Don't blame Peugeot...

[SACK-U]

Since we’re on the subject of Sebring, Audi will test for four days immediately following the 12 Hours. Not with a ‘transition’ car, but with an R15 version that’s fully compliant with 2010 ACO rules. So the ‘blame’ (Murphy did his share) on Peugeot for blocking a transition car at Sebring seems to have been overtaken by events. The fact is that during the week when the American Le Mans Series in on the track at Sebring, a pair of fully functional, shaken-down, brand new, ready-to-race R15’s will be sitting inside a transporter nearby...




I told you not to blame Peugeot!

[leeself]

Since we’re on the subject of Sebring, Audi will test for four days immediately following the 12 Hours. Not with a ‘transition’ car, but with an R15 version that’s fully compliant with 2010 ACO rules. So the ‘blame’ (Murphy did his share) on Peugeot for blocking a transition car at Sebring seems to have been overtaken by events. The fact is that during the week when the American Le Mans Series in on the track at Sebring, a pair of fully functional, shaken-down, brand new, ready-to-race R15’s will be sitting inside a transporter nearby...




I told you not to blame Peugeot!

wow, ok so it's officially "Fuck the French!" and "Fuck Audi!" Sounds like Sebring to me.
Remember the big "Ferrari Sucks" banner in '95?

-Lee

[Hardpoint]

We may spell out "Fuck Audi" in the beeramid this year.

[alpine951]

We may spell out "Fuck Audi" in the beeramid this year.

Hmmm....  Sounds like a good tshirt idea.

[atcgreg]

Watched them last year at the podium as they so disrespectfully left their bottles of Champagne behind-I want racing not political bullshit or poor sportsmanship.


Ted Nugent,  rock star and avid bow hunter from Michigan, was  being interviewed by a French  journalist , an animal rights activist  when the discussion came around to deer  hunting. 

The  journalist asked, 'What do you think is the last  thought in the head of a deer before you shoot  him? Is it, 'Are you my friend?' or is it 'Are  you the one who killed my  brother?

Nugent  replied, 'Deer aren't capable of that kind of  thinking. All they care about is, what am I  going to eat next, who am I going to screw next,  and can I run fast enough to get away. They are  very much like the  French.

[Limps With Beer]

     

[ScienceTom]

Watched them last year at the podium as they so disrespectfully left their bottles of Champagne behind-I want racing not political bullshit or poor sportsmanship.


Ted Nugent,  rock star and avid bow hunter from Michigan, was  being interviewed by a French  journalist , an animal rights activist  when the discussion came around to deer  hunting.  

The  journalist asked, 'What do you think is the last  thought in the head of a deer before you shoot  him? Is it, 'Are you my friend?' or is it 'Are  you the one who killed my  brother?

Nugent  replied, 'Deer aren't capable of that kind of  thinking. All they care about is, what am I  going to eat next, who am I going to screw next,  and can I run fast enough to get away. They are  very much like the  French.

Have done business with the French........Fucking perfect!

[Hardpoint]

The latest, from SpeedTV.com:

In the latest saga of intrigue, gamesmanship and sending of messages through odd actions, we will indeed see Audi and Peugeot go head-to-head at Sebring next week in LMP1, albeit not during any of the official track sessions.

Audi’s new R15s, in its new ‘Plus’ configuration, will wrap up a test a Homestead-Miami this Saturday, then head to Sebring to prepare for a two-day test at Sebring on Monday and Tuesday.

The Mon-Tues test, organized by the Sebring track, rather than ALMS/IMSA, will see the R15s run in anger in full 2010 specification for the first time against many of their 24 Hours of Le Mans rivals, and particularly, the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs.

The Audi R15's ineffective 'chimney' is just one of many aero alterations that will be seen on the R15 Plus next Monday and Tuesday at Sebring. Sadly, those are the only two days the cars will face Peugeot. (Marshall Pruett)
We should be able to draw comparisons between the two diesel titans as both are expected to be on full 2010 ACO specification for the test days. The R15s have already tested at Sebring this year, albeit dressed in their 2009 bodywork. Some changes were made to the drivetrain – most notably within the gearbox – but its aerodynamics, the biggest area of development for the new year, will be revealed on Monday.

With the ACO calling for the rear of the LMP cars to be enclosed for 2010 – a significant change from previous years – Audi’s through body aero architecture, one they adopted from their DTM cars, has been mostly stifled by the rule change.

The sight of Audi’s on track and in the paddock will be somewhat surreal, knowing they’ve opted not to race. A well-publicized rift with Peugeot where Audi asked to race at Sebring in 2009 specification (only to have the French team block that request) led to the German team’s move to skip the 12-hour classic, and it has now evolved into an even stranger place.

With Audi set to test in 2010 trim, there would be no issue from Peugeot if Audi Sport chose to enter the race, but my guess is that after the decisive ‘Non!’ Peugeot gave Audi’s earlier request, the Ingolstadt-based team is choosing to keep their cars off the track as much as possible prior to Le Mans in order to limit Peugeot’s ability to benchmark their performance.

IMSA’s full timing and data loops – what teams used to monitor each other’s sector times and speeds through numerous sections of the 17-turn track – won’t go live until Wednesday…

Just how the fans react to this intra-diesel soap opera remains to be seen, and I’m sure I won’t be the only one who’s saddened at the thought of Peugeot racing by themselves while the R15’s are on the grounds.

I can’t guarantee what the 12-hour race will be like, but it’s safe to say the Audi vs. Peugeot battle early next week will probably feel like a separate event of its own.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/pruett-triple-stint-311/

[WTF]

I'm thinkin' if they're pleased with the results in Homestead, we may see a late entry.

[Hardpoint]

I'm thinking they don't give a shit about winning anything but Le Mans. I'll be shocked, albeit pleasantly, if they enter Sebring.

[leeself]

Fuck the politics. Race or don't race.

and Fuck the French. 

[DKWEST]

I like Toast

[natefromohio]

Fuck the politics. Race or don't race.

and Fuck the French. 

Nicely said! I couldn't agree more

[NoSweatRacing]

Fuck the politics. Race or don't race.

and Fuck the French. 

They looked like good friends last year !!! Can we start a caption contest 

[Misplaced Floridian]

Fuck the politics. Race or don't race.

and Fuck the French. 

Nicely said! I couldn't agree more

..............