The 2012 IndyCar Series thread

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 30 Aug 2012, 09:18

East Londoner wrote:Bruno Junqueira is making an oh-so-brief return to Indycar this weekend.

Not bad, I thought he deserved another chance. As did Servia when he actually got another shot.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 31 Aug 2012, 21:55

SON OF A BITCH BALTIMORE. FIX THE bathplug TRACK AND REMOVE THE bathplug CHICANE. HOW DID YOU OVERLOOK THIS.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 01 Sep 2012, 00:21

F1000X wrote:SON OF A BITCH BALTIMORE. FIX THE bathplug TRACK AND REMOVE THE bathplug CHICANE. HOW DID YOU OVERLOOK THIS.

The organizers pulled a San Jose and put the circuit over a railroad track and thus damaged some of the cars. Seriously, who overlooks this?

pasta_maldonado · Post by **pasta_maldonado** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:30

JeremyMcClean wrote:
F1000X wrote:SON OF A BITCH BALTIMORE. FIX THE bathplug TRACK AND REMOVE THE bathplug CHICANE. HOW DID YOU OVERLOOK THIS.

The organizers pulled a San Jose and put the circuit over a railroad track and thus damaged some of the cars. Seriously, who overlooks this?

Yet another IndyCar fail. Why can't the organisers see that this is the perfect calendar*? (In no particular order)

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Edmonton
Mt Tremblant
Iowa
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.

*I must admit I don't know what I'm talking about with ovals, but half of the street and road courses IndyCat goes to are shite. Sonoma and Baltimore, I'm looking at you

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:36

pasta_maldonado wrote:
Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Edmonton
Mt Tremblant
Iowa
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.

A Indycar calender without Toronto? Go home mate. Just go home. :lol:

Needs more Fontana as well.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:39

pasta_maldonado wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:
F1000X wrote:SON OF A BITCH BALTIMORE. FIX THE bathplug TRACK AND REMOVE THE bathplug CHICANE. HOW DID YOU OVERLOOK THIS.

The organizers pulled a San Jose and put the circuit over a railroad track and thus damaged some of the cars. Seriously, who overlooks this?

Yet another IndyCar fail. Why can't the organisers see that this is the perfect calendar*? (In no particular order)

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Edmonton
Mt Tremblant
Iowa
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.

*I must admit I don't know what I'm talking about with ovals, but half of the street and road courses IndyCat goes to are shite. Sonoma and Baltimore, I'm looking at you

Y U NO SURFERS PARADISE?

pasta_maldonado · Post by **pasta_maldonado** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:47

Ooops, good additions that I forgot about

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Mt Tremblant
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.
Toronto
Fontana
Surfer's Paradise.

Would a trrip to Phillip Island might be worth watching

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:49

pasta_maldonado wrote:Would a trrip to Phillip Island might be worth watching

Phillip Island can't produce good touring car racing, what chance does it have with open-wheelers? :lol:

pasta_maldonado · Post by **pasta_maldonado** » 01 Sep 2012, 09:54

the Masked Lapwing wrote:
pasta_maldonado wrote:Would a trip to Phillip Island be worth watching

Phillip Island can't produce good touring car racing, what chance does it have with open-wheelers?

Okay then, maybe not :lol:

If Indy HAVE to go to Brazil and Japan, at least make it Interlagos and Suzuka!

Post by **tommykl** » 01 Sep 2012, 12:09

Bernie says no

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:20

I'm enjoying watching these Indy drivers squirm in the rain at Baltimore.

LETS GO SATO! *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:35

Lucky you're even watching, TSN2 isn't covering the race! :evil:

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:37

JeremyMcClean wrote:Lucky you're even watching, TSN2 isn't covering the race!

Just watch it illegaly on the internet. I'm in Canada too, mind you. (Is it okay if I post the link to the feed mods?)

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:41

RealRacingRoots wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Lucky you're even watching, TSN2 isn't covering the race!

Just watch it illegaly on the internet. I'm in Canada too, mind you. (Is it okay if I post the link to the feed mods?)

Sure, why not? (Put the link in white just to be safe.

)

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:42

JeremyMcClean wrote:
RealRacingRoots wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Lucky you're even watching, TSN2 isn't covering the race!

Just watch it illegaly on the internet. I'm in Canada too, mind you. (Is it okay if I post the link to the feed mods?)

