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Post by René on Aug 23, 2020 16:12:47 GMT
Enjoy the race my friends!  |
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Post by Carl on Aug 24, 2020 3:59:44 GMT
The Indy 500 had an unusual scarcity of good passing, too many cars hitting walls with drivers not sure what happened. A possible explanation, that the new aeroscreens cause a wake turbulence not experienced before, was discussed and some helmets did jiggle about more than normal. In any case, Oliver Askew and Spencer Pigot were both very lucky after frightening impacts. Although the extent of injury to the badly shaken Spencer was not clear, hopefully he'll be fine. The near total* absence of 300,000 spectators didn't bother me, but the announcers, perhaps feeling they should fill the void, responded with nonstop chatter. NBC's onscreen scoreboard was too big and too busy, with a shuffling of positions that distracted like a casino dealer constantly shuffling the deck. I would have enjoyed an occasional peace and quiet to assess the situation for myself. As always, professional driver commentators Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy were far more informative than the hyperbolic Leigh Diffey, his emphatic Australian accent too loud to be charming. The pressure at Indy is intense, and sadly Rinus Veekay made two errors during the same pit stop, briefly locking his brakes, narrowly missing a crew member, and stalling his engine as he left. He'd been very close to the front and the lengthy pitstop and subsequent drive through penalty dropped him from contention. * One diehard fan researched and found a place to watch from an adjacent private backyard, reportedly paying the property owner $400 to build a simple platform from which to peer above his wall. Odd, but damn cool!  |
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Post by robmarsh on Aug 24, 2020 7:24:14 GMT
I always enjoy the Indy 500 even if I don't enjoy the cars. I enjoyed the race and happy for Takumo Sato to win, he took his opportunities as and when they presented themselves. Alonso disappointed, he was never competitive during the race. I liked the young Dutch driver, Rinus VeeKay even if some of the commentators tried to censure him about his driving. Scott Dixon must be gutted but I sense his tactics were wrong and he and his team misjudged things, maybe a bit complacent. Marco Andretti really only featured on the pace laps. It does seem to be down to his attitude, even he mentioned that, but I don't think he has the same burning ambition as the previous two generations.
I think under Roger Penske, IMS and Indycar, may re invent itself in a positive way. I really hope they do something with the cars though, as apart from the nose, I find them horrible to look at.
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Post by chrisb on Aug 24, 2020 7:43:24 GMT
Utub did show some of the qualifying and hopes for Marco, which was never going to happen, all I have seen on AS is Sato won under a caution and Rossi reckons without that caution he would have won, but don't know how Jack Harvey got on or teflonso - all I do know is that he won't win the triple crown, and quite frankly he wouldn't be deserving to share Graham's podium.
I also didn't realise that Marco has been around for a long time and is in his 30's?
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Post by charleselan on Aug 24, 2020 10:39:45 GMT
I enjoyed uninterrupted viewing last evening thanks to an excellent live stream of the Fox showing on my computer and also full live coverage on YouTube by a Spanish channel. So sat infant of the large TV watching the Spanish stream while Fox played on the computer in the background. Far too many big accidents for my liking, two were violently destructive and a testimony to the integrity of the modern race car, Paul Tracey commented that the latest cockpit safety devices helped keep Pigot from serious injury although the lad looked pretty shook up, it was a hefty blow indeed. The cars are not attractive with those great big screens and look like somewhat demented semi open wheeled modern LMP cars, and they look difficult to get out of as well. But such is the demand for safety; maybe they should have a word with the motorcycle racers about safety, or lack of. I was delighted for Taku, his second win at Indy, and it has to be said he was a factor all race. Is he really 43 years of age now, he sure doesn't look it, something in that Indy milk . Always felt that he never lived up to his ability in F1, is it possible that it is something Japanese that prevents these talents from reaching the heights in F1 and MotoGP etc? I remember back in the days when he was dominating the British F3 Championship a weekly publication remarked that he was like Ronnie in the way he drove, such a shame that it did not translate into F1. However he is still mega quick and committed, that was a great performance, and the way he defended from Scott Dixon before the "Yellow" was pretty emphatic. Dixon should have won as he was pretty dominant all race, but took his eye off the ball and someone of his experience should have known that an accident could terminate the race at any time. There is no doubt Alexander Rossi is very quick and brave, but to me he is far too animated in the car and gets too worked up when things do not go according to plan; there is a difference between the "red mist" and "loosing it". Young Veekay really impressed for someone so young, he will learn and then look out as he is seriously quick. I too picked up the commentators having a dig at his moves, total nonsense from what i could see. Marco, what can one say. Lovely guy it would appear, his pre-race interview was excellent but he lacks something and it isn't talent, maybe he ain't nasty enough. |
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Post by René on Aug 24, 2020 17:04:33 GMT
I enjoyed the race and was happy for Sato. It looked like Dixon's race and could have been without the late yellow but Takuma was really 'on it' and just looked more sharp at the end.
