in 1978 in his red Coyote. Who watched the
USACers and the British GP three months
earlier when Reutemann outfoxed Lauda?
How did the American machines handle Brands
Hatch in comparison with the F1s?
AJ turning right at Druids corner
Started by
island
, Apr 14 2000 07:12
7 replies to this topic
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#2
Huw Jenjin
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- 427 posts
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Posted 14 April 2000 - 07:58
Somebody will probably put me right on this, but I think the Indy Cars used the Kidney shaped Club circuit, therafter called Indy circuit, which comparable GP cars never did, although they did have a thing called Araura AFX which included F1 cars, and they might have done the club circuit, so those times might compare.
I have a feeling Danny Ongais either won or got lap record.
I have a feeling Danny Ongais either won or got lap record.
#3
BRG
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- 27,003 posts
- Joined: September 99
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Posted 14 April 2000 - 20:31
Yeeeesssss! At last, after all island’s questions lately, one that I actually know something about!
I remember the USAC Indycar visit to Britain very well. Until then, I looked down my nose at Indy racing and thought it was a joke. The visit really opened my eyes and I have followed Indycars and then CART with great interest ever since.
They were to run two races, first at Silverstone, using the old circuit without the Woodcote chicane, and then a week later at Brands on the Club circuit (which as Huw says was renamed the Indy circuit in their honour). I went to both, but the Silverstone race was rained off. In those days, the Indy boys never ran in the rain, even on road courses. But AJ Foyt (never my favourite, but, for all his many faults, I admired him that day) went out and ran laps so that the crowd got to see some action. That was quite a sight as the Coyote was a fairly indifferent chassis for road courses!
In the intervening week, they had scrutineering on the South Bank in London (where the new big ferris wheel now is) and I worked close by, so I went. I was used to the F1 circus, who even then hid away in motorhomes and pit garages. To find the Indy boys happy to let people look all over the cars and talk to the teams and drivers was a real eyeopener. Dick Simon even asked me to recommend a restaurant and I showed him and his guys a nearby Italian place - I couldn’t imagine an F1 team principal doing that!
At Brands, it was fine sunny weather and we got a good race. I think Ongais won (I can’t actually remember the result, though I remember the event well). I was used to seeing F1 at Brands, yet I was stunned by the speed of the Indycars along the pit straight - their terminal speed at the braking point for Paddock Hill Bend was very high, despite not getting a fast run at it the way that the F1s did when using the long circuit. Some had a speed gun on them and it was something like 160mph. At that time, Indycars probably had a 100 or more BHP advantage, but a weight disadvantage. Aerodynamics were fairly similar though.
It was an excellent experience and I am so glad that I took full advantage of that visit - my only chance so far to see the Indycar/CART boys in action. And as you can all tell, if you haven’t got completely bored by now, I loved it and became a fan. Now I am really looking forward to the chance of more races over here when the new Rockingham oval circuit opens. I cannot understand the purists who slag off everything but their precious F1! Vive la difference, I say…
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BRG
"all the time, maximum attack"
I remember the USAC Indycar visit to Britain very well. Until then, I looked down my nose at Indy racing and thought it was a joke. The visit really opened my eyes and I have followed Indycars and then CART with great interest ever since.
They were to run two races, first at Silverstone, using the old circuit without the Woodcote chicane, and then a week later at Brands on the Club circuit (which as Huw says was renamed the Indy circuit in their honour). I went to both, but the Silverstone race was rained off. In those days, the Indy boys never ran in the rain, even on road courses. But AJ Foyt (never my favourite, but, for all his many faults, I admired him that day) went out and ran laps so that the crowd got to see some action. That was quite a sight as the Coyote was a fairly indifferent chassis for road courses!
In the intervening week, they had scrutineering on the South Bank in London (where the new big ferris wheel now is) and I worked close by, so I went. I was used to the F1 circus, who even then hid away in motorhomes and pit garages. To find the Indy boys happy to let people look all over the cars and talk to the teams and drivers was a real eyeopener. Dick Simon even asked me to recommend a restaurant and I showed him and his guys a nearby Italian place - I couldn’t imagine an F1 team principal doing that!
At Brands, it was fine sunny weather and we got a good race. I think Ongais won (I can’t actually remember the result, though I remember the event well). I was used to seeing F1 at Brands, yet I was stunned by the speed of the Indycars along the pit straight - their terminal speed at the braking point for Paddock Hill Bend was very high, despite not getting a fast run at it the way that the F1s did when using the long circuit. Some had a speed gun on them and it was something like 160mph. At that time, Indycars probably had a 100 or more BHP advantage, but a weight disadvantage. Aerodynamics were fairly similar though.
It was an excellent experience and I am so glad that I took full advantage of that visit - my only chance so far to see the Indycar/CART boys in action. And as you can all tell, if you haven’t got completely bored by now, I loved it and became a fan. Now I am really looking forward to the chance of more races over here when the new Rockingham oval circuit opens. I cannot understand the purists who slag off everything but their precious F1! Vive la difference, I say…
------------------
BRG
"all the time, maximum attack"
#4
buddyt
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- 161 posts
- Joined: February 00
Member
Posted 15 April 2000 - 06:33
Hey BRG, Cart is about ready to anounce a race in Rockingham England I believe thats a a oval track. Keep an eye out for it.
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"Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"
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"Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"
#5
Joe Fan
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- 5,591 posts
- Joined: December 98
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Posted 15 April 2000 - 06:50
A. J. Foyt won the Silverstone race (October 1, 1978) and Rick Mears won the Brands Hatch race (October 7, 1978).
#6
Huw Jenjin
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- 427 posts
- Joined: June 99
Member
Posted 15 April 2000 - 16:24
I wonder why danny ongais sticks in mind, did he get fastest lap at one of the rounds, or pole position or something?
#7
Ray Bell
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- 81,455 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 15 April 2000 - 18:10
I think the current F1 team supremos are hired on the basis of their knowledge of the best restaurants, isn't that the case? That and their ability to disguise lies well enough for them to look like half-truths...
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Life and love are mixed with pain...
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Life and love are mixed with pain...
#8
BRG
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- 27,003 posts
- Joined: September 99
Member
Posted 17 April 2000 - 16:20
Joe Fan
Yes, you're right, it was Mears who won at Brands, but I am sure that there wasn't actually a race at Silverstone because of the rain - they ran qualifying, so perhaps Foyt was quickest or something. Did find the race reports?
Huw
I've got Ongais in my mind as well. He was definitely the fastest in a straight (or as near to straight as Brands allows!) line so maybe he was on pole nad got fastest lap, but retired.
I have a feeling that Ongais was running one of the first Cosworths in Indycars. This was about time that the Offenhauser engine finally disappeared -but there were plenty still running - I am sure Foyt had one.
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BRG
"all the time, maximum attack"
Yes, you're right, it was Mears who won at Brands, but I am sure that there wasn't actually a race at Silverstone because of the rain - they ran qualifying, so perhaps Foyt was quickest or something. Did find the race reports?
Huw
I've got Ongais in my mind as well. He was definitely the fastest in a straight (or as near to straight as Brands allows!) line so maybe he was on pole nad got fastest lap, but retired.
I have a feeling that Ongais was running one of the first Cosworths in Indycars. This was about time that the Offenhauser engine finally disappeared -but there were plenty still running - I am sure Foyt had one.
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BRG
"all the time, maximum attack"
