The Foyt Futility Watch -- The Long Beach Edition

[pchall]

Barber lowlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luha6X1kVAc&feature=player_embedded) < -- I've seen more people at M-O for an open test in that series' decline than can be found in that clip show.

ALMS will be racing on late Saturday afternoon and into early evening. The IRL will continue its efforts to kill the event Sunday afternoon.

[Methanolandbrats]

Won't be long before the IRL shows up at Road America on the ALMS weekend. :yuck:

[Don Quixote]

ALMS should distance themselves from this typhoid Mary. "Do it for the children".

Charles Barkley waving the green flag in Pete's link above. :laugh: I wonder if he bet on the race?

[Sean Malone]

ALMS should distance themselves from this typhoid Mary. "Do it for the children".

Charles Barkley waving the green flag in Pete's link above. :laugh: I wonder if he bet on the race?

In his pre-race interview he seemed rather confused as to where he was and who the people were that were talking to him. Too many martini's at the club house prior?

[dando]

In his pre-race interview he seemed rather confused as to where he was and who the people were that were talking to him. Too many martini's at the club house prior?

That's just Charles being Charles. Turrible, turrible, turrible... :gomer:

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

Is he doing the playoffs on TNT again this year? Best commentary ever :D

[dando]

Is he doing the playoffs on TNT again this year? Best commentary ever :D

Since he's been doing games all season, I assume so...unless he says or does something to get his ass suspended. You knucklehead... ;)

-Kevin

[patski]

Won't be long before the IRL shows up at Road America on the ALMS weekend. :yuck:

I Hope NOT!

[Methanolandbrats]

Since he's been doing games all season, I assume so...unless he says or does something to get his ass suspended. You knucklehead... ;)

-Kevin
I guess I do remember seeing him early in the year, I mostly watch the Bucks on FSN. Looking forward to the playoffs. All Chuck was guilty of was driving quickly for a really good reason...:D...he never should have been suspended.

[Methanolandbrats]

I Hope NOT!

It's in the bag now that the IRL is a natural terrain and street course racing series. Then a couple years after the debut there will be a pack of 300 hp Delta Wangs screaming through the kink :rofl:

[NismoZ]

ChampCar ran with the ALMS a few years ago at RA. Had to go to the wayback of the paddock to find the openwheelers. It was SO sad to see. No doubt which series was the headliner and with good reason. My feeling is the same thing is also happening to the ALMS. Maybe they can partner with Nationwide next time?:shakehead. Rolling with the changes has never been a strong suit of mine.

[Methanolandbrats]

ChampCar ran with the ALMS a few years ago at RA. Had to go to the wayback of the paddock to find the openwheelers. It was SO sad to see. No doubt which series was the headliner and with good reason. My feeling is the same thing is also happening to the ALMS. Maybe they can partner with Nationwide next time?:shakehead. Rolling with the changes has never been a strong suit of mine. I was at that thing, it was sad to see what it had become.

[SteveH]

I was at that thing, it was sad to see what it had become.

nice storm during the ALMS race then again around midnight


Regardless of what it had become, those were the good old days.

[Fio1]

There is a reason the ALMS cars start tomorrow at 7:15 and the race is at 4:30 on Sat. They don't want the casual fans to see the REAL show!

BTW, I wonder if any of the Euro based short track stars are effected by the volcano in Iceland. I guess you can always get to LAX via Tokyo or Sydney. Imagine having to fly from Europe to Japan to make it to L.A for LBGP. :laugh:

[Indy]

nice storm during the ALMS race then again around midnight

Woke up in a collapsed tent. It's fun to set one up, drunk, half-asleep, in a severe thunderstorm. :gomer:

[TravelGal]

There is a reason the ALMS cars start tomorrow at 7:15 and the race is at 4:30 on Sat. They don't want the casual fans to see the REAL show!

BTW, I wonder if any of the Euro based short track stars are effected by the volcano in Iceland. I guess you can always get to LAX via Tokyo or Sydney. Imagine having to fly from Europe to Japan to make it to L.A for LBGP. :laugh:

You could do that if you could take off. Heathrow and other UK airports were closed all day today and expected to be shut down at least half of Friday (local time). Dublin said it wasn't opening until Saturday. Amsterdam, etc. not in much better shape. Some fans are stuck. I'm assuming the drivers are here already.

