<snip>
Hey - is this the same Salazar who was a not-very-good F1 driver,
adn had that fight with Nelson Piquet all those years ago?
--
David. (GPLRank handicap -5.92; Monsters of GPLRank h/cap +279.42)
The GPL Scrapyard: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really" - Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh.
JB
>Actually, it was an IRL-sanctioned race, but above all, it was the
>Indianapolis 500.
>IRL teams and drivers showed up, CART teams and drivers showed up, and
>a NASCAR driver even showed up. It was a level playing field with
>common engine and chassis rules, and parity across the board: No
>equivalency formulas, no factory engine customers, no tampering with
>popoff valves -- just a level playing field for the richest and most
>time-honored race in the world . . . truly, "The Greatest Spectacle In
>Racing."
>Last year, the IRL teams and drivers -- especially Buddy Lazier and
>Hemelgarn Racing -- put up a good show against the best that CART had
>to offer, and Juan Montoya and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing had to earn
>their victory. I cheered for Montoya at the end, and wished Lazier
>better luck next year.
>This year, the IRL teams and drivers put forth a disappointing
>performance almost across the board. Roger Penske returned to Indy
>and claimed his 11th victory there, fair and square -- and Helio
>Castroneves earned his way to victory lane in Indy. Helio won the
>race, climbed the fence, drank the milk, kissed the bricks, then did a
>victory lap ON TOP of the pace thing. I cheered for him in the final
>laps of the race, and wished all the IRL regulars better luck next
>year.
>They'd better have more than just luck, though -- they had better
>spend the next 365 days asking themselves why they had the problems
>they did, and they had better find the answers in time to put forth a
>better effort at Indy next year. The IRL regulars should be
>intimately familiar with what it takes to put prepare an IRL car for a
>race, and even in a 500-miler like Indy, the IRL teams should NOT be
>seeing so many mechanical gremlins -- they had the entire month of May
>(and all of last season, plus the three races before Indy this year)
>to figure these things out, but only one CART team had mechanical
>problems in cars that they had only seen once or twice before.
>>> CART RULES!
>CART doesn't suck.
>Neither does the IRL.
>Neither one rules, though, either.
>Today, Helio Castroneves is the one who rules -- he has won the
>biggest, richest open-wheel race of the year, and he did it with style
>that few other winners have exhibited. Ditto Team Penske.
>Congratulations, Helio -- now maybe you can put the hyphen back in
>your name. If your face is going to be on the Borg-Warner trophy for
>all time, the least they can do is let you spell your name right.
>Congratulations to Roger, and congratulations to Gil as well.
>Congratulations to Target/Chip Ganassi racing, too.
>As for the IRL regulars, all I can say is that I would like to extend
>my condolences to those who were plagued with problems that were
>beyond their control today. For those who were plagued by problems
>that should have been within your control, though, I hope that today's
>experience lights a fire under you so you can figure out how to make
>all the inherent talent that is there gel, so that we can truly see
>what you really ARE made of.
>-- JB
With you being so narrow-minded that your ears touch in the middle,
Jesse, it just doesn't leave much room for brain cells, does it?
Neither Tony George nor CART had nothing to do with any of the
following:
Donnie Beechler's engine problems
Buddy Lazier's engine/electrical problems
Eddie Cheever's engine problems
Robbie Gordon's refueling problems
Stephan Gregoire's oil leak
Jeff Ward's halfshaft failure
Davey Hamilton's engine failure
Al Unser, Jr.'s encounter with the wall
Scott Goodyear's encounter with the wall
Frankly, CART's presence also had nothing to do with the spins by
Hornish, Fisher, Witherill, and Buhl. Unfortunately, the spins by
Hornish and Fisher took out Goodyear and Unser, two of the IRL's
stronger contenders. The spin by Buhl was arguably one of those
"that's racing" deals, and it could just as easily have happened to
Castroneves, De Ferran, Andretti, or anybody else in that situation.
