The Foyt Futility Watch -- Freaky Friday Edition

[pchall]

Odd. IRL on a road course Sunday afternoon and Champ Car on a 1.5 mile oval on a Saturday night. It's almost as if the respective series have switched sanctioning bodies for the weekend. ;)

It's a bit early to start the FFW thread for this weekend, but this IRL website graphic representation of the elevation changes at Watkins Glen is a must see!

http://www.indycar.com/modules/glen/glen_vl.jpg

OMFG! They must think Watkins Glen is a roller coaster ride! :eek:

[devilmaster]

Please tell me they put a 'not-to scale' sign somewhere on that page....

oh yeah, the 1470' just before the esses looks closer to the ground than the 1460' at the turn in the boot....

Ya know, that would make a good coaster.... someone should call up cedar point....

[racer2c]

I rode that one at Six Flags in Indiana. It's called the Gomer Geehaw. Sucks though...no loopdee loops. :)

[Wabbit]

Neat graphic. I'd love to see something like that for some of the other natural road courses out there.

[pchall]

Please tell me they put a 'not-to scale' sign somewhere on that page....

Sorry, I can't do that for you. They seem to have some problems with proportion and perspective as well.

[Gangrel]

I rode that one at Six Flags in Indiana. It's called the Gomer Geehaw. Sucks though...no loopdee loops. :)

Nope, but the EARL may have some this weekend at the Glen....here's to them missing the stands, at least....

[Napoleon]

which course are they using?

[devilmaster]

some problems with proportion and perspective as well.

My last girlfriend said the same thing.

[Rocketdoc]

It just makes me sick at my stomach to have the phony IRL running at a venue with such a rich racing history.

It's something like watching someone trying to paint the Cistine Chapel, using numbers.

[coolhand]

that low point in the boot :eek:

wonder if those cars can chug out of that hole

[racer2c]

It just makes me sick at my stomach to have the phony IRL running at a venue with such a rich racing history.

It's something like watching someone trying to paint the Cistine Chapel, using numbers.

Bah, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. It's basically an oval with a couple of kinks thrown in. Nothing I would consider a proper road course.

[dando]

I can hear IV now:

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Crash.
"Ouch, Grandaddy."

:gomer:

-Kevin

[Opposite Lock]

Bah, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. It's basically an oval with a couple of kinks thrown in. Nothing I would consider a proper road course.

I understand you're a veteran, so I'm hopin' you just forgot the gomer smilie. I've heard people talk that "oval with kinks" smack about Lime Rock, but that's the first I've ever heard anyone try to pin that on The Glen. :saywhat: Sure, she needs some major modernization, and the ISC braintrust isn't going to do squat about it anytime soon, because at the very least that would require them removing their collective thumbs from that spot they seem to find so comfortable. But it's still a beautiful course in terms of layout and landscape, even if it's currently still too dangerous for pointy cars.

I'll admit a certain amount of home-region bias, as I grew up in the Finger Lakes area and still get back here with some regularity. I sat in the stands at the Esses (among other spots) for a race just a couple months back, and time-permitting might be back there this Friday for the Historics practice. (No, I will not be at any Earl sessions there, and plan to be back in Chicago before their futility unfurls.) If there is anything east of Road America that is exactly un-like an oval with kinks, my nomination would be this spot.

[rabbit]

http://www.indycar.com/modules/glen/glen_vl.jpg
Are you sure that is a map of the elevation changes at Watkins Glen? It looks like a chart of the history of The Vision.

[Opposite Lock]

Are you sure that is a map of the elevation changes at Watkins Glen? It looks like a chart of the history of The Vision.

too many high points. ;)

[Fio1]

AJ the 14th isn't actually racing at watkins Glen is he? Man, he'll eat it the first time thru the esses.... :rolleyes:

[Napoleon]

For comparison purposes,the lap record at Watkins Glen for an SCCA National Formula Atlantic is 1:46.17.

