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New qualifying format
So after the first official day under the new Indy 500 qualifying format what is everyones thoughts? Personally I am a huge fan. It may not be a hit for the drivers, but it provides tons of excitement for the fans. Tons of action right at the end of the first session and then the pole shootout is a great idea. Brings much more excitement and changes to pole day, which was much needed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul on -
It was OK. The only thing I do like is that it can take changing track conditions and an unlucky draw out of the equation for pole. Drivers that went out early when it was cooler had an advantage yesterday.
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Permalink Reply by KoHoSo on -
Unless we can somehow return to the day when four days of qualifying are needed, I think I'm pretty happy with this new format. It gives drivers and teams the incentive to go for it and not just be satisfied with what they have. The only change I can think of to suggest is, now that Indiana is on Daylight Savings Time, maybe don't shoot the pistol until 7:00 PM (assuming that both the IICS and NHL remain on Versus and Mr. Bettman would be kind enough to delay any evening Stanly Cup playoff games on that Saturday and Sunday by one hour). I know that 6:00 is a long-standing tradition but it seems a shame to waste an hour of having a cooler track while there is still good visibility.
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Permalink Reply by Joe on -
Personally, I like the new format. With the old format, way too often during mid day when the temps were up, there was very little action on the track. Everyone would wait for the day to start to cool off, then come back out. Now, it was pretty much action on the track the whole day. I really don't think we need 4 days of qualifying. Two is plenty.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Karas on -
Fast 9 question: What's the deal with being able to go back out and not jeopardize your earlier posted speed?
Becomes zero risk and all reward in more ways than 1. Not sure that shouldn't be changed...
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Permalink Reply by Michael Eugene Johnson on
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I loved it! Although I think Helio going out first and throwing down those super fast times, caused some of the others to play it safe, because they couldn't equal his speed. What made qualifying, back in the day, so popular was when they were going for "A New Track Record!!!" Now to get even more people to come out, this was needed, to make it more exiting. I still think with the new cars, pole speed should be in the 230's. If they can get back up to the speeds they were running in 1995-96, then I think pole day crowds will get even bigger. As for 2 days vs 4 days of qualifying, I have mixed feelings. I like the fact of 7 straight days of action before pole day. I also think having a race somewhere else on the first weekend of may is cool (for those of us who would like to see the schedule eventually rise to about 24 races). On the other hand I've always liked the fact (when there was 4 days) of the top teams using the first week of practice for qualifying set up and the second week for race set up. If they go back to 4, then I think there should be on track activity for 16 consecutive days, like they used to. Actually if you would like a small history lesson; Prior to 1971, practice would start on may 1st (no matter what day of the week it fell on), and the race would be run on may 30th (no matter what day of the week it fell on). At that time, Memorial Day was always on may 30th. Then congress made it the last monday in may so most people could have a 3 day weekend.
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