197 replies to this topic

[paulb]

Mandatory art picture. Or arch picture if you want to be literal.

 

 

Double good news as not only is Gateway back on the Indycar schedule but, the bionic (French)man, Sebastian Bourdais is back after a remarkable recovery from the horrendous Indy 500 qualifying crash. Ole Dale knows how to pick 'em.

 

CART ran at Gateway from 1997-'99 and IRL from 2001-'03 and has made upgrades. It was listed as an Indy test track for 2016.

According to Indycar, the 1.25-mile (2.01 km) oval is a favorite of many of the drivers who race there due to the unique shape and different degrees of banking in each corner. Turns 1 & 2 have characteristics similar to New Hampshire Motor Speedway while Turns 3 & 4 are similar to Phoenix International Raceway and the track's egg shape is reminiscent of the oval at Twin Ring Motegi. For some reason, I am hungry for a southwestern clam chowder with wasabi.

 

 

I was researching for Gateway Indycar history and came upon a site called Beyondtheflag which was to tell me about the last five Indycar races. Great, I thought. The five races turned out to be 1999-2003, even though the article was dated one day ago. Last time I will go that far beyondtheflag. 

 

Who is this Bommarito Automotive Group, you must be thinking? But of course, they are Missouri's number 1 automotive group carrying an eclectic mix of 12 American and European car brands including Chevy and Honda. Pretty brilliant to sponsor Indycar, IMHO; no matter who wins Bommarito can celebrate or celebate if they don't want to celebrate. 

 

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for teams to figure out the track given the dearth of experience there.

 

Schedule/TV

Practice 1 - Aug 25, 5:00PM ET  

Qualifications (Live) - Aug 25, 7:30PM ET  

Final Practice - Aug 25, 10:00PM ET  

Qualifications (Re-air) - Aug 26, 7:30PM ET 

Race - Aug 26, 9:00PM ET   

 

Videos

Enjoy the CART 1999 race won by JPM, with Carpentier and Gugelmin filing out the podium

 

 

Lets ponder with Karen what Gateway will bring. If it's half as good as Pocono, we're still in for a treat.

 

And don't forget your picks!

 

[jonpollak]

Practice 1 in 5 minutes.... I'm watching !! https://youtu.be/bt0Db88fX_0

[Muppetmad]

Without representative recent race data to consult, my mind cannot cope with predicting the average race speed 

[stewie]

I do like listening to Dale Coyne, it's like listening to Kermie the Frog! 

 

And talking of frogs... Great to see Seb back!

[Anja]

Chilton spinning in the pitlane. IndyCar starts early this weekend. 

[stewie]

Chilton just ran someone over in the pit lane...

[Disgrace]

It's good to see Bourdais back but what might have been with that Coyne rocket?

[Anja]

Newgarden in another white and blue car, as if there wasn't enough of them already. How am I supposed to tell them apart on my low-res dodgy transmission of african origin completely fine and legal way to watch the race?

[LeClerc]

There is a guy breathing helium on the audio track. WTH

[jonpollak]

Penske 1234.

[jonpollak]

Jp

[Izzyeviel]

They're qualifying on a friday night?

[MattPete]

They're qualifying on a friday night?

 

 

Apparently.  I won't post any spoilers, but pole position this year was faster than the track record (set by Boesel in 1997 when it was CART) and almost 15mph faster than the previous IRL record (2002, DeFerran).

[Prost1997T]

They're qualifying on a friday night?

 

The race is on Saturday night

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Newgarden wins.

Edited by Prost1997T, 26 August 2017 - 05:20.

[jonpollak]

That's going out on a limb is it?

[Muppetmad]

Have a great race, all! Alas, I will be catching up first thing in the morning (which, in fairness, won't be too long after the race finishes!).

[jonpollak]

You're not watching that stupid fight instead are you?

[FLB]

JP... You still in Vegas?

[Vitesse2]

Have a great race, all! Alas, I will be catching up first thing in the morning (which, in fairness, won't be too long after the race finishes!).

Ditto. I have no appetite for getting up at quarter to stupid o'clock! Not watching the stupid fight thing either. I can go to Bristol and see gobby Irishmen fighting any Saturday night.

 

Picks are in though.

[Frood]

Picks in, good to begin.

 

Although I'm afraid I will also be part of the "sleep now, watch later" club. Will catch you guys on the other side.

[prommer]

Now I get to see how the other half live... the European half I mean.  I'm going to bed too!  Enjoy the race, the rest of you.

[LeClerc]

Toothpicked my eyelids, I'm gonna see this.

[FLB]

Toothpicked my eyelids, I'm gonna see this.

This confirms you're completely bonkers. I mean, what time does the race start for you, 3AM...?

(I once got up at 4Am to watch the FIA WEC race from Shanghai, just saying...)

[LeClerc]

3:30AM

 

I'm gonna watch this, if it's the last thing I do.

 

(Helps that I got completely hammered friday and slept most saturday )

[Lotus72b]

Cooking fish now. I knew I should've bought some beer yesterday. Well, might as well drink some juice. Maybe some apple juice.

[Alonsofan007]

quick slick Willy P   

[ANF]

Green flag 50 minutes from now, right?

Indy Lights had some really good racing between two series of cautions.

[LeClerc]

Green flag 50 minutes from now, right?

Indy Lights had some really good racing between two series of cautions.

 

jupp. 37 minutes now.

 

Decent crowd by the look of it.

Edited by LeClerc, 27 August 2017 - 01:03.

[MattPete]

The broadcast would be better if Fios wasn't showing the NBCSN HD channel (590) is some sort of weird squished low-def.

[jonpollak]

JP... You still in Vegas?

 

Nope...Home on a 9 day break..Thank God.
Don't think I could deal with all the drunk Irish there.
 

3:30AM

I'm gonna watch this, if it's the last thing I do.

(Helps that I got completely hammered friday and slept most saturday )

Now THERE'S a good race fan !!



Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 27 August 2017 - 01:45.

[jonpollak]

Just how tall is Katie Hargitt ?

 

Jp

[Lotus72b]

Just how tall is Katie Hargitt ?
 
Jp

I seen her in person. I'm six foot tall. I think at least she is five foot. She is really short.

[jonpollak]

I think at MOST she's 5' tall

Jp

[ANF]

There's actually a crowd!

[LeClerc]

Allright, here we go!

[LeClerc]

3 Wide? That will end in tears.

 

EDIT: Ah, nevermind.

Edited by LeClerc, 27 August 2017 - 01:46.

[jonpollak]

god speed..

 

Jp

[Lotus72b]

Good job IndyCar. Reminds me watching world of outlaws racing.

[LeClerc]

Obligatory SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[jonpollak]

Kanaan crashes on the pace lap !!!

Jp

[LeClerc]

WTH?!?!?

 

Not my picks though

[ANF]

The Indy Lights race had a couple of those spins. So restarts will be FUN.

Edited by ANF, 27 August 2017 - 01:49.

[SlipLtd]

Kanaan preemptively Indycared.

[Yhamm]

lol, we indycar even before Green now

[Lotus72b]

Huh

[FLB]

This bodes well for the rest of the evening...

[MattPete]

Well, that's embarasssing.

[FLB]

The Indy Lights race had a couple of those spins. So restarts will be FUN.

I wonder if it's a product of the repaving?

[ANF]

[jonpollak]

CAR NAAGE

Jp