In the end, the CART teams definitely emerged on top, but at several
points throughout the race, there were several IRL regulars who were
running out in front of the CART drivers. Still, it's the Indy 500,
not the Indy 250 or so, and it's the results a the end that count.
This year, the CART entrants really did shine. Hopefully, the IRL
teams learned something today.
Time will tell, I'm sure.
By the way, thanks for inspiring me so -- I'm feeling so warm and
fuzzy towards CART fans at the moment that I'm tempted to go delete
all the developmental files I've got on my system for the CART2K and
CARTCS2K conversions for F1 2000/ F1CS that I've been working on. I
mean, heck, I've got IRL Heat to give me my jollies, so why should I
like you?
Oh, yeah, that's right -- I remember now: I'm not so narrow-minded
that my ears touch.
Still, that delete key is looking might attractive right now . . .
-- JB
>>SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>.
>>>A Cart sim???? I thought it was an IRL race........................Cart
>sux.
>>Actually, it was an IRL-sanctioned race, but above all, it was the
>>Indianapolis 500.
>>IRL teams and drivers showed up, CART teams and drivers showed up, and
>>a NASCAR driver even showed up. It was a level playing field with
>>common engine and chassis rules, and parity across the board: No
>>equivalency formulas, no factory engine customers, no tampering with
>>popoff valves -- just a level playing field for the richest and most
>>time-honored race in the world . . . truly, "The Greatest Spectacle In
>>Racing."
>>Last year, the IRL teams and drivers -- especially Buddy Lazier and
>>Hemelgarn Racing -- put up a good show against the best that CART had
>>to offer, and Juan Montoya and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing had to earn
>>their victory. I cheered for Montoya at the end, and wished Lazier
>>better luck next year.
>>This year, the IRL teams and drivers put forth a disappointing
>>performance almost across the board. Roger Penske returned to Indy
>>and claimed his 11th victory there, fair and square -- and Helio
>>Castroneves earned his way to victory lane in Indy. Helio won the
>>race, climbed the fence, drank the milk, kissed the bricks, then did a
>>victory lap ON TOP of the pace thing. I cheered for him in the final
>>laps of the race, and wished all the IRL regulars better luck next
>>year.
>>They'd better have more than just luck, though -- they had better
>>spend the next 365 days asking themselves why they had the problems
>>they did, and they had better find the answers in time to put forth a
>>better effort at Indy next year. The IRL regulars should be
>>intimately familiar with what it takes to put prepare an IRL car for a
>>race, and even in a 500-miler like Indy, the IRL teams should NOT be
>>seeing so many mechanical gremlins -- they had the entire month of May
>>(and all of last season, plus the three races before Indy this year)
>>to figure these things out, but only one CART team had mechanical
>>problems in cars that they had only seen once or twice before.
>>>> CART RULES!
>>CART doesn't suck.
>>Neither does the IRL.
>>Neither one rules, though, either.
>>Today, Helio Castroneves is the one who rules -- he has won the
>>biggest, richest open-wheel race of the year, and he did it with style
>>that few other winners have exhibited. Ditto Team Penske.
>>Congratulations, Helio -- now maybe you can put the hyphen back in
>>your name. If your face is going to be on the Borg-Warner trophy for
>>all time, the least they can do is let you spell your name right.
>>Congratulations to Roger, and congratulations to Gil as well.
>>Congratulations to Target/Chip Ganassi racing, too.
>>As for the IRL regulars, all I can say is that I would like to extend
>>my condolences to those who were plagued with problems that were
>>beyond their control today. For those who were plagued by problems
>>that should have been within your control, though, I hope that today's
>>experience lights a fire under you so you can figure out how to make
>>all the inherent talent that is there gel, so that we can truly see
>>what you really ARE made of.
>>-- JB
> >Yup...the teams' problems were beyond their control...if TG wouldn't have
> >let the CART guys race with them, they would have never had this problem.
