ALMS & Grand Am MERGE!

[call_me_andrew]

I think there was enough room in this world for both buisness models, just not both buisnesses.

EXCLUSIVE: ALMS, GRAND-AM Finalizing Merger

[dataman1]

I'll believe it when I see it. Note the word speculation being used over and over by pundents....they don't know anyting....just like their own voice.

[Jag_Warrior]

Compared to where ALMS was just a few seasons ago, it really has fallen off in popularity and manufacturer involvement rather badly. Sadly, since losing Audi and others, and then moving away from Speed to an almost IRL-like TV package, I've barely kept up with it. And this season, with the recent changes to the DP's, I've probably watched more Grand Am than ALMS - which considering how I felt in the beginning, is very odd.

Anyway, I had some of my most fun moments as a race fan at ALMS races, especially since it dawned just as CART was dying. I introduced some friends to racing through ALMS and I met a lot of really nice people at some ALMS races. Fond memories all around! If this merger happens, I just hope that something better comes out of it. That hasn't really been the case with IndyCar and CCWS, so I hold out hope that ALMS and Grand Am can do it right and actually grow the sport again.

[FIAT1]

Announcement wednesday for merger to take place 2014. I hope they don't dumb down series to much. I had a great time at Road America this year with ALMS.

[call_me_andrew]

Sadly, since losing Audi and others, and then moving away from Speed to an almost IRL-like TV package,

Whoa! I'll have you know that IndyCar has a much better television package, inasmuch as the races are on an actual televison channel, however obscure.

[FIAT1]

Good buy ALMS, last bastion of high tech and development racing in this country. Thanks for the memories. Damn shame.

[jeffconn]

There are 18 tracks that already hold races with one or two of the series. Take 12 to 14 of those tracks and it would make an unbelievable schedule for road racing fans.

Road America
Daytona
Indy
Laguna Seca
Road Atlanta
Watkins Glen
Lime Rock
Long Beach
Sebring
Montreal
Mosport
Belle Isle
Barber
New Jersey
Homestead
VIR
Mid-Ohio
Baltimore

[call_me_andrew]

From SPEED.com:

Part of the merger agreement is for the DeltaWing to be accepted into the new series, granted it meets safety and performance standards, which Panoz said it has already achieved at Le Mans. Whether it races in a separate class for alternative technologies or among the prototype entries is to-be-determined.

I didn't think this could get any more surreal, but there it goes!

[F1boat]

good decision, I think that in this climate it is hard for rival series to exist.

[wedge]

good decision, I think that in this climate it is hard for rival series to exist.

It's too simplistic to say that.

Considering that IMS/ALMS wants to keep its ACO ties what's going to happen with the prototypes? DPs are cheaper to run but don't satisfy the purists though they recently have been modernised.

What happens if P1 manufacturer wants to return?

What's going to happen with 2014 Sebring 12hrs?

Are there pessimists dreading ISC taking over Sebring and Road Atlanta?