[pchall]

IRL Open Test times of interest from June 15th:

1 33 Briscoe, Ryan P/T/F 132.272 1:31.7200 :

9 26 Wheldon, Danica D/H/F 129.748 1:33.5043 :

11 6 Hornish Jr, Sam D/T/F 129.732 1:33.5162 :

17 16 Patrick, Danica P/H/F 127.587 1:35.0883 :

19 20 Carpenter, Ed D/T/F 123.799 1:37.9973 :

Mr. Ed, of course -- off course?-- was DFL

[dando]

I saw the whored out The Danicle on the Today Show this AM. I about hurled in my Wheaties. :gomer:

-Kevin

[EVL29]

too many high points. ;)


I'm thinkin' most of Tonys' Visions are the result of "high" points. :gomer:

[Steve99]

IRL Open Test times of interest from June 15th:

1 33 Briscoe, Ryan P/T/F 132.272 51 61 01 31.7200 :

9 26 Wheldon, Danica D/H/F 129.748 24 24 01 33.5043 :

11 6 Hornish Jr, Sam D/T/F 129.732 38 42 01 33.5162 :

17 16 Patrick, Danica P/H/F 127.587 40 52 01 35.0883 :

19 20 Carpenter, Ed D/T/F 123.799 34 39 01 37.9973 :

Mr. Ed, of course -- off course?-- was DFL
Is there a lap time there somewhere?

[Napoleon]

Is there a lap time there somewhere?

I assume, but would like confirmation that the sequence like this at the end of each line is the time "01 37.9973"

[Jervis Tetch 1]

...and there are those who still think Sam's a great road racer and the benefactor of bad luck. And there are those who actually think he can win. I hope it rains. Ole Sam the Sham will be wetting his pants trying to figure that one out.

[pchall]

I assume, but would like confirmation that the sequence like this at the end of each line is the time "01 37.9973"

Yes. The quick cut and paste from the IRL timing archives obviously needed editting for clarity.

[Gangrel]

too many high points. ;)

You're still thinking elevation....my vote is that it's a depth chart. :laugh:

[pchall]

You guys are good.

And evil.

Just think, it's still Thursday and they haven't even hit the track yet!

[oddlycalm]

Neat graphic. I'd love to see something like that for some of the other natural road courses out there. Yeah, so we can see the massive 1.5ft elevation changes at Portland... :gomer: Sorry, couldn't resist.

oc

[pkvracing12]

that low point in the boot :eek:

wonder if those cars can chug out of that hole
Probally going to blow alot of chevy's and toyotas lol :) mabee if all else fails they will trade champcar for lv becuase lets face it IRL on road courses is like watching a dog run with two legs

[oddlycalm]

But it's still a beautiful course in terms of layout and landscape, even if it's currently still too dangerous for pointy cars. My memories of the Glen go back to the 1963 USGP, so seeing an EARL race there on an ISC owned track is a high definition bad dream. I'd almost rather it was destroyed rather than revived only to become a charicature of what it once was.

oc

[pchall]

IRL Fogged in for Practice 1

Since crapwagons can only be piloted under VFR the first practice at Watkins Glen has been delayed.

More Futility as it occurs.

[pchall]

We have lift off! Well, practice has started.

I've had too much coffee this morning. Double espressos for breakfast are fun. :)

Well, its a wet practice. How many tubs will Cheep get totaled today?

[Don Quixote]

Lets hope that they can keep the wagons away from the armco. :shakehead

[pchall]

I'm racing in the rain/
Just racing in the rain/
What a glorious feeling/
I'm happy again.

I'm laughing at clouds/
So dark up above/
The sun's in my heart/
And I'm ready to win/
To win.

Let the stormy clouds chase/
Everyone from the place/
Come on with the rain/
I've a smile on my face/
I'll walk down Vic'try lane/
With a happy refrain.