> >The problems aren't out of TG's control though.
> With you being so narrow-minded that your ears touch in the middle,
> Jesse, it just doesn't leave much room for brain cells, does it?
> Neither Tony George nor CART had nothing to do with any of the
> following:
> Donnie Beechler's engine problems
> Buddy Lazier's engine/electrical problems
> Eddie Cheever's engine problems
> Robbie Gordon's refueling problems
> Stephan Gregoire's oil leak
> Jeff Ward's halfshaft failure
> Davey Hamilton's engine failure
> Al Unser, Jr.'s encounter with the wall
> Scott Goodyear's encounter with the wall
> Frankly, CART's presence also had nothing to do with the spins by
> Hornish, Fisher, Witherill, and Buhl. Unfortunately, the spins by
> Hornish and Fisher took out Goodyear and Unser, two of the IRL's
> stronger contenders. The spin by Buhl was arguably one of those
> "that's racing" deals, and it could just as easily have happened to
> Castroneves, De Ferran, Andretti, or anybody else in that situation.
> In the end, the CART teams definitely emerged on top, but at several
> points throughout the race, there were several IRL regulars who were
> running out in front of the CART drivers. Still, it's the Indy 500,
> not the Indy 250 or so, and it's the results a the end that count.
> This year, the CART entrants really did shine. Hopefully, the IRL
> teams learned something today.
> Time will tell, I'm sure.
> By the way, thanks for inspiring me so -- I'm feeling so warm and
> fuzzy towards CART fans at the moment that I'm tempted to go delete
> all the developmental files I've got on my system for the CART2K and
> CARTCS2K conversions for F1 2000/ F1CS that I've been working on. I
> mean, heck, I've got IRL Heat to give me my jollies, so why should I
> like you?
> Oh, yeah, that's right -- I remember now: I'm not so narrow-minded
> that my ears touch.
> Still, that delete key is looking might attractive right now . . .
> >:-[
> -- JB
> >JB
> >>SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>.
> >>>A Cart sim???? I thought it was an IRL race........................Cart
> >sux.
> >>Actually, it was an IRL-sanctioned race, but above all, it was the
> >>Indianapolis 500.
> >>IRL teams and drivers showed up, CART teams and drivers showed up, and
> >>a NASCAR driver even showed up. It was a level playing field with
> >>common engine and chassis rules, and parity across the board: No
> >>equivalency formulas, no factory engine customers, no tampering with
> >>popoff valves -- just a level playing field for the richest and most
> >>time-honored race in the world . . . truly, "The Greatest Spectacle In
> >>Racing."
> >>Last year, the IRL teams and drivers -- especially Buddy Lazier and
> >>Hemelgarn Racing -- put up a good show against the best that CART had
> >>to offer, and Juan Montoya and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing had to earn
> >>their victory. I cheered for Montoya at the end, and wished Lazier
> >>better luck next year.
> >>This year, the IRL teams and drivers put forth a disappointing
> >>performance almost across the board. Roger Penske returned to Indy
> >>and claimed his 11th victory there, fair and square -- and Helio
> >>Castroneves earned his way to victory lane in Indy. Helio won the
> >>race, climbed the fence, drank the milk, kissed the bricks, then did a
> >>victory lap ON TOP of the pace thing. I cheered for him in the final
> >>laps of the race, and wished all the IRL regulars better luck next
> >>year.
> >>They'd better have more than just luck, though -- they had better
> >>spend the next 365 days asking themselves why they had the problems
> >>they did, and they had better find the answers in time to put forth a
> >>better effort at Indy next year. The IRL regulars should be
> >>intimately familiar with what it takes to put prepare an IRL car for a
> >>race, and even in a 500-miler like Indy, the IRL teams should NOT be
> >>seeing so many mechanical gremlins -- they had the entire month of May
> >>(and all of last season, plus the three races before Indy this year)
> >>to figure these things out, but only one CART team had mechanical
> >>problems in cars that they had only seen once or twice before.
