2013 12 Hours of Sebring - Page 7

chernaudi · 13 Mar 2013, 21:22 (Ref:3218044)

It still does the usual work one minute, stops working the next--some things never change.

And what the hell are Audi doing? I know that it's not even half way though the session, but they've already pitted twice and their fastest time is a 2:01! Are they sandbagging or are they having some serious issues with the car? They seem to have lost the speed from Monday, or are they even taking things seriously yet? Whatever they're doing, they'd better get it straightened out and put in some decent times, especially after only running 5 laps yesterday afternoon.

And the BMW's are at the bottom of the list too (though T&S hasn't updated for several minutes again).

TF110 · 13 Mar 2013, 22:02 (Ref:3218062)

Sandbagging by doing a time a GTE can set?

Seriously?

chernaudi · 13 Mar 2013, 22:05 (Ref:3218066)

Well, what the hell else were they doing, considering that there were no reports of mechanical problems with the car? Run a couple of slow lap. pit, fiddle with the car several minutes, run a couple of slow laps, pit, fiddle with the car, they did that the whole session and didn't even bother to run a single decent lap. They only ran basically an out lap and an in lap. Either something is seriously wrong, or they were just screwing around IMO

gwyllion · 13 Mar 2013, 22:18 (Ref:3218077)

Audi clearly did setup work of the #2 car. The car did 8 laps and visited the pits 4 times. That implies that most of the laps were in and out lap. So that 2:02 was probably the only timed lap during the session.

I don't understand why you are panicking. These are testing session. The official practice sessions start tomorrow.

Audi also made the choice to do limited running with the #1 car. That does not mean that the 2012 R18 is suddenly experiencing huge technical issues

pdxracefan · 13 Mar 2013, 22:20 (Ref:3218080)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Well, what the hell else were they doing, considering that there were no reports of mechanical problems with the car? Run a couple of slow lap. pit, fiddle with the car several minutes, run a couple of slow laps, pit, fiddle with the car, they did that the whole session and didn't even bother to run a single decent lap. They only ran basically an out lap and an in lap. Either something is seriously wrong, or they were just screwing around IMO

Not being there it's hard to tell. But I do remember from years past that this seems to fit their pattern early in the week. Probably just trying different setups. Plus they've got to get the new guy up to speed on the track's layout and personality.

Unrelated, but does anyone know why the #1 has Oliver Jarvis, and what happened to Lotterer? Did he exit the team in the offseason? I don't recall ever hearing anything.

chernaudi · 13 Mar 2013, 22:43 (Ref:3218092)

Thanks for the heads up, but on Monday, di Grassi said that Audi were doing tons of set up work as well, hence why they only ran like 38 laps in both session, while several others ran almost twice that. But then again, Audi only ran 5 laps with the #2 last night, while the #1 did a long run (long enough to run it out of fuel, but even with it being a longer run, they probably only part filled the car--I'd think that with a full tank that a full stint would be a bit more than 17 laps, I think that 25-27 was a normal stint last year). But the '13 car does have new stuff on it, so I'd think that it would be beneficial to get some laps on the car to test that stuff out, even if everything is just a fairly modest evolution of last year's technology.

Also, Lotterer is out of the Sebring line-up due to prior commitments in Japan--Audi related or Formula Nippon related, I'm not sure, but it's motorsports related. As Sebring's not part of the WEC, Andre can miss Sebring and it not hurt him in the championship picture, and he's expected to be in Sebring by Sunday night/Monday morning for the start of testing.

gwyllion · 13 Mar 2013, 23:16 (Ref:3218105)

Lotterer is testing for the Super Formula series (the Formula Nippon) on March 20th-21st in Fuji.

gwyllion · 13 Mar 2013, 23:20 (Ref:3218106)

I found two pictures by Eric Gilbert to scare chernaudi even more

chernaudi · 13 Mar 2013, 23:48 (Ref:3218115)

You actually may've solved the debate on the '13 R18's exhaust pipe exit--I think that I see a faint outline of the pipe being recessed in the rear bodywork, ie, the tail pipe has been shortened in length as has been speculated on Muslanne's Corner's FB page.

PointDSM · 14 Mar 2013, 00:27 (Ref:3218129)

With the low number of laps, slow speed of the laps, and the constant in/out laps, I could swear Audi was merely scrubbing in tires!!

