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Post by charleselan on Mar 21, 2022 15:11:53 GMT
The NBC broadcast started abruptly, already on lap 30, and I had no idea why, but the network fast-forward seemed right after watching the entire Formula One race so I did the same, stopping to watch closely when the leaderboard changed. Jack Harvey had a serious accident on Saturday and wasn't cleared to drive. I hope he heals quickly. If it wasn't for bad luck, Alexander Rossi would have none at all... Rinus Veekay, who had driven brilliantly and was often in the lead, was forced to reduce speed and fall back to save fuel near the end. Indycar needs to reduce the artificial importance of good mileage or else go electric. A very exciting final lap with Josef Newgarden winning by less than 1/10th of a second from the amazing Scott McLaughlin. Very annoyingly I had a similar problem although of a different nature. I was guided by a motor sport web site regarding race times and they posted that the race would begin at 18.30 hours European time and so I tuned in at that time only to find the blasted race was already 126 laps old, not amused at all. So much of what happened early on was missed and with Diffey mindlessly rambling on in commentary it was all unclear. No doubt that Scott McLaughlin is the real deal and I feel desperately unlucky not to win, back markers playing a part in the final lap. Also what a drive by Jimmy Johnson who used his vast knowledge of Texas Motor Speedway to great advantage and finished a fine sixth, only pipped out of fifth by Scott Dixon on the last tour. |
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Post by René on Mar 21, 2022 17:18:20 GMT
That was not a bad oval race! At one stage I thought Veekay could win it, he had so much speed so that was a bit of a shame. But there was a lot of excitement and some great racing.
In the end 'my man' Josef Newgarden won which I thought was great but of course it was heartbreaking for Scott McLaughlin to lose out like this. I did see them joking together after the race however, still pumped up by adrenaline but all was well. Scott McLaughlin is making his mark though. Great stuff.
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Post by Carl on Mar 21, 2022 22:43:44 GMT
I'm not fond of big high-banked ovals, one reason I wasn't too upset to miss the start, but the absence of background information does create a void. NBC is promoting a special subsidiary they call Peacock (see the orignal network logo below) on which is shown qualifying and any post-race programming. Most of Peacock's normal programming is repeats of mediocre television dramas and situation comedies bought cheap by NBC, but it's free on my cable/internet provider, so I may sign on. One welcome change I noticed is more commentary by accomplished professional drivers Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe, and less hyperbolic nonsense from Leigh Diffey, from whom the less the better because, as John noticed, he'll likely never change. Maybe someone at NBC Sports realized they have an idiot in the broadcast booth. Having missed qualifying, I was pleasantly surprised to see Felix Rosenqvist on pole. He deserves to come into his own. One drawback with big ovals is that passing is usually a function of momentum, the early part of which is hard to notice, but as René writes, the race was pretty good, even exciting when drivers challenged each other.
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Post by René on Apr 7, 2022 17:19:23 GMT
Long Beach Grand PrixThis weekend’s race is in the streets of Long Beach, a street course with a long history, first in Formula One and then in IndyCars. A track that usually guarantees good racing! 
Team Penske looks very strong with a win and a second for Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden kickstarting his season by winning on the Texas oval. McLaughlin was very strong at the St. Pete’s street course so expect him to do well at Long Beach also. Usually very good at street races is Colton Herta but Andretti Autosport is having a bit of a slow start this season. A 4th and a 12th position is not a good beginning for Colton. Chip Ganassi Racing with reigning champion Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson looks closer to Team Penske but also not completely there yet. But it’s IndyCar and anything can change in no time. Let’s go racing in sunny California!
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Post by Carl on Apr 7, 2022 17:38:37 GMT
Long Beach Grand PrixThis weekend’s race is in the streets of Long Beach, a street course with a long history, first in Formula One and then in IndyCars. A track that usually guarantees good racing! 
Team Penske looks very strong with a win and a second for Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden kickstarting his season by winning on the Texas oval. McLaughlin was very strong at the St. Pete’s street course so expect him to do well at Long Beach also. Usually very good at street races is Colton Herta but Andretti Autosport is having a bit of a slow start this season. A 4th and a 12th position is not a good beginning for Colton. Chip Ganassi Racing with reigning champion Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson looks closer to Team Penske but also not completely there yet. But it’s IndyCar and anything can change in no time. Let’s go racing in sunny California!
René, It should be an exciting race, but the course outlined in blue is wildly inaccurate! Fortunately, there's little chance of anyone around the table getting lost 
Cheers, Carl
Here's the current track  |
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Post by René on Apr 7, 2022 17:43:55 GMT
Long Beach Grand PrixThis weekend’s race is in the streets of Long Beach, a street course with a long history, first in Formula One and then in IndyCars. A track that usually guarantees good racing! Team Penske looks very strong with a win and a second for Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden kickstarting his season by winning on the Texas oval. McLaughlin was very strong at the St. Pete’s street course so expect him to do well at Long Beach also. Usually very good at street races is Colton Herta but Andretti Autosport is having a bit of a slow start this season. A 4th and a 12th position is not a good beginning for Colton. Chip Ganassi Racing with reigning champion Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson looks closer to Team Penske but also not completely there yet. But it’s IndyCar and anything can change in no time. Let’s go racing in sunny California!
René, It should be an exciting race, but the course outlined in blue is wildly inaccurate! Fortunately, there's little chance of anyone around the table getting lost  Cheers, Carl
Here's the current track <button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button>
I know!!! I noticed it was wrong after I posted it and wanted to change it but did another post first. And now you beat me to it!  