[TKGAngel]

I'm assuming the drivers are here already.

I'm thinking most of the IRL drivers are here already since they had to be at Barber last weekend. Any oddballs who have checks and were planning on making a surprise appearance might be stuck.

I did see on Twitter that Jeemy was driving in the Pro/Celebrity Race this weekend.

[G.]

Woke up in a collapsed tent. It's fun to set one up, drunk, half-asleep, in a severe thunderstorm. :gomer:

I thought I had a really strong tent, up until Mother Nature bitch-slapped me with that one.

Really glad I took the cover off of the canopy that night.

[Fio1]

Some fans are stuck. I'm assuming the drivers are here already.

Fans? From Europe? Why, do they think it's 1983 and LBGP is an F1 event?

[Methanolandbrats]

Is ALMS even on TV anymore? I could'nt find it on their ****ed up website and since I really don't care, I went no further :gomer:. Motor racing is in a fine state, that's for sure.

[Steve99]

Is ALMS even on TV anymore? I could'nt find it on their ****ed up website and since I really don't care, I went no further :gomer:. Motor racing is in a fine state, that's for sure.

ALMS is on SPEED Saturday evening.

All of the ALMS events are on SPEED this year, except for the Laguna Seca ( :( ) and Mid-Ohio rounds, which will have a "produced" show on CBS a week later.

[pchall]

Long Beach Grand Prix
1st crapwagon practice

1 12 Will Power 14 --.---- --.---- 14 1:11.4038 1:11.4038 0
2 3 Helio Castroneves 12 0.1005 0.1005 11 1:11.5044 1:19.3951 0
3 9 Scott Dixon 11 0.0386 0.1391 10 1:11.5430 1:14.7986 0
4 6 Ryan Briscoe 16 0.0048 0.1439 15 1:11.5477 1:14.0798 0
5 10 Dario Franchitti 13 0.0901 0.2340 10 1:11.6379 1:11.8814 0
6 11 Tony Kanaan 14 0.0031 0.2371 10 1:11.6410 1:12.5983 0
7 77 Alex Tagliani 13 0.1201 0.3572 11 1:11.7610 1:16.8106 0
8 37 Ryan Hunter-Reay 16 0.1651 0.5223 8 1:11.9261 4:24.1947 0
9 22 Justin Wilson 13 0.0480 0.5703 11 1:11.9741 1:13.3566 0
10 8 EJ Viso 19 0.0144 0.5847 18 1:11.9886 1:12.1431 0
11 06 Hideki Mutoh 22 0.1436 0.7283 22 1:12.1321 1:12.1321 0
12 32 Mario Moraes 15 0.0377 0.7660 15 1:12.1698 1:12.1698 0
13 24 Mike Conway 14 0.0698 0.8358 14 1:12.2397 1:12.2397 0
14 2 Raphael Matos 19 0.1723 1.0081 19 1:12.4120 1:12.4120 0
15 78 Simona de Silvestro 19 0.0310 1.0391 18 1:12.4429 1:15.1800 0 :)
16 26 Marco Andretti 18 0.0152 1.0543 10 1:12.4582 1:16.1205 0 :laugh:
17 4 Danica Wheldon 16 0.0677 1.1220 16 1:12.5258 1:12.5258 0
18 14 Vitor Meira 20 0.0574 1.1794 20 1:12.5832 1:12.5832 0
19 5 Takuma Sato 23 0.0863 1.2657 23 1:12.6696 1:12.6696 0
20 67 Graham Rahal 22 0.5153 1.7810 13 1:13.1848 1:15.9110 0
21 7 Danica Patrick 14 0.1745 1.9555 14 1:13.3593 1:13.3593 0 :rofl:
22 34 Mario Romancini 22 0.0813 2.0368 18 1:13.4407 1:13.9566 0
23 19 Alex Lloyd 31 0.6146 2.6514 28 1:14.0553 1:20.7571 0
24 36 Bertrand Baguette 22 0.3607 3.0121 22 1:14.4159 1:14.4159 0
25 18 Milka Duno 27 5.1188 8.1309 26 1:19.5348 1:23.7771 0 :thumdown: <-- given in a really Roman sporting sense

In the ALMS 1st practice in the early morning: 1 007*LMP Adrian Fernandez 31*1:15.112

[Methanolandbrats]

Marco and Danicles :rofl:, they should mate and produce a whiney, slow-assed baby.

