ALMS Laguna Seca Qualifing and Race Pics. ALMS is amazing *No Spoiler promised*

[EJ25RUN]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_01.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_02.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_04.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_03.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_09.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_28.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_37.jpg

LMP1
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_01.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_39.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_36.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_43.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_50.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_84.jpg

LMP2
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_22.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_07.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_42.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_53.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_59.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_78.jpg

GT2
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_23.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_30.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_40.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_36.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_19.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_38.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_05.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_08.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_35.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/almslsqualifying09_52.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_95.jpg

[EJ25RUN]

Gil De Farren was in his final race as a driver and commemorated Jim Hall and his Chaparral because Gil drove for Jim early in his career. That is why he uses #66 on his car.

During the weekend, Gil drove the Chaparral 2 and Jim Hall drove the 2E.

Andy Blackmore pics....from Speedhunters

http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/09_race/dfm_Laguna/dfm5.jpg
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/09_race/dfm_Laguna/dfm4.jpg
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/09_race/dfm_Laguna/dfm3.jpg
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/09_race/dfm_Laguna/dfm1.jpg

Here is a link to the ALMS race
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009-alms-monterey-sports-car-championships/full/#3

and qualifying pics
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009-monterey-sports-car-championships-practice-and-qualifying/full/

[Kamikaze]

Well I have a different wallpaper for the next 30 weeks or so. Reps :goodjob:

[Elbow]

Ahhh I love the ALMS.

I'm going to try to watch the race live, if not, you know where I'm getting it lol.

Anyone know how the 10 car did? Those corrupt bastards lol.

[EJ25RUN]

Ahhh I love the ALMS.

I'm going to try to watch the race live, if not, you know where I'm getting it lol.

Anyone know how the 10 car did? Those corrupt bastards lol.

When you say live, do you mean 24 hours late on speed?

Cause Laguna is a sat event.

[bdydrpdmazda]

really really good pics, reps to OP

[sidewaysS13]

awesome pix! thanks. reps.

[Black4DrEK]

I love it!!

[csmiths]

awesome pics

[EJ25RUN]

Anyone watching on tv right now?

http://www.justin.tv/speedlady

[jcbe34]

Pictures are truly top notch, nice!

Just finished watching the race and the finish in GT2 was brilliant. I don't really know who was more in the wrong at the finish, but I think it was good of the stewards to let the drivers determine to finish and not penalties, I'm sure the corvette team won't be happy about that though.

[EJ25RUN]

Pictures are truly top notch, nice!

Just finished watching the race and the finish in GT2 was brilliant. I don't really know who was more in the wrong at the finish, but I think it was good of the stewards to let the drivers determine to finish and not penalties, I'm sure the corvette team won't be happy about that though.

My favorite part of it all was Jan's reaction. True racer.

"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen. "I didn't think I even had a chance after I had to give the position back. Going into the last corner I was too far away to make a proper attack, but Joerg parked the car. I didn't see that, so I slid up and hit him a little - he went sideways and I managed to get on the inside.

"It was a drag race up the hill, and I managed to get ahead of him. Then he turned me into the wall, and he kept turning in. Then I spun around the nose of his car."

Bergmeister said he had not intended to cause an accident.

"I'm definitely sorry Jan went into the wall," Bergmeister said. "I didn't want that to happen. But it was a banging game. I'm glad he's okay. It was tough racing."

Corvette team boss Doug Fehan said he had enjoyed the intense race, but suggested that the rules should be tightened to prevent such battles ending in crashes in the future.

"Those last six laps were as exciting as I've seen in motor racing in a long time – two great teams, two great cars, two great drivers," Fehan said. "It's unfortunate it ended the way it did.

"I think we're going to review the videotapes and see what we can do to ascertain what went wrong there. I'm sure we'll be working with the sanctioning body to address it and put into place safeguards to make sure incidents like this won't happen again."

[bloodline]

fuckin sickk ass photos..

[Elbow]

Yes 24 hours live, I didn't follow it yesterday to act like it was live today, amazing GT race, I was jumping and yelling, pretty sure the neighbors thought I killed someone.

[jcbe34]

My favorite part of it all was Jan's reaction. True racer.

"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen. "I didn't think I even had a chance after I had to give the position back. Going into the last corner I was too far away to make a proper attack, but Joerg parked the car. I didn't see that, so I slid up and hit him a little - he went sideways and I managed to get on the inside.

"It was a drag race up the hill, and I managed to get ahead of him. Then he turned me into the wall, and he kept turning in. Then I spun around the nose of his car."

Bergmeister said he had not intended to cause an accident.

"I'm definitely sorry Jan went into the wall," Bergmeister said. "I didn't want that to happen. But it was a banging game. I'm glad he's okay. It was tough racing."

