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How Many More Short Tracks ??
Boy Oh boy, I'm sick and tired of these short tracks. How could you call Richmond a "race"? How about Merry-Go-Round? With the rubber on the track and the constant left turn, the only race was in the pits -- and getting lucky with the yellows. I used to think the road courses were a bore but compared to these 'band boxes', they are thrilling. I felt sorry for the teams at Iowa -- just a destruction derby.
I won't belabor the obvious; I'm prejuduced. I followed the open wheelers' at Onterio and Irwindale where the weather was good, the track fast, the straightaways long and the racing great. I realize that this sport is much hotter in the midwest than on the west coast. However, it seems as if the IRL is trying to get rid of all the "big" tracks with the exception of Indy. Is there a message here ????
Now we have this big rush to go overseas -- China and Brazil (Don't knock Motegi -- the Honda engines are great). All this on the heels of tossing 'Surfer's Paradise' to the wolves. What gives???
I won't belabor the obvious; I'm prejuduced. I followed the open wheelers' at Onterio and Irwindale where the weather was good, the track fast, the straightaways long and the racing great. I realize that this sport is much hotter in the midwest than on the west coast. However, it seems as if the IRL is trying to get rid of all the "big" tracks with the exception of Indy. Is there a message here ????
Now we have this big rush to go overseas -- China and Brazil (Don't knock Motegi -- the Honda engines are great). All this on the heels of tossing 'Surfer's Paradise' to the wolves. What gives???
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jim Huntington on -
It pathetic that with all the super speedways wanting, they insist on an inferior bullring to race 800HP cars on. Some serious rules/ car/ track changes need to take place or the IRL will be snooze city, with or without Danica.
I have seen some video of old CART races and they were waaaaaaay more interesting. PT must feel like he's gone back to the future when he gets in a present day Honda Dallara.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Huntington on
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Fantastic! Thanks for posting. Man, does PT look young. The battle between Mansell and Fittipaldi was great. It must be agonizing for PT to drive the car that he is driving now after those great turbos. Those cars look like they were a lot sturdier and could survive a little contact without falling apart. What is the ICS excuse why they are not running turbos??
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Permalink Reply by xorpheous on -
I think short-track races could be very exciting, but the current regulatory environment prevents the teams from putting racy and competitive cars on the track. Last year's Iowa race was pretty good, and Richmond in the past has been fantastic, as have the Kansas and Texas races. This year, none of the ovals have provided any kind of good entertainment return. Milwaukee was the only one that was moderately interesting to watch. Iowa had a brief bit if entertainment provided by Tomas in the first two laps, but that came to a screeching halt, literally, as well.
Reopen the regulations and let the engineers do their magic, and you'll see short-track racing return to its former entertaining self.
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Permalink Reply by CC8820 on -
You said it X. And the series knows that and they are getting ready to do some changes to the rules. I applaud them for not dragging their feet and doing something this year instead of next season.
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Permalink Reply by Mark (ZAP) Zaputil on -
Well to find the best driver and team to win the series; short tracks, big ovals and road courses are needed, which is why I like Indy Car racing so much. Seems the people in Iowa do as well as for the past three years the IRL race at the Iowa Speedway has been sold out, I'm not sure another track facility can claim that.
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Permalink Reply by Wilsonfan on -
The leagues go where they are WANTED--and even then, so we have learned, the leagues are not being paid their fees--Milwaukee--I was amazed to learn the fees were not yet paid to the Indy Racing League, nor the NASCAR league. Very interesting--I truly didn't know the state of Wisconsin--one state above Iowa--had crooks in its borders. In case you haven't noticed, EVERYTHING IS ABOUT MONEY--AND THERE ISN'T ANY. So quit complaining about what we don't have, and be grateful for what we do have. But, I've bought my black dress for the wake just in case nothing works out--Robin Miller was startled that me--the ever positive one--the one person who sings the praises of the indy racing league and Firestone Indy Lights--the one person who really likes Brian Barnhardt, Rocket, etc. etc. had purchased the funeral garb in case things just don't work out the way we hope--but I do say my prayers every night; and I do include both leagues, teams, administrations, families, etc. (They have all given me sooooo much fun for 38 years--and I don't want it to end. Enough said.
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on -
you are right wilson. if they sell tickets at richmond they'll go there. i like richmond as a track and i think in some ways the cars have become a victim of there sole chassis and engine age we are in. if you watched the euro f3000 in the late 90's early 2000's will know that single manufacturer racing never really helps any one. but the irl have given the teams more downforce for ovals. i think another thing that probably could be incorporated would be some sort of "over rev" function on the cars. the current irl engine, i believe rev's to only 10,300 rpm. which is nothing these days. bearing in mind a champ car engine reved to around 14,500 rpm. a sort of push to pass function could be good. the irl was famed in its early years for its overtaking filled races. the last texas race was the most boring texas race i've ever seen. i sometimes worry about a engine producing 650bhp isn't always gonna produce the greatest racing. but it has in the past. so something was changed and has left with these dull races. i do remember cart in a effort to slow the cars down on ovals making the teams running with small wings in late 90's and there races weren't much better. so perhaps downforce is the way to go.
all the negativity around the irl at the moment. i think we all thought well its reunited now in 2008 and it will be all like it should of been in 1996. but the versus move, i'm think they have repeated the nhl's mistake. its looking that way. thou i fully understand why the irl made such a move. espn's bias towards nascar is understandable it gets ratings. the lack of competion on ovals has damaged everything. its left a some what sour taste in the mouth. plus ryan hunter-raey being given another heap, i'm sure after the rocketsports mess in 04 he couldn't understand what he has to do. to find and keep a decent in car? he is the best american driver in the series but he has nothing after his stellar 03 champ car season (in a reynard with out the renske wing) and 08 with rahal's great single car team.
on the postive thou. newman haas improved form on ovals is a massive plus. graham rahal is maturing quickly on ovals. dare i say this with my past history, patricks driving has been excellent. i'm not sure if she'll win again after agr's dismay this season. but the calmer danica is producing the goods. the indy lights has produced some fantastic racing this year. the best race i've watched this year in anything be it f1, nascar or indycar has to be the freedom 100. marvelous.
i would love to sonoma removed and road america returned. sonoma produces crap races. i always say it but bring back michigan please!!!
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