Welcome back my great fans! You have asked for it, and I have given: an exclusive interview with the man, the myth, the legend, a long time friend of the Serpent… Lou Gigliotti.
Q: Lou, what would you say is your best memory from your ALMS experience to date?
A: Finding out how good the IMSA and ALMS staff is and just being able to race there.
Q: The staff are pretty good eh? I bet they are. Say no more, say no more. Wink wink, nudge nudge. And what would you say is your worst ALMS memory?
A: Long Beach 09 in the last 4 minutes.
Q: Is there anyone in the ALMS that you would like give a flying drop-kick?
A: No, but there is a general arrogance displayed by the "Michelin teams" toward the non-Michelin teams as if there is some sort of superiority inherent in their effort. (It’s the tires stupid). All this while totally disregarding the impact of having the only tire that has won 100 races out of maybe 100 races. Even the might of BMW, with their huge "funding," cannot "measure up" without that tire. It is also the "tire situation" that keeps some great teams from coming to the ALMS, and no other reason. But hey, "Purity to the death."
Q: Your car and trailer are for sale, although it is said that you might return for Petit or even Mosport. Have your plans to "stick it" to the new Corvette Racing GT2's changed?
A: See above. There is no chance of a non-Michelin tired car winning anything. And the phrase, "Pissing into the wind" comes to mind. Porsche and Ferrari can "make the call" to get Michelins for their teams but GM would not make THAT call for our Corvette. In fact, the word is that they did the opposite. I also think Corvette racing has "stuck it to themselves" and they will have to become slave to the "Green" propaganda machine to ensure future funding. But, as of the moment of the bankruptcy, their contract is null and void. IT will have to be revisited by the 31 year old GM dismantler before they can continue past what funding they already have.
Q: What is the application process like to get the tires? Do you need to run the gauntlet or perform some equivalent feat of strength?
A: The application process is as follows: A team begs Michelin to sell them tires. Michelin contacts the car Manufacturer. If they say yes, then Michelin sells you tires. That was how it was in 2008 with 22 teams (23 when de Ferran came in).
Then in 2009, with only 11 teams back with them, Michelin actually called us. We were on a path to be allowed to buy Michelin tires. But then they called GM and Corvette racing and 2 days later we got the thumbs down and were refused by Michelin. (but hey, GM's Wesoloski was "Fired" and last I saw, GM was bankrupt, Hmmm?) Sorry if I sound bitter but the truth is the ultimate defense.
Q: Can we expect you to return to the series in the seasons to come? What would it take to have you return?
A: A spec tire, good TV with equal time for GT2 cars, and a focus on the drivers as the stars. No more "Pit Puppy Cub Reporters" that make the brave and daring drivers look like spoiled brats. Did I say "Spec tire"?
Q: You just won the lottery. Money is no object, but the fine print says that you need to spend the money racing in GT2 of the ALMS. What car would you race?
A: Well, I am Italian, but my business is Corvette based. But if money was no object, and there was a spec tire, I would race a Ferrari. Ciao.
Q: Lou, do you have any interest in joining other racing series? What makes ____ series appealing?
A: Yes. Any series where there is an even shot for a team to compete on equal rubber and with equal rules.-- Drivers with talent usually don't have money, and drivers with money usually don't have talent. (Editor's note: I guess that makes the Gliding Serpent filthy rich.) So I guess I would have to pick a very fast under funded driver. I don't deny that I am close to the end of my "fast years," but no matter what fast drivers we put in our car, I am still within a half second of the best that we have had in the car with only race weekend testing. I am still faster than everyone else we have tested, so I am not ready to pack it in yet.
Each team has two drivers, and at each track one will inevitably out-shine the other. But in a non-Michelin team, the perception is that both drivers are slow because the average fan does not know how much the tires affect the performance.
The tire thing really guts me because is it like flushing money down the toilet just trying to be at the race. We all know that a non-Michelin tired car will just be "Soybean Filler in the ALMS Hamburger".