I believe it is a sketch of what a possible F1 track could look like...
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Post by Carl on Apr 7, 2022 18:29:41 GMT
René, It should be an exciting race, but the course outlined in blue is wildly inaccurate! Fortunately, there's little chance of anyone around the table getting lost Cheers, Carl
I know!!! I noticed it was wrong after I posted it and wanted to change it but did another post first. And now you beat me to it!  
I believe it is a sketch of what a possible F1 track could look like...
René, It looks like a legitimate prospective course utilizing aspects of past ones but incorporating wild meanderings across existing structures. I wonder if Hermann Tilke has gone insane after taking acid with ecclestone...  Cheers, Carl |
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Post by René on Apr 8, 2022 9:14:18 GMT
I wonder if Hermann Tilke has gone insane after taking acid with ecclestone...  Cheers, Carl
Haha! Looks like it... and we managed to have the wrong map repeated 3 times!
"I designed a new track! I designed a new track! I designed a new track!"
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Post by charleselan on Apr 8, 2022 14:55:57 GMT
Or could it be designed by a slightly more subdued Carsten Tilke who rather over-reached himself with the ideology of designing the fastest ever street circuit in Saudi.
Carsten "I'm not mad; I'm not mad; I'm not mad".
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Post by René on Apr 8, 2022 17:02:52 GMT
Or could it be designed by a slightly more subdued Carsten Tilke who rather over-reached himself with the ideology of designing the fastest ever street circuit in Saudi. Carsten "I'm not mad; I'm not mad; I'm not mad". Haha, brilliant! Ze crazy zjerman designers... |
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Post by chrisb on Apr 9, 2022 9:01:15 GMT
whichever circuit is the real Long Beach it will always remain one of my favourite street circuits and one I would dearly like to visit - It is also the anniversary of Mario's victory in the Lotus 78, that incredible photo of his coming down the hill will always be etched in memory.
With first practice over Simon is quickest and my man Jack is aiming to get his world championship drive on a better footing after having to miss the last race due to concussion.
Carl, priceless, it did make me wonder if anyone actually did design a circuit whilst on acid? man, that would have been far out - cool
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Post by René on Apr 9, 2022 9:50:39 GMT
Yep, a bit surprised to see Pagenaud in the Meyer Shank car on P1 but nice. And Rossi in the Andretti Autosport 2nd in front of the Penskes of McLaughlin and Newgarden.
It's looking very close so far but this is of course only FP1. Let's wait and see if they can keep that up. |
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Post by Carl on Apr 10, 2022 4:06:50 GMT
"Practice was the usual shambles."
-Henry N. Manney III
"Who stays off the wall will win" -Carl C. Slate Esq.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Rank / Driver / Dallara / Engine / Firestone Time Speed 1 26 Herta, Colton D/H/F 01:05.3095 108.480 2 2 Newgarden, Josef D/C/F 01:05.7550 107.745
3 10 Palou, Alex D/H/F 01:05.8667 107.563
4 7 Rosenqvist, Felix D/C/F 01:05.9349 107.451 5 27 Rossi, Alexander D/H/F 01:06.0674 107.236
6 28 Grosjean, Romain D/H/F No Time No Speed Round 3 / Firestone Fast Six 7 12 Power, Will D/C/F 01:05.8745 107.550
8 8 Ericsson, Marcus D/H/F 01:05.9548 107.419
9 3 McLaughlin, Scott D/C/F 01:06.0507 107.263
10 60 Pagenaud, Simon D/H/F 01:06.0678 107.235
11 5 O'Ward, Pato D/C/F 01:06.0726 107.228
12 14 Kirkwood, Kyle (R) D/C/F 01:06.2604 106.924
13 15 Rahal, Graham D/H/F 01:06.6896 106.235
14 06 Castroneves, Helio D/H/F 01:06.2467 106.946
15 21 VeeKay, Rinus D/C/F 01:06.7049 106.211
16 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F 01:06.3241 106.821
17 29 DeFrancesco, Devlin (R) D/H/F 01:06.7418 106.152
18 20 Daly, Conor D/C/F 01:06.4489 106.620
19 18 Malukas, David (R) D/H/F 01:06.7925 106.072
20 30 Lundgaard, Christian (R) D/H/F 01:06.5049 106.530
21 45 Harvey, Jack D/H/F 01:06.9708 105.789
22 77 Ilott, Callum (R) D/C/F 01:06.6672 106.271
23 51 Sato, Takuma D/H/F 01:07.1001 105.586
24 4 Kellett, Dalton D/C/F 01:06.7679 106.111
25 48 Johnson, Jimmie D/H/F 01:09.0287 102.636
26 11 Calderon, Tatiana (R) D/C/F 01:07.4789 104.993
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Post by René on Apr 10, 2022 9:46:19 GMT
That grid is a recipe for a fantastic race! Good to see Colton kickstarting his title aspirations. He needs that win. But it won't be easy with Newgarden and Palou right behind him! |
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Post by Carl on Apr 11, 2022 3:56:57 GMT
As he did last year In Nashville, Colton tried too hard in pursuit and hit the wall. Josef Newgarden, Romain Grosjean and Alex Palou were there in the end. The race ended under yellow with a single lap remaining and Newgarden just ahead of Grosjean, who I believe would have caught and passed him. Sacrebleu!
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