Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

[joecct]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Yes, huge difference. I was there in 1968 (year after Dan Gurney won), and watched the race at Eau Rouge. There was no bleacher there then and people lined the track with just a fence . I was one of them. Amazing changes for the better.

I still don't understand how Maldonado jumped the field without false starting. Anyone have any insight?

Maldonado got a 5 spot penalty for jumping the start. Although the TV showed the lights off when he moved, I guess the sensors (censors?) detected a movement before the lights went off.

Then to top it all off, he got another 5 spot penalty for reckless driving. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/9/13741.html

Yes the courses are now safer, but old Spa, old Nurburgring, and old Monza were one heckofa courses. I miss them.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Yes, huge difference. I was there in 1968 (year after Dan Gurney won), and watched the race at Au Rouge. There was no bleacher there then and people lined the track with just a fence . I was one of them. Amazing changes for the better.

I still don't understand how Maldonado jumped the field without false starting. Anyone have any insight?

He admittited jumpin the start after he crashed out- something about the clutch starting to slip, so it started to roll too early. The side views from Whitings position was pretty clear.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Alessandro Zanardi AT THE INDY 500 in 2013?!?!?!?!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Mr. Vasser and Mr. Ganassi, make it happen!

one of my favorite CART drivers of all-time, he was such a joy to watch and listen to. He along w/Greg Moore and Michael were my favorites pre-2000

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-ganassi-vasser-discuss-joint-zanardi-indy-500-effort

You do mean GOLD MEDAL WINNING ALEX ZANARDI, don't you??? The guy is amazing.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-ganassi-vasser-discuss-joint-zanardi-indy-500-effort

You do mean GOLD MEDAL WINNING ALEX ZANARDI, don't you??? The guy is amazing.

you got it. and what a heart-warming story he'd be as well. man he was leading the race in germany on his comeback when the accident happened

then in a special-built car the following year or maybe two years later he took a spin around the track and managed a lap that would have put him 7th on the grid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8GLzCAI0cM

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

you got it. and what a heart-warming story he'd be as well. man he was leading the race in germany on his comeback when the accident happened

then in a special-built car the following year or maybe two years later he took a spin around the track and managed a lap that would have put him 7th on the grid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8GLzCAI0cM

very interesting.

I was out looking for a new car and I found this video.. Perfect example of trailing throttle over-steer, notice the guy way in front who spun, and the guy in front who spun, and the guy behind who also spun, all without anyone touching them beforehand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLuRhk5k8oI&feature=endscreen&NR=1

and this one if you haven't seen it is really terrific.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oLSYSJO5Ik&feature=related

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Yes, huge difference. I was there in 1968 (year after Dan Gurney won), and watched the race at Au Rouge. There was no bleacher there then and people lined the track with just a fence . I was one of them. Amazing changes for the better.

Wish I could have been there. Here's one for another track no longer in use but a good example of what racing used to be like. Pretty wild, And Don't forget Reims. I remember watching Bonnier and Moss as a little kid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-1SfuzyT0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfY_qLxtJU&feature=related

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Yes the courses are now safer, but old Spa, old Nurburgring, and old Monza were one heckofa courses. I miss them.

The Nordschleife is still an epic track.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

will F1 ever consider returning to Imola or Hockenheim or they not in use by any series at this point and not kept up?

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

will F1 ever consider returning to Imola or Hockenheim or they not in use by any series at this point and not kept up?

I have no knowledge, but wiki says that Hockenheim alternates. The same question could be asked of Magny-Cours.

 

[joecct]

I have no knowledge, but wiki says that Hockenheim alternates. The same question could be asked of Magny-Cours.

But not with Spa.

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

I have no knowledge, but wiki says that Hockenheim alternates. The same question could be asked of Magny-Cours.

Hockenheim and Nürburgring alternate years for the German GP. And starting next season Valencia and Barcelona will alternate the Spanish GP. The European GP will discontinue.

Last I heard things were still up in the air for a France GP returning as both Magny-Cours and Paul Ricard are both in the running for it. The plan is for the French GP to alternate years with Belgium GP at Spa.

I know there has been several upgrades to Imola but I am not sure if/when they will get a GP back. But I think it is FIA approved for F1 cars.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

Hockenheim and Nürburgring alternate years for the German GP. And starting next season Valencia and Barcelona will alternate the Spanish GP. The European GP will discontinue.

Last I heard things were still up in the air for a France GP returning as both Magny-Cours and Paul Ricard are both in the running for it. The plan is for the French GP to alternate years with Belgium GP at Spa.

I know there has been several upgrades to Imola but I am not sure if/when they will get a GP back. But I think it is FIA approved for F1 cars.

thanks. I must say I disapprove of SPA ever being rotated out for Magny-Cours...

Estoril ever have a shot at coming back?

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

thanks. I must say I disapprove of SPA ever being rotated out for Magny-Cours...

Estoril ever have a shot at coming back?

I haven't heard anything about Estroil coming back. My guess with the shambles that the Portuguese economy is in, they can't afford the fees to Bernie.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

So does anyone really think Ferrari will actually pull out of GP racing, or is this just grand standing and typical Ferrari/Italian way to get what they want. They do have a few good points....

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

So if you were RHR, what would you do, stay with Andretti or sign with the Captain?

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

So if you were RHR, what would you do, stay with Andretti or sign with the Captain?

The Captain without a doubt. While the new cars have bought some parity to the racing this season, I think with another year of the same cars, assuming no aero kits (the engines are frozen), then Penske and Ganassi will start to separate themselves from the mid-field teams of Andretti, KV, Herta, etc.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

So if you were RHR, what would you do, stay with Andretti or sign with the Captain?

personally I'd say Andretti. Michael gave him a chance when no-one else would and he was also 2nd on the list behind Pagenaud for Penske...I'm sure his ego will play a bit into this...

that and Penske has been fairly average the past 2-3 years, I mean RHR has many wins as all the Penske guys combined this year, correct?

 

[MattS]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

personally I'd say Andretti. Michael gave him a chance when no-one else would and he was also 2nd on the list behind Pagenaud for Penske...I'm sure his ego will play a bit into this...

that and Penske has been fairly average the past 2-3 years, I mean RHR has many wins as all the Penske guys combined this year, correct?

I'm not a big fan of loyalty in sport as it usually gets one nowhere. However, I do under stand your point.

Penske guys have 6 wins (Helio-2, Power-3, and Briscoe-1) while Andretti has 4 all by RHR.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Open Wheel Racing 2012: The year of the ugly cars!

McLaren really pulled it out for qualifying today- 1-2 for Hamilton and Button.

OTOH, Ferrari is kind of reeling- apparently Alnoso broke a rear stabilizer on the opening lap of Q3, and the repair still left him well back in 10th. He was fastest in Q1 and Q2 up until then. May be a long day for the home team.

 

[MattS]

McLaren really pulled it out for qualifying today- 1-2 for Hamilton and Button.

OTOH, Ferrari is kind of reeling- apparently Alnoso broke a rear stabilizer on the opening lap of Q3, and the repair still left him well back in 10th. He was fastest in Q1 and Q2 up until then. May be a long day for the home team.

Did they get Alonso's car fixed? The original quote I saw by him said that it was still broke when he went back out in Q3. I think it has to do with it being a brand new chassis for him as the last one was destroyed at Spa.