Rinus VeeKay looked very strong in the beginning where he showed his speed. The pitstop was a disaster which he immediately admitted and apologized for but then he actually had a very strong race. He was in a hopeless position because he also got the stop and go penalty for hitting a mechanic but his speed and his passes were impressive. He was even the fastest man on track for the last part of the race. He has a lot of natural speed and seems to digest and use his mistakes a bit like Charles Leclerc does. It was a race of 'what if' and 'could have been' but he'll come back stronger.
Alonso was invisible this race so his triple crown dream will probably just stay a dream.
I have no complaining about Dutch Indycar commentator René Hoogterp who is very good. He's knowledgeable, enthusiastic but never hyper. This time he was partnered by Robert Doornbos who of course has experience at Indy.
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Post by Carl on Aug 25, 2020 5:18:09 GMT
Rob and John Charles, I believe that you both heard criticism directed at Rinus Veekay, but for some reason I don't recall the censorious comments. Old hands like Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell closely watch young drivers and are at times disconcerted by the very fast ones like Rinus Veekay. They raved about his speed and control in qualifying and maybe when he drove with the same total comfort in race conditions, it made them nervous, in which case I might have given their concerns no mind.
It's also possible that I have become forgetful, but the Las Vegas odds are strongly against. -Carl P.S. Also interesting is the current domination by Honda engines, the first four and eight of the top ten at Indy. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and series owner Roger Penske has dozens of Chevrolet dealerships, including his first one, bought with a loan from his father, who should have advised his son to diversify into Honda as well. |
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Post by chrisb on Aug 25, 2020 8:12:53 GMT
I managed to catch the highlights, and share Scott's questioning of the caution not red flag, that was a seriously nasty accident but thankfully he walked away from it, that is such a relief, and wasn't Teflonso so absent? pleased that Jack got a good result, he deserves a top seat
I saw Taku win at Croft in his F3 days - he was just so much quicker than anyone else, but then we have had a few F3 UK champions who haven't gone onto the success expected, but I was surprised about Taku not succeeding in F1, good on him for being a success in Indycars though,
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Post by charleselan on Aug 25, 2020 13:11:21 GMT
Rob and John Charles, I believe that you both heard criticism directed at Rinus Veekay, but for some reason I don't recall the censorious comments. Old hands like Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell closely watch young drivers and are at times disconcerted by the very fast ones like Rinus Veekay. They raved about his speed and control in qualifying and maybe when he drove with the same total comfort in race conditions, it made them nervous, in which case I might have given their concerns no mind.
It's also possible that I have become forgetful, but the Las Vegas odds are strongly against. -Carl P.S. Also interesting is the current domination by Honda engines, the first four and eight of the top ten at Indy. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and series owner Roger Penske has dozens of Chevrolet dealerships, including his first one, bought with a loan from his father, who should have advised his son to diversify into Honda as well. Carl, I seem to recall something along the lines that young Veekay's overtaking was a bit aggressive, the commentary team did not harp on about it, but the message was sent. It could be that experienced hands at Indy like Paul Tracey know that certain overtaking manoeuvres on high speed ovals have to be executed differently to that on road courses. In the past experienced racers have been critical of newcomers who cut back in front taking the air from the front wing of the following car. JC |
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Post by Carl on Aug 31, 2020 0:42:31 GMT
Rob and John Charles, I believe that you both heard criticism directed at Rinus Veekay, but for some reason I don't recall the censorious comments. Old hands like Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell closely watch young drivers and are at times disconcerted by the very fast ones like Rinus Veekay. They raved about his speed and control in qualifying and maybe when he drove with the same total comfort in race conditions, it made them nervous, in which case I might have given their concerns no mind.
