439 replies to this topic

[prommer]

 

Yes, folks, Indycar returns to the indeterminate landscape of somewhere near the center of Ohio for the Grand PRIUS oh, sorry, PRIX, of Mid-Ohio!  With this opening post I hope to bring a little INSIGHT into this weekend’s race.

 

As evident by the title, the long-overdue hybrid units have arrived!  Indycar is ready to party like it’s 1999 with an energy recovery system using super-capacitors that, uh, capacitate superbly, to recover energy and oh, just watch this video:

 

 

Not mentioned in the video is that the progress on this particular engine upgrayedd has been glacial and, frankly, Indycaresque. Porsche originally demanded them, then backed away into a hedge like Homer Simpson, the original supplier failed to produce a unit in time, the pandemic hit, delays occurred, and that’s how we ended up with Chevy and Honda stepping in to Frankenstein together a hybrid Hond-olet system together. The unit has worked in testing so far, but one wonders if there are some further doubts about it, being that the hybrids were actually ready for the beginning of the season, but were delayed ‘til now without further explanation. Oh well, if it doesn’t work, then That’s So INDYCAR!!!

 

TL,DR: Palou will win, the cars will bump into each other, and Dixon will now save even MORE fuel than before. Scary thought.

 

The Schedule

Full schedule including all the ladder races (USF Juniors, USF2000, USF2000 Pro, etc).

 

Friday (all times Eastern)

2:05-2:55pm Indy NXT Practice 1

3:20-4:35pm INDYCAR hybrids-go-boom Practice 1

 

Saturday

9:40-10:25am Indy NXT Practice 2

10:50-11:50am INDYCAR Practice 2

2:05-2:35pm Indy NXT Qualifying

3:00-4:30pm INDYCAR Qualifying

 

Sunday Sunday

10:25-10:55am INDYCAR Warmup

11:25am-12:20pm Indy NXT Race

1:53pm(!) INDYCAR Race

 

The track map

 

The Obligatory Prommer Ohio Roller Coaster POV

 

In honor of 25 year old hybrid technology finally making its way into Indycar, here’s Millenium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio:

 

Not Hybrids, but Damn I Miss the Hi-Revving VTECs from This Era

 

 

 

The Standings

 

1. Alex Palou (285)

2. Will Power (262)

3. Scott Dixon (253)

4. Colton Herta (217)

5. Kyle Kirkwood (210)

6. Pato O'Ward (208)

7. Alexander Rossi (198)

8. Scott McLaughlin (188)

9. Josef ("The #2 Team Believes this is a Plug In Hybrid System") Newgarden (181)

10. Felix Rosenqvist (176)

 

How to Participate

Sign up here, buy or rent a Honda S2000, and make your way to the S2000 Owners Corral. Yeah, registration is closed, but don’t let that stop you from a track invasion. You may even get to drive an INDYCAR driver around the track!

 

[FLB]

I loved the sound of the DFX   

 

[red stick]

I think we can all be in ACCORD that you've done your CIVIC duty in presenting our new hybrid overlords in IONIQ fashion.

[PayasYouRace]

Just today I was reminiscing about Charlie Kimball’s win. How time flies.

[prommer]

I think we can all be in ACCORD that you've done your CIVIC duty in presenting our new hybrid overlords in IONIQ fashion.

 

Oh FFS... I had a whole section of the first paragraph that was talking about how Indycar is the ALTIMA in motorsports technology, and isn't it IONIQ that they're turning over a new LEAF this summer, and that's when I realized I couldn't keep it up without venturing into pure EVs, so I edited it out. Thank you RS for stepping in and doing god's work.

 

ps. Also, btw, this Honda-heavy OP, and my cat's still got a damn Toyota badge in front of its face? Sheesh.

[prommer]

Oh FFS... I had a whole section of the first paragraph that was talking about how Indycar is the ALTIMA in motorsports technology, and isn't it IONIQ that they're turning over a new LEAF this summer, and that's when I realized I couldn't keep it up without venturing into pure EVs, so I edited it out. Thank you RS for stepping in and doing god's work.

 

ps. Also, btw, this Honda-heavy OP, and my cat's still got a damn Toyota badge in front of its face? Sheesh.