[Don Quixote]

Does anybody know off the top of their head how fast the DP01 went around that circuit?

[Don Quixote]

Marco and Danicles :rofl:, they should mate and produce a whiney, slow-assed baby.Marco would not survive that angry roll in the hay. :D

[pchall]

Does anybody know off the top of their head how fast the DP01 went around that circuit?

2007 Sébastien Bourdais N/H/L Racing 1:07.546 (Q2) Panoz/Cosworth

2008 Justin Wilson N/H/L Racing 1:06.902 (Q2) Panoz/Cosworth

2010 Will Power Team Penske 1:11.4038 (P1) Dallara/Honda

[Don Quixote]

wow. :yuck:

[Michaelhatesfans]

Marco would not survive that angry roll in the hay. :D

Indeed. She would feed herself on his remains for the next nine months, sucking the marrow from his bones when the meat was gone.

[pchall]

IIZOD IndyCar Series Race Control
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Practice 2

1 37 Ryan Hunter-Reay 1:10.6346
2 6 Ryan Briscoe 1:10.6979
3 11 Tony Kanaan 1:10.7334
4 77 Alex Tagliani 1:10.7991
5 12 Will Power 1:10.8640
6 22 Justin Wilson 1:10.9195
7 10 Dario Franchitti 1:10.9285
8 32 Mario Moraes 1:10.9642
9 3 Helio Castroneves 1:11.0267
11 2 Raphael Matos 1:11.1230
12 26 Marco Andretti 1:11.2022 :D
13 5 Takuma Sato 1:11.3858
14 06 Hideki Mutoh 1:11.3981
15 78 Simona de Silvestro 1:11.4294 :)
16 4 Danica Wheldon 1:11.9148
17 8 EJ Viso 25 1:11.9308
18 14 Vitor Meira 1:11.9809 :tony:
19 67 Graham Rahal 1:11.9863 :eek:
20 34 Mario Romancini 1:12.0613
21 36 Bertrand Baguette 1:12.0952
22 24 Mike Conway 1:12.1850
23 7 Danica Patrick 1:12.4116 :rofl:
24 19 Alex Lloyd 1:12.4210
25 18 Milka Duno 1:27.3002 :thumdown::thumdown:

The other guys:

1 007 LMP Yo Adrian Fernandeth Lola B09 60/Aston Martin 1:15.112
2 1 LMP Simon Pagenaud HPD ARX-01c 1:16.194

These times were on the green and dirty track at 7:45am.

later in the day:

007 LMP Adrian Fernandez Lola B09 60/Aston Martin 1:13.213
1 LMP Simon Pagenaud HPD ARX-01c 1:13.285

These were turned at the end of the day.

[Don Quixote]

Bubbles is 17 freaking seconds off the pace??!!! That has to be some kind of futility record. Dale Coyne is livin' the dream right about now. :gomer:

[nissan gtp]

Danica is getting worse by the race. :laugh:

[Steve99]

Danica is nearly two seconds a lap off the pace. Expect a FCY every 20 laps or so she doesn't get lapped. Jacques Debris' will be busy.

[JohnHKart]

Ah I love these Futility threads. About ten years ago Cart told that Japanese Epson sponsored guy to hit the road (driving for Bettenhausen I think). I don't think he was as slow as Milka. At what point do they pull her license? I'm swamped in work and just cant get motivated to go. Usually I go on Friday but swapped a day off for next week when I have a mid week gig. The only reason I will go is to hang with a kart buddy, who is one of the coolest people I know. Have you guys noticed how fricking long it takes these IRL cars to go through the laps? The last few races I've watched, and it just takes forever!!! Need a 99 Reynard now. :thumdown:

[Sean Malone]

Danica is getting worse by the race. :laugh:

True...but she still keeps finishing ahead of Simona! This must stop!

