What? There's a race this weekend? 2018.

[TravelGal]

Dixie!

https://media.giphy.com/media/it67HRbUHwjbq/giphy.gif

[stroker]

I broke down and watched the 5 min summary of the season finale on Youtube. The cars look similar and sound similar but it's Faux Cart. Just not the same. In fairness I don't know if that's me or reality but the bottom line is that I can't summon any interest in watching it any more.

[TravelGal]

I broke down and watched the 5 min summary of the season finale on Youtube. The cars look similar and sound similar but it's Faux Cart. Just not the same. In fairness I don't know if that's me or reality but the bottom line is that I can't summon any interest in watching it any more.

I watched the last several seasons because I was in the same room as TravelGuy and he wanted to watch the races. I had zero interest. This year, I watched to continue a tradition that was important to him. Then the oddest thing happened. I discovered that, oh, more than half the races were quite engaging. Not all. And certainly Snoroma is one of the least interesting. But quite a few of the others had some good racing and story lines. You're right, it's not CART. Nothing ever will be. But as an alternative, it's got my attention for next year. (Veach and O'Ward and can Dixie make it sixie?).

[Hard Driver]

I broke down and watched the 5 min summary of the season finale on Youtube. The cars look similar and sound similar but it's Faux Cart. Just not the same. In fairness I don't know if that's me or reality but the bottom line is that I can't summon any interest in watching it any more.

That is up to you. I hate Tony George to this day. But I guess I think that he was disgraced and driven out with the rest of the IRL. I prefer to look at it that CART ate the IRL from the inside out. First, look at the tracks, they now race classic road courses: Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and Road America. They also have the street courses, Long Beach, Toronto and St Pete. Next, look at the drivers. Alonso is cheered the way Mansell was. The series certainly still mentions American drivers, but embraces the foreigners too. Dixon from New Zealand just won, and people are pretty happy about it. Looking at the teams, they are all the CART teams: Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, Coyne, Rahal and Foyt. And finally looking at the cars, they are trying to be like the old CART day in many ways, but with updated safety and technology. Indycar also counts CART champions as Indycar Champions, with their names engraved on the Trophy. Seems to me, CART won.

Yes, the Hulman family still owns Indycar and the Indy 500 is still the jewel, so in that way, CART lost. And the races on ABC this year had horrible ex-IRL broadcasters Cheever and Goodyear. But going forward, it is all NBC with broadcasters including Paul Tracy. I mean if Mr. Crapwagon can move on, I can too, even if I still want to go to the Indy 500 wearing a "**** Tony George" T-Shirt.

The final product has been good this year. Most races were pretty good, exciting racing and decent amount of passing. Yea, it is a spec series. So a Honda/Chevy battle isn't the same as the old days. So in that way, it is just not the same. No Penske - Lola - Reynard battles.

[opinionated ow]

That is up to you. I hate Tony George to this day. But I guess I think that he was disgraced and driven out with the rest of the IRL. I prefer to look at it that CART ate the IRL from the inside out. First, look at the tracks, they now race classic road courses: Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and Road America. They also have the street courses, Long Beach, Toronto and St Pete. Next, look at the drivers. Alonso is cheered the way Mansell was. The series certainly still mentions American drivers, but embraces the foreigners too. Dixon from New Zealand just won, and people are pretty happy about it. Looking at the teams, they are all the CART teams: Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, Coyne, Rahal and Foyt. And finally looking at the cars, they are trying to be like the old CART day in many ways, but with updated safety and technology. Indycar also counts CART champions as Indycar Champions, with their names engraved on the Trophy. Seems to me, CART won.

Yes, the Hulman family still owns Indycar and the Indy 500 is still the jewel, so in that way, CART lost. And the races on ABC this year had horrible ex-IRL broadcasters Cheever and Goodyear. But going forward, it is all NBC with broadcasters including Paul Tracy. I mean if Mr. Crapwagon can move on, I can too, even if I still want to go to the Indy 500 wearing a "**** Tony George" T-Shirt.

The final product has been good this year. Most races were pretty good, exciting racing and decent amount of passing. Yea, it is a spec series. So a Honda/Chevy battle isn't the same as the old days. So in that way, it is just not the same. No Penske - Lola - Reynard battles.

This. Apart from Texas there isn't an original IRL race left other than the 500. if Richmond does come back in 2020 as Robin Miller believes that will probably be a good thing as that was one of the few IRL venues that wasn't truly awful. I believe Iowa would have ended up a CART venue if there had been no split anyway as Illinois is traditional openwheel country.

I thought the chance for it to happen had passed but Indy 500 is back as a bucket list event for me. No it's not the mega years of CART but as a recovering project in an era of shrinking demand it's surprisingly good. Crowds at the new events in Gateway and Portland can attest to that. Heck there was even growth at Pocono which is traditionally a terrible weekend because there is literally no support races.

[Gopeddle]

This. Apart from Texas there isn't an original IRL race left other than the 500. if Richmond does come back in 2020 as Robin Miller believes that will probably be a good thing as that was one of the few IRL venues that wasn't truly awful. I believe Iowa would have ended up a CART venue if there had been no split anyway as Illinois is traditional openwheel country.

