I'm watching this Le Mans (American) series, what I don't understand is how come they seem to have two types of cars running at the same time? You know, one type looks like your regular cars (heavily modded BMW, Porsche, etc.), another is the open cockpit type pure race car. They seem to get into traffic jams too on the track. Why are they running together? Thanks.

 

I'm not sure why they do it but they are simply running different classes of cars. Each class has its own winner as well as the overall.

 

There are actually 3 or 4 different classes of cars there...GT, which is your BMW and Porsche's; GTS, which are the 'Vettes and that gorgeous Saleen S7 (drool...I want!); and LMP, which are the "prototype" open-cockpit cars (Audi, Lola-Judd, Panoz, etc). I forget what exactly LMP stands for...perhaps Le Mans Prototype? And I think there were a couple different LMP classes too. I can never remember for sure, b/c I get them mixed up with the SRP/SRP II sports-racer prototypes that run in the 24 hours at Daytona, which is NOT part of the American Le Mans series. Confused yet? Anyway, here's my guesses for why they all run at the same time: 1) Simply to have enough entrants to make the races profitable, and 2) Added excitement, as you constantly have to watch out for slower/faster cars around you. Makes for cool wrecks every now and again too . D'oh, did I say that out loud?? I sound like a NASCAR fan! Ick.