The Foyt Futility Watch -- Honda Company Picnic Edition

[pchall]

Hey, its Thursday and I better start this now so I don't forget again.

21 entries with 5 Futility Watch heroes to watch:

2 Raphael Matos (R) Belo Horizonte, Brazil US Marines Luczo Dragon Racing
3 Helio Castroneves Sao Paulo, Brazil Team Penske
4 Dan Wheldon Emberton, England National Guard Panther Racing
5 Mario Moraes Sao Paulo, Brazil Azul Tequila/Votorantim/KVRT
6 Ryan Briscoe Sydney, Australia Team Penske
7 Danica Patrick Roscoe, Ill. Boost Mobile/Motorola
9 Scott Dixon Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing
10 Dario Franchitti Edinburgh, Scotland Target Chip Ganassi Racing
11 Tony Kanaan Salvador, Brazil Team 7-Eleven
13 E.J. Viso Caracas, Venezuela PDVSA HVM Racing
14 Ryan Hunter-Reay Boca Raton, Fla. ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing
18 Justin Wilson Sheffield, England Z-Line Designs
20 Ed Carpenter Indianapolis Menard’s/ Vision Racing
23 Milka Duno Caracas, Venezuela CITGO/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24 Mike Conway (R) Bromley, England Roll Coater/Dreyer & Reinbold
26 Marco Andretti Nazareth, Pa. Meijer
27 Hideki Mutoh Tokyo Formula Dream
33 Robert Doornbos (R) Rotterdam, Netherlands HVM Racing
98 Richard Antinucci (R) Rome CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G
02 Graham Rahal New Albany, Ohio McDonald’s Racing Team
06 Oriol Servia Pals, Spain Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing

[dando]

Hey, its Thursday and I better start this now so I don't forget again.

Forget what? Is a tree gonna fall again and not make a sound? :gomer: :shakehead

-Kevin

[Don Quixote]

I would be surprised if Honda ponies up for as many tickets as it has in the past.

[Sean Malone]

I missed last weeks Kentucky race because there wasn't a 'futility' thread. I don't know whether to thank you or...no I'll thank you. :)

[TKGAngel]

It will be interesting to see how Moraes fairs this weekend. His father passed on this week and the funeral was today.

[Easy]

It will be interesting to see how Moraes fairs this weekend. His father passed on this week and the funeral was today.

Moraes has withdrawn with the team's consent.

[shaggy_socal]

Moraes has withdrawn with the team's consent.

Condolences to Mario and his family.

Marty Roth is waiting impatiently for his phone to ring.

[pchall]

I just figured out that the crapwagons, crapwagon lights, and Atlantic cars will be on the track this weekend. Add in the P1 and P2 times and the comparisons will be fun.

On the Saturday schedule: ALMS race starts at 3pm and the Atlantic race starts at 6:30.

[TKGAngel]

Condolences to Mario and his family.

Marty Roth is waiting impatiently for his phone to ring.

I hope Marty's not holding his breath. PT just cryptically tweeted


Ohh ohh ohh , hi hi hi ohh ... I'm tired .

[Napoleon]

Are they at M-O this weekend?

[pchall]

Are they at M-O this weekend?

ALMS and the Atlantic Championship race on Saturday. The rest of the weekend is Futility.

[dando]

Are they at M-O this weekend?

Aye. Sure glad I'm not. :)

-Kevin

[Napoleon]

ALMS and the Atlantic Championship race on Saturday.

I have that marked on my calender but nothing on the IRL. I guess I had purged from my mind that they were on the same weekend as the IRL.

Well I am signed up for a charity bikeride so no M-O for me on Saturday.

[Sean Malone]

I hate seeing the IRL at tracks that once were home to fantastic, real CART racing.

[pchall]

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Honda Indy 200
2.258 mile(s)
Round 13
Results of Session
Practice 1
August 7, 2009
IndyCar Series

