25 replies to this topic

[Berner]

According to yesterday's announcement of the CART race on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, there will be NO modifications to the circuit.

"Perhaps surprisingly, the race will be held on the same track as the
grand prix and, with the exception of some modifications to the
paddock area to accommodate the convoys of huge transporters used
to get teams and cars from race to race across North America, no major
changes are planned to site.

"There were no problems whatsoever with Bernie Ecclestone," Legault
said of the F-1 boss, whom many thought would oppose CART using
the same track on which one of his grand prixs are staged. "As a
matter of fact, Bernie was quite willing to cooperate with us."

Legault said the only reluctance to holding a event here from CART
officials. And it was shortlived."Certainly having the infrastructure we have for F-1 was an advantage for us," said Legault. "But I think it was the circuit's reputation within the motorsport community all over the world because F-1 is the No. 1 motorsport in the world.

"CART people were lukewarm toward the idea initially about awarding
a third race in Canada, but when we addressed the issue of having
one in Montreal, I think that if it hadn't been for the fact we already
had a world-class facility in place, only then would they have been
really reluctant to give it us."

Sooooo, any thoughts on poll time for the CART-ers? Actual attendance? (Remember the sportscar race in '88? More groundhogs than fans.) Comments?

[StickShift]

Well, with Tagliani and Carpentier looking really strong this year. I feel this event will be jam packed Friday-Saturday-Sunday lke Toronto and Vancouver are each year. As fpr the track, I've heard rumors that a temporary chcicane would be added in the backstretch. So far I haven't heard anything more of it. If the CART cars do run on the same course, I would guess the Cart cars will be roughly 6 to 8 seconds off the pace.


And before it begins again. Don't think that CART is trying to run a parralell series to F1. Pook said himself that the two series are so different that they have zero to no comparisons available.

[schuy]

Hmmm, it will be interesting to see the difference in lap times.
What is the date for the aforementioned race?

Liran Biderman.

[maxie]

CART race on Aug 25

[Jhope]

No changes at all, except for the Pit Exit.

[RiverRunner]

Judging from past performances of Toyota Atlantics there,the TA pole was 1:36 and F1 was 1:18,year 2000.
In Monterrey this year the TA pole was 1:29 and CART was at 1:18.
So judging by that,and adding in the factor that CART looks to have some fast sections to use the turbos on I'll go for about six seconds.
Seeing as that he Minardis were about 4 seconds behind the Ferrari pole time,I don't think the pole speed for CART would make the 107 cut to get into an F1 field.
I'm very happy they are not going to modify the course.

[laneatkins]

This is great news - I don't understand why they didn't do it sooner. I've always wished CART could have circuits as well prepared as F1 circuits...

[Hurricane]

I think it is going to be a lot closer than people think. The top speeds reached on the straight will exceed the speeds of the F1's and should help bring them closer together. Those turbo's generate a lot of speed. I may get roasted for this but everyone is itto.

[Andre]

I think we'll se a lot of action at the haipin and at the last chicane. It's going to be a great race. I just wished the race wasn't scheduled so late in the season. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Hi Test]

Should be interesting indeed. According to Player's Patrick Carpentier:

Carpentier said the CART cars, built mostly for raw power, will likely be slower than the F1 vehicles on the tightly cornered, technically demanding track, but should offer more action.

[917k]

Hurricane,your assertion that CART cars will be faster down the straights,I think,is wrong.

F1's reach 207mph[trimmed]on the long straight,and would reach that speed quicker than CART.
Do you think that the CART cars will do better than 207?They don't on any other circuit[non-oval],so why now?

I guess we need to wait in see,but I have seen both,in the flesh,and the CART cars look ponderous compared to F1's.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Riverrunner, you're figures match mine. I used ALMS as my reference point, with Portland, Silverstone, and Nurburg as the tracks.

[aportinga]

Wow - very surprised there are no changes. Surprised but happy as well!

[Sergino]

Hey! There is a rule in F1 track licence (or what) that a track cannot be host of both F1 and CART or other similar series in one year. Bernie made it I think. So what about this occasion???? Bernie sholud kick CART out of Montreal!!!

[Berner]

Any word on TV coverage? Support series? Likelihood of snow?

[TAB666]

Originally posted by Sergino
Hey! There is a rule in F1 track licence (or what) that a track cannot be host of both F1 and CART or other similar series in one year. Bernie made it I think. So what about this occasion???? Bernie sholud kick CART out of Montreal!!!

Didnt it say in the beggining that Bernie was for it ? ( no mods ).
And since CART has droped so far of F1 that the dont care anymore.

