The Alessandro Zanardi IndyCar Thread

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 19 Sep 2013, 17:28

CoopsII wrote:I hope JPM can get into the car alot more comfortably than Tony Stewart did getting into Hamiltons McLaren a couple of years back

"Ooh...my ass aint gonna fit..aah"

"Call 911! Im wedged!"

The thing is that A.J. Foyt was still reasonably competitive given his advanced age and heavy bulk even though he needed the tub of the car widened in his Copenhagen Lola back in 1992 and 1993 (when he retired despite running practice qualifying laps good for 5th before Robby Gordon crashed). Although just making the field and out qualifying Scott Goodyear (both with the initial entry of Goodyear and in the replacement car where Mike Groff qualified the car), Gordon Johncock, Buddy Lazier, and Tom Sneva as the 16th fastest in speed although 23rd on the grid. John Andretti was on the same lap as Foyt finishing 8th in 1992 also with a slower car although the difference between 16th and 18th fastest is pretty marginal.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 29 Sep 2013, 19:37

apple2009 wrote:
Salamander wrote:
apple2009 wrote:I can't wait for Montoya to prove you all wrong.

Yeah, because 7 years doing piss-all in NASCAR does wonders for a driver's skill in single-seaters.

You act like driving a NASCAR takes the same set of skills as driving a single-seater...

Driving a NASCAR? :shock:

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 29 Sep 2013, 21:20

Jocke1 wrote:Driving a NASCAR?

Yes, because saying "driving a NASCAR car" just doesn't quite sound right...

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 29 Sep 2013, 23:22

I just lost some respect for ESPN.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 30 Sep 2013, 07:57

Dark77 wrote:I just lost some respect for ESPN.

ESPN was always good at getting rid off long-time announcers: Larry Nuber, Bob Varsha, Bob Jenkins, Paul Page, now Marty Reid.

But I wonder why the Huffington Post reports it. Maybe because they hate NASCAR and/or everything associated with sports, so they feel like scoring one over "teh ev0l sportsmen". :?:

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 30 Sep 2013, 20:29

A lot of websites saying that TK signed a contract with Chip Ganassi, but nothing confirmed yet. But if this is truth, finally TK! After refusing an offer in 2008 season. Ganassi is going to have the strongest driver lineup of 2014.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 30 Sep 2013, 20:31

Dj_bereta wrote:A lot of websites saying that TK signed a contract with Chip Ganassi, but nothing confirmed yet. But if this is truth, finally TK! After refusing an offer in 2008 season. Ganassi is going to have the strongest driver lineup of 2014.

Is he joining in a new car or is he replacing an existing member. If so I hope it's Franchitti who's done jack crap since 2011 bar the Indy 500 win in 2012

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 01 Oct 2013, 18:11

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Dj_bereta wrote:A lot of websites saying that TK signed a contract with Chip Ganassi, but nothing confirmed yet. But if this is truth, finally TK! After refusing an offer in 2008 season. Ganassi is going to have the strongest driver lineup of 2014.

Is he joining in a new car or is he replacing an existing member. If so I hope it's Franchitti who's done jack crap since 2011 bar the Indy 500 win in 2012

Rumors are they're bringing back Graham's old team, and pairing him with Kimball.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 02 Oct 2013, 01:44

Apparently the Indy road course is being used for a race in May next year.
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e/related/

There's been rumours about this for a time now... I'm unsure as to if it's a good idea or not...

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 02 Oct 2013, 02:10

wwwhhyyyyyy are they taunting Mosley by using the turn 13 chicane?

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 02 Oct 2013, 10:36

Race at Indy road course is cinfirmed, but.......

Why using the MotoGP section???? Why??

madmark1974 · Post by **madmark1974** » 02 Oct 2013, 11:52

Here's the map :

3 whole passing zones!!!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 02 Oct 2013, 12:00

madmark1974 wrote:Here's the map :

I find it interesting that they've skipped the entire 5/6/7 complex and put a high-speed chicane in its place, as well as reprofile the chicane where the two hairpins used to be.

On the other hand, why they're using the final chicane will remain a mystery to me...

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 02 Oct 2013, 13:15

At first I thought the laps would be quite a bit longer with that Turn 13 mickey-mouse job, but they lopped off 5-6-7 for some reason (That was hard to get right in Forza, F1:CE,et al) so they will still probably be around 65 second laps. I dunno. Its still kind of an oval, just an odd misshapen one. Anyone remember Ceaser's Palace after CART took it over? That's the vibe I'm getting here. But I'll still watch it.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 02 Oct 2013, 20:43

if you're going to chicane one banked corner, use the other!

well, at least Pocono will be a 500 miler again. making it a true triple crown race like it once was.

