2018 IndyCar news/misc. stuff

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StandOnIt said:
:punkrocke:booya:

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Now that is surprising. That beats out a few years in the early 2000s when CART was still a very formidable series. Wow.

As much flack as they get, these street circuit events really do sell well. If only ovals could generate even a portion of these crowds...

Edit: And I bet they're happy they stuck with IndyCar instead of bringing in F1.
 
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FLRacingFan said:
Now that is surprising. That beats out a few years in the early 2000s when CART was still a very formidable series. Wow.

As much flack as they get, these street circuit events really do sell well. If only ovals could generate even a portion of these crowds...

Edit: And I bet they're happy they stuck with IndyCar instead of bringing in F1.
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I love going to the race in St. Petersburg. I love it so much I bought a condo down there.

What's really sad- I go down town in the days after the race and walk around. Sometimes I'll pick up a sign that's been left. Or a souvenir of some type that's being tossed aside.

It's really sad- watching the workers tearing down the stands. The parking lots that were once filled with tents and trucks where all the drivers took their breaks are now empty except for a stray parked car that has invaded my memories. The same place where Michael Andretti was so courteous to me when he signed my mini helmet. And I caught Bobby Rahal off guard and had him sign my book. And while huffing and puffing, because I had to climb the cross over stairs to catch up with Roger Penske to get his signature only a couple days before.

Boy what an empty feeling. Only the thought of being there again next March, sipping a margarita slushy while I'm scrambling for my earplugs to soften those wonderful screaming sounds. I'm so glad that I can't get those thoughts out of my head 365 days out of the year.
 
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I'd post some pictures but I can't figure out how to do it. Maybe someone can tell me how.
 
Jimmy W1 said:
I love going to the race in St. Petersburg. I love it so much I bought a condo down there.

What's really sad- I go down town in the days after the race and walk around. Sometimes I'll pick up a sign that's been left. Or a souvenir of some type that's being tossed aside.

It's really sad- watching the workers tearing down the stands. The parking lots that were once filled with tents and trucks where all the drivers took their breaks are now empty except for a stray parked car that has invaded my memories. The same place where Michael Andretti was so courteous to me when he signed my mini helmet. And I caught Bobby Rahal off guard and had him sign my book. And while huffing and puffing, because I had to climb the cross over stairs to catch up with Roger Penske to get his signature only a couple days before.

Boy what an empty feeling. Only the thought of being there again next March, sipping a margarita slushy while I'm scrambling for my earplugs to soften those wonderful screaming sounds. I'm so glad that I can't get those thoughts out of my head 365 days out of the year.
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I went once while I was around to check out the Wheldon monument in the middle of the day, it was so quiet, just no one there. Took a few night/summer classes down the road at USFSP too, it's just a really nice, peaceful area. Funny to think about how it turns into a huge festival every spring.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Now that is surprising. That beats out a few years in the early 2000s when CART was still a very formidable series. Wow.

As much flack as they get, these street circuit events really do sell well. If only ovals could generate even a portion of these crowds...

Edit: And I bet they're happy they stuck with IndyCar instead of bringing in F1.
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Well, Long Beach, St. Petersburg, Belle Isle, and Toronto do. (Montreal does of course but that's F1.) The list of street course events that disappeared after a couple years never to host a race again is pretty long. We're not privy to financial information but I imagine running one is ridiculously expensive when you think of not only the man hours to build the track but working with governments, road closures, etc. Miami has been tried and failed I think 3 times, and you would think that would be a sure-fire success. We've never heard anything more about New York after Leo Hindery was granted an F1 race on the New Jersey waterfront. Outside of those in North America, you've got maybe Trois-Rivieres that was a steady long-term event and that's it for racing higher up than go-karts/club level.
 
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FLRacingFan said:
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I did that a couple years ago for the Indy 500.

Issue on doing that chart on a place like Long Beach it removes referential data like if you're the driver that's 2nd or 3rd in a conga line on a long green flag run, you're getting penalized in time on a track that's not the easiest to make a pass on. It's why I prefer looking at graphical data of time behind leader, it shows you where the drivers are and who's the one holding everyone else up.
 
Jimmy W1 said:
I'd post some pictures but I can't figure out how to do it. Maybe someone can tell me how.
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I usually upload through Imgur.com. If it's on your computer already it should be easy to do.

Privateer said:
Well, Long Beach, St. Petersburg, Belle Isle, and Toronto do. (Montreal does of course but that's F1.) The list of street course events that disappeared after a couple years never to host a race again is pretty long. We're not privy to financial information but I imagine running one is ridiculously expensive when you think of not only the man hours to build the track but working with governments, road closures, etc. Miami has been tried and failed I think 3 times, and you would think that would be a sure-fire success. We've never heard anything more about New York after Leo Hindery was granted an F1 race on the New Jersey waterfront. Outside of those in North America, you've got maybe Trois-Rivieres that was a steady long-term event and that's it for racing higher up than go-karts/club level.
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I remember Champ Car had some absolute duds. Long Beach, Detroit, and Toronto had the benefit of being started up in the right era. St. Pete really got going as an IRL race after a few prior iterations. The merger helped drop Cleveland, which was usually fun. That sucked.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I went once while I was around to check out the Wheldon monument in the middle of the day, it was so quiet, just no one there. Took a few night/summer classes down the road at USFSP too, it's just a really nice, peaceful area. Funny to think about how it turns into a huge festival every spring.
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I always go to Dan Wheldon's grave when I go down to St. Petersburg. It took me forever to find it. I spent several days going through every cemetery down there- looking at every gravesite and monument I could. Finally, I looked on the internet and found which cemetery it was at then I drove around and finally found it. I always take a trash bag and pull weeds and fluff up the red mulch so it looks nice.