Racing, racing in the rain/
In the rain.

-- Giorgio Pantano a capella over pit radio 9/23 at Watkins Glen

* with apologies to Gene Kelly and his song writers

[Don Quixote]

Question: How many double expressos does it take before pchall starts to compose lyrics? :laugh:

[Steve99]

Do the EARL teams know enough to put rain tires on?

[extramundane]

Does it always rain at The Glen when GARRA's in town?

[pchall]

Pos No Driver Name Best Time Best Speed Best Lap Total Laps
1 10 Giorgio Pantano 1:52.1348 108.191 14 15
2 11 Tony Kanaan 1:52.1655 108.162 10 10
3 83 Patrick Carpentier 1:52.9431 107.417 11 12
4 2 Tomas Enge 1:52.9862 107.376 10 20
5 27 Dario Franchitti 1:53.3935 106.990 9 11
6 3 Helio Castroneves 1:53.5966 106.799 14 15
7 17 Vitor Meira 1:54.0140 106.408 7 8
8 4 Tomas Scheckter 1:54.1446 106.286 10 13
9 6 Sam Hornish Jr. 1:54.3823 106.065 11 14
10 9 Scott Dixon 1:54.9540 105.538 15 25
11 26 Dan Wheldon 1:55.0462 105.453 10 10
12 55 Kosuke Matsuura 1:56.0096 104.578 7 12
13 51 Alex Barron 1:56.2118 104.396 14 14
14 15 Buddy Rice 1:56.6879 103.970 11 20
15 7 Bryan Herta 1:56.8659 103.811 7 10
16 24 Roger Yasukawa 1:58.8372 102.089 7 16
17 16 Danica Patrick 1:59.0041 101.946 5 11
18 8 Scott Sharp 2:0.2364 100.901 7 15
19 20 Ed Carpenter 2:7.4749 95.172 2 7

Jeff Bucknum in the Foyt entry apparently did not come out of the paddock. When asked for a comment and explanation, Ol' Sammich responded: "I'm melting! I'm melting!"

BTW, does anyone here know if prior to today Ms. Patrick has ever lapped in the rain? (no shower jokes necessary, folks... ;) )

[pchall]

doubled post

[FCYTravis]

Just think, it's still Friday and Foyt hasn't even hit the track yet!

From what I've heard around the media center, his crew doesn't have a clue why they weren't on track either. :eek: :rofl:

The team has pushed the car out on pit lane for afternoon practice...

Oh, and the Vision got even more expensive, as Carpenter doinked the wall in the first session.

[pchall]

The team has pushed the car out on pit lane for afternoon practice...

Foyt Racing with Jeff Bucknum have actually found their way out of the paddock and onto the track!

Fri Sep 23 2005 16:02:29 GMT-0400 (EDT)
IndyCar Series Practice 2 :: Full course yellow for cars off course in T6.

That is not a very nice place to go off course.

[pchall]

Practice 2 seems to have ended early after that contretemps in Turn 6.

Pos No Driver Name Best Time Best Speed Best Lap Total Laps
1 3 Helio Castroneves 1:32.8258 130.696 8 10
2 11 Tony Kanaan 1:32.8807 130.619 7 10
3 9 Scott Dixon 1:33.2028 130.168 15 17
4 26 Dan Wheldon 1:33.3773 129.925 9 14
5 27 Dario Franchitti 1:33.5874 129.633 7 12
6 10 Giorgio Pantano 1:33.9115 129.185 10 16
7 17 Vitor Meira 1:34.2962 128.658 9 14
8 83 Patrick Carpentier 1:34.4409 128.461 9 15
9 4 Tomas Scheckter 1:34.5685 128.288 11 14
10 7 Bryan Herta 1:34.8338 127.929 9 12
11 6 Sam Hornish Jr. 1:35.0806 127.597 12 13
12 15 Buddy Rice 1:35.6848 126.791 14 15
13 55 Kosuke Matsuura 1:35.7716 126.676 10 10
14 51 Alex Barron 1:35.8302 126.599 8 14
15 8 Scott Sharp 1:36.9269 125.166 11 13
16 24 Roger Yasukawa 1:37.3846 124.578 13 13
17 14 Jeff Bucknum 1:37.5206 124.404 11 14
18 16 Danica Patrick 1:38.8260 122.761 12 14
19 20 Ed Carpenter 1:42.0693 118.860 11 12
20 2 Tomas Enge 1:44.7542 115.814 1 2

