Indycar 1995 WatchParty Round 2: Surfers Paradise IndyCARNIVAL (Sunday 7.30pm GMT start!)

Round 2, everybody! After an entertaining and attritional race around Bicentennial Park in Miami, the series moves onto, er, another seafront street circuit at Surfers Paradise on Australia’s Gold Coast. Last time out, Jacques Villeneuve led home the unexpectedly rapid Mauricio Gugelmin after early contenders Michael Andretti and Christian Fittipaldi hit trouble. Paul Tracy won everyone’s hearts by crashing out of his Newman-Haas debut almost immediately, and then being subjected to a televisual dressing-down by what seemed like the whole Indycar fraternity but was in fact just Bobby Unser, Sam Posey and Paul Page.

The track itself is pretty unusual, featuring four straights punctuated by chicanes that look very much like traffic-calming measures, and then squiggly bit at the end of the lap. If you can imagine the Baku circuit but more likeable and with no castle, you’re in the right area. At 2.8 miles it’s also long for a street circuit, especially one on the CART trail. All this is to say 1) the powerful Indycars get a chance to stretch their non-literal legs, and 2) it’s a little bit scary.

As of 1995, there hasn’t been an uneventful race: 1991 saw John Andretti’s only Indycar victory after the two favourites Michael Andretti and Al Unser, Jr collided while fighting for the lead. 1992 saw Emerson Fittipaldi survive a last-lap downpour, and in 1993 Nigel Mansell stormed past the Penskes to take a debut win. And in 1994, Michael Andretti finally scored a win in Australia, surviving a rain-delayed caution-fest to take the chequered flag in the twilight. Mikey and Emmo will naturally be hoping to prevent a fifth winner in five years.

What happened in qualifying?


Michael Andretti makes it two pole positions from two, with more than a tenth in hand over Miami GP winner Jacques Villeneuve. A stronger showing for Penske too, who lock out row number two.

1. Michael Andretti 1:36.770, Newman-Haas L/F/G
2. Jacques Villeneuve +0.138, Team Green R/F/G
3. Al Unser, Jr +0.205, Team Penske P/M/G
4. Emerson Fittipaldi +0.327, Team Penske P/M/G
5. Teo Fabi +0.365, Forsythe R/F/G
6. Gil de Ferran ® +0.573, Hall R/M/G
7. Stefan Johansson +0.872, Bettenhausen P/M/G
8. Jimmy Vasser +0.883, Ganassi R/F/G
9. Paul Tracy +0.930, Newman-Haas L/F/G
10. Mo Gugelmin +1.032, PacWest R/F/G
11. Scott Pruett +1.287, Patrick L/F/F
12. Adrian Fernandez +1.289, Galles L/M/G

Rahal 13th, Christian Fittipaldi 14th, Gordon 15th, Sullivan 19th.

A couple of absences: general scapegoat Dennis Vitolo has not made the trip to Australia and the Miami GP’s unexpectedly essential Christian Danner is also not returning. On the other hand, we get Buddy Lazier racing Danner’s car instead. He starts on the twelfth row in 24th position.

I’ve got a Youtube video – let’s get this underway at 7.30pm GMT on Sunday 22 March, if everyone's up for it!

Still convinced Newman Haas has put together the hottest line-up since Al and Bobby teamed up a couple years back. Bobby and Al may be more consistent, but Michael and Paul should be good for a half-dozen wins each if things go well. 

that mag is one of the most 90's things I've ever seen   

This is a good idea but I actually watched the 1995 season over the winter so I won’t be joining you guys this time.

This is a good idea but I actually watched the 1995 season over the winter so I won’t be joining you guys this time.

Do you have any tips for us?

Put your feet up and enjoy a cold drink. It’s good stuff.

Omani IndyCat says that's damn late for the Muscateers,

Omani IndyCat says that's damn late for the Muscateers,

I see where IndyCat is coming from. I want to keep this a decent time for the western hemisphere guys too. Might 6-6.30 GMT work better in future?

Who hooooze!

Post link please, Risil.

Here's the video for later:

Irked Omani IndyCat says 6 might be barely tolerable.

That Andretti photo speaks volumes about why I was an Al Jr. fan back in the day.   

Even before he drove for Penske!

^^My Dad has seen the "500" since 1957, and when asked to name his favorite driver from all of those years, his answer is Al Unser, Jr. My brother and I loved the guy too and still do. I still call his mom from time to time to chat and have her give him our best.

I was friends with Shelly...

What a lovely woman she was.

Jp

One hour, everyone!

To get you in the mood, here's Al Unser, Jr and Jackie Stewart driving round the track while a camera crew presumably crouches in the back seat

Bonus: the clips of Al Junior show his rather beautiful 1992 Galmer chassis.

I don't want to spoil the races by looking at the season page on Wikipedia, so can anyone tell me what the road/street/oval track division was this year?

From memory, it's about an even three-way split.

This was also back when the racing on the short ovals was still really good. Lots of power, ground effects and slow traffic to work around.

5 minutes!

Go!

and we're off like a prom dress.

"Punish the brakes to go fast."

"We have a camera in Paul Tracy's car, so we'll be the first to know if he goes off." Oh god they've started early.

"We have a camera in Paul Tracy's car, so we'll be the first to know if he goes off." Oh god they've started early.

The AGFA Film car has gone the way of, er, AGFA Film.

Hey, there's a car sponsored by Subway sandwiches!

Andretti outbrakes Villnev into the first chicane. And then hangs Al Jr out to dry!

I think Gil de Ferran definitely gained time there, lol.

Teo Fabi's one of those drivers I sort of forgot was competitive for as long as he was.

"Improved position in violation of steward's edict." Bailiff, pass me the black cap!

"Front nose" -- drink!