Friday, April 16, 2010
Long Beach ALMS Preview
The Rahal Letterman Racing Bell Micro BMWs will be facing two challenges this weekend at the Long Beach Grand Prix. One is the track itself and the other is a rule change that could hinder the car’s performance.
Sebring and Long Beach couldn’t be more different. Sebring is an open “airport” circuit; very fast and the race lasts for 12 long hours. Long Beach is contested on the city streets; very tight and technical, it’s also the shortest event on the ALMS calendar.
Set up will be totally different than at Sebring where the team scored two podium finishes. Long Beach is bumpy, narrow and lined with concrete barriers. Compounding the teams efforts will a “performance adjustment” to the rules made by the ALMS. The two BMW M3s have had their minimum weight increased by 25kg in an effort to level the playing field. The two factory Corvette C6 Rs had the weight added at Sebring and will again have to carry that amount at Long Beach. The Jaguar’s Sebring weight penalty has been removed.
Get used to calling GT2 simply ‘GT’ for the next seven races. While the ultra-competitive category gets a new name, it remains more or less the same from last month’s season-opener.
archives
- 8/31 :: DAVEY HAMILTON TURNS IN COMPETITIVE RUN DURING BITTERSWEET RACE IN CHICAGO FOR DE FERRAN DRAGON RACING
- 8/24 :: LATE RACE INCIDENT SPOILS POTENTIAL TOP 10 RUN FOR RAPHAEL MATOS AND DE FERRAN DRAGON RACING
- 8/9 :: FAST CAR AND FAST CREW HELP RAPHAEL MATOS AND DE FERRAN DRAGON RACING POST BIG CLIMB IN HONDA INDY 200 AT MID OHIO
- 7/27 :: From rear of the grid to the podium, BMW triumphs at Lime Rock Park once again.
- 7/25 :: DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN FOR RAPHAEL MATOS AND DE FERRAN DRAGON TEAM AT HONDY INDY EDMONTON
- 7/20 :: AVNET JOINS BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING SPONSOR LINEUP
- 7/19 :: LATE RACE INCIDENT STEALS TOP 10 RUN FROM RAPHAEL MATOS IN THE IZOD INDYCAR SERIES HONDA INDY TORONTO
- 7/14 :: THE PATRON RECAP: LARRY H. MILLER DEALERSHIPS UTAH GRAND PRIX
- 5/30 :: AFTER PROMISING START TO MAY IN INDIANAPOLIS DE FERRAN DRAGON RACING SUFFERS TWO CRASHES IN 2010 INDY 500
- 5/27 :: Bell Micro’s Raphael Matos Qualifies on 4th row for Indy 500
- 5/22 :: Solid Second Place for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team at Laguna Seca
- 5/1 :: Bell Micro’s Rafa Matos finishes 16th at Kansas and moves into the top 10 for the session championship
- 4/21 :: Bell Micro’s Raphael Matos Finishes 20th at Long Beach Grand Prix
- 4/16 :: Long Beach ALMS Preview
- 4/5 :: Bell Micro's Matos charges from the back row to a stunning 8th place finish in rain delayed St. Petersburg Indy Car Race
- 3/22 :: Bell Micro and BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Finish second and third at Sebring 12 Hours
- 3/18 :: Bell Micro at Sebring 12 Hours this weekend
- 2/26 :: BELL MICRO PRODUCTS JOINS BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM SPONSOR LINEUP FOR 2010 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES SEASON
- 1/10 :: ALMS – New Class Structure for 2010