8 replies to this topic

[Michael Ferner]

Sunday is for pleasure!

Following a chance link from another site, I decided to sit down for a good hour-and-a-half to watch the 1986 Indycar race from Mid-Ohio; and a good race it was except for the ending (huge crash by a midfielder, finish under yellow). But, even during the race, I'd noticed that there hadn't been a single "genuine" overtaking move caught by the cameras, except for some shuffling of positions on the opening lap. The only pass for position happened when a backmarker chopped the leader, and the closely following runner-up had to brake hard and was thus overtaken by number three. Every other change of position happened due to pit stops, mechanical trouble, or off-camera. I didn't mind that much, because as a seasoned follower of racing I have learned to look for the "fine print", i.e. drivers working the track and/or traffic, moving into position to mount a challenge and so on. I find that is often much more interesting than constant changes of positions, e.g. following a driver who puts his frontman under pressure for several laps until he forces him into a mistake (otherwise, how could anyone ever enjoy watching a Monaco GP?). The director was up to it, the commentators did a competent job - in short: it was far from a sensational race, liable to put many superficial followers to sleep, but one that enthusiasts (like us) usually enjoy.

The way this YouTube thingy works, you get a number of "options" when the film's ended, and they are mostly somehow related to what you just watched. In my case, there were about a dozen other Indycar races from 1986 on the menue. Frankly, without thinking (it's Sunday, after all!) I didn't recall anything from Indycar racing twenty-five years ago, other than the last laps of the Indy 500, and I wasn't going to watch that all over again, so I considered my options, and chose Milwaukee - partly, because I'd driven myself on that very track only last year, and partly because it's a venue that usually produces great racing. And was I right!!! It was sensational, simply mind boggling!! For example, at one point the second-to-fourth running cars were lapping two tailenders left and right, the whole shebang going five abreast (!) into Turn One; at another time the in-car camera of a midfielder showed a fight for position whilst lapping another car, when suddenly the leader came steaming through on the outside of the corner, followed by the runner-up on the inside - there was so much action on the track at almost all the times, that it was impossible for the cameras to catch it all. Yet, there was also time to follow two cars fighting for fifth place late in the race for several minutes, working the track and/or traffic, moving into position to mount a challenge... just like the "fine print" in road racing. Only difference was the outcome, as the faster car finally found a way through.

This BB is special in many ways, as it is predominantly European/F1, but there are also a lot of Americans with a background of traditional oval racing amongst the regulars here. I can't think of any other place on the web where that might be the case. Like most of us Europeans, I was raised on a diet of road racing, and I have always enjoyed it. Still do! Oval racing may be an acquired taste (for some of us), but there is definitely no need to sneer at the "roundy-round" boys - I know that several prominent posters here still do, more or less openly! For me, personally, I can say that the last few years in which I took a special interest in US racing has increased my understanding, my appreciation and my enjoyment of BOTH worlds, but especially oval racing, of course. For those still sitting on the fence, or even opposed to this sort of racing, I can only say: C'mon, give it a try! It's great fun! It's GREAT RACING!

http://www.youtube.c...;feature=relmfu

[Tony Matthews]

Good post, Michael, but you are preaching to the converted here!

[arttidesco]

I'm a fan of pretty much any kind of competition motoring on pretty any kind of surface or venue, on occasion when desperate for a fix I have even watched tractor pulling !

To round out Michael's observations we should not forget that the roundy roundy NASCAR boys put on a pretty good show at Watkins Glen a couple of weeks ago

[Ray Bell]

Would it help if I said I went to the Indianapolis Speedway today?

For most of the nineties I did watch a lot of the Indycar/CART races and they were good to watch. Especially those held on that super-wide airfield circuit which had about ten 'right' entries into some of the corners.

[LittleChris]

Would it help if I said I went to the Indianapolis Speedway today?

For most of the nineties I did watch a lot of the Indycar/CART races and they were good to watch. Especially those held on that super-wide airfield circuit which had about ten 'right' entries into some of the corners.

Burke Lakefront at Cleveland

[Ray Bell]

Yes, that's the one...

And to think I would have driven within a few miles of that the other day!

[MonzaDriver]

Ciao to all.

Me I never appreciate so much ovals.
I mean because of the tradition, you cannot underevaluate them, but it never seems to me a right way of racing.

Plus the fact that F.Cart were only on ovals and then step by step year after year, they translated to tracks,
then also the F.Indy begin like only oval racing, and also them introduced circuits.
Maybe also the American world of racing have some doubts about oval.

Naturally I dont want to despise a tradition so huge about motor racing but for European
I am sure it's difficult to fully appreciate this kind of racing. Even if are a lot of years we are looking at them.

MonzaDriver

[king_crud]

Yes, used to watch a lot of indycar racing and I always loved the short ovals: Milwalkee, Pheonix, Nazareth. I think that there is something missing from the indycars because of the lack of short ovals. They always seemed "fun"

[Ray Bell]

Yeah, talk about some fast laps!

Nazareth was particularly impressive...