The Foyt Futility Watch -- Iowa Corn 250 edition

[pchall]

An interesting question: will the USAC midgets show on Friday afternoon and evening out draw the IRL show on Sunday?


KUHN LEADS MIDGETS TO IOWA SPEEDWAY FRIDAY

Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind. is the new point leader in the USAC Mopar National Midget Series, which heads for Iowa Speedway for this Friday’s race, part of the track’s “Iowa Corn Indy 250” Indy Racing League weekend.

Kuhn scored a first, second and third in four “Indiana Midget Week” appearances last week and has a 21-point lead over two-time series titlist Jerry Coons Jr. entering Friday’s race at the 7/8-mile paved oval. Friday’s feature is 30 laps.

Drivers at Iowa Speedway will be trying to eclipse Bobby Santos III.’s all-time USAC Midget qualifying record of 139.553 mph, established in 2006.

Put the Divine Miss Sarah in a car!

On the Crapwagon Front, Ryan Hunter-Reay gets his baptism at Foyt Racing this weekend in Newton. How will our latest honorary Texan fair with ol' AJ's oval set up for the fast little 7/8 mile track?

[NismoZ]

That RHR thing is all about the $ already committed I think, and if Robin is correct (and it IS Iowa!) he'll probably get a top 3! Can you imagine, if it is indeed the same car, what Hunter Reay must be thinking?...unless the call is in.:D "Geez, this thing practically killed PT. Here, YOU try it!":shakehead

[NismoZ]

PS-I'd love to see that Friday race...I may just go to bump that crowd count and cross my fingers!:thumbup:

[Sean Malone]

This will be a very exciting race. TCGR has their new aero pieces ready and Dixon shook the car out and was very pleased with the progress. AGR has a new undertray and winglets that will debut. The team is anxiously awaiting the results. Will these changes be able to pull them closer to Team Penske?


Oh wait, I'm mixing up my spec series with my formula series. F1 teams are debuting new go fast parts...the IRL is debuting...um, RHR in a Foyt ********per.

:tony:

[opinionated ow]

PS-I'd love to see that Friday race...I may just go to bump that crowd count and cross my fingers!:thumbup:

Midgets on that track are awesome!

[NismoZ]

Whoa, 1,111 posts! That doesn't happen very often!:gomer: Fly Qantas into Newton International tomorrow. All seats, $10, track opens at noon, race at 8:10 CDT.

[Methanolandbrats]

Aw Geezus..........The Goatse Gran Prix...........seriously........those POS cars circling an absurd track in a ****ing corn field. WGAF------> infinity.

[NismoZ]

Hope you weren't referring to the Friday night USAC Midgets. Those guys on that track can be very entertaining. Was just trying to say I'd rather see that one than the Dallara Derby.:)

[dando]

Aw Geezus..........The Goatse Gran Prix...........seriously........those POS cars circling an absurd track in a ****ing corn field. WGAF------> infinity.

But you'll be watching. :gomer:

-Kevin

[stroker]

I'd watch the Midgets...

[TKGAngel]

And to make things even more entertaining, Tony Kanaan is currently trapped on a plane on the Milwaukee runway.

[Sean Malone]

And to make things even more entertaining, Tony Kanaan is currently trapped on a plane on the Milwaukee runway.

Is that like a twitter thing?

[TKGAngel]

Is that like a twitter thing?

Yea, he's kind of freaking out right now.

I fully admit to following TK, Moraes, Vasser and Tracy on Twitter. They're pretty funny dudes.

[Methanolandbrats]

But you'll be watching. :gomer:

-Kevin
Nope. F1 and a bit of cab floundering this weekend, no cornhole racing except for following excellent play by play on here.

[oddlycalm]

Won't be watching the Corn Twirl but I'll be getting the blow by blow from pressdog.com on Monday.

I'd definitely watch the midgets.

oc

[Sean Malone]

I'll be flipping channels between the race and the Rays / Mets game with my dad and family. Ribeyes and farm fresh corn! Can't wait!

