Discussion
Heads up - the 2018 Indycar season starts this weekend at StPetersburg - shown live from 16:00 Sunday on BT Sport ESPN
List of drivers here https://www.indycar.com/Drivers
List of drivers here https://www.indycar.com/Drivers
I'm not much of an open-wheel formula fan - I live close enough to St Pete for it to be almost an afternoon out, but I'm just not that motivated to see this on a (semi) street circuit - particularly as it's Sebring the following weekend, which is our "Le Mans", despite what Daytona or Road Atlanta might claim.
However, I always look forward to the Indy 500 and I've now forgotten how many times I've attended since my first in 1988. The spectacle, enormity and visceral mental overload of the occasion is unique in motorsport.
My friends and I make almost a week of it and it is an absolute 'given' in my motor-racing calendar (along with Rolex 24, Sebring, US Nats and Petit Le Mans) - just as the Le Mans 24 hours was, when I lived in UK.
In summary, I'm unsure how much 'gravitas' the Indycar Series has in general terms here in the US (compared to NASCAR, for example) but the 500 is a pretty big deal by anyone's reckoning - race fan or otherwise.
However, I always look forward to the Indy 500 and I've now forgotten how many times I've attended since my first in 1988. The spectacle, enormity and visceral mental overload of the occasion is unique in motorsport.
My friends and I make almost a week of it and it is an absolute 'given' in my motor-racing calendar (along with Rolex 24, Sebring, US Nats and Petit Le Mans) - just as the Le Mans 24 hours was, when I lived in UK.
In summary, I'm unsure how much 'gravitas' the Indycar Series has in general terms here in the US (compared to NASCAR, for example) but the 500 is a pretty big deal by anyone's reckoning - race fan or otherwise.
MartG said:
Heads up - the 2018 Indycar season starts this weekend at StPetersburg - shown live from 16:00 Sunday on BT Sport ESPN
List of drivers here https://www.indycar.com/Drivers
Very much looking forward to the new Indycar Season, followed it now for the last 3 years after becoming a little fed up with all the politics within the F1 paddock. List of drivers here https://www.indycar.com/Drivers
Must try hard to cross the pond this year and attend my first race, looking forward to seeing if Carlin can challenge this year.
Nick_Johnson said:
Very much looking forward to the new Indycar Season, followed it now for the last 3 years after becoming a little fed up with all the politics within the F1 paddock.
Me too. When it comes to deciding at the end of this year whether to keep BT Sport to watch Indycar or get Sky to watch F1 with no free-to-air coverage next year, I suspect I'll decide in favour of indycar - something which would have surprised me only a couple of years ago !Live Qualifying on at the moment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1uz6Hfs3-U
Qualy result.
1. Robert Wickens CAN Schmidt Peterson Motorsports-Honda
2. Will Power AUS Team Penske-Chevrolet
3. Matheus Leist BRA A. J. Foyt Enterprises-Chevrolet
4. Jordan King GBR Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolet
5. Takuma Sato JPN Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
7. James Hinchcliffe CAN Schmidt Peterson Motorsports-Honda
8. Gabby Chaves COL Harding Racing-Chevrolet
9. Scott Dixon NZL Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda
10. Tony Kanaan BRA A. J. Foyt Enterprises-Chevrolet
11. Simon Pagenaud FRA Team Penske-Chevrolet
12. Alexander Rossi USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
13. Josef Newgarden USA Team Penske-Chevrolet
14. Sebastien Bourdais FRA Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan-Honda
15. Zach Veach USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
16. Spencer Pigot USA Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolet
17. Ed Jones UAE Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda
18. Marco Andretti USA Andretti Herta Autosport-Honda
19. Jack Harvey GBR Michael Shank Racing with Schmidt Peterson-Honda
20. Max Chilton GBR Carlin-Chevrolet
21. Charlie Kimball USA Carlin-Chevrolet
22. Zachary Claman DeMelo CAN Dale Coyne Racing-Honda
23. Rene Binder AUT Juncos Racing-Chevrolet
24. Graham Rahal USA Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda
1. Robert Wickens CAN Schmidt Peterson Motorsports-Honda
2. Will Power AUS Team Penske-Chevrolet
3. Matheus Leist BRA A. J. Foyt Enterprises-Chevrolet
4. Jordan King GBR Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolet
5. Takuma Sato JPN Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
7. James Hinchcliffe CAN Schmidt Peterson Motorsports-Honda
8. Gabby Chaves COL Harding Racing-Chevrolet
9. Scott Dixon NZL Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda
10. Tony Kanaan BRA A. J. Foyt Enterprises-Chevrolet
11. Simon Pagenaud FRA Team Penske-Chevrolet
12. Alexander Rossi USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
