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

[joecct]

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

What a great race. Lots of competitive racing and most of all there were no accidents. Nice PR by the drivers on the podium praising the fans and the facility. Important for the long term future of the venue.

Does the wide circuit help? Too many of the Euro courses are tight with little passing.

BTW, in the twitterverse, it appears that David Hobbs and Steve Matchett will be going to NBC. Bob Varsha is not.

 

[alfablue]

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

Does the wide circuit help? Too many of the Euro courses are tight with little passing.

BTW, in the twitterverse, it appears that David Hobbs and Steve Matchett will be going to NBC. Bob Varsha is not.

I think that helped a lot- the width allowed some interesting attempts and safe lines while passing- especially into turn 1, I thought. What could have been total carnage turned into a rather interesting opening corner, with a lot of safe side by side racing and changes of position.

It also seemed to have a big impact in the curvey sections, where you still saw some good clean passes- that's a place that I bet nobody thought passes would take place. I really dug the track.

As for the commentators- what I'm more interested in- will the non-track side guys actually be at the race? It sure didn't look like they were in Austin! I can see places other than Canada and the US, but the commentators should be there when it's this close.

 

[MattS]

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

BTW, in the twitterverse, it appears that David Hobbs and Steve Matchett will be going to NBC. Bob Varsha is not.

NBC announced that it is going to be Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), David Hobbs (analyst) and Steve Matchett (analyst) will be the new broadcast team for the NBC Sports Group's Formula 1 coverage. No word yet on who the pit reporter will be. I am hoping Buxton will get/keep the job.

It also seemed to have a big impact in the curvey sections, where you still saw some good clean passes- that's a place that I bet nobody thought passes would take place. I really dug the track.

As for the commentators- what I'm more interested in- will the non-track side guys actually be at the race? It sure didn't look like they were in Austin! I can see places other than Canada and the US, but the commentators should be there when it's this close.

Totally agree about the track. I think it has the potential to be one of the best on the schedule!


They commentators were in Charlotte like always.

 

[Craig P.]

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

What do you gain by having the commentators onsite? Unlike with a field sport, they're not going to be able to call it just by watching the course.

 

[alfablue]

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

What do you gain by having the commentators onsite? Unlike with a field sport, they're not going to be able to call it just by watching the course.

More realistic observation, better connection to the event. Minor things. I'm also not a big fan of the FIA feed- it's typically bad.

 

[joecct]

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

More realistic observation, better connection to the event. Minor things. I'm also not a big fan of the FIA feed- it's typically bad.

What do you gain by having the commentators onsite? Unlike with a field sport, they're not going to be able to call it just by watching the course.

It works with NASCAR because most, if not all, of the track is in sight of the announcers. Road tracks go all over the place and you may get a better view from looking at Timing & Scoring plus the video feeds.

 

[alfablue]

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

It works with NASCAR because most, if not all, of the track is in sight of the announcers. Road tracks go all over the place and you may get a better view from looking at Timing & Scoring plus the video feeds.

I would also wonder if they would be more interested if they were there. Granted, they are as interested as we are, but sometimes, they just seem distant. Just lacking in "local" excitement.

 

[joecct]

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

I would also wonder if they would be more interested if they were there. Granted, they are as interested as we are, but sometimes, they just seem distant. Just lacking in "local" excitement.

+1

 

[JuveGG24]

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

A couple things,

1. We were sitting in the turn 6 bleachers, so we saw the HRT hold up Vettel and were able to see Hamilton begin his move on the back straight. Big cheers from the crowd on that one.

2. I want to go back in a couple years when they work the kinks out. There weren't enough food and beer stands, there was no organization of the lines leaving (meaning a bit of mob rule against line cutters, some yelling and a small bit of physical intimidation, and at least one appearance of police officers), and a few choke points moving around.

3. That being said, I was impressed with how it was run. We didn't have any trouble getting to the track, the shuttles worked great. Lots of volunteers inside the track helping out and directing traffic. And even with a bit of a cluster"blank" leaving, we were only in line for a maybe an hour and a half. It felt quicker because the buses were coming so regularly you were constantly moving.

I'm going to try and get some pictures off my phone and I'll post.

 

[JuveGG24]

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

Exit of turn 6 from my seat. The back stretch is in the background.

Turns 7, 8, and 9 going over the hill from my seat.

All of the drivers were in the back of classic American cars for introductions.

Porsche Cup race. There was a general admission/bring your own chair section right on the main straight at the start line. Pretty cool that it's open, not just high end seats.

Turn 11 looking down the looong back straight during a Ferrari Challenge race.

 

[alfablue]

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

Juve- did you get up to the top of turn 1? What did you think of it?

From what I could see- it's very similar on TV as Eau Rouge- which is VERY steep and sudden in person. It's oh so very cool to see cars go through there.

Turn 1 at COTA seemed to turn out really great.

 

[JuveGG24]

Juve- did you get up to the top of turn 1? What did you think of it?

From what I could see- it's very similar on TV as Eau Rouge- which is VERY steep and sudden in person. It's oh so very cool to see cars go through there.

