Road Atlanta Friday Notebook

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

***While the Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda didn’t make it out for qualifying, it will be ready for morning warmup. The Ohio-based squad, along with the support of numerous other teams in the paddock, have worked to rebuild the P2 car following tub damage sustained in night practice on Thursday.

***Earl Bamber’s GT Le Mans class pole-sitting No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR will start from the rear of the class grid tomorrow, as the team is changing the car’s chassis overnight following Bamber’s heavy accident in qualifying.

***The No. 911 Porsche will also not start from the front row, due to a ride height infringement found in post-qualifying technical inspection, while the No. 88 Starworks Motorsport Oreca FLM09 will also start from the rear due to an unauthorized modification of the airbox.

***With rain already impacting the weekend, and heavy rain forecast tomorrow, IMSA has implemented measures for the race, including the use of jet blowers and sweepers while under full course cautions, to help with puddling.

***IMSA also addressed the potential of red flags and delays for the race during the drivers’ meeting, stating they have the option to run the race later into Saturday night if needed, and as a last resort, have a three-hour window on Sunday afternoon, should they not reach the 50 percent mark on Saturday.

***Bryan Sellers’ accident in the treacherous GT Le Mans qualifying session was remarkably the first driver-induced accident for Team Falken Tire in its seven-year existence. Saturday’s race will bring a close to that program as the team seeks its third consecutive Petit Le Mans class victory.

***The first Lexus RC-F GT3 chassis arrived in the U.S. last month, with an announcement on the manufacturer’s planned factory-backed GT Daytona class effort expected to come on Oct. 13 at a dealer event in Boston.

***Sportscar365 understands that Lexus has still yet to finalize the scope of its 2016 program, which could be initially focused on testing and development due to setbacks in development with the GT3 car in Europe and Asia.

***VisitFlorida.com Racing’s Troy Flis told Sportscar365 that he hopes to announce his team’s 2016 plans Monday evening at the TUDOR “Night of Champions” award banquet. The team has been considering a switch to P2 machinery for 2016.

***Ben Keating, who is considering a switch to the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, now owns two of the four Dodge Viper GTS-Rs in existence. The Texan purchased the chassis from Chrysler following this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

***While built to the current GTE regulations, Keating hasn’t ruled out upgrading the GTS-Rs to 2015 spec, which would extend its eligibility beyond 2016. “We’ve looked into the possibility of doing an evolution of the GTS-R,” he told Sportscar365. “It’s a lot of money but it’s not out of the question.”

***Michelin has taken the opportune time to debut its 2015 WEC-spec wet weather tires this weekend, alongside its existing damp slick and slick compounds for its GT Le Mans class technical partner teams. The new wet tire features a revised tread pattern. 

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John