"Let the SCCA fans rejoice!"

JHamilton · 14 Mar 2013, 01:13 (Ref:3218139)

DW sounded off song in last test session. Smelled bad too.

Mike Hedlund · 14 Mar 2013, 01:26 (Ref:3218147)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Mike, if you could push it out a few minutes that would be great, qualifying for P1 ends at 2:35 and we'll need a few minutes to get across the bridge.

Oh didn't realize that, sounds good. Let's make it around 2:45. I have a drivers meeting at 3:30. :-)

-mike

pdxracefan · 14 Mar 2013, 04:28 (Ref:3218178)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHamilton

DW sounded off song in last test session. Smelled bad too.

You there now? I'm jealous. Can't make it this year...

Sounds like the Mazda/AER lump isn't doing well.

andy_b · 14 Mar 2013, 06:44 (Ref:3218187)

Spotter Guide updated again. Those Pesky Level 5 guys changed their race numbers to #551 and #552

www.spotterguides.com

hopefully, the last update!

Mike, I will try and come down to the JDX pit on Friday, might bring Tyler, your helmet painter along too

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2013, 14:29 (Ref:3218320)

The first practice session started badly for Audi #2:

Quote:

Originally Posted by @almsnotes

#RedFlag. The #2 @Audi__Sport R18 has stopped at T15. #ALMS #Sebring12

source: https://twitter.com/almsnotes/status/312206216040435713

Quote:

Originally Posted by @almsnotes

@AllanMcNish reports car spun on cold tires w/ no grip. Damage to nose and front suspension. #ALMS #Sebring12

source: https://twitter.com/almsnotes/status/312206686574223360

Quote:

Originally Posted by @Audi__Sport

No. 2 McNish back in the tent after spin #ALMS #Sebring #sebring12 #r18

source: https://twitter.com/Audi__Sport/stat...07813361422336

seanyb505 · 14 Mar 2013, 14:41 (Ref:3218323)

I guess transponders aren't on in the cars? Only one car registering times after a "mad pit rush"

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2013, 14:44 (Ref:3218324)

That is the only car that set a timed lap before McNish crashed his Audi.

The session has gone green, but the live timing is stuck.

Creep89 · 14 Mar 2013, 14:52 (Ref:3218327)

Livetiming is alive! At least the #1 is doing well.

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2013, 14:53 (Ref:3218329)

And the Deltawing is finally getting up to speed: 1:55.679.

gwyllion · 14 Mar 2013, 15:04 (Ref:3218333)

Someone is getting a bit too optimistic

Quote:

Originally Posted by @Audi__Sport

New fastest time for No. 1 Trélueyer (1m 45.908s) - more than two seconds ahead of HPD #ALMS #Sebring #sebring12 #r18

source: https://twitter.com/Audi__Sport/stat...14642506219522

Quote:

Originally Posted by @Audi__Sport

The fastest time is just one second above the track record from 2006 #ALMS #Sebring #sebring12 #r18

source: https://twitter.com/Audi__Sport/stat...15379839680512

The Sebring track record is:

qualifying: 1:44.974 (Marco Werner, Audi R10, 2007)
race lap: 1:43.274 (Sebastien Bourdais, Peugeot 908, 2009)

I can imagine that Audi will go under 1:45 during qualifying, but that 1:43 from Peugeot seems out of reach.

TheMightyM · 14 Mar 2013, 15:04 (Ref:3218335)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwyllion

And the Deltawing is finally getting up to speed: 1:55.679.

P2 speed. Still 5 seconds off the other P1s.

GriffM3 · 14 Mar 2013, 15:22 (Ref:3218343)

Looks to me that based on the lap times in GTE class so far it will be a Corvette/Aston Martin/Risi battle for the win.

Salamus · 14 Mar 2013, 17:19 (Ref:3218383)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GriffM3

Looks to me that based on the lap times in GTE class so far it will be a Corvette/Aston Martin/Risi battle for the win.

Never base results off of lap times. This is an endurance race, not a one hour shootout. Almost every GTE entry has a chance to win!

JoeMaters · 14 Mar 2013, 18:34 (Ref:3218417)

First lap of today practice...

CTD · 14 Mar 2013, 19:02 (Ref:3218437)

Any reports of Tub damage?

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