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Where are you getting your data from? The top 3 cars after day 1 were Celicas: It went Kenny Sorenson, Rob Carpenter, then Rob Foley? Granted, Carpeneter did win by a landslide on day 2, but that comes down to grid position and luck.
I can't believe that anyone would think even with the 'correct' tire that the Celica is easier to drive than a Mini with the 'wrong' tire in wet conditions, especially someone who's driven a Celica more than a handful of times.
I think that Carpenter is doing himself a dis-service by not running the car at a few events. If the new 'S' is that dominant, then what better litmus test to show this against than the previous year National champion?
If I had a GT, I'd welcome the challenge instead of running away from it. - AB
The "data" was from what we saw with our own eyes, not others memories, while in the same grid running in the same class. Luck certainly plays a factor in any sport to some degree, but I think Rob has a lot more talent than luck. As far as the tires, for the conditions at the very moments that each car ran and the tires that those particular drivers had available at the time (and this is fact as I watched and policed the others during the event myself for obvious reasons) ...well you see the results. Yes Kenny was ahead the first day on the first course...again I know, I was standing right there. The "data" is based on what happened at the entire event especially Sunday on the second course in variable conditions. What happens both days determines the winner.
And who, in your opinion, is running away? Carpenter, me or the others who ran Celica GTs last year? I don't consider going to another class to enjoy the sport while you see what shakes down with a newly classed car is running anywhere. I think it's good judgement. Besides you said yourself in an earlier thread about this subject this year that, at least in our case, we had a perfectly good CS car to run. Granted going to a class with Eric, Donnie, Rob, Mike, Michael, Darrin and others will certainly be a learning and challenging experience for us. Although so was running with Mark, Ian and Brian in GS. But then you know yourself only too well that running with the best only makes you better. From what I've heard, Rob has his own reasons for going to CS, and his reasons are what matters.
The alternative for GS drivers is to purchase an '05 MCS.
In my opinion, any car and any driver can win on a given day, but the odds appear to be favor of the '05 MCS in GS, especially in Pro. In ProSolo it's like running a DS car with a GS pax. That's my impression after the first Pro this year, and since Beth is going to drive Brian's in Atlanta I suspect that the Strelnieks are aware of this as well. Most prosolo drivers have probably noticed, I can guarantee that the prosolo ladies classes have.
On a larger more open course, with newer Mini drivers, yes I think the Celi with an experienced Celi driver could still win. If the car is set up, you limit any wheelspin, have your timing down and use it's power to pull out, especially in a sweeper, before the Mini 's power can set down and catch up or have it's own wheelspin issues ,yes the Celi can still do it. It's just a lot of ifs.
We'll all just have to see what shakes out. You just don't know what could happen in the long run.
I know, you just wanted another chance to use your favorite emoticon.
Hey Chuck that's Aaron's icon! Let him play with it.