628 replies to this topic

[Risil]

The Indycar circus enters the month of August with the for-now traditional visit to Nashville in order to test suspensions, smash up a few cars, induce madness and perhaps (in all likelihood) produce an image of patience in the winning driver for us to adore/patronize/express contempt for. The Nashville circuit, which next year will transform into a different but completely similar layout, was founded upon the concept that it would be cool if there was an Indycar race where the cars went across a big bridge across a big river. This they do. In order to make the two parts of the track link up they go through some very tight turns and a stadium car park. In order to move up the order drivers are required to crash into each other, which gives us some solid yellow and red flag time to discuss country music and hot chicken. The civic fathers of Nashville, Tennessee smile. Alex Palou wins anyway (probably). Everyone else steams in their race suit. We press F5 a lot. All good.

Where are we in the great unfolding story of this the 2023 Indycar season? Chip Ganassi’s Alex Palou, presumably soon to be Zak Brown and the Bahrain Royal Family’s Alex Palou, still leads the championship table commandingly, in spite of Roger Penske’s Josef Newgarden picking up maximum points (or thereabouts) at the Iowa double-header (I feel this has happened before). The points standings have by now assumed a definite shape, with Palou way out (and I mean way out) in front with 477, and Newgarden with 397 still a win ahead of Dixon on 357. A definite shape and the top three’s points totals all ending in 7. It’s statistically improbable that this will remain the case till the end of the year, although somewhat less improbable than any of the others landing the Astor Cup (is it still called that) in September. Still [checks notes] a lot of racing still to go before then. Oh and expect some Guayule fun, as usual.

These are Nashville times so add on 6 hours for the UK. Check out the Indy 500 tribute pre-afternoon start time. There are lots of other races that I haven’t transcribed off the internet, including GTs and (speaking of Big Machine) Stadium Super Trucks. Is one of the ramps on the bridge? I need to know.
 
Friday, 4 August
1.55pm: Indy NXT practice 1
3pm: Indycar practice 1
 
Saturday, 5 August
9.35am: Indy NXT practice 2
10.40: Indycar practice 2
1.05pm: Indy NXT qualifying
1.45: Indycar qualifying
5.25: Indycar warm-up
 
Sunday, 6 August
9.15am: Indy NXT race
11.30am: Indycar race
 
That should be enough facts and narrative to get us going. Nashville is one of the racing year’s weirdo highlights, and it probably will be until NASCAR’s calendar is all street courses and they steal it. Also practice is on, you should stop reading this and watch that instead. Go!

[Beri]

The track, when displayed like that, still looks like a guitar to me. Fits Nashville (typo Risil?) perfectly!

[PayasYouRace]

Can't wait. I know everyone hates it, but I love this event. It's been crazy drama every time so far.

[Beri]

Well Ive been watching the previous races, cant figure out why this specific race popped up in my YouTube algorithm. But indeed the previous editions have been very much entertaining. Thats why I am kinda looking forward to this edition as well. But it will be my luck that this race sucks donkey***** now that I added the Indycar package to my TV subscription 

[red stick]

[krapmeister]

Smashville

[FLB]

PowerBall!!!

[Risil]

The track, when displayed like that, still looks like a guitar to me. Fits Nashville (typo Risil?) perfectly!

Lol yes, Nashvile would've been very ungracious of me

[Risil]

Armstrong's been looking alright so far, 6th fastest in practice 1

[red stick]

Rossi and Hinchcliffe's guide to success at Nashville, via their recent podcast:  Crash, but not hard enough to hurt your car.  Take advantage of restarts.  Drive for CGR.  Make your fantasy picks now!

[Risil]

Hey, I totally omitted/wasn't aware that we have a NEW DRIVER this weekend! Three cheers for Linus Lundqvist, the other Swede. He's running in the top 10! Bet Michael Shank's glad he's got him in the car.

[OvDrone]

Maybe this race we'll see if Palou has legit plot armor. 

[loki]

WOOOOO  energy drink

[krapmeister]

Hey, I totally omitted/wasn't aware that we have a NEW DRIVER this weekend! Three cheers for Linus Lundqvist, the other Swede. He's running in the top 10! Bet Michael Shank's glad he's got him in the car.

Indycar in danger of being taken over by Swedes and Kiwis...

[red stick]

Time to get the QVIST! t-shirt and ballcap concession.

[paulb]

Last years top 5 started 14th, 1st, 4th, 17th, and 23rd respectively.

[NickeF1]

Linus past accolades include being British F3 champion, Indycar lights champions and a multiple race wins in other categories. But he has always lacked funding so I’m glad he finally gets a chance to race in Indycar.

[red stick]

Nashville by the numbers:

 

2021

Entries:  27

Cars lost to contact:  8

Cars running at finish:  19

Laps:  80

Laps under caution:  33 (41%)

Polesitter:  Herta, who DNFed in 19th.

Winner's starting position:  18th (Ericsson)

Lap of eventual winner's evident race-ruining accident:  5

Fastest speed:  99.074

Average speed:  72.607

Winning team:  Ganassi

Surprise Top 10 finisher:  Ed Jones, 6th

 

Read all about it!  Marshall Pruett appalled!

https://racer.com/20...-music-city-gp/

 

 

2022

Entries:  26

Cars lost to contact:  10

Cars running at finish:  13

Laps:  80

Laps under caution:  36 (45%)

Polesitter:  McLaughlin, who finished 2nd.

