66 replies to this topic

[MPR22]

http://scca.cdn.race...TL-Schedule.pdf

 

I have not been to a race that has 3 qualifying sessions other than run-offs.  Will the fastest time of the three set the grid for Saturday and Sunday? 

[Ron Alan]

Would seem like almost a normal weekend schedule where "practice" has been replaced with "Qual"?

[Pat Ross]

The problem with multiple qualifying sessions is that it requires you to be at you best for all three qualifying sessions.  If you are not sorted out by session #1 and the best qualifying conditions happen that day (cool weather, no rain) you are out of luck.

 

At least Qual 1 & Qual 3 are at the same time of day while during Qual 2 the track might be 20°F warmer.

 

Pat

[Blake Clements]

The Atlanta National and Majors has been this way for years on Friday.  The day on Friday is two qual sessions, and you better get it done in the AM.  Not sure about the Saturday qualifying sessions.

[Danica Davison]

The problem with multiple qualifying sessions is that it requires you to be at you best for all three qualifying sessions.  If you are not sorted out by session #1 and the best qualifying conditions happen that day (cool weather, no rain) you are out of luck.

 

At least Qual 1 & Qual 3 are at the same time of day while during Qual 2 the track might be 20°F warmer.

 

Pat

 

This is true, but everyone has the same schedule, running under the same conditions as everyone else.  In my opinion, a great driver should be able to qualify well in the session with the most optimal conditions even if his car isn't perfect sorted out yet.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

I think the issue is having qual quality tires for each of the three sessions, instead of a set of junkish tires for the first practice and two good sets for the qual sessions.

[MPR22]

This is true, but everyone has the same schedule, running under the same conditions as everyone else.  In my opinion, a great driver should be able to qualify well in the session with the most optimal conditions even if his car isn't perfect sorted out yet.

 

The issue isn't about can a driver get it done in just one qualifying session.  It is the waste of quality time,  I would rather have one practice session and a qual on Saturday and a short qual session for Sunday's race.  Why should an entire weekend be predicated on what you get done on the first of 3 qual sessions  Why even have 3 if that is the most likely scenario.  I bet some people would love to have had another shot at a qual for Sunday's race at NOLA.  The track was so hard to pass at your qualifying position was crucial to your results.  

[Jim Creighton]

I just read the supps and each qualifying session applies to all races. And if you have a better time in the Sat race than in qualifying, that will count for Sunday. There is no qualifying on Sunday due to quiet time and long races.

 

Atlanta Region has no control over making the race a two day or three day event. The National office dictates this. And, as far as I can remember, this is the first time I ever remember anyone complaining about too many qualifying sessions. But, I do remember many complaining when we do not make all sessions qualifying. Can't win!

[MPR22]

I just read the supps and each qualifying session applies to all races. And if you have a better time in the Sat race than in qualifying, that will count for Sunday. There is no qualifying on Sunday due to quiet time and long races.
 
Atlanta Region has no control over making the race a two day or three day event. The National office dictates this. And, as far as I can remember, this is the first time I ever remember anyone complaining about too many qualifying sessions. But, I do remember many complaining when we do not make all sessions qualifying. Can't win!

Jim, great answer, thank you for the info.

[Jim Creighton]

The RE of Atlanta Region just advised that the Region will waive all late fees for anyone who has not yet registered and still wants to race. There are 35 cars entered and some of the big guns are staying away. Good chance to put some new faces on the podium. And SM is group 2 so you can get an early jump on the ride home. Paddock opens Wednesday evening, test day on Thursday and for those who might not be able to get to track until Sat, there is an AM qualifying for the Sat race and you can use your best time from that qualifying or the race for the Sun starting position.

[Danica Davison]

Still a lot of fast guys there even without carbonell and bolanos who are at sebring. Surprised to see no Cliff Brown or East street registered.  Even without a lot of the players, should still be a good race.  John Carter is back and was fast at sebring in february. My top 5 in no particular order:

 

Selin

Machavern

Steyn

Buras

Elivan

 

My wild card bet is on Mark "The Mayor" Gibbons! I picked him at Homestead to podium and he did so i would say my opinion is pretty valid  

[Jim Drago]

Not the start of the season I had hoped for...
Skipped Sebring
Out race one, lap one, corner one at Nola.. back is still bothering me
Skipping Atlanta as cars are just not going to be ready.

Atlanta is one of my favorites and have won a majors race there the last two years.. sucks to have to skip.

Best of luck to all those attending!

Jim

[MPR22]

If all goes as planned, Ross and Haldeman will be there as well.  Chris is still putting the cars back together from NOLA, will know shortly if they will be loaded onto the trailer tonight. 

