143 replies to this topic

[Risil]

God bless those marshals!

 

Al Junior spins, stalls, and takes a lot of shoving before his car can resume.

[rghojai]

They shoulda surreptitiously drugged Sam & Uncle Bobby.

Edited by rghojai, 11 April 2021 - 17:50.

[Dmitriy_Guller]

I guess having ex-F1 drivers explain why Indycar is more competitive goes back a long way.  Interestingly enough they didn't interview any Judd or Cosworth drivers for that segment.

[GlenWatkins]

corner worker Danger Zone!

[Risil]

That must be a very early instance of the "TV director shows pit crew watching TV feed" loop

[Risil]

I guess having ex-F1 drivers explain why Indycar is more competitive goes back a long way.  Interestingly enough they didn't interview any Judd or Cosworth drivers for that segment.

I read in the TNF "Almost-moves" thread long ago that Fittipaldi was trying to put a Minardi drive together in 1988-89. Which admittedly wouldn't have changed the course of history.

[GlenWatkins]

Mears hanging in 7th

[Risil]

Porsche telemetry!!

[Dmitriy_Guller]

I know it's not fair to Fittipaldi in particular, but I always recall this when I hear ex-F1 drivers crap on F1:

 

“Somehow, I just never made it to the big time.” – Moe
“Why not?” – Homer Simpson
“Cause I got knocked out forty times in a row. That plus politics. You know, it’s all politics.” – Moe

[red stick]

If the boats were bigger, this could be Monaco.

[GlenWatkins]

You need to go to St Pete for the race!

[Risil]

"Four tyres all the way around" for Michael

[Risil]

Little Al takes an age to get going after his pitstop. Possibly related to him taking an age to get going after his spin.

[Risil]

Rahal passes Mario!

[GlenWatkins]

#5 into the pits!!!

[Risil]

Was Cleveland one of the last CART circuits to get electronic timing? I don't think I've heard anyone mention a gap between any driver today.

[Risil]

The short straight before the pits looks like the Baja 1000 or something

[Risil]

Michael's day looks done. Paul Page sounds sleepy describing the hot and sticky weather in Cleveland.

 

Edit: he's back out! But 11th.

 

Edit edit: he's done.

[Risil]

Ted's back where he started!

[rghojai]

Still no Theys in-car camera action.

[rghojai]

It's eating at his guts!

[Dmitriy_Guller]

Is there any team that underachieved in CART more than Newman Haas?  For a team that has always been a top 2-3 team over a period of two decades, with plentiful funding and special technical relationships, they have remarkably little to show for, until CART decomposed into the Bourdais Show.

[GlenWatkins]

Roger undaunted?  Please even for 1989

[red stick]

Is there any team that underachieved in CART more than Newman Haas?  For a team that has always been a top 2-3 team over a period of two decades, with plentiful funding and special technical relationships, they have remarkably little to show for, until CART decomposed into the Bourdais Show.

I was looking forward to Gordon Kirby's book, which might have provided some insight, but it appears to be on extended hiatus.

[rghojai]

Pancho Carter.

[Risil]

Is there any team that underachieved in CART more than Newman Haas?  For a team that has always been a top 2-3 team over a period of two decades, with plentiful funding and special technical relationships, they have remarkably little to show for, until CART decomposed into the Bourdais Show.

 

They never won Indy, right? That's extraordinary to think.

[rghojai]

Hard all around!

[Risil]

Mikey's in full sulk mode! Not that I blame him.

[rghojai]

Boesel has responded to the pressure. +4

[FLB]

Emmo is taking it slow. Look how much time he's spent behind Guerrero.

[Risil]

Emmo is closing this one out with the minimum of drama.

[Dmitriy_Guller]

Why did Newman Haas field Mario, and only Mario, for so many years?  Was there more to the relationship than just team-driver pairing, or did they really think that Mario's form didn't degrade yet, and that he was the best option for a top ride?

[Risil]

Why did Newman Haas field Mario, and only Mario, for so many years?  Was there more to the relationship than just team-driver pairing, or did they really think that Mario's form didn't degrade yet, and that he was the best option for a top ride?

 

I would say that Mario was as quick as anyone in CART as late as 1986. Then in 1987 he had some great runs (including leading three-quarters of the Indy 500) with the Chevy engine that was obviously fast but broke down a lot. He got 2 wins in 1988 but I reckon it ranked as a bit of a surprise that Michael put his dad in the shade almost immediately.

[FLB]

Why did Newman Haas field Mario, and only Mario, for so many years?  Was there more to the relationship than just team-driver pairing, or did they really think that Mario's form didn't degrade yet, and that he was the best option for a top ride?

From 1983-88, I'd definitely say he was still at the top of his game (EX: the 1987 Indy 500). The decline began when Michael moved in. And Mario was clear he wanted to push Michael forward, even at his own expense.

 

NHR simply didn't have the ressources for two cars until that point.

[rghojai]

Paul Page was shameless.

[rghojai]

Thank you again to Risil the god.

[red stick]

Emmo's got this figured out.

[Risil]

Paul Page was shameless.

Paul Page had the quintessential broadcasting skill of sounding totally convinced and delighted about whatever he is saying in the moment. It's easy to make fun of but he puts me at ease whatever he's commentating on.

[GlenWatkins]

"avoid as much as I could the bumps" says Emmo after the race.  That is an understatement!

[Risil]

Bobby Rahal looks pleased. Jack Arute is putting a very positive spin on him finishing a minute behind the winner.

[Risil]

Paul Page's moral of the day: "The teams really kept those cars running!"

 

Anyway, that was a sleepy one. Thanks everyone for joining in! Real thing next week!

[rghojai]

Paul Page had the quintessential broadcasting skill of sounding totally convinced and delighted about whatever he is saying in the moment. It's easy to make fun of but he puts me at ease whatever he's commentating on.

I've always liked him, though some of the late-race fake hype got absurd.

Edited by rghojai, 11 April 2021 - 18:34.

[GlenWatkins]

Yes, great race everyone!  Next week the real thing!

[FLB]

Paul Page's moral of the day: "The teams really kept those cars running!"

 

Anyway, that was a sleepy one. Thanks everyone for joining in! Real thing next week!

One thing he didn't mention: At the time, only the top 12 paid points. Guerrero just missed out.

 

Nowadays, it would be played out for drama: 'Oh,  what an absolute diasppointment for Bob Loblaw as he was just about to get a point...' (best said in Crofty's voice)

Edited by FLB, 11 April 2021 - 18:37.