> >>>> CART RULES!
> >>CART doesn't suck.
> >>Neither does the IRL.
> >>Neither one rules, though, either.
> >>Today, Helio Castroneves is the one who rules -- he has won the
> >>biggest, richest open-wheel race of the year, and he did it with style
> >>that few other winners have exhibited. Ditto Team Penske.
> >>Congratulations, Helio -- now maybe you can put the hyphen back in
> >>your name. If your face is going to be on the Borg-Warner trophy for
> >>all time, the least they can do is let you spell your name right.
> >>Congratulations to Roger, and congratulations to Gil as well.
> >>Congratulations to Target/Chip Ganassi racing, too.
> >>As for the IRL regulars, all I can say is that I would like to extend
> >>my condolences to those who were plagued with problems that were
> >>beyond their control today. For those who were plagued by problems
> >>that should have been within your control, though, I hope that today's
> >>experience lights a fire under you so you can figure out how to make
> >>all the inherent talent that is there gel, so that we can truly see
> >>what you really ARE made of.
> >>-- JB
As an Indy fan, I loved this year's race. As an IRL fan, I was very
disappointed by a lot of what I saw, and I would have been just as
disappointed even if CART hadn't been there.
Still, I have to admit that I liked seeing BOTH the IRL and CART teams
at Indy. This really is how it should be, I think.
As a sim fan, I would love to see BOTH an IRL and a CART sim, or one
that models BOTH series. Or maybe just an Indy sim that lets you run
Indy in 1995-vintage CART hardware, or 2001-vintage IRL hardware, or
any of a wide variety of eras.
THAT would be cool!
;-)
-- JB
On Mon, 28 May 2001 04:21:41 GMT, "Dave Henrie" <hen...@home.com>
wrote:
>"John Bodin" <jbo...@iquest.net> wrote in message
>news:3b11bcfc.1855352@news.iquest.net...
>> On Mon, 28 May 2001 02:50:38 GMT, "Jesse Black" <Wo...@kartracer.com>
>> wrote:
>> >Yup...the teams' problems were beyond their control...if TG wouldn't have
>> >let the CART guys race with them, they would have never had this problem.
>> >The problems aren't out of TG's control though.
>> With you being so narrow-minded that your ears touch in the middle,
>> Jesse, it just doesn't leave much room for brain cells, does it?
>> Neither Tony George nor CART had nothing to do with any of the
>> following:
>> Donnie Beechler's engine problems
>> Buddy Lazier's engine/electrical problems
>> Eddie Cheever's engine problems
>> Robbie Gordon's refueling problems
>> Stephan Gregoire's oil leak
>> Jeff Ward's halfshaft failure
>> Davey Hamilton's engine failure
>> Al Unser, Jr.'s encounter with the wall
>> Scott Goodyear's encounter with the wall
>> Frankly, CART's presence also had nothing to do with the spins by
>> Hornish, Fisher, Witherill, and Buhl. Unfortunately, the spins by
>> Hornish and Fisher took out Goodyear and Unser, two of the IRL's
>> stronger contenders. The spin by Buhl was arguably one of those
>> "that's racing" deals, and it could just as easily have happened to
>> Castroneves, De Ferran, Andretti, or anybody else in that situation.
>> In the end, the CART teams definitely emerged on top, but at several
>> points throughout the race, there were several IRL regulars who were
>> running out in front of the CART drivers. Still, it's the Indy 500,
>> not the Indy 250 or so, and it's the results a the end that count.
>> This year, the CART entrants really did shine. Hopefully, the IRL
>> teams learned something today.
>> Time will tell, I'm sure.
>> By the way, thanks for inspiring me so -- I'm feeling so warm and
>> fuzzy towards CART fans at the moment that I'm tempted to go delete
>> all the developmental files I've got on my system for the CART2K and
>> CARTCS2K conversions for F1 2000/ F1CS that I've been working on. I
>> mean, heck, I've got IRL Heat to give me my jollies, so why should I
>> waste my effort on a CART sim when its only going to benefit @$$#0!&$
>> like you?
