Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

@!#@#Q%!@%@#!^@!#@
damn you Acura.
MAJOR damage to the 77 after getting smashed into by the #6

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

#77 still behind the wall as the field is getting ready to go green.
#55 19 laps back.

we're fucked.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Stopped watching.
Glad the 77 is b back out turning laps though.

Might check back in later

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=405345097127990

sucks to see this.

j_tso

Same 63 Ferrari that got hit by the 55, though it wasn't at fault that time.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

freaking #63 is 2 for 2 then.
what happened to the 77? just looked at the timing charts a few minutes ago and it's now more than 30 laps down

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

do we have thoughts on the crash at the end of the race? Taylor's fault? Derani's?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

1st post updated with race results, still waiting on official standings but pretty sure it's not looking good at all for Mazda to have a chance this year

j_tso

I say Taylor's fault in the end. They were both rubbing before that, but the last move from Taylor was a little too ambitious.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Watched the replay a few times and I definitely see this as being Taylor's fault.
Damn.
That's a bad break for the Whelen team and talk about dumb luck for the #10 just cruising into a 1st place win.

gwilliams6

I know we are all so hopeful for Mazda's race efforts and the team is doing all it can. But as someone that has a history with IMSA since the first rotaries starting racing there in the seventies, I can tell you IMSA was always going to adjust the BOP in favor of the bigger, more influential brands the minute Mazda got into the winners circle. The fix was in and IMSA does not want Acura and Cadillac losing championships to Mazda.
It just isn't going to happen when Mazda has to compete with one arm tied behind its back. If you look at all of IMSA advertising and commercials it is all about the big teams and the big name drivers. In the lead up to the broadcast of the Petit LeMans on NBCSports, the Mazda teams were not even mentioned once before the race, but they sure talked a lot about the Acuras and Cadillacs and their big-named driver lineups

Just get used to it. IMSA is more than content for Mazda to be the hard fought but "also ran" of the competitors. One of the reasons the Mazda team is not going to spend the money for two teams next season. Any team that thought it would have a FAIR shot at a championship would not run just one car when the other teams are running two cars. Mazda has already resigned itself to the reality here in IMSA for next year. It just isn't worth the time and great expense to the Mazda team. Cheers

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

gwilliams6- you basically repeated yourself verbatim from last year (10/26/19 #239)

I'm still not sure what Mazda is aiming to achieve is this space (other than being present with the large manufactures) because you can't create a motorsport image without a representative product for consumption and arguably most important, winning. If you're familiar with American racing history, think about late 60's NASCAR imo. My buddy who's runs parts dept said they had to send back the 'Team Mazda / Joel' hats and shirts because they literally did not sell a single item. I think Mazda has been trying to cultivate this 'grassroots weekend autoX'er racer' image for approx the past 10+ years with slogans like 'every weekend there's more Mazda's on track than any other manufacturer' etc and it's lame. To me, the whole Mazda motorsports page is basically LARP experience after experience. And anyone else notice that the page seems to only favor a certain ethnicity / skin color? Just me? They've been catering for years if you haven't noticed. The whole thing is just trying way too hard, sorry if you can't see it. That said, I'm all for rooting for the underdog but you're just being silly if you take any of Mazda's efforts seriously.

Anyways, I watched an abbreviated version of the race and it was still too long. Ha. Few good moments and it was exciting to see my old friend Jeff Westphal win GTD.

gwilliams6

You make me laugh that you pay that much attention to exactly what I have said over that period of time. LOL The fact remains, Over the decades IMSA has hit Mazda with severe BOP every time they do well. Mazds teams, factory and private have fought through it to win many championships and races in IMSA, but it never ends with IMSA. Manufacturers know that even if their racing chassis dont match up to street cars, a winning race program can greatly benefit the performance halo surrounding your brand. The Porsche brand has had just as many cars that didn't match up to their street cars, like the legendary 962 (both Daytona 24 hour and Lemans 24 hour winning car), as well as all the racing 911 variants. I was close friend and photographer for the late great Porsche championship driver Al Holbert and his Lowenbrau 962. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Holbert.

