| Ferg | 03-24-2007 10:46 AM |
The Indycar thread
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Qualifying for the opening round at Homestead. :D
[QUOTE][B][U]Wheldon takes pole at Homestead
[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Saturday, March 24th 2007, 02:33 GMT
Dan Wheldon narrowly beat reigning champion Sam Hornish Jr. to pole position for the IRL Indycar Series season opener at Homestead.
The two drivers could only be split on a tie-break at the end of the 2006 season - and there was just 0.028 seconds between them at the end of Friday's qualifying session on a windy evening in Miami.
2005 champion Wheldon has won at Homestead for the past two seasons, but is already thinking more about regaining his title than winning Saturday night's race.
"Obviously (Homestead) seems to be a very good place for me, but in 2007 right now everybody has zero points and nobody's won the race yet," said Wheldon.
"I think it's going to be a very, very competitive race. We've just got to make sure that we focus on the job in hand.
"We lost the championship by (number of) victories last year. If the cards are dealt to us, I'll be driving very aggressively to try and win the race. If not, then we're going to have to settle for some points.
"I'm not going to let much slip. I really feel I let a championship slip last year and I'm not going to do that again."
Hornish Jr was slightly disappointed to miss out on pole.
"It's pretty close," he said. "Judging on how some other people picked up speed from practice to qualifying, we thought we were going to be close (to pole). We were hoping to have a little more in it.
"Team Penske's been doing a great job, they obviously brought us a great car. Not quite as fast as Dan right now, but we'll work on the set-up overnight and hopefully get everything right tomorrow."
Although 2006 title rivals Ganassi and Penske filled the front row again, the resurgent Andretti-Green Racing team stopped the 'red cars' from sweeping the top four, with AGR's Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti earning third to fifth places.
The result came as a pleasant surprise to the drivers, who had focused on race set-ups during afternoon practice and had no idea how their qualifying settings would perform.
"I'm surprised because we didn't even do a qualifying run earlier, we just worked on race stuff," said Franchitti.
"So thanks to my engineers back there because they kind of guessed it a little bit and it seems to be okay."
"Because it's so unrepresentative (of the night conditions) during the day, we didn't want to get ahead of ourselves and start making crazy changes," Andretti added. "So far, that's worked. Fortunately enough the car came back to me. We were definitely rolling the dice."
The team's new recruit fared less well, with Danica Patrick far from happy after qualifying only 14th.
Scott Dixon (Ganassi), Scott Sharp (Rahal) and Helio Castroneves (Penske) completed the top eight, ahead of impressive full-time returnees Sarah Fisher (Dreyer & Reinbold) and AJ Foyt IV (Vision Racing), who both outperformed their teammates.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 24.9438
2. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 24.9466 + 0.0028
3. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 25.0147 + 0.0709
4. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 25.0431 + 0.0993
5. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 25.1276 + 0.1838
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 25.1301 + 0.1863
7. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 25.1431 + 0.1993
8. Helio Castroneves Penske 25.1459 + 0.2021
9. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 25.1575 + 0.2137
10. AJ Foyt IV Vision 25.2160 + 0.2722
11. Vitor Meira Panther 25.2443 + 0.3005
12. Tomas Scheckter Vision 25.2651 + 0.3213
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 25.2707 + 0.3269
14. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 25.2848 + 0.3410
15. Ed Carpenter Vision 25.2975 + 0.3537
16. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 25.3240 + 0.3802
17. Darren Manning Foyt 25.4298 + 0.4860
18. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 25.4355 + 0.4917
19. Marty Roth Roth 25.5182 + 0.5744
20. Alex Barron Beck 25.7473 + 0.8035[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Wheldon takes pole at Homestead
[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Saturday, March 24th 2007, 02:33 GMT
Dan Wheldon narrowly beat reigning champion Sam Hornish Jr. to pole position for the IRL Indycar Series season opener at Homestead.
The two drivers could only be split on a tie-break at the end of the 2006 season - and there was just 0.028 seconds between them at the end of Friday's qualifying session on a windy evening in Miami.
2005 champion Wheldon has won at Homestead for the past two seasons, but is already thinking more about regaining his title than winning Saturday night's race.
"Obviously (Homestead) seems to be a very good place for me, but in 2007 right now everybody has zero points and nobody's won the race yet," said Wheldon.
"I think it's going to be a very, very competitive race. We've just got to make sure that we focus on the job in hand.
"We lost the championship by (number of) victories last year. If the cards are dealt to us, I'll be driving very aggressively to try and win the race. If not, then we're going to have to settle for some points.
"I'm not going to let much slip. I really feel I let a championship slip last year and I'm not going to do that again."
Hornish Jr was slightly disappointed to miss out on pole.
"It's pretty close," he said. "Judging on how some other people picked up speed from practice to qualifying, we thought we were going to be close (to pole). We were hoping to have a little more in it.
"Team Penske's been doing a great job, they obviously brought us a great car. Not quite as fast as Dan right now, but we'll work on the set-up overnight and hopefully get everything right tomorrow."
Although 2006 title rivals Ganassi and Penske filled the front row again, the resurgent Andretti-Green Racing team stopped the 'red cars' from sweeping the top four, with AGR's Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti earning third to fifth places.
The result came as a pleasant surprise to the drivers, who had focused on race set-ups during afternoon practice and had no idea how their qualifying settings would perform.
"I'm surprised because we didn't even do a qualifying run earlier, we just worked on race stuff," said Franchitti.
"So thanks to my engineers back there because they kind of guessed it a little bit and it seems to be okay."
"Because it's so unrepresentative (of the night conditions) during the day, we didn't want to get ahead of ourselves and start making crazy changes," Andretti added. "So far, that's worked. Fortunately enough the car came back to me. We were definitely rolling the dice."
The team's new recruit fared less well, with Danica Patrick far from happy after qualifying only 14th.
Scott Dixon (Ganassi), Scott Sharp (Rahal) and Helio Castroneves (Penske) completed the top eight, ahead of impressive full-time returnees Sarah Fisher (Dreyer & Reinbold) and AJ Foyt IV (Vision Racing), who both outperformed their teammates.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 24.9438
2. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 24.9466 + 0.0028
3. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 25.0147 + 0.0709
4. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 25.0431 + 0.0993
5. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 25.1276 + 0.1838
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 25.1301 + 0.1863
7. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 25.1431 + 0.1993
8. Helio Castroneves Penske 25.1459 + 0.2021
9. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 25.1575 + 0.2137
10. AJ Foyt IV Vision 25.2160 + 0.2722
11. Vitor Meira Panther 25.2443 + 0.3005
12. Tomas Scheckter Vision 25.2651 + 0.3213
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 25.2707 + 0.3269
14. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 25.2848 + 0.3410
15. Ed Carpenter Vision 25.2975 + 0.3537
16. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 25.3240 + 0.3802
17. Darren Manning Foyt 25.4298 + 0.4860
18. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 25.4355 + 0.4917
19. Marty Roth Roth 25.5182 + 0.5744
20. Alex Barron Beck 25.7473 + 0.8035[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 03-24-2007 04:19 PM |
Just heard in the Rolex race that Milka Duno is getting a Citgo backed drive in the 4th round of IRL.
She can barely drive a Daytona and I doubt she has any real exp. in ovals. I hope she does well but it look rough.
She can barely drive a Daytona and I doubt she has any real exp. in ovals. I hope she does well but it look rough.
| Ferg | 03-25-2007 12:02 AM |
She's doing a ten race program. Fischer confirmed she's doing the full series. That's three females in a top flight open wheel category. Very cool indeed. :D
[QUOTE][B][U]Wheldon takes another Miami win[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Sunday, March 25th 2007, 03:21 GMT
Dan Wheldon shrugged off rain interruptions and a fumbled pit stop to dominate the opening round of the IRL Indycar Series and clinch his third consecutive victory at Homestead.
A year ago Wheldon snatched the win with a last lap pass. This time he had no need for late heroics, instead cruising home six seconds clear of teammate Scott Dixon in a Ganassi one-two.
"We ended the season last year with a one-two in Chicago, and the guys worked hard over the winter and we're one-two again here to start off the season," said team boss Chip Ganassi. "I hope it's an omen for the season."
Defending champion Sam Hornish Jr had been Wheldon's main rival for the first half of the race. Wheldon and Hornish Jr fled from the field in unison when the green flag finally flew 45 minutes late following early evening rain. A light shower subsequently caused a ten-lap yellow half an hour into the race, but the weather then co-operated for the remainder of the night.
Wheldon and Hornish's lead over the battle for third grew to as much as 11 seconds during the longer periods of green flag racing, with the Penske Dallara-Honda shadowing the Ganassi example without ever mounting a concerted challenge.
Their dominance was threatened when both men had disastrous pit stops at half-distance.
Most of the field pitted during a prolonged caution prompted by Jeff Simmons spinning into the path of Kosuke Matsuura and AJ Foyt IV, sending all three heavily into the wall without injury. During the stops, Hornish stalled, while Wheldon lost even more time after an air hose became caught under his car.
Those delays moved Wheldon's teammate Scott Dixon into the lead, while Hornish and Wheldon fell back to seventh and ninth. Yet it took Wheldon just 10 laps to recover the lost ground and surge back into the lead.
"I have to put that one down to the engineering staff," said Wheldon. "Now that I've been at the team one year, everybody back at the shop has really tried to perfect the car to suit my style, and it did today.
"It looked dominant, but any time you've got Dixon or Hornish around you, it's going to be tough."
Hornish's progress was not quite as fast as Wheldon's, and by the time he reached third the two Ganassi cars were out of reach.
"We stalled in the pits and ended up losing the draft of Dan," said Hornish. "I could stay with him if I was there but as soon as we got that gap, I couldn't quite get there.
"It's unfortunate for the Team Penske crew, but I said we'd be happy if we came out of here with a top three finish tonight, and we did that."
Dixon managed to stick with Wheldon for a while, but after the final pit stops the Englishman was able to leave even his teammate behind.
"We just didn't have enough speed," Dixon admitted. "Dan was very good over the long runs. We'd get 10 laps from the end of a stint and we'd just get a bit loose and a bit low on grip, so it was a bit of a handful. But it's great to see the team with another one-two."
Behind Hornish, Vitor Meira impressed again by fending off Tony Kanaan for fourth place.
Meira had briefly challenged Dixon for the lead after Wheldon's pit delay, while Kanaan's fifth place - achieved despite losing ground initially after adopting an out-of-sequence pit strategy - was the high point of Andretti-Green Racing's difficult night.
Dario Franchitti ran in the top three for a period before losing ground in heavy traffic. He recovered to seventh, but the team's other two cars both retired.
Marco Andretti quickly fell to the rear of the pack with serious and perplexing handling difficulties, eventually retiring after a series of pit stops failed to cure the problem.
"My engineer thinks we just messed up on set-up, but I swear there's something broken on the car," said Andretti.
Danica Patrick ran with the backmarkers at first but made good progress in the middle of the race. Despite being penalised for hitting one of Franchitti's tyres during a pit stop, she made it into the top ten before crashing in the pit entry while attempting to take her final service.
Rahal-Letterman were also out of luck. Scott Sharp and Simmons were put to the back of the grid for rear wing infractions in qualifying, and both were off the pace in the race.
Darren Manning retired after brushing the wall in the closing stages, while Alex Barron's comeback lasted just six laps before fuel pressure problems struck - although he later rejoined to get more mileage.
Apart from the dominant Wheldon, Ed Carpenter must be considered one of the stars of the race. Carpenter and Vision Racing teammate Tomas Scheckter rapidly moved from the midfield to the top ten early on, with the American getting as high as second at half-distance before eventually slipping to sixth, between the AGR cars.
Scheckter took eighth, ahead of the unwell and subdued Helio Castroneves, and the Dreyer & Reinbold pair.
Results:
Pos Driver Team Laps/gap
1. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 200 laps
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 6.4993
3. Sam Hornish Jr Penske + 17.4754
4. Vitor Meira Panther + 22.5373
5. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green + 23.1179
6. Ed Carpenter Vision + 1 lap
7. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green + 1 lap
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision + 1 lap
9. Helio Castroneves Penske + 1 lap
10. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
11. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold + 5 laps
12. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman + 6 laps
13. Darren Manning Foyt + 42 laps
14. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green + 46 laps
15. Marty Roth Roth + 81 laps
16. Kosuke Matsuura Panther + 108 laps
17. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman + 110 laps
18. AJ Foyt IV Vision + 110 laps
19. Alex Barron Beck + 114 laps
20. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green + 147 laps[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Wheldon takes another Miami win[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Sunday, March 25th 2007, 03:21 GMT
Dan Wheldon shrugged off rain interruptions and a fumbled pit stop to dominate the opening round of the IRL Indycar Series and clinch his third consecutive victory at Homestead.
A year ago Wheldon snatched the win with a last lap pass. This time he had no need for late heroics, instead cruising home six seconds clear of teammate Scott Dixon in a Ganassi one-two.
"We ended the season last year with a one-two in Chicago, and the guys worked hard over the winter and we're one-two again here to start off the season," said team boss Chip Ganassi. "I hope it's an omen for the season."
Defending champion Sam Hornish Jr had been Wheldon's main rival for the first half of the race. Wheldon and Hornish Jr fled from the field in unison when the green flag finally flew 45 minutes late following early evening rain. A light shower subsequently caused a ten-lap yellow half an hour into the race, but the weather then co-operated for the remainder of the night.