[Danny Steyn]

Just arrived in Los Angeles from Australia. After 40 hours of travel I will be at Road Atlanta to give my best. Really disappointed that Jim and the East Street boys plus Bolanos and Carbonell will not be there. Always more fun when the top drivers are entered. Still a very deep field and expect that it will be really close. Also will be interesting to see if the VVT prevails here or if the back straight just gives too much passing advantage to the 99's

[Danica Davison]

Just arrived in Los Angeles from Australia. After 40 hours of travel I will be at Road Atlanta to give my best. Really disappointed that Jim and the East Street boys plus Bolanos and Carbonell will not be there. Always more fun when the top drivers are entered. Still a very deep field and expect that it will be really close. Also will be interesting to see if the VVT prevails here or if the back straight just gives too much passing advantage to the 99's

 

I was just looking at results from last year.  Mainly a '99-00 field with a win from both Bolanos and Drago...Dillon was the strongest 01+ car who finished 2nd both races, but Dillon also posted the fastest times both races.  However, I believe both wins came from passes on the last lap late on the back straightaway going in to 10a-10b. My opinion is the 99 has the advantage on the last lap if in a close battle with the 01+. 

[Michael Novak]

I was just looking at results from last year.  Mainly a '99-00 field with a win from both Bolanos and Drago...Dillon was the strongest 01+ car who finished 2nd both races, but Dillon also posted the fastest times both races.  However, I believe both wins came from passes on the last lap late on the back straightaway going in to 10a-10b. My opinion is the 99 has the advantage on the last lap if in a close battle with the 01+. 

I agree    but then someone decided to add 25 more pounds to the VVT cars.   It doesn't stand a chance now....  

 

ALL jokes aside it should be a great weekend of racing---Good Luck to all!!!

[FrankS]

Just arrived in Los Angeles from Australia. After 40 hours of travel I will be at Road Atlanta to give my best. Really disappointed that Jim and the East Street boys plus Bolanos and Carbonell will not be there. Always more fun when the top drivers are entered. Still a very deep field and expect that it will be really close. Also will be interesting to see if the VVT prevails here or if the back straight just gives too much passing advantage to the 99's

 

I had this conversation this morning.. If I had two top prepped cars and 01 and a 99.. I would chose the 99/00 at Road Atlanta. That is not to say the VVT can't win. The cars are really close, before and after the 25 lbs on the VVT.  

[FrankS]

I was just looking at results from last year.  Mainly a '99-00 field with a win from both Bolanos and Drago...Dillon was the strongest 01+ car who finished 2nd both races, but Dillon also posted the fastest times both races.  However, I believe both wins came from passes on the last lap late on the back straightaway going in to 10a-10b. My opinion is the 99 has the advantage on the last lap if in a close battle with the 01+. 

 

 

I lost race on second to last lap pass on Saturday and went to 4th.. Sunday I took the lead earlier and never gave it back.

[MPR22]

I was just looking at results from last year.  Mainly a '99-00 field with a win from both Bolanos and Drago...Dillon was the strongest 01+ car who finished 2nd both races, but Dillon also posted the fastest times both races.  However, I believe both wins came from passes on the last lap late on the back straightaway going in to 10a-10b. My opinion is the 99 has the advantage on the last lap if in a close battle with the 01+. 

The VVT had two places where it had an clear advantage on the 99.  Exit of turn 7,  and up out of 10B to the top of the hill.  It was still not enough to hold the 99 off from 7-10a, it could hold the 99 off from SF to turn in at 1.  Other than that I would car the cars neutral on the rest of the track.  Maybe the VVT had a little more grunt from 1-3 but what would you do with it.  You could only catch up to the 99 not pass.  The 99 is better weapon, especially with the extra 25 lbs helping neutralize some of the VVT's advantage.   

[Danny Steyn]

My most recent race at Road Atlanta was the 2014 ARRC where I finished 3rd to Dillon Mac and Chris Topping after screwing up 10A on the last lap under pressure.

The video below clearly illustrates the VVT and 99 car's relative strengths and weaknesses. On that particular day both Dillon and I remarked that we both felt that the two platforms were very equal there and a driver would be hard pressed to choose one over the other. In fact on test day I went quicker with the VVT, but I felt that the 99 would provide the better racing platform due to the nature of the passing opportunities that are basically limited to T10 and the exit of T10B, sometimes allowing passes before T12 and before T1.

This weekend we will have the opportunity to see the relative benefits of each platform once more, this time however with the additional 25lbs of weight that was added to the VVT. Still not sure which car I plan to run. At NOLA the two cars ran withing 3/100ths of a second of each other, but NOLA has multiple sections with extended G-loads and consequential tire scrubbing and that made me lean toward the VVT.