IMSA Race TUSC Round 5: Detroit

**joeb** · 23 May 2014, 19:12 (Ref:3409522)

Well the race is a mere 8 days away so I thought it was about time to open up a thread. The track is fairly interesting, if for no other reason than it is on a small island! This race is a mere 100 minutes, and only features the Proto and the GTD classes. It will be interesting to see how the racing stacks up. Qualifying is on Friday May 30 at 17:25 local track time, and the race is on Saturday May 31 at 12:10. I haven't heard of anybody trying to do this race and then jet to Le Mans for test day, but that was pretty normal in previous seasons.
The race is on Fox Sports1, but not quite live. It looks like it starts an hour and 20 minutes late.

Schedule

Entry List

Track Map

Weather

Fan Guide

Fantasy Racing

**joeb** · 23 May 2014, 19:21 (Ref:3409528)

Random thoughts on race:
~It will be interesting to see if the Mazda's can keep up their new found pace.
~Can Yacaman keep it clean? Last year in a DP he was a bit all over the place at Belle Isle.
~Will the GTD's be moving chicanes for the P cars?
~Will the judicious use of yellow flags be possible again at this race?
~GTD numbers are down since Sebring (which is to be expected) but more than half the cars (11 of 21) on the entry are Porsche's

Ginaro Zukovsky · 23 May 2014, 19:27 (Ref:3409534)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I haven't heard of anybody trying to do this race and then jet to Le Mans for test day, but that was pretty normal in previous seasons.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/leman...e-with-larbre/
"Taylor will instead get his first laps in the car during the official Le Mans Test Day on June 1, after taking an overnight flight from the Detroit TUDOR Championship race the day before."

Presumably Olivier Pla, Richard Westbrook, and all of the GTD drivers doing Le Mans will be getting a flight over - or maybe not if they don't need to do their 10 laps.

**joeb** · 23 May 2014, 19:28 (Ref:3409535)

Thanks. I figured there would be some drivers making the trip but I hasn't seen the stories.

BudLightJaguar · 23 May 2014, 19:31 (Ref:3409536)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

~Will the GTD's be moving chicanes for the P cars?

I find this the most interesting aspect of the race. Because it can either cause just a little bit extra overtaking compared to the situation when P and GTE are on the track. Or, it can turn the race to a nightmare. A nightmare in Baltimore style.

Speed-King · 23 May 2014, 19:55 (Ref:3409549)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

I find this the most interesting aspect of the race. Because it can either cause just a little bit extra overtaking compared to the situation when P and GTE are on the track. Or, it can turn the race to a nightmare. A nightmare in Baltimore style.

The way I see it, it will basically be a Grand Am race... and the prototype/GT-dynamics in those were usually just fine, so I wouldn't expect any big problems unless some drivers decide to screw up.

Lagunaseca_4life · 23 May 2014, 20:03 (Ref:3409557)

God I hope yakaman doesn't destroy half of the prototypes.

I have a very strong feeling a ford is going to win just a fishy feeling.

BudLightJaguar · 23 May 2014, 20:13 (Ref:3409561)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

The way I see it, it will basically be a Grand Am race... and the prototype/GT-dynamics in those were usually just fine, so I wouldn't expect any big problems unless some drivers decide to screw up.

I see your point here. Though DP's got some improvements for the 2014 season and especially Ford EcoBoost has a serious hp advantage as far as I know.

But no one did mention that this will be a joint event with the IndyCar Series. Since the track is on a small island, how do they fit everything (motorhomes and such) there?

HORNDAWG · 23 May 2014, 21:06 (Ref:3409577)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

But no one did mention that this will be a joint event with the IndyCar Series. Since the track is on a small island, how do they fit everything (motorhomes and such) there?

Like so...

http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fi...ms%20Entry.pdf

http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fi...%20entry-2.pdf

L.P.

**joeb** · 24 May 2014, 01:35 (Ref:3409622)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

I see your point here. Though DP's got some improvements for the 2014 season and especially Ford EcoBoost has a serious hp advantage as far as I know.

But no one did mention that this will be a joint event with the IndyCar Series. Since the track is on a small island, how do they fit everything (motorhomes and such) there?

It is also a World Challenge race!

TRspitfirefan · 26 May 2014, 13:41 (Ref:3410864)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

It is also a World Challenge race!

Twin one hour GT/GTS World Challenge sprints and a single 1:45 P/GTD Tusc race.
I find that I'm looking forward to the PWC races more than the IMSA round!

http://www.world-challenge.com/image...chedule-v3.pdf

andy_b · 26 May 2014, 14:34 (Ref:3410890)

Spotter Guide up. Usual place www.spotterguides.com and later, V2 (released today) will be up at imsa.com

Beetle · 26 May 2014, 18:38 (Ref:3410985)

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_b

Spotter Guide up. Usual place www.spotterguides.com and later, V2 (released today) will be up at imsa.com

Great job, Andy! You've probably answered this question umpteen times, so forgive me, but what program do you use to design your liveries? Would love to try it out some day.

