At Daytona Speedway today I watched the qualifying run for the GTS class. Two Corvettes were the fastest in class, 1st and 2nd place and fourth and fifth overall. One of the Corvettes,#3, was co-driven by Dale Earnhart of Nascar fame. The two Vipers in the qualifying seemed slow and one spun out at one point. Track was wet. The best Viper could do was 4th in class(#15) and 38th overall. What is more telling is the time: 2.03.275 compared to the fastest Corvette time of 1:50.799. Lets hope the Viper was holding something back because if thats the best they can do the Corvettes should run away in class, provided of course that they hold together which is the real test of a 24 hour road race. Just one Viper fans observation. Fred C.
rolex 24
- Thread starter fred
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Roland L-Ocala FL
Enthusiast
What a difference factory sponsorship makes! I too hope the Viper was laying back, but I really doubt it. I realize there will be some help from the factory in one way or another, but I really think this will be the Vette's year. Were there any Saleen Mustangs out there practicing?
GTS Dean
Enthusiast
Chamberlain has never been one of the front-running GTS-R teams in the first place. Last year, Erik Messley qualified one of their cars very well, but still off the Oreca pace. Erik said that much of the difference was due to tire brand choice.
Erik is co-driving an AGT class Camaro this year. I noted with interest that it out-qualified both GTS-Rs in the same conditions.
Erik is co-driving an AGT class Camaro this year. I noted with interest that it out-qualified both GTS-Rs in the same conditions.
Interesting to see vettes qualifying ahead of most SportsRacing Prototypes (SRPs). I wonder if a lot of cars were holding back. Also, the vettes times were slower than last year's Viper/vette times. But, the wet track may have a lot to do with the qualifying results. No need to destroy a car in qualifying - this is enduarnce, not a sprint.
bad viper
Enthusiast
I've seen
the Speed vision commerecial several times
this week . They show a Vette in the lead and a Viper
going off course...not such great PR for the Viper!
the Speed vision commerecial several times
this week . They show a Vette in the lead and a Viper
going off course...not such great PR for the Viper!
speedpup
Enthusiast
Well, I have two Vettes but get good info here. Sorry to see no Vipers from the factory. If the Corvette wins it's kinda hollow victory. If they don't do good this year I think GM will pull the plug. Picking the two Earnhardt's with no wet weather racing is a big mistake!
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