2023 GT Sports Cars & Prototypes Races/Results

[996C438]

I was at Petit yesterday with my 16 year old grandson . The place was packed I have been going for many years . The Porsche corral was packed including my 02 Boxster S . Weather cooperated for a great day .

We sat in the stadium section and witnessed the 5 car crash that took out the Penske Porsche. Just wrong place at the wrong time . In my opinion there were too many argy bargy incidents .

But the last race of the season brings out a large qty of red mist . Even for the pros . I am not and have never been a fan of rubbing is racing . I have more respect for clean racers . Now looking forward to 2024 Daytona 24 hour race .

[blueline]

I agree on the clean racing aspect, although some are also blaming part of the mayhem on the very large field and possibly on too many gentleman drivers. Also, when it gets to the end of the season and the standings are as close as they were, adrenaline, red mist, outright aggressive risk-taking, etc. is going to happen.

I knew you were there and it's great to get your on-site, first hand perspective, so fill in as many missing blanks as you can!

I didn't see the early 963 crash but read that the Penske 963 was taken out at the turn 10a-10b complex, so I figured those in the stands got a good view. I did watch the hour nine T-1 crash that was all on F. Albuquerque's ill-advised pass attempt. I've got a lot of track day laps at Rd Atlanta and have raced there too (just piddling ChampCar & WRL) and watching the pass attempt unfold, I knew that the outcome was inevitable before it happened. The speeds are so fast in the incredible GTP cars and T1 is a an extremely fast and dangerous turn if not treated with the utmost respect.

Calvin Fish and argy bargy! I love it. He used it a lot yesterday in the short times I was able to watch. Interestingly, I read that Pipo Derani has been using it on occasion too. Further of interest is that it was an argy-bargy move that took out Albuquerque's Acura that happened to be breathing down argy bargy Pipo's back!

[996C438]

Two cars came together and then ping ponged off other cars including the Penske 963 . I think 5 cars in total were damaged . Very high speed coming down the hill and things happened quickly .

There is no doubt these top class cars are fast . But so are all the other classes . Standing on the backside of the cross over bridge watching cars dive down past pit entry is a sight all race fans should experience . Takes big balls to go flat out down that section .

[blueline]

Two cars came together and then ping ponged off other cars including the Penske 963 . I think 5 cars in total were damaged . Very high speed coming down the hill and things happened quickly .

There is no doubt these top class cars are fast . But so are all the other classes . Standing on the backside of the cross over bridge watching cars dive down past pit entry is a sight all race fans should experience .

Takes big balls to go flat out down that section .

That's a fact. And you're also correct on the downside view from the bridge - pretty awesome. The whole 10a/10b through 12 is a steadily increasing pucker sequence culminating in the knowledge of the imposing wall on the left exiting out of 12. (At speed!!)

Road Atlanta is an incredibly fun and challenging track but it is also one that eats a lot of cars and drivers.