[metz]

Originally posted by Sergino
Hey! There is a rule in F1 track licence (or what) that a track cannot be host of both F1 and CART or other similar series in one year. Bernie made it I think. So what about this occasion???? Bernie sholud kick CART out of Montreal!!!

Yes dats the rule.
It's an F1 rule and also a CART rule.
And they can't run in opposite direction (Indy) cause of the runof design.
Bet they will make some little change in the layout before the race.
Neither series wants to be compared.

[jpf]

Guys:
I posted this thread last summer, and in it MattPete did a really interesting analysis. Using pole times for common tracks, using ALMS as a common standard, he calculated that for a reference lap time from ALMS representing 100%, that CART had a 90% lap time, and F1 had a 88% lap time. Not so huge. Ross, he used the same reference tracks as you, and also included laguna as an additional guide for the ALMS/CART comparison. He also included F3000/lights as a reference, and it's worth noting that the relative performance between the four series is pretty consistent.

An important thing to note, though, is that this was based on year 2000 numbers, before the tire war. I would expect the gap to be more significant now that the F1 field is off bridgestone's conservative rubber.

[Jhope]

Actually, I just read in the french daily La Press, that the hairpin is being brought back by 30 meters for the CART race in August.

[dynamite7]

Actually, I just read in the french daily La Press, that the hairpin is being brought back by 30 meters for the CART race in August.

Too bad :yawn:

Good to see more top-notch CART races.

[KenC]

CART engines have been detuned the last couple of years, and the mfrs have little incentive for engine development given that the turbo engines will be dropped. So, I would have guessed the times to be very close a couple years ago, but not this year.

[KenC]

Originally posted by Sergino
Hey! There is a rule in F1 track licence (or what) that a track cannot be host of both F1 and CART or other similar series in one year. Bernie made it I think. So what about this occasion???? Bernie sholud kick CART out of Montreal!!!

There was a contract licensing agreement between Bernie and the tracks where tracks that host GPs needed approval to host another high horsepower single-seater, open wheel formula. This agreement was dropped last year as part of Bernie's concession to the EU over restraint-of-trade practices. Thus, CART could race at any venue hosting a F1 GP.

And, the question is why would you want Bernie to "kick CART out of Montreal"? Insecurity?

[MaxScelerate]

Originally posted by Jhope
Actually, I just read in the french daily La Press, that the hairpin is being brought back by 30 meters for the CART race in August.

Tssk,, tsssk, JHope.. At least you could report it right, no?

Fact is, the hairpin is being brought back 30 meters for both the CART *AND* F1 Races. And if I'm not mistaken, it's the FIA that asked for the modification, so as to make a bigger runoff...

As for that *Rule*, according to Normand Legault, local promotor and supposedly a good friend of Mr. Ecclestone, it would be just some sort of urban myth. The guy said it took about 30 seconds to convince Bernie of allowing it. Honestly, I don't doubt it because, frankly, I did hear of Legault's organisation succes way before I even heard of Jacques Villeneuve. 't was a few years ago, a local journo reported that Bernie Ecclestone came in montreal for the express purpose of buying a fridge/oven/dishwasher set for his new house/manor/castle ;) Now, if a guy can convince Bernie of buying his freaking electrostuff in ANOTHER CONTINENT and ship 'em by plane, I guess he can do anything!

Well, love y'all

Max Scelerate

[MaxScelerate]

Originally posted by KenC


There was a contract licensing agreement between Bernie and the tracks where tracks that host GPs needed approval to host another high horsepower single-seater, open wheel formula. This agreement was dropped last year as part of Bernie's concession to the EU over restraint-of-trade practices. Thus, CART could race at any venue hosting a F1 GP.

And, the question is why would you want Bernie to "kick CART out of Montreal"? Insecurity?

Hmm.. Hadn't heard that one.. Pretty interresting, it's a shame I was writing while you posted it..

Now I guess I should distrust Normand Legault..

Max Scelerate

[Jhope]

Should have figured as much...french is my second language, and I slept a total of 2 hours before reading this piece of news. Made for a very groggy experience. : Thanx anyways dude!!

[Justafan]

As one of those CART and F1 fans, I say "Right On." As for the attendance, they are expecting 180,000 for the weekend. When I tried to buy my tickets yesterday, the ticket lady said sales were "brisk", and when I hesitated for a minute about my seat location, my seat moved back three rows! Additionally, they offered seats to Formula One ticket holders first.

If I were the CART folks I would "turn up the boost" for this race, it would be easy to do...Kinda like a NASCAR restictor plate in reverse! I can't wait!