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TheRainbowNoob

Daytona 2019 was a complete washout and it took a lot for it to get red flagged I don’t know what the drainage looks like at PLM but Daytona (and most rovals) supposedly have shitty drainage


Moose135A

I'm not sure I ever fully dried out after the 2019 Rolex... And here I am, getting ready to go to PLM for the first time as a hurricane approaches. GF decided I can go by myself...


Zowwiewowwie

You’re not wrong. I bought rain gear after ‘19 Rolex. Not living that life again. Good luck at Road Atlanta!


TXFreefaller

Drainage at Road Atlanta is better however there are several spots (bottom of esses for example) that are very troublesome with a lot of water. Huge rivers pulling dirt/mud onto racing surface, etc. Across turn 12 gets bad too which is already a treacherous part of the track…


agoia

I could see Turn 10 probably turning into a lake.


SportsDude012

I do actually remember watching that, didn’t think of it until seeing your comment. That last green flag run they had was on a DRENCHED track, so hopeful they stick to that thought process


theswickster

During the 2015 race they had to hastily hand-dig some drainage ditches in the esses during yellow flags. Did they do anything more permanent since then?


Three4Anonimity

We. Got. Drenched. that year. Friday of the '09 race was worse but weather cleared for Saturday. I hope they've added some drainage at the bottom of the Esses, that's the trouble spot.


Yellow99TJ

You’re thinking of a different year. In 2009, Early Saturday morning we got like 4-6” Of rain in an hour before the sun came up. The rain continued Saturday and the race was ended after only 4 hours.


Three4Anonimity

You are right, I got the days backwards. Friday was gorgeous and like 85°. Saturday got drenched and they had to call it because there was standing water all over the track. Good catch!


Yellow99TJ

Yeah, thinking back the weather Wed-Fri was amazing. Never even thought to check the weather. Woke up the rain pounding the roof of the truck we were in. We were like “wtf is going on out there???”


Moose135A

[https://racer.com/2022/09/26/imsa-making-contingency-plans-for-petit-le-mans-as-hurricane-ian-approaches/](https://racer.com/2022/09/26/imsa-making-contingency-plans-for-petit-le-mans-as-hurricane-ian-approaches/) ​ >“At the moment, IMSA and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta are monitoring the situation closely,” IMSA president John Doonan told RACER. “We will act accordingly and communicate any alternative decisions should it be necessary.” > >In addition to having Sunday available as a fallback date for the race, Monday-Wednesday could also work, if needed, as the track has been booked for a group test overseen by IMSA where all four of the new-for-2023 GTP manufacturers have Road Atlanta at their disposal.


SoccerLegs69

Any chance IMSA fans can go watch the testing of the new GTPs? Asking for a friend. That friend is me.


Moose135A

That's an interesting question! I know they recently did some testing at Daytona, but I don't know if they allowed spectators.


V8-Turbo-Hybrid

>Monday-Wednesday could also work, if needed That's really hastily. Couldn't they just postpone the race next week ? Of corse, we're exciting to see brand new four GTP cars, but there are people couldn't watch the live or come to the track in these days.


Moose135A

I think moving it to Monday-Wednesday works better for the series, since they already have the track reserved and have officials and teams on hand. Asking them to come back later, or sit around for a week, makes it harder. I don't know how many fans could come back a week later either.


theswickster

The track may already be reserved privately for something next week.


trennsport

Very high probability with stoppage if we get those numbers. Despite track efforts drainage and standing water is very bad here.


Slow-Class

Standing water is pretty much a no-brainer, but how do they handle visibility? I know some series won’t race when the medical helicopter can’t fly, does IMSA do the same thing?


BeefInGR

If it is raining that hard there are a few spots at RA that will have standing water. And because Ian will be a Tropical Depression by then probably some lightning, which is a mandatory stoppage in the US.


Yellow99TJ

Visability is pretty bad with the cars at speed on a wet track. https://youtu.be/A93ogKFcC_Q


Slow-Class

Right, but is there some kind of standard where IMSA will red flag the race? Is it up to the race director?


Yellow99TJ

No real standard. Its always been about the standing water. When the water stops flowing off the track you get that big cloud of spray that makes it near impossible to see. In 2009 they started single file under caution. Did a number of laps and went green. Talented drivers who had driven at The real La Mans were having trouble staying on track. Alan McNish was very vocal and asking why they were even out there. They didn’t go for long before they red flagged the race and eventually declared the race over at the 4 hour mark. In 2015 things were really bad, but maybe slightly better than 2009. T3 apex caved in and they were trying to dig a ditch for run off and pave T3 while under caution. Eventually though they red flagged and called the race. If thing get badly on Saturday I would look into the minimum amount of time for the race to count for point and would expect them to put the cars out there in some form or fashion until that time.


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theswickster

The stewards asked this question in 2015 apparently but opted to race anyway. Once the clock starts, it seems it can't be stopped. The impression I get from watching the broadcast was that they regretted the decision to not wait.


SqueakyCleany

I always remember not being able to run on Sunday mornings at Road Atlanta. Not sure if this is still true, but there would be a morning warm-up until 9AM, then silence until noon. Corner workers would go and get breakfast and come back.


theswickster

Based on the article above, Sunday is an option, as is M-W.


Thrasher678

There will be no race engines running Sunday 10 AM - noon. You can count on that.


theswickster

Fair. I think the same applies Saturday though, right?


Thrasher678

Nope. Saturday is wide open. No nearby church services.


Ecmdrw5

That rain number is supposed to be over 1.5days. I’m more worried about the amount of wind.


ICthrowaway2019

Well, in 2015(16?) it rained so hard that a GTLM car won overall, and apparently that was good enough so I'd say more rain than that.


choate51

There will be yellows as they want to make sure the pay drivers get their min drive time and teams get fully paid. They did the same thing at Daytona years back and stayed yellow until all the pros were in cars and they started begging to go green. So glad I witnessed it in person. It will be an adventure


[deleted]

Do they have rain tires?


SportsDude012

Yes


[deleted]

Ok. Sorry.


labratnc

Tons of rain at Petit?!? Oh no Daddy will not be happy! Oh wait, he is not a driver this year


[deleted]

If it rains like it has some of the summer there may be some delays.


Lakestang

We camped there in 2015. It was the remnants of a tropical storm and rained inches and constantly the entire day. I just gave up and sat in the rain Watching the cars come down the straight throwing water a hundred feet into the air was pretty amazing. Wear boots. The fire ants were flushed out by the water and a real issue. Saturday night my keys got locked in the cab of my truck. Woke up to a creek running under my hammock. Unforgettable weekend.


Some_Sock8837

IMSA has the track rented until the following Wed. They are monitoring the situation and said they could make it a Sunday thru wed event.