No Clue Yet On The Sports Car Racing "Merger"

Checked the schedule for ALMS at Road America next August, because I want to be there and figure that early is better than late for motel reservations.  (Road Atlanta was packed with spectators in October, and I expect Road America to be no different next summer.  More on why at the bottom of this post.)

Friday is qualifying, Grand-Am runs on Saturday, and ALMS runs on Sunday.  Apparently, in 2013, the series will run some "double headers."  At Road America, this is no problem.  On a 4.0 mile circuit with 3 long straights, the prototype and GT cars in each series won't be too much in each others' way.  (Consolidated qualifying on Friday could be hectic if some drivers stuff their cars into the kitty litter at "dangerous locations," red-flagging their qualifying session.)

So Road America 2013 furnishes no clue about how the rules for the series will be integrated, post-"merger."  ALMS fans are skeptical about Grand-Am messing with the superb ALMS GT car rules.  So many opportunities, so little time: design specifications, technical inspection, and race rules.  After all, NASCAR--and by extension Grand-Am--is all about "the show" and keeping costs low for private entrants.  ALMS GT is about factory teams.  In my little circle at Road Atlanta last month, snarky comments and snorty laughs were in good supply about "debris cautions" and "lucky dogs"getting a lap back and "green-and-white-checker finishes."

(Nobody I've talked to seems to care much what will be done with either prototype series' rules.  The ALMS rules result in very expensive cars and team budgets, and the Grand-Am prototypes are so primitive that they make Can-Am cars look cutting-edge.  At least Grand-Am prototype cars are no longer flat ugly.)

Anyway.  Road America 2013 offers no clue about what professional sports car racing in the U.S. will look like in 2014.  Which is why I think the circuit will be packed with spectators.  We hope we will be attending a farewell to some great chapters in GT road racing, and hail to future fine chapters.  But we fear we will be attending a Wake.