imn my uninformed opinion the real problem is what it costs .
what amount of money is required to run a ALMS team ? i got no idea What did Acura spend to get where they are now?In the US with out the major manufacturer where can that kind of money come from . That is the real problem just my 2 cents worth good day

I'm not takin this seriously, till I get some official word, but this would be the worst thing that could happen to sports car racing, to see what so many fans of the sport see as the only real sports car sanctioning body in America and the only one of the two that stresses technology over cost containment, for a unified series that does not techology or innovation and was created only as a cost-containment effort.

If it was the other way around I wouldn't mind it a bit....... If you could update the engine package for the DP's of figure out some way to make them fast enough to outrun the ALMS GT's then I think it would make for an amazing race at most places. LMP1, P2, DP, GT2 running at the same time in the big races and in the sprints you could even separate the prototypes and GT's and run a separate race with 2 classes of GT's.

For the record, my problem is both the Frances AND having the DP be the top sports car in the country........ Going from an Audi to a DP.........

gtfanatic - 24 June 2009 11:49 PM

Panoz Motorsports owns or leases Sebring,Road Atlanta,and Mosport.

Leases the first, owns the later two.

Tracks only. ALMS/IMSA shut down after 2009 season. Panoz is interested in quick resolution.

I really, really don't see any kind of merger happening. It makes no sense for Grand-Am to do that, and I heard nothing of it from any of my contacts.

LateToStart - 25 June 2009 10:00 AM

Tracks only. ALMS/IMSA shut down after 2009 season. Panoz is interested in quick resolution.

Makes no sense...

Either "the sky is falling" (not true) or the sky IS falling...

The only "what if" scenario I can see from a business percpective follows this strategy.

IMSA will still be a sanctioning body, but ALMS might look different.

ALMS - would become a series of only 6 events that are long distance, such 1,000km or endurance hours (12 hours). I could see Sebring, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Mosport, Salt Lake. A more quality over quantity for right now. I don't know about LB and St. Pete. I don't see Road America anymore after this year, they shortend the race, and I don't think they will pay for it (I think they should stay) plus they want Indycar, plus the pricing for tix is out of sight in Elkhart.

With the Asian Lemans Series coming back this year with two events, and the possiblity to grow into 3 for next year, and the ELMS has 5-6 events, all endurance events, maybe they think running longer races at longer length circuits makes sense then shorter races on shorter circuits, ala Lime Rock, LB, St. Pete, and Mid-Ohio.

Anyway, who knows till something is said, personally I love Road America and Mid-Ohio, so if they go that will suck big time.

My guess is that the quality of events over quantity might be the scenario in this economy.

Who knows.

gtfanatic - 24 June 2009 11:46 PM

My Worst Nightmare!

What good would this "Proposal" Do? No competion for "GA" I guess.
The end of Modern,Technical,Multi-engine type Sports car racing in the US.....................

I couldn't imagine Mr Panoz going for this At ALL!

The end of the most expensive, least supported form of auto racing in the US. If Mr. Panoz does not find a way of keeping Honda in the fold, he has no choice.

IMSA needs Honda's presence as a competitor and as a marketing partner. Panoz MUST come up with a competitive foil for the Accura P1. Personally, I don't see it coming unless he builds his next P1. Even if it's built, there are no guarentees. If they start next year with the marque team being Dyson in P2... Cancel Christmas.