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 02 Oct 2013, 21:30

nome66 wrote:if you're going to chicane one banked corner, use the other!

well, at least Pocono will be a 500 miler again. making it a true triple crown race like it once was.

Wait what? When did they announce that about Pocono? I know I've been sick, but still....

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 02 Oct 2013, 21:33

when they signed the race for this season last year, they said they would raise the distance to 500 miles

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 02 Oct 2013, 21:57

Aerospeed wrote:Apparently the Indy road course is being used for a race in May next year.
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e/related/

There's been rumours about this for a time now... I'm unsure as to if it's a good idea or not...

I think it's going to be awesome… if somebody put it on free to air tv here in Britain but I like the track and I think the racing will be very good

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 04 Oct 2013, 11:47

Wallio wrote:At first I thought the laps would be quite a bit longer with that Turn 13 mickey-mouse job, but they lopped off 5-6-7 for some reason (That was hard to get right in Forza, F1:CE,et al) so they will still probably be around 65 second laps. I dunno. Its still kind of an oval, just an odd misshapen one. Anyone remember Ceaser's Palace after CART took it over? That's the vibe I'm getting here. But I'll still watch it.

Caesar's Palace was a farce even in F1.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 04 Oct 2013, 12:45

Onxy Wrecked wrote:Caesar's Palace was a farce even in F1.

If it hadn't been on the calander in 1981, Carlos Reutemann would have been World Champion!

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 04 Oct 2013, 21:33

Ganassi today confirmed Kanaan and a switch to Chevy power next year! Honda loses its "protected" I.e. works team in IndyCar.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 04 Oct 2013, 21:51

As regards this Autosport story, at least IndyCar has the balls to do what F1 could not (albeit they are for very different reasons). But it is definitly ROTR right there.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 05 Oct 2013, 01:47

nope. no balls. just stupid. same motivation behind removing the chicane from Baltimore in 2012....."we should make this faster, why is that chicane even there?"

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 05 Oct 2013, 21:55

Damn, I feel really stupid for writing off Dixon before now.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 05 Oct 2013, 22:03

Looking at the classification, a 7th Sato-DNF in 8 races isn't surprising (made all the more tragic by the fact that he was on pole), but IIDOTR has to go to di Silvestro for claiming her first podium in IndyCar. Well done!

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 06 Oct 2013, 08:42

Great race and good to see De Silvestro on the podium

. The Championship battle is getting more interesting now.

IIDOTR for me was Luca Filippi, he was good for a podium until his strategy (and Power's) was ruined by a safety car - the same from which effectively handed Dixon the win.

They moved the race onto BtSports 2 last night for us in the UK from its usual slot on ESPN and the ad breaks were more annoying than usual, how do you guys in the US manage to watch sports with ad breaks every 5 mins?

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 06 Oct 2013, 08:44

johnnyCarwash wrote:IIDOTR for me was Luca Filippi, he was good for a podium until his strategy (and Power's) was ruined by a safety car - the same from which effectively handed Dixon the win.

Filippi was heading for podium?!?! :shock:

Well he really has found his feet now in IndyCar. Luca Filippi = Future IndyCar champ.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 06 Oct 2013, 16:37

johnnyCarwash wrote:They moved the race onto BtSports 2 last night for us in the UK from its usual slot on ESPN and the ad breaks were more annoying than usual, how do you guys in the US manage to watch sports with ad breaks every 5 mins?

I think it might be because us Brits watch the BBC F1 coverage and are not really used to the add breaks.

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 06 Oct 2013, 16:57

Well qualifying for race 2 later has been called off due to weather. So the grid has been decided by entrant points:

IndyCar wrote:"The starting grid was set by entrant points, in accordance with Rule 8.1.10.1(b) of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, as a rainstorm washed out the 30-minute morning qualifying session on the 1.634-mile, 10-turn circuit carved out of a parking lot at Reliant Park. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the 90-lap race at 1 p.m. (ET)."

good_Ralf wrote:Luca Filippi = Future IndyCar champ.

I really hope Luca gets a full time drive in the series

In other news... was watching a bit of Auto GP earlier and the commentators were hinting that Karthikeyan is aiming to be on the Indy grid next season

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 06 Oct 2013, 21:00

Good f**king job Dallara. ROTR to them for failing to do their job of making cars that don't launch over eachother.

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 06 Oct 2013, 21:10

Dark77 wrote:Good f**king job Dallara. ROTR to them for failing to do their job of making cars that don't launch over eachother.

Franchitti's launch did seem quite odd because weren't the rear pods supposed to stop things like that happening? I'm also concerned for the catch-fencing which flew into the grandstand along with other debris... And as of this moment IndyCar's website is down...