Sure, why not? (Put the link in white just to be safe. )

COOOL. http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/71309/1/indycar---baltimore-grand-prix(-race)-live-stream-online.html

I use that website when I want to watch wrassling PPVs.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:44

Thanks!

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 02 Sep 2012, 20:10

This race is Unlimited Caution Works

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 02 Sep 2012, 20:23

Sadly it's gone sour for Sato. He has retired with fuel pressure issues.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Sep 2012, 21:00

Obvious jump start from Hunter-Reay!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 02 Sep 2012, 22:06

JeremyMcClean wrote:Obvious jump start from Hunter-Reay!

As obvious as Pastor's in Belgium? (I am not able to watch the race myself.)

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Sep 2012, 22:53

dr-baker wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Obvious jump start from Hunter-Reay!

As obvious as Pastor's in Belgium? (I am not able to watch the race myself.)

Hmm, no, not that obvious. I'll try to re-iterate as best as I can: Hunter-Reay went full throttle before the flag came down. That's about it. (I can't find a video anywhere.)

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 04 Sep 2012, 08:54

So we go into Fontana guaranteed to crown a new champion, either an American with a popular team or a series favorite from an even more popular team. Things couldn't be better for the end of the Indycar season. Can't wait.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 04 Sep 2012, 09:50

F1000X wrote:So we go into Fontana guaranteed to crown a new champion, either an American with a popular team or a series favorite from an even more popular team. Things couldn't be better for the end of the Indycar season. Can't wait.

Hunter-Reay/Andretti vs. Power/Penske ???

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 04 Sep 2012, 10:33

dr-baker wrote:
F1000X wrote:So we go into Fontana guaranteed to crown a new champion, either an American with a popular team or a series favorite from an even more popular team. Things couldn't be better for the end of the Indycar season. Can't wait.

Hunter-Reay/Andretti vs. Power/Penske ???

Although, if Hunter-Reay were to win, it'd make Michael Andretti look more competent than he really is :lol:

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 04 Sep 2012, 12:43

Why do I have the feeling that there might be a crashgate related incident at this race?

Rocks with Salt · Post by **Rocks with Salt** » 04 Sep 2012, 16:08

JeremyMcClean wrote:Why do I have the feeling that there might be a crashgate related incident at this race?

I get that feeling too -- particularly in that Will Power will crash about halfway through the race and Hunter-Reay will take the championship; Power will complain to the stewards and the whole championship will be decided on a stewards' decision. Considering Power's luck on ovals, I wouldn't doubt it.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 04 Sep 2012, 16:52

Rocks with Salt wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Why do I have the feeling that there might be a crashgate related incident at this race?

I get that feeling too -- particularly in that Will Power will crash about halfway through the race and Hunter-Reay will take the championship; Power will complain to the stewards and the whole championship will be decided on a stewards' decision. Considering Power's luck on ovals, I wouldn't doubt it.

More likely to happen than not. Power needs to be at the front.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 07 Sep 2012, 00:33

JeremyMcClean wrote:Obvious jump start from Hunter-Reay!

More like obvious CHOKE by Briscoe. Did you notice that RHR didn't give anyone else the opportunity to do that on the final restart and that someone had had that kind of restart every single start except the last one?

Yeah. RHR snookered Briscoe and Penske is whining over it. No sympathy for them.

JeremyMcClean wrote:Why do I have the feeling that there might be a crashgate related incident at this race?

I don't think Penske would stoop that low, and neither would Andretti.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 07 Sep 2012, 08:42

pasta_maldonado wrote:Ooops, good additions that I forgot about

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Mt Tremblant
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.
Toronto
Fontana
Surfer's Paradise.

Mont Tremblant unfortunately is too narrow for IndyCars. So they need another Canadian venue. It's sad the Vancouver circuit is not available anymore due to some redevelopment of the area. So it would have to be Montreal, but when F1 briefly left the city and ChampCar disappeared, NASCAR took over the event.

Mexico City would also be nice to have on the calendar.

If they want to race in Brazil, it would be much cheaper to replace the Sao Paulo Sambodrome temporary circuit with Interlagos. I cannot tell you how much I am against the concept of running on a temporary street course in a city which has a permanent racing facility to offer.

Laguna Seca might be a nice idea on paper but who knows how rundown it might be today? It might just be one big gravel trap. Certainly, a big reconstruction effort would be necessary.

