Las Vegas Futility Thread

[High Sided]

this ones for pchall and inspired by nizmo's complaint ;)

last race with the antique sh**box!

[Don Quixote]

All sh**boxes in the world are offended by your comparison.

[TravelGal]

Actually, this one is for Peter and I thank you for starting it. I think, by the end of the weekend, we will have plenty of fodder to do Peter proud.

[High Sided]

definitely for peter(pchall)! r.i.p.

it just came naturally not even thinking when i first read nismoz complaint/compliment on no posts about the past races.

[cameraman]

Well we can start off with the pre-race festivities. Surely this will attract the hard core race fan.
All @IndyCar drivers will be driving down Vegas strip at 8pm PT and then its the Kickoff party at Wet Republic from 9pm with @LupeFiasco

A Lupe Fiasco concert, it almost made me hop in the car and haul on down to Vegas:gomer:

[SteveH]

The winner for the fan in the stands portion of the Vegas gimmick is a serial contest entrant.

Here's her twitter (http://twitter.com/#%21/ababe28)

http://indycar.cdn.racersites.com/prod/photos/340481/NEWS_DETAIL.jpg

[Chief]

Respectfully, ....she looks like Benny Hill in-drag. Her not being a fan is just icing on the cake. See what I mean...NOTHING ever comes out right for the IRL. Nothing. :shakehead

[cameraman]

So their winner is someone who has no interest in racing at all. They are just too stupid to be allowed to survive.:shakehead

[Duroc]

So their winner is someone who has no interest in racing at all.

Low hanging fruit.

[TravelGal]

A) Tell me you didn't think "Super Fiasco" when you saw who was playing. Go ahead, lie.

B) I swear that woman looks familiar. Anyway, at least there will be one more "fan" in the stands. Rather expensive acquisition cost though.

[Chief]

Are you alleging an insider was chosen? ;)

[gerhard911]

Her sister perhaps?

http://www.smackforum.net/image.php?u=23&dateline=1303093802

[G.]

She's basically a professional contest-enterer.

[Don Quixote]

She's basically a professional contest-enterer.
I just thought of something. She will have to pay taxes on this deal. :rofl:

[cameraman]

I can think of worse things than having $60K of ordinary income tacked onto my W2 for the next 40 years:\

[Don Quixote]

I can think of worse things than having $60K of ordinary income tacked onto my W2 for the next 40 years:\Yeah, duh, I didn't read the right thing.

[SurfaceUnits]

I can think of worse things than having $60K of ordinary income tacked onto my W2 for the next 40 years:\

she still has to pay taxes on the trip to Vegas, hotel, etc etc even when Dan doesn't win

[BarillaGirl]

I don't know exactly what Peter would have said about the contest winner, but I suspect it would have used the word "cow." And he probably would have said it at Smackforum. Good start, carry on! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[BigIrlFan]

SHe's pUrty HaWT

QUit HaTIN, YoU LOOsers

[Trevor Longman]

It gets worse. Danicles was fastest in 1st practice. :saywhat:


1. Danica Patrick Andretti 24.734s
2. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 24.811s + 0.077s
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 24.827s + 0.092s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi 24.849s + 0.114s
5. Mike Conway Andretti 24.863s + 0.129s
6. Helio Castroneves Penske 24.868s + 0.133s
7. Marco Andretti Andretti 24.869s + 0.134s
8. Ryan Briscoe Penske 24.872s + 0.137s
9. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 24.874s + 0.139s
10. Graham Rahal Ganassi 24.941s + 0.205s
11. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 24.942s + 0.206s
12. Tony Kanaan KV 24.966s + 0.232s
13. Ed Carpenter Sarah Fisher 24.996s + 0.261s
14. Will Power Penske 25.013s + 0.278s
15. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 25.016s + 0.281s
16. Vitor Meira AJ Foyt 25.036s + 0.301s
17. Takuma Sato KV 25.042s + 0.308s
18. Simona de Silvestro HVM 25.055s + 0.320s
19. Pippa Mann Rahal Letterman Lanigan 25.074s + 0.340s
20. Wade Cunningham AFS/Sam Schmidt 25.343s + 0.343s
21. Paul Tracy Dragon 25.099s + 0.364s
22. Dan Wheldon Bryan Herta/Sam Schmidt 25.101s + 0.366s
23. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 25.103s + 0.368s
24. JR Hildebrand Panther 25.110s + 0.376s
25. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 25.120s + 0.385s
26. Buddy Rice Panther 25.151s + 0.416s
27. Tomas Scheckter Sarah Fisher 25.167s + 0.422s
28. Davey Hamilton Dreyer & Reinbold 25.199s + 0.465s
29. Sebastian Saavedra Conquest 25.204s + 0.469s
30. Townsend Bell Dreyer & Reinbold 25.221s + 0.486s
31. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 25.233s + 0.498s
32. EJ Viso KV 25.280s + 0.548s
33. James Jakes Dale Coyne 25.316s + 0.581s
34. Jay Howard Rahal Letterman Lanigan 25.327s + 0.592s