Wheldon and Hornish's lead over the battle for third grew to as much as 11 seconds during the longer periods of green flag racing, with the Penske Dallara-Honda shadowing the Ganassi example without ever mounting a concerted challenge.
Their dominance was threatened when both men had disastrous pit stops at half-distance.
Most of the field pitted during a prolonged caution prompted by Jeff Simmons spinning into the path of Kosuke Matsuura and AJ Foyt IV, sending all three heavily into the wall without injury. During the stops, Hornish stalled, while Wheldon lost even more time after an air hose became caught under his car.
Those delays moved Wheldon's teammate Scott Dixon into the lead, while Hornish and Wheldon fell back to seventh and ninth. Yet it took Wheldon just 10 laps to recover the lost ground and surge back into the lead.
"I have to put that one down to the engineering staff," said Wheldon. "Now that I've been at the team one year, everybody back at the shop has really tried to perfect the car to suit my style, and it did today.
"It looked dominant, but any time you've got Dixon or Hornish around you, it's going to be tough."
Hornish's progress was not quite as fast as Wheldon's, and by the time he reached third the two Ganassi cars were out of reach.
"We stalled in the pits and ended up losing the draft of Dan," said Hornish. "I could stay with him if I was there but as soon as we got that gap, I couldn't quite get there.
"It's unfortunate for the Team Penske crew, but I said we'd be happy if we came out of here with a top three finish tonight, and we did that."
Dixon managed to stick with Wheldon for a while, but after the final pit stops the Englishman was able to leave even his teammate behind.
"We just didn't have enough speed," Dixon admitted. "Dan was very good over the long runs. We'd get 10 laps from the end of a stint and we'd just get a bit loose and a bit low on grip, so it was a bit of a handful. But it's great to see the team with another one-two."
Behind Hornish, Vitor Meira impressed again by fending off Tony Kanaan for fourth place.
Meira had briefly challenged Dixon for the lead after Wheldon's pit delay, while Kanaan's fifth place - achieved despite losing ground initially after adopting an out-of-sequence pit strategy - was the high point of Andretti-Green Racing's difficult night.
Dario Franchitti ran in the top three for a period before losing ground in heavy traffic. He recovered to seventh, but the team's other two cars both retired.
Marco Andretti quickly fell to the rear of the pack with serious and perplexing handling difficulties, eventually retiring after a series of pit stops failed to cure the problem.
"My engineer thinks we just messed up on set-up, but I swear there's something broken on the car," said Andretti.
Danica Patrick ran with the backmarkers at first but made good progress in the middle of the race. Despite being penalised for hitting one of Franchitti's tyres during a pit stop, she made it into the top ten before crashing in the pit entry while attempting to take her final service.
Rahal-Letterman were also out of luck. Scott Sharp and Simmons were put to the back of the grid for rear wing infractions in qualifying, and both were off the pace in the race.
Darren Manning retired after brushing the wall in the closing stages, while Alex Barron's comeback lasted just six laps before fuel pressure problems struck - although he later rejoined to get more mileage.
Apart from the dominant Wheldon, Ed Carpenter must be considered one of the stars of the race. Carpenter and Vision Racing teammate Tomas Scheckter rapidly moved from the midfield to the top ten early on, with the American getting as high as second at half-distance before eventually slipping to sixth, between the AGR cars.
Scheckter took eighth, ahead of the unwell and subdued Helio Castroneves, and the Dreyer & Reinbold pair.
Results:
Pos Driver Team Laps/gap
1. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 200 laps
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 6.4993
3. Sam Hornish Jr Penske + 17.4754
4. Vitor Meira Panther + 22.5373
5. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green + 23.1179
6. Ed Carpenter Vision + 1 lap
7. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green + 1 lap
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision + 1 lap
9. Helio Castroneves Penske + 1 lap
10. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
11. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold + 5 laps
12. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman + 6 laps
13. Darren Manning Foyt + 42 laps
14. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green + 46 laps
15. Marty Roth Roth + 81 laps
16. Kosuke Matsuura Panther + 108 laps
17. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman + 110 laps
18. AJ Foyt IV Vision + 110 laps
19. Alex Barron Beck + 114 laps
20. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green + 147 laps[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-30-2007 07:42 PM |
Friday practice times from St. Pete...
[QUOTE][B][U]Castroneves tops Friday practice[/U][/B]
By Jeff Olson Friday, March 30th 2007, 22:34 GMT
Helio Castroneves had the fastest lap of the day during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg.
Penske driver Castroneves was recorded at 1:01.6016 (105.192 mph) late in today's second session. That was enough to top Kanaan's lap of 1:01.6892, which had stood for most of practice.
Others near the top of the speed chart included Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Marco Andretti, Dan Wheldon, Kosuke Matsuura and Sam Hornish Jr.
Friday practice times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 1:01.6016
2. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 1:01.6892 + 0.0876
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1:01.8767 + 0.2751
4. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 1:02.0060 + 0.4044
5. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 1:02.5648 + 0.9632
6. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 1:02.6648 + 1.0632
7. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 1:02.7769 + 1.1753
8. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 1:02.7824 + 1.1808
9. Tomas Scheckter Vision 1:02.7835 + 1.1819
10. Darren Manning Foyt 1:02.8449 + 1.2433
11. Vitor Meira Panther 1:02.9049 + 1.3033
12. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 1:03.0078 + 1.4062
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 1:03.7456 + 2.1440
14. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 1:04.0690 + 2.4674
15. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 1:04.2465 + 2.6449
16. A J Foyt IV Vision 1:04.7126 + 3.1110
17. Ed Carpenter Vision 1:04.7866 + 3.1850
18. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 1:06.8229 + 5.2213 [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Castroneves tops Friday practice[/U][/B]
By Jeff Olson Friday, March 30th 2007, 22:34 GMT
Helio Castroneves had the fastest lap of the day during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg.
Penske driver Castroneves was recorded at 1:01.6016 (105.192 mph) late in today's second session. That was enough to top Kanaan's lap of 1:01.6892, which had stood for most of practice.
Others near the top of the speed chart included Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Marco Andretti, Dan Wheldon, Kosuke Matsuura and Sam Hornish Jr.
Friday practice times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 1:01.6016
2. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 1:01.6892 + 0.0876
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1:01.8767 + 0.2751
4. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 1:02.0060 + 0.4044
5. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 1:02.5648 + 0.9632
6. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 1:02.6648 + 1.0632
7. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 1:02.7769 + 1.1753
8. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 1:02.7824 + 1.1808
9. Tomas Scheckter Vision 1:02.7835 + 1.1819
10. Darren Manning Foyt 1:02.8449 + 1.2433
11. Vitor Meira Panther 1:02.9049 + 1.3033
12. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 1:03.0078 + 1.4062
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 1:03.7456 + 2.1440
14. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 1:04.0690 + 2.4674
15. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 1:04.2465 + 2.6449
16. A J Foyt IV Vision 1:04.7126 + 3.1110
17. Ed Carpenter Vision 1:04.7866 + 3.1850
18. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 1:06.8229 + 5.2213 [/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 03-30-2007 07:56 PM |
The field looks about how I'd expect it to. Sarah needs to find the pace. Quickly!
There was an interesting thing in the Autosport podcast today. They suggested that IRL and Champ car unite (nothing new there) but they run 6 ovals, 6 road courses and 6 street courses. The thought of that got my blood pumping.
There was an interesting thing in the Autosport podcast today. They suggested that IRL and Champ car unite (nothing new there) but they run 6 ovals, 6 road courses and 6 street courses. The thought of that got my blood pumping.
| wvallwheeldrive | 03-30-2007 08:20 PM |
That still only 18 races in a year.
| Ferg | 03-31-2007 11:18 AM |
[QUOTE=artkevin;17547529]The field looks about how I'd expect it to. Sarah needs to find the pace. Quickly!
There was an interesting thing in the Autosport podcast today. They suggested that IRL and Champ car unite (nothing new there) but they run 6 ovals, 6 road courses and 6 street courses. The thought of that got my blood pumping.[/QUOTE]
I just finished up listening to that and they pretty much nailed it.
What would you pick for your six each Kevin?
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Portland (only because it's close)
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Homestead
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
another short oval...Chicagoland maybe.
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Las Vegas
Toronto
and then two more...
There was an interesting thing in the Autosport podcast today. They suggested that IRL and Champ car unite (nothing new there) but they run 6 ovals, 6 road courses and 6 street courses. The thought of that got my blood pumping.[/QUOTE]
I just finished up listening to that and they pretty much nailed it.
What would you pick for your six each Kevin?
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Portland (only because it's close)
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Homestead
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
another short oval...Chicagoland maybe.
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Las Vegas
Toronto
and then two more...
| artkevin | 03-31-2007 11:40 AM |
Pretty much the same for me...
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Mid Ohio
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Homestead
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Las Vegas
Toronto
Surfers
Houston (cause its close)
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Mid Ohio
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Homestead
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Las Vegas
Toronto
Surfers
Houston (cause its close)
| Jonathan | 03-31-2007 04:00 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg;17474381]She's doing a ten race program. Fischer confirmed she's doing the full series. That's three females in a top flight open wheel category. Very cool indeed. :D[/QUOTE]You seem to be forgetting about [b]Katherine Legge[/b]. While I dunno anything Milka Duno, I think its fairly obvious that Ms. Legge can outdrive both Danica and Sarah.
As far as merging IRL and Championship cars into one big happy series, I don't think its such a good idea. I think it would be best if they just made IRL in to a feeder series for the real racers in Championship racing, leaving Tony George to mess with his toy racers to his hearts content with out messing up / polluting the real racing that happens with the Champ cars.
As far as merging IRL and Championship cars into one big happy series, I don't think its such a good idea. I think it would be best if they just made IRL in to a feeder series for the real racers in Championship racing, leaving Tony George to mess with his toy racers to his hearts content with out messing up / polluting the real racing that happens with the Champ cars.
| artkevin | 03-31-2007 04:56 PM |
I think Ms. Legge is by far the most talented in raw pace out of the 4. Followed by Danica, Sarah and then way way behind Milka. Katherine has the driving style that I love to see. Aggresive and she knows how to pass. The 1st Atlantic race I saw her in she reminded me a lot of JPM.
Milka = very little talent and A LOT of backing from Citgo. She won''t be the 1st driver to get a leg up from cash and she certainly won't be the last either.
Milka = very little talent and A LOT of backing from Citgo. She won''t be the 1st driver to get a leg up from cash and she certainly won't be the last either.
| Ferg | 03-31-2007 05:08 PM |
[QUOTE=Jonathan;17553973]You seem to be forgetting about [b]Katherine Legge[/b]. While I dunno anything Milka Duno, I think its fairly obvious that Ms. Legge can outdrive both Danica and Sarah.
As far as merging IRL and Championship cars into one big happy series, I don't think its such a good idea. I think it would be best if they just made IRL in to a feeder series for the real racers in Championship racing, leaving Tony George to mess with his toy racers to his hearts content with out messing up / polluting the real racing that happens with the Champ cars.[/QUOTE]
I haven't forgotten about Katherine at all, but she's the lone female in Champ Car. My comment was about the fact that at a handful of races this year the IRL will have three women competing. That's an unprecedented thing in a top level racing series.
Sadly Katherine doesn't yet have a firm deal to race in Champ Cars yet. Maybe she'll get in with DCR, but as is always the case these days with open wheels in America, there's just not enough sponsorship money to go around.
As for the rest of comments about "real racers". Honestly there's not much difference between the IRL and Champ Car any longer. Both are basically spec series made up of gutted teams begging for sponsors racing what can only be described as neutered schedules.
The IRL has three road course events and Champ Car no ovals and far too many middling point and squirt street "circuits"...pathetic all around.
You can't have a real American open wheel series without including all three types of tracks, all the top teams, and the best drivers. Until the parties involved get over themselves and join forces all we race fans are left with is two sad, half hearted series to follow. It's ****ing pathetic is what it is.
On a brighter note....
[QUOTE][B][U]Castroneves handed St. Pete pole[/U][/B]
By Jeff Olson Saturday, March 31st 2007, 19:21 GMT
Road and street course specialist Helio Castroneves captured a widely-expected pole position for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
But the session also provided several shocks, with fastest qualifier Tony Kanaan crashing, Darren Manning putting A.J. Foyt's car fifth on the grid, and championship leader Dan Wheldon struggling to 14th.
Castroneves turned a record lap of 1:01.6839 - 105.052 mph - in the No. 3 Team Penske entry, just 0.05 seconds better than Andretti-Green Racing's Marco Andretti.
Andretti's teammate Dario Franchitti will start third, alongside Target Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon.
But the buzz after qualifying surrounded Manning's fifth place - the highest starting position for a Foyt car in six years.
"I owe a big thanks to A.J. for picking up the phone when I was back in a pub in England," said Manning, who returned to the IRL IndyCar Series this season after being fired by Chip Ganassi halfway through 2005.
"It looked like I was going to have to make a switch of category from single-seaters. I wasn't looking forward to riding around with a roof over my head for the rest of my career."
Kanaan crashed while leading the 'Fast Six' portion of the qualifying session and was relegated to sixth on the grid. Had his AGR crew not been able to repair the heavily damaged machine, Kanaan would have started 18th.
