Discussion
fatandwheezing said:
With all the comments about getting away from pack racing, surely that is the spectacle of an Oval, so if they take steps to reduce it, will that be the end of open wheeled Oval racing?
I think of more concern would be the complete lack of a crowd and the glaring disconnect it suggests between what online opinion and fee paying spectators consider "exciting racing". I know some of the drivers and team owners have been singing the praises of that race, but if there's nobody there to see it, what's the point? It may well be a spectacle, but the lack of anyone there to see it suggests it's no longer the spectacle the fans (outside a hardcore following) want to see. Some of the comments after Briscoe's flip were bordering on NASCAR's "have at it, boys!" attitude and an acceptance that "The Big One" is part of open wheel racing, which I find genuinely disturbing, especially at Fontana of all places. As much as I like oval racing, I don't want to keep seeing cars upside down near catch fencing, even less so for that to become a feature, so almost hope the commercial pressures get to it before anything else nasty happens.
I not sure there ever is way of stopping 200mph plus racing cars staying on the ground in an accident....not just indycar, but sportscars too. Obviously take steps to minimize the chance, but there's so much airflow at that speed its never gonna be completely elimated.
I think the level of pack racing was prob about spot on (it wasn't as dense as texas used to be, and vegas was), and it was damn exciting to watch!
Low fan numbers may have been due to the extreme heat i understand, and a night race or later in yr wouldve been better.
Certainly looks great to watch live (until the shunt)....fan view - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXD6GJ3HmiU&fe...
I think the level of pack racing was prob about spot on (it wasn't as dense as texas used to be, and vegas was), and it was damn exciting to watch!
Low fan numbers may have been due to the extreme heat i understand, and a night race or later in yr wouldve been better.
Certainly looks great to watch live (until the shunt)....fan view - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXD6GJ3HmiU&fe...
Just catching up on the Wisconsin 250 - about 50 laps in so far. Very different type of racing to Fontana, and still struggling to identify who is who - Montoya has changed from Red and White, to Blue and White, and is now back in Red again?!?!?
The attendance looked poor again, and it looks like the event is uncertain for next year.
The attendance looked poor again, and it looks like the event is uncertain for next year.
I've followed Indy much closer this year than I have done for a while. There are quite a few issues there but it really does deserve to have a better following than we're seeing.
I'd like to see the constant livery changes banned. I hate switching on each week and spending half the race working out which car is which. I've watched every race, I should know this by now but each week the liveries change completely. F1 got itself wound up by drivers changing their crash helmet schemes each race. Imaging how it would react to the indy situation.
Another problem is the calendar timing. Everything is condensed into the middle of the year. There are only 4 races left and we haven't even reached the end of July. By the end of the year the Indy season will have been over for months and forgotten by most.
It would also be great to see some of the patchy street circuits dropped and replaced with permanent road circuits. Let's leave those shocking street tracks to FormulaE for now. Bring back Road America, add COTA and maybe Laguna Seca. Apart from the Indy 500 the series lacks those big races.
Maybe go international again and get a race in Japan and races in Europe. The series attracts drivers from all of the major international racing countries so why not explore that option again. I'd love to see Indy go to Spa, Brands Hatch (GP circuit only!!) and Imola.
It's basically the complete opposite of F1. The racing has been excellent but the crowds are only drawn in by the gold crown event, the Indy 500.
I'd like to see the constant livery changes banned. I hate switching on each week and spending half the race working out which car is which. I've watched every race, I should know this by now but each week the liveries change completely. F1 got itself wound up by drivers changing their crash helmet schemes each race. Imaging how it would react to the indy situation.
Another problem is the calendar timing. Everything is condensed into the middle of the year. There are only 4 races left and we haven't even reached the end of July. By the end of the year the Indy season will have been over for months and forgotten by most.
It would also be great to see some of the patchy street circuits dropped and replaced with permanent road circuits. Let's leave those shocking street tracks to FormulaE for now. Bring back Road America, add COTA and maybe Laguna Seca. Apart from the Indy 500 the series lacks those big races.
Maybe go international again and get a race in Japan and races in Europe. The series attracts drivers from all of the major international racing countries so why not explore that option again. I'd love to see Indy go to Spa, Brands Hatch (GP circuit only!!) and Imola.
It's basically the complete opposite of F1. The racing has been excellent but the crowds are only drawn in by the gold crown event, the Indy 500.
DavidCane said:
I've followed Indy much closer this year than I have done for a while. There are quite a few issues there but it really does deserve to have a better following than we're seeing.
I'd like to see the constant livery changes banned. I hate switching on each week and spending half the race working out which car is which. I've watched every race, I should know this by now but each week the liveries change completely. F1 got itself wound up by drivers changing their crash helmet schemes each race. Imaging how it would react to the indy situation.
Another problem is the calendar timing. Everything is condensed into the middle of the year. There are only 4 races left and we haven't even reached the end of July. By the end of the year the Indy season will have been over for months and forgotten by most.
It would also be great to see some of the patchy street circuits dropped and replaced with permanent road circuits. Let's leave those shocking street tracks to FormulaE for now. Bring back Road America, add COTA and maybe Laguna Seca. Apart from the Indy 500 the series lacks those big races.
