free. In FIA GT1 the Corvettes are back up to 1240KG for the Nurburgring, I guess they were running too close to the front of the pack at 1220KG. At the same time the Aston is now allowed to run at 1190KG, 10KG below their BOP 1200KG minimum. You want more; In GT4 which is probably the closest to street version racing the Corvette and Mustang are the only cars running with a restricted ECU spec, and the Corvette C6 has 25KG ballast as well. The BMW M3 runs at 100% ECU spec and gets to drop 50KG. So when I hear a sanctioning body say build a better car I get more than a little pizzed when they already have the better car, it’s just been artificially slowed down so the (sarcasm)superior designs(/sarcasm)can keep up. If GT racing is always going to be dumbed down to the lowest common denominator maybe GM should start racing Malibus instead of Corvettes, with the liberal allowances for family sedans I think they could do quite well.

--- JackFlash from Pensacola, FL on 08.27.10 at 10:40am

Maybe they could put a street ZR1 on track. It makes more HP and has better brakes. At least this isn't as bad as SPEED GT world challenge where Volvos are whipping Vipers, Vettes and Porsches. Lets just pretend its a very colorful parade.

--- Bill from VA on 08.27.10 at 2:01pm