Whose fault was this?

If you watched the IMSA race at Laguna yesterday you saw a heck of a show (way more competitive than that Cavs/Pacers game, anyway). But you probably also saw the final move that sent the BMW GTP off track. Fortunately Vanthoor had enough of a gap on 4th to retain his podium spot, but I'm still at a bit of a loss to determine fault here, or if any exists at all. Every time I watch the highlight I come to a different conclusion.

I think I've come mostly to the conclusion that this is either just a completely pure racing incident, or if there is any blame to go around, Vanthoor probably pinched too hard and didn't leave room for Tandy against the Lambo and punched his own ticket to the runoff area.

What says the board?

IMHO there just isn't room for three cars in turn 11, so I'd go with a racing thing.

I don't know who these guys are, so... names... I think red's at fault. It's still just racing, but it looks like blue was right next to red, and red popped out and bumped him. Blue made some room (I don't think he had to), and red touched him again causing the spin. Watch it in slow motion: as they are approaching the spin, blue is a consistent distance from the line to his right. He didn't move in on red (red might have been forced out by the Lamborghini). You should leave your opponent racing room--but you don't have to give him the whole track. Blue would have been within his right to force red to stay behind that Lamborghini on corner exit.

That's just racing.

confuZion3 said:

I don't know who these guys are, so... names... I think red's at fault. It's still just racing, but it looks like blue was right next to red, and red popped out and bumped him. Blue made some room (I don't think he had to), and red touched him again causing the spin. Watch it in slow motion: as they are approaching the spin, blue is a consistent distance from the line to his right. He didn't move in on red (red might have been forced out by the Lamborghini). You should leave your opponent racing room--but you don't have to give him the whole track. Blue would have been within his right to force red to stay behind that Lamborghini on corner exit.

The first contact is the red car's fault, but it's not connected to the second one.

The second contact (which is the one that sends the blue car off the track) is caused because the blue car turns in and squeezes the red car between him and the lambo.  There's nowhere for the red car to go.  Going 3 wide invalidates a lot of the normal rules about who has to go where.

It was a desperate move from BMW to secure 2nd place. If he pulled it off I'd say he nudged his way into position.

At the first bump Porsche is ahead. 

2nd bump BMW was barely ahead. And the Lambo maybe could have given a little more room but that would have slowed him way down for turn 11.

I think it was a good pass by BMW initiated by a good exit from--what was it, turn 10? Porsche was going to be held up by Lamborghini, BMW timed it perfectly, and had a run on Porsche to 11. It wasn't a desperate move--it was a good move. If Porsche hadn't contacted BMW, he would have been held up long enough for the whole ordeal to be over by turn 11. The spin? I still think BMW was holding straight, Lamborghini was behaving predictably and was gradually opening up his line for turn 11. Porsche got caught between them.

When I first saw it, I thought the 963 was responsibile, but after seeing it again, I call it a racing incident. 

The Lambo driver needs to develop some situational awareness. He didn't have any class competitors close by, so give the other cars a break. 

I lean slightly towards this being at fault of the Porsche.  

If you go second by second it paints the picture:

At the 12:50 mark, you can see the Porsche was clearly going to go around the OUTSIDE of the Lambo at the exit of Turn 10.  The Lambo let his line run wide (normal racing line) which obstructed the pass opportunity for the Porsche.  This choice left a big hole open for the BMW to attempt to pass on the right (not desperate IMO, just the open space on the track).     

12:51 - The Lambo is now at the outside of the track, firmly blocking the Porsche from continuing around the outside.  At this point, the BMW has already made his move to the right, while the Porsche is still behind the Lambo.  Even the announcer acknowledges this error by the Porsche (Tandy) saying "Tandy just chose the wrong side there".

12:52 - The BMW is now firmly pulling alongside the Porsche BEFORE the Porsche begins making a move to the right and is able to be on the throttle sooner.  Realizing he is now obstructed and about to be passed, the Porsche (Tandy) turns right sharply into the side of the BMW who is already alongside and passing. 