[racer2c]

Wasn't Bourdais back in Indy Car this year or was I dreaming. Weird.

[TKGAngel]

Wasn't Bourdais back in Indy Car this year or was I dreaming. Weird.

Road courses only, I think.


Anyway, at least there will be one more "fan" in the stands.

I have to wonder how many people actually paid for a ticket to attend this race? I remember reading that those that attended a race this year were eligible for a free ticket to Vegas, plus the drivers were giving away tickets and passes on Twitter this week. I know these things put butts in the seats, but if minimal money goes in the league coffers, just how successful are they?

[High Sided]

looks like they are making their money selling the suites...

The suites, Bernard said, are selling for between $22,000 and $35,000, and he expects the remaining inventory to be sold out by Friday.

http://www.ibj.com/indycar-series-rolling-dice-in-las-vegas/PARAMS/article/30095

[Don Quixote]

The suites, Bernard said, are selling for between $22,000 and $35,000, and he expects the remaining inventory to be sold out by Friday. Good Lord, talk about throwing money down a rathole. :shakehead

[Chief]

It's magic. They hope get $3.5M from suite sales, on average $25K per suite. This is a confirmed track rental, security guards, insurance and hotels/parties/concerts, police, everything all taken care of by the IRL/Speedway. It's the new wave of revenue sourcing...don't even need pesky sanction fees! Just free tickets and corporate big-wigs and cigars.

In contrast, a successful former series on a then popular oval could turn 75K paid attendance @ $70 per seat for the promoter, a cool $5.26M, and that didn't include suite $$$ or sponsors.

These times they are a changing. That's why every oval promoter wants the track rental model...and suddenly the IRL oval-saviors are off ovals. Bravo! :thumbup:

[cameraman]

Buddy Rice and Davey Hamilton? Hamilton's what, 49 years old.

I'm amazed that they could find 34 Dallaras that are fit to race. Some of them must be more Bondo & baling wire than carbon fiber.

I don't see a race with that many drivers of wildly variable skill sets ending well.

[SurfaceUnits]

SHe's pUrty HaWT

QUit HaTIN, YoU LOOsers

thats cause she has a trailer and a bass boat

[SteveH]

34 starters? One more than Indy? How can that happen?

Those blasphemes will rot in Hell.

[BarillaGirl]

34 starters? One more than Indy? How can that happen?

Those blasphemes will rot in Hell.

Don't you BLASpheme in here. Don't you BLASPHEME in HERE! :tony:

[TravelGal]

Buddy Rice and Davey Hamilton? Hamilton's what, 49 years old.

I'm amazed that they could find 34 Dallaras that are fit to race. Some of them must be more Bondo & baling wire than carbon fiber.

I don't see a race with that many drivers of wildly variable skill sets ending well.

Got got that right. My first thought was "34 tubs can make it around that speedway? Yeah, right."

