Indycar 2023

[GH85Carrera]

It was just great luck that the tire only whacked a car. It certainly would have killed a human with a direst hit. Amazing in car footage of sliding along upside down, and seeing the sparks fly. Dalara make a good chassis.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Zeke

2nd time in a couple weeks that a crash has had enough force to open a helmet face shield. Whoever makes those I don't want one. Glad Kirkwood didn't get parts in his face/eyes.

After watching the in car replay several times I don't think the face shield popped open by itself . It looks like Kirkwood was trying to adjust his helmet by trying to grab the chin guard portion and inadvertently opened the shield .

I would like to hear him explain why the face shield was open , assuming he even remembers . An open face shield and sparks flying everywhere because you are upside down is not good . Very fortunate there wasn't a fire .

[Reg]

It does certainly look like it’s more difficult to get out of those cars vs an f1. Wasn’t it LH that said he wouldn’t get into an Indy car of day because of the windscreen.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

After watching the in car replay several times I don't think the face shield popped open by itself . It looks like Kirkwood was trying to adjust his helmet by trying to grab the chin guard portion and inadvertently opened the shield .

I would like to hear him explain why the face shield was open , assuming he even remembers . An open face shield and sparks flying everywhere because you are upside down is not good . Very fortunate there wasn't a fire .

He actually looked up meaning forward out of the front and was peppered. He looked back down and closed his eyes very briefly. I saw him with his hands on the helmet but have no idea what he was doing or thinking. I don't think he does either. Anyone would have been disorientated. He may have been trying to close the shield.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Guessing here but when you slow down from moving at 240mph to 50mph I'd imagine the world around you could appear perfectly still

[Zeke]

No guess, Captain. Even Danica spoke of how the world slows to a near stop when an event like that happens to a driver. And he slid for at least 10 seconds. (I didn't time it)

Just as an aside, race speeds at one time fell to 200 + single digits. What I do think is that Kirkwood was not looking forward that far. He had time to avoid that crash, IMHO. Checking data on the steering wheel is not a good idea at speed in the short chute, if that had anything to do with it.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Zeke

No guess, Captain. Even Danica spoke of how the world slows to a near stop when an event like that happens to a driver. And he slid for at least 10 seconds. (I didn't time it)

Just as an aside, race speeds at one time fell to 200 + single digits. What I do think is that Kirkwood was not looking forward that far. He had time to avoid that crash, IMHO. Checking data on the steering wheel is not a good idea at speed in the short chute, if that had anything to do with it.

This was what, Kirkwoods second year at Indy? Still not much race experience.

[rfuerst911sc]

I am sure going from being upright and at 200+ mph to upside down and hearing/feeling the chassis grind away at the pavement would disorient any driver . Kirkwood grabbing/touching/adjusting his helmet may have been a natural reaction with little to no thought .

I would also imagine the thought of being hit by other drivers is a real concern . Fortunately all the safety equipment of the car and the track performed well . Being able to walk away is a testament to that .

Final thought: Indycar I am sure are already studying and analyzing the wheel tether that was severed allowing the wheel assembly to fly over the catch fence . Nothing is 100 % but if a better solution is found they will implement it .

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by astrochex

This was what, Kirkwoods second year at Indy? Still not much race experience.

I agree. Many times a backmarker comes into an accident full bore from way back. Makes you wonder what they are really doing. in NASCAR it happens almost every week. Sometimes there is no place to go, sometimes they get lucky and sometimes I think the spotter is asleep.

What I have NEVER understood is getting through an accident and gassing the car. Where the hell do they think they are going? Yellow is out, field is frozen and it wouldn't matter what they did, they will be lined up as they were when the yellow flashed.

With today's GPS tracking and transponders, there is no guessing. There is nothing to gain by going an inch faster. I've seen this a hundred times at least. It's like, "I'm clear of this mess and I'm getting the hell out of here." Nope.

I will let Kirkwood off knowing he was traveling a football field every second. He did downshift one gear before impact. It's like he didn't even feel the left rear being ripped off. However, the car in front of him had (Ferrucci) already slowed down and KW was coming up on him in a big way. In fact, KW was going to rear end him, but his car was turned just before he got to him.

Out of the groove already, he was going to eat it one way or another.

[Por_sha911]

He may not have driven much with the big boys but experience:

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

He may not have driven much with the big boys but experience:

I should have specified Indy 500 experience. And I’m not sure how translatable Texas Indycar racing is to the 500.

[Por_sha911]

Nothing is like IMS but Texas Motor Speedway is 1.5 miles with varying banking in turns and 400 miles there is a good warmup to the Indy marathon.
p.s. Will Power averaged 206 at TMS in 2011 and Kenny Brack qualified at 233.447 in 2001.

[JackDidley]

Watching the Cup race right now. Mike Joy commented that NASCAR guys drop the window net to let it be known they are ok and added the Indy car driver flip up the visor for the same reason.

[Reg]

Legge looked rusty as well. 10 yrs away and throw her back in? The one offs are Dangerous to say the least.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Reg

Legge looked rusty as well. 10 yrs away and throw her back in? The one offs are Dangerous to say the least.

I was bummed when she binned it in the pits. “Rookie error” definitely, which made VKs similar gaffe even worse.

[Reg]

Originally Posted by astrochex

I was bummed when she binned it in the pits. “Rookie error” definitely, which made VKs similar gaffe even worse.

They said on tv it could have been weight jacker or brake bias causing the pit lane spins?? Either way those gaffs shouldn’t be happening. Maybe the earlier gaff on Wilson as well makes it worse for her in my eyes. It’d be tough road and I think if you want to run Indy they should at least run a few ovals along with other events within the past year to get to run in the big race, especially if you didn’t have a current super license.

[URY914]

Thought the three announcers were annoying as ****.

There is camera that is at the beginning of turn 1/end of the front straight. When the cars are coming straight at you, you can't tell how close they are to each other. Several times during the race one of the crew would say how someone was coming close to someone only to see that there was 5 car lengths between them as they get closer to the camera.

[chapo]

I like Hinch. Unfortunately the announcers are not allowed to watch the race out thew window, only on the monitor. inch on his podcast said the tv doesn't want them talking about anything that isn't onscreen which sounds dumb. Uncle bobby wouldn't have gone for that!

[WSH]

Originally Posted by URY914

Thought the three announcers were annoying as ****.

There is camera that is at the beginning of turn 1/end of the front straight. When the cars are coming straight at you, you can't tell how close they are to each other. Several times during the race one of the crew would say how someone was coming close to someone only to see that there was 5 car lengths between them as they get closer to the camera.

That's the screaming Aussie fatboy Leigh Diffey trying to create drama
Every race he tries to have an Al Michaels "do you believe in miracles?" moment

One thing I've noticed about Nascar races (which have equally irritating announcers): they generally stay quiet during lap 1-2, allowing the fans to actually see & hear the start of the race. Diffey should def try that

All 3 major series (F1, Indy, Nascar Cup) have gotten to the point where the announcers feel they are the show. STFU

[rfuerst911sc]

I really miss Hobbs and Matchett for calling F1 races . Tons of REAL knowledge without the screaming or babbling . I think Varsha was the main voice if I remember correctly . He was solid also .