[Napoleon]

So let me get this right, Enge is 1.5 sec off of an Atlantic time. Carpenter is closer to a fast Atlantic time then to the fast time in his own class.

[G.]

So let me get this right, Enge is 1.5 sec off of an Atlantic time. Carpenter is closer to a fast Atlantic time then to the fast time in his own class.
Enge did 2 laps, prolly only one under speed. Carpenter did 12. Let's give credit where it's due.

Credit: Ed is DFL.

[pchall]

Credit: Ed is DFL.

Danica wins the Next To DFL Pole! Oh, wait... this is only Practice 2.

Nevermind...

[Steve99]

Does it always rain at The Glen when GARRA's in town?
It can't rain at the Glen every weekend, can it?

[Steve99]

Sounds like Foty decided to stay home for the hurricane.
http://sports.excite.com/news/09232005/v9007.html

Another piece of that article seemed a bit confused:

Carpenter's Red Bull Cheever Racing No. 20 had minimal damage to the left front and right rear, but he finished next to last in the combined practice sessions. The best of the 19 laps he ran was 118.860 mph, well off the best lap of the day by Helio Castroneves - 130.696 mph.
unless Vision racing has merged with Underacheever.

[pchall]

You can see right between the three rows of Armco in some of the pictures!

javascript: popUp('medium.php?photo_id=21916&size=med&o=horizontal',670,720)

May the Norns weave a thread in their tapestry where a Dallara nose does not find those gaps. :shakehead

[pchall]

Practice 3

1 3 Helio Castroneves 1:30.6915 133.772 11 12
2 27 Dario Franchitti 1:31.1693 133.071 7 8
3 17 Vitor Meira 1:31.3169 132.856 8 9
4 9 Scott Dixon 1:31.3875 132.753 12 13
5 11 Tony Kanaan 1:31.4420 132.674 2 6
6 83 Patrick Carpentier 1:31.8153 132.135 6 9
7 10 Giorgio Pantano 1:31.8438 132.094 9 10
8 6 Sam Hornish Jr. 1:32.0457 131.804 10 11
9 4 Tomas Scheckter 1:32.3522 131.367 9 10
10 26 Dan Wheldon 1:32.8285 130.693 3 4
11 15 Buddy Rice 1:32.8869 130.610 12 14
12 55 Kosuke Matsuura 1:33.2467 130.106 10 11
13 51 Alex Barron 1:33.4568 129.814 5 6
14 2 Tomas Enge 1:33.5874 129.633 6 8
15 7 Bryan Herta 1:34.1698 128.831 8 9
16 16 Danica Patrick 1:34.4420 128.460 8 9
17 8 Scott Sharp 1:34.5986 128.247 9 10
18 24 Roger Yasukawa 1:34.8092 127.962 9 10
19 14 Jeff Bucknum 1:34.8347 127.928 7 11
20 20 Ed Carpenter 1:35.6284 126.866 10 11

Scott Sharp should retire before the green flag tomorrow.

[EDwardo]

Wow. Is that the new water slide for Disney World?

[pchall]

Wow. Is that the new water slide for Disney World?

