411 replies to this topic

[Risil]

May begins! The annual not-an-oval pre-Indianapolis Indianapolis event is rushing towards us, promising two (2) days of fuel strategy, second- and third-gear corners and the remote possibility of rain (I had a look at the forecast, it is pretty remote). The outcome of the three-race early spring mini-championship is Colton Herta leading the points standings with a third, a second and an eighth. Will Power, Alex Palou and Scott Dixon are close behind, with comedy villain Josef Newgarden all the way down in 15th. It’s too early to talk about points! We should enjoy ourselves and not burden ourselves with counting.

 

For the first time ever (not literally ever) this will be the year’s only Indycar race on the road course – the usual way this goes is that we’re given one good race and one dud every year, so this really is a step into the unknown. Last time out in Barber the whole paddock took a race of complex strategies as an invitation to drive into each other like it was Laguna Seca again, and then a high-quality contemporary art installation fell on the track. A tactical farce. Expect a different race this weekend! I’m not sure what there is at Indy that’s capable of falling on the track. Maybe the scoreboard. We’ll see!

 

Race is on Saturday. This is very important to know. On Sunday to prepare for Indy 500 practice they’re going to reverse the flow of the circuit, a procedure that would be instantly fatal to anyone who found themselves on track at the time. So do what the men in yellow shirts say and stay safe. Here are your complete dates and times (all ET) :

 

Friday, 10 May

9.30am: Indycar practice 1

11.05: Indy NXT pr[a]ct[i]c[e] 1

1.10pm: Indycar practice 2

2.30: Indy NXT qualifying

4.20: Indycar qualifying

6.10: Indy NXT race 1

 

Saturday, 11 May

11.15am: Indycar warm-up

1pm: Indy NXT race 2

3pm: Indycar race!!!

 

So there it is. Qualifying here tends to throw up some surprises, none more surprising than Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan locking out the front row last time they were here in August. If somebody can remind me how Dixon beat them from the eighth row, please go ahead. Otherwise, post whatever you like below! See you then.

 

[FLB]

Please let this be a good race.

[Risil]

Please let this be a good race.

Do you think this is bad the paddock atmospherics have been since that time the series tried to move them to Continental tyres?

[jonpollak]

M.O.M. is my Christmas.

Also, Is Theo Porkchops not in this race or what?
Jp

[jonpollak]

Green Flag is at 3:42 EDT.
Jp

[FLB]

Do you think this is bad the paddock atmospherics have been since that time the series tried to move them to Continental tyres?

 

 

All I know is that even during The Split, it wasn't this gloomy. 

 

Rumours of Honda walking out + Mark Reuss's statement last weekend (i.e. that Penske needs to get his house in order or else) =      ...

Edited by FLB, 08 May 2024 - 21:06.

[Risil]

I still think 2001 was worse, but that's really not saying very much as that was Gotterdammerung.

[FLB]

M.O.M. is my Christmas.

Also, Is Theo Porkchops not in this race or what?
Jp

Nothing yet, but Ilott is in Spa Francorchamps.

[jonpollak]

Yes I am aware.
I just saw that the Fantasy game had no Porkchops.
Jp

[Risil]

Yeah, Wikipedia still says the third McLaren is TBA for the remaining rounds. Pourchaire recently completed an oval test with McLaren at Gateway so I think the signs are there that they're trying to put together a proper deal.

At least we know Ghiotto is back in at Coyne.

[jonpollak]

Myron Bouslog replaces Cindric on the #2

He was JPM’s guy in 2015
Jp

[Afterburner]

[OvDrone]

Well, I have to maintain my tradition of recent years of usually missing a Saturday Indycar race, unfortunately.

It just so happens to be that a Bestial Black Metal band I really enjoy since around the time when the modern Indycar re-merger happened, from New Zealand is somehow playing a gig here in lil ol’ haunted Transylvania on Saturday at green flag time. Don’t have to travel in some other EU country to see something I like. Very rare!

Y’all let me know if a mannequin of Tim Cindric materializes from the sky and falls onto the track with its pants down, alright ? Cheers - see ya at the big 500.

Edited by OvDrone, 09 May 2024 - 15:12.

[teejay]

Might better in the main thread, but if Honda does walk... then what? 

[PayasYouRace]

I still think 2001 was worse, but that's really not saying very much as that was Gotterdammerung.

2001 CART or IRL? Or both?

[jonpollak]

Your UK SKYF1 Telly times


Jp

[milestone 11]

NW200 takes precedence, may catch the second half of the race.

[Risil]

2001 CART or IRL? Or both?

CART, with the Rio and Texas cancellations, the failure to agree new engine rules, Wastegategate, Penske switching to IRL, etc. It was an unbelievably bad year, all the contradictions and slow-burning problems the CART organization had blew up at once.

[juicy sushi]

Yeah, Wikipedia still says the third McLaren is TBA for the remaining rounds. Pourchaire recently completed an oval test with McLaren at Gateway so I think the signs are there that they're trying to put together a proper deal.

At least we know Ghiotto is back in at Coyne.