I've watched every race so far this year (most recorded) and I'm sure this will be a yawner like the previous races. Dixon, Briscoe or Helio will win. Daniko will win 5th.

[NismoZ]

I don't know...that RHR thing could create quite a nice story!:tony: (and he is actually QUITE good on short ovals)

[pchall]

Nope. F1 and a bit of cab floundering this weekend, no cornhole racing except for following excellent play by play on here.

Hey, I'll be checking out the results of practice and qualifying and posting them here as usual. I won't guarantee anything on race day except the results, since I'll probably be in a ribeye and merlot induced nap by the time I might be available to tune in to monitor the Futility.

[Methanolandbrats]

Hey, I'll be checking out the results of practice and qualifying and posting them here as usual. I won't guarantee anything on race day except the results, since I'll probably be in a ribeye and merlot induced nap by the time I might be available to tune in to monitor the Futility. I wonder if we could get that Dirty Jobs guy to do it? :gomer:

[pchall]

0.894 mile(s)
Round 7
Results of Session
Practice 1
June 20, 2009
IndyCar Series

1 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 00:17.7135 181.692 --.-----.--- 11 72
2 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 00:17.7498 181.320 0.0363 0.0363 9 47
3 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 00:17.7920 180.890 0.0785 0.0422 13 25
4 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 00:17.8025 180.784 0.0890 0.0105 8 44
5 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 00:17.8192 180.614 0.1057 0.0167 9 16
6 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 00:17.8223 180.583 0.1088 0.0031 32 55
7 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 00:17.8243 180.562 0.1108 0.0020 13 54
8 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 00:17.8385 180.419 0.1250 0.0142 11 48
9 23 Scheckter, Tomas D/H/F 00:17.8499 180.304 0.1364 0.0114 52 54
10 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 00:17.8530 180.272 0.1395 0.0031 34 42
11 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 00:17.8701 180.100 0.1566 0.0171 68 91
12 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F 00:17.8814 179.986 0.1679 0.0113 84 94
13 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 00:17.9178 179.620 0.2043 0.0364 39 66
14 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 00:17.9323 179.475 0.2188 0.0145 44 87
15 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 00:17.9335 179.463 0.2200 0.0012 57 62
16 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 00:17.9415 179.383 0.2280 0.0080 45 53
17 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 00:17.9709 179.090 0.2574 0.0294 36 52
18 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 00:18.1397 177.423 0.4262 0.1688 17 46
19 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 00:18.6046 172.989 0.8911 0.4649 22 31
20 98 Lazier, Jaques D/H/F 00:18.7945 171.242 1.0810 0.1899 52 58

[Dvdb]

BHA@Dvdb327 Indycar race is sold out for tomorrow, not sure how many will be here for lights race tonight, I'll send a pic right before race

In response to an empty background on a twitter pic. Claims it's heat related today

(that's Herta, by the way)

[pchall]

Practice 2
June 20, 2009
IndyCar Series

Rank Car Driver Name C/E/T Time Speed Diff Gap Best Lap Total Laps
1 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 00:17.6805 182.031 --.-----.---
45
49
2 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 00:17.6896 181.937 0.0091 0.0091 60 64
3 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 00:17.6928 181.905 0.0123 0.0032 56 66
4 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 00:17.6953 181.879 0.0148 0.0025 48 49
5 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 00:17.7616 181.200 0.0811 0.0663 40 54
6 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 00:17.7770 181.043 0.0965 0.0154 49 55
7 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F 00:17.7802 181.010 0.0997 0.0032 46 49
8 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 00:17.8206 180.600 0.1401 0.0404 14 44
9 23 Scheckter, Tomas D/H/F 00:17.8387 180.417 0.1582 0.0181 20 58
10 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 00:17.8465 180.338 0.1660 0.0078 6 61
11 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 00:17.8611 180.190 0.1806 0.0146 29 44
12 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 00:17.8713 180.088 0.1908 0.0102 10 50
13 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 00:17.9699 179.099 0.2894 0.0986 26 46
14 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 00:17.9704 179.095 0.2899 0.0005 46 46
15 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 00:17.9706 179.093 0.2901 0.0002 43 44
16 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 00:17.9802 178.997 0.2997 0.0096 15 33
17 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 00:18.0450 178.354 0.3645 0.0648 22 28
18 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 00:18.0581 178.225 0.3776 0.0131 41 42
19 98 Lazier, Jaques D/H/F 00:18.5106 173.868 0.8301 0.4525 22 37