[Sean Malone]

Ah I love these Futility threads. About ten years ago Cart told that Japanese Epson sponsored guy to hit the road (driving for Bettenhausen I think). I don't think he was as slow as Milka. At what point do they pull her license? I'm swamped in work and just cant get motivated to go. Usually I go on Friday but swapped a day off for next week when I have a mid week gig. The only reason I will go is to hang with a kart buddy, who is one of the coolest people I know. Have you guys noticed how fricking long it takes these IRL cars to go through the laps? The last few races I've watched, and it just takes forever!!! Need a 99 Reynard now. :thumdown:

Yep... no matter what those Dallara's always look slow.

So the Celebrity race has finally surpassed the indy Cars as the main event.

:shakehead

Thanks Tony.

[JohnHKart]

I noticed the recent print ad for this event, the only "stars" they could list were Dario and Danica. Not like before when the ads boasted tons of Cart stars. I think I'm staying home and saving the 50 bucks for gas to Vegas next week. Screw it!

[pchall]

I noticed the recent print ad for this event, the only "stars" they could list were Dario and Danica.

Those two were most likely chosen for their off track notoriety.

[NismoZ]

Speaking of notoriety, The League has gapped the field here with 35 pre-race posts to 11 for F-1. Without Buemi's circus trick it'd be 35-0. Moths to flame??

[opinionated ow]

Speaking of notoriety, The League has gapped the field here with 35 pre-race posts to 11 for F-1. Without Buemi's circus trick it'd be 35-0. Moths to flame??

Just an interest in simsim. :p

[devilmaster]

Speaking of notoriety, The League has gapped the field here with 35 pre-race posts to 11 for F-1. Without Buemi's circus trick it'd be 35-0. Moths to flame??

And your last 15 posts as of this post has 9 in the league and 2 in f1.....
[edit] and without buemi's circus trick, it'd be 9 to 1.

pot, kettle.

[Methanolandbrats]

Everyone likes a good comedy show.

[RusH]

True...but she still keeps finishing ahead of Simona! This must stop!

Princess is good at logging laps and pimping Go Daddy. A job well done.

Once Simona gets her rookie kinks out, Danica will get exposed....in a bad way:D

[NismoZ]

Simona in practice 2 in at P-10. Outstanding. Princess 17th... & the d-meister getting personal again/still? I'm flattered. Pots and kettels aside, only mean to point out how "openwheel" racing crushes F-1 in these forums but we can't bring ourselves to call it by it's proper name. :D OK by me, I don't give a crap. Just seems a little strange how many people tune in by accident or for just a few moments, apologize then leave comments. Afraid to sound too interested, I guess. That's Ok too. But thanks again for checkin' up on my posts.:thumbup:

[Elmo T]

only mean to point out how "openwheel" racing crushes F-1 in these forums

Thus, in general, bacon > IRL ;)

I think it is that human nature, rubber necking at an accident, train wreck loving aspect of us all. A good race will never generate as many comments as some fiasco somewhere. Therefore, I'd expect to see more posts for OWR.

Like I learned many years ago working in retail, provide good customer service to 10 people, maybe 2 will comment on it. Provide bad customer service, and they figure 7 or 8 will complain about it.

Interest in the IRL follies doesn't translate to support.

[NismoZ]

:D...also top 24 in final practice within 1.8...Milka has opened a record gap of 11.2!:eek: I think she's DARING them to try something!

[devilmaster]

the d-meister getting personal again/still?

Hmm, its funny how you make a comment about everyone else who posts here, you're called out on it and its -me- getting personal :laugh:


Just seems a little strange how many people tune in by accident or for just a few moments, apologize then leave comments. Afraid to sound too interested, I guess. That's Ok too. But thanks again for checkin' up on my posts.:thumbup:

Just seems a little strange that you would comment on how many people post IRL to F1 on offcamber and you're probably one of the main contributors to it. That's Ok too. Most of the people here probably don't care how much one posts in any particular thread/forum. Me? I just can't help pointing out hypocrisy when I see it.

[BarillaGirl]

Interest in the IRL follies doesn't translate to support.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Some of us are just watching for the drama and the inevitable crash.

[cameraman]

I have to admit that I read about the IRL and even post about it but I don't actually watch it. I saw a youtube bit of the Brazil race and it looked exactly like a Champ Car race except for the overgrown barge-like farting Dallaras.

