Less than halfway into the 10-hour race, it rained and ended. Eeeeh.
After the Corvettes ran in tandem at the front for most of the racing, a tactical move by the Risi Competizione team got them the GT2 win. On the yellow flag period just before the downpour, the Ferrari changed to wet-race tires while its GT2 rivals were stuck with pitting under green. Game over.
I thought these cars ran in the Rain ? Wasn't the race stopped because of Lightning ?
--- CaveMan from N.J. on 09.27.09 at 8:56am
Well the Corvette team had the Best Balanced cars in GT2 it seemed dry or wet the consistancy was there over the long run it was looking like a VERY good finish. Sadley you must credit the red team whome we can not name... for a briliant Strategic play under the yellow. with good weather 2 weeks from now let's see how things play out. Next season is looking better all the time.
--- gbriden from Markham, Ontario Canada on 09.27.09 at 11:53am
I was there, and watched as Corvette dominated the competition from the start...right up until the Risi car (was slow all day) got a break to get back on lead lap and made the right call for rain tires. On the ALMS radio feed and speed TV broadcast they were showing HEAVY rain coming, but Risi was the only team to take a shot at the rains...there was the diff. Sad for the Vettes...by the way best move of the day...JO had just come out of the pits on fresh tires and the car started to get away from him in turn five...he dumped the clutch, tromped the throttle, spun the car back in the right direction without leaving tarmac, and blasted off down the straight. Genius.
--- screx0472 from unknown on 09.27.09 at 1:37am
I was there too. It was unfortunate the race ended the way it did, but there were literally rivers running across the track. For those of you who haven't followed the weather closely in Georgia, they have had severe flooding over the past few weeks from so much rain, so needless to say, things were pretty saturated to beging with. Had the race gone the distance it was going to be quite a shootout b/w the Vettes, BMW, and the lead Lizard. Corvette was clearly quickest at the start in the morning rain, but things were pretty even once the track dried out. The first 5 hours were fantastic and I don't doubt had they gone the full 10 it would have been a great run to the finish.
--- monzaman from PA on 09.27.09 at 2:54pm
We were there too and yes there was lightening and RIVERS of water. After Johnny spun out you should have seen him take off, he was flying! Unfortunately, the race was red flagged before he had the chance to take off. Our friends had a RV and we stayed until 8:00 pm when the announcement was made that the race was declared over. We have attended PM since 1999 and have never seen this kind of rain before.
--- cor123 from Florida on 09.27.09 at 6:12pm
I woke up Saturday morning in our RV in Turns 7-8 and you could just tell that rain was coming. Road Atlanta saw torrential downpours from 5:30 AM on until the final storm came up with lightning etc. HATED to see the race end with the C6Rs running so incredibly well at the start. Strong showing regardless of the finish, definitely served notice that the GT2 C6Rs were ready for a class win. Great racing and good time, regardless of the finish! It was a letdown when it was called because the racing had been extremely competitive all day, but I saw the rivers across the track and safety simply had to prevail. There were cars spinning out and losing control on all parts of the track. Radar doesn't get that green/yellow/red over that much of a state except in a hurricane, and unlike a hurricane moving through it just stayed put after about 4 pm.
--- DarkKnightC6 from Aiken, SC on 09.28.09 at 9:34pm
Tough break for the Jakes.
We'll get 'em next race.
--- SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 09.28.09 at 10:02pm
Last comment: Tough break for the Jakes.
We'll get 'em next race. --- SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 09.28.09 at 10:02pm
Tough break for the Jakes.
We'll get 'em next race.
--- SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 09.28.09 at 10:02pm