Turn 1 at COTA seemed to turn out really great.

We walked the whole track as best we could. It is steep, a lot coming in the second half of the hill. A lot of the amateur drivers in the warmup races seemed to misjudge the braking zone. The pros were finding a few quick lines through it as well which made it exciting. I think kimi pulled something off there or at least on the back side coming down.

 

[joecct]

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

Congrats to Vettel for #3. And....

 

[solovsfett]

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

hell of a grand prix this morning. I thought (and hoped) Vettel was finished when Senna hit him but the damage was not severe. He kept his head and drove a solid race but I'm not a fan of his whatsoever and I get the feeling he has no respect for the history of the sport. Add to that, when you have the dominant car as he and Schumacher have had while winning titles (generally) it's tough to really say you're the best out there.

would he win 3 consecutive titles if Alonso, Hamilton or Rosberg were in the RB alongside him? I doubt it.

anyway, too bad Hamilton was taken out, that was impatience on Hulkenberg. Also, Hobbs said Senna is out w/Williams? I hadn't read anything about that.

 

[solovsfett]

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

Senna is talking w/Force India and Caterham...**** that sucks, what about taking Grosjean's place at Lotus? that would be a sweet ride and all he would need to prove he can race.

I felt he had an on-par season w/Pastor Maldonado

 

[MattS]

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

That was a heck of a race! Drama from start to finish. Vettel did exactly what he had to do and was smart about it. Alonso did everything he could. I wonder what would have happened if Ferrari could have given Alonso a decent car from the start of the season. I think he would have had the WDC easily. This season showed that Alonso is easily the best driver right now in F1.

Nico with a heck of a drive overall. He should have been maybe a bit more patient with Lewis but it was a racing incident IMO.

Massa with a good drive. Maybe he could have gotten second if not for team orders. And a he did a couple of nice blocking move at the start to help Alonso.

Petrov's 11th (I think?) place got Caterham the last of the WCC money by beating out Marussia.

Rumors are with Senna that his money is drying up and that is why he will lose his seat at Williams.

 

[MattS]

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

Senna is talking w/Force India and Caterham...**** that sucks, what about taking Grosjean's place at Lotus? that would be a sweet ride and all he would need to prove he can race.

While I agree with you the Grosjean should go, his manager is Boullier (sp?) who is also the team principle at Lotus, so he's not going anywhere.

 

[alfablue]

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

It was a great race- I've got to really hand it to Masa for being a great team mate- and really putting his driving skills behind that. Just an amazing start. BTW, between his and Fernando's great start, and Vettel's bad start- that put him into the position for Bruno to hit him, twice. I surely thought he was out after that accident, especially after the rear corner was hit and destroyed the Williams.

I also wonder that if the rest of the race was in the dry, would have that broken the Red Bull.

While Vettel won from 7th, I do think Mike gave him 6th. Or at least didn't really challenge for it.

As a Hamilton fan, he did a great job, and was just in a bad position- I don't think Nico had many other options, being that they were going around 2 back markers at the same time. He just misjudged the traction going into the corner. As much as it hurt to see Lewis hit out, I don't think he deserved any penalty- the traction was very variable out there.

Alonso did what he needed to do. It's that the Ferrari was totally outclassed by the McLarens all weekend. Even with the debris yellow (when was the last time you saw a NASCAR call in F1???), he could not keep up with Button. Had it not been for that yellow- the finish between Button and Hulkenburg would have been pretty amazing (recall that they had a 40 second lead over Hamilton at the time of the yellow).

Button- after struggling all year for traction, he sure got it at the end of the season. It's too bad that McLaren had so many problems, has he and Hamilton did really well when the car was there. Congratulations for the season ending win!

Congrats to Vettel for winning his third straight. begrudgingly

(BTW, IMHO, Senna isn't that good. He's ok- qualified to have a real license, but he's mid-pack at best)

 

[Runsub5]

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

Great finish to the season. I was pleased that Vettel's microphone wasn't working at the end of the race when the team was congratulating him on winning the driver's title. Congratulations to Vettle and Red Bull. Another great season for them. Vettle is not one of my favorite drivers but he did what was needed to win the title. I am looking forward to next year with the new production crew on NBC Sports as well as the new driver assignments. I think Alonso can challenge Vettle with the proper car. I wonder if Hamilton is having second thoughts about leaving McLaren?

 

[solovsfett]

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

While I agree with you the Grosjean should go, his manager is Boullier (sp?) who is also the team principle at Lotus, so he's not going anywhere.

****, I didn't know that. well there goes that idea.

certainly if he doesn't show a little extra with one of those small teams ala Ayrton at Toleman then he won't be around very long.

...please for the love of god anyone, ANYONE but Vettel next season.

the racing this season was at times pretty incredible, and another great bonus was the ability to say 6 WDC's were in the field each race. Next year 5, but still that's very good for the sport.

Re: Mercedes - I think Ross Braun bit off much more than he can chew with his undertaking. If he had Red Bull money behind him I think he'd succeed but...

I just hope they find something in the new car that will allow Hamilton and Rosberg to be competitive.