What's Up With Grand-Am?

[Maelochs]

I watched the first two Grand-Am events this year, and I checked out the website to see the rules and regs ...

Seems to be a cost-controlled, tech-limited series that allows a good deal of variety but not much improvisation. The quality of the racing seems pretty good (except for the tendency of certain drivers to NASCAR each other) and the slightly lower speeds don't seem apparent on television.

For drivers, Wolf Henzler, Dirk Werner, Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, on a regular basis, and whole host of all-stars for specific races. These are drivers well-respected on both sides of the ocean, who have proved their worth in prototypes and GT cars.

So why does it seem that Grand Am doesn't get much notice?

What is it that people don't like?

Or is it really popular and only I don't know about it?

[diamonddave]

my .02

it's nascar road racing...
meaning, sports car fans think the cars are hideous, tech limited etc.
nascar car fans think it's Euro/foreign road racing.

[MSulka]

Speaking as a site owner, their is only one event that is worth covering - 24 hours at Daytona.

I have a lot more to say on this topic - about how they handle PR - but I'll just say, it isn't worth the hassle.

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by diamonddave

my .02

it's nascar road racing...
meaning, sports car fans think the cars are hideous, tech limited etc.
nascar car fans think it's Euro/foreign road racing.

Bingo. It's seen as the worst of both worlds by many. Too foreign for the NASCAR crowd, too low-tech and ugly for the sportscar fans. (Plus, sportscar fans dont' appreciate things like the 'lucky dog' rule).

I don't hate Grand Am, I like a few things about the series, but it doesn't really excite me in any way.

[RacerX]

I've been a fan of GA since the DP's first came around.

As far as road racing goes, which series is doing it better than GARRA? No matter which track they race on, there is always really good action and they are always passing and they even have several lead changes a race! Now, who else is doing that? Yeah, there is some door banging, NASCARish action at times, but many of these drivers are "gentleman" drivers, not F1 primadonnas.

Low tech cars? Who cares. They don't look real slow on TV and if you go to the track and watch, the variey of engine sounds is great. They have all the variety a race fan could ask for IMO. And every driver that is interviewed say that they love driving these cars, they are just fun to drive. They have all-star line-ups for nearly every race to, and I see the crowds are growing. The stands looked good in the Jersey race today even though it was a monsoon all day.

You want high-tech, go to ALMS. You want racing, watch GARRA...

Just IMHO of course....

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by RacerX

They have all the variety a race fan could ask for IMO.

My goodness. How far the race fan has fallen!!

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by RacerX

You want high-tech, go to ALMS. You want racing, watch GARRA...

Just IMHO of course....

The last two years the racing in ALMS was unquestionably better than Grand Am. The non-spec nature of the cars created amazing passing opportunities. This was actually a typical 2007 race between Audi and Porsche, and in 2008 Acura mixed it up even more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLGMZDKBv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhURN...eature=related

However, before 2007 the ALMS was not typically an exciting race to watch, and sadly it looks like 2009 will not recreate the magic of 2007-8. But I just want to point out that it doesn't take spec racing to have consistently close finishes, and it's much more interesting when two completely different cars can have at it!

[cptkablamo]

Grand Am is an interesting one...I am with Mike - the only race that is worth anything is the Daytona 24...otherwise I get more interest from the Australian GT Championship, Speed GT etc

Diamond dave's reasoning I think sums it up well - they have taken the worst of both worlds and put it together.

They do have great racing - I don't think anyone will deny that. And I personally think they have a great concept in spec but different formula. The drivers and some rich guys really like too - there is no doubting that it can pull an impressive field of entrants.

It can have some great races. Like the ALMS they do have close races and it does kind of annoy me that people forget the finishes that we saw in ALMS in the last 2 years were more exciting than most motorbike races.

I guess it is important to remember that "racing" doesn't mean motorsport is popular. If it was F1, motoGP and Nascar would be dead and we would all watch Formula Ford, 125cc and whatever club event is on, on whatever weekend.

It is all about image - and grand Am has the wrong one. The cars are ugly, it is spec prototype - which goes against each other.

One thing I guess - it is a great national series. And if you want to think of it as such, then, yes it is very successful. Just because it is American doesn't mean that it's success should be measured any differently to other national series - be it Australian, Brazilian or UK sportscar racing.