>> Oh, yeah, that's right -- I remember now: I'm not so narrow-minded
>> that my ears touch.
>> Still, that delete key is looking might attractive right now . . .
>> >:-[
>> -- JB
>> >JB
>> >John Bodin wrote in message <3b118dbd.3482...@news.iquest.net>...
>> >>SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>.
>> >>>A Cart sim???? I thought it was an IRL race........................Cart
>> >sux.
>> >>Actually, it was an IRL-sanctioned race, but above all, it was the
>> >>Indianapolis 500.
>> >>IRL teams and drivers showed up, CART teams and drivers showed up, and
>> >>a NASCAR driver even showed up. It was a level playing field with
>> >>common engine and chassis rules, and parity across the board: No
>> >>equivalency formulas, no factory engine customers, no tampering with
>> >>popoff valves -- just a level playing field for the richest and most
>> >>time-honored race in the world . . . truly, "The Greatest Spectacle In
>> >>Racing."
>> >>Last year, the IRL teams and drivers -- especially Buddy Lazier and
>> >>Hemelgarn Racing -- put up a good show against the best that CART had
>> >>to offer, and Juan Montoya and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing had to earn
>> >>their victory. I cheered for Montoya at the end, and wished Lazier
>> >>better luck next year.
>> >>This year, the IRL teams and drivers put forth a disappointing
>> >>performance almost across the board. Roger Penske returned to Indy
>> >>and claimed his 11th victory there, fair and square -- and Helio
>> >>Castroneves earned his way to victory lane in Indy. Helio won the
>> >>race, climbed the fence, drank the milk, kissed the bricks, then did a
>> >>victory lap ON TOP of the pace thing. I cheered for him in the final
>> >>laps of the race, and wished all the IRL regulars better luck next
>> >>year.
>> >>They'd better have more than just luck, though -- they had better
>> >>spend the next 365 days asking themselves why they had the problems
>> >>they did, and they had better find the answers in time to put forth a
>> >>better effort at Indy next year. The IRL regulars should be
>> >>intimately familiar with what it takes to put prepare an IRL car for a
>> >>race, and even in a 500-miler like Indy, the IRL teams should NOT be
>> >>seeing so many mechanical gremlins -- they had the entire month of May
>> >>(and all of last season, plus the three races before Indy this year)
>> >>to figure these things out, but only one CART team had mechanical
>> >>problems in cars that they had only seen once or twice before.
>> >>>> CART RULES!
>> >>CART doesn't suck.
>> >>Neither does the IRL.
>> >>Neither one rules, though, either.
>> >>Today, Helio Castroneves is the one who rules -- he has won the
>> >>biggest, richest open-wheel race of the year, and he did it with style
>> >>that few other winners have exhibited. Ditto Team Penske.
>> >>Congratulations, Helio -- now maybe you can put the hyphen back in
>> >>your name. If your face is going to be on the Borg-Warner trophy for
>> >>all time, the least they can do is let you spell your name right.
>> >>Congratulations to Roger, and congratulations to Gil as well.
>> >>Congratulations to Target/Chip Ganassi racing, too.
>> >>As for the IRL regulars, all I can say is that I would like to extend
>> >>my condolences to those who were plagued with problems that were
>> >>beyond their control today. For those who were plagued by problems
>> >>that should have been within your control, though, I hope that today's
>> >>experience lights a fire under you so you can figure out how to make
>> >>all the inherent talent that is there gel, so that we can truly see
>> >>what you really ARE made of.
>> >>-- JB
" Actually, CART (specifically Champcar) RULES. the best racing series in
the
world."
American? The World is very small out there.
