212 replies to this topic

[maximilian]

 

Did somebody say dedicated thread for the BIG TEST in Indy on April 24?  Your wet dream is my wet command, and here it is!

(base text and info blatantly ripped off from IMS, since they put it almost as eloquently as I could have done, had I put the slightest bit of effort behind this):

 

It may not be May yet, but the agonizing wait will be briefly interrupted when it will feel a lot like the most magical month in racing ... on Wednesday, April 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when 15 teams and 28 drivers are expected to participate in an INDYCAR Open Test in preparation for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Why are tulips so expensive?

Among the drivers scheduled to test are seven Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winners (Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato!!1!!1!) and seven Indy car series champions (Sebastien Bourdais, Dixon, Hunter-Reay, Kanaan, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Power). And yes, even two-and-a-half-time Formula One World Champion, 24hrs of LeMans and Daytona Winner and Quadruple-Crown/Quintuple-Crown Chaser Fernando Alonso is expected to turn laps. No, Danica won't be there - but her unnecessary mentions will be.  As will unnecessary Dale Jr. mentions.

The test will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET) on the 2.5-mile oval. Veterans will be on track from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests from 1-3 p.m. and all participants on track from 3-6 p.m.  Oh, the excitement!!  Love the smell of Speedway on the Speedway!   

The Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing. Any of y'all going?  Coz if you're not going, testing will be streamed on indycar.com, the NTT IndyCar Series Facebook page and Periscope. Announcers for the test are Kevin Lee, Anders Krohn, THE Robin Miller, and Katie Hargitt. 

The lineup of NTT IndyCar Series teams and drivers scheduled to participate:

AJ Foyt Enterprises – Tony Kanaan, Matheus "Tit" Leist 
Andretti Autosport – Conor Daly, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Zach Veach presented by Gainbridge
Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco Andretti & Curb-Agajanian Presented by US Concrete Featuring Special Livery in Tribute to Mario Andretti's 1969 Curse-Defying Victory Thanks to the Durability of Firestone Tires – Marco Andretti 
Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports – Marcus Ericsson, James Hinchcliffe, Oriol Servia (value added!)
Carlin – Max Chilton, Charlie Kimball and Patricio O'Nevermind... he's not here.  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Chip Ganassi Racing – Scott "Dixon" Dixon, Felix "Flixon" Rosenqvist 
Dale Coyne Racing – Santino Ferrucci (a.k.a. Ferrino Santucci)
Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan – Sebastien Bourdais 
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – Sage Karam"bolage"
Ed Carpenter Racing – Ed Carpenter, Ed Jones, Ed "Spencer" Pigot, Ed Cetera...
Harding Steinbrenner Racing – Colton Herta
Meyer Shank Racing with Arrow SPM – Jack "Lost 24 Pounds without HydroxyCut" Harvey 
McLaren Racing without Andretti Autosport – Fernando Alonso 
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato!!!1!!1! 
Team Penske – Helio "The Hair" Castroneves, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power 

 

Several of the already confirmed entries in the Indy 500 (including such luminaries as Patoward, Bum Hickby and J. R. Ewingbrand) will NOT be testing, for some unfathomable reason.  Instead, they'll probably stand around in the pits, giving interviews, making us all wonder why they aren't testing.  The cool thing is, Conor Daly WILL be testing, thanks to a generous investment by U.S. taxpayers!   

 

The 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 26. "The Month of May"™ starts with the INDYCAR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 on the IMS road course. Tickets for both races are on sale at IMS.com, and both races will be televised live by NBC in one country.

 

Make sure you call in sick Wednesday the 24th to follow all the hot testing action!     

Edited by maximilian, 24 April 2019 - 03:37.

[maximilian]

Damn you PAYR, you stole my triangle, didn't you??     It's NOT an emoji!  I protest!!

[Joseki]

https://twitter.com/...505958076166146

 

The AFP on Rahal's car

 

[maximilian]

Looks alright, but United Rentals may not be thrilled with it? 

[thegforcemaybewithyou]

Is that a Mini AFP on the AFP?

[Peat]

Yes. Further still, the mini-mini AFP on the AFP on top of the AFP is so small it's barely detectable to the hulman eye. 

 

[jonpollak]

What’s the ......Weather forecast?
Jp

[ANF]

Coz if you're not going, testing will be streamed on indycar.com, the NTT IndyCar Series Facebook page and Periscope. Announcers for the test are Kevin Lee, Anders Krohn, THE Robin Miller, and Katie Hargitt.

Thank you!

[paulb]

What’s the ......Weather forecast?
Jp

Weather Underground is prediction low chance of showers in the morning. Higher probability in the late afternoon.

 

I hope, the rain, she stays away.

 

4/24/19 update - I missed the joke, *sigh*

Edited by paulb, 24 April 2019 - 11:07.

[red stick]

What’s the ......Weather forecast?
Jp

 

I see what you're doing here--some subliminal implication that the new AFP looks like a weather vane.  Well played, sir. 

[djparky]

A month today and I'll be in New York on my stopover before going to Indianapolis.

Any tips for unofficial parking for Turn 3 (probably from the Carmel direction) appreciated.

[jonpollak]

I see there’s a lonely no answer 500 thread in the Traveling Forum
https://forums.autos...c/#entry8708470

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 23 April 2019 - 18:30.

[JeePee]

 

 

Dale Coyne Racing – Santino Ferrucci (a.k.a. Ferrino Santucci)
 

Did he hand in his phone already?