"I was understeering into that corner the lap before," Kanaan said.
"I went in, turned a little earlier, and this time the tyres were a little hotter and the car gripped. I clipped the inside wall and unfortunately hit the outside wall. It was my mistake and it's too bad for Team 7-Eleven because I don't think anyone was going to beat the time we posted."
That allowed Castroneves to claim a record-extending 17th IRL career pole. But even he showed some concern for Kanaan and Wheldon, who are expected to stalk the leaders.
"I remember last year I started way back, and I was able to make some passes," Castroneves said. "It certainly creates a blip on the radar for them.
"I think they'll try everything to try to make sure they can improve their positions. I'm just going to be conservative and consistent and be there at the end."
Andretti, whose rookie year in 2006 included a road-course victory at Infineon Raceway, said he was continuing to learn from his AGR teammates.
"The last thing I want to do is get a big head," Andretti said. "As soon as that happens, you fall on your face. I'm still trying to be half as good as those guys.
"I'll be learning until the end of my career, but last year and the beginning of this year, I'm still learning. I wouldn't say I'm the best AGR driver yet."
Following Castroneves, Andretti, Franchitti, Dixon, Manning and Kanaan will be Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske), Tomas Scheckter (Vision Racing), and Panther Racing teammates Vitor Meira and Kosuke Matsuura.
Wheldon, who dominated last week's IRL opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will start near the back after a disappointing run in a back-up car. His primary car lost its rear wing and crashed during practice.
"I made a big, big mistake coming off the backstretch," Wheldon said. "It cost me a lot of time. It's disappointing, especially after going off course earlier."
Kanaan's mistake proved less costly, and he believes that he can still be a major factor in the race from row three.
"I have five cars to pass tomorrow, so we'll see," Kanaan said. "Trust me, there are going to be a lot of people thinking about me tonight."
Qualifying positions:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 1:01.6839
2. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 1:01.7317
3. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 1:01.8775
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1:01.9791
5. Darren Manning AJ Foyt 1:02.4491
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 1:01.5955
7. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 1:02.6935
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision 1:03.3343
9. Vitor Meira Panther 1:03.4749
10. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 1:03.5381
11. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 1:03.5912
12. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 1:03.6280
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 1:03.7117
14. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 1:03.8923
15. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 1:04.2959
16. Ed Carpenter Vision 1:04.4539
17. AJ Foyt IV Vision 1:04.5802
18. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 1:06.6541
[/QUOTE]
As far as merging IRL and Championship cars into one big happy series, I don't think its such a good idea. I think it would be best if they just made IRL in to a feeder series for the real racers in Championship racing, leaving Tony George to mess with his toy racers to his hearts content with out messing up / polluting the real racing that happens with the Champ cars.[/QUOTE]
I haven't forgotten about Katherine at all, but she's the lone female in Champ Car. My comment was about the fact that at a handful of races this year the IRL will have three women competing. That's an unprecedented thing in a top level racing series.
Sadly Katherine doesn't yet have a firm deal to race in Champ Cars yet. Maybe she'll get in with DCR, but as is always the case these days with open wheels in America, there's just not enough sponsorship money to go around.
As for the rest of comments about "real racers". Honestly there's not much difference between the IRL and Champ Car any longer. Both are basically spec series made up of gutted teams begging for sponsors racing what can only be described as neutered schedules.
The IRL has three road course events and Champ Car no ovals and far too many middling point and squirt street "circuits"...pathetic all around.
You can't have a real American open wheel series without including all three types of tracks, all the top teams, and the best drivers. Until the parties involved get over themselves and join forces all we race fans are left with is two sad, half hearted series to follow. It's ****ing pathetic is what it is.
On a brighter note....
[QUOTE][B][U]Castroneves handed St. Pete pole[/U][/B]
By Jeff Olson Saturday, March 31st 2007, 19:21 GMT
Road and street course specialist Helio Castroneves captured a widely-expected pole position for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
But the session also provided several shocks, with fastest qualifier Tony Kanaan crashing, Darren Manning putting A.J. Foyt's car fifth on the grid, and championship leader Dan Wheldon struggling to 14th.
Castroneves turned a record lap of 1:01.6839 - 105.052 mph - in the No. 3 Team Penske entry, just 0.05 seconds better than Andretti-Green Racing's Marco Andretti.
Andretti's teammate Dario Franchitti will start third, alongside Target Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon.
But the buzz after qualifying surrounded Manning's fifth place - the highest starting position for a Foyt car in six years.
"I owe a big thanks to A.J. for picking up the phone when I was back in a pub in England," said Manning, who returned to the IRL IndyCar Series this season after being fired by Chip Ganassi halfway through 2005.
"It looked like I was going to have to make a switch of category from single-seaters. I wasn't looking forward to riding around with a roof over my head for the rest of my career."
Kanaan crashed while leading the 'Fast Six' portion of the qualifying session and was relegated to sixth on the grid. Had his AGR crew not been able to repair the heavily damaged machine, Kanaan would have started 18th.
"I was understeering into that corner the lap before," Kanaan said.
"I went in, turned a little earlier, and this time the tyres were a little hotter and the car gripped. I clipped the inside wall and unfortunately hit the outside wall. It was my mistake and it's too bad for Team 7-Eleven because I don't think anyone was going to beat the time we posted."
That allowed Castroneves to claim a record-extending 17th IRL career pole. But even he showed some concern for Kanaan and Wheldon, who are expected to stalk the leaders.
"I remember last year I started way back, and I was able to make some passes," Castroneves said. "It certainly creates a blip on the radar for them.
"I think they'll try everything to try to make sure they can improve their positions. I'm just going to be conservative and consistent and be there at the end."
Andretti, whose rookie year in 2006 included a road-course victory at Infineon Raceway, said he was continuing to learn from his AGR teammates.
"The last thing I want to do is get a big head," Andretti said. "As soon as that happens, you fall on your face. I'm still trying to be half as good as those guys.
"I'll be learning until the end of my career, but last year and the beginning of this year, I'm still learning. I wouldn't say I'm the best AGR driver yet."
Following Castroneves, Andretti, Franchitti, Dixon, Manning and Kanaan will be Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske), Tomas Scheckter (Vision Racing), and Panther Racing teammates Vitor Meira and Kosuke Matsuura.
Wheldon, who dominated last week's IRL opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will start near the back after a disappointing run in a back-up car. His primary car lost its rear wing and crashed during practice.
"I made a big, big mistake coming off the backstretch," Wheldon said. "It cost me a lot of time. It's disappointing, especially after going off course earlier."
Kanaan's mistake proved less costly, and he believes that he can still be a major factor in the race from row three.
"I have five cars to pass tomorrow, so we'll see," Kanaan said. "Trust me, there are going to be a lot of people thinking about me tonight."
Qualifying positions:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 1:01.6839
2. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 1:01.7317
3. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 1:01.8775
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1:01.9791
5. Darren Manning AJ Foyt 1:02.4491
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 1:01.5955
7. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 1:02.6935
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision 1:03.3343
9. Vitor Meira Panther 1:03.4749
10. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 1:03.5381
11. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 1:03.5912
12. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 1:03.6280
13. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 1:03.7117
14. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 1:03.8923
15. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 1:04.2959
16. Ed Carpenter Vision 1:04.4539
17. AJ Foyt IV Vision 1:04.5802
18. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 1:06.6541
[/QUOTE]
| dcpatters | 03-31-2007 05:32 PM |
[quote=artkevin;17552293]
Oval...
Homestead
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
[/quote]
Great oval tracks in my opinion.
Oval...
Homestead
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
[/quote]
Great oval tracks in my opinion.
| wvallwheeldrive | 03-31-2007 05:55 PM |
Pretty much the same for me...
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Mid Ohio
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Richmond(a really short oval)
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Denver
Toronto
Surfers
Houston (cause its close)
Road...
Road America
Laguna Seca
Watkins Glen
Mid Ohio
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Oval...
Indy
Texas
Richmond(a really short oval)
Motegi
Fontana (or Michigan)
Talladega (why not?)
Street...
Long Beach
St. Petersburg
Denver
Toronto
Surfers
Houston (cause its close)
| Jonathan | 03-31-2007 07:44 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin;17554400]I think Ms. Legge is by far the most talented in raw pace out of the 4. Followed by Danica, Sarah and then way way behind Milka. Katherine has the driving style that I love to see. Aggresive and she knows how to pass. The 1st Atlantic race I saw her in she reminded me a lot of JPM.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Ferg;17554466]I haven't forgotten about Katherine at all, but she's the lone female in Champ Car. My comment was about the fact that at a handful of races this year the IRL will have three women competing. That's an unprecedented thing in a top level racing series.
Sadly Katherine doesn't yet have a firm deal to race in Champ Cars yet. Maybe she'll get in with DCR, but as is always the case these days with open wheels in America, there's just not enough sponsorship money to go around.[/quote]
From Katherine's web site:[quote]Legge close to deal.
Katherine Legge is hopeful that her participation in the 2007 Champ Car World Series can be made public shortly, following a third test with Dale Coyne Racing this weekend.
The Briton, who was reported as having signed with Coyne's team earlier in the weekend, insists that a deal to race again this season is close, but not yet 100 per cent confirmed. However, having got to know the operation, the 26-year admits that DCR is a possible destination for the coming campaign.
"I have done three tests now with Dale, and really like his team," she told Crash.net, "I am hopeful that something will be signed soon, although the final decision still rests with Kevin [Kalkhoven]."[/quote]At this point, it looks almost certain that she is going to be racing for Dale Coyne Racing. Kevin Kalkhoven has the funds and the influence to pull what ever strings need to be pulled to place her where ever he feels she needs to be placed. If she doesnt sign with DCR, it will be because Kevin found her a better team. No ?
[QUOTE=Ferg;17554466]I haven't forgotten about Katherine at all, but she's the lone female in Champ Car. My comment was about the fact that at a handful of races this year the IRL will have three women competing. That's an unprecedented thing in a top level racing series.
Sadly Katherine doesn't yet have a firm deal to race in Champ Cars yet. Maybe she'll get in with DCR, but as is always the case these days with open wheels in America, there's just not enough sponsorship money to go around.[/quote]
From Katherine's web site:[quote]Legge close to deal.
Katherine Legge is hopeful that her participation in the 2007 Champ Car World Series can be made public shortly, following a third test with Dale Coyne Racing this weekend.
The Briton, who was reported as having signed with Coyne's team earlier in the weekend, insists that a deal to race again this season is close, but not yet 100 per cent confirmed. However, having got to know the operation, the 26-year admits that DCR is a possible destination for the coming campaign.
"I have done three tests now with Dale, and really like his team," she told Crash.net, "I am hopeful that something will be signed soon, although the final decision still rests with Kevin [Kalkhoven]."[/quote]At this point, it looks almost certain that she is going to be racing for Dale Coyne Racing. Kevin Kalkhoven has the funds and the influence to pull what ever strings need to be pulled to place her where ever he feels she needs to be placed. If she doesnt sign with DCR, it will be because Kevin found her a better team. No ?
| Ferg | 03-31-2007 08:13 PM |
[QUOTE=Jonathan;17555526]From Katherine's web site:At this point, it looks almost certain that she is going to be racing for Dale Coyne Racing. Kevin Kalkhoven has the funds and the influence to pull what ever strings need to be pulled to place her where ever he feels she needs to be placed. If she doesnt sign with DCR, it will be because Kevin found her a better team. No ?[/QUOTE]
Maybe, but which one? DCR would have to put her in a third car as would any other team. Most of them seem to be hurting to even get two cars on the grid. Even Newman-Haas couldn't come up with the extra sponsorship to give Bruno a ride.
I think we're on the same side really. I've been a big supporter of Katherine's since her days in Europe, I think she's very talented. I hope she does land a good seat in Champ Car, lord knows the series needs every driver it can get.
The problem is that with two open-wheeled series competing for dollars and fans in a country obsessed with everything NASCAR, nobody is going to win. Not the IRL, not Champ Car. All they're doing by staying apart is slowly killing off what's left of a fine open wheeled tradition in this country.
Try to imagine a unified open wheeled series in this country. Teams like Penske, Newman-Hass, Andrett-Green, Ganassi, Forsythe, Rusport (sorry, RS Racing), Rahal-Letterman, Panther, whoever... Imagine drivers like Marco, Kanaan, Hornish, Franchitti, Tracy (even though I loathe PT), Bourdais (even though he'll be in a Toro Rosso this time next year), Rahal, Legge, Patrick, Fischer, Duno (that's four chicks!), Wilson, Castroneves, Dixon, Weldon, and Scheckter. Now put it all together with a decent chassis and engine formula at tracks like Fontana, Long Beach, Texas, Indy, Road America, Mid Ohio, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Homestead, Motegi...
Throw in some decent sponsors, a good TV package without Derek Daily anywhere near a microphone...Call it Indy Car, or Champ Car, or Indy Champ Car for all I care.
Think about it, picture it in your head. Now take a long hard look at what we have now...
It's ****ing pathetic.
Maybe, but which one? DCR would have to put her in a third car as would any other team. Most of them seem to be hurting to even get two cars on the grid. Even Newman-Haas couldn't come up with the extra sponsorship to give Bruno a ride.
