BADBOYVETTES.COM - Michelin Man Ride-Along At Petit

Looks like LG has his car running good, practice time right behind the #3 car.

--- Encore from Sunny Fla on 09.25.09 at 11:10am

Looks like he has it running even better because it has qualified P2 behind the Ford GT and ahead of both PM cars.

--- JerryL from miami on 09.25.09 at 3:36pm

Maybe LG should race another brand, it will make him fell better, tired of the smart ass comments. No one is stoping him from getting michelin tires.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 09.26.09 at 1:13pm

Looks like I don't give a hoot about some whining sarcastic little boy, play the hand you're dealt with and don't bitch! AND it looks like another win for CR, and an invitation for Le Mans in 2010!!

--- Justin from Livermore, CA on 09.26.09 at 1:46pm

LG is complaining because they are actively being prevented from using Michelins. If they could purchase them they would. So why is GM trying to prevent LG from succeeding when they are advertising their car? Doesn't making a Corvette uncompetitive hurt the brand? And what sense would it make for LG to race another brand? Their business is Corvettes so why would their customers be interested if they raced a Porsche?

--- phil from sf on 09.26.09 at 4:07am

LG can go to michelins anytime he wants too no body is stoping him, Gm is not stoping him, he's being an ass.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 09.26.09 at 4:33am

He cant though. Michelin has stated many times before Lou, they WILL NOT become a spec tire in any category. They value competition, like CR, and will not give tires out to every team. Not everyone can have them, they wouldnt sell to Lou. And when they finally would, Lou didnt have the money. It sucks, but thats life. Lou has every right to complain, its not a fair playing field, is it?

But instead, hes running 2nd hand Dunlops, with a privateer budget, and has outqualified all factory efforts in GT2. And in a Corvette.

Heres to hoping for an all GM podium... :)

--- JT from SoCal on 09.26.09 at 6:51am

With $$$$ you can buy anything!! Lou likes controversy. If it brings more attention to teams racing the Corvette thats great. I don't think LG has the endurance to stay in the race. Good luck to all the Corvettes and Take No Prisoners!!!!!!!!

--- Johnnyoooo from Rochester, N.Y. on 09.26.09 at 7:16am

If a win here for LG can make them more competitive im all for it. Its not that i don't want CR to win, but come on guys its another Corvette. Im sure theres more to the story between these 2 teams, but from what i have seen Lous gotten the short end of the stick in the past. Good luck to anyone running a Corvette this weekend, at any track and for any event.
-Joel

--- Joel from Miami, Fl on 09.26.09 at 12:34am

Michelin tires are only available to factory teams. I've talked to other privateer teams and that is the case. They can be made available to pricateer teams with the ok from the factory team. GM/CR doesn't want Lou to have Michelins and thats pretty sad. If CR is giving all this money to help the brand and advertising why woldn't they let LG get Michelins?

--- Steve from Milwaukee, WI on 09.27.09 at 9:59pm

Gm/CR does not control michelin and there tires. Michelin gives tires who ever they wanted too, what part people don't understand?

--- Anonymous from unknown on 09.28.09 at 2:58am

Actually the factory teams control Michelin tires. So for any GM product CR controls who can get them. I have talked to another team besides LG that can't get them also. The good part is other tires are catching up.

--- Steve from Milwaukee, WI on 09.28.09 at 1:49am

I currently work for ATS Euromaster (The UK subsidiary of Michelin) so have sent sent this news onto the company magazine :)

One question. Why didn't the #4 pit early for Monsoon tyres as the Risi Ferrari did and take the risk as at the time the #3 was leading so CR would have had all bases covered?

--- vetteheadracer from UK on 09.29.09 at 4:05am

I'm going to said it again, Gm/CR, michelin is not stoping LG from getting these's tires. Please show me a statment that said CR, and michelin stop LG from purching these tires?

--- Anonymous from unknown on 10.01.09 at 12:20pm

Do you really want me to post up the letters of rejection from Michelin?
I have begged them to sell me Michelin tires and they have said NO more than one time.
I have begged GM to step in and ask Michelin to sell me tires and still I get a solid NO.
I even offered to buy the standard Michelin Cup tires and mount them ourself and even that was rejected,

End of story.

Thanks
Lou Gigliotti
#28 Corvette Riley GT2 Corvette

--- lou gigliotti from dallas tx on 10.02.09 at 8:38am

wow, Lou Giglotti. I feel bad for you, Michelin won't sell you tires.

--- Nick Gregory from Carthage TN on 10.02.09 at 1:07am

Lou please do post the letters. If its the truth then let it be seen by all. They made the decision. Live by and die by the sword.

--- Steve from Milwaukee, WI on 10.02.09 at 12:47pm

Here is the one from 2008. 2009 looks the same. As do all the other letters or phone calls that deny LG the ability to purchase Michelin ALMS tires. I have letters from GM stating that they have no "pull" with Michelin to get the tires for me. RIGHT.

*******

Dear Lou, thank you for your email.

Michelin will not be taking on any new teams for the upcoming Petit Le Mans or Laguna Seca races.

Regards,

Silvia Mammone
Michelin Motorsports & Sponsorship Manager
Michelin North America Inc.
One Parkway South
Greenville, SC 29615
Tel:

********************

"lou" lou lgmotorsports
09/16/2008 07:33 PM Please respond to

To silvia mamamone michelin
cc karl koenigstein michelin
steve wesoloski gm

Subject RE: ALMS GT2 Corvette

Dear Silvia,

First, let me take my turn to congratulate you and Michelin for winning every race this season in the ALMS series in every class.

I am entered in the upcoming Petit Lemans race and I am requesting that Michelin to allow my team to purchase Michelin tires for this event. As you know, there is no tire that can run competitive with Michelin tires, and for this single event, I would request that Michelin sell tires to me for my GT2 Corvette.

I look forward to hearing back from you. As you are well aware, any car without Michelin tires will be placed at a disadvantage, so our success in this professional racing series is dependant on your decision to allow us to purchase tires.

A positive decision from you will be viewed as a fair business practice in the spirit of the “American Way” where you will allow an independent team to finally compete on a level playing field with regard to tires. I am sure that Michelin does not want its business practices to be viewed as unfair.

Thanks again for your time.

Respectfully

Lou Gigliotti
#28 Corvette GT2

--- Lou Gigliotti from Dallas Tx LG Motorsports GT2 on 10.03.09 at 7:02pm

Just so you know, the series had to give our Corvette a larger restrictor (+18 hp) and 25 kg (55 pounds) off our base weight.

Similar warivers for all non Michelin cars.

LG

--- Lou Gigliotti from Dallas Tx LG Motorsports GT2 on 10.03.09 at 7:07pm