Lap time comparo

Looking at the cut away of the Chaparell got me thinking. How did the lap times for those beasts compare to modern prototype cars, ALMS etc.? Anybody have some stats?

i would have to imagine that those can am cars were quicker. im also interested in the answer.

I could go on and on about how they compare in terms of awesomeness...

edit - these don't count as there was a track configuration changeComparative times for Laguna Seca:

In 1966, Phil Hill ran a 1:05.310 iin the Chaparral 2E

In 1972, Mark Donohue ran a 58.660 in the 917/10

In 1983, Al Unser Jr. ran a 0:55.472 in the Frissbee GR3

In 1986, Klaus Ludwig ran a 56.692 in the Probe GTP

In 2007, Ricardo Zonta ran a 1'06.039 in the Toyota TF106

In 2009, Gil de Ferran ran a 1:11.206 in the Acura ARX 02a

How is it that the track record seems to be a minute and change and yet here are three examples of times under a minute. Was there a configuration change to the track?

TJ wrote: How is it that the track record seems to be a minute and change and yet here are three examples of times under a minute. Was there a configuration change to the track?

edit Yeah, the track had a straight that connected turn 2 and turn 5 prior to 1988. I wasn't aware of that when i was looking up the results. Shame on me. :(

yes sir there was!

current configuration

as of 1995

As of 1963

D'OH! Sorry guys.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mazda+Raceway+Laguna+Seca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.861942,86.308594&ie=UTF8&ll=36.584244,-121.748887&spn=0,359.997366&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=36.584343,-121.748854&panoid=udrYf4y2Ja8H454cVpYO2w&cbp=12,1.5996056991563416,,0,5

Freaking SWEET Google Street view of a parade lap on laguna Seca.. Google ROCKS!!

Did they run Nurburgring?

I just did a little searching for comparison info; the numbers speak for themselves.

At the 1970 Road Atlanta Can-Am, Denny Hulme's pole-sitting McLaren M8F recorded a time of 1:18.6.

At this year's Petit, Minassian's Pug put in a pole time of 1:06.9.

The track is now a bit longer (2.54 vs. 2.52 miles) after it was Panoz'd and the speed and drama of Turn 10 was eliminated.

Here's Can-Am, in-car video of the track in 1970:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3NhmB0PBY0

Here's in-car video from this year's Petit (in a GT2 Corvette):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoVqlBSWY1Y

there has to be at least one track that was run in Can Am that is still the same configuration!

maroon92 wrote: there has to be at least one track that was run in Can Am that is still the same configuration!

Road America , Mosport and Mid-Ohio come to mind, but the start/finish line at Mid-Ohio has been re-positioned.

Comparative times at Elkhart Lake (from 1970 vs. 2009):

Can-Am pole time was 2:10.6 - Hulme/McLaren

ALMS pole time was 1:48.2 - DeFerran/Acura

For a reference the GT2 pole time this year was a 2:06.9 (Joey Hand/BMW), faster than a state-of-the-art McLaren M8F.

Technology marches on.

This is what I was looking for. The comparison of cave man tech vs nasa tech.

cwh wrote: This is what I was looking for. The comparison of cave man tech vs nasa tech.

It's all relative!

In 1970, the Mclarens were nasa tech, only out-teched (but never beaten) by the unreliable Chaparral 2J.

Then Porsche showed up with the 917/10 in 1972, and things really changed.