I am not sure if that is as sure a sign as some are taking it.  Illott would not be available for one of the ovals this year anyway, since it clashes with WEC, so Theo was going to need this test regardless.  The important dates are the ones where there is no WEC or Super Formula clash.  Those dates will probably be the most accurate sign of who is the preferred candidate, if both of them are not preferred for more than one seat.

[juicy sushi]

Might better in the main thread, but if Honda does walk... then what? 

Spec Ilmor's for all.

[PayasYouRace]

CART, with the Rio and Texas cancellations, the failure to agree new engine rules, Wastegategate, Penske switching to IRL, etc. It was an unbelievably bad year, all the contradictions and slow-burning problems the CART organization had blew up at once.

Actually easy to forget what a problem season that was, and it was very much the first of the three years that saw the transition of power from CART to the IRL. You also had Zanardi’s accident, Homestead, Gateway and Michigan switching to IRL, and probably worst of all, the release of Driven.

The problem is I can’t remember being that aware of all this back in 2001. So I can’t compare looking back in hindsight to how the series is faring today.

[juicy sushi]

We definitely had much less of a meta-narrative going as fans back then.  The amount of coverage of paddock messes and business of sport writing was so much lower that we just had no overall idea.  No one was trying to put all the pieces together.

[Disgrace]

Please let this be a good race.

 

The last one was pretty good, a revisit of the Barber thread had me chuckling all over again.

[loki]

I still think 2001 was worse, but that's really not saying very much as that was Gotterdammerung.

I don’t reckon we’ve had a Wagner reference in an Indycar thread.  So points for that…

[juicy sushi]

I don’t reckon we’ve had a Wagner reference in an Indycar thread.  So points for that…

[eibyyz]

I don’t reckon we’ve had a Wagner reference in an Indycar thread.  So points for that…

 

Robert Wagner, Winning, Universal Pictures, 1969.  

 

 

Edited by eibyyz, 09 May 2024 - 19:04.

[jonpollak]

Looks like Theo is permanently in papaya
(Minus the 500)

https://racer.com/20...f-the-indy-500/

 

 

ALSO,

Land at the track

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 09 May 2024 - 23:01.

[FLB]

Things that make me smile

 

[paulb]

Call me a putz, but this race doesn’t excite me at all. 

 

Love the Wagner Fudd vibe, though.

[loki]

Love the Wagner Fudd vibe, though.

They should use Wagner for the podium ceremony.    That will give the celebrations more class.  Or Die Walküre just before the invocation…

[jonpollak]

Call me a putz, but this race doesn’t excite me at all.

Love the Wagner Fudd vibe, though.

Nah, you’re no putz but I’m trying as best I can to get up for this one. We’ll see after qualy today how much ommph my giddy up has.

PS. Duck season.
Jp

[Risil]

Call me a putz, but this race doesn’t excite me at all.

Love the Wagner Fudd vibe, though.

It feels a bit like filler, but there have been memorable races. Pagenaud chasing down Dixon in a rain shower, Colton Herta's incredible car control in the wet that briefly made him an F1 candidate, Veekay and Grosjean battling for debut wins.

[krapmeister]

Isn't there supposed to be rain forecast for the race this weekend?

Edit: Err... looks unlikely

Edited by krapmeister, 10 May 2024 - 11:02.

[Frood]

That Pagenaud/Dixon wet race is one of my favourite races of the last decade.

[jonpollak]

Me too.


Practice 1 is NAO !!
Jp

[Disgrace]

Two newly-installed Hondas with issues.

[jonpollak]

Jp

[ckolcz]

Great to see the pinnacle of motorsport is back.

 

Are they using the old F1 Indy layout for this one?

[Frood]

Great to see the pinnacle of motorsport is back.

 

Are they using the old F1 Indy layout for this one?

 

Not quite. Here's a very factual map I made a few years ago:

 

[ckolcz]

Thank you very much. Actually looks quite fun to drive.

[Risil]

The chicane is quite nice to watch cars go through, reminds me a bit of a similar one at St Pete, albeit with nothing solid to hit

[loki]

Two newly-installed Hondas with issues.

I blame Cindric…

[Sterzo]

Not quite. Here's a very factual map I made a few years ago:

You are the new Ozpata.

[Frood]

Don't forget there's also two USF2000 races and three USF Pro 2000 races this weekend!

 

The first USF2000 race is kicking off right NAO

 

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - watch out for that Nikita Johnson kid in USF Pro 2000. 15 years old. Double pole position again this weekend.

[prommer]

Remember, the race is on CATURDAY

[Dolph]

May May begin!

[Disgrace]

Juncos and ECR looking like potential spoilers this weekend.

[jonpollak]

Jp

[jonpollak]

Hey ckolcz …
Who’s the hottie in your avatar ???
Jp

[markpenske]

Don't forget there's also two USF2000 races and three USF Pro 2000 races this weekend!

 

The first USF2000 race is kicking off right NAO

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - watch out for that Nikita Johnson kid in USF Pro 2000. 15 years old. Double pole position again this weekend.

Maybe the best prospect I've seen in many years. Can't wait to see what's in his future. I know he's going GB3 when he turns 16. I was kinda hoping he's stay on this side of the pond.