OTOH, how about an assignment of the cars themselves based on the rankings of the drivers? Say, the first 10 can keep what they got if they want it. Otherwise, the worse you are, the worse car you get. Could be quite entertaining for the first and last few laps. Hey, they seem to want NASTYCAR and that's what they'd get. :tony:

[Gnam]

I hope this is the last gasp for the crapwagons. May they rot in race car hell.

[SteveH]

Looks like the racing gods will prevail and 33, while being just a number will remain sacrosanct

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg576/scaled.php?tn=0&server=576&filename=82944529.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

[G.]

Looks like the racing gods will prevail and 33, while being just a number will remain sacrosanct

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg576/scaled.php?tn=0&server=576&filename=82944529.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

Did Simona catch on fire again??

[SteveH]

Did Simona catch on fire again??

Jakes did the Shake and Bake this time.

But the weekend is still young, plenty of time for Simona to burn one.

[High Sided]

Practice session #2
Rank Driver Diff. BL LL Gap TL BL#
1 Tony Kanaan 0.0000 224.196 222.729 0.0000 49 14
2 Oriol Servia 0.0246 223.974 222.003 0.0246 69 49
3 Ryan Hunter-Reay 0.0292 223.932 142.956 0.0046 43 41
4 Scott Dixon 0.0507 223.738 221.796 0.0215 61 34
5 EJ Viso 0.1124 223.184 198.365 0.0617 25 13
6 Simona de Silvestro 0.1134 223.175 27.262 0.0010 43 9
7 Vitor Meira 0.1139 223.171 142.313 0.0005 45 15
8 Tomas Scheckter 0.1440 222.901 221.796 0.0301 50 27
9 Mike Conway 0.1635 222.727 132.867 0.0195 23 21
10 Alex Tagliani 0.1656 222.708 220.295 0.0021 38 6
11 Ryan Briscoe 0.1683 222.684 222.292 0.0027 59 36
12 Will Power 0.1719 222.652 143.517 0.0036 50 17
13 Graham Rahal 0.1763 222.613 139.374 0.0044 32 27
14 Helio Castroneves 0.1812 222.569 220.734 0.0049 54 31
15 Dario Franchitti 0.1913 222.479 131.547 0.0101 43 4
16 Ed Carpenter 0.2005 222.397 126.032 0.0092 43 22
17 James Hinchcliffe 0.2177 222.244 122.336 0.0172 56 52
18 Townsend Bell 0.2186 222.236 220.464 0.0009 44 30
19 Marco Andretti 0.2189 222.234 134.083 0.0003 65 57
20 Danica Patrick 0.2676 221.802 219.526 0.0487 34 4
21 Jay Howard 0.2870 221.630 212.573 0.0194 56 52
22 Buddy Rice 0.2890 221.613 218.543 0.0020 33 31
23 Alex Lloyd 0.2922 221.584 221.224 0.0032 53 51
24 Sebastian Saavedra0.2929 221.578 219.516 0.0007 55 39
25 JR Hildebrand 0.3005 221.511 136.271 0.0076 42 38
26 Ana Beatriz 0.3059 221.463 220.508 0.0054 39 33
27 Charlie Kimball 0.3202 221.337 132.936 0.0143 26 15
28 Takuma Sato 0.3240 221.304 219.791 0.0038 48 14
29 Pippa Mann 0.3393 221.169 219.410 0.0153 51 21
30 Paul Tracy 0.3420 221.145 217.346 0.0027 45 13
31 Wade Cunningham 0.3707 220.893 146.398 0.0287 25 13
32 Dan Wheldon 0.4394 220.292 217.218 0.0687 27 7
33 Davey Hamilton 0.5002 219.762 205.248 0.0608 38 11
34 James Jakes 0.5232 219.562 219.082 0.0230 11 10

https://p.twimg.com/AbvbYg5CEAAGKXB.jpg:large
shaking & baking

[stroker]

I can't think of a better send-off to the Dart than the

Ultimate
Epic
Fail

Where's the popcorn smilie?