I think we're on the same side really. I've been a big supporter of Katherine's since her days in Europe, I think she's very talented. I hope she does land a good seat in Champ Car, lord knows the series needs every driver it can get.
The problem is that with two open-wheeled series competing for dollars and fans in a country obsessed with everything NASCAR, nobody is going to win. Not the IRL, not Champ Car. All they're doing by staying apart is slowly killing off what's left of a fine open wheeled tradition in this country.
Try to imagine a unified open wheeled series in this country. Teams like Penske, Newman-Hass, Andrett-Green, Ganassi, Forsythe, Rusport (sorry, RS Racing), Rahal-Letterman, Panther, whoever... Imagine drivers like Marco, Kanaan, Hornish, Franchitti, Tracy (even though I loathe PT), Bourdais (even though he'll be in a Toro Rosso this time next year), Rahal, Legge, Patrick, Fischer, Duno (that's four chicks!), Wilson, Castroneves, Dixon, Weldon, and Scheckter. Now put it all together with a decent chassis and engine formula at tracks like Fontana, Long Beach, Texas, Indy, Road America, Mid Ohio, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Homestead, Motegi...
Throw in some decent sponsors, a good TV package without Derek Daily anywhere near a microphone...Call it Indy Car, or Champ Car, or Indy Champ Car for all I care.
Think about it, picture it in your head. Now take a long hard look at what we have now...
It's ****ing pathetic.
| ptclaus98 | 03-31-2007 08:38 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg;17555707]Maybe, but which one? DCR would have to put her in a third car as would any other team. Most of them seem to be hurting to even get two cars on the grid. Even Newman-Haas couldn't come up with the extra sponsorship to give Bruno a ride.
I think we're on the same side really. I've been a big supporter of Katherine's since her days in Europe, I think she's very talented. I hope she does land a good seat in Champ Car, lord knows the series needs every driver it can get.
The problem is that with two open-wheeled series competing for dollars and fans in a country obsessed with everything NASCAR, nobody is going to win. Not the IRL, not Champ Car. All they're doing by staying apart is slowly killing off what's left of a fine open wheeled tradition in this country.
Try to imagine a unified open wheeled series in this country. Teams like Penske, Newman-Hass, Andrett-Green, Ganassi, Forsythe, Rusport (sorry, RS Racing), Rahal-Letterman, Panther, whoever... Imagine drivers like Marco, Kanaan, Hornish, Franchitti, Tracy (even though I loathe PT), Bourdais (even though he'll be in a Toro Rosso this time next year), Rahal, Legge, Patrick, Fischer, Duno (that's four chicks!), Wilson, Castroneves, Dixon, Weldon, and Scheckter. Now put it all together with a decent chassis and engine formula at tracks like Fontana, Long Beach, Texas, Indy, Road America, Mid Ohio, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Homestead, Motegi...
Throw in some decent sponsors, a good TV package without Derek Daily anywhere near a microphone...Call it Indy Car, or Champ Car, or Indy Champ Car for all I care.
[B]Think about it, picture it in your head[/B]. Now take a long hard look at what we have now...
It's ****ing pathetic.[/QUOTE]
I am. Which is why it's kind of easy for me to go without either series.
I do dream myself in a R-H ride though. I can dream, can't I?:lol:
I think we're on the same side really. I've been a big supporter of Katherine's since her days in Europe, I think she's very talented. I hope she does land a good seat in Champ Car, lord knows the series needs every driver it can get.
The problem is that with two open-wheeled series competing for dollars and fans in a country obsessed with everything NASCAR, nobody is going to win. Not the IRL, not Champ Car. All they're doing by staying apart is slowly killing off what's left of a fine open wheeled tradition in this country.
Try to imagine a unified open wheeled series in this country. Teams like Penske, Newman-Hass, Andrett-Green, Ganassi, Forsythe, Rusport (sorry, RS Racing), Rahal-Letterman, Panther, whoever... Imagine drivers like Marco, Kanaan, Hornish, Franchitti, Tracy (even though I loathe PT), Bourdais (even though he'll be in a Toro Rosso this time next year), Rahal, Legge, Patrick, Fischer, Duno (that's four chicks!), Wilson, Castroneves, Dixon, Weldon, and Scheckter. Now put it all together with a decent chassis and engine formula at tracks like Fontana, Long Beach, Texas, Indy, Road America, Mid Ohio, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Homestead, Motegi...
Throw in some decent sponsors, a good TV package without Derek Daily anywhere near a microphone...Call it Indy Car, or Champ Car, or Indy Champ Car for all I care.
[B]Think about it, picture it in your head[/B]. Now take a long hard look at what we have now...
It's ****ing pathetic.[/QUOTE]
I am. Which is why it's kind of easy for me to go without either series.
I do dream myself in a R-H ride though. I can dream, can't I?:lol:
| Ferg | 03-31-2007 09:06 PM |
[QUOTE=ptclaus98;17555886]I am. Which is why it's kind of easy for me to go without either series.[/QUOTE]
:lol: I know what you mean.
If it wasn't for the fact that I really like most of the drivers in both series I wouldn't bother with either of them.
:lol: I know what you mean.
If it wasn't for the fact that I really like most of the drivers in both series I wouldn't bother with either of them.
| artkevin | 03-31-2007 09:38 PM |
With Legge's situation I find very odd that there are so many empty/unconfirmed seats when they line up this coming week to race. Makes me feel like STR and Scott Speed's situation is pretty well handled.
| Hotrodguru | 03-31-2007 10:26 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin]I think Ms. Legge is by far the most talented in raw pace out of the 4. Followed by Danica, Sarah and then way way behind Milka. Katherine has the driving style that I love to see. Aggresive and she knows how to pass. The 1st Atlantic race I saw her in she reminded me a lot of JPM.[/QUOTE]
+1
[QUOTE=artkevin]Milka = very very little talent and A LOT of backing from Dad.[/QUOTE]
fixed!
[SIZE="1"][COLOR="Silver"]
Yeah it's amazing how you can get put into one of the top rungs of motorsports when your dad is a top oil dog in Venezuela.
<- grumpy old racer.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
+1
[QUOTE=artkevin]Milka = very very little talent and A LOT of backing from Dad.[/QUOTE]
fixed!
[SIZE="1"][COLOR="Silver"]
Yeah it's amazing how you can get put into one of the top rungs of motorsports when your dad is a top oil dog in Venezuela.
<- grumpy old racer.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
| wvallwheeldrive | 03-31-2007 10:26 PM |
the only way the two to get back together is if tony george dies, or one of the two goes bust and the other buys the rights to it. So the way i see it the quicker one goes bust the quicker we have one open wheel series in the states.
| Jonathan | 03-31-2007 10:45 PM |
The only reason IRL came close to suceeding is that the Champ Car management messed up royally and hired some sleazball to mismanage their organization, and this succeeded in annoying both Toyota, Honda enough to jump ship.
Yes sponsourship is still tight. Its tight everywhere.
IRL "racing" is not in the same leage as Champ car, even though Penske, Andretti-Green, Toyota and Honda have all joined IRL. When Champ cars return to their original position of strength, all the major star drivers of the IRL will eventually loose interest in what they are doing and return to the Champ car series.
Now that Championship motor racing is back under stable management the pendulum is swinging back their way. All that is really needed is better TV coverage, and the sponsours will gradually return. I think Champ car racing is perfect the way it is currently. They do not need any changes of venues, as they have the best mix of road courses and street circuits. At this point all they need is a little more sponsour awareness, and the series will return to where it ones was.
Having Championship and IRL merged together will just encourage Tony George to act more and more like the brain dead meglomaniac he is, and that could spell the end of Open Wheel motor racing with in the United States.
Yes sponsourship is still tight. Its tight everywhere.
IRL "racing" is not in the same leage as Champ car, even though Penske, Andretti-Green, Toyota and Honda have all joined IRL. When Champ cars return to their original position of strength, all the major star drivers of the IRL will eventually loose interest in what they are doing and return to the Champ car series.
Now that Championship motor racing is back under stable management the pendulum is swinging back their way. All that is really needed is better TV coverage, and the sponsours will gradually return. I think Champ car racing is perfect the way it is currently. They do not need any changes of venues, as they have the best mix of road courses and street circuits. At this point all they need is a little more sponsour awareness, and the series will return to where it ones was.
Having Championship and IRL merged together will just encourage Tony George to act more and more like the brain dead meglomaniac he is, and that could spell the end of Open Wheel motor racing with in the United States.
| wvallwheeldrive | 03-31-2007 10:58 PM |
how many confermed drivers are there for this year in Champ car
| Ferg | 03-31-2007 11:17 PM |
I honestly don't understand what you're saying by not in the "same league". What league is that exactly? If it's a league where drivers, teams, circuits, fans, and just about everything else has been chopped up, diced up, and just about run into the ground? Then Champ Car and the IRL are [i]very[/i] much in the same league.
If we're talking about the racing then I'm even more confused. The quality of the racing, aside from the horrible lack of depth in both series, is pretty decent... I think what you're alluding to but not saying is that you're not a fan of oval racing. That's fine. To each their own. Just try and remember the fact that oval racing is a huge part of what made Indycar, USAC, CART, whatever, so great in it's day. You take away the challenge of driving open wheeled cars wheel to frick'n wheel at 240mph at a place like Fontana and you take away one of the greatest spectacles in racing, period. But hey, at least we'll have plenty of bland, middling, concrete-lined, point and squirt tracks to fill the gap. At least San Jose had a jump...
I guess we just see the state of things somewhat differently.
If we're talking about the racing then I'm even more confused. The quality of the racing, aside from the horrible lack of depth in both series, is pretty decent... I think what you're alluding to but not saying is that you're not a fan of oval racing. That's fine. To each their own. Just try and remember the fact that oval racing is a huge part of what made Indycar, USAC, CART, whatever, so great in it's day. You take away the challenge of driving open wheeled cars wheel to frick'n wheel at 240mph at a place like Fontana and you take away one of the greatest spectacles in racing, period. But hey, at least we'll have plenty of bland, middling, concrete-lined, point and squirt tracks to fill the gap. At least San Jose had a jump...
I guess we just see the state of things somewhat differently.
| Jonathan | 04-01-2007 08:05 AM |
[QUOTE=Ferg;17557137]I honestly don't understand what you're saying by not in the "same league". What league is that exactly? If it's a league where drivers, teams, circuits, fans, and just about everything else has been chopped up, diced up, and just about run into the ground? Then Champ Car and the IRL are [i]very[/i] much in the same league.
If we're talking about the racing then I'm even more confused. The quality of the racing, aside from the horrible lack of depth in both series, is pretty decent... I think what you're alluding to but not saying is that you're not a fan of oval racing. That's fine. To each their own. Just try and remember the fact that oval racing is a huge part of what made Indycar, USAC, CART, whatever, so great in it's day. You take away the challenge of driving open wheeled cars wheel to frick'n wheel at 240mph at a place like Fontana and you take away one of the greatest spectacles in racing, period. But hey, at least we'll have plenty of bland, middling, concrete-lined, point and squirt tracks to fill the gap. At least San Jose had a jump...
I guess we just see the state of things somewhat differently.[/QUOTE]I guess we can aggree to disagree then ? Fontana is one track that deserves to be forgotten, in my opinion. I think of that place, and all I see is Greg Moore splitting his car in half. :(
A tragic end to a very promising career.
I think NASCAR pretty much owns the ovals, although I will still sometimes watch the Indianapolis 500 - as long as its coverage doesnt conflict with Monaco - the ultimate "point and squirt" track.
I am not opposed to oval track racing, although, in order for such venues to suceed, they need to be made safe with "safer" walls, greater protection for spectators, pit crew and of course drivers.
If we're talking about the racing then I'm even more confused. The quality of the racing, aside from the horrible lack of depth in both series, is pretty decent... I think what you're alluding to but not saying is that you're not a fan of oval racing. That's fine. To each their own. Just try and remember the fact that oval racing is a huge part of what made Indycar, USAC, CART, whatever, so great in it's day. You take away the challenge of driving open wheeled cars wheel to frick'n wheel at 240mph at a place like Fontana and you take away one of the greatest spectacles in racing, period. But hey, at least we'll have plenty of bland, middling, concrete-lined, point and squirt tracks to fill the gap. At least San Jose had a jump...
I guess we just see the state of things somewhat differently.[/QUOTE]I guess we can aggree to disagree then ? Fontana is one track that deserves to be forgotten, in my opinion. I think of that place, and all I see is Greg Moore splitting his car in half. :(
A tragic end to a very promising career.
I think NASCAR pretty much owns the ovals, although I will still sometimes watch the Indianapolis 500 - as long as its coverage doesnt conflict with Monaco - the ultimate "point and squirt" track.
I am not opposed to oval track racing, although, in order for such venues to suceed, they need to be made safe with "safer" walls, greater protection for spectators, pit crew and of course drivers.
| Ferg | 04-01-2007 09:46 AM |
[QUOTE=Jonathan;17559136]I guess we can aggree to disagree then ? [/QUOTE]
I imagine so.
Greg Moore's crash was an awful thing. I remember seeing it when it happened and knowing right then it was fatal. An absolutely terrible loss for motor racing. I think Moore would have eventually found his way to F1.
