|
|
Post by charleselan on May 12, 2019 11:37:39 GMT
This will probably be a better race than the Spanish Grand Prix.  Rene, It could turn out to be. The race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was fairly ordinary until a weather front brought more challenging conditions. Simon Pagenaud moved brilliantly from fifth to first over eleven wet laps, taking the lead from Scott Dixon on the penultimate when Dixon went wide entering an infield turn.
It's a very good road course, basically the one designed for Formula One with a few smart modifications.
Chris, your man Jack Harvey was third after a strong drive all race distance. He was fast in recent years in Indy Lights and is now trimmed down and with a good team, Meyer Shank Racing, new to IndyCar.
There were nine American drivers on the grid for this event, three British (I include Ed Jones, born in Dubai to British parents), three Brazilian, two French, two Swedish, one Australian, one New Zealander, one Canadian, one Japanese and one Mexican with an Irish name. None of the ten lords a-leaping leaped fast enough to qualify.
Cheers, Carl
It was indeed a good race Carl, and the last ten laps were fantastic with a drive by Simon Pagenaud that was outstanding in challenging conditions. I cannot remember the last time that I have seen someone come through to win in that style for many years; truly inspiring. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on May 12, 2019 16:13:25 GMT
Rene,
I agree, and one factor is the midwest mindset favoring ovals, another could have been the forecast of rain and a false assumption of postponement, but even a good attendance will be lost at so massive a speedway where a normal raceday total is more than 250,000 for the 500. First time visitors to Indy are always stunned by its size.
-Carl
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on May 12, 2019 20:52:02 GMT
i look forward to seeing this race on utub
I had the pelasure of going to the Indy500 in 1996 when Jacques won, I have never seen or been anywhere with so many people, let alone polite people - it was truly an incredible memory and yes Carl, I was stunned by it
|
|
|
|
Post by robmarsh on May 16, 2019 13:44:06 GMT
I watched the race on Monday night. I had recorded it but since I didn't know the result is was as good as live. I found it very refreshing after watching Spain and though the cars are slower than F1, when they are racing one doesn't really notice that. Pagenaud drove an excellent race. I also like the way that on road courses at least, they are not so quick to put out a full course yellow and safety car.
Looking forward to the 500 in 10 days time.
|
|
|
|
Post by René on May 16, 2019 15:32:04 GMT
I watched the race on Monday night. I had recorded it but since I didn't know the result is was as good as live. I found it very refreshing after watching Spain and though the cars are slower than F1, when they are racing one doesn't really notice that. Pagenaud drove an excellent race. I also like the way that on road courses at least, they are not so quick to put out a full course yellow and safety car. Looking forward to the 500 in 10 days time. Yes it was a good race! Did you see Alonso crash during 500 practice? |
|
|
|
Post by robmarsh on May 17, 2019 6:39:53 GMT
Thanks René I hadn't seen that. A bit disturbing was the way the car lifted after striking the inside wall. The Indy oval is a scary place with the speeds they achieve.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikael on May 19, 2019 12:11:30 GMT
Alonso's tribulations to (even just) qualify at Indy 500 are intriguing. The last part of the famed Triple Crown might not be so easily acquired.
There's a very interesting article on Autosport's homepage on how difficult and delicate it is to go fast there:
www.autosport.com/performance/feature/9115/the-secrets-of-oval-racing
This citation is interesting too (again from Autosport): "But the Brickyard is a harsh mistress, just ask the Andretti family that has notched up a grand total of one victory - Mario's in the Brawner Hawk back in 1969 - despite consistently being contenders over the past half century." |
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on May 19, 2019 13:12:28 GMT
For four to five hours I had the qualifying for the Indy 500 streaming on my computer and it was good viewing. the conditions were very difficult due to high temperatures and high winds that lead to many a moment. As Mikael has pointed out Teflonso did not have the smooth run this time, and the McLaren team had their backs against the wall following the earlier testing crash.
At the end of my viewing late last evening The Tef had not qualified in the Top 30 which means if he cannot improve today (Sunday) he will not start.
For me however the absolute star was young Carlton Herta, who was sensational in putting in two runs that were done in less than optimal conditions. This kid looks super impressive and surely if he is minded to do so, then F1 would not be out of his reach, and then the USA would have a real contender in what some refer to as the ultimate category.
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on May 20, 2019 0:57:49 GMT
Fernando Alonso has never been good at making decisions, a basic weakness that helps explain why he failed to qualify at Indianapolis. Whoever decided that Team McLaren, as an independent partner, would somehow find a fresh approach and outperform Andretti Autosport was delusional, and Alonso, after his experience with Team McLaren in Formula One, was foolish to agree.
