The Average Fan's View
By Brent Jackson
After a barn-burner Grand-Am race at Watkins Glen, and reports by people there loving the cars, their pyrotechnics and the speed involved, the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 could be considered a victory for Grand American and the oft-attacked DP concept. But the ALMS race at Mosport was a riot, which, with the following thunder run at Road America, made the ALMS look much better than it had looked before.
The DPs look like they have quite a lot more meat on the bone. With 7 cars competing, one in the paddock and at least one more due at the Virginia 500, it reminds me of the days when WSC was just getting off the ground. Many have said it didn't get off the ground as fast as the GTP-WSC conversion, but you can't convert a WSC into a DP. Some were quite over-anxious when they predicted ten to fifteen cars in the first season. Now, in August of the 2003 season, there are seven cars active in the DP class. SRPII has died off, due to lack of interest and the fact that nobody really cares anymore. The pole at Watkins Glen was grabbed by a GTS car is hardly surprising to me - the GTS cars have a horsepower advantage, even though the polesitting car was only running a 600-cfm carburettor. Watkins Glen in the NASCAR guise is without a doubt a power circuit - appealing to a bunch of 3400+ pound, 750+bhp cars which don't handle very well.
This time last year I was unashamedly anti-DP. I thought they would flunk out and leave GA as an ALMS feeder series. That idea is dead as stone - the DP fields are growing, and although some guys flog about the fact that the DPs aren't able to blow away LMPs, this shouldn't suprise anyone. They are getting quicker. (I'd love to see of them pull a 1:45 at Daytona - just to shut one particular guy up.) The GT program looks good too - the first Mustang built to 2004 rules ran well at the Glen before it went out. With both sides of GA looking like success is in the cards, it seems to look like the naysayers are wrong. The DP program is up and alive. the new GTs are alive and awakening.
Local arguments have occurred over the 2004 ACO/FIA/ALMS rules. Once again, success may come to them too. At least they don't have to worry all about new cars and rules. As for new cars - once mid-2004 comes around, then we'll see them come out in force, at least in my mind. After all, why let the opposition know what your packing before you shoot?
What, you think both series will survive and thrive? Yes. Both series occupy a niche of sportscar racing. Without a doubt there is room here for two, as long as they don't fight each other. GA is trying to distance itself from FIA/ACO rules, as to give itself room to maneuver to keep the playing field level. ALMS is following the FIA/ACO rulebook. They offer sophistication and higher-class atmosphere while GA offers flat-out, no holds barred racing and cars we can all relate to. If both series bite a tiny chunk out of NASCAR, both will have sound futures.
But one bother remains - that being the big endurance races in North America. Some have said Grand-Am needs to give up the Glen 6 Hours and the Daytona 24 Hours. That would leave Grand-Am rather weak, wouldn't it? I think both series could come together for the big ones. Daytona has room. Watkins Glen does. Sebring does. Road Atlanta does. So what's the hang up? Politics. The same shit that has divided the world of sportscar racing for decades. But for the first time in years, the FIA is making an attempt to correct what was broken so long ago. All I can say is, its about bloody time. Could Grand-Am have room to fit in? You bet. The FIA/ACO could create a GTPII class and let the DPs run there. Make new GT classes for Grand-Am's cars. Make an actual world championship, much like the old WSC in the 80s. Let all cars who want to run compete - and let the other series have their own rules, regulations and schedules. The 80s saw just that. A World Championship existed, but so did national series in the USA, Britain, France, Northern Europe, Japan and even Africa. Why can't that happen again?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see Bill France Jr., Don Panoz, Max Mosley, Stephane Ratel and the ACO make amends and end this politics crap. It's been around too long. Get rid of it now!
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