Cheers

j_tso

If the BOP gloves were taken off, do you think Mazda will be leaving Cadillac and Acura in the dust?

Porsche has street cars that can make their drivers track day heroes, or at least feel like it since they resemble the RSR. What's Mazda currently selling that can do that?
I know they want to go upmarket, but I don't think going into prototype racing helps that image. Not being in the top class hasn't hurt BMW's motorsport image.
The current 6 and 3 are good looking cars, they should be on track like back when it was SPEED World Challenge. The 3 and 2 are raced overseas, but still I'm bummed the TCR car was cancelled.

gwilliams6

As racing series and categories change, as they always do, there may be new opportunities for the latest 6s and 3s and the new turbo 3 to find a new racing series in SCCA, IMSA and other series. Yes if the BOP didn't change after Mazda won a few races and set pole positions, I think that Mazda would have been a contender for the championship. But the minute Acura and Cadillac cried to IMSA, the Mazda's were put down.

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Totally agree with dynamic variability.

Sad thing imo is that these series are nowhere near what's considered to be the big leagues, compounding the fact that a 100 yo global company can't fit the bill (at the very least) paints the 'writing on the walls' very clearly to me. All things created equal, if I were in the position I'm in today 10 years ago I would have purchased a TCR Honda to have fun with and live out my boy racer dreams. As an individual, I could fund my own season so what's Mazda's excuse???

I was and am still not impressed with the TCR 3 spec.s in any way; glorified display of pageantry. The unveiling, the representative(s), bragging about your wheels, etc. Wow it's not for me. And their road program will most likely be be their undoing imo. Mazda definitely needs a cleansing of its' ranks and new blood transfused or I think the whole thing will be coming down soon.

Love to be proven wrong.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

alright, lets get this thread back on track because it's Race Weekend at the world famous Laguna Seca!
Teams rolled yesterday for a quick 2 day event and boy has it been a fun one already.

Action Express was the fastest car in Practice #1 blitzing the field early and showing great speed.

Practice #2 however was all about the #77 putting down the fastest lap AND there's been some dram between the Whelen Cadillac and the Penske team again as the #7 smashed into the 31 during practice today! Bad blood from the last race? ABSOLUTELY.
sounds like the Penske took the worst of it as they had to go behind the wall for repairs while the 31 was repaired in the pits.
I get the feeling we havent seen the last of those two swapping paint.

Race Tomorrow @ 4 ET on Track Pass
or tape delay at 6:30 ET on nbcsn

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Qualifying is about to start, curious to see what kind of pace the cars will have this morning.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

man watching the replay of Helio's incident with the 31 during practice.
wow, what a bitch move by Team Acura.
that was SOOOO blatant

really does make you wonder if we'll see any retaliation today. Obviously the 31 is still in the championship hunt but if theyre out of contention and Derani is in the car late in the race, could we see a little payback?
Acura is again the team to beat so things could get interesting.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Acura again has great speed today.
Mazdas running well but 3rd and 5th with a little over 90 minutes to go.

Bladecutter

Yellow flag with 23 minutes left.
Mazdas might have a chance if they can get a good clean restart.

j_tso

Was that teamwork from 55 & 77 to throw that dive plane on track?

Jastreb

iTrader: (1)

@ debris teamwork.
Just finished watching the Acura parade... I mean race. Kind of reminded me of F1 & Mercedes - but not as bad. Mazda just didn't have the pace to catch up, as demonstrated on the restart. I'm starting to believe the BoP conspiracy theory.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

damn, disappointing day for Mazda. (I feel like we've said that too much this season)

gwilliams6

The BOP adjustments after Mazda won some races was to make sure Mazda would not dominate.

It is exactly what IMSA wanted. IMSA has too much sponsorship and participation tied up in Acura and GM products throughout the various race series. It has to keep them happy or they will leave. Mazda is the designated also-ran here. And with Mazda only running one car next season don't expect IMSA to give Mazda much relief from its crippling BOP. Just the reality folks.