Sideways Perspectives

By Brent Jackson

Coming of Age

2004 has been quite a ride, hasn't it? Grand American started the series optimistically, but even a wildly imaginative bonehead (like me : ) )could have imagined that the 30-DP field looks so possible it's almost scary.

And the title fight has become a brawl between the teams of Scott "Scooter" Pruett and "Mad Max" Papis, and the wild Italian Max Angelelli and the veteran Springbok Wayne Taylor. Both teams are in firm contention for the title going into the finale at California Speedway in Fontana, California, outside of Los Angeles. Also in contention is the team of Andy Wallace and Milka Duno for Howard-Boss Motorsports, after two wins at Homestead Miami Speedway, the second due to a harrowing pass by Wallace on Taylor that involved him cutting past two SGS Porsches as well as Taylor. The series is far from over, and who steps onto the top step of the podium at California and gets handed the trophy as champion will be decided after 400 miles at Fontana.

Who'd have thought, huh? Most sportscar championships aren't decided by last race duels. This one will be. The possibilities were explained by Ray Brandt, who is better known as razor, at the garra-fans website. But one thing is for sure - nobody knows who will win, and the competition is fierce.

The GT class has been dominated by Prototype Technology Group and their BMW M3s, but both Bill Auberlen and Boris Said would like to be called the Grand American Champion, so while PTG has pretty much wrapped up the title, which driver is champ is far from decided.

Boris has said he wants to win, and doesn't care as much about championships. He better have his "A" game ready, because he isn't driving in the same car as Auberlen at Fontana, and trust me both guys can be so fast it's scary when they want to win something. I've had the pleasure of seeing both of them drive the wheels of cars when they want to win. The battle between the two of them will be a show to watch in the finale.

2004 has been a wild season. But it's going to get better in 2005 - new DPs, the new GT class and the wild range of cars and drivers in it, and the fact that Grand American is growing in car counts and top class drivers when nearly every other sport is having a hard time filling the field - even NASCAR.

Does this mean Grand American is the next NASCAR or CART?

Honestly, I doubt it, and I don't want it to be.

And now I hear you asking "What?!? This guy doesn't want Grand American to be America's biggest form of motorsport?"

No I don't. Grand American is one of the friendliest, most open spirited race series anywhere. Professional, but incredibly open at the same time. There is no people who don't care about the fans anywhere. Some drivers have phoned young fans that are in hospital for various reasons. Drivers and team owners talk with ordinary fans very often. The friendliness is something you can't anywhere else. NASCAR, Champ Car and the IRL are relentlessly professional. The ALMS tries hard to be as friendly as possible, some teams ruin it for them.

A wide-open race series, full of action and professionalism yet with people who are enthusiasts first and know what it feels like to be a man on the outside and want to be appreciative of the sport's fans. There is no downside to it, is there?

It might be great for Grand American to have 100,000 people at each race and huge TV numbers, but more money means more pressure. This leads to teams and drivers ignoring the people who support the sport in favour of the bigwigs in suits at the track. You see it in Champ Car. You see it in the IRL. You see it in NASCAR. At the USGP, the paddock walkabout is the only time most fans who pay a lot of money for their tickets ever get to see the teams and even talk to them.

That's not the sort of race atmosphere I like.

It was not long ago I didn't even figure Grand Am would succeed. This was when the ALMS was thriving and the money was there to buy million dollar LMPs and run with Audi. Grand Am ignored those ideas and took control of their own destiny. Now, on Saturday, October 16, 2004, Grand American has become a great series. One of the best sportscar series in the world that happens to run right here in North America.

Anyone else care to guess who wins the title next year?

If you want to do that, just register at the garra-fans message board and enter the Grand American Fantasy League. The rules are there, and it's free to anyone who wants to participate. And there are prizes to the winners.

To all the fans out there, have fun, enjoy the race series that is the Grand American Rolex Sportscar Series, and I'll see you at the track!

Brent Jackson