I have to admit I actually like Baltimore. Both the races there were good ones. The chicane also adds a lot of variety, kind of like the "Singapore Sling".

Ovals:

What is the state of the Nazareth oval? Does it still exist? What about Pikes Peak Raceway or Gateway (St.Louis)?
Aren't they all in some dormant state?

I'm not sure Pocono is suited well for IndyCars these days due to the kink. With a one-off, they surely could give it a try.
Phoenix was repaved with a faster asphalt and the banking was raised to accomodate NASCAR. Those are essentially the same conditions enabling pack racing as were in place at Las Vegas where the "Big One" took out half the field and one life (RIP Dan Wheldon).
So it remains to be seen whether the addition of that track at this point would be a good choice. They should have a test there, though.
And somehow, I would not list Fontana in there just yet, because the track still needs to prove itself. Here's hoping it will be a safe race this year.

Loudon/New Hampshire proved to be a well-suited track. They should try getting back there and making it work.

The last few races at Sparta/Kentucky Speedway have been good ones as well. They should not have left the place.
I have seen one Chicagoland race and that was a good one as well, so this oval should not be overlooked either.

Lausitzring/Eurospeedway was basically constructed for IndyCar to come and visit. ChampCar was there twice. If they are looking for ovals, why not this one? They need to get a TV contract for Europe again before that and maybe that will lure in a European engine manufacturer as well.

ChampCar ran a few European races as well. Brands Hatch was a good fit. I'd like to nominate Dijon Prenois as another good fit for IndyCar because this is not a stop-start track by any means. It's a road circuit where even oval specialists who are used to going 2 wide for long stretches of time can make themselves feel at home. Also, it would be a home race for Bourdais and Pagenaud ;-)

Why is there not a European IndyCar Series, like there is an American LeMans Series?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 07 Sep 2012, 08:47

Nazareth was demolished in 2004 iirc

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 07 Sep 2012, 09:11

Yannick wrote:Why is there not a European IndyCar Series, like there is an American LeMans Series?

Because there is no demand for that, and we don't need another Formula series in Europe, when we already have too much series. But I agree with you that IndyCar needs to have one or two races in Europe. This might attract sponsors from Europe, which earns the teams a bit more money, so they are less reliant on pay-drivers.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 07 Sep 2012, 09:52

Yannick wrote:Lausitzring/Eurospeedway was basically constructed for IndyCar to come and visit. ChampCar was there twice. If they are looking for ovals, why not this one? They need to get a TV contract for Europe again before that and maybe that will lure in a European engine manufacturer as well.

ChampCar ran a few European races as well. Brands Hatch was a good fit. I'd like to nominate Dijon Prenois as another good fit for IndyCar because this is not a stop-start track by any means. It's a road circuit where even oval specialists who are used to going 2 wide for long stretches of time can make themselves feel at home. Also, it would be a home race for Bourdais and Pagenaud

From memory, the races at Rockingham Motor Speedway were better than Brands Hatch (even though I was in the crowd at Brands but not Rockingham

). Probably due to the enforced pit-stop windows that was in force at the time. I would love to go and see an oval IndyCar race at Rockingham.

And luring a European engine manufacturer? I'm guessing Lotus this year doesn't count then?

And my money is on Ryan Hunter-Reay this weekend, although Penske will use team orders to try to secure the title for the guy with a lot of will power.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Sep 2012, 12:10

dr-baker wrote:And luring a European engine manufacturer? I'm guessing Lotus this year doesn't count then?

That's because they're in no way European anymore :lol:

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 07 Sep 2012, 17:26

eurobrun wrote:Nazareth was demolished in 2004 iirc

sort of. the vastly huge grandstands were moved to Watkins glen right after it was closed, then thy dug up small pieces of the pavement.
the meat of the track is still there and there are some support groups looking for a new owner and more funding to rebuild the track.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 08 Sep 2012, 16:37

One race to Lotus gets your ROTY.

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 08 Sep 2012, 17:10

Yannick wrote:
pasta_maldonado wrote:Ooops, good additions that I forgot about

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Mt Tremblant
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.
Toronto
Fontana
Surfer's Paradise.

Mont Tremblant unfortunately is too narrow for IndyCars. So they need another Canadian venue. It's sad the Vancouver circuit is not available anymore due to some redevelopment of the area. So it would have to be Montreal, but when F1 briefly left the city and ChampCar disappeared, NASCAR took over the event.