Rank Car Driver Name C/E/T Time Speed Diff Gap Best Lap Total Laps
1 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 01:08.2298 119.139 --.-----.--- 9 13
2 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 01:08.6425 118.422 0.4127 0.4127 20 20
3 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 01:08.6760 118.364 0.4462 0.0335 9 9
4 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 01:08.8390 118.084 0.6092 0.1630 22 22
5 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 01:08.9932 117.820 0.7634 0.1542 16 20
6 5 Tracy, Paul D/H/F 01:09.1094 117.622 0.8796 0.1162 23 23
7 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 01:09.1440 117.563 0.9142 0.0346 12 14
8 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 01:09.2477 117.387 1.0179 0.1037 18 20
9 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 01:09.2833 117.327 1.0535 0.0356 16 21
10 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 01:09.3563 117.203 1.1265 0.0730 19 20
Gil De Ferran Acura ARX-02a [P1] 1:09.443 (117.057 mph)
11 06 Servia, Oriol D/H/F 01:09.4613 117.026 1.2315 0.1050 27 27
12 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 01:09.4989 116.963 1.2691 0.0376 10 14
13 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 01:09.4996 116.962 1.2698 0.0007 27 28
14 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 01:09.5421 116.890 1.3123 0.0425 22 23
15 33 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 01:10.0482 116.046 1.8184 0.5061 22 24
16 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 01:10.1531 115.872 1.9233 0.1049 15 15
17 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 01:10.3882 115.485 2.1584 0.2351 35 35
Luis Diaz Acura ARX-01b [P2] 1:10.464 (115.361 mph)
18 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 01:10.7354 114.918 2.5056 0.3472 17 20
19 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 01:11.8048 113.207 3.5750 1.0694 11 11
20 98 Antinucci, Richard (R) D/H/F 01:12.5210 112.089 4.2912 0.7162 12 12
Jonathan Summerton Swift 016.a [Atlantic] 1:12.970 (111.399 mph)
JamesDavison D/ /F [Indy Lights] 1:14.8673 (108.576 mph)
21 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F 01:15.8764 107.132 7.6466 3.3554 34 36

[nissan gtp]

6 5 Tracy, Paul D/H/F 01:09.1094 117.622 0.8796 0.1162 23 23

:thumbup: :cool:

[Don Quixote]

I don't recall Tracy having very good runs at that track over the years.

[pchall]

I don't recall Tracy having very good runs at that track over the years.

I've been there to see him wreck on the first lap a couple of times. I think he's wrecked there more times than he's finished -- maybe my presence jinxed him.:laugh:

[TravelGal]

I hate seeing the IRL at tracks that once were home to fantastic, real CART racing.

Oh me too. It gives me the absolute creeps. And a headache.

TravelMom asked me today about one of the TravelGal caps I used to wear. i said, "I wore that to races and since there aren't any more races, I don't wear it any more." :cry:

[grungex]

I don't recall Tracy having very good runs at that track over the years.

Didn't he win from pole last time he raced there?

[NismoZ]

Help me with the year, but I think that's the place where Rog finally made the decision to eventually dump him. Running FAST, just sort of drove off the track after cresting that hill leading onto the backside twisties. Yep, he's thrown a few of 'em away, but watching him get to that point has always been...interesting.:)

[SteveH]

Didn't he win from pole last time he raced there?

2003, the last time CART raced at Mid Ohio

[Don Quixote]

I was too focused on the jimmycar that year to notice who won! :D

[chop456]

^ I just found a group photo of that day a couple weeks ago. Good times. :cheers:

And I still owe you a beer. :D

[Don Quixote]

^ I bet we all looked better in 2003.

[Shadow]

Help me with the year, but I think that's the place where Rog finally made the decision to eventually dump him. Running FAST, just sort of drove off the track after cresting that hill leading onto the backside twisties. Yep, he's thrown a few of 'em away, but watching him get to that point has always been...interesting.:)

Roger sacked him because he (Roger) could not take the criticism that the Penske chassis was a piece of crappola.

[pchall]

Roger sacked him because he (Roger) could not take the criticism that the Penske chassis was a piece of crappola.

I remember seeing and hearing Tracy saying he needed a Reynard to be competitive on live national TV. PT got his @$$ canned and Team Penske went on struggling with the PC chassis for two more seasons before buying... [drum roll for suspense ;) ] Reynards. This would have been 1997.

[miatanut]

My most favorite years of CART!

