The 2012 IndyCar Series thread

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 29 Feb 2012, 13:36

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ ... fb02292012

Brazilian TV Audience will now multiply, as will the attendance at the Sambadrome...

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 29 Feb 2012, 13:46

Hmmm. I wonder if any bizarre European channels that I can now pick up are going to be showing the Indy series this year?

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 29 Feb 2012, 13:50

Unfortunately, as far as the British TV coverage goes theres a certain scumbag channel dedicated to such things...

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 29 Feb 2012, 15:46

ADx_Wales wrote:http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-barrichello-to-join-indycar-series/?=fb02292012
Brazilian TV Audience will now multiply, as will the attendance at the Sambadrome...

Go on Rubens!

Post by **Londoner** » 01 Mar 2012, 15:24

The news has been very slow to filter down. F1 Fanatic has only just put up an article a few minutes ago, and there's nothing yet on Autosport...

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/01/rubens-barrichello-confirms-move-indycar/

Still, it's great to see that he'll be racing this year.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 01 Mar 2012, 17:55

I will try to remain as unesthatic about this as humanly possible, let's see where this is going.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 01 Mar 2012, 18:14

East Londoner wrote:The news has been very slow to filter down. F1 Fanatic has only just put up an article a few minutes ago, and there's nothing yet on Autosport...

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/01/rubens-barrichello-confirms-move-indycar/

Still, it's great to see that he'll be racing this year.

It is now on Autosport.

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 02 Mar 2012, 00:56

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 02 Mar 2012, 01:49

barrichello's indycar should be white with neon green stripes for good luck

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 02 Mar 2012, 10:49

If I were Rubens Id be concerned that they'd spelt his name wrong already.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 02 Mar 2012, 15:08

It's probably spelled wrong in the driver suit as well, that's why he has his hand covering it.

S951 · Post by **S951** » 02 Mar 2012, 19:17

I am watching indy cars this year in sypport for rubens

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 10 Mar 2012, 02:39

some test footage from this past weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AYmEexP6rs
and some with interviews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDttjqGMNM
that lotus motor must have some muscle seeing how it powered away from that chevy.

wmetcalf68 · Post by **wmetcalf68** » 10 Mar 2012, 16:36

jpm wrote:So pleased for Paul Tracy and Jay Howard after their fiascos of last year!

The grid in full;

1. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 227.472mph
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 227.340mph
3. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 227.168mph
4. Townsend Bell Sam Schmidt 226.887mph
5. Will Power Penske 226.773mph
6. Dan Wheldon Herta 226.490mph
7. Buddy Rice Panther 225.786mph
8. Ed Carpenter Sarah Fisher 225.121mph
9. Dario Franchitti Ganassi
10. Takuma Sato KV 225.736mph
11. Vitor Meira Foyt 225.590mph
12. JR Hildebrand Panther 225.579mph
13. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 225.572mph
14. Bertrand Baguette Rahal Letterman Lanigan 225.285mph
15. Davey Hamilton Dreyer & Reinbold 225.250mph
16. Helio Castroneves Penske 225.216mph
17. John Andretti Petty/Andretti 224.981mph
18. EJ Viso KV 224.732mph
19. Bruno Junqueira Foyt 224.691mph
20. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 224.511mph
21. Jay Howard Rahal/Schmidt 224.483mph
22. Tomas Scheckter KV/SH 224.433mph
23. Tony Kanaan KV 224.417mph
24. Simona de Silvestro HVM 224.392mph
25. Paul Tracy Dreyer & Reinbold 224.939mph
26. Danica Patrick Andretti 224.861mph
27. Ryan Briscoe Penske 224.639mph
28. Marco Andretti Andretti 224.628mph
29. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 224.499mph
30. Graham Rahal Ganassi 224.380mph
31. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 223.957mph
32. Pippa Mann Conquest 223.936mph
33. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 223.879mph

Any predictions?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91680

I would love to see a veteran like Oriol Servia or Tracy to win it, or one of the one off entries winning it like Dan Whelson, Bruno Junquiera, or even Pippa Mann in her first Indycar start, or an underdog like Ed Carpenter for SFR, James Hinchcliffe, or Bertrand Baguette. Personally, I think Dixon will win, as he has experience of winning it in 2008, and has a good grid position. I have nothing against Tags and it is refreshing to see a non Ganassi Penske car on the pole, but I just find him to be a bit of a whinger really.

Go Oriol go!!

You were right! Danny Boy won it! We all miss him :cry:

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 10 Mar 2012, 23:18

some more music from testing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_X_L3LfqFg
gotta say tho, Viso's car looks a bit like Michael Waltrip's old Citgo thunderbird except his was a ford lol.

also, what team does the blacked out(no livery or paint just carbon fiber) car belong to? sounds like a lotus

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 13 Mar 2012, 11:35

With the new engines in place for 2012, I have the expectation that the top team of the better engine manufacturer will run away with the title and most of the wins. That is, I expect the "Big 2" or "Big 3" to win everything. I shall go back to my retirement from motorsport now. I don't really want to be a naysayer so feel free to enjoy the season without my commentary.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 13 Mar 2012, 15:18

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izo ... -liveries/

Liveries.

