478 replies to this topic

[red stick]

The Gateway Arch.
The defining architectural feature of the Greater St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area. A memorial to United States 19th century westward expansion. A reminder that everything west of here is . . . The West.¹
Get used to seeing it this weekend. It's more inviting to TV cameras than even Nashville's Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge.

If only you could race up and down it.






Saturday, August 21, on a weekend where most of the automotive world's attention is lavished on a small town in France, the NTT IndyCar Series comes to a small town in Middle America, Madison, Illinois, to race at one of the few ovals (You bet your sweet bippy, an actual, honest to God oval) left on IndyCar's schedule, the "Can we interest you in a low mileage used car, or this sweet new one" 500 kilometer extravaganza hosted by the promotional geniuses, not oft-emulated ( ) at the Bommarito Automotive Group.



THE TRACK

260 laps. From dusk to unmistakably under the lights.

From the IndyCar website, a brief description of World Wide Technology Raceway:

World Wide Technology Raceway is an intriguing 1.25-mile (2.01 km) oval favored by many of the drivers who race there due to the unique shape and varying degrees of banking in each corner. Turns 1 & 2 have characteristics similar to New Hampshire Motor Speedway while Turns 3 & 4 are similar to ISM Raceway in Phoenix and the track's egg shape is reminiscent of the oval at Twin Ring Motegi.

In other words, WW(Technology)R is built on intellectual property theft. Take note.



SCHEDULE

The abbreviated, come in a day, do it all, get of of town, it'sasifweowesomeoneinSaintLouis$ schedule, all times U.S. EDT:

1:15 - 2:45 PM Practice, the only one. (Peacock)
5:00 - 6:00 PM Qualifications. (Peacock)
8:00 - 11:00 PM RACE. (NBCSN)


NOTABLES

Romain Grosjean races on an oval.

Alex Palou tries to rebound from IMS and protect his dwindling 21 point championship lead.

Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden, winners at last year's twin races at this locale, hope to reignite their runs for the Astor Cup.

Pato O'Ward hopes his team can put it all together one more weekend. He'd hate to have to chastise them in the post race interview. Again.

Hmm. Round Thirteen. Where, oh where, will the cartoon anvil land this week? Good thing racers aren't superstitious.




NOTABLE WATER FEATURE

THE Mississippi River. Slightly north, the Missouri River empties into the Mississippi.




NOTABLE CULTURAL FEATURE

Cahokia Mounds, a Native American cultural site.




According to the website, in 1250 Cahokia was larger than London, England. Sic transit gloria mundi, etc.






1. As a Kansas City native, I often heard as a child that Saint Louis is the last eastern U.S. city, and Kansas City marks the actual, well, WEST. YMMV. All I know is that KC has better BBQ.

Edited by red stick, 24 August 2021 - 12:19.

[juicy sushi]

This is the last of the bull-ring ovals that used to be a big part of Indycar, and as such it's work savoring.  The racing isn't always a full-on pass-fest, but hard racing is possible and it has the one great weapon for its spectacle.  The smaller size of the oval, compared to Indy, means it's better possible to appreciate the speed.  You can really get a sense of the fact that these cars are going ludicrously fast in a very small space.  

 

Hoping the top 5 somehow wind up in a dog fight for the win just because it would be great to have some really concentrated drama.  

 

Will Newgarden be able to have a clean weekend and get back into the fight?

 

Will Palou overcome yet another grid penalty?

 

Will McLaren somehow not screw up the strategy or set-up so that Pato can actually remain a factor for the full distance?

 

Will Dixon qualify well-enough to be a factor?

 

Will Andretti Autosport continue their recovery?

 

Who the heck knows.  All I know is I'm going to have fun finding out.

[FLB]

OvalCat, Attention, OvalCat.

 

[maximilian]

 

FINALLY another IndyCar race!!  Can't wait!!! 

[maximilian]

This is the last of the bull-ring ovals that used to be a big part of Indycar, and as such it's work savoring.  The racing isn't always a full-on pass-fest, but hard racing is possible and it has the one great weapon for its spectacle.  The smaller size of the oval, compared to Indy, means it's better possible to appreciate the speed.  You can really get a sense of the fact that these cars are going ludicrously fast in a very small space.  

 

Hoping the top 5 somehow wind up in a dog fight for the win just because it would be great to have some really concentrated drama.  

 

Will Newgarden be able to have a clean weekend and get back into the fight?