Marco the Least didn't practice. Maybe Danica stole his car. ;)


Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, medical director for the Indy Racing League: #26 Marco Andretti has been checked and released from the infield care center. He is cleared to drive.

MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 26 Team Venom Energy): "There was no warning. The car was already set in the banking, and then it went so abruptly. I've never had a car do that except when something breaks. Normally you can sense it going and you know you messed up, but this time it caught me totally by surprise."

Marco apparently walled it in P1. Don't they have a backup car for him?

Leonard Gauci, the left rear tire changer on the No. 7 entry driven by Danica Patrick, was checked and released from the infield care center after an incident in pit lane at the beginning of the practice session. He is medically released to continue pit activities.

Did Danica run over another pit crew member?

[TKGAngel]

Looks like qualies were cancelled due to weepers.

Insert Helio joke here.

[Methanolandbrats]

Looks like qualies were cancelled due to weepers.

Insert Helio joke here. Even the track does'nt GAF. :D

[pchall]

Iowa Speedway
Iowa Corn Indy 250

Qualifications

1 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 214
2 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 199
3 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 196
4 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 188
5 7 Patrick, Danican't D/H/F 167
6 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 152
7 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 146
8 26 Whinedretti, Marco D/H/F 141
9 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 126
10 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 107
11 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 107
12 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 106
13 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 106
14 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 104
15 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F 95
16 23 Scheckter, Tomas D/H/F 93
17 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 87
18 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 73
19 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 72
20 98 Lazier, Jaques D/H/F 62
(R) Rookie


Qualification results and starting lineup based on entrant point standings.


Today

Cloudy with numerous thunderstorms in the morning...then partly sunny with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High in the mid 80s. South wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 70 percent.

Princess Permapout hates her crew (http://indycar.neulion.com/indy/console.jsp?catid=-2&id=370)

Marco the Least loves the wall (http://indycar.neulion.com/indy/console.jsp?catid=-2&id=370)

[trish]

I didn't even try to watch the race, assuming it was airing on Versus. I wonder how many others did the same. :laugh:

[pchall]

Iowa Speedway
Iowa Corn Indy 250
0.894 mile(s)
Round 7
Unofficial Lap Report
Race IndyCar Series
June 21, 2009

1 4 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 250 0 0.0000 01:39:47.9077 134.371 Running
2 2 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 250 0 5.0132 01:39:52.9209 134.258 Running
3 11 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 250 0 10.9769 01:39:58.8846 134.125 Running
4 6 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 250 0 17.5807 01:40:05.4884 133.977 Running

5 3 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 249 1 0.5545 01:39:48.4622 133.821 Running
6 16 23 Scheckter, Tomas D/H/F 249 1 7.9252 01:39:55.8329 133.656 Running
7 1 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 249 1 8.9788 01:39:56.8865 133.633 Running
8 19 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 249 1 9.4766 01:39:57.3843 133.622 Running
9 5 7 Patrick, Lapdownica D/H/F 249 1 12.3061 01:40:00.2138 133.559 Running
10 13 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 248 2 5.8463 01:39:53.7540 133.166 Running
11 9 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 245 5 15.3337 01:40:03.2414 131.347 Running
12 8 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 244 6 5.6008 01:39:53.5085 131.023 Running
13 20 98 Lazier, Jaques D/H/F 237 13 16.1812 01:40:04.0889 127.040 Running

14 7 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 108 142 -00:49:59.0730 115.898 Contact
15 14 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 58 192 -01:31:50.7702 33.873 Handling
16 12 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 53 197 -00:27:31.4494 103.288 Contact
17 15 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F 52 198 -00:27:31.6697 101.326 Contact
18 10 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 33 217 -00:17:22.7959 101.849 Contact
19 17 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 2 248 -00:06:08.4678 17.469 Contact
20 18 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 0 250 -00:00:02.3308 n/a Contact

Nice tight grouping of Futility Watch heroes there at the bottom of the list of 13 cars still running at the end.

