1094 replies to this topic

[B Squared]

I daresay we had more irrelevant comments about the Detroit people mover (from me) than about the catch fences.

Payas said "We’ve been discussing one particular safety issue at one particular Indycar circuit" - catchfences at Detroit, not Indianapolis, were discussed in this thread.

[ANF]

I wouldn't call it a discussion.

[PayasYouRace]

Payas said "We’ve been discussing one particular safety issue at one particular Indycar circuit" - catchfences at Detroit, not Indianapolis, were discussed in this thread.

There’s was a single comment about the catch fence which got a few replies. I’d imagine many missed it.

[red stick]

I don't think my "doom and gloom" threshold is abnormally low, but a errant flying tire took out a compact car a week ago.  I'm sure the powers-that-be are examining all manner of safety features at the tracks.  Even Marshall Pruett answered a podcast question by assuming that some catch fences at Indianapolis will be raised for next year.  It's common sense protocol review, not pearl-clutching, IMHO.

[PayasYouRace]

And I bet Will Power takes the safety of his best job in the world quite seriously too.

[AncientLurker]

I don't think my "doom and gloom" threshold is abnormally low, but a errant flying tire took out a compact car a week ago.  I'm sure the powers-that-be are examining all manner of safety features at the tracks.  Even Marshall Pruett answered a podcast question by assuming that some catch fences at Indianapolis will be raised for next year.  It's common sense protocol review, not pearl-clutching, IMHO.

 

Good to hear they are looking at the catch fences, Indycar are always quite good at addressing safety issues. Just for clarification, did he specifically say they are looking at raising the fences? That tire would have cleared a much higher fence. I think they need to look at extending a lip out over the track to catch objects launched rocket style straight up. They are smart lads and ladies, I am sure they are already on it.

 

[red stick]

MP just spoke about higher fences, but to be fair, he was answering a question generally while noting that IMS was studying the matter, so I assume he's awaiting their review.

[B Squared]

Mr. Penske owned the Michigan International Speedway in 1986 when I got hit by Randy Lanier's errant right rear wheel from his crash. At the time, the high fences ran only where grandstands were situated, so from the exit of one to the entrance of four it was only wall. I was working station 6 halfway between turns three and four. By the time NASCAR ran there 2 weeks later, they had installed sections of catch fences for stations 2,3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. That was almost 40 years ago, I know they are relentless on safety, for that there is no doubt. Certain problems are harder to address than others, flying wheels would be right at the top.

I'm going to add that at the time some who knew of my situation were convinced that the erecting of catch fences around the worker stations was basically an admission of wrongdoing and that I should sue the hell out of CART, Mr Penske and anybody else that I could include in it. I never once considered it. I knew the risks involved and was willing to accept them. Besides, I couldn't imagine the last nearly 40 years being a pariah of the IndyCar paddock and never being welcomed there again. The wonderful relationships that I have had with some of the teams, primarily Team Penske, were forged in the years following that August 2nd 1986 date. None of that would have ever been a part of my life if I would have sued.

Edited by B Squared, 05 June 2023 - 13:22.

[Jim Thurman]

Like Andretti père et fils.

Well played  One of the greatest memories of when CART ran the downtown course was Mario bumping into the back of the safety vehicle and Michael bumping into the back of Mario. Bobby Rahal was next on the scene of the now track blockage, and you could see him shaking his head and laughing in the cockpit about it.

[Jim Thurman]

Who is that lady in the green they cut to after Grosjean crashed, his mistress?

Now you've reminded me of the French driver at a final round of a Touring Car championship that had both his wife and mistress in the pit box. I want to say it was Laurent Aiello.

[juicy sushi]

Now you've reminded me of the French driver at a final round of a Touring Car championship that had both his wife and mistress in the pit box. I want to say it was Laurent Aiello.

Did the team know they were both invited?  And should the organizers have sold tickets to that instead?

[Risil]

Now you've reminded me of the French driver at a final round of a Touring Car championship that had both his wife and mistress in the pit box. I want to say it was Laurent Aiello.

 

Now we're talking. I need more details!

[ezequiel]

Laurent Aiello, wonderful driver!

[jonpollak]

Now we're talking. I need more details!

I’m pretty sure that was JP Sarti

Jp

[FLB]

I’m pretty sure that was JP Sarti

Jp

I know Monique Delvaux eventually went to work as a Madam under another name (as told in Luis Bunuel's documentary, Belle de jour), but whatever happened to Louise Fredrickson after Sarti was killed at Monza in 66?

Edited by FLB, 05 June 2023 - 22:35.