Q: Some fans of the series have had a lot of criticism of ALMS management. Others would say that they are doing their best given the tough economic times. How would you say management is doing from a privateer perspective? Do you have any suggestions to make the series more "team friendly?"
A: The ALMS management has done a fantastic job. Especially IMSA group. The only thing holding the series back is the tire situation. If Formula One can run a Spec tire, then why is it not good for the ALMS? Le Mans can open up the tire rule for the one 24 hour race but in America there has to be a spec tire to bring in more teams. NO team will come into the series if they can not get Michelins. Would Penske have come in on FULDA tires or whatever? NO. Acura would not let de Ferran compete if they did not get Michelins. So the powers had to step in because they felt he was an asset. So why is there not similar importance assigned to every team that wants to enter?
I would suggest to management that they make Yokohama or Dunlop the spec tire for GT2 and give the other tire manufacturer the rest. And for killing the series, I would send Michelin home.
Q: Do you think that all of you bridges have been burned with GM?
A: Yes, GM Burned all their bridges with me, and they will have to apologize to me for me to repair the bridges that THEY burned. In 2005, GM racing promised me $80,000 to fall on my sword and let Fellows by at Mosport to help Caddy win. I did and finished second. GM still owes me $70,000, so who burned what bridge?
Q: Do you think taxpayers should be paying for GM’s racing program?
A: I am still under the notion that GM should not spend taxpayers money on racing. They have the Unions to pay don't they?
Q: What is your daily driver?
A: 2009 Corvette Z06, Cadillac CTSv, Chevy 1 ton dually. Wow, all these GM cars and they still went bankrupt? They sold over 9 million cars and still lost money??? If I sold 9 million of ANYTHING, I guarantee that I would not lose money!
Q: A few people have noticed that grid numbers are "a little down" this year. Do you think the ALMS has hit bottom yet? Why/Why not? Any predictions for the health of the series next year?
A: I can tell you that the same theme from above applies here. No spec tire, no growth. Keep the races under 2 hours except for Petit and Sebring. Do more races with the IRL. Put the TV on Versus TV like IRL and stop trying to be a fill in the gaps for NASCAR Speed channel. Versus can grow bigger than Speed just like speed did when they were doing Morris Mini commercials for free and GIVING AWAY TV time. BE BOLD. Join the IRL on Versus TV. If you are Going to be competing with Grand AM head to head, then compete all the way, don't just accept the scraps. That will allow the TV money that comes from tire sponsors to be eliminated due to the spec tire, and with cheaper TV and an 8 year contract, you can grow the channel and Grow ALMS at the same time.
Q: Any thoughts on who will win P1 at Le Mans this year? P2? Gt2? Are you pulling for the Vettes in GT1 or would you rather see them crash and burn?
A: NO one should burn!
P1-Michelin (P1 and GT2 are the only real races there. Take the hint and make just 2 classes immediately)
P2 - Michelin
GT1 - there are no winners other than the hospitality vendors
GT2 - Michelin, and I truly hope it is either Risi or Lizards.
Q: Marilyn Monroe or Angelina Jolie?
A: Neither… My wife of 27 years trumps them both.
Just let me say a couple of things. The drivers and teams in this series are great. The series itself is great. The issues stated above are easily fixed. Much easier than watching the demise of the series if they are not. Tough times require tough actions. And continuation of the mind set, "Purity to the death" should not even come into the equation. Don't let stubbornness kill the series, and lose all the great teams.
The unknown here is if the current White House administration will even "allow" auto racing at all. We may be racing Smart cars and hybrids and towing them to the track with a VW Bus. (Don't laugh). Aligning with the Government cannot lead to a better result.
Racing is the ultimate display of freedom. It is the last clean wholesome fun left in America but its time might be short. God Bless America, Chevrolet and Apple pie!
Thanks
Lou Gigliotti
LGM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment