What are your guys thougts to this finish? I thought the penalty was correct because the Ferarri didn't give the Audi enough room on the outside. But I guess I am wrong.
What are your guys thougts to this finish? I thought the penalty was correct because the Ferarri didn't give the Audi enough room on the outside. But I guess I am wrong.
I'd have to read their rules, I can think of different rule sets that would deal the penalty different ways.
Ignoring any rule sets, physically they both share blame. The Ferrari didn't need to squeeze the Audi off the track to defend (or complete the turn). The Audi couldn't have completed that pass with any amount of rubbing or aggression, he just didn't have the momentum, he had nothing to gain by being there and might have been better off to duck back into the Ferrari's slipstream.
The penalty was for avoidable contact. There was no contact. If there was contact in that turn, I may disagree with the final ruling.
It all seemed so stupid at the race, a ridiculous decision to penalize a car for avoidable contact, when none was made. This was done on the last lap, instantly controversial.
Idiocracy rules
IMO, they should have made the call the lap earlier when the Ferrari hip checked the Audi out of the way going into the bus stop.
One driver indicated the Audi should've continued his line into the kink forcing the Ferrari to either hit him or get out of the pass . . . since that was the exact move the Ferrari pulled in the bus stop.
aussiesmg wrote: It all seemed so stupid at the race, a ridiculous decision to penalize a car for avoidable contact, when none was made. This was done on the last lap, instantly controversial. Idiocracy rules
The only thing is that there would have been contact if the Audi didn't go off the track.
@strikeZero- I think that would have made sence but would you want to risk wrecking on the last lap?
and if there had been contact, then both would have been out of the race … as pointed out, the penalty was for avoidable contact … since there was no contact, there was no penalty … both teams sorta got screwed
Flying Lizards (I'm guessing here, had to give back the watches) and the Ferrari team didn't get to stand on the podium (pics. cheers etc ..)
The Audi didn't have any business trying to pass there. If you're on the outside and can't hit the apex on that corner you need to slow way up to stay on the track.
No, if the Audi could maintain his position on that side of the Ferrari, then the Audi easily makes the pass in the next corner. I don't think he was trying to pass in the kink, but just setting up for the pass in the next corner.
Show me that Ferrari's line through the kink for the previous laps and the we can make a determination if he forced him off or was just holding his line. Either way it's just racing
I saw it live and thought it was a bullE36 M3 call. The Audi took a low percentage gamble because he had to and the Ferrari defended because he had to. Nobody wrecked the other. It was the last lap of the biggest RACE of the year. What were we supposed to see? Two guys just fall into line and drive to the flag?
Yeah the call was total bunk. It was racing.
In reply to Cuda:
I think the Audi made the right call and didn't force a wreck. The last lap was something we wanted to see. Two guys slugging it out after 24hrs and the officials made a mockery of their efforts with some bad/slow/no calls.
New sanctioning body flexing its muscles. Learning curve.
BTW, the IMSA rule for "Avoidable Contact" specifically calls out that contact is not needed to have the call be valid. It really is about ensuring there is enough racing room provided by each car. The fact is, the Audi was safely in place next tot he Ferrari and slightly ahead of the Ferrari by the exit of the corner, the Ferrari ran the Audi off into the dirt and that is not good racing at that level of the sport. The Ferrari screwed up and instead of leaving room and coming back after the Audi at the next corner so we, the fans, could get a very exciting finish to a long race, they chose to run the Audi off and well, the end sucked.
In reply to turboswede: Being on the outside of a car at that corner is not safely in position. There are places where you can force something, and that isn't one of them.
I didn't understand how you could have any kind of penalty. After 24 hours two cars are still door to door and no one crashed out. If you want to bring in spectators you couldn't ask for a much better finish.
DaveEstey wrote: In reply to turboswede: Being on the outside of a car at that corner is not safely in position. There are places where you can force something, and that isn't one of them.
Sorry I even bothered to reply as I apparently know nothing of racing having only competed in a couple of ChumpCar events, many autocrosses and a few track days as crewing for several local drivers and watching road racing most of my life. I bow to your much more vast knowledge and withdraw my post.
What a moody response. I disagreed with you, I didn't kick your dog.
unk577 wrote: No, if the Audi could maintain his position on that side of the Ferrari, then the Audi easily makes the pass in the next corner. I don't think he was trying to pass in the kink, but just setting up for the pass in the next corner.
The problem with that is that he was rapidly falling behind the Ferrari which would then be free to block the Audi from the inside line in the next corner, among many other things. Like I said, the Audi had nothing to gain by being there.
DaveEstey wrote: What a moody response. I disagreed with you, I didn't kick your dog.
I'm just tired of discussing this is all (all over Facebook after the race, all of my racing buddies have talked about it in person, etc.) and I just wanted to point out what the rule actually says and that no one wants to acknowledge this.
So yeah, I'm a bit moody and I just don't want to deal with this anymore. Its done and over with, the new series made a E36 M3-ton of mistakes leading up to and during the race and everyone is focusing on this piece and not the rest of the race as a whole.
GameboyRMH wrote:unk577 wrote: No, if the Audi could maintain his position on that side of the Ferrari, then the Audi easily makes the pass in the next corner. I don't think he was trying to pass in the kink, but just setting up for the pass in the next corner.The problem with that is that he was rapidly falling behind the Ferrari which would then be free to block the Audi from the inside line in the next corner, among many other things. Like I said, the Audi had nothing to gain by being there.
Pinching the Ferrari down would slow them both down, certainly, but if it killed the Ferrari's speed and the Audi could hang there (which they did) then perhaps they could have had a chance at the next corner or two. It was a risky move, but the Ferrari should have given them room to make it and then either blown their doors off later or let them pass.
I'm suprised at the performance of the LMP2 machinery. It seemed like the DPs were beating them everywhere on the track.
Hopefully it will be better for them in March.
FYI: 48.3 AVOIDABLE CONTACT. Any Driver who, in the sole opinion of the Race Director, initiates avoidable contact with another competitor, whether or not such contact interrupts the other competitor's lap times, track position or damages other competitor's Cars, and whether or not such actions result in actual contact, may be warned or penalized pursuant to Art. 60 of the RULES. In accordance with Art. 62.2.1.B, any action or decision (or any alleged inaction or non-decision) taken by or imposed by the Race Director, Supervisory Officials or IMSA Officials in this regard is conclusive.
Well I guess we're disagreeing with the Race Director.
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