Context is the key word here - if you want to measure it against a series like the Le Mans Series or GT Open, it is an abject failure. If you want to compare it like Australian GT, ADAC masters - then, it is a success...

[DBK927]

It would be less confusing, just like in the years of the open-wheel split, if they could just have one "premier" road racing series where the best manufacturers and drivers compete on a single playing field involving prototype and production based cars!
Where have I heard that before????

[Maelochs]

Grand Am Musings
From: MurphytheBear

“Whoops, change of plans
“Murphy had reason to believe that Grand Am’s viability was being questioned on Speedway Boulevard last year. He’s got even more reason to think that doubt is now gone. VIR drew a good crowd last weekend, but that’s just “gravy”; there are other reasons for the change of heart. Grand Am now sees an opportunity to take control of endurance road racing in the USA, and they’ve got a plan to do it. Stay tuned.”

ALMS is the best sports car series in the U.S. right now; I think we all agree on that.

But with teams like Penske and Ganassi and major factory engine involvement and Big Name drivers (meaning "well-known in NASCAR" - I get all excited seeing Dirk Werner and Timo Bernhard race, but I am odd) Grand Am might dethrone ALMS - simply because ALMS can't pay it's bills.

I think this would be a huge loss. I like Grand Am but I love ALMS. But without factory involvement, can ALMS survive?

Porsche, Audi, or Toyota needs to jump in to P1with a full-season program, and fast.

[RacerX]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

ALMS is the best sports car series in the U.S. right now; I think we all agree on that.

Well, if it were the best sports car series in the US, they would be able to pay there bills and they would be able to attract the top teams, manufacturers and sponsors.

Grand Am definetly is a tradeoff between technology and simple racing, but that tradeoff is what makes the GA "plan" the better of the two IMO. It makes it affordable for alot of good teams to enter and it draws a healthy mix of manufacturers.

Should ALMS fail, it will probably make GARRA better. GARRA will be forced to make some changes to bring in the remnants, kind of like the IRL has done with CART....

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Porsche, Audi, or Toyota needs to jump in to P1with a full-season program, and fast.

This economy makes that alittle unlikely I think, but you never know. The economy will work in GARRA's favor with there cheaper format....

[MSulka]

Rumor sez Italian engine manufacturer coming.

[cptkablamo]

Yep...the FIAT group have a lot of options to move to LMP racing...

I still expect Toyota to return to sportscar racing, along with Porsche, Audi and Panoz. Audi have a car, Porsche have one in development, rumour has it that Toyota have one in development and Autoweek did say that Panoz is developing one too...

This really needs to happen for 2010 - or ALMS could be stuffed...

But that does not really advantage GARRA, as not many of the particpants would go over to GARRA. They could pick up a few cars, maybe fill the gap that the imminent Pontiac departure will leave - but this doesn't do anything to make GARRA any more than a national class...

[Insighter]

Most of the ALMS teams that found GA attractive have already left. The rest are in ALMS because of LeMans. So I agree, ALMS's death would not really help GA much. It would probably help LMS, and Petit LeMans and Sebring would remain standalone.

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by Insighter

Most of the ALMS teams that found GA attractive have already left. The rest are in ALMS because of LeMans. So I agree, ALMS's death would not really help GA much. It would probably help LMS, and Petit LeMans and Sebring would remain standalone.

ALMS has had it tough this year.... Limited Audi, No LMP Porsche, and Corvette's last hurrah.

Personally, I don't like the green angle the series has taken.

But I do like the technology behind hybrids and KERS.

But ALMS is another series that isn't helping us get them the PR they deserve. Mr. FMSC can correct me, but I think they completely bungled the qualifying email for Sebring since it never arrived, and the Sebring wrap up showed up like 12-24 hours after the race. Seems like St. Pete was much the same, and Long Beach not much better.

[cptkablamo]

Yeah - their PR has been bungled and their press photos are now poor at best. Their turnaround times for the race recaps are poor. Being on the other side of the world doesn't put me at a disadvantage anymore - which is poor...I hope as they get back going and get more entries (for funds) they will get back on it again.

The green angle has potential - not so much from a sporting angle but as a business model, as they have support from the EPS, they could stand to benefit over the next few years.

[diamonddave]

I expect Porsche to be P1 next year