[High Sided]

Starting order
Rank - Driver - 2lap AVG - Diff.
1 Tony Kanaan 222.078 0.0000
2 Oriol Servia 222.061 0.0057
3 Ed Carpenter 221.509 0.0559
4 Alex Tagliani 221.330 0.0780
5 Ryan Briscoe 221.130 0.1078
6 Marco Andretti 221.129 0.1050
7 Ryan Hunter-Reay 221.040 0.1091
8 Graham Rahal 220.958 0.1293
9 Danica Patrick 220.925 0.1198
10 Mike Conway 220.922 0.1186
11 Helio Castroneves 220.907 0.1243
12 Wade Cunningham 220.790 0.1445
13 Scott Dixon 220.715 0.1430
14 James Hinchcliffe 220.701 0.1606
15 JR Hildebrand 220.639 0.1598
16 Takuma Sato 220.627 0.1629
17 Will Power 220.524 0.1714
18 Dario Franchitti 220.489 0.1742
19 Buddy Rice 220.392 0.1822
20 Sebastian Saavedra 220.335 0.1942
21 Alex Lloyd 220.314 0.2041
22 Charlie Kimball 219.982 0.2337
23 Townsend Bell 219.942 0.2318
24 Tomas Scheckter 219.816 0.2577
25 Davey Hamilton 219.493 0.2647
26 Vitor Meira 219.273 0.2995
27 Paul Tracy 218.661 0.3925
28 Jay Howard 218.577 0.3719
29 Dan Wheldon 218.410 0.4205
30 Pippa Mann 218.157 0.4366
31 Ana Beatriz 218.153 0.4349
32 Simona de Silvestro 218.132 0.4452

[cameraman]

So EJ Viso didn't make the field. That will reduce the accident count by at least one.

[opinionated ow]

wow simona was slow :o:saywhat:

[Michaelhatesfans]

I haven't followed the progress with Vegas for weeks. Weren't they going to boost attendance and viewing figures by bringing in NASCAR drivers, Jacques Villeneuve, Zanardi, and bringing Bill Vuckovich back from the dead or something like that?

Looks like the usual cast and some retired wankers thrown in for good measure. Can the Nielsen boxes handle this kind of overload?

[Gnam]

wow simona was slow :o:saywhat:

She's not dumb. Better to have all the wankers driving away from you than crashing into the back of you.

[Napoleon]

I just noticed via a web ad that this thing is actually on ABC tomorrow at 3pm ET.

[cameraman]

wow simona was slow :o:saywhat:

She is driving one of the oldest, most crashed out sleds in the entire field.

[BarillaGirl]

Wow, the entry list looks like a roll call of everyone who's ever driven an Indy Car. :saywhat:

What would it look like if there was a 207 percent rule applied? ;)

[Indy]

The two guys leading the championship are two miles per hour slower than the polesitter? How does that happen? Christ, this series sucks.

[Indy]

Jakes practice crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOSYHnemYZk

If I were a driver I think I would come down with the flu or something to avoid tempting fate by strapping into one of those deathmobiles one more time.

[TravelGal]

She is driving one of the oldest, most crashed out sleds in the entire field.

Hey now. Don't you be dissin' Porkchop. From what I here he gots his won Tweeter feeder.

[Chief]

The two guys leading the championship are two miles per hour slower than the polesitter? How does that happen? Christ, this series sucks.
This is all about the $5M! The contrived futility of this series has the $5 million gunner qual'd in 32nd, and has to start at the rear, only 4.25 mph off the pace. pffffft


rfuIJEdBdE4

[Michaelhatesfans]

"Are they done???"

Indeed.:rofl:



rfuIJEdBdE4

[NismoZ]

So, at -4.5 mph on a 1.5 mi. track how many times can we look forward to him being lapped in a 300 mi. race? I estimate at least 6. Gonna be a good show! He gets a LOT more TV time that way. Who's his sponsor? Maybe that's their strategy!:)

[NismoZ]

I was thinking Simona must have a new(er) rebuilt racer as she was P-6 in practice 1 @ 223mph...then qualifies @ 218?:saywhat: Following the draft makes a big difference, I suppose. Probably be in the top 10 by lap 30.;) Bigger draft to follow! Smart!

