The 2012 IndyCar Series thread

[Cynon]

And, as an interesting comparison, there were cars in 1982 that went faster than what the Lotuses are achieving right now

Interesting comparison there is that both in 1982 and today, those cars hitting 205 were concerned about speed! Today, Lotus Indycars are worried about being so slow that they become turn 5, and the cars in 1982 were worried about crashing at high speed due to Gordon Smiley's unfortunate crash.

Yeah, but those CART machines were really flimsy, weren't they?

Comparatively, yes. Sort of like saying that an F1 car from 1982 is flimsy compared to a modern F1 car.

[F1000X]

Yeah, but those CART machines were really flimsy, weren't they?

Comparatively, yes. Sort of like saying that an F1 car from 1982 is flimsy compared to a modern F1 car.

Bobby Unser once said (won't be able to find it, I think it was on TV) that back in his day, the chassis were so flimsy that car setups would not only be totally irrelevant for identically built chassis due to manufacturing inconstancies and material inconstancies. Also that setups for Indy would be a total rethink from other tracks, simply because the increased loads of greater speeds would cause everything to flex.

Crazy man.

[eurobrun]

Yeah, but those CART machines were really flimsy, weren't they?

Comparatively, yes. Sort of like saying that an F1 car from 1982 is flimsy compared to a modern F1 car.

Bobby Unser once said (won't be able to find it, I think it was on TV) that back in his day, the chassis were so flimsy that car setups would not only be totally irrelevant for identically built chassis due to manufacturing inconstancies and material inconstancies. Also that setups for Indy would be a total rethink from other tracks, simply because the increased loads of greater speeds would cause everything to flex.

Crazy man.

Wow, sounds like what would happen if Lotus made a chassis.

[Wizzie]

I don't know what Sarah Fisher and co have done to the 67 car but, whatever it is, it's turned it into a bathplugging rocketship

Newgarden for the Indy 500 win anyone?

[Phoenix]

Yeah, but those CART machines were really flimsy, weren't they?

Comparatively, yes. Sort of like saying that an F1 car from 1982 is flimsy compared to a modern F1 car.

Sorry, I just have Gordon Smiley's and Danny Ongais' crashes in my mind, when their cars were completely obliterated. But they were bathplugging beautiful, I have to give that.

[Wizzie]

Looks like the cars are just as quick in Qualy trim as last year's machines. I'll drink to that (Metaphorically, of course )

[Wizzie]

Briscoe on pole. Certainly didn't expect that.

Barrichello's 10th and the Target Ganassi duo are absolutely nowhere

[F1000X]

Barrichello's 10th and the Target Ganassi duo are absolutely nowhere

[Wizzie]

If Lotus didn't have as much good luck as they had over the last day, they'd have no cars on the gird

[eurobrun]

If Lotus didn't have as much good luck as they had over the last day, they'd have no cars on the gird

That is why Bahar is a complete fool.

[Wizzie]

If Lotus didn't have as much good luck as they had over the last day, they'd have no cars on the gird

That is why Bahar is a complete fool.

Seriously, the last time anyone made the grid with a qualifying speed below 211mph was 1997 at 206mph. This is taking failing to a whole new level

[DanielPT]

If Lotus didn't have as much good luck as they had over the last day, they'd have no cars on the gird

That is why Bahar is a complete fool.

Seriously, the last time anyone made the grid with a qualifying speed below 211mph was 1997 at 206mph. This is taking failing to a whole new level

Indeed. And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

[F1000X]

Indeed. And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

They'll be shown a bit of mercy when they're both black flagged off the track before half distance.

[CoopsII]

And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

[JeremyMcClean]

And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

Along with slingshotting-physics as shown in GT4...

[DanielPT]

And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

Lots of attrition from the looks of it. The plus side is that he should be behind enough distance to have time to stay clear of debris and possible crashes.

[dr-baker]

And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

Lots of attrition from the looks of it. The plus side is that he should be behind enough distance to have time to stay clear of debris and possible crashes.

Unless the crash happens immediately in front of him, immediately after having been lapped...

[DanielPT]

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

Lots of attrition from the looks of it. The plus side is that he should be behind enough distance to have time to stay clear of debris and possible crashes.

Unless the crash happens immediately in front of him, immediately after having been lapped...

Still, he will be driving at such pedestrian speeds that he has the time to tiptoe around any stricken cars. The only problem is if the leader looks into his mirrors for a second to check on his rivals only to plough into the rear of Alesi's car...

[JeremyMcClean]

And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

Looks like he'll have to rely on strategy and attrition to get this historic win.

Zero-stopper? It's not impossible... he just might be extremely slow at the start.

[Dj_bereta]

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/ ... -indy-car/

Go home Dallara.

[F1000X]

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/dallara-makes-immediate-safety-changes-to-indy-car/

Go home Dallara.

