I wish i could have seen more of the race, but my streaming online feed died at about 6am their time. The chunk that i did see, however, was brilliant. HUGE congrats to Peugeot for taking the win and de-throning Audi. I would have liked to see the Aston LMPs do better, but I can't really complain about 4th place.
I know this is petty, but hey, that's the kind of guy I am. I hate the Peugeot on looks alone. It looks like a reworked 2001 Lola or something. It's ugly, awkward and uninspiring compared to the modern, cut-bodied and shark-finned Audi and the sharp and lithe Astons. The ACO should add a rule that if you're going to have the quiet drony diesel, you have to make the car look awesome.
The 905 that Peugeot won with in 1994 looked like it had dropped straight onto the racetrack from space. The 908 looks like it dropped straight on the racetrack from 1994.
*****THREADJACK***** Footage of the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans....Moss, Hawthorne, Fangio, Behra, Collins, Beub (pronouced boo-eb) et al driving various Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, Lotus, Porsche etc, etc...all of which look and sound awesome.
@SCROGGS!!: I think when anyone sees a SCROGGS!! threadjack, they should comment immediately and repeatedly so it shows on the front page as the most discussed thread. Consider it a small service to your fellow Jalops.
@Mobius_1 now with a Star in Freakonomics!: Maybe we should tell the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club that while wonderful machines, Lambos are, well, not exactly racing cars. I was at Le Mans in 2007 and the very same Lambo died on the very same lap-the first. I didn't even get to see it run.
@Peter Orosz: TBH, they shouldn't even have accepted that Lambo. I would have loved to see more Astons at the race, and another epic Aston vs Corvette race.
I was shocked to see Patrick Dempsey raced a GT2 F430 in this race, and did rather well.
I kind of blew my mind when I saw it. The lead actor in a very, ahem, effeminate hospital show is driving in one of the greatest motorsports events in history? Arguably one of the manliest pursuits in the world?
My mind was so thoroughly blown I couldn't come up with any snarky comments.
@Unevolved- Recommended by 4 out of 5 dentists.: I was impressed with his effort, 10th in class and 30th overall. However, he's got a way to go before he catches this guy Porsche 935 Turbo, driven by Dick Barbour, Rolm Stommolen and Newman, which finished 2nd overall at LeMans in '79
@SCROGGS!!: I'm not saying he's anywhere close to the Newmans and the McQueens of the Hollywood-LeMans interface, but just the duality of his emasculating show compared to his manliest of hobbies, endurance racing, is quite the contrast.
Audi pulled out because Porsche was pissed that they couldn't win any other way and were looking bad in front of their core market - the gold chain and tassel loafer set.
Just wait till Porsche finds out that Nissan's figured out how to run a GTR in LMS1...
But seriously, how much more could Audi win in ALMS? And Peugot is scared to run there. There was good racing between team mates, but that's sort of like always kissing your sister. Or so I've heard, but I'm not from West Virginia. But I digress...
I also think IRL and NASCAR are the only two big series here because of the notion that our audiences (especially on TV) want to see close, homogeneous races.
You guys are forgetting why VAG is even in motorsport. The R series TDI's are development vehicles for pushing technology. They have no interest in a series that is just about 'fair racing'. They wanted to prove the superiority of turbodiesels, and they have done that handily. I believe they decided that their image is better enhanced by the novice Jetta TDI Cup racer series, which will translate to more sales anyway.
You'd think Audi would have a thick skin when it came to the "leveling of the playing field". I'm thinking of the weight disadvantage they were required to carry in the Touring Cars.
All I can say is that this sucks. I was looking forward to seeing those cars "not-roaring" around Belle Isle this summer. Alas.
'Twas three weeks before Christmas, when all through the league Not a creature was stirring, completely fatigued; The rule book was hung by the lockers with care, In hopes that Volkswagen's teams soon would be there; The diesels were coming to rock the whole class, Several years running they've kicked lots of ass; With limited funding and increasing costs, Audi grew fearful of sooty exhausts, When out on the field there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Just to see Audi escape in a dash.
Le Mans is about the only series that I still enjoy watching in the US, mostly because of the Audi's, but I guess I'll do my best to enjoy watching it without 'em.
@grzydj: Uh, it's pretty easy to enjoy ALMS where, you know, there's actually racing going on. I like the Audi's too, don't get me wrong, but they have made LMP1 pretty damn boring lately (the last decade or so). LMP2, on the other hand, was very hotly contested, as was GT2- those were a lot more fun to follow this past year than either GT1 or LMP1.
I am sad that our much anticipated Acura v. Audi fight never will happen in LMP1, though. A real shame, that would be fun to watch.
06/16/09
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The 905 that Peugeot won with in 1994 looked like it had dropped straight onto the racetrack from space. The 908 looks like it dropped straight on the racetrack from 1994.
06/16/09
Footage of the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans....Moss, Hawthorne, Fangio, Behra, Collins, Beub (pronouced boo-eb) et al driving various Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, Lotus, Porsche etc, etc...all of which look and sound awesome.
+ Watch video
+ Watch video
You weren't that enthusiastic about work, were you?
*****END THREADJACK*****
06/16/09
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06/16/09
@SCROGGS!!: Oh ho, is that what we're calling it now?
Dammit, now you guys are making me nervous.
06/16/09
\digging quickly toward China....ooh look, a CHUD!
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
Now, if you could find something from 1961 showing the Index of Efficiency-winning Sunbeam Alpine, that would really be something...
06/16/09
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06/16/09
Congrats to all the winners, and a hearty, hearty well done to all those in the race, EXCEPT for that Lambo, the Queen of Garage.
06/16/09
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06/16/09
I kind of blew my mind when I saw it. The lead actor in a very, ahem, effeminate hospital show is driving in one of the greatest motorsports events in history? Arguably one of the manliest pursuits in the world?
My mind was so thoroughly blown I couldn't come up with any snarky comments.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
12/05/08
12/05/08
Just wait till Porsche finds out that Nissan's figured out how to run a GTR in LMS1...
But seriously, how much more could Audi win in ALMS? And Peugot is scared to run there. There was good racing between team mates, but that's sort of like always kissing your sister. Or so I've heard, but I'm not from West Virginia. But I digress...
12/05/08
12/05/08
Talk about you double entondre!
12/05/08
12/05/08
Multiple classes? (ALMS)
Staggered starts? (WRC)
Run-away victories? (F1)
That's a lot of work for our camerapeople!
12/05/08
12/05/08
All I can say is that this sucks. I was looking forward to seeing those cars "not-roaring" around Belle Isle this summer. Alas.
12/05/08
Not a creature was stirring, completely fatigued;
The rule book was hung by the lockers with care,
In hopes that Volkswagen's teams soon would be there;
The diesels were coming to rock the whole class,
Several years running they've kicked lots of ass;
With limited funding and increasing costs,
Audi grew fearful of sooty exhausts,
When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Just to see Audi escape in a dash.
12/05/08
12/05/08
I am sad that our much anticipated Acura v. Audi fight never will happen in LMP1, though. A real shame, that would be fun to watch.
12/05/08