[Jim Thurman]

Re: Laurent Aiello's wife and mistress at the same race

Did the team know they were both invited?  And should the organizers have sold tickets to that instead?

Now we're talking. I need more details!

I only saw this on the TV coverage of the DTM round, so I can't provide much more. Interestingly, the announcer mentioned it, otherwise I would not have known. And, there was a race to cover, so there was no focus on this as Ohlmeyer would have   . But, from what little was shown, they were clearly aware of each other, and I have to assume they were somewhat aware of each other for some time. Not to disappoint you fellows, but I don't think there was a catfight 

 

Perhaps someone can dig around and find any print account of the race to see if further mention was made. It was definitely a DTM round, and I believe his championship season, so 2002? I want to say it was at the final round, but I am not certain of that.

[Jim Thurman]

I know Monique Delvaux eventually went to work as a Madam under another name (as told in Luis Bunuel's documentary, Belle de jour), but whatever happened to Louise Fredrickson after Sarti was killed at Monza in 66?

I think Louise Fredrickson wrote for a bit, wound up working on the crossword puzzle for the NYT, married a stockbroker and retired to Connecticut.

[Afterburner]

Re: Laurent Aiello's wife and mistress at the same race
I only saw this on the TV coverage of the DTM round, so I can't provide much more. Interestingly, the announcer mentioned it, otherwise I would not have known. And, there was a race to cover, so there was no focus on this as Ohlmeyer would have . But, from what little was shown, they were clearly aware of each other, and I have to assume they were somewhat aware of each other for some time. Not to disappoint you fellows, but I don't think there was a catfight

Perhaps someone can dig around and find any print account of the race to see if further mention was made. It was definitely a DTM round, and I believe his championship season, so 2002? I want to say it was at the final round, but I am not certain of that.

DTM is so brutal I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the mistress was another driver’s girlfriend and it was purely for a competitive edge. Rene Rast may or may not be familiar with this concept…

[Jim Thurman]

Before we say goodbye to Detroit, and its coverage, let me also add that the music going to breaks on NBC has often been nicely un-random. War at Long Beach (though The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Pyraminds would have been additions nice as well); Jack White and Motown (of course!) at Detroit, although it was too much to expect deeper digs from the Motown vaults.

 

So, I realize it's too much to ask/expect, but that means Road America should have The Violent Femmes and The Spanic Boys as break music (and, yeah, I know those are even more appropriate for Milwaukee, but with the Mile still being absent from the schedule...)

[Jim Thurman]

...oh, and some Liberace for good measure 

[amerikalei]

If it's a hot weekend in RA those guayule tires might go and blister in the sun...

[amerikalei]

In response to the track complaints, I just want to throw this out there:

 

Watching the race made me think this was a really good IndyCar venue.  Sort of a short bullring version of a road course, and not necessarily inappropriate for a post 500 weekend (thinking the Milwaukee mile tradition / bullring?).  The on boards were intense.  Qualifying was more of a crap shoot than usual due to the abbreviated track length (which helps to remind you that a lap of the Speedway is longer than most road courses, which is easy to forget given the speeds).  But it raced well, the tight low speed corners allowed for some argy bargy without major damage (McLaren comes to mind), and it had turn three as a major strategic decision point that "might" deliver a pass on almost any lap.  The series put on a really gritty race, and the good teams rose to the challenge.  I like it.

 

Should I have put this in the "unpopular opinions" thread?

[loki]

Appropriate Winamp for Elkhart Lake…

[Anja]

Appropriate Winamp for Elkhart Lake…

 

Honestly, this sounds exactly like something you'd hear during any sort of a folksy/old-fashioned event/party/whatever around here. Seems like if I wanted to find my home away from home in the US it'd have to be Wisconsin 

[Frood]

Honestly, this sounds exactly like something you'd hear during any sort of a folksy/old-fashioned event/party/whatever around here. Seems like if I wanted to find my home away from home in the US it'd have to be Wisconsin 

And guess which state has the highest percentage of Polish-Americans compared to its population?

[Anja]

And guess which state has the highest percentage of Polish-Americans compared to its population?

 

I see you're really becoming an expert on all things Polish 

[jonpollak]

Ya can’t have enough Kielbasa !!!
Jp

[Frood]

I see you're really becoming an expert on all things Polish

I'm still rubbish at speaking it though, much to my partner's displeasure

[paulb]

Appropriate Winamp for Elkhart Lake…

I’m gonna like the idea but not play the music.

[Jim Thurman]

Appropriate Winamp for Elkhart Lake…

How could I have forgotten! Frankie Yankovic FTW.

