Grand Prix Rejects

dr-baker wrote:

Dj_bereta wrote:Aleshin was very lucky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFerodPNpvM

It was good to see the safety/medical team get there so quickly.

Yes, it is also testament to the safety of the DW12that Aleshin's injurys are not as bad as what they could have been.

also the aerodynamics of the car. the old chassis would have just lifted off and killed him as soon as he smacks the fence. how was the nose on the old car? i keep seeing Kimball hit him and i keep thinking about what happened to Zanardi back in 2001

40 laps to go and Power is with one hand in the title. Only a crash could change this.

And both my heroes wins the race and the title
Happy for everyone! Toowoomba must be in ecstatic now

If Helio wasn't such a stooge, and stuck towards the front like he needed to, he would've stolen that title off of Power. But of course, that's just too much to ask.

Finally Power gets the title. ROTR for Helio Castroneves. He did well in this race, but that mistake in the pit entry was inexcusable for one of the most experienced drivers of the field. Also, its the 4th time that Helio see one of his team mates winning the title.

Helio still maintain his negative records:

-Most race starts without a title.
-Most race wins without a title.
-Most points scored without a title.

I'm not sure, but I think he holds these records too:

-Most poles without a title.
-Most Indy 500 victories without a title.
-Most races for Penske without a title.

Congrats to Tony Kanaan for winning the MAV-TV 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California last night. And congrats, too, to Will Power for winning the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Drivers Championship.

Now, since this season finale was an oval race, another prize needs to be awarded. Albeit, it is more of an inofficial one, since it's not been sponsored this year. I'm talking about none other than the Verizon IndyCar Series' A.J. Foyt Oval Track Trophy. Here are the final points standings in the oval trophy for the 2014 season:

1 4 J. Montoya 342
2 2 H. Castroneves 300
3 1 W. Power 285
4 3 S. Dixon 267
5 7 T. Kanaan 266
6 22 E. Carpenter 262
7 8 C. Munoz 260
8 6 R. Hunter-Reay 250
9 11 R. Briscoe 229
10 9 M. Andretti 223
11 5 S. Pagenaud 221
12 13 J. Newgarden 216
13 12 J. Hinchcliffe 201
14 16 M. Aljoschin 156
15 10 S. Bourdais 154
16 19 T. Sato 147
17 14 C. Kimball 141
18 15 J. Wilson 141
19 21 S. Saavedra 132
20 17 J. Hawksworth 130
21 18 G. Rahal 128
22 20 C. Huertas 102
23 25 K. Busch 80
24 26 J. Hildebrand 66
25 27 S. Karam 57
26 29 J. Davison 34
27 24 O. Servia 33
28 30 J. Villeneuve 29
29 31 A. Tagliani 28
30 32 T. Bell 22
31 33 P. Mann 21
32 35 B. Lazier 11
33 34 M. Plowman 6

Note that Juan-Pablo Montoya only wins this because he was so good in the 3 500 mile races which as long-distance events, were awarded double points this year.

And now guys, make the best of the offseason while it's still summer!

For those who missed it, Aleshin has a concussion, fractured ribs, a broken right clavicle and a chest injury.

I was fairly impressed by the lack of idiocy in that race. Castroneves really shot himself in the foot with that mistake, but I can't say I blame him- just a little too much speed coming around the entry lane, trying to shave time off his pit stop. At least it wasn't a pit speed violation, that would have been inexcusable.

Well done Will, it's about time.

Conor Daly is looking to get into IndyCar for next year. I hope he makes it.

It's official - Simon Pagenaud will be driving for Penske next season

Big, big news. Once he gets comfortable enough running the ovals, he should have the beating of Power and Helio. Congrats to the chap.

By my (probably hopelessly incorrect) logic, this should mean Hinch stays at Andretti for 2015. So the best seats available should be the Schmidt seat that Pags vacates, or Ryan Briscoe's car, because I believe Ganassi already have Dixon, TK and Kimball under contract for next season.

East Londoner wrote:It's official - Simon Pagenaud will be driving for Penske next season

Big, big news. Once he gets comfortable enough running the ovals, he should have the beating of Power and Helio. Congrats to the chap.