Mexico City would also be nice to have on the calendar.

If they want to race in Brazil, it would be much cheaper to replace the Sao Paulo Sambodrome temporary circuit with Interlagos. I cannot tell you how much I am against the concept of running on a temporary street course in a city which has a permanent racing facility to offer.

Laguna Seca might be a nice idea on paper but who knows how rundown it might be today? It might just be one big gravel trap. Certainly, a big reconstruction effort would be necessary.

I have to admit I actually like Baltimore. Both the races there were good ones. The chicane also adds a lot of variety, kind of like the "Singapore Sling".

Ovals:

What is the state of the Nazareth oval? Does it still exist? What about Pikes Peak Raceway or Gateway (St.Louis)?
Aren't they all in some dormant state?

I'm not sure Pocono is suited well for IndyCars these days due to the kink. With a one-off, they surely could give it a try.
Phoenix was repaved with a faster asphalt and the banking was raised to accomodate NASCAR. Those are essentially the same conditions enabling pack racing as were in place at Las Vegas where the "Big One" took out half the field and one life (RIP Dan Wheldon).
So it remains to be seen whether the addition of that track at this point would be a good choice. They should have a test there, though.
And somehow, I would not list Fontana in there just yet, because the track still needs to prove itself. Here's hoping it will be a safe race this year.

Loudon/New Hampshire proved to be a well-suited track. They should try getting back there and making it work.

The last few races at Sparta/Kentucky Speedway have been good ones as well. They should not have left the place.
I have seen one Chicagoland race and that was a good one as well, so this oval should not be overlooked either.

Lausitzring/Eurospeedway was basically constructed for IndyCar to come and visit. ChampCar was there twice. If they are looking for ovals, why not this one? They need to get a TV contract for Europe again before that and maybe that will lure in a European engine manufacturer as well.

ChampCar ran a few European races as well. Brands Hatch was a good fit. I'd like to nominate Dijon Prenois as another good fit for IndyCar because this is not a stop-start track by any means. It's a road circuit where even oval specialists who are used to going 2 wide for long stretches of time can make themselves feel at home. Also, it would be a home race for Bourdais and Pagenaud

Why is there not a European IndyCar Series, like there is an American LeMans Series?

Remember Pocono was originally designed for Indycars (all three turns are named after OW Drivers) and if anything, the changes (SAFER Barriers, repaving, no more gravel pits) make Indycars a BETTER fit. Plus Doc is no longer with us, so his neverending grudge against Indy (since USAC's embarrassing mixed stock car/Indycar experiment of the late '80s) has passed with him. His grandson has no such qualms. Plus there's actually a huge amount of local support (I live about an hour away) and just think, 212mph through Turn 2 (with the Indy wing package) and the possiblity of SIX-WIDE down the front stretch!

EDIT: Almost forgot, newest local rumor is that Pocono WILL be on the 2013 calender over July 4th weekend!

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 08 Sep 2012, 18:22

Yannick wrote:
pasta_maldonado wrote:Ooops, good additions that I forgot about

Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Road America
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Texas
Pocono
Indy
Mt Tremblant
Michigan
Nazareth
Phoenix
Laguna Seca.
Toronto
Fontana
Surfer's Paradise.

Why is there not a European IndyCar Series, like there is an American LeMans Series?

i think World Series by Renault is on par with IndyCar i guess.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 08 Sep 2012, 23:46

Wallio wrote: Remember Pocono was originally designed for Indycars (all three turns are named after OW Drivers) and if anything, the changes (SAFER Barriers, repaving, no more gravel pits) make Indycars a BETTER fit. Plus Doc is no longer with us, so his neverending grudge against Indy (since USAC's embarrassing mixed stock car/Indycar experiment of the late '80s) has passed with him. His grandson has no such qualms. Plus there's actually a huge amount of local support (I live about an hour away) and just think, 212mph through Turn 2 (with the Indy wing package) and the possiblity of SIX-WIDE down the front stretch!

EDIT: Almost forgot, newest local rumor is that Pocono WILL be on the 2013 calender over July 4th weekend!

As soon as tickets are available, I'm there. F1 and Indycar near my house? YES.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 09 Sep 2012, 09:07

The Wiki page for the 2013 season does indeed say that Pocono will take place. But there is no source for that claim...

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 10 Sep 2012, 03:08

it's good for IndyCar. they need more ovals. it's a little street heavy i would say.