(Editor's note: Brent wrote this over a month ago, but since I've been on the sidelines, I never posted it. I feel bad, because it's good! It's a little dated now, but still an interesting read. - TB)

The 2004 season got underway with the wild, wet and fast-paced 24 Hours at Daytona. People expecting a slow race were mistaken, as Chip Ganassi's Riley and Scott-Lexus DP was running right with the WSC qualifying times, and there was no shortage of action. the race turned out to be one that lots of people enjoyed - and one that showed the GARRA has gotten well and truly back on their feet.

To Homestead. It's a week away, but the 45-car field - which is nearly three times last year's turnout - is encouraging. Especially since several cars couldn't show up for various reasons. Which leads to another realization.

For years, people have said GARRA and IMSA were competing for the same market. It seems to me that assumption is false, and the strong Sebring entry proves it. Many teams that don't like the ALMS races come to GARRA (and there are a few of them) and there is the opposite way as well. Many of IMSA's second-rate teams find GARRA appealing, but second rate in IMSA, especially in the prototype categories, has come to mean non factory supported. This doesn't apply to all teams, and even second-rate teams are still top-class professionals. People complain the DPs are too slow. (Most of those people were silenced by Ganassi at Daytona.) Some people have said that GA is glorified club racing. That's false too, and truly professional teams such as Ganassi and Brumos compete.

But one article has struck my nerve rather hard. It was on Autoextremist.com, written by Methanol Boy. He said GA's existence is based on the France family's want to control North American racing. The article claimed that GARRA's mission was to kill the ALMS, much like Tony George's attempts to kill CART. Posters on a few forums have said that they think the article is right. Maybe it is, but the part about the France family controlling all racing is a load of bull. The France family wants to see NASCAR succeed for obvious reasons, but it already has had massive success - you don't get to be the largest sport in America without lots of work and time. But GARRA is completely separate from NASCAR. Do they have a good relationship with ISC (International Speedway Corporation)? Yes, and it is to their benefit. Is their really a war between IMSA and GARRA? Not in my mind - GARRA attracts the privateers, IMSA the big factories and top-dollar professional teams. Both have their loyal teams, their successful races, and their devoted fans. Sure, a few fans do argue with each other. And yes, I am guilty of being one of the combatants at times. But like many fans, I have seen what each series is good at and focused on that. IMSA has fast cars, top-level drivers, and a Le Mans-style atmosphere and aura to it. GARRA has close competition, a spirit of I-don't-care-who's-in-front-of-me-I'm-going-to-pass-him-anyway driving, and a sanctioning body that keeps a close eye on costs, keeping even the smaller privateers in the fight for wins and championships. Both series can not only survive, but prosper. I don't bother with "my series is better than your series" crap. I don't even do that with regards to CART and the IRL.

On the great news front, Chase has leased their car to Leavy Racing Enterprises, and they'll be debuting the car at long last at Homestead. It's a great day for Robert Chase and his project, who's history would make a great movie plot. Chase is the seventh maker to enter a Daytona Prototype chassis - and all seven are present at Homestead, among the 18-car DP field. The GT field looks good too, but I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Honda of America Racing Team (HART)'s Acura NSX. Among the current GT and SGS cars, BMW, Porsche, Maserati, Corvette and Ferrari are ready to battle, with Acura and Ford on the way, and the possibility of more. That's variety for ya, isn't it?

ALMS has the Sebring 12 Hours in a month. It's field doesn't too bad either - the return of may favorite GT1 car, the Panoz GTR-1 (The Batmobile, as its commonly referred to) is icing on the cake. The appearance of British Marques TVR and Morgan, as well as Panoz and Ferrari - will make Porsche work hard in the GT class. In GTS, the departure of CARE racing will make life slightly easier for the factory Corvette team, but team Barron Connor - with Danny Sullivan leading the team - won't allow the Vettes to sit still. Neither will ACEMCO and their Saleen S7-R. The possible arrival of Dick Barbour and two Lamborghini Murcielagos will make the season really interesting - and it's just a matter of when they'll arrive. P2 is rather like a one-make series, but that was expected. But the different Lola crews will want the blood of each other, so it should be entertaining. P1 doesn't any explanation - the results aren't going to be pretty, that's for sure. Audi wants to win their fifth Sebring 12 Hours in succession, but Dyson Racing (Lola B160-AER), Rollcentre (Dallara LMP-Judd) and the Riley and Scott pilots won't be letting them win it too easy. a Lotus Elise GT1 and the aforementioned Panoz will fight for the fastest closed roof car.

Both races look entertaining. So forget the fights. And in the words of Brock Yates, "The bulls*** stops when the green flag drops." So let the green flag drop, and let's see what happens.

Live fast, and enjoy the ride!

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