By my (probably hopelessly incorrect) logic, this should mean Hinch stays at Andretti for 2015. So the best seats available should be the Schmidt seat that Pags vacates, or Ryan Briscoe's car, because I believe Ganassi already have Dixon, TK and Kimball under contract for next season.

Awesome

Is this the first time Penske will be running 4 drivers?

Will Power is not amused. Seriously though, Penske will be THE team to beat next year...

East Londoner wrote:It's official - Simon Pagenaud will be driving for Penske next season

Big, big news. Once he gets comfortable enough running the ovals, he should have the beating of Power and Helio. Congrats to the chap.

By my (probably hopelessly incorrect) logic, this should mean Hinch stays at Andretti for 2015. So the best seats available should be the Schmidt seat that Pags vacates, or Ryan Briscoe's car, because I believe Ganassi already have Dixon, TK and Kimball under contract for next season.

This.Is.Awesome

Time for Pags to win the title next year.

Good for Pagenaud. Here's hoping Schmidt finds another great driver as his successor with them. And here's even more hoping that this will mean one more full season entry than this year.

Yannick wrote:Good for Pagenaud. Here's hoping Schmidt finds another great driver as his successor with them. And here's even more hoping that this will mean one more full season entry than this year.

No surprise if someone like Justin Wilson takes the seat.

Dj_bereta wrote:

Yannick wrote:Good for Pagenaud. Here's hoping Schmidt finds another great driver as his successor with them. And here's even more hoping that this will mean one more full season entry than this year.

No surprise if someone like Justin Wilson takes the seat.

I imagine that that would be a step-up from Dale Coyne Racing?

Jack Hawksworth has left Bryan Herta's team, and may be on the way to driving a second car for AJ Foyt

If Foyt can sort their shite out, and Sato could get back to his early-2013 form (assuming he's staying), that's another strong team in the 2015 field. I do wonder who'll drive for Herta next season.

Either way, as long as Hinch remains on the grid in some way, and Graham Rahal doesn't get a seat, I'll be happy with how IndyCar are doing in 2015.

East Londoner wrote:Jack Hawksworth has left Bryan Herta's team, and may be on the way to driving a second car for AJ Foyt

If Foyt can sort their shite out, and Sato could get back to his early-2013 form (assuming he's staying), that's another strong team in the 2015 field. I do wonder who'll drive for Herta next season.

Either way, as long as Hinch remains on the grid in some way, and Graham Rahal doesn't get a seat, I'll be happy with how IndyCar are doing in 2015.

Rahal is shite, but I think it is a bit stupid to wish for him to not race completely. Besides, the field in IndyCar is already a bit on the small side

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:

East Londoner wrote:Jack Hawksworth has left Bryan Herta's team, and may be on the way to driving a second car for AJ Foyt

If Foyt can sort their shite out, and Sato could get back to his early-2013 form (assuming he's staying), that's another strong team in the 2015 field. I do wonder who'll drive for Herta next season.

Either way, as long as Hinch remains on the grid in some way, and Graham Rahal doesn't get a seat, I'll be happy with how IndyCar are doing in 2015.

Rahal is shite, but I think it is a bit stupid to wish for him to not race completely. Besides, the field in IndyCar is already a bit on the small side

And it gets smaller every time he derps someone else out of a race.

Has anyone else noticed the trend of serious crashes in the last weekend of the series recently?

To explain more easily...
2011 - Dan Wheldon had his fatal accident
2012 - No idea about this year
2013 - Dario Franchitti had his career-ending accident.
2014 - Mikhail Aleshin suffered some serious, although not career-threatening injuries in practice.

I wonder who will suffer the big crash net year...

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:Has anyone else noticed the trend of serious crashes in the last weekend of the series recently?

To explain more easily...
2011 - Dan Wheldon had his fatal accident
2012 - No idea about this year
2013 - Dario Franchitti had his career-ending accident.
2014 - Mikhail Aleshin suffered some serious, although not career-threatening injuries in practice.

I wonder who will suffer the big crash net year...

Dario's crash was in the second last race, and besides the majority of motorsport fans hope that serious crashes don't happen

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:Has anyone else noticed the trend of serious crashes in the last weekend of the series recently?