Racing an open wheeled car on ovals is always going to be dangerous, just like any form of racing really. You can't remove all the risk. It's that danger that in part makes what the drivers in the IRL specifically (since they're the guys and gals doing it these days...) so admirable. You watch them at a place like Michigan or Texas going three wide, inches apart, and you immediately know you're not nearly brave (or foolish) enough to try that.
Open wheeled racing was built on ovals in this country and honestly I'm not ready or willing to sign that history and tradition over to NASCAR.
Speaking of safety on ovals...
[QUOTE]IRL plans to replace catch fencing
By Jeff Olson Sunday, April 1st 2007, 13:13 GMT
The Indy Racing League has commissioned the University of Nebraska's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility to build a smooth barrier to replace catch fences at race tracks.
The move is in response to the latest severe injuries sustained by a driver when a car became airborne and got caught in a fence.
Indy Pro Series driver Pablo Perez is recovering from injuries to his feet during a crash at Homestead last Saturday. The injuries were so severe that doctors considered amputation.
Perez's accident has been compared to the crashes suffered by Kenny Brack at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003, and Ryan Briscoe at Chicagoland a year later. In all three incidents the cars were ripped apart by the fencing.
IndyCar Series president Brian Barnhart described the barrier being considered as something similar to a hockey rink - a solid lower wall topped with a clear shield. The idea is to prevent the jarring, shredding impacts that occur when out-of-control cars get high enough to strike the fence portion of the barrier.
In the mid-1990s, IRL officials asked the Nebraska group to design an energy absorbing barrier for the concrete walls that surround tracks. The result was the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier which was installed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002 and is now in use at every major oval track in the nation.
"It's something that needs to be done," Barnhart told the Indianapolis Star. "What we have now is a system of fence and posts, and it's not made to protect the competitors."
While fences prevent cars from flying into the grandstands, they often create a violent impact for the driver, especially for open-wheel cars, which can snag in the fence.
"Usually, a fence is the best thing we've got (to corral) a flying car," said Kevin Forbes, director of engineering and construction at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Otherwise, there's nothing to stop it until it comes back to earth, where a landing is probably not going to be pretty."[/QUOTE]
I was watching Austin City Limits last night, well I think that's what it was...anyways they had Mark Knopfler and Emilylu Harris doing a set and one of the last songs they did was Speedway at Nazareth. If you've never heard it check it out, cool song.
[QUOTE]After 2000 came 2000 and one
To be the new champions, we were there for to run
From springtime in Arizona, 'til the fall in Monterey
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
It was in Phoenix in the morning, I had a wakeup call
She went around without a warning and put me in the wall
I drove at Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
And we went on the Indianapolis, Indiana in May
Well, the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
I climbed a mountain to qualify went flat through the turn
And I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
And I blew off almost everyone when I my motor let go
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
Those walls from Mid Ohio to Toronto they hurt
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
But at the Speedway at Nazareth I made no mistake[/QUOTE]
:D
I imagine so.
Greg Moore's crash was an awful thing. I remember seeing it when it happened and knowing right then it was fatal. An absolutely terrible loss for motor racing. I think Moore would have eventually found his way to F1.
Racing an open wheeled car on ovals is always going to be dangerous, just like any form of racing really. You can't remove all the risk. It's that danger that in part makes what the drivers in the IRL specifically (since they're the guys and gals doing it these days...) so admirable. You watch them at a place like Michigan or Texas going three wide, inches apart, and you immediately know you're not nearly brave (or foolish) enough to try that.
Open wheeled racing was built on ovals in this country and honestly I'm not ready or willing to sign that history and tradition over to NASCAR.
Speaking of safety on ovals...
[QUOTE]IRL plans to replace catch fencing
By Jeff Olson Sunday, April 1st 2007, 13:13 GMT
The Indy Racing League has commissioned the University of Nebraska's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility to build a smooth barrier to replace catch fences at race tracks.
The move is in response to the latest severe injuries sustained by a driver when a car became airborne and got caught in a fence.
Indy Pro Series driver Pablo Perez is recovering from injuries to his feet during a crash at Homestead last Saturday. The injuries were so severe that doctors considered amputation.
Perez's accident has been compared to the crashes suffered by Kenny Brack at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003, and Ryan Briscoe at Chicagoland a year later. In all three incidents the cars were ripped apart by the fencing.
IndyCar Series president Brian Barnhart described the barrier being considered as something similar to a hockey rink - a solid lower wall topped with a clear shield. The idea is to prevent the jarring, shredding impacts that occur when out-of-control cars get high enough to strike the fence portion of the barrier.
In the mid-1990s, IRL officials asked the Nebraska group to design an energy absorbing barrier for the concrete walls that surround tracks. The result was the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier which was installed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002 and is now in use at every major oval track in the nation.
"It's something that needs to be done," Barnhart told the Indianapolis Star. "What we have now is a system of fence and posts, and it's not made to protect the competitors."
While fences prevent cars from flying into the grandstands, they often create a violent impact for the driver, especially for open-wheel cars, which can snag in the fence.
"Usually, a fence is the best thing we've got (to corral) a flying car," said Kevin Forbes, director of engineering and construction at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Otherwise, there's nothing to stop it until it comes back to earth, where a landing is probably not going to be pretty."[/QUOTE]
I was watching Austin City Limits last night, well I think that's what it was...anyways they had Mark Knopfler and Emilylu Harris doing a set and one of the last songs they did was Speedway at Nazareth. If you've never heard it check it out, cool song.
[QUOTE]After 2000 came 2000 and one
To be the new champions, we were there for to run
From springtime in Arizona, 'til the fall in Monterey
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
It was in Phoenix in the morning, I had a wakeup call
She went around without a warning and put me in the wall
I drove at Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
And we went on the Indianapolis, Indiana in May
Well, the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
I climbed a mountain to qualify went flat through the turn
And I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
And I blew off almost everyone when I my motor let go
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
Those walls from Mid Ohio to Toronto they hurt
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
But at the Speedway at Nazareth I made no mistake[/QUOTE]
:D
| Jonathan | 04-01-2007 12:38 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg;17559396]
I was watching Austin City Limits last night, well I think that's what it was...anyways they had Mark Knopfler and Emilylu Harris doing a set and one of the last songs they did was Speedway at Nazareth. If you've never heard it check it out, cool song.
[quote]After 2000 came 2000 and one
To be the new champions, we were there for to run
From springtime in Arizona, 'til the fall in Monterey
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
It was in Phoenix in the morning, I had a wakeup call
She went around without a warning and put me in the wall
I drove at Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
And we went on the Indianapolis, Indiana in May
Well, the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
I climbed a mountain to qualify went flat through the turn
And I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
And I blew off almost everyone when I my motor let go
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
Those walls from Mid Ohio to Toronto they hurt
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
But at the Speedway at Nazareth I made no mistak[/quote][/QUOTE]
Yes I know that song. I think it was based on notes taken by Stephan Johanson, who's Champ car career ended abruptly ~10 years ago after being involved in Jeff Krosenof's fatal accident at Toronto. And yeah, I agree that pretty much all forms of motorsport are dangerous, and likely always will be.
I was watching Austin City Limits last night, well I think that's what it was...anyways they had Mark Knopfler and Emilylu Harris doing a set and one of the last songs they did was Speedway at Nazareth. If you've never heard it check it out, cool song.
[quote]After 2000 came 2000 and one
To be the new champions, we were there for to run
From springtime in Arizona, 'til the fall in Monterey
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
It was in Phoenix in the morning, I had a wakeup call
She went around without a warning and put me in the wall
I drove at Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
And we went on the Indianapolis, Indiana in May
Well, the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
I climbed a mountain to qualify went flat through the turn
And I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
And I blew off almost everyone when I my motor let go
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
Those walls from Mid Ohio to Toronto they hurt
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
But at the Speedway at Nazareth I made no mistak[/quote][/QUOTE]
Yes I know that song. I think it was based on notes taken by Stephan Johanson, who's Champ car career ended abruptly ~10 years ago after being involved in Jeff Krosenof's fatal accident at Toronto. And yeah, I agree that pretty much all forms of motorsport are dangerous, and likely always will be.
| Ferg | 04-01-2007 01:07 PM |
Wow, leave it to Robin Miller to cut through the hype. Some very good points, scary ones at that.
[URL=http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/36275/?page=1]Robin Miller on Milka Duno...[/URL]
[QUOTE]From the outside it looks like a nice surprise package for the Indy Racing League. New team, new driver and new sponsor. To quote IRL founder Tony George: "A very, very, very good day."
However, to anybody familiar with her experience and talent level, the thought of Milka Duno driving an Indy car next month in Kansas City is frightening. Or should be.
And the idea of an oil company (CITGO) owned and operated by anti-American Hugo Chavez sponsoring her car isn't exactly something to shout about either.
But the real concern should be on a 34-year-old sports car "specialist" who didn't start racing until 1999, has no high speed, open wheel experience and has never been on an oval track.
If you read Duno's the full page ad in Monday's USA Today, it's hard not to be dazzled. "Milka Duno is brilliant, fearless, beautiful and Venezuelan. And she's demonstrated a woman can rule in a male-dominated sport."
She's billed as the first woman to win a major sports car race and her credits include victories in Petite LeMans and Grand Am. Those aren't false claims because she was, indeed, on the winning team at Miami, Road Atlanta and Mt. Tremblant.
The fine print is that she didn't drive very many laps in any of them. Just like last Saturday's fourth place at Miami-Homestead in Grand Am, she logged 14 laps and teammate Patrick Carpentier did the other 77.
Or her second place at this year's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona where Ryan Dalziel, Darren Manning and Carpentier drove 90 percent of the time.
The perception is that Ms Milka is an accomplished racer. The reality is that she's not very good and not very well regarded by her sports car brethren. "She has trouble running side-by-side in these cars and I shudder to think what she'll be like with open wheels," said one veteran sports car racer. "She's a very nice person but she's got no business in an Indy car at 200 mph."
For the woman who ran mid-pack in the celebrity category of the annual Toyota Celebrity Race at Long Beach a few years ago, she does have the backing of CITGO and SAMAX Racing owner Peter Baron, whose rationale for moving her up to Indy cars left most of us shaking our heads.
"I have a fair amount of driving history behind me and I firmly believe that if you're going to drive an Indy car, and that's what you want to do, figure out how to get it done," replied Baron when asked why not try her in the Indy Pro Series first.
"Figure out how to do as much testing as you can. If you want to be an Indy car driver, if you can do it, the sooner you can do it, the more testing you can do behind it, the better off you will be. The best way to learn how to run 225 mph is to run 225 mph."
The idea that a few days of testing will prepare anybody for the full-throttle madness of Texas, Kansas City, Chicago and Homestead is absurd and the overall tone of last Friday's press conference was that this is going to be so much fun.
But this isn't a fun little Daytona Prototype on a road course with a mix of slow corners thrown in. This is the fastest, most lethal form of motorsports in this country. Taking Dunno to St. Pete, Watkins Glen, Sonoma, Detroit and Mid-Ohio would have been a much wiser game plan.
"I heard people say for a long time, 'Is Milka going to Indy, yes or no?," she said during her press conference. "Finally, I am here. My dream is coming true."
Brian Barnhart, the IRL president of competition, went along with the feel good atmosphere and said by the time Milka gets to her first race: "she'll have thousands of miles under her belt. We'll even consider putting other cars out there on the track with her to replicate traffic and give her the opportunity to run in dirty air."
To which one IRL veteran responded: "Good luck on finding somebody to volunteer for that."
Barnhart also said she's going to have to pass a driving test under the critical eyes of Rick Mears or Johnny Rutherford or Al Unser. So, obviously, there's no guarantee she'll make the grade, although there was a dentist of similar ilk who became an IRL regular in the cars way too easy to drive on the huge high banked tracks.
Hopefully, Duno will scare herself so badly in her first test at Texas that she'll come to her senses, realize she's out of her depth and give the car to Carpentier.
Because Indy cars aren't fun and games and photo ops. They can be life and death. And having desire, a pretty smile, a good PR machine and a sponsor aren't good enough reasons to merit a ride.
This is one of those situations that the racing fraternity embraces publicly, but privately knows is a recipe for disaster.[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/36275/?page=1]Robin Miller on Milka Duno...[/URL]
[QUOTE]From the outside it looks like a nice surprise package for the Indy Racing League. New team, new driver and new sponsor. To quote IRL founder Tony George: "A very, very, very good day."
However, to anybody familiar with her experience and talent level, the thought of Milka Duno driving an Indy car next month in Kansas City is frightening. Or should be.
And the idea of an oil company (CITGO) owned and operated by anti-American Hugo Chavez sponsoring her car isn't exactly something to shout about either.
But the real concern should be on a 34-year-old sports car "specialist" who didn't start racing until 1999, has no high speed, open wheel experience and has never been on an oval track.
If you read Duno's the full page ad in Monday's USA Today, it's hard not to be dazzled. "Milka Duno is brilliant, fearless, beautiful and Venezuelan. And she's demonstrated a woman can rule in a male-dominated sport."
She's billed as the first woman to win a major sports car race and her credits include victories in Petite LeMans and Grand Am. Those aren't false claims because she was, indeed, on the winning team at Miami, Road Atlanta and Mt. Tremblant.
The fine print is that she didn't drive very many laps in any of them. Just like last Saturday's fourth place at Miami-Homestead in Grand Am, she logged 14 laps and teammate Patrick Carpentier did the other 77.
