Indycar 2023

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yeah, the incar was pretty clear that he reached up, but it was dark in there...

Until the sparks!

[rfuerst911sc]

Just to be clear I am not trying to blame him . Scary stuff to be upside down at those speeds. And I seriously doubt anyone's simulator software mimics being upside down from a crash . But maybe they should ? At least so the driver can have a rough idea of what to expect .

[CurtEgerer]

Not so sure about this new downtown Detroit track layout. Nothing like the old F1 layout and only 1.6 miles. Very narrow in areas. Looks conducive to red flags. But the 'split pits' are kind of interesting. Maybe a first in racing?

[CurtEgerer]

[astrochex]

What Alex Palou thinks of the track, https://twitter.com/alexpalou/status/1664765405645221889?s=46&t=Icqwxw0Xb0V2r0abuthW8Q

[CurtEgerer]

LMAO. Those bumps at the end of the 180MPH straight coming into 3 look severe!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Kyle Kirkwood admits opening his visor while upside down wasn't his brightest moment 😋 .

https://racer.com/2023/05/31/kirkwood-ponders-gravity-of-upside-down-indy-moment/

Well, if that's what happened I stand corrected. Now I'll just say KK is the stupidest driver in Indy Car and absolve the helmet manufacturer.

A full third of them acted like children and some never did grow into good drivers like Rahal and Andretti. Father and son is pretty spectacular, so to consider a grandson to follow long in the same was is not likely. Neither would even have a seat if not for the name. This has been true throughout racing.

Once in awhile a Rosberg or a Herta comes along. Or to a certain extent a Villeneuve or Brabham. P. J. Jones got lucky in that he got in the Toyota when a 747 couldn't beat it.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[CurtEgerer]

Qualifying at 1:20 .... this has the potential to be a total train wreck

[rfuerst911sc]

Tomorrow should be an interesting race . The first ten laps will eliminate a third of the field . That will provide space to race . Seriously though this will be follow the leader like Monaco F1 . I would love to be proven wrong .

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Tomorrow should be an interesting race . The first ten laps will eliminate a third of the field . That will provide space to race . Seriously though this will be follow the leader like Monaco F1 . I would love to be proven wrong .

I think the entire race will be one for survival.

There will be desperate passes.

[pwd72s]

Don't think I've ever seen a worse street course layout...

[Por_sha911]

I may get flamed for this but frankly, I DON'T like Long Beach. Too narrow, not enough opportunities to pass. Seems like the race is won or lost in the pits or fuel stop strategy.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I may get flamed for this but frankly, I DON'T like Long Beach. Too narrow, not enough opportunities to pass. Seems like the race is won or lost in the pits or fuel stop strategy.

How dare you diss Long Beach !!!

It has enough opportunities to pass, imho.

[WSH]

If I were Newgarden, I'd pull a Talladega @ Detroit:
Drop to the back, let everyone crash, cruise to victory

[CurtEgerer]

The IndyNext race was actually not horrible ... but far slower, smaller cars. Should be interesting this afternoon but I can't wait to move on to real racetracks!

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by WSH

If I were Newgarden, I'd pull a Talladega @ Detroit:
Drop to the back, let everyone crash, cruise to victory

I was thinking the same yesterday. If you're gridded toward the back, maybe just drop all the way back and let the carnage occur in front of you. At least for the first few laps.

[Noah930]

Hmm. I was thinking of using one of those Robby Gordon trophy trucks they use in the supporting series, and run that in place of his regular IndyCar.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I may get flamed for this but frankly, I DON'T like Long Beach. Too narrow, not enough opportunities to pass. Seems like the race is won or lost in the pits or fuel stop strategy.

Originally Posted by astrochex

How dare you diss Long Beach !!!

It has enough opportunities to pass, imho.

There are 2 straights long enough to get a draft and pass. But only if the car passing is in fact faster. IOW, the leaders can get through slow traffic. But if 2nd place wants first, yes, it takes a hail mary at the end of the pit straight and one out of 3 times usually ends up with one car in the tires.

There are several places where you can get pretty close to the track and the cars. This was better before the drivers got buried in the cockpit and worse with the windscreen.

I live 8 miles from the course and prefer TV at home. If someone in the past has invited me to a suite I go and then come home and watch the race recorded. Last time I was on a balcony on a building high above the back straight I was standing next to a woman who asked how do you know who's leading? There was no big screen in view, just a TV inside. I just told her it's not easy, enjoy the noise until a yellow comes out.

[Zeke]

Today's race looks like an alley race. And rough? I bet the drivers hate it.

Well, I lost the last bit of respect for Indy Car racing today. If that's what promoters think the public wants, I'm not going along. That was a whole lot of trouble for a go kart race in the 18 year old class. I have to think guys with class like Dixon are thinking WTF? Think about it. Steve Kinser had more grace in an Outlaw sprint car.

Speaking of karts and sprints, having open wheels that will send a car/kart flying at a touch certainly keeps drivers in respect for the consequences. I have noticed that karts have way more bumpers than when I raced. In fact, at the driver's meetings the race director always reminded the karting participants, "If you touch and it looks in any way intentional, you get the black flag and a one race vacation."

I wonder what the rules are today. I quit at age 47 and I'm 77, so it's different for sure. I think we had respect for good driving, good set ups and mostly really nice folks that would help anyone out when needed. Dirty and/or reckless driving was not tolerated. Racing clean is harder.

[rfuerst911sc]

A third of the race was under yellow , so I guess the street course didn't disappoint . There was some passing but overall I didn't think it was a great venue . The split pits didn't appear to be an issue . One more interview with Flava Flave and I would have turned it off .