To explain more easily...
2011 - Dan Wheldon had his fatal accident
2012 - No idea about this year
2013 - Dario Franchitti had his career-ending accident.
2014 - Mikhail Aleshin suffered some serious, although not career-threatening injuries in practice.

I wonder who will suffer the big crash net year...

Dario's crash was in the second last race, and besides the majority of motorsport fans hope that serious crashes don't happen

Well, close enough.
Also, I don't hope crashes liek these will happen. It just seems inevitable '__'

There was that pile-up in 2013 though.

Bleu wrote:There was that pile-up in 2013 though.

In Fontana, the last race of that year, if I remember well. Justin Wilson had some injuries.

http://youtu.be/gyvDfMc7zlU?t=6m19s

hey man how about silly-season stuff? this just popped up on facebook. guess that picture of an indycar is a good thing

Given the fact that Kevin Kalkhoven of KVSH Racing is a co-owner of Cosworth, the IndyCar in the graphic does not surprise me at all. But why is it a Target Chip Ganassi car?

probably just a random shot they picked

As the IndyCar calendar has already ended before September this year on recommendation of the Boston Consulting Group, who among other things, also recommended holding a race in Boston, a phantom livery has showed up in aero kit testing at Austin


http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/ite ... open-wheel

Yannick wrote:

If you look closely, that's clearly a three element rear wing. Three element rear wing. On an IndyCar. This is the best thing since Marussia scoring a point!

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Yannick wrote:

If you look closely, that's clearly a three element rear wing. Three element rear wing. On an IndyCar. This is the best thing since Marussia scoring a point!

It is, but I thought the aero kits were only going to be allowed in the Triple Crown races this year? Or did that change yet again? You certainly wouldn't need that at Pocono or Indy.

Wallio wrote:It is, but I thought the aero kits were only going to be allowed in the Triple Crown races this year?

Since when was that a thing?

Last year, they said Indy would be the first race, then only the Triple Crown. 2016 would be the first full year.

Yannick wrote:As the IndyCar calendar has already ended before September this year on recommendation of the Boston Consulting Group, who among other things, also recommended holding a race in Boston, a phantom livery has showed up in aero kit testing at Austin


http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/ite ... open-wheel

Why do images of cars in testing always seem to be in a low resolution? Are people observing them forced to use very rubbish cameras or something?

because, unlike porsche, indycar cares about secrecy of development.

also this:
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... car-tests/

So, Hawksworth has confirmed Sato is driving for AJ Foyt in 2015.

Miguel98 wrote:So, Hawksworth has confirmed Sato is driving for AJ Foyt in 2015.

i have my doubts about this move. I don't think it was good for him.

Dj_bereta wrote:

Miguel98 wrote:So, Hawksworth has confirmed Sato is driving for AJ Foyt in 2015.

i have my doubts about this move. I don't think it was good for him.

Not like he had much of a choice, staying at Herta wasn't an option.

Schedule is finally out. I like it, love Pocono's new date, and ending at Infineon, but hate how short it is.


1
March 8 Brazil Brasília Indy 300[18][19] Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet Brasília, Brazil NBCSN

2
March 29 United States Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida ABC

3
April 12 United States Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana NOLA Motorsports Park Avondale, Louisiana NBCSN

4
April 19 United States Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California NBCSN

5
April 26 United States Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama NBCSN

6
May 9 United States Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Speedway, Indiana ABC

7
May 24 United States 99th Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana ABC

8
May 30 United States Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit Belle Isle Detroit, Michigan ABC

9
May 31

10
June 6 United States Firestone 600 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas NBCSN

11
June 14 Canada Honda Indy Toronto Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario NBCSN

12
June 27 United States MAVTV 500 Auto Club Speedway Fontana, California NBCSN

13
July 12 United States Milwaukee IndyFest The Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin NBCSN

14
July 18 United States Iowa Corn Indy 300 Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa NBCSN

15
August 2 United States Honda Indy 200 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio NBCSN

16
August 23 United States Pocono IndyCar 500 fueled by Sunoco Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania NBCSN

17
August 30 United States