[High Sided]

welcome to the next generation sh**box :yuck:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6246902871_4772ce1654.jpghttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6246896639_fbd948d141.jpg

[opinionated ow]

welcome to the next generation sh**box :yuck:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6246902871_4772ce1654.jpghttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6246896639_fbd948d141.jpg

In all honesty if they didn't have the wanky sidepods and the bumper bar they'd look ok

[Trevor Longman]

Is it just me or does the driver look really exposed in those pictures? Not like their heads, those are pretty low down. But their legs and hips. On normal open-wheelers the side pods extend much farther forward and cover the side of the monocoque where the drivers hips are. There just seems to be lot of empty space by the drivers legs that isn't protected by side pods or the wheel and front suspension. If there is another Zanardi or Brack like incident I'm not sure it would end quite as well. :shakehead

In this picture of the old lola champ car the sidepod extends all the way to the wheels

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EzYk5KYYGzQ/SqkNmsIGyTI/AAAAAAAABjw/kIXkS-E0A6o/s720/ChampCar%252520Fontana%252520%252520041101%252520% 25252849%252529.jpg

[SteveH]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6246902871_4772ce1654.jpg


http://www.dfordog.co.uk/images/scooting.gif

[BarillaGirl]

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Chief]

I'm laughing so hard....:laugh::rofl::laugh:

[Don Quixote]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[SurfaceUnits]

my Poulan chainsaw has a more pleasant sound than those crappers

[Indy]

Oh, ****. Wiping tears from my eyes. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Napoleon]

Classic :thumbup:

Steve wins the intertubes today.

[Trevor Longman]

Watching that championship trophy rise up through the stage floor on a pedestal with steam all around it and fireworks going off was one of the most gomerific things I've ever seen. :rofl: :shakehead

[Elmo T]

More fabricated drama than a Lifetime Channel docu-drama. :shakehead

[Napoleon]

Holy Bat Signal.

[The Doctor]

Can anyone tell which car they are working on? What a giant cluster eff.

[The Doctor]

ABC just confirmed it's Dan Wheldon they are working on.

[Elmo T]

Not looking good. :shakehead

Firing up the chopper.

[The Doctor]

Whoever crashed into Saavedra went for an airborne ride, then Wheldon came along and went airborne over a second incident avoiding the first... looked like he was upside down and into the wall. Pippa Mann looked worse for wear but was able to get out.

[Kiwifan]

Day off so I turned it on....horrible, just horrible. Thoughts go out to family and friends, they don't deserve that crap.

The announcers are rating the safety crew. Really? They looked lost me. :flame:

[Elmo T]

The announcers are rating the safety crew. Really? They looked lost me. :flame:

Agreed, but FWIW, I don't think they are equipped or prepared for something of this magnitude.

[The Doctor]

Agreed, but FWIW, I don't think they are equipped or prepared for something of this magnitude.

Agreed. Hard to handle 15 cars, with multiple cars on fire and upside down. Just gotta do what you can and try and do the worst first.

[NismoZ]

Ahhhhchhh...wish we could have seen THAT one coming!:shakehead

[The Doctor]

Will Power through the air and on fire into the wall... in-car camera of the whole thing. Jeebus.

[TKGAngel]

Turned on the race after seeing Twitter light up like a Christmas tree. Holy freaking snowflake on a cracker. Thoughts and prayers are with everyone.

[NismoZ]

"Not a suitable track."-Dario. Ya think?

[Trevor Longman]

Its been a long time since I've seen a wreck handled like this by the commentators and broadcasters. Theres a lot of uncertainty and a very somber vibe is present. I don't like the look of this at all.. :(

[NismoZ]

Does Franchitti even have to restart, or is he required to do at least a single lap? I would just PARK IT if I had that option.:irked:

[Napoleon]

Its been a long time since I've seen a wreck handled like this by the commentators and broadcasters.

You have to presume they heard what was being reported on the emergency crews radio and got a close up of what was going on with that car when they reached it even if they did not feed it onto the broadcast.