 

oh and pps. the IONIQ would've hyperlinked to Alanis...

[red stick]

That would just rekindle the old argument that many of the examples in that song are more unfortunate than ironic. We have enough pedantry around here as it is.

Best left out.

[prommer]

That would just rekindle the old argument that many of the examples in that song are more unfortunate than ironic. We have enough pedantry around here as it is.

Best left out.

 

Pedantry Corner, comes just after the Esses.

[B Squared]

I loved the sound of the DFX

https://www.youtube....h?v=lVMNuMGhNcY

You post another race I worked. If I remember correctly I was one of those on the inside at "Madness" raceday.

[red stick]

Rossi has said the repave is interesting, as they've done the corners but not the straights. I'd expect some offs and early tests of the on-board restart systems.

[Myrvold]

The Standings

 

 

[krapmeister]

Might be difficult for me to catch this race this week as I am in Vietnam - race is at an even more unfriendly time than usual for me

Can confirm the traffic in Ho Chi Minh has gone full Indycar though.

[PayasYouRace]

Rossi has said the repave is interesting, as they've done the corners but not the straights. I'd expect some offs and early tests of the on-board restart systems.

Would it have been so hard to replace the entire track?

[jonpollak]

You got me at Grand PRIUS

Jp

[Dutchrudder]

OP loses its Integraty by shoehorning in those silly puns.

[jonpollak]

Inter Graty ftw

Jp

[jonpollak]

Jp

[paulb]

How many times will the broadcasters comment on how hybrid technology is in the genetics of Hondo-let?

 

Kudos to prommer for heralding the future of Indycar OPs…

[Risil]

Thanks prommer! Btw any proms plans this year? Life commitments mean I've only got one scheduled.

[Beri]

Very curious how the complete field sounds with all new engines revving in anger.

[red stick]

Would it have been so hard to replace the entire track?

That was the joke on the Hinch & Rossi podcast--it's not that long a track to begin with.  So, for this weekend's interest, we have a new technology we're integrating, everybody trying to figure out the strategies one uses with the new tech, increased weight in the cars so that they finally match the tires, and repaved sections which should extend tire life but a track that has odd transitions in places between new pavement and old.

 

I'd make popcorn to go with this one.

[red stick]

Very curious how the complete field sounds with all new engines revving in anger.

According to Marshall Pruett, it's going to sound about the same.

[LolaB0860]

According to Marshall Pruett, it's going to sound about the same.

So no-one is even going to notice this newest marketing upgrade to their 12+ year old car

Edited by LolaB0860, 05 July 2024 - 13:25.

[FLB]

So no-one is even going to notice this newest marketing upgrade to their 12+ year old car

HRC has. They've done multiple videos on it. 

 

So it's already been useful, because it's one of the things preventing a manufacturer from leaving the series (the other being the new TV deal).

[Afterburner]

Thank you prommer for providing CLARITY on the new hybrid situation. You got me to push “like” at “upgrayedd”.

I really wanted to register for the S2000 corral this year but the trip would’ve cost too much and my wife and I are too busy to make the trek. Also my cover for the car has absolutely ruined the paint with water spots this year so it wouldn’t have been in presentable condition anyway. Hopefully by the time we get it fixed they’re still doing the car corral.

P.S. The modern Clarity is one of Honda’s best ever cars and should never have been discontinued.

[prommer]

 You got me to push “like” at “upgrayedd”.

 

Greatest documentary ever. 

[prommer]

Thanks prommer! Btw any proms plans this year? Life commitments mean I've only got one scheduled.

 

None this year.... still trying to figure out whether I'm jinxed after last year... 

[prommer]

OP loses its Integraty by shoehorning in those silly puns.

 

 

You may think that they're shoehorned in, but please NOTE that a prelude before the cadenza is integra-l to the sonata. 

 

Edited by prommer, 05 July 2024 - 15:36.

[eibyyz]

According to Marshall Pruett, it's going to sound about the same.

Formula E is missing a great marketing opportunity by not mandating speakers at the back of the cars--after all, they run on electricity dontchaknow?

 

Think of the new sponsors--B&O, Harman Karden, Altec.  Or Hiwatt v. Marshall v. EVH?