Actually, it's the proposal for the new IRL Edition™ of "Chutes and Ladders". ;)

[dando]

You can see right between the three rows of Armco in some of the pictures!

javascript: popUp('medium.php?photo_id=21916&size=med&o=horizontal',670,720)

May the Norns weave a thread in their tapestry where a Dallara nose does not find those gaps. :shakehead
Ya need to right click on that image to get the proper URL for it. Dat JS linkage don't work. Ya must be short a coupla double espressos today. :gomer:

-Kevin

[pchall]

Ya need to right click on that image to get the proper URL for it. Dat JS linkage don't work. Ya must be short a coupla double espressos today. :gomer:


-Kevin

I donated today's caffeine overdose to the Danica Relief Fund, but it didn't help. :p

I drive a one button mouse.

[dando]

I drive a one button mouse.
Sorry about yer luck. ;)

EDIT: Here's the pic you wanted:

http://indycar.com/multimedia/build_photo.php?photo_id=21916&size=med

What size did you want to order? :gomer:

(That is by far the ugliest looking race car I have ever seen.)

-Kevin

[pchall]

Only in the IRL would a headline writer go for a limbo reference when it comes to lap times. :shakehead

Lowering the bar
Search More News:
IndyCar® Series News Search

Castroneves betters time in pre-qualifying practice

[pchall]

Quals:

16 Danica Patrick (16) 2.4550 1:33.8566 129.261 1 1:33.8566 129.261 1 P/H/F Pit
17 Roger Yasukawa (24) 3.1476 1:34.5492 128.314 1 1:34.5492 128.314 1 D/H/F Pit
18 Scott Sharp (8) 3.5078 1:34.9094 127.827 1 1:34.9094 127.827 1 P/H/F Pit
19 Jeff Bucknum (14) 4.0294 1:35.4310 127.129 1 1:35.4310 127.129 1 D/C/F Pit
20 Ed Carpenter (20) 6.4984 1:37.9000 123.922 1 1:37.9000 123.922 1 D/T/F Pit

[trish]

Good circuit for openwheel cars from what I've seen so far. Looks better than the NASCAR races.

[rabbit]

"Sprinkles on the track..."

This oughta be good. [evil grin]

[rabbit]

Bummer, no rain after all. :(

[dando]

Good circuit for openwheel cars from what I've seen so far. Looks better than the NASCAR races.
It is a good circuit. It's just not safe with the armco surrounding it.

-Kevin

[trish]

We'll see...

[dando]

We'll see...
All you hafta do is do a lil' research into the track's history. There's a reason it's been almost 20 years since OW cars have raced there. They have made improvements, but there is still way too much armco around the track. And believe me, I don't want to see anyone prove this to be true.

-Kevin

[pchall]

And the 16th place winner is...

Danica!!! :rofl:

[rabbit]

And the 16th place winner is...

Danica!!! :rofl:The 16th place winner is the 15th loser. :gomer:

[dando]

And the 16th place winner is...

Danica!!! :rofl:
Hey, that's just a good as 4th....from DFL. :gomer:

-Kevin

[TKGAngel]

And the 16th place winner is...

Danica!!! :rofl:

I was laughing at the fact that ABC showed the Target car in Victory Lane and gave all the hyperbole to Dixon for winning, and then cut to an interview with Danica for her ROTY win. Once again, the other drivers get hosed in favor of her.

[coolhand]

did anyone see shelio turn out into enge?

[trish]

Helio turned Enge out? :eek:

[Jervis Tetch 1]

As usual Hornish proved he couldn't "race" on a road course. He got his three-lap lead due to strategy from Pimpske and when everyone pitted.

Even Matsurra passed him! :rofl:

He should have finished 12th, not 7th, but thanks to Helio's stupid move and Patreek losing a gear, plus Sham would have finished behind Scheckter and Vitor.

But that's racing I guess. The gomers must love 7th and 16th place.

[coolhand]

danica hit the kill switch

[Steve99]

did anyone see shelio turn out into enge?
Saw the reply on SPEEDNews. Helio took a nasty hit into the ARMCO after that one, thank goodness for the HANS device.