13. Josef Newgarden USA Team Penske-Chevrolet
14. Sebastien Bourdais FRA Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan-Honda
15. Zach Veach USA Andretti Autosport-Honda
16. Spencer Pigot USA Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolet
17. Ed Jones UAE Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda
18. Marco Andretti USA Andretti Herta Autosport-Honda
19. Jack Harvey GBR Michael Shank Racing with Schmidt Peterson-Honda
20. Max Chilton GBR Carlin-Chevrolet
21. Charlie Kimball USA Carlin-Chevrolet
22. Zachary Claman DeMelo CAN Dale Coyne Racing-Honda
23. Rene Binder AUT Juncos Racing-Chevrolet
24. Graham Rahal USA Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda
On the Same bill 'Pirelli World Challenge' live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwYuov30QQ8
Yup - Rossi should have been penalised for taking Wickens out at the very least
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DplS4LzMmhc ( sorry - French commentary, only clip I could find so far )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DplS4LzMmhc ( sorry - French commentary, only clip I could find so far )
Edited by MartG on Sunday 11th March 19:52
I can't see how it wasn't a penalty, Rossi came steaming in completely out of control and wiped out Wickens.
Enjoyed the race, once it eventually got going. There was a danger of it descending into farce with the amount of early yellow.
I thought it was interesting to see some of the big names struggle and I would never have expected Dixon to make the mistake he made on Sato.
I'm loving the look of the new cars, especially from that low nose camera. Gives a great sense of speed.
Enjoyed the race, once it eventually got going. There was a danger of it descending into farce with the amount of early yellow.
I thought it was interesting to see some of the big names struggle and I would never have expected Dixon to make the mistake he made on Sato.
I'm loving the look of the new cars, especially from that low nose camera. Gives a great sense of speed.
Really intriguing race with an epic climax. Awful for Wickens - he was masterful all day; his only mistake was letting Rossi get a bit close on that last restart. The 2018 cars race really nicely but hopefully the series grabs the opportunity to turn the boost up in the future. Another 150bhp will really liven things up!
Did anyone else suddenly realise that the race was a week before Sebring? I've got an agreement-in-principle with the wife that we'll do Sebring next year for the combined Weathertech / WEC event. To tag St Pete onto the front end of the trip will be perfect. Image PWC, IMSA, WEC and IndyCar in the space of eight days!
Did anyone else suddenly realise that the race was a week before Sebring? I've got an agreement-in-principle with the wife that we'll do Sebring next year for the combined Weathertech / WEC event. To tag St Pete onto the front end of the trip will be perfect. Image PWC, IMSA, WEC and IndyCar in the space of eight days!
chevronb37 said:
Really intriguing race with an epic climax. Awful for Wickens - he was masterful all day; his only mistake was letting Rossi get a bit close on that last restart. The 2018 cars race really nicely but hopefully the series grabs the opportunity to turn the boost up in the future. Another 150bhp will really liven things up!
Did anyone else suddenly realise that the race was a week before Sebring? I've got an agreement-in-principle with the wife that we'll do Sebring next year for the combined Weathertech / WEC event. To tag St Pete onto the front end of the trip will be perfect. Image PWC, IMSA, WEC and IndyCar in the space of eight days!
If it helps to persuade her, a friend of mine was sunbathing on the beach at St Petes yesterday Did anyone else suddenly realise that the race was a week before Sebring? I've got an agreement-in-principle with the wife that we'll do Sebring next year for the combined Weathertech / WEC event. To tag St Pete onto the front end of the trip will be perfect. Image PWC, IMSA, WEC and IndyCar in the space of eight days!
Just watching this on Youtube.
Love the fact I can watch the whole thing on there.
Used to follow Indycar years ago when it was CART and IRL. Bit of a sabbatical but back with it this year.
I love the visor cams etc. Really good stuff. The cars look a lot better this year. Not so grippy either which makes it more challenging.
Love the fact I can watch the whole thing on there.
Used to follow Indycar years ago when it was CART and IRL. Bit of a sabbatical but back with it this year.
I love the visor cams etc. Really good stuff. The cars look a lot better this year. Not so grippy either which makes it more challenging.
Just started , Live Friday Practice at the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvXh8SUywFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvXh8SUywFI
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