And that doesn’t even include the Fisticuffs that
several of the “lesser” racing categories displayed over the weekend…
It’s funny that even worse than remembering the
last time I listened to a Formula 1 race. I simply cannot remember what the
last IMSA Sports Car race was? Since the last Sports Car race I know I tuned
into was this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans, but I digress…
Decided to actually “watch”, err listen to the
NBC TV Broadcast of this year’s Battle on The Bricks two hours forty minutes
Sprint race. For which much fanfare was made about it’s return nine years
later. For which I briefly recapped the first three versions in my previous No
Fenders story below.
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/08/sports-cars-returning-to-ims-for-battle.html
And although I listened to Thy Telie’ for the
first 45mins of Big NBC’s broadcast, I got Uber’ annoyed with the constant
wonkiness of the volume which was continuously changing, plus the need to go to
commercials every Freakin’ nine minutes, Urgh!
So I went and attempted logging onto IMSA Radio
during a commercial break and viola! This time I managed to figure out how to
get the audio to play and Thar was John Hindhaugh and Jeremy Shaw talking to me
without any further interruptions for the remaining two hours duration.
This year’s event featured at least two “Firsts”
that I’m aware of. With Infield Camping being allowed at Mother Speedway,
albeit I suppose technically the Glamping set-ups for the Indianapolis 500
preceded this. But it was the first time that RV camping was allowed.
As the Speedway actually set up designated
sites for 160 RV’s I believe? In orderly rows with roads leading to them along
with power, for the sites retailing at $1,500.00 for the event.
And I feel 98% certain; Uhm, who’s car number
is that? That it was indeed the first time ever that temporary lighting was
used at Mother Speedway. Which enabled the running of the four hour Michelin
Pilot Challenge race Saturday night. Which I’m guessing was a test run for next
year’s IMSA Battle on The Bricks event…
Enjoyed following along with Mike Silver’s the
Pit Window Blog’s weekend updates. And especially liked reading about how He
couldn’t figure out why the Grid was so sparsely populated Saturday evening
before the Michelin Pilot challenge race.
Before discovering that the crowd was hovering
around thee Young wicky’, Robby’ Wickens appropriately numbered Bryan Herta
Autosport’s #33 Hyundai Elantra TCR racecar. With IndyCar drivers Alexander
rossi, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Jack Harvey and Conor Daly present!
But where was Wickens good friend thee Mayor? (James Hinchcliffe)
For those who don’t
know. Wickens was involved in a violently Horrific IndyCar Shunt five years ago
at Pocono Raceway which left Him a Paraplegic, and now races with Hand Controls…
Naturally Sunday’s marquee Battle on The Bricks
race saw mayhem occurring at Turn-1 on the first lap of the race, when le
Hamburgular’, nee Sealmeister B’, aka Sebastien Bourdais’s Cadd-Oh-lacc’
V-Series prototype got tagged! As pretty sure that the Pole sitter Matt
Campbell’s Penske Porsche 963 had inadvertently spun on it’s cold Michelin
rubber. Uhm, actually Campbell like many during the race, locked-up, when presumably
trying to be the last of the late Brakers…
Funny how fourt fifthhs of the IndyCar teams
competing also in Sports Cars were essentially non factors, i.e.; Andretti,
Ganassi, Meyer Shank and Rahal Letterman Lanigan, who all suffered from
different ailments…
Although the most bizarre portion of the race
was when there was a delayed 22mins Full Course Caution that included Race
Control ordering various competitors to drop to different positions for the restart.
Most notably the two leading Penske Porsche 963’s needing to give the #31 Whelen
Engineering Cadillac V-Series the lead! With the Porsche’s having failed to
follow instructions for forming up behind the Pace Car…
Yet suddenly the leading Caddy’ with Pipo
Derani at it’s control flew thru the Turn-1 breaking area, failing to Hit it’s
marks when locking up! Seeing the two trailing Penske’s immediately saying
Playing Thru!
And then during the final Pitstop, Felipe Nasr
in the #7 Pole winning Porsche 963 had trouble getting His tyres up to
temperature on His out-lap, Slip sliding away. Enabling Nick Tandy in the
sister #6 Penske to leapfrog Nasr during His Pitstop one lap later. Initially
giving Tandy an 8-second lead, which Tandy stretched to some 18-seconds while
comfortably cruising to the win! With the two Penske Porsche’s giving Indianapolis
Motor speedway owner roger Penske a desired 1-2 victory sweep! While the No. 25
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMW M8 Hybrid finished third, taking the final
podium step.
As the race’s outcome now sees the IMSA GTP competitors
headed to a four way fight for the Championship title at the season finale
Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 14th.
Interesting hearing Messer Hindhaugh note during
the broadcast that one of the main differences between IMSA GTP and WEC specification
isn’t performance related, but has to do with the chassis wiring loom. Saying
that IMSA requires it’s own bespoke wiring loom to interface with it’s custom
system’s ability to monitor all performance factors – including torque sensors.
And that it requires 12 hours to change from a WEC spec wiring loom to IMSA
spec.
Also believe that Hindhaugh claimed that next
year’s Battle on The Bricks will be a six hours Endurance race for All IMSA
Classes with a maximum of 55 cars allowed. As it’s worth noting that IMSA’s
LMP3 category ceases this October.
While hopefully the IMSA’s newest and fifth
endurance race on the 2024 calendar, the Battle on The Bricks will indeed
finish under temporary lighting on a fall Saturday night…
Hmm, interesting how IMSA had No Qualms about going up against the Big Bad 869lbs NFL Gorr-rilliah’ (Gorilla) on TV during a Sunday! Can you Hear me IndyCar?