 

Will Palou overcome yet another grid penalty?

 

Will McLaren somehow not screw up the strategy or set-up so that Pato can actually remain a factor for the full distance?

 

Will Dixon qualify well-enough to be a factor?

 

Will Andretti Autosport continue their recovery?

 

Who the heck knows.  All I know is I'm going to have fun finding out.

 

Will Grosjean turn out to be an oval master from the get-go?

 

Will McLaughlin get another good oval result?  Dog knows he needs it!

 

Will Fittipaldi lead a couple of laps while off-strategy?  Oh crap, I guess there's no #52 this week... he was listed for a while on Wikipedia tho.

Edited by maximilian, 19 August 2021 - 14:02.

[juicy sushi]

Will Grosjean turn out to be an oval master from the get-go?

 

Will McLaughlin get another good oval result?  Dog knows he needs it!

 

Will Fittipaldi lead a couple of laps while off-strategy?  Oh crap, I guess there's no #52 this week... he was listed on Wikipedia tho.

All very important questions.

[Risil]

Big Arch! The Gateway to the West!

 

[sportyskells]

As it's Thursday any update on the weather for this oval race as we know ovals and rain do not mix

[red stick]

As it's Thursday any update on the weather for this oval race as we know ovals and rain do not mix

Currently, a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms. 

https://weather.com/...53bae35eb665a93

Watch for schedule updates if weather is a factor. 

[SenorSjon]

3.40 AM race time... I'll pass on this one.

[jonpollak]

5:40pm Race time.
You can bet your sweet bippy I’ll somehow make room for it here in Beautiful Downtown Burbank

Jp

[prommer]

What is a bippy, anyway?

 

(great OP -- I lernd things!)

[Anja]

3.40 AM race time... I'll pass on this one.

 

I thought every racing fan is watching Le Mans through the night anyway 

[Dolph]

Love the thread title.

EDIT: Just noticed the start time. What are you doing to me IndyCar?

EDIT2: Le Mans

EDIT3: Just remember I promised to take the missus and kids to spa (not that spa)

Edited by Dolph, 19 August 2021 - 18:20.

[loki]

5:40pm Race time.
You can bet your sweet bippy I’ll somehow make room for it here in Beautiful Downtown Burbank

Jp

 

[jonpollak]

Well I’ll be...
Spetzial guest appearance by Pete Aron on that Laugh-In clip
Jp

[loki]

What is a bippy, anyway?

 

(great OP -- I lernd things!)

 

 

It’s in the Funk and Wagnalls…

   

 

It’s catch phrase from the iconic comedy series Laugh In from the late 60s early 70s.  It’s a sanitized for 60s TV version of “you bet your ass”.
 

[red stick]

Verrrrry interrrrresting!

[red stick]

Warning: Lock up your checkbooks this weekend. Between all the Bommarito Automotive and Carvana ads we may see this weekend, the temptation to trade in the old hooptie may be too much for some to bear.

[loki]

Yeah, but that Truecoat…

[red stick]

Fortunately, AMSP can borrow setup tips this weekend from its notes for the tracks WWTR cribbed from.

Oh, wait . . .

[H0R]

I love short oval racing. But 2 AM green flag? No effin' way. 

[paulb]

Moar Indycar ovals!

 

Thanks red stick, for properly preparing peeps for potentially perilous Indycar pleasure.

[krapmeister]

Praise be! Sunday morning on the east coast of Australia sees qualy at 7am and the race at 10am 👍

[red stick]

What is a bippy, anyway?
 
(great OP -- I lernd things!)

You should be more careful.

[prommer]

It’s in the Funk and Wagnalls…

 

 

It’s catch phrase from the iconic comedy series Laugh In from the late 60s early 70s.  It’s a sanitized for 60s TV version of “you bet your ass”.
 

 

[OvDrone]

Thank you for mentioning Cahokia, Red. Fascinating place. Apparently there's a theory that is got wiped out by the Mississippi itself in like a monumental flash flood. A reminder of how the very source of life is ironically the source of it's own destruction.

 

Sorta like Indycar.

[red stick]

IndyCar math.

260 laps at 2.01 km per lap is not 500 km.  Of course, when they ran in 2019 and prior (last year's doubleheaders were shortened), 248 laps was also not 500 km.

 

This may explain much.  Or, just an unusual attachment to "500."

 

Turning it over to Thurman . . .

[jonpollak]

Sorta like Indycar.

I may pick exactly this. ?
Jp

[DogEarred]

I'd give Scott Dixon an extra 35 cents...

[SenorSjon]

IndyCar math.

260 laps at 2.01 km per lap is not 500 km.  Of course, when they ran in 2019 and prior (last year's doubleheaders were shortened), 248 laps was also not 500 km.

 

This may explain much.  Or, just an unusual attachment to "500."

 

Turning it over to Thurman . . .

 

Nascar had the Indy 400-ish last weekend.

[stewie]

Sorta like Indycar.

I may pick exactly this. ?
Jp

Nice picks for exactly $100!

I went for Grosjean / Kanaan / Ericsson / Rahal which is also exactly $100, I was happy with my picks 'til I saw yours! Lol.

[GlenWatkins]

Thanks Red Stick!  I am very much looking forward to a whole day of IndyCar, on an oval no less.  Remember:

[maximilian]

Sorta like Indycar.

I may pick exactly this. ?
Jp

 

 

Look who (would have) forgot(10) one of the cardinal rules of IndyCar Fantasy Game!! 

[FLB]

Look who (would have) forgot(10) one of the cardinal rules of IndyCar Fantasy Game!! 

Always pick Dixon?

[maximilian]

Yes, but never together with Will Power.  It's like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters.

 

Then again... they DID cross the streams - and nothing really happened.  So hmm yeah.

 

Edited by maximilian, 20 August 2021 - 10:47.

[red stick]

Sorta like Indycar.

I may pick exactly this. ?
Jp

 

First thought:  Seems like a lot of chaos in a small place.  

Second thought:  Power can go on streaks, Dixon and Sato may be due, and Grosjean has done little but surprise.  

[paulb]

Sorta like Indycar.

I may pick exactly this. ?
Jp

I like the chaos theory behind those picks!

Good luck!

[paulb]

Fantasy guesstimates are in.

[Jim Thurman]

IndyCar math.

260 laps at 2.01 km per lap is not 500 km.  Of course, when they ran in 2019 and prior (last year's doubleheaders were shortened), 248 laps was also not 500 km.

 

This may explain much.  Or, just an unusual attachment to "500."

 

Turning it over to Thurman . . .

 

You're asking me a math question? Nobody told me there would be math! 

 

Gateway's location is not far from the mighty Mississippi River 

[red stick]

Math only in the sense that there is a fixation on 500, which is probably self-explanatory.  

[paulb]

Math only in the sense that there is a fixation on 500, which is probably self-explanatory.  

But Jim also geographically mathed by stating Gateway is “not far” from the Mississippi. 

[red stick]

Weather update:

 

50/50 for practice, better as the day continues.  Possible that practice will be conducted as moisture allows and qualy based on points.

 

Stay tuned.

[Jim Thurman]

Math only in the sense that there is a fixation on 500, which is probably self-explanatory.  

 

It is. So why throw it in my lap?    Yes, I do recall when there used to be NASCAR and Indycar (USAC, actually) races of 200, 250, 300, even 350 and 450 miles.

 

But, math it is. Kansas City and St. Louis are 250 miles apart. If train A leaves Kansas City at 9 AM headed eastward, travelling 60mph, and train B leaves St. Louis at 9:30 AM, headed westward travelling at 55mph, at what time will the trains meet?, where will they meet?...and at what point do I not care? 

[prommer]

We need to ask Judy Garland. She was all about the rail-based conveyances in this area.

 

 

[Collombin]

They meet about 145 miles from KC at about 11.25.

But the Abermule disaster was 100 years ago, how do accidents like this still happen?

[jonpollak]

Clang clang clang goes the ..... Main power transformer at WWTR. Which has blown up / caught fire during the Truck race.

Hoping this plays into my chaos theory.

lol
Jp

[krapmeister]

Weather update:

 

50/50 for practice, better as the day continues.  Possible that practice will be conducted as moisture allows and qualy based on points.

 

Stay tuned.

 

How are we looking for practice/qualy at this stage? Still 50/50?

[B Squared]

WeatherBug shows a 30% chance of showers around 2 otherwise Sunny before, cloudy afterwards, but no precipitation.

Edited by B Squared, 21 August 2021 - 13:57.

[red stick]

The Weather Channel is even more optimistic; cloudy, but the rain chances have dropped considerably.

A little over an hour to practice.