Or her second place at this year's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona where Ryan Dalziel, Darren Manning and Carpentier drove 90 percent of the time.
The perception is that Ms Milka is an accomplished racer. The reality is that she's not very good and not very well regarded by her sports car brethren. "She has trouble running side-by-side in these cars and I shudder to think what she'll be like with open wheels," said one veteran sports car racer. "She's a very nice person but she's got no business in an Indy car at 200 mph."
For the woman who ran mid-pack in the celebrity category of the annual Toyota Celebrity Race at Long Beach a few years ago, she does have the backing of CITGO and SAMAX Racing owner Peter Baron, whose rationale for moving her up to Indy cars left most of us shaking our heads.
"I have a fair amount of driving history behind me and I firmly believe that if you're going to drive an Indy car, and that's what you want to do, figure out how to get it done," replied Baron when asked why not try her in the Indy Pro Series first.
"Figure out how to do as much testing as you can. If you want to be an Indy car driver, if you can do it, the sooner you can do it, the more testing you can do behind it, the better off you will be. The best way to learn how to run 225 mph is to run 225 mph."
The idea that a few days of testing will prepare anybody for the full-throttle madness of Texas, Kansas City, Chicago and Homestead is absurd and the overall tone of last Friday's press conference was that this is going to be so much fun.
But this isn't a fun little Daytona Prototype on a road course with a mix of slow corners thrown in. This is the fastest, most lethal form of motorsports in this country. Taking Dunno to St. Pete, Watkins Glen, Sonoma, Detroit and Mid-Ohio would have been a much wiser game plan.
"I heard people say for a long time, 'Is Milka going to Indy, yes or no?," she said during her press conference. "Finally, I am here. My dream is coming true."
Brian Barnhart, the IRL president of competition, went along with the feel good atmosphere and said by the time Milka gets to her first race: "she'll have thousands of miles under her belt. We'll even consider putting other cars out there on the track with her to replicate traffic and give her the opportunity to run in dirty air."
To which one IRL veteran responded: "Good luck on finding somebody to volunteer for that."
Barnhart also said she's going to have to pass a driving test under the critical eyes of Rick Mears or Johnny Rutherford or Al Unser. So, obviously, there's no guarantee she'll make the grade, although there was a dentist of similar ilk who became an IRL regular in the cars way too easy to drive on the huge high banked tracks.
Hopefully, Duno will scare herself so badly in her first test at Texas that she'll come to her senses, realize she's out of her depth and give the car to Carpentier.
Because Indy cars aren't fun and games and photo ops. They can be life and death. And having desire, a pretty smile, a good PR machine and a sponsor aren't good enough reasons to merit a ride.
This is one of those situations that the racing fraternity embraces publicly, but privately knows is a recipe for disaster.[/QUOTE]
| cooleyjb | 04-01-2007 02:27 PM |
Teh Funnay
[QUOTE]To which one IRL veteran responded: "Good luck on finding somebody to volunteer for that."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]To which one IRL veteran responded: "Good luck on finding somebody to volunteer for that."
[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 04-01-2007 09:50 PM |
Castroneves takes it...
Good race. Too many cautions due to boneheaded moves...why does AJ Foyt IV still have a drive...but otherwise a good event.
[QUOTE]Castroneves claims St. Pete win
By Jeff Olson Sunday, April 1st 2007, 21:42 GMT
Helio Castroneves put a clash with Dan Wheldon on a lap 35 restart behind him to beat Wheldon's Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon to victory by 0.6 seconds at St. Petersburg.
The win evened the heated rivalry between the IRL's strongest teams - Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
With Castroneves controlling the early laps of the race around the 12-turn, 1.8-mile street circuit, Wheldon and his TCGR crew chose to stay on the track while other teams pitted. As the field approached the restart with Wheldon leading Castroneves, their cars collided, Wheldon was knocked askew, and Castroneves regained the lead.
"It's incredible," said Castroneves, who recorded his second consecutive victory in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "You have to be so focused. I had to be really careful that I didn't make a mistake. But it's my time. We won."
While it was exhilarating for Castroneves, it was frustrating for Dixon, who may have had the faster car but couldn't find a place to pass on the narrow, high-speed street circuit.
"It was very frustrating, especially following Helio all bloody day," Dixon said.
"It was taking its toll. You just sit there and wait for the guy to make a mistake. That's all you're doing.
"You try to apply as much pressure as you can. But it's tough when you follow the same car lap after lap. He drove a great race. We couldn't put any more pressure than we did, and he didn't make a mistake."
One driver who had made a mistake was Tony Kanaan, who produced a marvelous drive from the back of the field to the podium in a patched-up car with Band-Aids on its nose after crashing in qualifying shortly after setting the fastest time.
"I shouldn't be pleased when I have a car good enough to win a race and I don't win," Kanaan said.
"When it's something that we can control - especially when it's me making a mistake - I'm pretty hard on myself. I think I let my guys down this weekend."
Following Castroneves, Dixon and Kanaan to the line were Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Tomas Scheckter. Sam Hornish Jr., Danica Patrick, Wheldon and Buddy Rice rounded out the top 10.
Castroneves said he was able to hold off Dixon in spite of gearbox problems that became more pronounced later in the race.
"It was all about consistency today," Castroneves said. "The car was very consistent, a little bit tough on cold tyres.
"Almost everything was working perfectly. The gears started to wear a little bit and I had to be careful not to make any mistakes."
The most significant incident of the day happened too fast for reaction. As the field rounded the 14th turn for the restart on the 35th lap, Wheldon's car suddenly slowed, and Castroneves hit it from behind.
"It looks like Castroneves just decided to hit him before the green flag," Chip Ganassi said.
"This isn't NASCAR. We're not very happy with the Penske team right now. Hitting somebody before the green flag should be some kind of penalty, shouldn't it?"
The second-most significant incident of the day involved two teammates on the first lap - and might have cost both a shot at victory. As Kanaan tried to sneak past Franchitti on the outside heading into the Turn 4 right-hander, the two AGR cars bumped wheels.
"I'm not sure what happened," Franchitti said. "Tony was trying to go around the outside. I was trying to stay out of trouble and had a bit of understeer and we got together.
"The guys did a great job getting the car back together. They didn't get the car back 100 percent, but they made a bloody good attempt."
The incident sent Kanaan spinning and sent Franchitti to the pits for repairs. Both drivers got back among the leaders about halfway through the race, but both indicated they might have had a chance to win if not for the first-lap tap.
"It's always ironic when you touch wheels with your teammate, especially when it's your best friend," Kanaan said.
"I don't think Michael (Andretti) thinks like that, so we're probably going to have a talk. When I go see Dario today, we're going to laugh, but I don't think Michael was laughing at the time. It shouldn't have happened, but it happened."
In the end, Castroneves was the one laughing, having captured his 12th career IRL win and pulled himself back into the championship race.
"I prepared myself very well, and it paid off," Castroneves said.
Results:
Pos Driver Team Laps
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 100
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 100
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 100
4. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 100
5. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 100
6. Tomas Scheckter Vision 100
7. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 100
8. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 100
9. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 100
10. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 100
11. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 100
12. Darren Manning Foyt 99
13. AJ Foyt IV Vision 98
14. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 97
15. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 97
16. Vitor Meira Panther 96
17. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 83
18. Ed Carpenter Vision 45
[/QUOTE]
Good race. Too many cautions due to boneheaded moves...why does AJ Foyt IV still have a drive...but otherwise a good event.
[QUOTE]Castroneves claims St. Pete win
By Jeff Olson Sunday, April 1st 2007, 21:42 GMT
Helio Castroneves put a clash with Dan Wheldon on a lap 35 restart behind him to beat Wheldon's Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon to victory by 0.6 seconds at St. Petersburg.
The win evened the heated rivalry between the IRL's strongest teams - Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
With Castroneves controlling the early laps of the race around the 12-turn, 1.8-mile street circuit, Wheldon and his TCGR crew chose to stay on the track while other teams pitted. As the field approached the restart with Wheldon leading Castroneves, their cars collided, Wheldon was knocked askew, and Castroneves regained the lead.
"It's incredible," said Castroneves, who recorded his second consecutive victory in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "You have to be so focused. I had to be really careful that I didn't make a mistake. But it's my time. We won."
While it was exhilarating for Castroneves, it was frustrating for Dixon, who may have had the faster car but couldn't find a place to pass on the narrow, high-speed street circuit.
"It was very frustrating, especially following Helio all bloody day," Dixon said.
"It was taking its toll. You just sit there and wait for the guy to make a mistake. That's all you're doing.
"You try to apply as much pressure as you can. But it's tough when you follow the same car lap after lap. He drove a great race. We couldn't put any more pressure than we did, and he didn't make a mistake."
One driver who had made a mistake was Tony Kanaan, who produced a marvelous drive from the back of the field to the podium in a patched-up car with Band-Aids on its nose after crashing in qualifying shortly after setting the fastest time.
"I shouldn't be pleased when I have a car good enough to win a race and I don't win," Kanaan said.
"When it's something that we can control - especially when it's me making a mistake - I'm pretty hard on myself. I think I let my guys down this weekend."
Following Castroneves, Dixon and Kanaan to the line were Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Tomas Scheckter. Sam Hornish Jr., Danica Patrick, Wheldon and Buddy Rice rounded out the top 10.
Castroneves said he was able to hold off Dixon in spite of gearbox problems that became more pronounced later in the race.
"It was all about consistency today," Castroneves said. "The car was very consistent, a little bit tough on cold tyres.
"Almost everything was working perfectly. The gears started to wear a little bit and I had to be careful not to make any mistakes."
The most significant incident of the day happened too fast for reaction. As the field rounded the 14th turn for the restart on the 35th lap, Wheldon's car suddenly slowed, and Castroneves hit it from behind.
"It looks like Castroneves just decided to hit him before the green flag," Chip Ganassi said.
"This isn't NASCAR. We're not very happy with the Penske team right now. Hitting somebody before the green flag should be some kind of penalty, shouldn't it?"
The second-most significant incident of the day involved two teammates on the first lap - and might have cost both a shot at victory. As Kanaan tried to sneak past Franchitti on the outside heading into the Turn 4 right-hander, the two AGR cars bumped wheels.
"I'm not sure what happened," Franchitti said. "Tony was trying to go around the outside. I was trying to stay out of trouble and had a bit of understeer and we got together.
"The guys did a great job getting the car back together. They didn't get the car back 100 percent, but they made a bloody good attempt."
The incident sent Kanaan spinning and sent Franchitti to the pits for repairs. Both drivers got back among the leaders about halfway through the race, but both indicated they might have had a chance to win if not for the first-lap tap.
"It's always ironic when you touch wheels with your teammate, especially when it's your best friend," Kanaan said.
"I don't think Michael (Andretti) thinks like that, so we're probably going to have a talk. When I go see Dario today, we're going to laugh, but I don't think Michael was laughing at the time. It shouldn't have happened, but it happened."
In the end, Castroneves was the one laughing, having captured his 12th career IRL win and pulled himself back into the championship race.
"I prepared myself very well, and it paid off," Castroneves said.
Results:
Pos Driver Team Laps
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 100
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 100
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 100
4. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 100
5. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 100
6. Tomas Scheckter Vision 100
7. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 100
8. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 100
9. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 100
10. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 100
11. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 100
12. Darren Manning Foyt 99
13. AJ Foyt IV Vision 98
14. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 97
15. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 97
16. Vitor Meira Panther 96
17. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 83
18. Ed Carpenter Vision 45
[/QUOTE]
| Jonathan | 04-02-2007 12:11 AM |
Who broadcasted this one ?
Yeah, next week end with F1 at Malaysia, and Champ cars starting their series in Las Vegas will be more interesting, but this week end it was Nascar at Martinsville, or IRL. I looked for IRL coverage but couldnt find it on my Cable TV.
Oh well.
Yeah, next week end with F1 at Malaysia, and Champ cars starting their series in Las Vegas will be more interesting, but this week end it was Nascar at Martinsville, or IRL. I looked for IRL coverage but couldnt find it on my Cable TV.
Oh well.
| boost junkie | 04-02-2007 12:16 AM |
It was on ESPN. I watched most of it, good race. Not nearly as exciting as the ALMS race there but still fun to watch. At least they play it during the day, unlike ALMS which I attempted to stay up watching until 5am last night and failed.
| artkevin | 04-02-2007 01:39 AM |
I like that Foyt doesn't even drive for Foyt.
| Patu | 04-02-2007 03:52 AM |
Go Indy
| ptclaus98 | 04-02-2007 07:05 AM |
[QUOTE=Jonathan;17566489]Who broadcasted this one ?
Yeah, next week end with F1 at Malaysia, and Champ cars starting their series in Las Vegas will be more interesting, but this week end it was Nascar at Martinsville, or IRL. I looked for IRL coverage but couldnt find it on my Cable TV.
Oh well.[/QUOTE]
ESPN shows the coverage.
Yeah, next week end with F1 at Malaysia, and Champ cars starting their series in Las Vegas will be more interesting, but this week end it was Nascar at Martinsville, or IRL. I looked for IRL coverage but couldnt find it on my Cable TV.
