Let's Stir Something Up - Opinions on Daytona Prototypes?

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, if anything will kick this board to life it'll be mention of the "other" prototype class in American sports car racing - Grand Am's Daytona Prototypes.

With a field that's growing to potentially 30+ cars in '05 at any one event, and top-flite teams campaigning the cars including The Racer's Group, Doran-Lista, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Brumos Group, these cars are poised to become the biggest thing in sports car racing.

However, because of the association with NASCAR, the restrictions to chassis and engine development, and the questionable aesthetics, Daytona Prototypes are controversial. So, what's the standing?

[kfoote]

My general feelings on tis situation:

Fans like the ALMS cars better
Competitors like the DP concept better
Drivers actually find the DP's just as fun to drive even though they're slower (think of Spec Miata vs T2 SRT-4 on track), and a good chunk of that is because there's more competition
The NASCAR connection means that the DP concept isn't going away soon because they have the funds to outspend the ALMS.

As much as I hate to admit it, ALMS is in trouble, as the DP's will have more cars and they're a lot less expensive to run than even an ALMS GTS car.

[drdisque]

I really like DP, the cars seem to be more different and it allows more development but still keeps the costs down.

I'm friends with Doug Goad's son and he went from driving a GTS Corvette to a DP car and the transition didn't kill his finances and the driving transition was very easy. The ALMS cars are too much like Indy/F1 cars with fenders.

[dejablu311]

It simply doesn't do anything for me. I am sure it is fun for the people involved but i can't imagine it truely connecting with the general population.

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, Daytona Prototypes are gaining in popularity, and attendance at the Grand Am events where the DP's run is up from when the series ran out-moded LMP's and ex-WSC cars. Their audience is slowly building where ALMS's audience is slowly shrinking (mostly due to Audi dominance). The only ALMS events that have so far remained unaffected are Sebring and Petit Le Mans, the only events that still draw from the international community.

Though I do miss the Risi 333SP (the last 333SP ever produced) dicing it up with the Doran Dallara-Judd, the Crawford, the infamous Frudd (Ferrari 333SP chassis with a Judd V10), and the classic Dyson Riley & Scott MkII. The Daytona Prototypes are offering the same level of competition at a much cheaper price.