WMUCarGuy · 27 May 2014, 13:06 (Ref:3411297)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

I see your point here. Though DP's got some improvements for the 2014 season and especially Ford EcoBoost has a serious hp advantage as far as I know.

But no one did mention that this will be a joint event with the IndyCar Series. Since the track is on a small island, how do they fit everything (motorhomes and such) there?

There is a HUGE pad of concrete in the middle of the track that makes up the Indycar and TUDOR paddock and the World Challenge cars are to the east end of the track. Not sure where the Stadium Super Trucks will be, though.

ttdriver2009 · 27 May 2014, 18:16 (Ref:3411426)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

Twin one hour GT/GTS World Challenge sprints and a single 1:45 P/GTD Tusc race.
I find that I'm looking forward to the PWC races more than the IMSA round!

http://www.world-challenge.com/image...chedule-v3.pdf

It's nice to see that PWC now runs twin one hour races with real GT3 cars (19 of them).

Simmi · 27 May 2014, 20:56 (Ref:3411499)

Cool to see Ben Barker bolstering his sportscar CV with GB Autosport.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/te...-list-changes/

Been trying to work out the list of guys going overnight to test day. Not sure if any of these guys have opted out but they are all on the entry list:

Ricky Taylor
Jordan Taylor
Olivier Pla
Richard Westbrook
Seth Neiman
Spencer Pumpelly

Cooper MacNeil/Jeroen Bleekemolen not scheduled to test. Dempsey/Foster will skip Detroit to be there.

Ginaro Zukovsky · 27 May 2014, 21:59 (Ref:3411520)

Ben Barker and Damien Faulkner, nice Pro/Am line-up...

Purist · 28 May 2014, 01:39 (Ref:3411563)

We'll have to see, since the DPs and P2s will be faster than the DPs have been.

They need to fix that official track map, as the left-hand bend at the end of the back stretch is still very much there.

Straight up car density shouldn't be a problem though, with 33 or so cars on a 2.385-mile, 16-turn course.

I understand why they have that curb in there to tighten up what they call Turn 8, but the curb on the inside of Turn 3 is a bit much, and really unnecessary. The straight from Turn 2 is plenty long enough that the more open Turn 3 (like CART had in 1998-2001) will still offer plenty of overtaking potential, while also being less of a bottleneck.

HORNDAWG · 28 May 2014, 05:38 (Ref:3411617)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

Cool to see Ben Barker bolstering his sportscar CV with GB Autosport.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/te...-list-changes/

Been trying to work out the list of guys going overnight to test day. Not sure if any of these guys have opted out but they are all on the entry list:

Ricky Taylor
Jordan Taylor
Olivier Pla
Richard Westbrook
Seth Neiman
Spencer Pumpelly

Cooper MacNeil/Jeroen Bleekemolen not scheduled to test.

Even though all of these listed drivers are exempt from having to test, I am not sure they would choose to opt out of the test and just attend the practice sessions. Or if they would be allowed to do so by their teams.

L.P.

Mechanic Z · 29 May 2014, 02:01 (Ref:3412152)

I've got to say, even after a P2 winning at Laguna Seca, I'm not really looking forward to watching this.

If IMSA wants fans, they really need to earn our support.

ttdriver2009 · 29 May 2014, 13:36 (Ref:3412351)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

I've got to say, even after a P2 winning at Laguna Seca, I'm not really looking forward to watching this.

If IMSA wants fans, they really need to earn our support.

How do they need to earn the support?

BudLightJaguar · 29 May 2014, 13:44 (Ref:3412355)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

I've got to say, even after a P2 winning at Laguna Seca, I'm not really looking forward to watching this.

Especially when Detroit is the home ground of GM and Ford. No hesitation in waving yellow flag if some HPD or Nissan-engined convertible is going too fast.

WolfsburgRS · 29 May 2014, 15:46 (Ref:3412374)

How about we all put away the pitch-forks until after the race?

ttdriver2009 · 29 May 2014, 15:50 (Ref:3412376)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

Especially when Detroit is the home ground of GM and Ford. No hesitation in waving yellow flag if some HPD or Nissan-engined convertible is going too fast.

Does this happen (throwing a yellow of a Nissan or Honda is leading)?

Coach Ep · 29 May 2014, 21:27 (Ref:3412520)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttdriver2009

Does this happen (throwing a yellow of a Nissan or Honda is leading)?

We'll find out soon enough. If you cannot wait for the race to unfold I'd suggest you contact either Paul Walter, Scott Elkins or Scott Atherton. At least one of them should know what the orders from Daytona are...

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