ALMS at Laguna Seca - last lap crash

[AJI]

Being a bit of a racer myself I have defended my position a number of times in various races....but never to the extent shown by the Porsche in this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFvcyWYEkCo


I don't think that the Porsche was penalised for this 'defense' (unless anyone can correct me), but how is a faster car supposed to overtake these days?

If anyone watched this ALMS race recently then the Corvette was trying to get past for quite a while, it was much faster but was being blocked out on most corners. A well timed move on the last straight would have seen him snatch 1st position, but the Porsche decided that he would give him the choice of the wall or 2nd place.

I notice this happening in most racing series these days, and having not raced for a couple of years I was wondering is this now allowed?
(I always thought that endangering the lives of other drivers by forcing them off track was a bit of a 'no no').

[TomE]

The 'vette nearly crossed the finish line first, would the result have stood if he'd crossed it backwards in a ball of flames?

[stevesingo]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, repost!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Steve

[LongQ]

AJI said:

I don't think that the Porsche was penalised for this 'defense' (unless anyone can correct me), but how is a faster car supposed to overtake these days?

I would think if would be best without deliberately running into the back of the car in front (that had been defending quite well for a few laps) on the last corner and from a long way back.

The reputation of neither driver comes out of it well. Were they seeking drives in the BTCC I wonder?

[Mojocvh]

LongQ said:

AJI said:

I don't think that the Porsche was penalised for this 'defense' (unless anyone can correct me), but how is a faster car supposed to overtake these days?

I would think if would be best without deliberately running into the back of the car in front (that had been defending quite well for a few laps) on the last corner and from a long way back.

Bullst! The corvette had passed once but had to give the place back. After that the blocking manoeuvres had the corvette twice physically pushed off onto the dirt. At the last corner the corvette driver was brake tested and tapped the rear of the car in front who then steered into the side of the corvette pushing it into a BIG accident!!

[LongQ]

Mojocvh said:

The corvette had passed once but had to give the place back.

Why was that then?

From what I recall of watching a longer clip covering the last three or four laps it was a hard scrap that was getting dirtier - hence why I said neither driver came out of it well.

[Mardybum]

Had it coming. The Vette driver Matt Neal'd him into the last corner!

[Airbag]

LongQ said:

Mojocvh said:

The corvette had passed once but had to give the place back.

Why was that then?

From what I recall of watching a longer clip covering the last three or four laps it was a hard scrap that was getting dirtier - hence why I said neither driver came out of it well.

JM crossed into the pit exit illegally to pass the Porsche.

[GravelBen]

Mardybum said:

Matt Neal'd him

Touche'

[AJI]

stevesingo said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, repost!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Steve

Damn and blast!
(I'm usually good at not reposting...but I will have to take this one square on the chin!)

[Regional]

Hate to weigh in on a repost but brake tested? No - JB was hit mid corner, a brake test would have seen him punted on turn in. The Corvette simply released his brakes and ran into the back of him.

He'd gained the spot as mentioned by running all 4 wheels off the circuit and using the pit lane exit so the penalty was fair, it obviously riled him when JB ran him into the dirt at turn 1 on the last lap.

If I was in the porsche I would have done the same, to put yourself in JB's mindset have a look at the last lap of Sebring 12hr 2008 and you'll understand his actions.

Matt Neal'd - exactly

[AJI]

Still, no matter what mind set you adopt, a driver shouldn't endanger life like that.
I know that you're allowed one move to protect you position and then regain the racing line, but that one move should be a safe one and not something that is basically forcing another driver off-track or into a wall.

I was just wondering if the FiA rules have recently been changed, or if they're different in ALMS regulations to allow such actions?

Edited by AJI on Monday 16th November 14:33

[LongQ]

AJI said:

Still, no matter what mind set you adopt, a driver shouldn't endanger life like that.
I know that you're allowed one move to protect you position and then regain the racing line, but that one move should be a safe one and not something that is basically forcing another driver off-track or into a wall.

I was just wondering if the FiA rules have recently been changed, or if they're different in ALMS regulations to allow such actions?

Edited by AJI on Monday 16th November 14:33

ALMS dealt with it as they saw fit (Suspended 2 race bans for both drivers next season) and from comments I have read the drivers seem not to be slamming each other for what happened having enjoyed the racing.

I haven't yet found a video that shows a good clear view of the final seconds near the wall so it's all a bit challenging to make a fully informed judgement. That said having studied the available TV footage several times I don't see any obvious evidence of 'brake testing'. Indeed quite the opposite.

Personally I blame de Ferran.

Had he been a second or so quicker he would have been past the GT2s before the flag and so they would not have had the extra lap to battle through ...