tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post890333071539822637..comments2023-04-27T04:20:37.175-07:00Comments on My Name Is IRL: The sky is not falling. Not here. Not yet.Iannuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120192496901254768noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-88498311647131836602008-12-09T07:29:00.000-07:002008-12-09T07:29:00.000-07:00Not to be a ray of sunshine on this cloudy day, bu...Not to be a ray of sunshine on this cloudy day, but consider this:<BR/><BR/>AZZO45 is right, AGR was basically dumped by Acura in ALMS because they weren't up to speed - at least that's how it looks from all the comments and reports.<BR/><BR/>Honda left F1 partly because of economic realities, and partly because after years of spending almost a half-billion dollar per year to finish mid-pack, they've decided there are better ways to spend that money.<BR/><BR/>Audi is stepping out of ALMS (for the most part) because they're debuting a new car, and much like Porsche developing a P1 program, and not supporting a factory team while doing doing, Audi will pull a Peugeot, and focus on a few key races as a test year for the new R15. In the process, they can save a little coin that might just be useful when developing an IndyCar motor.<BR/><BR/>Penske will almost certainly be back as the factory team with Porsche if they bring a P1 effort to ALMS in 2010.<BR/><BR/>There have been rumors of a merged prototype class in ALMS starting in 2011. It's possible that some manufacturers want to wait and see what happens. If that package is close enough to the IndyCar package, well ... yay?<BR/><BR/>So basically, yeah, a lot of these decisions were financially driven, but more as plausible cover for otherwise sensible decisions. All were also likely temporary, with the possible exception of Honda F1 (and does anyone think they won't be selling engines to SOMEONE?). So really, I'm not that worried.Fred Hurleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379706257551429697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-92231661530849401062008-12-07T17:33:00.000-07:002008-12-07T17:33:00.000-07:00it's a double-decker s*$t sandwich, that's for sur...it's a double-decker s*$t sandwich, that's for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-70269938645565795212008-12-07T14:54:00.000-07:002008-12-07T14:54:00.000-07:00It's a huge shit sandwich and everybody is going t...It's a huge shit sandwich and everybody is going to have to take a bite.pressdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14116626812974787639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-76053217091976686592008-12-07T12:54:00.000-07:002008-12-07T12:54:00.000-07:00It must be said AGR "left" the ALMS due ...It must be said AGR "left" the ALMS due to Honda telling them that the other Acura teams OUTPERFORMED them!!! AGR was suppose to be Acura's leaders & they were just followers so they were basically FIRED.<BR/><BR/>Penske is "vacationing" in Grand Am in '09. Porsche is rumored to be working on a P1 Hybrid concept & '09 would be an R&D year. Penske keeps his sports car crew together running GADP (w/ Porsche's $$$).<BR/><BR/>The ICS might have KV & Rahal with issues, but as for my focus on sports cars...<BR/><BR/>...My Name is the ALMS!!! :) :) :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com