Several times in Alonso's career, ignorance and arrogance have combined to produce blunders, and both were in the wings today. Everyone wanted Alonso in the race, and to prepare for today's final attempt, McLaren received extensive overnight guidance from Team Penske and Andretti Autosport engineers. As a result, the set-up was considerably improved, but a single qualifying attempt in essentially a brand new car wasn't enough to attain optimum speed. They simply ran out of time.
Their only recourse now, an unsavory one, is to buy someone else's seat. Once again, Fernando Alonso is hoist by a petard reeking of Flavio Briatore.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikael on May 20, 2019 4:11:37 GMT
Their only recourse now, an unsavory one, is to buy someone else's seat. Once again, Fernando Alonso is hoist by a petard reeking of Flavio Briatore. Amazing that such an approach is possible! |
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on May 20, 2019 12:20:52 GMT
I didn't hang around long enough to see the outcome as its as raining hard when I tuned in on Sunday evening. Carl hits the nail on the head with his comment; sheer arrogance would appear to be the thought with McLaren here. They have good people running the team but I do not think that many are familiar with Indy car racing. Bob Fernley was a good operator at Forced India and got shoved out by Stroll when he took over, but i do not recall Bob being an Indy expert. Teflonso certainly had a big wake up call this weekend, maybe he should have learnt something from El Maestro JM Fangio, you go to the best team to achieve your ambitions. It also knocked the wind out of Chubby Brown's sails as well, which if honest gave me some pleasure  . |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on May 20, 2019 15:32:13 GMT
Their only recourse now, an unsavory one, is to buy someone else's seat. Once again, Fernando Alonso is hoist by a petard reeking of Flavio Briatore. Amazing that such an approach is possible! The tradition at the Indy 500 was always that a team owner can replace drivers. Normally this has been done when a driver is too slow, which makes good sense, but can also be for other reasons, and many driver contracts still allow for this at Indianapolis.
The concept at Indianapolis for decades was that owners had unquestioned control of their one entry, shepherded from conception to a conclusion hopefully in victory lane. Except for the very fastest, drivers were entirely dispensable.
The idea of multi-car teams began at Indy when Colin Chapman decided to have Dan Gurney team with Jim Clark. Soon after, A.J. Foyt began having a second car for someone who'd turn it over when asked. Other entrants saw the advantage of numbers, and today single car teams are rare, like the tradition of changing drivers, but both still exist.
|
|
|
|
Post by René on May 20, 2019 18:47:03 GMT
Fernando Alonso has never been good at making decisions, a basic weakness that helps explain why he failed to qualify at Indianapolis. Whoever decided that Team McLaren, as an independent partner, would somehow find a fresh approach and outperform Andretti Autosport was delusional, and Alonso, after his experience with Team McLaren in Formula One, was foolish to agree. Several times in Alonso's career, ignorance and arrogance have combined to produce blunders, and both were in the wings today. Everyone wanted Alonso in the race, and to prepare for today's final attempt, McLaren received extensive overnight guidance from Team Penske and Andretti Autosport engineers. As a result, the set-up was considerably improved, but a single qualifying attempt in essentially a brand new car wasn't enough to attain optimum speed. They simply ran out of time. Their only recourse now, an unsavory one, is to buy someone else's seat. Once again, Fernando Alonso is hoist by a petard reeking of Flavio Briatore. Great comment Carl. Making the wrong choices seems so exemplary for Alonso's career. Not always but he could have won more than he did had he been more clever at times. But without a doubt one of the best racers of his era and what a shame he did not qualify. He was fantastic last year and I was looking forward to his participation. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on May 21, 2019 4:11:03 GMT
McLaren offered to buy Fernando Alonso a place on the seventh row, in a car qualified by veteran driver, Oriol Servia. How the other team, Arrow Electronics sponsored Schmidt Peterson Motorsport / Stange Racing responded is unknown. The choice was logical because Arrow Electronics also sponsored Alonso's car. Bob Fernley became the designated fall-guy and was fired late Sunday. The official story is that Alonso declined to take another's place. We may never know.
www.apnews.com/d467f0f538bc421c9a0214081ba4e13e |
|
|
|
Post by robmarsh on May 21, 2019 11:06:11 GMT
Mclaren did turn down the chance to buy a place so good for them. The problem goes back to Alonso embarrassing Honda who did not want to deal with him again. That precluded him from running with the Andretti team which he did on his first attempt. It's a pity but the way I see it, pretty much self inflicted. Alonso, to me, brilliant driver as he was, will always be seen as what might have been. It doesn't say much for his judgement if he still hangs around with Briatore, one of the most odious men to appear in F1. By your company you shall be known.
|
|
.