Oh well.[/QUOTE]
ESPN shows the coverage.
| artkevin | 04-02-2007 09:39 AM |
It does switch up between ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC throughout the year. Might also be on the Ocho.
| Ferg | 04-02-2007 03:28 PM |
I hadn't realized that the IRL cars don't have power steering...:eek:
Combine that with the need to actually take a hand off the wheel to shift and it's no wonder everyone looked absolutely drained after the race.
Combine that with the need to actually take a hand off the wheel to shift and it's no wonder everyone looked absolutely drained after the race.
| StuBeck | 04-02-2007 03:38 PM |
They're made for not having power steering though, so it isn't as bad as taking it off of your road car.
| Ferg | 04-02-2007 03:43 PM |
True, but it's not as nice as having it on a race car with prodigious grip. :D
| StuBeck | 04-03-2007 10:31 AM |
Hehe, yeah.
Hopefully the lack of cars in both series will mean that they will try and merge something at some point. Getting 30 cars on the grid will make it a lot better, more like the old CART series. Right now its like F1 but with less prestige.
Hopefully the lack of cars in both series will mean that they will try and merge something at some point. Getting 30 cars on the grid will make it a lot better, more like the old CART series. Right now its like F1 but with less prestige.
| Jonathan | 04-04-2007 12:20 PM |
If Andrew Ranger has indeed retired from Championship motor racing, I think that leaves Dale with Bruno and Katherine... a [u]two car[/u] team. I would be expecting to be reading formal confirmation of this within a few days. Good news !
| artkevin | 04-04-2007 12:56 PM |
Well considering they start the 1st offical pratice in less then 2 days it seems like they would at least know who would be in the seats by now.
Ranger retired? Isn't he about 19 years old?
Ranger retired? Isn't he about 19 years old?
| Ferg | 04-04-2007 01:10 PM |
Good news but probably better posted in the [URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1146368]Champ Car Thread[/URL] :)
I'm sure Ranger decided to "retire" :lol:
I'm sure Ranger decided to "retire" :lol:
| StuBeck | 04-04-2007 01:21 PM |
Ranger decided to switch to NASCAR in canada. He was tired of the crap to get a seat in ChampCar he was having to go through.
| Ferg | 04-20-2007 10:46 AM |
Motegi quali report.
[QUOTE]Castroneves takes Motegi pole
Friday, April 20th 2007, 07:21 GMT
Helio Castroneves will start from pole position for Saturday's IRL IndyCar Series race at Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan.
The St.Petersburg race winner shares the front row with Homestead victor Dan Wheldon. They also finished first and second in last year's Motegi round.
Castroneves' pole is his 18th in the IRL, extending the Penske driver's series record.
"I found that speed in my pocket," said Castroneves. "The car was perfect. This series is very, very competitive, and I know a lot people will try to beat us tomorrow."
Andretti-Green Racing prevented a Penske/Ganassi clean sweep of the top four positions, as Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick filled the second row for AGR and pushed Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske) and Scott Dixon (Ganassi) down to fifth and sixth.
Kanaan felt that he could have been on the front row, but was not too disappointed.
"It can always be better and I was expecting one-tenth quicker but Andretti Green Racing did a very good job," he said.
"I think we have four good race cars. It's a long race and qualifying really means nothing at this track. I'm pretty confident that we have a strong car for the race."
Patrick, who had been fastest in Thursday's practice session, was also optimistic.
"We're here to qualify on the pole but ultimately the races are long days and you can come from any position to win," she said.
"The Motorola car felt very good but having a car that can do it for 200 laps is another story and I think we've got that car. I expect to have a good race.
"I click pretty well with this track and have had solid races in the past. I really thought we had the fastest car here today but that's alright."
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 26.6416
2. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 26.6744
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 26.7217
4. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 26.7881
5. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 26.8495
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 26.8561
7. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 26.8600
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision 26.8773
9. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 26.9374
10. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 26.9386
11. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 26.9945
12. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 27.0035
13. Vitor Meira Panther 27.0523
14. AJ Foyt IV Vision 27.0757
15. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 27.1064
16. Ed Carpenter Vision 27.1375
17. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 27.4175
18. Darren Manning Foyt 27.4341[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Castroneves takes Motegi pole
Friday, April 20th 2007, 07:21 GMT
Helio Castroneves will start from pole position for Saturday's IRL IndyCar Series race at Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan.
The St.Petersburg race winner shares the front row with Homestead victor Dan Wheldon. They also finished first and second in last year's Motegi round.
Castroneves' pole is his 18th in the IRL, extending the Penske driver's series record.
"I found that speed in my pocket," said Castroneves. "The car was perfect. This series is very, very competitive, and I know a lot people will try to beat us tomorrow."
Andretti-Green Racing prevented a Penske/Ganassi clean sweep of the top four positions, as Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick filled the second row for AGR and pushed Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske) and Scott Dixon (Ganassi) down to fifth and sixth.
Kanaan felt that he could have been on the front row, but was not too disappointed.
"It can always be better and I was expecting one-tenth quicker but Andretti Green Racing did a very good job," he said.
"I think we have four good race cars. It's a long race and qualifying really means nothing at this track. I'm pretty confident that we have a strong car for the race."
Patrick, who had been fastest in Thursday's practice session, was also optimistic.
"We're here to qualify on the pole but ultimately the races are long days and you can come from any position to win," she said.
"The Motorola car felt very good but having a car that can do it for 200 laps is another story and I think we've got that car. I expect to have a good race.
"I click pretty well with this track and have had solid races in the past. I really thought we had the fastest car here today but that's alright."
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 26.6416
2. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 26.6744
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 26.7217
4. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 26.7881
5. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 26.8495
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 26.8561
7. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 26.8600
8. Tomas Scheckter Vision 26.8773
9. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 26.9374
10. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 26.9386
11. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 26.9945
12. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 27.0035
13. Vitor Meira Panther 27.0523
14. AJ Foyt IV Vision 27.0757
15. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 27.1064
16. Ed Carpenter Vision 27.1375
17. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 27.4175
18. Darren Manning Foyt 27.4341[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 04-29-2007 07:59 AM |
Kansas quali.
[QUOTE][B]Kanaan on pole in Kansas
[/B]
By Jeff Olson Saturday, April 28th 2007, 21:23 GMT
Tony Kanaan continued his excellent run of form to take pole position for the Kansas Lottery 300 - the last IRL IndyCar Series race before practice for the 91st Indianapolis 500 commences.
Coming just a week after his victory at Motegi, Kanaan's qualifying performance bodes well for the Indianapolis month, and suggests that Andretti-Green Racing's slump has come to an end.
Kanaan ended a streak of 29 races without a pole and broke a streak of 15 consecutive poles by either Team Penske or Target Chip Ganassi Racing with his lap of 25.5476 seconds (214.198 mph).
"I'm not going to sit here and brag about a pole position because I know what's going to happen tomorrow - it's going to be a tough race," Kanaan said.
"I'd rather come back here tomorrow and brag about a race win. I'll be competitive, but who's going to win this race? I have no idea.
"Did we expect to be on the pole? No. Did we expect to be better? Yes."
Kanaan's lap was just 0.0234 seconds faster than front row partner Sam Hornish Jr. The champion's Penske teammate Helio Castroneves will start third, followed by Ganassi drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon.
Hornish, who won from the number two starting position last year at Kansas, likes his chances from the same position this year.
"The way I look at it, we started here second last year and won the race, so maybe it's a good omen," Hornish said.
"The race is long enough and the track is wide enough that - if you have the right car and the right crew - you can win this race from any starting position."
Dario Franchitti will start sixth for Andretti-Green, followed by Tomas Scheckter (Vision Racing). Vitor Meira, Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick rounded out the top 10.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 25.5476
2. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 25.5710 + 0.0234
3. Helio Castroneves Penske 25.5920 + 0.0444
4. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 25.5926 + 0.0450
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 25.5949 + 0.0477
6. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 25.6811 + 0.1335
7. Tomas Scheckter Vision 25.8073 + 0.2597
8. Vitor Meira Panther 25.8315 + 0.2839
9. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 25.8347 + 0.2871
10. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 25.8362 + 0.2886
11. Darren Manning Foyt 25.8513 + 0.3037
12. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 25.8721 + 0.3245
13. Ed Carpenter Vision 25.8782 + 0.3306
14. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 25.8816 + 0.3340
15. AJ Foyt IV Vision 25.9088 + 0.3612
16. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 25.9344 + 0.3868
17. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 25.9889 + 0.4413
18. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 25.9921 + 0.4445
19. Marty Roth Roth 26.1212 + 0.5736
20. Alex Barron Beck 26.1746 + 0.6270
21. Milka Duno Samax 26.2754 + 0.7278[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Kanaan on pole in Kansas
[/B]
By Jeff Olson Saturday, April 28th 2007, 21:23 GMT
Tony Kanaan continued his excellent run of form to take pole position for the Kansas Lottery 300 - the last IRL IndyCar Series race before practice for the 91st Indianapolis 500 commences.
Coming just a week after his victory at Motegi, Kanaan's qualifying performance bodes well for the Indianapolis month, and suggests that Andretti-Green Racing's slump has come to an end.
Kanaan ended a streak of 29 races without a pole and broke a streak of 15 consecutive poles by either Team Penske or Target Chip Ganassi Racing with his lap of 25.5476 seconds (214.198 mph).
"I'm not going to sit here and brag about a pole position because I know what's going to happen tomorrow - it's going to be a tough race," Kanaan said.
"I'd rather come back here tomorrow and brag about a race win. I'll be competitive, but who's going to win this race? I have no idea.
"Did we expect to be on the pole? No. Did we expect to be better? Yes."
Kanaan's lap was just 0.0234 seconds faster than front row partner Sam Hornish Jr. The champion's Penske teammate Helio Castroneves will start third, followed by Ganassi drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon.
Hornish, who won from the number two starting position last year at Kansas, likes his chances from the same position this year.
"The way I look at it, we started here second last year and won the race, so maybe it's a good omen," Hornish said.
"The race is long enough and the track is wide enough that - if you have the right car and the right crew - you can win this race from any starting position."
Dario Franchitti will start sixth for Andretti-Green, followed by Tomas Scheckter (Vision Racing). Vitor Meira, Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick rounded out the top 10.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Tony Kanaan Andretti-Green 25.5476
2. Sam Hornish Jr Penske 25.5710 + 0.0234
3. Helio Castroneves Penske 25.5920 + 0.0444
4. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 25.5926 + 0.0450
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 25.5949 + 0.0477
6. Dario Franchitti Andretti-Green 25.6811 + 0.1335
7. Tomas Scheckter Vision 25.8073 + 0.2597
8. Vitor Meira Panther 25.8315 + 0.2839
9. Marco Andretti Andretti-Green 25.8347 + 0.2871
10. Danica Patrick Andretti-Green 25.8362 + 0.2886
11. Darren Manning Foyt 25.8513 + 0.3037
12. Kosuke Matsuura Panther 25.8721 + 0.3245
13. Ed Carpenter Vision 25.8782 + 0.3306
14. Scott Sharp Rahal-Letterman 25.8816 + 0.3340
15. AJ Foyt IV Vision 25.9088 + 0.3612
16. Jeff Simmons Rahal-Letterman 25.9344 + 0.3868
17. Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold 25.9889 + 0.4413
18. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 25.9921 + 0.4445
19. Marty Roth Roth 26.1212 + 0.5736
20. Alex Barron Beck 26.1746 + 0.6270
21. Milka Duno Samax 26.2754 + 0.7278[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 05-12-2007 11:24 PM |
Indy 500 qualifying...
[QUOTE]Castroneves on Indy 500 pole
By Jeff Olson Sunday, May 13th 2007, 01:06 GMT
Helio Castroneves had a choice: be satisfied with a second-row starting position, or risk it all for the big prize.
He and his Penske teammates chose the latter and won the bet, taking the pole position for the 91st Indianapolis 500 with just four minutes left in Saturday's six-hour qualifying session.
Castroneves and his No. 3 Team Penske Honda/Dallara were safely in the race on the inside of the second row when the decision was made to withdraw that effort and go for the pole position.
At 5:53 pm, Castroneves took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Four laps later, he had bumped Dario Franchitti from the pole, which Franchitti had held since before 1 pm.
Even then, it wasn't a done deal. Tony Kanaan followed Castroneves on the track and appeared to be in line to bounce Castroneves from P1 until Kanaan's final lap - almost a tenth of a second lower than the previous lap - dropped his four-lap average to 225.757 mph, just 0.260 mph - or 0.420 seconds - behind Castroneves.
"I don't think I was breathing during those last four laps," Castroneves said. "I was holding my breath for the whole entire qualifying. It's four laps, not just one lap. The car does so many things during one lap; imagine what it does during four laps. You've just got to trust it, you know?"
Kanaan's No. 11 Andretti Green Racing Honda/Dallara turned laps in the high 225s - good enough to take the pole from Castroneves - until he dropped down to 225.358 mph on the final lap.
"I'm so sorry, guys," he told his crew on the radio during the cool down lap. "Trust me, I drove it for all it was worth. I'm so sorry."
The drama was evident both in and out of the car. Fans were glued to each lap reading during Kanaan's run. For the first three, his average was ahead of Castroneves'. On the final lap, though, Kanaan's average dropped below Castroneves'.
"It was a pretty tense moment," Kanaan said. "I was convinced I could do it. I think my warm-up lap was a little too quick, and I lost it on the first lap."