Darko
It is obvious that it the current CART / IRL cars can't race in the
rain due to the current makeup of the car. Nobody wants to see unsafe
conditions, but I think they should consider having wet weather tyres
and setups as in F1. I think the strategy permutations as seen in F1
would only improve the CART series as a spectator / TV sport. Dunno
what wet racing on an ovel would be like with the water streaming down
the banking etc. Is it possible?
I know that safety issues would have to be resolved too, but
yesterday's Indy 500 with the relatively light rainfall could have
been finished an hour earlier if wet weather racing with rain tyres
was an option.
So, with all due respect, even the procession that was the Monaco F1
makes just as entertaining TV for me as the Indy 500. I was amused by
the commentators repeatedly calling Indy the 'greatest spectacle in
motorsport'. Isn't that title reserved for JPM? *ducks*
I am amazed by the sheer scale of the event. 400 000 people, a month
of qualifying etc, but I think it is pretty much ignored by most
people outside the US. I can't think of more than 1 or 2 of my
friends who have ever watched it. Same goes for Le Mans, Daytona
500, Isle of Man TT, RAC Rally, Bathhurst, or whatever you care to
mention.
My guess for the greatest televised racing sports event would probably
be something like the Tour de France, but thats just a wild guess.
> >Actually, CART (specifically Champcar) RULES. the best racing series in the
> >world. NASCAR and F1 are great series as well, but the diversity, speed,
> Ooh ooh. Its raining out. Better stop the race.
> It is obvious that it the current CART / IRL cars can't race in the
> rain due to the current makeup of the car. Nobody wants to see unsafe
> conditions, but I think they should consider having wet weather tyres
> and setups as in F1. I think the strategy permutations as seen in F1
> would only improve the CART series as a spectator / TV sport. Dunno
> what wet racing on an ovel would be like with the water streaming down
> the banking etc. Is it possible?
See above. With those "amateur" IRL drivers who couldn't even do a
restart in the dry, image the carnage in the wet.
Agree on that one. As long as the IRL spec is run at Indy with
rev-limiters, i don't se the spectacle.
Pretty narrowminded...
It's formula 1, but the Tour de France is also up there i guess, and
it's great racing, although with limited horsepower :)
--
Olav K. Malmin
remove .spam when replying
>>Actually, CART (specifically Champcar) RULES. the best racing series in the
>>world. NASCAR and F1 are great series as well, but the diversity, speed,
>Ooh ooh. Its raining out. Better stop the race.
>It is obvious that it the current CART / IRL cars can't race in the
>rain due to the current makeup of the car. Nobody wants to see unsafe
>conditions, but I think they should consider having wet weather tyres
>and setups as in F1. I think the strategy permutations as seen in F1
>would only improve the CART series as a spectator / TV sport. Dunno
>what wet racing on an ovel would be like with the water streaming down
>the banking etc. Is it possible?
All ovals are like that -- and you CANNOT run on an oval in the rain.
See the above comment. The early spins were due to cold track and
tire conditions -- the track was moist after the rains, and rain tyres
would NOT have helped the traction situation at all under those
conditions.
-- JB
Well the pressure situations was proved this year and last with Greg Ray
stuffing his car when under pressure from a CART driver. He was not able
to keep pace with Juan last year and well pulled off a similar mistake this
year with Mike Andretti breathing down his neck.
One thing I am glad about is that they have drivers back at Indy now. I
only feel sad that my Father was not here to see the last two Indy 500s
since he would have really enjoyed them.
Also note Doughnuts are now out in racing and fence climbing is now in. My
wife got a kick out of the Roush Crew at the Coca Cola 600.
dave
For John B., I can see how this dismal performance by the IRL teams
and drivers could bring on such a massive case of denial, but I have
trouble believing that the IRL was putting on such good races *at such
a high skill level* all along and then *everyone* craps out at the big
race.
Face it, the IRL teams and drivers are OK for what they are and can
provide good entertainment (like many local short tracks), but they're
minor league next to the big boys (yes, CART). Someone mentioned
Winston Cup vs. Busch Grand National (which I think we can agree are
at two distinctly different skill levels), but even in a Busch race
you won't find the the WC guys putting on as *** a performance as
CART teams at this Indy (first through sixth).