Is there anywhere on the internet/twitter/whatever where people who may be there with radios and binoculars may be reporting what was going on?

[NismoZ]

Bunch of drivers in a confab...I'd like to hear THAT conversation!

[RTKar]

Reminds me of the broadcast after Senna's accident, aerial views, a helicopter, somber mood.

[The Doctor]

PT seemed to be pretty somber and honestly scared, and that's saying something about PT. He sounded like he saw Dan come into the Medical Center and from his comments both on IMS Radio and TV it seemed pretty bad. And I'll trust PT's assessment.

[dando]

Just came in to take a break from yard work to see the copter taking off. Srsly side-by-side coverage of this? I had hoped my only comment about this fiasco would be about the barren stands. :saywhat:

-Kevin

[Napoleon]

PT seemed to be pretty somber and honestly scared, and that's saying something about PT. He sounded like he saw Dan come into the Medical Center and from his comments both on IMS Radio and TV it seemed pretty bad. And I'll trust PT's assessment.

When they interviewed him on TV I swear he said "he will have a long recovery".

[Elmo T]

When they interviewed him on TV I swear he said "he will have a long recovery".

Yea - I heard that. That is the most positive comment I've heard thus far.

[dando]

Srsly?!? Side-by-side still?!? :saywhat: :shakehead :mad: :irked: :saywhat:

-Kevin

[manic mechanic]

I just texted someone who is (supposedly) there; We'll see what the answer is.

BTW, thank SMI and NASCAR for the track... They had a good (read: RACEABLE) oval when CC was there in 2004-2005, but they reconfigured the track after the '06 season. I agree with Dario about the suitability of this track for open wheel cars. :shakehead

manic

[TRDfan]

Kind of forgot about the race until I saw twitter.

Just a replay on YouTube. Very scary.

[Napoleon]

Yea - I heard that. That is the most positive comment I've heard thus far.

I guess that depends on how you look at it, but at the very least it means the doctors were not acting as if he was dead or some massive head injury or something.

[SurfaceUnits]

Chris Paff and other Visioneers are somewhere wanking off to this carnage. This is what Indycar racing is suppose to be about.

[pfc_m_drake]

Thoughts for Dan Wheldon. :(

[TKGAngel]

And Greg Moore's dad was at the track today. This has got to be so surreal for him.

[trish]

They just did a breaking news on Speed about a crash. I hope Dan will be ok.

[swift]

http://www.openwheelworld.net/photos/original/MtYqMqRy19629.jpg

holy ****

prayers for Dan W.

[trish]

Which car in the photo was Dan in?

[trish]

Driver's meeting? Is that normal after a red flag?

[Chitowncartfreak]

It's frustrating to hear the drivers say, "we need to talk to each other and not race each other so hard." Nope - they need to learn some lessons from Sir Jackie Stewart and be more vocal with the league and refuse to race "open wheel NASCAR." You can't expect drivers to back off - they are paid and trained to race hard. The solution is to not have the car inches away at 220mph in the first place.

[Trevor Longman]

I just noticed some eery similarities between this and Moores crash in 1999. Both Wheldon and Moore started in the back of the pack and worked their way forward before crashing on lap 10 in the last race of the season. Moore's dad was at the track today. It's all got to be rushing back to him now. :(

[Chitowncartfreak]

I just noticed some eery similarities between this and Moores crash in 1999. Both Wheldon and Moore started in the back of the pack and worked their way forward before crashing on lap 10 in the last race of the season. Moore's dad was at the track today. I'm not sure but it might be his 1st race back since 1999. This has all got to be rushing back to him now. :(

Oh, it has to be crushing for him. Also, Wheldon just announced he would be racing for a different team next year (Andretti Autosport) - very similar to how Greg was in his last race with his current team at Fontana.

[The Doctor]

Wheldon's not in the pic, but he is in this one...

http://www.openwheelworld.net/photos/original/FYJMpy8s19632.jpg

[FCYTravis]

The fact that they're showing replays is at least a slightly hopeful sign... usually, when they know someone's gone, they won't show the video.

Hoping for the best for Dan :(