 

Though I should've added how disappointed, yet unsurprised, that they didn't play King Usniewicz during Detroit coverage 

[LolaB0860]

In response to the track complaints, I just want to throw this out there:

Watching the race made me think this was a really good IndyCar venue. Sort of a short bullring version of a road course, and not necessarily inappropriate for a post 500 weekend (thinking the Milwaukee mile tradition / bullring?). The on boards were intense. Qualifying was more of a crap shoot than usual due to the abbreviated track length (which helps to remind you that a lap of the Speedway is longer than most road courses, which is easy to forget given the speeds). But it raced well, the tight low speed corners allowed for some argy bargy without major damage (McLaren comes to mind), and it had turn three as a major strategic decision point that "might" deliver a pass on almost any lap. The series put on a really gritty race, and the good teams rose to the challenge. I like it.

Should I have put this in the "unpopular opinions" thread?

Agree, the natural passing opportunities where there and the flow was good. And as I've said before these kind of not-very-polished bullrings with various levels of surface are the heart of street racing, not the stale, completely fabricated Miamis and Jeddahs of this world

[Peat]

Listened to Hinchcliffe & Rossi's podcast last night. 

Rossi says that he didn't really understand alot of the knicker-wetting about the track being too tight/bumpy given some of the other tracks they go/have been to. 

Also says he wasn't at all salty about FRO's move on him at the end, he was just trying to be economical with his words to make the interview be over sooner, but accepts that may have fed the media 'beef' hysteria. 

[LolaB0860]

Rossi says that he didn't really understand alot of the knicker-wetting about the track being too tight/bumpy given some of the other tracks they go/have been to.

Many of them haven't raced on tracks like this. You know Baltimore, Houston, that Brazil street track, etc. Or they've forgotten...

Nashville is tight but generally faster

Edited by LolaB0860, 09 June 2023 - 07:12.

[Risil]

Houston often gets off lightly in the street course hall of shame.

[Peat]

It's convenient to forget it so we don't have to confront the fact that Carlos Huertas won a race.

[Risil]

The all-Colombian podium!

[Afterburner]

It's convenient to forget it so we don't have to confront the fact that Carlos Huertas won a race.

With an illegal rear wing, don’t forget! Thankfully for him it was during IndyCar’s “race on Sunday, fine on Wednesday” phase.

[Risil]

Indycar drivers from 2014 I had completely forgotten about until I read the Wikipedia page:

1. Martin Plowman
2. Mikhail Aleshin
3. Franck Montagny

[Afterburner]

I remember Martin Plowman for living up to his name (at the Indy road course mayhaps?) and Mikhail Aleshin for having a name that the commentators habitually pronounced like a porn search. I don’t remember seeing Franck Montagny race that year—the two facts I associate with him are a stint at Super Aguri and being the object of random seething hate from Scott Tucker before Tucker went to rich people jail.

[GlenWatkins]

Appropriate Winamp for Elkhart Lake…

Was going to post something similar, cheeaheads like their polka music. Always best with a large beer tent and plenty of brats and sauerkraut.

Edited by GlenWatkins, 09 June 2023 - 14:07.

[Alan Lewis]

Have to admit the only thing the word "polka" ever triggers in my head is Good Morning, Vietnam...

Edited by Alan Lewis, 09 June 2023 - 18:48.

[jcbc3]

Mine:

 

 

[PayasYouRace]

Mine is 'Home alone' and John Candy....

 

Yeah, the Kenosha Kickers.

[ezequiel]

I remember Martin Plowman for living up to his name (at the Indy road course mayhaps?) and Mikhail Aleshin for having a name that the commentators habitually pronounced like a porn search. I don’t remember seeing Franck Montagny race that year—the two facts I associate with him are a stint at Super Aguri and being the object of random seething hate from Scott Tucker before Tucker went to rich people jail.

 

I think Montagny lost his seat with Andretti in Formula E after testing positive to some forbidden drug (I don't want to lie, but I think it was cocaine) In any case it was the end of his career.

Edited by ezequiel, 09 June 2023 - 23:50.

[StraightEdge]

I remember Martin Plowman for living up to his name (at the Indy road course mayhaps?) and Mikhail Aleshin for having a name that the commentators habitually pronounced like a porn search. I don’t remember seeing Franck Montagny race that year—the two facts I associate with him are a stint at Super Aguri and being the object of random seething hate from Scott Tucker before Tucker went to rich people jail.

 

He was a menace the entire month of May. He plowed into back of Josef Newgarden crashing him at Indy 500