With more and more CART teams coming to the 500, it's starting to
look like the party is over for the marginal IRL runners. I guess
they should thank Tony G. for the five years that almost anyone was
allowed to run in the "Biggest Spectacle in Racing". Just a shame
that the CART teams have to invest in a totally different car/motor
for one race per year.
"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark
Thanks,
Alex
> >Actually, CART (specifically Champcar) RULES. the best racing series in
the
> >world. NASCAR and F1 are great series as well, but the diversity, speed,
> Ooh ooh. Its raining out. Better stop the race.
> It is obvious that it the current CART / IRL cars can't race in the
> rain due to the current makeup of the car. Nobody wants to see unsafe
> conditions, but I think they should consider having wet weather tyres
> and setups as in F1. I think the strategy permutations as seen in F1
> would only improve the CART series as a spectator / TV sport. Dunno
> what wet racing on an ovel would be like with the water streaming down
> the banking etc. Is it possible?
> I know that safety issues would have to be resolved too, but
> yesterday's Indy 500 with the relatively light rainfall could have
> been finished an hour earlier if wet weather racing with rain tyres
> was an option.
> So, with all due respect, even the procession that was the Monaco F1
> makes just as entertaining TV for me as the Indy 500. I was amused by
> the commentators repeatedly calling Indy the 'greatest spectacle in
> motorsport'. Isn't that title reserved for JPM? *ducks*
> I am amazed by the sheer scale of the event. 400 000 people, a month
> of qualifying etc, but I think it is pretty much ignored by most
> people outside the US. I can't think of more than 1 or 2 of my
> friends who have ever watched it. Same goes for Le Mans, Daytona
> 500, Isle of Man TT, RAC Rally, Bathhurst, or whatever you care to
> mention.
> My guess for the greatest televised racing sports event would probably
> be something like the Tour de France, but thats just a wild guess.
> >Well the pressure situations was proved this year and last with Greg Ray
> >stuffing his car when under pressure from a CART driver. He was not
able
> >to keep pace with Juan last year and well pulled off a similar mistake
this
> >year with Mike Andretti breathing down his neck.
> Does Greg have the distinction of being the only Indy 500 driver to
> crash (or be drivectly involved in collisions during the race) twice
> in consecutive years?
Dave
um.
Thanks for the nice comments guys. I certainly *don't* claim to be a
CART expert. I don't know the history of the sport and I certainly
don't get to see enough of it. I've only recently invested in
satellite TV and am now able to follow CART. Previously I got to see
Cart races once a year or so on the other local sports channels.
My questions have been answered and if it makes me look like a dumbass
to you, thats fine by me.
I've never seen a wet CART race although I have seen CART races
cancelled due to weather. I can't honestly recall if it was an oval
or just very bad weather on a street course or not.
I was referring to my friends :) And when it comes to motor-racing, I
guess that's true. Most of them are more interested in Rugby, Soccer
or Cricket than *any* motorsport. I guess part of it is from a
shortage of exposure to these sports. We only had TV from about 1977
and decent overseas motorsports coverage is something relatively new
to many South Africans. I probably now what little I do from games
rather than watching it on TV.
Nascar fans probably will call me crazy (or worse) when I say that I
don't have a clue who 90% of the drivers in Nascar 4 are and that the
first time I heard about Richard Petty was when he endorsed a game for
the commodore 64. I've heard vaguely of Kyle Petty (probably via
Nascar 2 or 3) and only recently heard that Adam Petty was killed. I
don't mean to offend anyone, but we really don't get much exposure to
Nascar on our local TV stations.
Sorry to go so far off-topic and anybody wanting to argue it further
can mail me instead.
And finally, sorry if my original post p'd off some folks. Wasn't
intentional, honest!