I thought the chance for it to happen had passed but Indy 500 is back as a bucket list event for me. No it's not the mega years of CART but as a recovering project in an era of shrinking demand it's surprisingly good. Crowds at the new events in Gateway and Portland can attest to that. Heck there was even growth at Pocono which is traditionally a terrible weekend because there is literally no support races.

Now if they can only return to the Glenn and add Road Atlanta.

[TravelGal]

Now if they can only return to the Glenn and add Road Atlanta.

Anyone have an inside skinny as to whether it was only poor attendance (and therefore revenue) that kept them from returning after 2016? Continued infighting? Or?

[opinionated ow]

Anyone have an inside skinny as to whether it was only poor attendance (and therefore revenue) that kept them from returning after 2016? Continued infighting? Or?

I thought it was a date issue. I think Indycar wanted to pair up with IMSA in July but either IMSA or the track didn't want that. Robin Miller had something on it

[G.]

That is up to you. I hate Tony George to this day. But I guess I think that he was disgraced and driven out with the rest of the IRL. I prefer to look at it that CART ate the IRL from the inside out. First, look at the tracks, they now race classic road courses: Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and Road America. They also have the street courses, Long Beach, Toronto and St Pete. Next, look at the drivers. Alonso is cheered the way Mansell was. The series certainly still mentions American drivers, but embraces the foreigners too. Dixon from New Zealand just won, and people are pretty happy about it. Looking at the teams, they are all the CART teams: Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, Coyne, Rahal and Foyt. And finally looking at the cars, they are trying to be like the old CART day in many ways, but with updated safety and technology. Indycar also counts CART champions as Indycar Champions, with their names engraved on the Trophy. Seems to me, CART won.

Yes, the Hulman family still owns Indycar and the Indy 500 is still the jewel, so in that way, CART lost. And the races on ABC this year had horrible ex-IRL broadcasters Cheever and Goodyear. But going forward, it is all NBC with broadcasters including Paul Tracy. I mean if Mr. Crapwagon can move on, I can too, even if I still want to go to the Indy 500 wearing a "**** Tony George" T-Shirt.

The final product has been good this year. Most races were pretty good, exciting racing and decent amount of passing. Yea, it is a spec series. So a Honda/Chevy battle isn't the same as the old days. So in that way, it is just not the same. No Penske - Lola - Reynard battles.
I reluctantly agree with this.

We now have CART-lite, with significantly lower costs, and less equipment battles, and lower attendance. Much lower attendance.



Looking at NASCAR crowds, there is room for increasing nouveau-CART's attendance, but the Hulmans ain't gonna do it. The time will soon be right for grabbing the lost racing fans, but you need the right plan. Holding on for dear-life is not a plan.

[gjc2]

:( Indeed. "Physicians stress it could take weeks or months for the full effects of the injury to be known." Not good.

I read elsewhere that cards for Wickens, and (thoughtfully) messages of support for the team should be sent to: Schmidt Petersen Motorsports, Attn: Veronica Knowlton, 6803 Coffman Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

This is encouraging . . . https://racer.com/2018/09/22/wickens-posts-new-video-from-rehab/

[TravelGal]

This is encouraging . . . https://racer.com/2018/09/22/wickens-posts-new-video-from-rehab/

I saw that. I was elated. Then the devil on my shoulder wondered if the leg movement was his or from the machine. The main thing is that he can do it.

I'm wondering if Memo Gidley has contacted him? He also went through some of the worst recovery ever and raced again.

[JoeBob]

I saw that. I was elated. Then the devil on my shoulder wondered if the leg movement was his or from the machine. The main thing is that he can do it.

I'm wondering if Memo Gidley has contacted him? He also went through some of the worst recovery ever and raced again.

His hashtags on the video referenced electrodes. That leads me to believe that he is not moving them on his own. We have seen him move his elbows and fingers on his own. But not his shoulders.

[nissan gtp]

His hashtags on the video referenced electrodes. That leads me to believe that he is not moving them on his own. We have seen him move his elbows and fingers on his own. But not his shoulders.

And I would think the blue band is to hold his knees together. Not great. but it's early days, so hope for lots of progress.

[rabbit]

Wickens clarifies his injuries (https://racer.com/2018/10/25/wickens-clarifies-condition-the-reality-is-i-am-far-away-from-walking-on-my-own/)


"Did my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today,” the 2018 IndyCar Rookie of the Year wrote in an Instagram post. “My upper body is getting stronger and stronger and hopefully I’ll be able to do it unassisted soon. I’ve only been posting videos of the small movement in my legs, but the reality is I am far away from walking on my own."

[TKGAngel]

Wickens clarifies his injuries (https://racer.com/2018/10/25/wickens-clarifies-condition-the-reality-is-i-am-far-away-from-walking-on-my-own/)

And clarifies more tonight, specifically regarding how paralysis/paraplegic applies in his situation.

https://twitter.com/robertwickens/status/1055984325609447424

[opinionated ow]

And clarifies more tonight, specifically regarding how paralysis/paraplegic applies in his situation.

https://twitter.com/robertwickens/status/1055984325609447424

That's the bit that people just don't understand. Hopefully this explanation does the rounds. You have to love his positivity.