RHR gets a fine baptism at Foyt Racing. Just two laps. I wonder if his head made contact with AJ's laptop when he got back to the pits?

I caught the last pit stops and the finish while waiting for F1 on Fox to cut
to the race. Other than some rather tedious circling of the track all I can report is that 4 cars finished on the lead lap. Patrick was gifted a #5 starting position and raced her way to 9th place a lap down. Jacques Lazier has no business being out there that far off the pace and 13 laps down at the end.

The crowd looked very nicely spaced out in the stands. Lots of nicely spaced out empty seatsto be seen when the camera angles were oblique. Any guesses about whether the stands could have been half full or half empty? ;)

[TravelGal]

I'll be flipping channels between the race and the Rays / Mets game with my dad and family. Ribeyes and farm fresh corn! Can't wait!

I've watched every race so far this year (most recorded) and I'm sure this will be a yawner like the previous races. Dixon, Briscoe or Helio will win. Daniko will win 5th.

Speaking of yawning, we put the tape on, I saw the first 4 or 5 yellows (about 20 minutes) and zzzzzzzzz'd off. Woke up to see Dario pulling off his helmet. Geez, what a snore fest. I feel much better now though. Nothing like a good Sunday nap.

pchall, the stands really did look completely full for the short part of it I saw at the beginning. Quite a few motor homes lining the fence as well.

I have to admit I got massively depressed when I thought of previous Father's Days I spent in at Champ Car races. :(

[SteveH]

I have to admit I got massively depressed when I thought of previous Father's Days I spent in at Champ Car races. :(

Or at the USGP. :(

[TKGAngel]

I have to admit I got massively depressed when I thought of previous Father's Days I spent in at Champ Car races.

Same here. Though it wasn't so much the Fathers Day aspect, it's that the weekend of the Sonoma Cup race was historically the weekend of the Cleveland Champ Car race. I should be sitting in a bar/restaurant in Cleveland enjoying a good meal and a nice drink, discussing the great race that I just saw.

[Methanolandbrats]

Stumbled on the news, so the Jim Clark the 2nd won the Steaming Cornhole 250. A win that will be talked about for decades.

[TrueBrit]

Looks like qualies were cancelled due to weepers.

Insert Helio joke here.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::thumbup:

[oddlycalm]

I have to admit I got massively depressed when I thought of previous Father's Days I spent in at Champ Car races. :(

Agreed, fathers day for me will always be Mario pipping his annoying kid on the last turn of the last lap for the win here in Portland...:D:thumbup:

oc

[Anteater]

I have to admit I got massively depressed when I thought of previous Father's Days I spent in at Champ Car races. :(

I know what you mean--if it's Father's Day, why am I not at Portland or Laguna Seca, watching a Champ Car race? :(

[High Sided]

what made fathers day bad from the get go was not being able to start the day off with live F1.:thumdown:

[SurfaceUnits]

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/

Ratings continue to drop for the IRL on ABC. The IRL Corn Indy 250 drew a 0.8 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, down 27% from a 1.1 for last year's comparable race. So far this season, three IRL telecasts on ABC have averaged a 1.9 overnight rating on ABC, down 17% from a 2.3 last year. Excluding the Indy 500, ABC has averaged a 0.7 overnight, down 30% from a 1.0 last year.

[Methanolandbrats]

what made fathers day bad from the get go was not being able to start the day off with live F1.:thumdown:FOTA won't Fox the fans...........F1 live the way God intended.