mid-ohio results?

[reisertracing]

Any results from mid-ohio this past weekend? Have did the pro mazdas do vs the FA?

[Scott Gesford]

There was only 1 that was really slow. Was outqualified by some old FM's. Rahal won in an swift 014 (Danica's old car) over Beasley and Yelkin.

[Purple Frog]

Watched the race from outside T7.
The race for second was fantastic. Many times they went throughout madness side-by-side. Great racecraft and car control on both pilots part.

[reisertracing]

Purple frog, you raced there didn't you? read your notes in FC section.
Love that Track too, Ran there for years in FV and FM.
Can't believe the Runoffs are moving.

I was interested in what the Pro Mazdas did with the National FA guys.

I know some FA guys that won't tun this year becuase they figure they can't compete with the Pro Mazdas and that at the runoffs last year the SCCA cars were in FA and slow and caused some incidents.

Just curious Purple Frog, what kinda of FC do you drive?

[MarkM]

I think one of the "incidents" you refer to was where the front runner FOLLOWED an F/SCCA car off the track and then blamed it on the other driver. Please.

[reinhold]

There were 46 Pro Mazdas at the Mid Ohio IMSA race as there are 46 cars entered for this coming weekend in Montreal. How many of those 46 do you think will come to the Runoffs when they need to be in Atlanta 5 days later for the 2nd to last race in their own televised pro series? My guess would be that those PM's running for the championship or in the top of the field would not waste their time, or risk damaging their car or themselves a few days before Atlanta. Aside from that, half of the Pro Mazda field was 2 - 4 seconds a lap slower at MO than the leaders, wouldn't a well driven FA have no problem there?

Slower cars cause incidents? Not if they are holding their line. Remind me again, what is the responsibility of the overtaking (faster) driver in almost every form of motorsport?

[Charles Warner]

Slower cars cause incidents? Not if they are holding their line. Remind me again, what is the responsibility of the overtaking (faster) driver in almost every form of motorsport?

Steve,

The responsibility for safe overtaking maneuvers rests with both drivers. I agree that maintaining one's line is critical.

[KevinFirlein]

The comparison was made in a very big way at mid ohio Graham rahal entered a swift 014 prepared by AWR racing the same team that runs him in th epro mazda series. the team ia an important part of the comparison. Same engineers doing the same things correctly or incorrectly assures comparable level of setup.

At the Mid O Mazda race Rahal qualled at a 1:19.2 without chicane. On th efriday school day last session with the chicane rahal ran a 18.6 with the 014. The car was still in full pro spec. My guess is atleast another second when they convert the car to full club spec for runoffs.

the FA car is clearly quicker and always has been.

Kevin

[reisertracing]

The runoffd incident I was referring to was when Bernie Sunnier checked up on a FSCCA car back marker going into T8-T9 and the next FA coming over the hill and in pursuit of Bernie couldn't brake in time and ran over his back end.

In regards to FA and PM, I have nothing against PM, In the Jan 2005 Sportscar in the tech section it lists all the FA legal cars, and the FA drivers I know are worried about the traction control and power differential/ torque of the RX-8.

In regards to MO, It was interesting to see the differnt classes run together in that race group. I know in the west they have (FA) problems with the FC, S2's running with them and it is well known that it is the responsibilty of the overtaking driver to make a clean pass and the different groups have races going on of their own, but there is a large speed differential in the classes and sooner or later someone is gonna get hurt.

I ran a National at MO several years ago in FV and a National /runoffs going F500 was holding me up and ignored the corner/starter passing flags and caused me several national points by slower in corners and fast in a straight line. Anyone can drive fast in a straight line.
He blocked me in corners and when I passed in a corner and got ahead he would blast past on the straight and hold up in the corners and these cars are at least 10-14 seconds quicker then a FV per lap.

It was weird to see S2, and sports racers paired with FC also.