Indy Qualifying

[Reg]

Jimmy caught it pretty well on his last run. Should be a good race next week. Let’s hope for a safe day.

Didn’t Gil DeFerran hold a speed record that was still good from back in the early 90s? (Checked California Fontana - not Indy)

[greglepore]

Yeah, that was a Colton level catch.
I really want him to get a top 5, because I admire that he could have just retired to career in the booth, but wanted a new challenge ... another Cup championship was blase, but go do something out of the wheelhouse. I get that the coverage is over the top, but the man is the real deal, completely humble in every interchange with the media, and yet capable of getting to the fast 12 in his first time at the Thunderdome (admittedly with class A equipment).

[cockerpunk]

im kinda rooting for jimmy too. hes just so bad on the road courses.

[javadog]

Well, thank God for him, this race is not on the road course.

[URY914]

Like every year I'm pulling for Marco.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

im kinda rooting for jimmy too. hes just so bad on the road courses.

Yes, he just doesnt get turning right. I have been a JJ fan since he started driving for Hendrick but I am afraid he is too old to be doing Indy cars. That said, Id love to see him win one.

[red 928]

234 mph in an indy car
I bet they have to break really hard
to make the hairpin at corner one

[javadog]

Originally Posted by red 928

234 mph in an indy car
I bet they have to break really hard
to make the hairpin at corner one

Stand on the front straight and look at turn one. You would want to brake, I promise you. For all the size of the place, and it is huge, the track is narrower than you think and the banking isn’t all that steep. It takes pretty huge balls to not want to hit the brakes, ask any of the drivers. It’s something they work up to.

[greglepore]

I'd love to see Marco win, but it'd take something nuts happening this year, the team hasn't had the pace.

As to JJ and road courses, yeah, he's behind the curve. He admits that he still is learning the brake and release points as the cars are so different. But when you consider that he's both new to downforce cars and this level of road racing and still usually within a blink of the kids in front of him that have been doing it for years, it paints a different picture.

[red 928]

Turns at Indy are just over 9 degrees and 1/4 mile long

BTW I get scared taking the offramp on
the freeway so I'm not a good example


comparing F1 cars to indy cars isn't really fair

At the circuit of the Americas track in Texas:

In terms of lap time, Formula one rules the roost, with the fastest (race) lap being 1:36.169.
That is a full 12 seconds faster than IndyCar, where the fastest lap is 1:48.8953. Finally, MotoGP’s fastest lap is 2:03.575, nearly half a minute slower.

The all-out lap record at COTA including qualifying and testing was by Bottas 1:32.03
Colton Herta in an indy car did 1:46.6258

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by URY914

Like every year I'm pulling for Marco.

You are not alone.

Anyone named Andretti (or works for someone named Andretti) are pulling for him.

The rest of the human race just wants him to:
1) Not do something stupid and take out a contender who can actually win
2) Not whine

edit:
Looks like one more person: Greglepore wants him to win.

[herr_oberst]

I'm part of the Anybody but Andretti faction. Something about that whole family just rubs me the wrong way - with the exception of the late John Andretti who apparently was tasked with being the sole "humble and appreciative" Andretti.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I'm part of the Anybody but Andretti faction. Something about that whole family just rubs me the wrong way - with the exception of the late John Andretti who apparently was tasked with being the sole "humble and appreciative" Andretti.

Interesting you mentioned this, didn't want to upset any Andretti fans but I agree

When I read this...

“I talked to (Liberty Media CEO) Greg (Maffei) and I asked him, `Just let it go to a bid, we´ll beat everybody,'” Andretti told AP. “That’s all I’m asking. Not that they give it to us. Let us have a shot and we will beat anybody else that’s out there. We have great backers. Money is not the issue.”

Money might not be an issue but approaching F1 with the wrong attitude certainly is.

My 1st thought was someone needs a good beating with the 'F1 humble stick' as that's not quite the right approach for being successful in F1.

Right approach is you never, ever, ever under estimate the competition

For Andretti, they could find themselves bidding against a European car works team with previous F1 history ie Audi, Porsche or BMW, or a new Middle Eastern team, or a new Chinese Team, or a new Korean car works team, or a new Renault/Alpine B team

His words reminded me of the slogan the British American Racing team used when they entered F1, which was a 'A Tradition of Excellence' They came with no F1 history and when in F1 they weren't excellent in any way

[Por_sha911]

Didn't Michael embarrass himself in F1?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Didn't Michael embarrass himself in F1?

Not if you heard the rest of the story.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by javadog

Not if you heard the rest of the story.

Thanks for reminding me,

I'm having dinner next week with someone that I'm pretty sure was smack in the middle of that situation

I'll try to remember to quiz him about it and report back

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Quick question....

Honda or Chevy for the win?

[javadog]

Honda.

Hopefully an Andretti car.

[pwd72s]

Never count Penske out...

[greglepore]

Michael lacks some humility and social skill, yeah.

I've been around Mario a bit, he's a mench.

Marco seems ok... a bit of a gadfly, but he's popular in the paddock and in social circles.