Indy Racing League
Discussion
Its been a long winter so I watched it. It was ok but roll on Melbourne. IRL is only really interesting in the last 30 laps or so, until then its impossible to really get excited. It does not have the explosive element of an F1 standing start and I think a lot of people watch it for the shunts - which are often pretty major (see Kenny Brack at Texas last year).
Still - its better than Midsommer Murders.........just.
Rob.
Still - its better than Midsommer Murders.........just.
Rob.
I watched this last night, after previously watching the CART series on Eurosport last year.
It was good to see a couple of names that used to be in CART as well as the British - I think that CART is on it's way out so I guess we'll not be able to see it this year?
The racing is certainly nail-biting stuff especially when you realise the speeds they're doing - however I used to enjoy the 'proper' circuits (Laguna Seca, and the Vancouver street type tracks)and I don't think that these guys race on anything other than ovals?
Still, a good warm up to the F1 season opener.
It was good to see a couple of names that used to be in CART as well as the British - I think that CART is on it's way out so I guess we'll not be able to see it this year?
The racing is certainly nail-biting stuff especially when you realise the speeds they're doing - however I used to enjoy the 'proper' circuits (Laguna Seca, and the Vancouver street type tracks)and I don't think that these guys race on anything other than ovals?
Still, a good warm up to the F1 season opener.
minghis said:
CART is on it's way out so I guess we'll not be able to see it this year?
They got themselves bankrupt and engineered a buyout which theoretically allows them to continue.
Chances slightly better than 50/50 so keep an eye on Eurosport just in case it all works out.
Apr 18 Long Beach, CA, USA 2.0 ST
May 16 Las Vegas, NV, USA
May 23 Monterrey, Mexico 2.1 RD
Jun 5 West Allis, WI, USA 1.0 OV
Jun 20 Portland, OR, USA 2.0 RD
Jul 3 Cleveland, OH, USA 2.1 ST
Jul 11 Toronto, ON, CAN 1.8 ST
Jul 25 Vancouver, BC, CAN 1.8 ST
Aug 8 Elkhart Lake, WI, USA 4.0 RD
Aug 15 Denver, USA 1.6 ST
Aug 29 Montreal, CAN 2.7 RD
Sep 12 Monterey, CA, USA 2.2 RD
Oct 24 Surfers Paradise, Qld, Aus 2.8 ST
? Miami, FL, USA 1.2 ST
? Mexico City, Mexico 2.8 RD
? Seoul, South Korea
? Fontana, CA, USA 2.0 OV
Believe IRL has been looking to acquire the rights for several of the current CART races on street/road courses. IRL is good, but I think it needs to race on non ovals if it is to become a genuinely important series. There are some undoubtedly talented drivers in IRL (Hornish for example) who deserve to show that they are more than just left turn specialists.
The whole IRL/CART saga seems to be coming full circle...
CART evolved into a fantastic series full of varied circuits, fantastic racing and considerably less political bickering than F1. Tony George wanted an all oval series to allow US based oval/short track racers and small teams a chance amongst the growing number of overseas drivers and mega teams that had helped propel CART to new levels. George threw toys out of pram re Indy 500. IRL is born, CART loses it's showpiece and we lose one of the greatest races in the World. Spin forward 6 or 7 years and CART is suffering depleted grids and is populated by a growing number of lesser known drivers and one car teams. IRL is now the home of Penske, (Andretti) Green Racing, Team Rahal, Ganassi Racing and other ex CART stalwarts. IRL rumoured to be considering buying out what's left of CART in order to have non oval races.
I have no doubt that there will be a reunification within a few years. CART can't go on existing in it's current form and IRL needs non oval tracks if it ever to be viewed as anything other than a single seater version of NASCAR.
Funny old game.
The whole IRL/CART saga seems to be coming full circle...
CART evolved into a fantastic series full of varied circuits, fantastic racing and considerably less political bickering than F1. Tony George wanted an all oval series to allow US based oval/short track racers and small teams a chance amongst the growing number of overseas drivers and mega teams that had helped propel CART to new levels. George threw toys out of pram re Indy 500. IRL is born, CART loses it's showpiece and we lose one of the greatest races in the World. Spin forward 6 or 7 years and CART is suffering depleted grids and is populated by a growing number of lesser known drivers and one car teams. IRL is now the home of Penske, (Andretti) Green Racing, Team Rahal, Ganassi Racing and other ex CART stalwarts. IRL rumoured to be considering buying out what's left of CART in order to have non oval races.
I have no doubt that there will be a reunification within a few years. CART can't go on existing in it's current form and IRL needs non oval tracks if it ever to be viewed as anything other than a single seater version of NASCAR.
Funny old game.
RobSinfield said:
Its been a long winter so I watched it. It was ok but roll on Melbourne. IRL is only really interesting in the last 30 laps or so, until then its impossible to really get excited. It does not have the explosive element of an F1 standing start and I think a lot of people watch it for the shunts - which are often pretty major (see Kenny Brack at Texas last year).
Still - its better than Midsommer Murders.........just.
Rob.
IRL - in fact any oval racing - makes F1 look like the dull, boring, tedious sport that it is. You want overtaking, wheel to wheel dicing at 200 mph? Only in the IRL and NASCAR etc - F1 can only dream of such excitement ....
Mind you I'll probably watch it if nothing else is on.
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