Epic levels of bullshit here.

This aside, I'm so pumped for the race this weekend. I am a little disappointed they won't be competing with the qualifying boost levels, but the argument against it (read: give Lotus a chance) is a decent one.

[Wizzie]

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/dallara-makes-immediate-safety-changes-to-indy-car/

Go home Dallara.

Epic levels of bullshit here.

This aside, I'm so pumped for the race this weekend. I am a little disappointed they won't be competing with the qualifying boost levels, but the argument against it (read: give Lotus a chance) is a decent one.

That plus we don't really know if the engines will blow up after 3 hours of constant running as it is. Then again, I may have missed something fundamental somewhere.

[AndreaModa]

Why don't they just give Lotus the qualifying boost and keep the Chevys and Hondas at normal level? Surely when all the engines are either with or without boost, there's still the same gap back to the Lotus engines? Giving just Lotus the boost will bring them up to speed with the others then so it can actually be a fair contest, instead of having the inevitability similar to F1 in 1995 when it was a case of 'how many laps will it take for the Fortis to be lapped?'

[F1000X]

Why don't they just give Lotus the qualifying boost and keep the Chevys and Hondas at normal level? Surely when all the engines are either with or without boost, there's still the same gap back to the Lotus engines? Giving just Lotus the boost will bring them up to speed with the others then so it can actually be a fair contest, instead of having the inevitability similar to F1 in 1995 when it was a case of 'how many laps will it take for the Fortis to be lapped?'

Because that would make too much sense. Once again, if ANYONE deserved some kind of performance parity dispensation, it was Lotus, but they don't have the leverage with the sanctioning body to argue for it.

The thing is, giving Lotus extra boost isn't completely beyond reasonable with respect to this race. Stock block Buicks from the 90s were given higher boost levels at the speedway (which is the only place they appeared anyway) which made them incredibly fast but also terribly fragile. I think the same situation with Lotus would make for a very interesting race.

[CoopsII]

Go Alesi

[Cynon]

Heat may be a factor for the race -- forecast in the 90s (Fahrenheit).

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/dallara-makes-immediate-safety-changes-to-indy-car/

Go home Dallara.

Epic levels of bullshit here.

This aside, I'm so pumped for the race this weekend. I am a little disappointed they won't be competing with the qualifying boost levels, but the argument against it (read: give Lotus a chance) is a decent one.

I think the argument for the boost levels is legitimate, and was done to improve the competition. As for Dallara's choice... honestly, let's wait and see. They're at least trying to fix the problems they have, unlike what happened in the past.

Yeah, but those CART machines were really flimsy, weren't they?

Comparatively, yes. Sort of like saying that an F1 car from 1982 is flimsy compared to a modern F1 car.

Sorry, I just have Gordon Smiley's and Danny Ongais' crashes in my mind, when their cars were completely obliterated. But they were bathplugging beautiful, I have to give that.

Yeah, the early 1980s had a lot of gigantic crashes with very unfortunate results (in every category). We can be thankful that if the same kind of crash happened today that driver injury is much less likely.

[F1000X]

SO bathplug AMPED UP FOR THIS shite

[Ferrarist]

Thanks to Servus TV, I'm now able to watch the Indy 500 live. And my god, what a boring intro for that race. They should bring back the Delta Force theme, with Paul Page narrating. But I think people kept saying this for years.

[S951]

start yuor engines

[dr-baker]

I'm gonna have to wait until Wednesday to watch this on the Sky Sports F1 channel....

[Shadaza]

Barrichello, Sato, Bourdais, Wilson and Alesi are the Former F1 drivers here, I wish them all success.

Lap 1 completed, both Lotus cars are miles behind all ready.

[Shadaza]

Alesi and Simona de Silvestro have been parked after 10 laps.

[East Londoner]

Alesi and Simona de Silvestro have been parked after 10 laps.

Apparently, they've been parked because they're not within 105% of the fastest car.

[F1000X]

Indeed. And I feel bad for Alesi, who will be trundling along with de Silvestro while being lapped every 20 laps or so.

They'll be shown a bit of mercy when they're both black flagged off the track before half distance.

You heard it here first folks. This race is gonna be awesome.

[Ferrarist]

That's not a good weekend for Venezolanian drivers.

[East Londoner]

Sato almost binned it big time just then.

[East Londoner]

Dallara's new design is totally useless at preventing such accidents!

Power and Conway involved.

[Shadaza]

The Dallara was very well grounded there, the old car would of been in the catch fencing, that was quite impressive.

[F1000X]

If Ganassi wins, I'm going to rip my hair out. WHERE THE bathplug ARE THE REST OF YOU CLOWNS?

[Shadaza]

If Ganassi wins, I'm going to rip my hair out. WHERE THE bathplug ARE THE REST OF YOU CLOWNS?

This.

Go Sato Go.