It's also possible that I have become forgetful, but the Las Vegas odds are strongly against. -Carl P.S. Also interesting is the current domination by Honda engines, the first four and eight of the top ten at Indy. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and series owner Roger Penske has dozens of Chevrolet dealerships, including his first one, bought with a loan from his father, who should have advised his son to diversify into Honda as well. Carl, I seem to recall something along the lines that young Veekay's overtaking was a bit aggressive, the commentary team did not harp on about it, but the message was sent. It could be that experienced hands at Indy like Paul Tracey know that certain overtaking manoeuvres on high speed ovals have to be executed differently to that on road courses. In the past experienced racers have been critical of newcomers who cut back in front taking the air from the front wing of the following car. JC A prescient observation, John Charles! Cutting across the nose too soon after a pass was not unusual this weekend. The races on the 1.25 mile oval at Madison, Illinois were fast paced with several great passes and some controversial ones Saturday's race was stopped at the start because a few near the back tried to secure an instant podium: The 1966 Indy pole sitter drives a lap in his Hawk/Ford:
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Post by René on Aug 31, 2020 8:32:15 GMT
I have not seen much of the racing in Illenois this weekend but Rinus VeeKay has done a great job by finishing 6th and 4th. Also happy to see Newgarden winning the second race to get himself back into championship contention.
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Post by charleselan on Aug 31, 2020 10:35:12 GMT
I had no idea that there was an Indy car race this past weekend until flicking through YouTube last evening and I saw the highlights of race one. Absolute carnage at the start, but the limited race action that was available in the package was very goo indeed. Taku really has a wasp in his bonnet at the moment and some of his overtakes were; shakes hands rapidly to explain, the one on young O'Ward was tight and uncompromising.
Haven't seen race two so cannot comment on that so far.
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Post by Carl on Sept 7, 2020 4:02:43 GMT
IndyCar was originally scheduled to race Monday, September 7, but has rescheduled to a double event next weekend, September 12-13. The normal starting time is 14.00 (19.00 in England / 20.00 Central European) but stay tuned because of the rescheduling.
Mid-Ohio is one of the great natural terrain road courses in America and will present an opportunity for the road racing specialists to shine. About one third of the drivers are more comfortable on ovals, one third prefer road courses, and one third are outstanding on both.
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Post by charleselan on Sept 7, 2020 13:22:32 GMT
IndyCar was originally scheduled to race Monday, September 7, but has rescheduled to a double event next weekend, September 12-13. The normal starting time is 14.00 (19.00 in England / 20.00 Central European) but stay tuned because of the rescheduling. Mid-Ohio is one of the great natural terrain road courses in America and will present an opportunity for the road racing specialists to shine. About one third of the drivers are more comfortable on ovals, one third prefer road courses, and one third are outstanding on both. Mid Ohio is a wonderful race track, old school like Elkart Lake with brilliant undulating terrain. Should be a cracking race meeting. Below the great Emerson Fittipaldi in the Penske 1992 navigating the Keyhole section of the track.  |
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Post by Carl on Sept 7, 2020 16:12:06 GMT
IndyCar was originally scheduled to race Monday, September 7, but has rescheduled to a double event next weekend, September 12-13. The normal starting time is 14.00 (19.00 in England / 20.00 Central European) but stay tuned because of the rescheduling. Mid-Ohio is one of the great natural terrain road courses in America and will present an opportunity for the road racing specialists to shine. About one third of the drivers are more comfortable on ovals, one third prefer road courses, and one third are outstanding on both. Mid Ohio is a wonderful race track, old school like Elkart Lake with brilliant undulating terrain. Should be a cracking race meeting. Below the great Emerson Fittipaldi in the Penske 1992 navigating the Keyhole section of the track. Wonderful photograph of one of the greats, whose family loyalty led him into a wilderness which led ultimately to America. This was the year he convinced a fellow Brazilian to test drive a CART Penske, which Ayrton Senna praised for its traditional demands on the driver. Wouldn't it have shaken the racing world if Senna's restless discontent convinced him to cross the Atlantic for Champ Car? |
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