The carbon-fiber-with-no-livery cars are the Dragon Racing team, with Bourdais and Katherine Legge.

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 15 Mar 2012, 04:49

A return to Surfers maybe! And the Queenslanders want it too!

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 15 Mar 2012, 21:08

if/when it does return, it shouldn't be on that silly short track they have had since '09.

.....also if F1 ditches Melbourne, they should have a Mega Weekend! Friday- V8 supercars race one. Saturday- V8 race 2 and IndyCar! Sunday- F1!
and practice and qualifying and whatnot intermittently between races or something

IdeFan · Post by **IdeFan** » 15 Mar 2012, 21:21

That Sebring video is the first time i've seen the new car in motion and it looks even weirder than it does in the still shots, when you see them coming head on you really notice how the bodywork sticks out wider than the rears and it has the effect of making the rear end look way too narrow, very odd.

They sound pretty nice, but that 911 sounds better!

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 16 Mar 2012, 00:04

the Masked Lapwing wrote:A return to Surfers maybe! And the Queenslanders want it too!

I hope the paddock space is sorted out so that they can run more than 26 cars at once at both races, but otherwise, oh budday we're wreckin' in turn one cause EJ Viso will probably still have a career then...

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 23 Mar 2012, 02:49

In all the years of following F1 I've never seen a live IndyCar race on TV... Now I've had to fork out for Sky Sports F1, I intend to make the most of it by finally following this year's IndyCar series as well, so looking forward to watching the season-opener on Sunday. I shall, of course, be supporting Rubens in his inevitable championship victory!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 23 Mar 2012, 04:58

Paul Hayes wrote:In all the years of following F1 I've never seen a live IndyCar race on TV... Now I've had to fork out for Sky Sports F1, I intend to make the most of it by finally following this year's IndyCar series as well, so looking forward to watching the season-opener on Sunday. I shall, of course, be supporting Rubens in his inevitable championship victory!

If it's any consolation for Rubens, Emmo Fittipaldi was still competitive in the old CART series well into his 40s. Then again, Emmo mostly had Team Penske rocketships at his disposal.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 23 Mar 2012, 08:25

Wizzie wrote:
Paul Hayes wrote:In all the years of following F1 I've never seen a live IndyCar race on TV... Now I've had to fork out for Sky Sports F1, I intend to make the most of it by finally following this year's IndyCar series as well, so looking forward to watching the season-opener on Sunday. I shall, of course, be supporting Rubens in his inevitable championship victory!

If it's any consolation for Rubens, Emmo Fittipaldi was still competitive in the old CART series well into his 40s. Then again, Emmo mostly had Team Penske rocketships at his disposal.

He was usually beaten by Al Unser, Jr. and Paul Tracy, but was more consistent than the latter. Emmo obliterated the 1988 series champion Danny Sullivan in the same cars, no mean feat there.

Emmo was much better than people gave him credit for, even if he is a giant douche.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 23 Mar 2012, 11:17

Paul Hayes wrote:In all the years of following F1 I've never seen a live IndyCar race on TV... Now I've had to fork out for Sky Sports F1, I intend to make the most of it by finally following this year's IndyCar series as well, so looking forward to watching the season-opener on Sunday. I shall, of course, be supporting Rubens in his inevitable championship victory!

I want to be able to follow Indy Car on TV so if I ever get the chance to have Sky Sports, that is one sport I will be all over like a rash...

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 23 Mar 2012, 18:55

First practice times:

Pos Driver Team/Car/Engine Time Gap
1. Scott Dixon Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m03.0406s
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.5190s + 0.4784s
3. Will Power Penske DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.5747s + 0.5341s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m03.6013s + 0.5607s
5. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt DW12-Honda 1m03.6417s + 0.6011s
6. Justin Wilson Coyne DW12-Honda 1m03.6704s + 0.6298s
7. Marco Andretti Andretti DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.7928s + 0.7522s
8. Mike Conway Foyt DW12-Honda 1m03.8333s + 0.7927s
9. Graham Rahal Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m03.8522s + 0.8116s
10. Helio Castroneves Penske DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.8728s + 0.8322s
11. Josef Newgarden Fisher DW12-Honda 1m03.8772s + 0.8366s
12. EJ Viso KV DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.9142s + 0.8736s
13. James Jakes Coyne DW12-Honda 1m03.9634s + 0.9228s
14. JR Hildebrand Panther DW12-Chevrolet 1m04.0914s + 1.0508s
15. Takuma Sato Rahal DW12-Honda 1m04.1072s + 1.0666s
16. James Hinchcliffe Andretti DW12-Chevrolet 1m04.1079s + 1.0673s
17. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti DW12-Chevrolet 1m04.1239s + 1.0833s
18. Tony Kanaan KV DW12-Chevrolet m04.1404s + 1.0998s
19. Oriol Servia Dreyer Reinbold DW12-Lotus 1m04.2946s + 1.2540s
20. Alex Tagliani BHA DW12-Lotus 1m04.3861s + 1.3455s
21. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m04.4874s + 1.4468s
22. Charlie Kimball Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m04.6632s + 1.6226s
23. Simona de Silvestro HVM DW12-Lotus 1m04.9147s + 1.8741s
24. Rubens Barrichello KV DW12-Chevrolet 1m05.6681s + 2.6275s
25. Ed Carpenter Carpenter DW12-Chevrolet 1m06.0310s + 2.9904s
26. Katherine Legge Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m07.3331s + 4.2925s