 

And recordings of Novi, Matra, Ferrari 312s, V8, V10, V12...

[ANF]

Any funny incidents yet in practice with the new hybrids?

[StraightEdge]

Armstrong, Fittipaldi, and FRo got six grid penalty for unapprove engine change

[loki]

Formula E is missing a great marketing opportunity by not mandating speakers at the back of the cars--after all, they run on electricity dontchaknow?

 

Think of the new sponsors--B&O, Harman Karden, Altec.  Or Hiwatt v. Marshall v. EVH?

 

And recordings of Novi, Matra, Ferrari 312s, V8, V10, V12...

 

JCM800 full stack and an Ampeg V-4B with SVT cab.  That will give them a proper old school sound…

[loki]

Thank you prommer for providing CLARITY on the new hybrid situation. You got me to push “like” at “upgrayedd”.

I really wanted to register for the S2000 corral this year but the trip would’ve cost too much and my wife and I are too busy to make the trek. Also my cover for the car has absolutely ruined the paint with water spots this year so it wouldn’t have been in presentable condition anyway. Hopefully by the time we get it fixed they’re still doing the car corral.

P.S. The modern Clarity is one of Honda’s best ever cars and should never have been discontinued.

My granddaughter bought a 2003 S2000 a while ago.  Only $19k for 95k miles, clean, garaged its whole life.  Some can go as high as $25k.  It’s becoming a collectable for that generation.  This fall when the heat breaks we’re doing to do some track days.

[Dmitriy_Guller]

According to Marshall Pruett, it's going to sound about the same.

Which makes sense, since aren't those the same engines just with hybrid system bolted on?  When F1 switched to hybrids, they didn't just add hybrid bits, they also switched from a high-revving naturally aspirated engine to a flow-rate-limited turbo engine, which revved much lower.

[red stick]

Yes.

[FLB]

Any funny incidents yet in practice with the new hybrids?

Practice hasn't begun yet. First session is in 20 minutes.

 

Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (indycar.com)

[Afterburner]

My granddaughter bought a 2003 S2000 a while ago.  Only $19k for 95k miles, clean, garaged its whole life.  Some can go as high as $25k.  It’s becoming a collectable for that generation.  This fall when the heat breaks we’re doing to do some track days.

2003! The best year! And that's a great price for the mileage. I picked up mine early in 2021 for $13k with 99k miles, same condition, but a 2000. It's got 112k miles now and gets treated well except that I currently don't have a garage for it, hence the issue with the paint. I'd only ever consider selling it for one with fewer miles. My wife and I love it to bits.

Make sure your granddaughter gets the valve retainers upgraded to the AP2 spec before the track days, lest an improperly timed downshift causes them to crack!

[paulb]

Not a serious question: How might Hyvee capitalize on the hybrid era?

[FLB]

Not a serious question: How might Hyvee capitalize on the hybrid era?

According to the current rumours...

 

By bolting to NASCAR 

[red stick]

Practice live!
I'm marking the moment by putting new AA cells in my remotes.

[FLB]

INDYCAR Leaderboard - Live Timing & Scoring

 

We're green!

Edited by FLB, 05 July 2024 - 19:23.

[FLB]

Hinch apparently had five laps in a car, to get a feel for things.

[red stick]

Charlie Kimball sighting!

[red stick]

Hybrid Status graphic!

[StraightEdge]

Veekay saying he got gearbox trouble

[FLB]

Apparently, if they stall in the pits, they have to use the good ol' fashion external starter. Restarting with the hybrid system is apparently a rather complicated and time-consuming procedure. 

[paulb]

Apparently, if they stall in the pits, they have to use the good ol' fashion external starter. Restarting with the hybrid system is apparently a rather complicated and time-consuming procedure. 

Why am I not surprised? Technology giveth and technology taketh away.

Edited by paulb, 05 July 2024 - 19:53.

[StraightEdge]

Canapino blew up

[Disgrace]

Canapino blew up

 

Yeah, but what about the car...

[ANF]

Practice hasn't begun yet. First session is in 20 minutes.
 
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (indycar.com)

Oops, looks like I wrote down the time for Indy NXT practice. Thanks!