FW: Audi takes 1-2 at Texas Motor Speedway

Tue Sep 5 15:15:55 EDT 2000

In a message dated 9/3/00 "Buchholz, Steven"
<Steven.Buchholz at kla-tencor.com> writes:

<< While I think it is fantastic to see Audi kicking butt in the ALMS
series, I
wonder if such domination is a good thing.  I'm thinking about what the
917
did to Can-Am racing, or the rules changes that came in the BTCC ...
seems
the same sorts of things may result from this.  Any other thoughts? >>

A few thoughts since this is a subject that we beat to death in various
racing forums...

1. While Audi has done well in the past three races and at Sebring, it
was this win that just put them ahead in the mfg points chase and the
current driver's points leader still is not an Audi driver. In other
words, the season is not over yet and Audi has not won it all yet. 

2. The things being said about the current R8 and the way that the Joest
team runs them are all highly complimentry and it is up to the
competition to step up and challange them. I do not see BMW doing that,
rather they are resting on last year's laurels and quitely pulling out
of sportscar racing in favor of their F1 engine program. This is why the
BMWs are not competitive this year--they have not evolved and are no
longer a factory effort. Daimler Chrysler and Cadillac are coming into
sportscar racing. Porsche hopefully will return. Look out for the
Chryslers next year. They used Dallara (Italian constructor who built
the Ferrari 333SP) to design and build the chassis and according to
inside reports is a thing of functional beauty and it will be powered by
a World of Outlaws type V8. Panoz is starting to rise to Audi's level
and will keep pushing.

3. This type of domination is always good when it is your team winning
<grin>. In the case of the 917-10/30 CanAm cars they were not "my team"
at the time since I was a huge McLaren fan. I was a kid at the time and
I believed that Penske and Porsche killed CanAm with those cars. It was
only many years later I became much more of a Porsche fan and realized
that history told a different story. The real history was explained to
me in posts over on the Professional SportsCar (ALMS's organizational
arm) forums. It was explained to me that the CanAm died mostly as a
result of the energy crisis and mis-management from SCCA Pro Racing
(when explained it all makes sense but I can't explain it well so I
won't try).

4. You're justified in being scared, very scared. I say this because it
seems that Audi is very quick to rise to the top of any form of
motorsports they enter and in almost all cases get neutered by the
rulesmakers faster, it seems, than any other make. Audi also has a
history of becoming dominant (World Challenge GT the exception but they
run 100hp down in that series) very quickly. However, in the case of
ALMS where the series is only 1/2 way through the second season and cars
must conform to ACO (LeMans) rules this is not as much of a concern.
What Audi is doing right now with their investment in this series is
very smart. When it was rumored Audi would take it all this year and
pull out in favor of something else earlier this season Audi Sport NA
stepped up the involvement in the series with that excellent
post-Mosport commercial running everywhere and announced they are event
sponser for the Petit Le Mans event at the end of this month. They all
but confirmed ongoing involvement and agreement to sell R8s to
privateers ongoing. In other words, Audi realises they are key to the
survival and viability of ALMS as a top notch global racing series and
have committed to more than their share of responsibility to help Don
Panoz make that happen. Kudos to Audi for something BMW,
Daimler-Chrysler, Porsche, et all (except Panoz) are not doing. This
level of support behind the series as a manufacturer will help Audi not
be penalized so quickly for a job well done. 

5. Audi simply has the best package and that is not just a fast car. The
car is the best sportscar in the world today. It has broken sportscar
track records held by the Porsche 962C at Sears Point and Mosport (which
is quite an accomplishment for a flat bottom race car with engine air
inlet restrictions much tighter than imposed on the Porsche back then).
Audi have arguably the best drivers in the series...certainly at least
McNish can be considered the best in ALMS. Audi choose the best team in
sportscar racing in Joest. Audi is not bashful when it comes to spending
money on racing. (Now, if they could only toss a little of that in their
fan's direction so we can show more support at the track!)

The latest Audi rumors indicate an interest in becoming a CART Champ Car
(formerly known as Indy Car) series engine supplier when CART's new
engine formulas come on line (2003 season). It almost certainly would
not happen sooner...too close to that formula change to warrent
developing a new engine now I would think.

Audi no longer seems interested in obtaining a failing F1 team in hopes
of rebadging it and making a go in F1...I think they see the struggles
Ford (Jaguar) are enduring despite a huge budget and are rightfully
thinking twice about that idea.

It seems almost a given that Audi (AG) will return to Le Mans. It is
also pretty much a given that Audi Sport NA with Joest's help will run,
and perhaps even sell, the R8s in ALMS ongoing.

Audi is also very serious in the World Challenge GT series (a *very*
exciting series BTW) in both their own team (Champion) and selling
customer cars.

Audi will be better served globally by an ALMS program and a CART engine
program than they ever could in F1 at the present time and all
indications show that is the way they are looking. CART is going into
Germany and MBZ is probably pulling out of CART. The Zakspeed team in
Germany is rumored to be setting up a CART team and want a German engine
supplier...makes one go hmm.

Congratulations to Audi for the 1-2 in Texas!!!! This was a race that
insiders thought Audi may be vulnerable due to the extreme heat. I can't
wait for Laguna Seca in mid-October!!!! You all in the PNW have fun this
weekend at Portland! I would say I'm jealous but there is a CART race
coming to town and that points battle is wide open now.

See some of you in Monterey!

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com