Kanaan's effort dropped Franchitti to third; earlier in the day, Franchitti and his No. 27 AGR Honda/Dallara had bumped Kanaan out of the top spot.
Franchitti's four-lap average of 225.191 mph held up to several late-day assaults, including two by Sam Hornish Jr. and those of Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon.
"With the position we were in, we couldn't have pulled out to have another go at it," Franchitti said. "But we're starting on the front row, and hopefully we'll have a strong race car. ... We're going into the race with a lot of optimism."
Behind the front row of Castroneves, Kanaan and Franchitti for the May 27 race will be Dixon, who took a run at the leaders but ended up fourth; Hornish, the defending champion who may have had the fastest car Saturday if not for two slips; and Wheldon, the 2005 winner whose speed from earlier in the week eluded him on Saturday.
Castroneves' pole was his second at Indy and a record 14th for Roger Penske's team, which also won a record 14 Indy 500s and four of the last six at Indy. Castroneves, who won the race in 2001 and 2002, finished second to then-teammate Gil de Ferran after his previous pole position.
"We're going to have to continue working," Castroneves said. "This is only the first race, I would say. Like Rick Mears says, 'We have two races at Indy. One is pole day and the other is the actual race.' ... This is the place to take a chance, and we did. We threw the dice."
The start of the qualifying session was nearly as active as the conclusion. Kanaan grabbed the early pole, but Franchitti, who was immediately behind Kanaan in line, used his teammate's description of the track conditions to post an impressive four-lap average of 225.191 mph.
"I have to thank TK because he came on the radio and told us what the track conditions were like right at that moment," Franchitti said.
"He told me exactly what it was like, so I knew what to do on the first turn of the first lap. I trust him enough to know that he's 100 percent honest with something like that."
That effort held up through the heat of the day. Both Penske cars, which drew late positions in the qualifying order, withdrew in the heat of the day and returned later. Hornish took two shots at Franchitti, but slid dangerously close to the wall on the first try, then got loose on the last lap of the second attempt.
"The same thing happened, just in different parts of the run," Hornish said. "The first run, I got a little bit wide on the exit of Turn 1 and couldn't get the car to turn.
"The second time, I got a bit of a push. Both times we ended up with the same scenario. I was ready to close my eyes and hit the wall."
Dixon then topped Hornish's effort with 37 minutes left in the session before Ganassi teammate Wheldon tried and failed in his shot at the pole, falling behind Hornish and Kanaan on the grid.
"The conditions today were so much different than we've been running with," Dixon said, noting the slightly cooler, less humid conditions Saturday. "It's frustrating. We missed by a bit too much."
Wheldon has led nearly 70 percent of the laps in the first four races of the IndyCar Series season and was the fastest driver during the first two days of practice earlier in the week. However, his speed fell off dramatically Saturday, and he settled for sixth on the grid.
"I'd love to get the pole here some day," Wheldon said. "I'm going to have to come back to do that. But the important thing is the race, and I'm looking forward to that."
Following the first two rows will be Ryan Briscoe, Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti in the third row, and Tomas Scheckter and Michael Andretti in the fourth row.
Patrick was in line behind Kanaan and had the second-best practice lap of the day behind Kanaan, but she ran out of time to return to the track and attempt to improve her position.
"I would have to have gone back out there," Patrick said. "I practiced after qualifying, and each one of my laps was faster than my qualifying run. It would have been nice to have gone out there."
As several fast drivers, including Kanaan and Castroneves, waited in the wings to try to surpass Franchitti, others tried to knock Michael Andretti from the top 11.
This was the first successful implementation of the Indy 500's new qualifying procedure, in which only the top 11 positions in the 33-car field are locked in each day, but each driver gets three attempts.
Andretti survived bump attempts by Rahal Letterman Racing drivers Scott Sharp and Jeff Simmons and Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter in the final 30 minutes, eventually pulling out of line to give Kanaan a shot to answer Castroneves' impending attempt.
Darren Manning, who was in line immediately behind Andretti, also failed to knock him out of the 11th position.
The cards fell in Castroneves' favour, too, after a disappointing run with less than two hours left in the session culminated in a four-lap average under 225 mph. After Hornish's two edgy attempts, Castroneves took another shot and made it work.
"It's just incredible to make everything connect," Castroneves said. "So many things can go wrong. At the same time, when you can put everything together, it goes right. That's what happened."
And, even though it didn't end with the No. 1 starting position, it went right for Kanaan, too. He improved his position from sixth to second with the final run, and he led a successful day for AGR, which put all of its five cars in the top 11.
Kanaan said there was no question he would take a run at the pole in the final minutes.
"When Helio went out, they asked me, 'Do you want to go?'" Kanaan described. "I said, 'Yes.' Michael was already secured, so for me, it was either sixth or 11th; it wouldn't make a difference. I'm a racer, and I wanted to go for the pole. I wanted to give this team what they deserved."
Positions 12 through 22 will be determined by Sunday's qualifying. Another round of practice ensues next week before the second weekend of qualifying to determine the back third of the field.
Top 11 spots on the grid for the 91st Indianapolis 500:
Pos Driver Speed
1. Helio Castroneves 225.817
2. Tony Kanaan 225.757
3. Dario Franchitti 225.191
4. Scott Dixon 225.122
5. Sam Hornish Jr 225.109
6. Dan Wheldon 224.641
7. Ryan Briscoe 224.410
8. Danica Patrick 224.076
9. Marco Andretti 223.299
10. Tomas Scheckter 222.877
11. Michael Andretti 222.789[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Castroneves on Indy 500 pole
By Jeff Olson Sunday, May 13th 2007, 01:06 GMT
Helio Castroneves had a choice: be satisfied with a second-row starting position, or risk it all for the big prize.
He and his Penske teammates chose the latter and won the bet, taking the pole position for the 91st Indianapolis 500 with just four minutes left in Saturday's six-hour qualifying session.
Castroneves and his No. 3 Team Penske Honda/Dallara were safely in the race on the inside of the second row when the decision was made to withdraw that effort and go for the pole position.
At 5:53 pm, Castroneves took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Four laps later, he had bumped Dario Franchitti from the pole, which Franchitti had held since before 1 pm.
Even then, it wasn't a done deal. Tony Kanaan followed Castroneves on the track and appeared to be in line to bounce Castroneves from P1 until Kanaan's final lap - almost a tenth of a second lower than the previous lap - dropped his four-lap average to 225.757 mph, just 0.260 mph - or 0.420 seconds - behind Castroneves.
"I don't think I was breathing during those last four laps," Castroneves said. "I was holding my breath for the whole entire qualifying. It's four laps, not just one lap. The car does so many things during one lap; imagine what it does during four laps. You've just got to trust it, you know?"
Kanaan's No. 11 Andretti Green Racing Honda/Dallara turned laps in the high 225s - good enough to take the pole from Castroneves - until he dropped down to 225.358 mph on the final lap.
"I'm so sorry, guys," he told his crew on the radio during the cool down lap. "Trust me, I drove it for all it was worth. I'm so sorry."
The drama was evident both in and out of the car. Fans were glued to each lap reading during Kanaan's run. For the first three, his average was ahead of Castroneves'. On the final lap, though, Kanaan's average dropped below Castroneves'.
"It was a pretty tense moment," Kanaan said. "I was convinced I could do it. I think my warm-up lap was a little too quick, and I lost it on the first lap."
Kanaan's effort dropped Franchitti to third; earlier in the day, Franchitti and his No. 27 AGR Honda/Dallara had bumped Kanaan out of the top spot.
Franchitti's four-lap average of 225.191 mph held up to several late-day assaults, including two by Sam Hornish Jr. and those of Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon.
"With the position we were in, we couldn't have pulled out to have another go at it," Franchitti said. "But we're starting on the front row, and hopefully we'll have a strong race car. ... We're going into the race with a lot of optimism."
Behind the front row of Castroneves, Kanaan and Franchitti for the May 27 race will be Dixon, who took a run at the leaders but ended up fourth; Hornish, the defending champion who may have had the fastest car Saturday if not for two slips; and Wheldon, the 2005 winner whose speed from earlier in the week eluded him on Saturday.
Castroneves' pole was his second at Indy and a record 14th for Roger Penske's team, which also won a record 14 Indy 500s and four of the last six at Indy. Castroneves, who won the race in 2001 and 2002, finished second to then-teammate Gil de Ferran after his previous pole position.
"We're going to have to continue working," Castroneves said. "This is only the first race, I would say. Like Rick Mears says, 'We have two races at Indy. One is pole day and the other is the actual race.' ... This is the place to take a chance, and we did. We threw the dice."
The start of the qualifying session was nearly as active as the conclusion. Kanaan grabbed the early pole, but Franchitti, who was immediately behind Kanaan in line, used his teammate's description of the track conditions to post an impressive four-lap average of 225.191 mph.
"I have to thank TK because he came on the radio and told us what the track conditions were like right at that moment," Franchitti said.
"He told me exactly what it was like, so I knew what to do on the first turn of the first lap. I trust him enough to know that he's 100 percent honest with something like that."
That effort held up through the heat of the day. Both Penske cars, which drew late positions in the qualifying order, withdrew in the heat of the day and returned later. Hornish took two shots at Franchitti, but slid dangerously close to the wall on the first try, then got loose on the last lap of the second attempt.
"The same thing happened, just in different parts of the run," Hornish said. "The first run, I got a little bit wide on the exit of Turn 1 and couldn't get the car to turn.
"The second time, I got a bit of a push. Both times we ended up with the same scenario. I was ready to close my eyes and hit the wall."
Dixon then topped Hornish's effort with 37 minutes left in the session before Ganassi teammate Wheldon tried and failed in his shot at the pole, falling behind Hornish and Kanaan on the grid.
"The conditions today were so much different than we've been running with," Dixon said, noting the slightly cooler, less humid conditions Saturday. "It's frustrating. We missed by a bit too much."
Wheldon has led nearly 70 percent of the laps in the first four races of the IndyCar Series season and was the fastest driver during the first two days of practice earlier in the week. However, his speed fell off dramatically Saturday, and he settled for sixth on the grid.
"I'd love to get the pole here some day," Wheldon said. "I'm going to have to come back to do that. But the important thing is the race, and I'm looking forward to that."
Following the first two rows will be Ryan Briscoe, Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti in the third row, and Tomas Scheckter and Michael Andretti in the fourth row.
Patrick was in line behind Kanaan and had the second-best practice lap of the day behind Kanaan, but she ran out of time to return to the track and attempt to improve her position.
"I would have to have gone back out there," Patrick said. "I practiced after qualifying, and each one of my laps was faster than my qualifying run. It would have been nice to have gone out there."
As several fast drivers, including Kanaan and Castroneves, waited in the wings to try to surpass Franchitti, others tried to knock Michael Andretti from the top 11.
This was the first successful implementation of the Indy 500's new qualifying procedure, in which only the top 11 positions in the 33-car field are locked in each day, but each driver gets three attempts.
Andretti survived bump attempts by Rahal Letterman Racing drivers Scott Sharp and Jeff Simmons and Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter in the final 30 minutes, eventually pulling out of line to give Kanaan a shot to answer Castroneves' impending attempt.
Darren Manning, who was in line immediately behind Andretti, also failed to knock him out of the 11th position.
The cards fell in Castroneves' favour, too, after a disappointing run with less than two hours left in the session culminated in a four-lap average under 225 mph. After Hornish's two edgy attempts, Castroneves took another shot and made it work.
"It's just incredible to make everything connect," Castroneves said. "So many things can go wrong. At the same time, when you can put everything together, it goes right. That's what happened."
And, even though it didn't end with the No. 1 starting position, it went right for Kanaan, too. He improved his position from sixth to second with the final run, and he led a successful day for AGR, which put all of its five cars in the top 11.
Kanaan said there was no question he would take a run at the pole in the final minutes.
"When Helio went out, they asked me, 'Do you want to go?'" Kanaan described. "I said, 'Yes.' Michael was already secured, so for me, it was either sixth or 11th; it wouldn't make a difference. I'm a racer, and I wanted to go for the pole. I wanted to give this team what they deserved."
Positions 12 through 22 will be determined by Sunday's qualifying. Another round of practice ensues next week before the second weekend of qualifying to determine the back third of the field.
Top 11 spots on the grid for the 91st Indianapolis 500:
Pos Driver Speed
1. Helio Castroneves 225.817
2. Tony Kanaan 225.757
3. Dario Franchitti 225.191
4. Scott Dixon 225.122
5. Sam Hornish Jr 225.109
6. Dan Wheldon 224.641
7. Ryan Briscoe 224.410
8. Danica Patrick 224.076
9. Marco Andretti 223.299
10. Tomas Scheckter 222.877
11. Michael Andretti 222.789[/QUOTE]
| StuBeck | 05-13-2007 09:58 AM |
Actual times rather then the MPH would be nice. MPH tells us nothing that the position doesn't already tell us.
| Ferg | 05-13-2007 10:37 AM |
True, but the starting grid at Indy has always been based on speed, not lap time.
| StuBeck | 05-13-2007 10:45 AM |
Well yeah, its more an annoyance with how the US does lap times. "OMG, 225 MPH!" when the next few did the exact same thing isn't useful.
| goto_racing | 05-13-2007 12:05 PM |
(2.605 miles / SPEED ) *3600 = laptime in seconds
:)
:)
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