Winner's starting position:  14th (Dixon)

Lap of eventual winner's evident race-ruining accident:  55

Fastest speed:  99.803

Average speed:  79.744

Winning team:  Ganassi

Surprise Top 10 finisher:  Jack Harvey, 10th

 

Read all about it!  Marshall Pruett appalled!

https://racer.com/20...ashville-chaos/

https://racer.com/20...hville-edition/

Edited by red stick, 05 August 2023 - 13:07.

[PayasYouRace]

Indycar in danger of being taken over by Swedes and Kiwis...

Races at Anderstorp and Pukekohe please,

[Disgrace]

Blimey, this is about as wet as Silverstone.

[red stick]

Practice 2 in a rain delay.

[TomNokoe]

  A lot of water

[ANF]

The radar doesn't look too promising. Looks like it might continue to rain for 60–90 minutes.

[FLB]

This was about 45 minutes ago: Indycar Weatherman sur Twitter : "Should be exiting out of steadier rain shortly at #MusicCityGP and getting into some lighter on/off intensity showers during #INDYCAR practice…then watching area moving through Clarksville for it to potentially pick back up again…still no lightning in the area https://t.co/xtf3k5hTAf" / X

[red stick]

Yeah, Ericsson sounded resigned to going into qualifying "blind."

[ANF]

This was about 45 minutes ago: Indycar Weatherman sur Twitter : "Should be exiting out of steadier rain shortly at #MusicCityGP and getting into some lighter on/off intensity showers during #INDYCAR practice…then watching area moving through Clarksville for it to potentially pick back up again…still no lightning in the area https://t.co/xtf3k5hTAf" / X

Yeah, I was just about to say that the rain will probably ease/stop but soon get worse again.

[red stick]

Qualy scheduled to begin in 2.5 hours, track permitting.

[FLB]

You know we're in for a bit of a wait when IndyCar Radio brings out the old Indy 500 broadcasts (currently on Lap 2 of the 1955 race, Jack McGrath leading).

Edited by FLB, 05 August 2023 - 16:18.

[red stick]

Cars on track.

[red stick]

Ericsson quickest.
Ganassi and Penske on form.
McLaren seem nowhere.

[FLB]

Ericsson quickest.
Ganassi and Penske on form.
McLaren seem nowhere.

Session was pretty short, though. The only driver with laps in the double digits was VK with 10.

 

 

Edit: Maybe McLaughlin, too.

Edited by FLB, 05 August 2023 - 17:49.

[milestone 11]

Forecast for tomorrow doesn't bode well either.

[PayasYouRace]

I've got the emergency Lego Speed Champions cars at the ready in case there are delays. Will it be the Lotus Evija or the Porsche 963? Feel free to chime in on which I should build should we have further delays.

[red stick]

The 963.

[loki]

That boy has almost completely ditched his Swedish accent…

[Afterburner]

I still have no idea how the new Nashville track compares the current one.

[red stick]

Weather delay redux.

[ANF]

They should be qualifying now but we've got another rain delay. Where are all the angry messages about drivers not being able or allowed or willing to race in the wet?

[red stick]

I still have no idea how the new Nashville track compares the current one.

The bulk of it is on the west side of the Cumberland rolling through the CBD. Which means some elevation change, compared to the current east side layout.

[loki]

They should be qualifying now but we've got another rain delay. Where are all the angry messages about drivers not being able or allowed or willing to race in the wet?

Hang tight, I’ll be with you in a minute…

[red stick]

IMSA Road America qualifying is on Peacock now as well, while we're waiting.

[Mark521]

Did I just see a squirrel?

[red stick]

Fun Fact: Pruett opted to cover IMSA this weekend.

So far, seems more fun

[milestone 11]

They should be qualifying now but we've got another rain delay. Where are all the angry messages about drivers not being able or allowed or willing to race in the wet?

Many medals up for grabs tonight in Track World Championships and there's also the Hundred. Nashville was always being left for an opener before Moto 3 tomorrow morning.

[ArchieTech]

Qualifying delayed to 6:15pm Eastern time. That's 11:15pm for UK folks.

Edited by ArchieTech, 05 August 2023 - 19:06.

[PayasYouRace]

The 1995 Belgian Grand Prix is a nice treat for SSF1 viewers

[ANF]

Delayed to 6:15pm Eastern time. That's 11:15pm for UK folks.

Thanks. That's basically final practice replaced by qualifying then?

[ArchieTech]

Thanks. That's basically final practice replaced by qualifying then?

Yes final practice has been cancelled,

[maximilian]

I hate weather so much 

[Burtros]

Mrs Burtros is in Nashville at the moment and is at the race this weekend. I’m still here in the UK looking after the dog and the hamster... trying not to be too jealous! She’s spent a lot of time sheltering from the rain so far but is enjoying the Indycar experience, and hopefully I will get a Colton Herta t-shirt out of it!

Sky have cut away from the feed now which is a shame.