The race itself wasn't as good as the first race nor was Filippi/ De Silvestro drives as good... My ROTR was Sato's brainfade at the start of the race where he forgot his grid slot forcing an aborted start. It is a coincidence that both drivers who stalled on the initial race start (Sato and Franchitti) were involved in that shunt at the end.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 06 Oct 2013, 21:19

Dark77 wrote:Good f**king job Dallara. ROTR to them for failing to do their job of making cars that don't launch over eachother.

That looked proper nasty that did, the thing is though, at least there safe enough to stop the drivers getting seriously injured.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 06 Oct 2013, 21:22

holy bathplug, what a wreck. hope everyone is alright, especially the fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGsyzm3i3Q

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 06 Oct 2013, 23:43

Nasty crash, but Franchitti is Okay, with some minor fractures. I think he will miss the final race.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 07 Oct 2013, 01:41

Very bizarre! Not sure how Franchitti got up like that... Thank goodness he's alright

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 07 Oct 2013, 04:33

Thanks god that people are okay.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 07 Oct 2013, 08:24

johnnyCarwash wrote:Well qualifying for race 2 later has been called off due to weather. So the grid has been decided by entrant points:
IndyCar wrote:"The starting grid was set by entrant points, in accordance with Rule 8.1.10.1(b) of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, as a rainstorm washed out the 30-minute morning qualifying session on the 1.634-mile, 10-turn circuit carved out of a parking lot at Reliant Park. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the 90-lap race at 1 p.m. (ET)."

good_Ralf wrote:Luca Filippi = Future IndyCar champ.

I really hope Luca gets a full time drive in the series

In other news... was watching a bit of Auto GP earlier and the commentators were hinting that Karthikeyan is aiming to be on the Indy grid next season

Karthikeyan has raced in NASCAR a couple years ago in nine races. Wouldn't be shocked to see him appearing to the series that has elements of both F1 and NASCAR.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 07 Oct 2013, 08:25

johnnyCarwash wrote:
Dark77 wrote:Good f**king job Dallara. ROTR to them for failing to do their job of making cars that don't launch over eachother.

Franchitti's launch did seem quite odd because weren't the rear pods supposed to stop things like that happening? I'm also concerned for the catch-fencing which flew into the grandstand along with other debris... And as of this moment IndyCar's website is down...

Dear Dallara,
Please get out and bring back cars that look more like this:

If it wasn't the fact that the nose wasn't so damn high, Dario wouldn't have gone flying over Sato's car, he would have jacked up Sato's rear end and both would have gone into the wall.

Then, the only problem would be people who didn't see the wreck in time to avoid two cars sitting broadside in the middle of the racing line. Yeah, flying cars might have saved that wreck from being worse. Pick your poison.

Those rear attenuator pods are as useless as week-old dog shite, Marco got launched last year at Long Beach after a very similar crash... just replace Sato getting loose with Graham Rahal being Graham Rahal. The way the Lola I posted above was made, even at high speeds, if a car would drive squarely into the back of the car in front of it, the car would NOT go flying over the top like they do today. On the DW12, the nose is higher than the gearbox, on the Champ Cars, the nose was far lower. I cite Bourdais' collision with Paul Tracy at Vegas 05 and Scott Sharp's flip at New Hampshire 1994 as evidence.

Also, infamous IRL Reject Jon Herb was arrested for possession of child porn:
www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/oct/06/n-n ... n-charges/

Or, in English, his criminal record is more embarrassing than his IRL results ever were! ... and he was nominated for being one of the worst IndyCar drivers ever!!

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 07 Oct 2013, 09:15

Cynon wrote:Also, infamous IRL Reject Jon Herb was arrested for possession of child porn:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/oct ... n-charges/

Or, in English, his criminal record is more embarrassing than his IRL results ever were! ... and he was nominated for being one of the worst IndyCar drivers ever!!

I think Mr. Herb has now taken the cake of being the worst driver in IndyCar history (75% DNF rate and 246 counts of child porn).

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 07 Oct 2013, 10:47

Onxy Wrecked wrote:
Cynon wrote:Also, infamous IRL Reject Jon Herb was arrested for possession of child porn:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/oct ... n-charges/

Or, in English, his criminal record is more embarrassing than his IRL results ever were! ... and he was nominated for being one of the worst IndyCar drivers ever!!

I think Mr. Herb has now taken the cake of being the worst driver in IndyCar history (75% DNF rate and 246 counts of child porn).

That is worse news than Dario's crash by far. Here's hoping for a decent jail sentence.

And get well soon, Dario. Concussion, plus fractured vertebra and ankle.