People have left things there on or near the monument. A pair of white sunglasses sat there for several months. I had a medallion of an angel with a sword and a shield (Archangel Michael?) that I left there. It looked so much like his lionheart symbol. Right before the race two or three years ago someone had stuck a small checkered flag in front of his monument. I went down several months later and it was broken. The flag was all faded and was laying in the mud. So I delicately put it in a plastic sandwich bag and brought it home in the hopes of repairing it.

His wife Susie now has a shop downtown on central avenue down around ninth street. I met her a couple years ago when she was doing the benefit over in New Castle, Indiana.

I have the front piece of the wing off of his car that he won the 500 race in back in 2011.

St. Petersburg is really a beautiful city. I love being there. If I didn't have so much junk here (part time hoarder) I'd be living down there.

I'll try to post some pictures if I can. All I have is my cell phone. I can't get anything posted. I try to take it off of my cell phone but it won't post.

Oh well.

:(
 
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Thought this was interesting




 

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Indycar is great, but at the end of the day it’s places like Bristol and Talledega that make NASCAR so great
 
StandOnIt said:
Thought this was interesting




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I wouldn't really say the tech in IndyCar is above NASCAR's. At least, not significantly. It's not Formula E, or F1, or LMP1. NASCAR probably has more advanced tech honestly.

Somewhat more premier in presentation...I guess in the fact that IndyCar doesn't have the Waltrips presenting the broadcast.

Fan access is definitely way beyond though.
 
He's feeling pretty sporty after getting the new TV deal I guess. On one hand he compares them to Nascar while on the other he points out the differences to open wheel F-1. I thought it was interesting, but a head scratcher.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I wouldn't really say the tech in IndyCar is above NASCAR's. At least, not significantly. It's not Formula E, or F1, or LMP1. NASCAR probably has more advanced tech honestly.

Somewhat more premier in presentation...I guess in the fact that IndyCar doesn't have the Waltrips presenting the broadcast.

Fan access is definitely way beyond though.
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Man, get the paddock pass.

Got to meet Dale Coyne, Chip, Ed Jones, Pietro, ZCD, Leist, Gabby Chaves... So open, fun, and atmosphere is so unique.
 
Mispeedway15 said:
Indycar is great, but at the end of the day it’s places like Bristol and Talledega that make NASCAR so great
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Among the other differences are shorter races, fewer cars, and a shorter schedule on the IndyCar side. Some would like those, others would not.

I'm not sure why anyone would set a goal to 'topple' another genre of racing. The two can co-exist; people aren't required to be a fan of only one or the other. Sure, try to boost your fan base, but it doesn't have to come at someone else's expense.
 
Monday and Tuesday test sessions at IMS will be streamed.

For Monday, April 30: Veterans/active 2018 drivers (21):

A.J. Foyt Racing: Tony Kanaan

Andretti Autosport: Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Zach Veach

Carlin Racing: Max Chilton, Charlie Kimball

Chip Ganassi Racing: Scott Dixon, Ed Jones

Dale Coyne Racing: Sebastien Bourdais

Ed Carpenter Racing: Ed Carpenter, Spencer Pigot

Harding Racing: Gabby Chaves

Meyer Shank Racing: Jack Harvey

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: James Hinchcliffe

Team Penske: Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power

For Tuesday, May 1, Refreshers and ROP (7):

A.J. Foyt Racing: Matheus Leist (ROP)

Dale Coyne Racing: Pietro Fittipaldi (ROP)

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Sage Karam

Ed Carpenter Racing: Danica Patrick

Juncos Racing: Kyle Kaiser (ROP)

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: Jay Howard, Robert Wickens (ROP)

For Wednesday, May 2: Manufacturers (12):

A.J. Foyt Racing: Tony Kanaan, Matheus Leist (Chevy)

Carlin Racing: Max Chilton, Charlie Kimball (Chevy)

Chip Ganassi Racing: Scott Dixon, Ed Jones (Honda)

Ed Carpenter Racing: Ed Carpenter/Spencer Pigot, Danica Patrick (Chevy)

Harding Racing: Gabby Chaves (Chevy)

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: James Hinchcliffe, Robert Wickens (Honda)
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http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/148904-indy-open-test-schedule-set



 
Danica having water temp issues right out of the box. I hope they can get all the bugs out of her car before Q-time.
 
218 mph. not too bad. wish it was faster
 
IndyCar is fortunate to have NBC Sports so invested in them. NBC is trying to get Verizon to reconsider renewing the title sponsorship, possibly providing other incentives to do so. That is quite an unusual level of involvement, AFAIK.

 
gnomesayin said:
IndyCar is fortunate to have NBC Sports so invested in them. NBC is trying to get Verizon to reconsider renewing the title sponsorship, possibly providing other incentives to do so. That is quite an unusual level of involvement, AFAIK.

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I won't expect much out of this, but it's good that they're being so hands-on already. I'm not so sure the other potential broadcaster would've been interested in much beyond just televising events.
 
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