Corvette team boss Doug Fehan said he had enjoyed the intense race, but suggested that the rules should be tightened to prevent such battles ending in crashes in the future.

"Those last six laps were as exciting as I've seen in motor racing in a long time – two great teams, two great cars, two great drivers," Fehan said. "It's unfortunate it ended the way it did.

"I think we're going to review the videotapes and see what we can do to ascertain what went wrong there. I'm sure we'll be working with the sanctioning body to address it and put into place safeguards to make sure incidents like this won't happen again."

That's awesome, I like how Magnussen drives for that reason. He dishes it and he takes it. Had that been any of the other current Corvette drivers in the car there probably would have been a lot more bitching and/or drama afterwards. I'll never forget the battle that Magnussen had a few years ago at Daytona in a DP car, with Angelelli I think (?) or maybe it was Tony Stewart, but it was the same type of thing that happened and his reaction was similar. You could tell that Bergmeister was still pumped in the after-race interview. I can't blame him though, I would sure not want to lose the last race of the season by being punted off-line in the last corner. He did a masterful job of winning in what looked to be the slower car.

EDIT: It was Homestead, and the last lap battle with Max Papis that I was thinking of

[jcbe34]

Yes 24 hours live, I didn't follow it yesterday to act like it was live today, amazing GT race, I was jumping and yelling, pretty sure the neighbors thought I killed someone.

Same here, it was tough though after seeing the picture of the 4 car with no hood on here, I really wanted to check it out and see what happened. That was a retarded move by Gavin in turn 1, Brabham is lucky he wasn't collected in that one

[EJ25RUN]

So what logic is Speedtv using to show the Grand Am race instead of the ALMS race on the day it is supposed to happen?

Listen here everyone, Le Mans racing is not over for 2009.

The teams are packing up and heading to Japan. I will be making a detailed thread in the coming week so keep an eye out in comp.

Simon, since Speed is unlikely to show it, you know where we will have to find it as Motortv will definitely be broadcasting it. They had the Bathurst 1000 for the EU as well.

[AFSil80]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_39.jpg

<3<3<3<3 Intersport Lola...

[EJ25RUN]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/alms_mrls_2009_39.jpg

<3<3<3<3 Intersport Lola...

I finally figured the engine is an AER after forever.

[AFSil80]

By far my favorite P1 car, for multiple reasons. Sheer power and speed being the primary.

[nsany(atl)]

ALMS make Grand-Am really look like a joke.

[AFSil80]

ALMS make Grand-Am really look like a joke.

Some of the races, perhaps.

Let's look at when both series raced at Utah. The ALMS race was one of the most boring races I've ever watched, and the Rolex race was the complete opposite. Rolex had an INTENSE GT battle going on in the last half of that race, and the whole race at Circuit de Villeneuve (hell, even the GTO.R was up to 2nd place in class which is unheard of).

Honestly, I think the DP class in Rolex is what makes it boring, but the GT class always comes through.

[EJ25RUN]

Some of the races, perhaps.

Let's look at when both series raced at Utah. The ALMS race was one of the most boring races I've ever watched, and the Rolex race was the complete opposite. Rolex had an INTENSE GT battle going on in the last half of that race, and the whole race at Circuit de Villeneuve (hell, even the GTO.R was up to 2nd place in class which is unheard of).

Honestly, I think the DP class in Rolex is what makes it boring, but the GT class always comes through.

But does their limited field of GT3s compare with a GT2 field of 911 GT3-RSRs, Vettes, M3s, a Ford GT, a Panoz, and an occasional Aston/Spyker?

[AFSil80]

On a grand scale of diversity, perhaps not (You forgot the Competition Coupe, btw ;) ). But the playing field in Rolex GT is pretty damn level (aside from the RX-8) which can make for interesting races. Look at the fall of the GT1 class. The Corvettes were so dominant, it was no longer exciting to watch since there weren't any other cars racing. They step down to GT2 and it revitalizes the intensity that program brought to the class they participated in.

I'm not saying that the GT2 class is a drag, God knows the race at Laguna disproves that. But I think for what Rolex consists of, it's a very entertaining race to watch. I was at Daytona for the Brumos 250, and watching the #87 Farnbacher GT3 run down and then hold off the #70 Speedsource RX-8 (which had been the faster car) for the duration of the race was the event that proved to me that the series is not without action.

My point is that while a diverse crowd of cars is awesome, it's not what makes the race. It's the drivers and their ability to wrangle their individual machine.

[jcbe34]

I personally think Grand Am is just as entertaining as ALMS. The DP cars are not the most impressive, but the racing is great, a lot of talent in the cars and the GT class is very competitive also. Sure the cars as a whole aren't as fast (or nearly as expensive) but the racing is still great. ALMS with no Audi/Peugot/etc is pretty boring aside from the excellent GT2 class, which has only gotten really interesting in the past few years with the addition of the Corvettes and BMW's. We'll see what happens this coming year with the combined LMP class, that should make things a little better.

EDIT: How is DP a joke? This year was maybe not as competitive as some of the last few, but most of the races were still very tight. I especially enjoyed Montreal this season

[EJ25RUN]

On a grand scale of diversity, perhaps not (You forgot the Competition Coupe, btw ;) ).


They don't make it to all the events. Should have put with the Spyker and Aston.



But the playing field in Rolex GT is pretty damn level (aside from the RX-8) which can make for interesting races. Look at the fall of the GT1 class. The Corvettes were so dominant, it was no longer exciting to watch since there weren't any other cars racing. They step down to GT2 and it revitalizes the intensity that program brought to the class they participated in.


GT1 fell in America. Not in Europe. Luc Alphand's squad had good battles in the ELMS against the IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini and the Jet Alliance Aston Martin.

In 2009, the FIA GT championship had 2 new cars join the field. A Nissan GTR and a Ford GT as well as the usual MC12s, Vettes, DBR9s, and S7-Rs.

Next year, the FIA GT championship will become the FIA GT1 championship. I think the problem here is not enough American interest in the GT1 class.

When Prodrive didn't want to come over, i knew it was the end.



I'm not saying that the GT2 class is a drag, God knows the race at Laguna disproves that. But I think for what Rolex consists of, it's a very entertaining race to watch. I was at Daytona for the Brumos 250, and watching the #87 Farnbacher GT3 run down and then hold off the #70 Speedsource RX-8 (which had been the faster car) for the duration of the race was the event that proved to me that the series is not without action.

My point is that while a diverse crowd of cars is awesome, it's not what makes the race. It's the drivers and their ability to wrangle their individual machine.

We will see more of that in the ALMS now that there are 5-6 teams that can win the race.


I personally think Grand Am is just as entertaining as ALMS. The DP cars are not the most impressive, but the racing is great, a lot of talent in the cars and the GT class is very competitive also. Sure the cars as a whole aren't as fast (or nearly as expensive) but the racing is still great. ALMS with no Audi/Peugot/etc is pretty boring aside from the excellent GT2 class, which has only gotten really interesting in the past few years with the addition of the Corvettes and BMW's. We'll see what happens this coming year with the combined LMP class, that should make things a little better.

Audi should be back in 2010 and Aston Martin is building a new LMP1 for 2011 as soon as the diesel vs as regs are straight.

[jcbe34]

Audi should be back in 2010 and Aston Martin is building a new LMP1 for 2011 as soon as the diesel vs as regs are straight.

I'd heard about Audi, but not Aston Martin. I'd love to see them develop a GT2 car, the old GT1's were absolutely beautiful (and fast). I'm not saying by any means that I don't enjoy ALMS as a whole, but I think to attract a larger fan base they are going to need some real competition in LMP, which should be happening. But Acura vs Acura with John Field driving around like an idiot is not something that's going to attract many fans. The intersport car is fast, but it's pretty easy to tell that the development leaves a lot to be desired. That car looked downright dangerous under braking at RA coming into 6 and 10 :no:

[EJ25RUN]

I'd heard about Audi, but not Aston Martin. I'd love to see them develop a GT2 car, the old GT1's were absolutely beautiful (and fast). I'm not saying by any means that I don't enjoy ALMS as a whole, but I think to attract a larger fan base they are going to need some real competition in LMP, which should be happening. But Acura vs Acura with John Field driving around like an idiot is not something that's going to attract many fans. The intersport car is fast, but it's pretty easy to tell that the development leaves a lot to be desired. That car looked downright dangerous under braking at RA coming into 6 and 10 :no:

Aston Martin has had a GT1, GT2, GT3 & GT4 and an LMP1 car for many years.

GT1: DBR9
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3695062448_809742dc8d.jpg

GT2: V8 Vantage GT2
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/CAR%20FEATURES/AMR_Vant/DraysonBarwellAstonGT2_052.jpg

GT3: DBRS9
http://imcdb.org/images/185/525.jpg

GT4: V8 Vantage GT4
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/2009-aston-martin-vantage-gt4-front.jpg?t=1255464898

[AFSil80]

But Acura vs Acura with John Field driving around like an idiot is not something that's going to attract many fans. The intersport car is fast, but it's pretty easy to tell that the development leaves a lot to be desired. That car looked downright dangerous under braking at RA coming into 6 and 10 :no:

While this may be true, it doesn't change the fact that Intersport Racing is the only reason I pay attention to P1 during the season, haha.