[Henri Greuter]

Did he hand in his phone already?

 

Not sure about that but pretty sure but his dad some $$$'s

[Joseki]

Servia is in the third SPM tomorrow, that would make it 36 entries (one more than last year).

 

http://www.imscdn.co... entry list.pdf

[red stick]

Conor Daly sighting, unveiling USAF Indy 500 livery:

 

https://www.motorspo...r-indy/4374733/

[prommer]

Is it too early in the spring for windows to form over Terre Haute?

[jonpollak]

Here’s a window you’ll want to open tomorrow at 11am EDT

https://youtu.be/pQ_kqBy9VHc

Jp

[prommer]

Dale Jr interviews Will Power for two hours:

 

http://www.dalejr.co...jd/default.aspx

[maximilian]

Conor Daly sighting, unveiling USAF Indy 500 livery:

 

https://www.motorspo...r-indy/4374733/

 

Oh hell yeah, that's SO much better than last year's chunderbird!

[maximilian]

Yes. Further still, the mini-mini AFP on the AFP on top of the AFP is so small it's barely detectable to the hulman eye. 

 

 

Upon further zoom....

 

[Ben1445]

Test is to be live streamed?? 

[thegforcemaybewithyou]

Yes!

https://m.youtube.co...h?v=pQ_kqBy9VHc

[Ben1445]

This has made my day 

[Henri Greuter]

Upon further zoom....
 

That's how, step by step, Indycar fans are being made familiar with the introduction of the Halo.
The beginnings of the pillar in front of the driver to begin with.....

[paulb]

That's how, step by step, Indycar fans are being made familiar with the introduction of the Halo.
The beginnings of the pillar in front of the driver to begin with.....

I sure hope not Henry.

[sblick]

Going from Carmel you need to leave around 6:30 to 7.  There are plenty of front yards to park in depending on how long you want to wait in traffic.  Last year I bought a parking pass online.  It was about a mile from the track.  I think my brother's fitbit said we walked 7 miles that day.  I walked more going to say hi to friends

[red stick]

36 entries.

 

https://racer.com/20...-is-shaping-up/

[maximilian]

A bit disappointed that the second Harding and Juncos cars will just be standing around... there seem to be too many of the usual suspects around still looking for a ride.  Well, here's to hoping a couple of them can find some $$$ just in time.  Whatever happened to Columbian money, anyways?  Saavedra, Munoz and Chaves are all on the sidelines these days.  Especially Munoz with his impressive Indy 500 record would be a prime candidate for a sponsor to throw some money at.  In a Harding/Steinbrenner car... might get some really good exposure.

[Myrvold]

The only thing that could make this better, is if there is a proper left-field random name popping up with an entry. Coming out of the blue. Unexpected like Junqueira, JV, Ryan Briscoe, Barrichello - I am sure you all understand what I mean!

[Frood]

Well, that person is not going to be Jay Howard.

 

Meanwhile, some new liveries to look out for:

 

Ed Carpenter - back to Preferred as Fuzzy's is no longer a sponsor.

 

 

J.R. Hildebrand - I don't know what year it is. Are AAR back?

 

 

Will Power - it's mainly matte black. Got this from Penske's twitter video so it's not exactly high-quality

 

 

SATO!!!!!1111111one - I don't know what year it is. Are Conquest back?

 

[thegforcemaybewithyou]

What did I just find on twitter here?

 

source: https://twitter.com/...028765524611074

[Henri Greuter]

Well, that person is not going to be Jay Howard.
 
Meanwhile, some new liveries to look out for:
 
 
 
SATO!!!!!1111111one - I don't know what year it is. Are Conquest back?
 

Reminds me about the late 80's Mac Tools car of the bravest Scottish driver ever at the track, the man who literally flew through Turn One in 1990....

(I mean of course Jim Crawford....)

[maximilian]

What did I just find on twitter here?

 

source: https://twitter.com/...028765524611074

 

Oh goodness.  When I saw it first, I thought it's Graham Rahal... 

[maximilian]

 

SATO!!!!!1111111one - I don't know what year it is. Are Conquest back?

 

 

 

 

Edited by maximilian, 24 April 2019 - 13:46.

[Joseki]

McLaren has come with some nice F1-tier equipment in the garage area

 

 

https://twitter.com/...046333333356545

[jonpollak]

Sitting in our bus in the pouring rain here in New Braunfels TX hoping for a pinch of WiFi come test time.
Jp

[maximilian]

It's ON! 

[Vielleicht]

Awesome.

[jonpollak]

I got it !
Jp

[maximilian]

1 minute into the stream, and Fernando already makes an appearance 

[maximilian]

Woooo a dozen cars go out right away!

[Joseki]

Hopefully rain stays away for the day

[maximilian]

Live timing is also... live.

 

http://livetiming.net/indycar/

[Joseki]

Marco's car looks somewhat pink/purple more than red.

[Frood]

Marco! It's as retina-burning as Pagenaud's Menards livery!

[Joseki]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's raining

[thegforcemaybewithyou]

Carpenter with a 220 lap in the first run, he might again be quick this year and be at the front.

[boomn]

McLaren has come with some nice F1-tier equipment in the garage area

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/...046333333356545

I was looking at the damper trying to figure out the text on there.  This made me curious... is there info anywhere on which teams design their own dampers and which teams purchase theirs?

[Frood]

Marco! It's as retina-burning as Pagenaud's Menards livery!

 

Speaking of which, Pag himself is running stealth. That could be ominous.