Okay, now this is strictly from what
I have seen since we have run cars in ITB and GP:
Slicks are NOT 4 seconds a lap faster at a track like Gateway (or any other track that we regularly race at). Use of DOT vs slicks doesn't make that much difference if you are mid-pack to begin with.
Overall, national drivers are NOT "better" then regional drivers. Got to tell you, there are some real squirrels out there who only race 4 races a year, or less, and will get a waiver to hold their national license.
Development is development. It doesn't cost me any more when Chris takes the G car to the dyno then the B car. Only costs me more if Chris decides he must have a new cam. Building a new motor is just expensive; since Chris does his own assembly, only the machine work is different, and it's not a deal breaker. Maintenance is the same (actually the IT car is worse because it usually does more races).
The BOB, CRB and Prod Adhoc members responsible for the first LP classifications can say whatever they want. LP cars (at least ours) were not intended to be competitive. The ONLY reason Chris was 3rd last year at the Runoffs was because of the rain AND he's a good driver, especially in the rain. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional. When we first started with the GP car (not the crossover IT car), there was no way the car was competitve. It has come a long way, but on a dry track at Topeka, if Chris can stay within 2 seconds/lap of the leaders, I will be surprised. In 20 laps, 2 seconds is a LONG time.
Allowing IT cars into Prod is not going to help the problem in the longterm if they go out and get lapped twice in every race. Very demoralizing. Logical classification of
more IT cars into Prod is a better way to handle it. Go out and use your car as a "crossover" car the way we did for awhile. It was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of work.
The fact is that if you want to go to Prod, you will. Just go into it with your eyes open.
BTW, I am solely responsible for the opinions expressed in this post and others within my household may not agree with me.
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