I can't bring myself to watch a hollow imitation of CCWS which was itself a down-sized version of CART:shakehead

[BarillaGirl]

I peeked at IRL quals this afternoon and realized it had been years and years since I watched a race at Long Beach. Has the wheelbase been shortened? At first I suspected the picture was a distortion of an HD broadcast.... but the fonts on the sponsor walls were OK. Ugh. Looks like Atlantics UltraLite.

And PT a commentator for The Man? With no, OK, white, hair? I have been away too long.... and obviously need to go back to F1.

Was sorta nice to hear Paul Page still has a paycheck, I guess. :shakehead: I was happier to hear that Jack Arute was still earning money.

[Don Quixote]

What Elmo said. :thumbup:

[NismoZ]

I guess PT is going to Indy with K and V. Nice, except their team seems to be nowhere.

[cameraman]

I guess PT is going to Indy with K and V. Nice, except their team seems to be nowhere.

Who is driving for KV again?

[NismoZ]

Viso and Moraes. (grid 15 &17 tomorrow. Pretty unimpressive.)

[NismoZ]

Simona (13th) 7 spots ahead of Danica and Milka with no time in quals. Can she even start, then? Maybe she won't be able to make it onto the grid due to handling.

[pchall]

I find it safer to just read the reports and check T&S for the Futility Watch. The few times I can actually try to watch the IRL ota I either want to rip my eyeballs out or fall asleep. Being in a cable free environment keeps a lot of crap out of my life.

[NismoZ]

And Vasser WINS at Long Beach!:D

[emjaya]

Speaking of notoriety, The League has gapped the field here with 35 pre-race posts to 11 for F-1. Without Buemi's circus trick it'd be 35-0. Moths to flame??

The reason there are more posts in IRL threads than F1 threads is easy to explain: Off Camber is inhabited by a large nunber of would-be stand-up comedians, and the material is so much better in the IRL than in F1.

[RusH]

How true.
When I talk .1rl, I always try to be a comedian.:eek:

[gerhard911]

Not too f'in difficult. With the hapless earl, the jokes pretty much write themselves. :p

[cameraman]

Well I saw some of it on the Speed Report. Quite enough actually. Nice coverage of Danica Patrick racing for 16th:saywhat: and Dallaras that are too sluggish and not nearly maneuverable enough for a track that tight. The ALMS race was better but it could hardly be worse.

Anymore they Long beach weekend just isn't worth the effort.:shakehead

[NismoZ]

I don't know, an RHR, Justin Wilson, Will Power "podium" had a nice feel to it. I compare it to League events of the past and this was far superior. Certainly not CART/ChampCar heyday stuff but it looked to be a marked improvement to me. Felt the same way about the "GP Of Alabama":rofl: Nice track, big crowd, people sitting on the hillsides. Had an old days look about it. I'll never become one of those pod people but I'll watch and follow what's going on (selectively) when I can. C'mon...PT at Indy!:D Danica made a late, clean and decisive pass on Simona (given plenty of room, too)...kinda pissed me off, but the season is young, and so is Simona!:)

[opinionated ow]

I don't know, an RHR, Justin Wilson, Will Power "podium" had a nice feel to it. I compare it to League events of the past and this was far superior. Certainly not CART/ChampCar heyday stuff but it looked to be a marked improvement to me. Felt the same way about the "GP Of Alabama":rofl: Nice track, big crowd, people sitting on the hillsides. Had an old days look about it. I'll never become one of those pod people but I'll watch and follow what's going on (selectively) when I can. C'mon...PT at Indy!:D Danica made a late, clean and decisive pass on Simona (given plenty of room, too)...kinda pissed me off, but the season is young, and so is Simona!:)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Simsim what were you thinkin?!?

[pchall]

1 Ryan Hunter-Reay (37) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
2 Justin Wilson (22) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
3 Will Power (12) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
4 Scott Dixon (9) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
5 Tony Kanaan (11) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
6 Mario Moraes (32) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
7 Helio Castroneves (3) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
8 Ryan Briscoe (6) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
9 Dan Wheldon (4) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
10 Mike Conway (24) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
11 Vitor Meira (14) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
12 Dario Franchitti (10) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
13 Hideki Mutoh (6) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
14 Marco Andretti (26) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
15 E.J. Viso (8) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
16 Danica Patrick (7) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
17 Simona de Silvestro (78) Dallara/Honda 85 Running -
18 Takuma Sato (5) Dallara/Honda 84 Running -
19 Alex Lloyd (19) Dallara/Honda 84 Running -
20 Raphael Matos (2) Dallara/Honda 84 Running -
21 Alex Tagliani (77) Dallara/Honda 65 Mechanical -
22 Graham Rahal (67) Dallara/Honda 58 Contact -
23 Mario Romancini (34) Dallara/Honda 58 Contact -
24 Bertrand Baguette (36) Dallara/Honda 45 Mechanical -
25 Milka Duno (18) Dallara/Honda 10 Handling

[oddlycalm]

Speed Report is enough EARL exposure for me. Alex Lloyd racing the leaders after going a lap down was a classic :gomer: touch. Lest we guess him colorblind the lowlight reel also showed him driving into other cars for no particular reason earlier in the race.

Showing the Princess Pass™ for 16th was a nice touch. A pass for position on a road course is a rare moment for the Princness and when it's a pass for female dominance.... :laugh: I was left wondering when was the last time we saw a clean pass for 16th in post race footage?

oc

[cameraman]

I was left wondering when was the last time we saw a clean pass for 16th in post race footage?

oc

I'd wager the twelfth of Never.

[Michaelhatesfans]

Speaking of notoriety, The League has gapped the field here with 35 pre-race posts to 11 for F-1. Without Buemi's circus trick it'd be 35-0. Moths to flame??

Moths to flame? Not for me. For me, it's just hate. And I'm ok with that.:cool:

[Rogue Leader]

Speed Report is enough EARL exposure for me. Alex Lloyd racing the leaders after going a lap down was a classic :gomer: touch. Lest we guess him colorblind the lowlight reel also showed him driving into other cars for no particular reason earlier in the race.

Showing the Princess Pass™ for 16th was a nice touch. A pass for position on a road course is a rare moment for the Princness and when it's a pass for female dominance.... :laugh: I was left wondering when was the last time we saw a clean pass for 16th in post race footage?

oc

I almost threw my remote at the screen when I saw him take off Justin Wilson's front wing. Gomer special!

I love how they interview the top 5... and Danica afetr the race. Because everyone cares about the parson who made it in 5 spots up from DFL running

[Fio1]

I liked how they mentioned on TV that she was looking forward to the ovals, because road racing is not her thing. :laugh: WTF did you do in go-karts and junior formulas all these years Danica? It wasn't f***ing oval racing. They basically called her a wanker. :rofl:

[Steve99]

I was hoping for more posts about the Long Beach drifting event!

[TravelGal]

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Al Czervik]

I liked how they mentioned on TV that she was looking forward to the ovals, because road racing is not her thing. :laugh: WTF did you do in go-karts and junior formulas all these years Danica? It was f***ing. She's basically a w<edit>. :rofl:

Fixed for accuracy.

[manic mechanic]

I have to admit that I read about the IRL and even post about it but I don't actually watch it. I saw a youtube bit of the Brazil race and it looked exactly like a Champ Car race except for the overgrown barge-like farting Dallaras.

I can't bring myself to watch a hollow imitation of CCWS which was itself a down-sized version of CART:shakehead

Precisely my friend... ;)

Dear Mr. Bernard,

IT'S THE PRODUCT, STUPID!!!

Regards,

the purists. :)

manic

[Hard Driver]

I don't know, an RHR, Justin Wilson, Will Power "podium" had a nice feel to it. I compare it to League events of the past and this was far superior. Certainly not CART/ChampCar heyday stuff but it looked to be a marked improvement to me. Felt the same way about the "GP Of Alabama":rofl: Nice track, big crowd, people sitting on the hillsides. Had an old days look about it. I'll never become one of those pod people but I'll watch and follow what's going on (selectively) when I can. C'mon...PT at Indy!:D Danica made a late, clean and decisive pass on Simona (given plenty of room, too)...kinda pissed me off, but the season is young, and so is Simona!:)

Personally, there is enough there to get me to watch.. The front of the field is talanted. Yes, there is still some bad taste residue but now that FTG has been f'ed over, I can tolerate my conscience watching it. And while the cars are still crapwagons, they are still the fastest open wheelers in the USA.

But seriously, if these were DP01 cars, 5 seconds a lap faster, and had Champcar management, instead of indycar management, would the racing really be that much different?

[Elmo T]

But seriously, if these were DP01 cars, 5 seconds a lap faster, and had Champcar management, instead of indycar management, would the racing really be that much different?

Probably not.

Would I feel different about it? Very likely. But I am not ready to forgive and forget just yet.

I've attended a couple IRL races. There is a vacuum there, something that a better car or better management won't fill. I can't put my finger on it. The words that come to mind are: hollow, soulless, false bravado: lots of "we are so great because we said so". There is a palpable emptiness - even with a crowd.

[Sean Malone]

Personally, there is enough there to get me to watch.. The front of the field is talanted. Yes, there is still some bad taste residue but now that FTG has been f'ed over, I can tolerate my conscience watching it. And while the cars are still crapwagons, they are still the fastest open wheelers in the USA.

But seriously, if these were DP01 cars, 5 seconds a lap faster, and had Champcar management, instead of indycar management, would the racing really be that much different?

I 'want' to like IndyCars again. I think Power, Wilson are proven talents. I'd love to see what they and some of the new guys like Matos could do if they weren't driving against the car so much. They need a car that allows the drivers to race against each other, not the track or the car itself, which means a more nimble car with more power that can brake deeper and accelerate sooner. For a series on life support, they can't afford years of debate over the next car. It's not like these guys all started this year.

I caught the last 13 laps of LB and that was 12 laps too many.

[Methanolandbrats]

Racing would be better with DP01. The situation today is unwatchable crap. S***** slow cars that sound awful, idiotic Gomer announcers, ride buyers who suck, douche bag owners who created this mess. The whole thing is utter garbage.

[Rogue Leader]

Probably not.

Would I feel different about it? Very likely. But I am not ready to forgive and forget just yet.

I've attended a couple IRL races. There is a vacuum there, something that a better car or better management won't fill. I can't put my finger on it. The words that come to mind are: hollow, soulless, false bravado: lots of "we are so great because we said so". There is a palpable emptiness - even with a crowd.


I 'want' to like IndyCars again. I think Power, Wilson are proven talents. I'd love to see what they and some of the new guys like Matos could do if they weren't driving against the car so much. They need a car that allows the drivers to race against each other, not the track or the car itself, which means a more nimble car with more power that can brake deeper and accelerate sooner. For a series on life support, they can't afford years of debate over the next car. It's not like these guys all started this year.

I caught the last 13 laps of LB and that was 12 laps too many.

IMO its just the cars... they aren't scary. They are loud, and kinda fast, but the sound of a Cosworth Turbo V8 (or any of the others through the years) screaching through the air.. the blow off valve, the technology... its just not there

[Indy]

**** 'em.

They could have made it better and they didn't. Making it better is not part of their business plan. Expect more stupid gimmicks.

[DagoFast]

I've attended a couple IRL races. There is a vacuum there, something that a better car or better management won't fill. I can't put my finger on it. The words that come to mind are: hollow, soulless, false bravado: lots of "we are so great because we said so". There is a palpable emptiness - even with a crowd.

Some of the words you are looking for are: genuine, compelling, legitimate and relevant. None of which the IRL has.

[G.]

Probably not.

Would I feel different about it? Very likely. But I am not ready to forgive and forget just yet.

I've attended a couple IRL races. There is a vacuum there, something that a better car or better management won't fill. I can't put my finger on it. The words that come to mind are: hollow, soulless, false bravado: lots of "we are so great because we said so". There is a palpable emptiness - even with a crowd.

One cannot manufacture "cool".

[Indy]

^^^^^

One can manufacture cool if the customer making the cool/uncool judgment is a slack jawed redneck. Thus NASCAR.

One can not do the same with an educated, sophisticated customer like the open wheel fan. Thus the failure of the IRL.

[Don Quixote]

One can manufacture cool if the customer making the cool/uncool judgment is a slack jawed redneck.... .... that works at Jiffylube. :D

[G.]

^^^^^

One can manufacture cool if the customer making the cool/uncool judgment is a slack jawed redneck. Thus NASCAR.

One can not do the same with an educated, sophisticated customer like the open wheel fan. Thus the failure of the IRL.

"cool" rarely equals popular. Cool requires an educated, sophisticated customer.



Now, leave me alone. I need to go listen to my Kid Rock CD. :p