Of note, in Indy Lights practice, Rodin Younessi was 9.5 seconds off the fastest time, and 6.5 seconds off the car in front of him. Reject fodder!!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 23 Mar 2012, 19:10

Cynon wrote:First practice times:

Pos Driver Team/Car/Engine Time Gap
3. Will Power Penske DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.5747s + 0.5341s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m03.6013s + 0.5607s
6. Justin Wilson Coyne DW12-Honda 1m03.6704s + 0.6298s
15. Takuma Sato Rahal DW12-Honda 1m04.1072s + 1.0666s
21. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m04.4874s + 1.4468s
23. Simona de Silvestro HVM DW12-Lotus 1m04.9147s + 1.8741s
24. Rubens Barrichello KV DW12-Chevrolet 1m05.6681s + 2.6275s
26. Katherine Legge Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m07.3331s + 4.2925s

These are the drivers I'm interested in, and most of them are in the lower half of the timesheets!

Only on F1 Rejects... Or perhaps IndyCar Rejects?

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 23 Mar 2012, 20:15

dr-baker wrote:
Cynon wrote:First practice times:

Pos Driver Team/Car/Engine Time Gap
3. Will Power Penske DW12-Chevrolet 1m03.5747s + 0.5341s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi DW12-Honda 1m03.6013s + 0.5607s
6. Justin Wilson Coyne DW12-Honda 1m03.6704s + 0.6298s
15. Takuma Sato Rahal DW12-Honda 1m04.1072s + 1.0666s
21. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m04.4874s + 1.4468s
23. Simona de Silvestro HVM DW12-Lotus 1m04.9147s + 1.8741s
24. Rubens Barrichello KV DW12-Chevrolet 1m05.6681s + 2.6275s
26. Katherine Legge Dragon DW12-Lotus 1m07.3331s + 4.2925s

These are the drivers I'm interested in, and most of them are in the lower half of the timesheets! Only on F1 Rejects... Or perhaps IndyCar Rejects?

Counting IRL results only, Bourdais and de Silvestro broke out of Reject status last season. Pretty sure Sato did a long time ago as well.

Indy Lights Combined Times (PDF). Warning: Features Armaan Ebrahim and the ungodly slow Rodin Younessi.

Spotter Guide (PDF). Shows every car's livery (side view) and their Twitter accounts if they have one. Still handy.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 23 Mar 2012, 20:46

Am I being a retard, but is this race being held in St. Petersburg, Russia?

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 23 Mar 2012, 21:20

St. Petersburg in Florida.

Part airport taxiway and runway, part street coruse.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 23 Mar 2012, 21:53

I knew it! That makes far more sense! :lol:

ADx_Wales · Post by **ADx_Wales** » 23 Mar 2012, 22:36

With a street track cropping up in Russia and (should be) part of the Renault World Series, it would not suprise me if Indycar ended up going to Russia...

...they're going to a street track in china this year, ANOTHER new one, so expect fail to win the day.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 23 Mar 2012, 23:00

Have they got rid of double-file restarts at street circuits yet on the basis it's one of the stupidest ideas in recent memory?

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 24 Mar 2012, 01:28

no. they think the rear flared-out bit makes them immune.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 24 Mar 2012, 15:47

The great thing about pessimism is that it is right 99.9 % of the time. I'm predicting 21st place in qualifying for Rubens.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 25 Mar 2012, 00:18

IndyCar looking at Houston return

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 25 Mar 2012, 00:49

Wizzie wrote:IndyCar looking at Houston return

That's kind of old news, Houston's been attempting to get back in for awhile. I heard about it first at Long Beach last season courtesy of Robin Miller's pre-race segnment.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 25 Mar 2012, 16:41

No Sky Sports F1, this isn't your scheduled IndyCar coverage, this is a Malaysian Grand Prix replay.

Did they just get the hour wrong or something, anyone know...?

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 25 Mar 2012, 16:44

aannndd here's where i post this puppy

the paddock could be inside the Reliant Stadium.
what do you guys think? i have loads of other courses i have designed in other cities

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 25 Mar 2012, 16:57

So it turns out Sky have decided not to bother showing the race - as scheduled - on Sky Sports F1 and have shunted it off to the red button instead. Which you can't access on Virgin Media. Shame.