12:53 - The BMW having had made the correct decision on which side to pass the Lambo is ahead of both the Lambo AND the Porsche.  Unfortunately, the Porsche steering into the side of the BMW unsettles the BMW which is yeeted off the track heading into the braking zone of the next corner.  

I don't think it matters "who is ahead" at point of first contact.  Just because you're ahead of someone driving down a straightaway doesn't give you the right to steer across the track into their door.  They weren't racing to an apex in a corner.  Tandy chose poorly, he was being passed, he attempted to save it by turning out late to block the BMW (who chose the correct line to deal with traffic), but Tandy moved late, and drove into the side of the BMW.  It all happened fast, likely a "racing incident" but splitting hairs more fault lies on Tandy then BMW given that the BMW simplty took the open lane and was driving straight forwards.  Tandy is the one who chose the wrong path to deal with the traffic, and then changed direction and drove into the side of the BMW.  

If I were the Steward I'd have to call it a racing incident; they both could have given each other more room but that wasn't going to happen given the stakes.

With that said the whole field was very elbows out the entire weekend

In reply to xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) :

I think I agree with your call. Both seem at least partially at fault here.

From the camera angle, the BMW made the move to the outside first.

However

The BMW didn't seem too concerned about leaving enough space for the Porsche, especially because it looks like the BMW turned into the Porsche before the entry of the turn.

At any rate, I'm glad I'm not the steward who had to make the call.

I'm not convinced any of them were technically in the wrong, but each appears to have misjudged the other two at critical moments... Which sounds mostly like racing.

Edit: The BMW didn't turn into the Porsche causing the contact, it was turned in by contact from the Porsche. The Porsche was being forced toward the BMW by the Lambo, who shouldn't have put himself there in the first place. Even as 'just racing' I'd argue the Porsche and Lambo made bad calls, that the Porsche got rewarded for, and the BMW got the short end of the stick despite otherwise being mostly clean.

It's the track's fault.

Track should be much wider so they can all fit through there better.

Multi class racing. Stuff happens. Definitely not clean at all.

Full disclosure: I am a Porsche-o-phile.

Andy Hollis said:

It's the track's fault.

Track should be much wider so they can all fit through there better.

Is it too late to change my answer? I like this answer better.

Andy Hollis said:

It's the track's fault.

Track should be much wider so they can all fit through there better.

This is like that one year at Solo Nationals that I tried to protest God for denying me a trophy.

Colin Wood said:

Andy Hollis said:

It's the track's fault.

Track should be much wider so they can all fit through there better.

Is it too late to change my answer? I like this answer better.

How about this? Narrower cars. 

To me, it was just last-lap, last corner racing.

If I were to be upset at anyone, I'd be upset with Jack Aitken in the Whelen Cadillac who held up the leaders for several laps while being completely out of contention at 77 seconds behind.  Sure, no one wants to get lapped, but his race was over.  Gotta get out of the way much sooner than he did, IMO.

David S. Wallens said:

Colin Wood said:

Andy Hollis said:

It's the track's fault.

Track should be much wider so they can all fit through there better.

Is it too late to change my answer? I like this answer better.

How about this? Narrower cars. 

Ooooh...I like this!

It's the Monaco conundrum.

preach said:

Multi class racing. Stuff happens. Definitely not clean at all.

Full disclosure: I am a Porsche-o-phile.

I can't tell what's a "Porsche" and what's a "BMW" and what's a "Lamborghini" from the photos.

To me it looks like outside car tried to squeeze middle car down to inside of next corner in order to compromise their exit and finish the pass....not realizing that they hadn't cleared the GT car and middle car had nowhere to go.

Racing incident IMO. However it could have been prevented by the GT car backing out and letting them race. Seems like they were only going to compromise their own race by trying to contest the next corner against cars in a different class.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Sure, the prototype cars' branding is subtle, but the Huracan looks like the street version.