[pchall]

Honda Indy 200
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Round 13
2.258 mile(s)

Qualifications
August 8, 2009
IndyCar Series

Rank Car Driver Name C/E/T Time Speed Session

1 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 01:06.6814 121.905 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
2 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 01:06.7007 121.870 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
3 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 01:07.0238 121.282 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
4 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 01:07.0640 121.210 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
5 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 01:07.1809 120.999 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
6 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 01:07.3791 120.643 Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six
7 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 01:07.2364 120.899 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
8 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 01:07.5083 120.412 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
9 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 01:07.5712 120.300 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
10 5 Tracy, Paul D/H/F 01:07.6129 120.226 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
11 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 01:07.6699 120.124 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
12 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 01:07.7440 119.993 Elimination Round 2 / Top 12
13 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 01:08.1779 119.229 Elimination Round 1 / Group 1
14 06 Servia, Oriol D/H/F 01:08.4314 118.788 Elimination Round 1 / Group 2
15 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 01:08.2311 119.136 Elimination Round 1 / Group 1
16 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 01:08.5495 118.583 Elimination Round 1 / Group 2
17 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 01:08.8176 118.121 Elimination Round 1 / Group 1
18 33 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 01:08.5734 118.542 Elimination Round 1 / Group 2
19 98 Antinucci, Richard (R) D/H/F 01:08.8516 118.063 Elimination Round 1 / Group 1
20 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F 01:14.5371 109.057 Elimination Round 1 / Group 2
21 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 01:09.7141 116.602 Elimination Round 1 / Group 1

[TKGAngel]

PT sez in his Saturday blog: (http://www.paultracy.com/)


I’ve got to comment on Milka. She’s a disaster out there and it’s beyond even funny. Why do they give her a license? She’s what…seven seconds off me, so eight seconds off of Briscoe. That means Ryan’s gonna be lapping her every nine or ten laps if we’re green all the way! Why do they let her drive? Why does she want to embarrass herself so bad?

[Sean Malone]

It's more of an embarrassment to the series.

[Mr. Vengeance]

It's more of an embarrassment to the series.

If only the series had any shame... (See: Gene Simmons, et al).

[SteveH]

Ed has to beat someone.

[NismoZ]

Cool, even though he's 7 mph faster he starts behind her. Way to tweak the system.

[pchall]

Cool, even though he's 7 mph faster he starts behind her. Way to tweak the system.

For some reason the cars are gridded according to qualifying group instead of speed... no, I don't see any sense to that either. :shakehead

[pchall]

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Honda Indy 200
2.258 mile(s)
Round 13
Unofficial Lap Report
Race IndyCar Series
August 9, 2009

End of Lap 85: Time of Race: 01:46:05.7985 Avg Speed: 108.541 Lead Changes: 5 Caution Laps: 6
Fastest Lap: 118.565 mph ( 68.5600 sec) on lap 62 by 9 - Scott Dixon
Fastest Leader Lap: 118.565 mph ( 68.5600 sec) on lap 62 by 9 - Scott Dixon


1 3 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 85 0 0.0000 01:46:05.7985 108.541 Running
2 1 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 85 0 29.7803 01:46:35.5788 108.035 Running
3 6 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 85 0 30.0551 01:46:35.8536 108.031 Running
4 7 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 85 0 33.7307 01:46:39.5292 107.969 Running
5 11 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 85 0 34.1839 01:46:39.9824 107.961 Running
6 13 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 85 0 46.7669 01:46:52.5654 107.749 Running
7 10 5 Tracy, Paul D/H/F 85 0 49.7020 01:46:55.5005 107.700 Running
8 4 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 85 0 50.4517 01:46:56.2502 107.687 Running
9 15 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 85 0 51.2286 01:46:57.0271 107.674 Running
10 8 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 85 0 52.0810 01:46:57.8795 107.660 Running
11 14 06 Servia, Oriol D/H/F 85 0 52.6215 01:46:58.4200 107.651 Running
12 5 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 85 0 53.2362 01:46:59.0347 107.640 Running
13 2 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 85 0 53.5768 01:46:59.3753 107.635 Running
14 18 33 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 85 0 70.0812 01:47:15.8797 107.359 Running
15 9 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 84 1 4.2407 01:46:10.0392 107.192 Running
16 17 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 84 1 5.9470 01:46:11.7455 107.164 Running
17 21 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 84 1 17.2203 01:46:23.0188 106.974 Running
18 19 98 Antinucci, Richard (R) D/H/F 83 2 6.6026 01:46:12.4011 105.877 Running
19 12 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 83 2 53.9436 01:46:59.7421 105.096 Running Contact with Conway and in the kitty litter in 3
20 16 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 69 16 -01:28:28.9276 105.650 Mechanical
21 20 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F 56 29 -01:20:30.1742 94.244 Handling aka Too 'king Slow.

[Don Quixote]

"Handling" :laugh:

[TKGAngel]

That was a pretty nifty blocking job / pick that she ran that helped someone get around Wilson.

Anyone know what happened at the ALMS race yesterday that Mid-Ohio management felt the need to apologize for the talent provided for the National Anthem?

[Don Quixote]

That was a pretty nifty blocking job / pick that she ran that helped someone get around Wilson.

Anyone know what happened at the ALMS race yesterday that Mid-Ohio management felt the need to apologize for the talent provided for the National Anthem?

Rozanne???? :gomer:

[EDwardo]

That was a pretty nifty blocking job / pick that she ran that helped someone get around Wilson.

Anyone know what happened at the ALMS race yesterday that Mid-Ohio management felt the need to apologize for the talent provided for the National Anthem?

Maybe they should also apologize for the lack of talent in the crapwagons as well.
:p

[cartgal]

Anyone know what happened at the ALMS race yesterday that Mid-Ohio management felt the need to apologize for the talent provided for the National Anthem?

<decloaking>

Found this pr piece (http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=339578&FS=ALMS-LEMANS), but no articles yet on reason for an apology. Nothing on YouTube yet, either. :D

Edit: Dan Fastuca, pal of Ron Fellows, played the anthem. Based on this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyWzF5VOCaY), I can see/hear the problem....

<cloaking>

[Methanolandbrats]

Somebody get Milka in a decent car.

[pchall]

Somebody get Milka in a decent car.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41J3B0ZJ7EL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I've actually seen Duno practice and "race" in LMP675 several times. Even with Briscoe's pole winning car she'd still be incompetent and a lot more dangerous to herself and others on track.

[opinionated ow]

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Honda Indy 200
2.258 mile(s)
Round 13
Unofficial Lap Report
Race IndyCar Series
August 9, 2009

End of Lap 85: Time of Race: 01:46:05.7985 Avg Speed: 108.541 Lead Changes: 5 Caution Laps: 6
Fastest Lap: 118.565 mph ( 68.5600 sec) on lap 62 by 9 - Scott Dixon
Fastest Leader Lap: 118.565 mph ( 68.5600 sec) on lap 62 by 9 - Scott Dixon


1 3 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 85 0 0.0000 01:46:05.7985 108.541 Running
2 1 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F 85 0 29.7803 01:46:35.5788 108.035 Running
3 6 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F 85 0 30.0551 01:46:35.8536 108.031 Running
4 7 14 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/F 85 0 33.7307 01:46:39.5292 107.969 Running
5 11 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F 85 0 34.1839 01:46:39.9824 107.961 Running
6 13 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F 85 0 46.7669 01:46:52.5654 107.749 Running
7 10 5 Tracy, Paul D/H/F 85 0 49.7020 01:46:55.5005 107.700 Running
8 4 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 85 0 50.4517 01:46:56.2502 107.687 Running
9 15 2 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F 85 0 51.2286 01:46:57.0271 107.674 Running
10 8 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F 85 0 52.0810 01:46:57.8795 107.660 Running
11 14 06 Servia, Oriol D/H/F 85 0 52.6215 01:46:58.4200 107.651 Running
12 5 3 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 85 0 53.2362 01:46:59.0347 107.640 Running
13 2 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F 85 0 53.5768 01:46:59.3753 107.635 Running
14 18 33 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F 85 0 70.0812 01:47:15.8797 107.359 Running
15 9 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F 84 1 4.2407 01:46:10.0392 107.192 Running
16 17 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F 84 1 5.9470 01:46:11.7455 107.164 Running
17 21 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F 84 1 17.2203 01:46:23.0188 106.974 Running
18 19 98 Antinucci, Richard (R) D/H/F 83 2 6.6026 01:46:12.4011 105.877 Running
19 12 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F 83 2 53.9436 01:46:59.7421 105.096 Running Contact with Conway and in the kitty litter in 3
20 16 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F 69 16 -01:28:28.9276 105.650 Mechanical
21 20 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F 56 29 -01:20:30.1742 94.244 Handling aka Too 'king Slow.

The rednecks have to love that-a kiwi beats an aussie and a scot with a japanese driver, a canadian and two brazillians also in the top 10

[Wheel-Nut]

Why would the rednecks be concerned? They watch NASCAR not indycar.

[pchall]

Why would the rednecks be concerned? They watch NASCAR not indycar.

The NASCRAP rain out is supposed to bring the long awaited influx of channel surfing bored NASCAR fans to Versus... at least that's what :gomer:s and media insiders expect.

[chop456]

That was a pretty nifty blocking job / pick that she ran that helped someone get around Wilson.

Everyone's good at something.

EzQ2TErl7cw

[Sean Malone]

I was surprised to see so many people during the Sunday race. Weekend ticket holders from the ALMS race?

And yet another CART/Champ Car feature is introduced to the IRL. Notice how not once did they reference it as 'push to pass', I assume that is because it didn't really allow passing or is it because the IRL still holds a disdain for all things Champ Car? It helped people defend their positions but it didn't seem like it gave an edge for an overtaking maneuver.
the crap wagons seemed to be a bit faster at MO compared to how they seem to lope around WG, probably due to the drastic elevation changes that get the cars light and at times squirly giving the impression of them being hustled.

man was Dixon ever sand bagging! I almost got the feeling that he and the team were just giddy to wait until they went to blacks and let her loose.

Should Tony Kanaan retire and move into a consultant/driver adviser? Yes.

It was nice to see Gil again and he mentioned possibly fielding a 2 car Indy Car team next year. Will Power deserves a full time ride and I don't think Penske will run a third car for him.

Tracy also needs a full time ride next year. He obviously wants it. Sure he may only have a season or two left but it's 100 times better for the series to have a Paul Tracy than a Milka Duno.

It's great to see Coyne fighting with Penske/TCGR. :thumbup:

I've always liked MO, but as I watched I still couldn't help think about a 900hp T96/00 screaming around Road America. I actually hope the IRL doesn't go to RA with their current crap wagon...it'd stink up the place too much.
that's the problem I have with watching the IRL...I always think back to when CART was better. Thanks Tony, your legacy lives on!

[TKGAngel]

And yet another CART/Champ Car feature is introduced to the IRL. Notice how not once did they reference it as 'push to pass', I assume that is because it didn't really allow passing or is it because the IRL still holds a disdain for all things Champ Car? It helped people defend their positions but it didn't seem like it gave an edge for an overtaking maneuver.
the crap wagons

PT says the same thing in his Sunday blog (http://www.paultracy.com/).


Going back to the subject of push to pass: it’s okay, but it’s nothing that would get an ex-Champ Car driver excited. It’s worth 1mph, maybe 2, down the straightaway. The problem is, it gives you an extra 200 revs at the top but by then the motor has gone past its powerband anyhow. So at 9800rpm, this boost is worth 10hp, but at 10,500, it feels like around 3hp. It can help you get a little run on a guy, but it’s not like you’re going to do 6mph faster like in Champ Car.

[EVL29]

It was nice of the commentators to explain why Kanaan sucks this year. His engineer went to Penske(Briscoe).

Heh.

[RHR_Fan]

I went last weekend. I know, :tony:.

Crowd was decent looking, but I can't compare it to other events at MO. Plus that was my first time being there. Poor Justin, that was his race (or at least a podium) and the team blew it.

[Cam]

I went last weekend. I know, :tony:.

Crowd was decent looking, but I can't compare it to other events at MO. Plus that was my first time being there. Poor Justin, that was his race (or at least a podium) and the team blew it.

Was the hill full? :cry:

[RHR_Fan]

Was the hill full? :cry:

I was in grandstand 2 and it did look pretty full. But the grandstands were not full at all.

[opinionated ow]

I had a spare 15 minutes this morning so I thought I'd do a time comparison:
1 2 Gil de Ferran 01:05.347 CART (2000)
1 6 Ryan Briscoe 01:06.6814 INDY
1 66 de Ferran/Pagenaud 01:09.443 LMP1
1 15 Fernandez/Diaz 01:10.464 LMP2
1 34 Jonathan Summerton 01:12.970 FA
1 21 James Davison 01:14.8673 LITE
1 45 Bergmeister/Long 01:21.022 GT2
1 10 Brandon Davis 01:26.497 SWC GT
1 73 Charles Espenlaub 1:34.135 SWC TC

(P.S. who makes the lite engine? The cars are listed on timing and scoring as D//F)

[pchall]

(P.S. who makes the lite engine? The cars are listed on timing and scoring as D//F)

Menard is doing the rebuilds of the same Infiniti crapV8s used at the inception of Crapwagon Lights. How can a 450HP V8 single seater wind up so slow and awkard?