Re: TUDOR USCC (nee Grand Am / ALMS) - what are your feelings on the new series?
I am happy about the merger, but concerned about all the people who may be unintended casualties of the business process.
For example, both series employ many officials, techs, and others, some of which are now redundant. Normal attrition will cover some of those positions, but other folks will be working less, or not at all in some cases. Hopefully the numbers affected are small.
A similar situation exists with people who work for teams that may reduce their involvement in the sport. I'm not as worried about pro drivers losing opportunities, although some will have a reduction in total races run in a year, and possibly reductions in salary with those who used to drive for two different teams in two different series.
On the positive side, I am super excited to see all the teams running together once again. I'm excited at the prospect of large fields at Daytona and Sebring, and the other tracks up to the pre-planned capacities. I'm curious to see how the DP/P2 performance comparisons balance out. I'm looking forward to the weirdness of a DP going through Turn 1 at Sebring, or the odd feeling of a P2 streaking around the banking at Daytona. I can't wait to talk to team owners on a regular basis who used to be in very different series. The racing should be fresh and interesting. Many unanswered questions, but I am pretty excited!
We will see. Hopefully Continental has their tire specs sorted out for the Roar test at Daytona, and we can get to the fun parts.
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Gerardo Bonilla
Professor of Comedic Slip Angle Use
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