Indycar 2024

rfuerst911sc · 03-06-2024, 06:49 AM

We have been updating the 2023 thread so decided to start a 2024 thread . Looking forward to St. Pete race and the start of the season .

Zeke · 03-06-2024, 07:09 AM

Me too. I'm not a big fan of most street races though. Indy Cars are capable of reaching high speed and I like to see them wring it out. Even the beloved Long Beach Grand Prix is a bit tight. Any tighter and it's just bump and grind.

I know they don't like places like Michigan and Pocono, but there are some good ovals. Smaller, but I'd like to see them at Phoenix. If NASCAR can put 40 cars out there, IC should be able to run it.

greglepore · 03-06-2024, 07:41 AM

Related,The Lionheart on Hbo drops 3/12. Docu about Dan Weldon focused on his wife and kids and the kids racing.

Zeke · 03-06-2024, 09:00 AM

Weldon and Greg Moore were really good. I'm happy we haven't lost many since. Justin Wilson in 2015 was the last.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Curious to see how Grosjean does with new team Juncos. I like Marcus Ericsson for some wins this year with Andretti. And this is sort of a make or break year for Colton Herta - he really needs a good year or he becomes an also-ran.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

There will always be very skilled drivers who just never make it in Indy. The best thing they can do for the sport is give up the seat so that an up and coming person can take their shot. Two that I hope we are finally rid of are Jimmy Johnson and Marco Andretti.

rfuerst911sc · 03-06-2024, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Weldon and Greg Moore were really good. I'm happy we haven't lost many since. Justin Wilson in 2015 was the last.

I unfortunately remember all three drivers passing away . It's very easy to watch these drivers race and forget the potential for danger . From a local dirt track to F1 and everything in between danger is just one mistake away .

cockerpunk · 03-06-2024, 11:59 AM

Castroneves 100% still has it.

he could easily win his 5th.

greglepore · 03-06-2024, 12:00 PM

Hunter-Ray has one and Helio has 4 so not sure I understand - are they past their prime? Sure. But Helio could still catch lightning.

cockerpunk · 03-06-2024, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greglepore

Hunter-Ray has one and Helio has 4 so not sure I understand - are they past their prime? Sure. But Helio could still catch lightning.

the right setup, and a little luck, he could for sure. i struggle to even say he has lost his prime, he is killing it in sports cars right now.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Helio has been washed up for 3- 4 years

Oh, wait, in 2021 the washed up old man won his fourth Indy 500 that year. Hmmmmm

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Graham is not going to reach the elite status of his dad but he has had 6 wins and races hard. He isn't consistently a back marker like Johnson.

chapo · 03-06-2024, 06:42 PM

Helio capitalized on Greg Moores passing and never acknowledged it. I listened to a lot of podcasts including Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti who don't buy into the HCN love.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Helio has only been competitive at the Indy 500 for several years now. He's been a midfielder, at best, in the other races including other ovals. His personality is great for the sport though.

rfuerst911sc · 03-07-2024, 07:21 AM

With Helio taking on a manager/ambassador role at MSR I am not sure how he keeps his skills sharp ? I would think being out of the cockpit for any length of time it is difficult to knock the rust off .

Maybe he is just gifted and can quickly adapt , but his history over the last 2+ years outside of the 500 says otherwise .

astrochex · 03-07-2024, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

With Helio taking on a manager/ambassador role at MSR I am not sure how he keeps his skills sharp ? I would think being out of the cockpit for any length of time it is difficult to knock the rust off .

Maybe he is just gifted and can quickly adapt , but his history over the last 2+ years outside of the 500 says otherwise .

I think HCN gets away with a lot of on-track stupidity because of his name. Four 500 wins gives a lot of grace too.

cockerpunk · 03-07-2024, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

With Helio taking on a manager/ambassador role at MSR I am not sure how he keeps his skills sharp ? I would think being out of the cockpit for any length of time it is difficult to knock the rust off .

Maybe he is just gifted and can quickly adapt , but his history over the last 2+ years outside of the 500 says otherwise .

out of what cockpit? he just is coming off 2023 wins at daytona and petit in IMSA. won 3 straight daytona 24s, 2 straight petits, and the championship in 2020.

like, he still has it. he might not be driving an indycar as much as he used to, but the guy knows how to win races and drive cars.

cockerpunk · 03-07-2024, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

CP, ^^^^ I think you need to read this post again. We are talking Indy Car here. Not sports cars.

there isnt a terribly large difference in the porotypes versus an indycar.

if you look only at indycar, you arnt seeing the whole picture of where Castroneves is.

astrochex · 03-07-2024, 09:40 AM

For a not-to-be equaled introduction to the St Pete race, see https://forums.autosport.com/topic/225624-indycar-is-back-firestone-grand-prix-of-st-petersburg-2024/#entry10526297

cockerpunk · 03-07-2024, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

No, I'm looking at HC in an Indy Car only as that's the title of the thread. He may well wind up with No. 5 but I'm not taking my money to Vegas on that.

And that's part of my point. If you bet on Andretti and Unser to win and place in LB, that was a good bet in the day. Anyone in an Indy Car at the 500 in a Ganassi or Penske car is a good bet.

I have no doubts about HCN in other cars. Scott Pruett showed you could drive well into your 50's. But he fell behind in Indy Car. The things are brutal. Even F1 has power steering. And IC runs on a lot of sub standard tracks that F1 would never consider. It seems to favor younger drivers for the road courses.

This is what my opinions are based on. Youth, strength, endurance and starting in karts at age 5. HCN did start in karts. He did win the Brazilian Karting Championship at age 14. He is currently 48, the same age as I stopped racing karts. But I had to give up sprint kart tracks about 5 years earlier and focus on longer tracks.

we are talking about if helio still has "it" or not. so his driving is the subject, not indycar.

Helio has still got it, and could still win another 500.