Maybe go international again and get a race in Japan and races in Europe. The series attracts drivers from all of the major international racing countries so why not explore that option again. I'd love to see Indy go to Spa, Brands Hatch (GP circuit only!!) and Imola.
It's basically the complete opposite of F1. The racing has been excellent but the crowds are only drawn in by the gold crown event, the Indy 500.
NFL starts in September and interest in Indycar considerably drops off hence cram it all in finish it in September.I'd like to see the constant livery changes banned. I hate switching on each week and spending half the race working out which car is which. I've watched every race, I should know this by now but each week the liveries change completely. F1 got itself wound up by drivers changing their crash helmet schemes each race. Imaging how it would react to the indy situation.
Another problem is the calendar timing. Everything is condensed into the middle of the year. There are only 4 races left and we haven't even reached the end of July. By the end of the year the Indy season will have been over for months and forgotten by most.
It would also be great to see some of the patchy street circuits dropped and replaced with permanent road circuits. Let's leave those shocking street tracks to FormulaE for now. Bring back Road America, add COTA and maybe Laguna Seca. Apart from the Indy 500 the series lacks those big races.
Maybe go international again and get a race in Japan and races in Europe. The series attracts drivers from all of the major international racing countries so why not explore that option again. I'd love to see Indy go to Spa, Brands Hatch (GP circuit only!!) and Imola.
It's basically the complete opposite of F1. The racing has been excellent but the crowds are only drawn in by the gold crown event, the Indy 500.
Races abroad - not a viable business model.
Road America - always problems of some kind. Sanctioning fees, rival series who want to headline and then you have the problem of geography and competing tracks: Milwaukee Mile is also in Wisconsin and is Indycar's oldest track; Laguna Seca vs. Fontana, COTA vs. Texas Speedway
entropy said:
NFL starts in September and interest in Indycar considerably drops off hence cram it all in finish it in September.
Races abroad - not a viable business model.
Road America - always problems of some kind. Sanctioning fees, rival series who want to headline and then you have the problem of geography and competing tracks: Milwaukee Mile is also in Wisconsin and is Indycar's oldest track; Laguna Seca vs. Fontana, COTA vs. Texas Speedway
Great shame they don't race at Road America any more, as it's a great track. Do wonder if there's scope for some sort of "Wisconsin Cup" double header - given the oval/road split, would make for an interesting mini-competition perhaps? That said, they've tried that sort of thing before with the road/oval cups and the Canadian races, but has never really taken off.Races abroad - not a viable business model.
Road America - always problems of some kind. Sanctioning fees, rival series who want to headline and then you have the problem of geography and competing tracks: Milwaukee Mile is also in Wisconsin and is Indycar's oldest track; Laguna Seca vs. Fontana, COTA vs. Texas Speedway
Always used to enjoy the Portland International Raceway events, but again, it's a track that no longer features for whatever reason.
hornet said:
Great shame they don't race at Road America any more, as it's a great track. Do wonder if there's scope for some sort of "Wisconsin Cup" double header - given the oval/road split, would make for an interesting mini-competition perhaps? That said, they've tried that sort of thing before with the road/oval cups and the Canadian races, but has never really taken off.
Nice idea but wouldn't work. Michael Andretti promotes the Milwaukee race and hardly anyone turns up - and its Indycar's oldest track.
It's getting rather good isn't it? I've never rated Graham Rahal that much but I've got a sneaking suspicion that this year is his year. One of those random occurrences when a previously average driver or team have a strangely good season and all the stars align for them, before disappearing back into the midfield again.
Really liking the new LED display panels showing race position, pit stop times and push to pass activation, great for the crowd too.
Also, anyone else think Sage Karam's spin for the full course yellow was suspiciously well timed in order to help get the pack all closed up to help (team-mate) Scott Dixon?!
Really liking the new LED display panels showing race position, pit stop times and push to pass activation, great for the crowd too.
Also, anyone else think Sage Karam's spin for the full course yellow was suspiciously well timed in order to help get the pack all closed up to help (team-mate) Scott Dixon?!
thole for Nascar. I predict lots of yellows.
Being airlifted. Hoping for positive news.
Really don't know how I feel about ovals any more. I'm all for exciting racing, but it increasingly feels like it's on a constant knife edge and I'm increasingly struggling to enjoy watching it. Things seem to be on the cusp of disaster all the time, and it makes me feel deeply uneasy.
ETA - also, people moaning about the race finishing under yellow. Really? Of all the concerns you could have at the moment, that's the one you're choosing to voice?
Really don't know how I feel about ovals any more. I'm all for exciting racing, but it increasingly feels like it's on a constant knife edge and I'm increasingly struggling to enjoy watching it. Things seem to be on the cusp of disaster all the time, and it makes me feel deeply uneasy.
ETA - also, people moaning about the race finishing under yellow. Really? Of all the concerns you could have at the moment, that's the one you're choosing to voice?
Edited by hornet on Sunday 23 August 23:18
Just seen the incident, wishing Justin the very best.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff