From June 4, 1961.
Showing posts with label Indy 500. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indy 500. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Indy 500
Polesitter, Helio Castroneves wins his third Indy 500. This is the Penske Team's 15th. It was a very good ending to a comeback month for Helio and his enthusiasm was more effusive than ever.
The youngsters got some good experience and maybe a few have learned just how unforgiving the walls are. Maybe one in particular will think with his head more than his right foot in years to come.
The youngsters got some good experience and maybe a few have learned just how unforgiving the walls are. Maybe one in particular will think with his head more than his right foot in years to come.
Race Day
Packed schedule today, Formula One in Monaco, the Indy 500, chased with NASCAR's Coca Cola 600. Throw in a USAC 'topless' sprinter race on a half mile dirt track and I'd be in heaven.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Helio on the Pole
Helio Castroneves has had some serious ups and downs the past couple of months. He was on trial for tax evasion (and why he wasn't offered a cabinet post, say Department of Transportation, is beyond me ; -). Then he was acquitted (removes his qualifications for a cabinet post ; -). Then he got to run a car again at the Kansas Speedway and now is sitting on the pole for the 2009 Indy 500.
By the way, that car isn't painted regular red & white. It is one ungodly day-glo red that I have yet to see rendered correctly on film or in digits. You have to see it in person - it really 'POPS!'
By the way, that car isn't painted regular red & white. It is one ungodly day-glo red that I have yet to see rendered correctly on film or in digits. You have to see it in person - it really 'POPS!'
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Track
On TV Indy's racing surface looks like it's smooth as glass, but take a peek at it up close:
The pavement is grooved asphalt, but better asphalt than your city fathers purchase. The friction this material can generate, with grooves, allows the speeds we're seeing. (The pencil is a reference for scale.)
By the way that scrape just above the pencil? It's the gouge Danica Patrick's car took out of the track a few years back. ;-)
The pavement is grooved asphalt, but better asphalt than your city fathers purchase. The friction this material can generate, with grooves, allows the speeds we're seeing. (The pencil is a reference for scale.)
By the way that scrape just above the pencil? It's the gouge Danica Patrick's car took out of the track a few years back. ;-)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Bump Day Sunday
So I'm headed to Indy tomorrow (and have salted away a few blog posts to tithe us over until returning). It looks like there are 17 cars that could be fighting for the remaining 11 spots on the grid.
Realistically there may be only 13 or 14 cars that'll make the attempt - but that means someone will try to bump somebody out of the show.
Realistically there may be only 13 or 14 cars that'll make the attempt - but that means someone will try to bump somebody out of the show.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Snooze in Spain
I love Formula 1 - it's been a soap opera extraodinaire these past couple of years, with rules changes, scandals, pouting drivers, the whole kit and kaboodle - but the race this last weekend in Spain was, baring an early wreck fest, a snoozer. Watching Indy practice and qualifying has been much more fun!
What a Spin!
During practice this last weekend at Indy, John Andretti smacked the wall hard coming out of turn 1. The impact spun the car and drove it down the track, but as it spun it had its nose pointed back up track and it headed back to the wall.
Graham Rahal came up upon this scene at full throttle, backed off, decided as Andretti's car was going low that he'd go high only to have the wreck start closing the gap between Graham and the wall.
That was a spin! Haven't seen anything that good (and lucky) since 1985's 'Spin to Win'
Graham Rahal came up upon this scene at full throttle, backed off, decided as Andretti's car was going low that he'd go high only to have the wreck start closing the gap between Graham and the wall.
That was a spin! Haven't seen anything that good (and lucky) since 1985's 'Spin to Win'
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Indy 500
Practice is underway for the Memorial Day weekend Indy 500. The fastest speed so far is a 225 mph (~362 kph) lap by Marco Andretti in yesterday afternoon's session.
Qualifying for the race starts on Saturday, May 9. Indy is a bit different than F1 in that you qualify the car, not the driver. In addition, thanks to a very old AAA Contest Board rule - that set a ratio of cars to track size - only 33 cars can make the race.
On the first Saturday of qualifying, the first 11 spots on the grid will be filled by the fastest 11 cars. The car with the fastest time will be the 'pole-sitter', or the car closest to the inside front of the grid (nearest the scoring pylon - or pole).
On the first Sunday of qualifying, the cars that didn't qualify on Saturday can attempt to fill the next 11 slots. Depending on track temperatures and ambient temperatures, the times on Sunday can be faster than the times from Saturday. Too bad. Indy rewards the teams that can optimize their cars for the conditions at hand. Teams that are known for meticulous preparation are always a threat to capture the pole.
The final 11 spots are filled on the second Saturday of qualifying. But there still is a glimmer of hope for those that haven't made it. The second Sunday is known as 'Bump Day' and cars that have yet to qualify can attempt to displace the car that has qualified for the 33rd spot, or, as it is commonly called, the car on the 'bubble'. The next slowest car of the bottom 11 will be on the bubble, if the car previously on the bubble is bumped.
There are 40 entrants for this year's 500 (as of late last week). They represent 77 cars, some of which are 'spare' cars - there is always the chance of smacking the wall at Indy. Anytime there are more than 38 or so cars with the speed to make the field, bump day can be exciting.
The Indy 500 is truly a spectacle and it's an month long affair. It's neat that the car counts are finally great enough to add to the drama. I'll be there for bump day this year.
Oh, BTW, you can watch practice at http://www.indycar.com
Qualifying for the race starts on Saturday, May 9. Indy is a bit different than F1 in that you qualify the car, not the driver. In addition, thanks to a very old AAA Contest Board rule - that set a ratio of cars to track size - only 33 cars can make the race.
On the first Saturday of qualifying, the first 11 spots on the grid will be filled by the fastest 11 cars. The car with the fastest time will be the 'pole-sitter', or the car closest to the inside front of the grid (nearest the scoring pylon - or pole).
On the first Sunday of qualifying, the cars that didn't qualify on Saturday can attempt to fill the next 11 slots. Depending on track temperatures and ambient temperatures, the times on Sunday can be faster than the times from Saturday. Too bad. Indy rewards the teams that can optimize their cars for the conditions at hand. Teams that are known for meticulous preparation are always a threat to capture the pole.
The final 11 spots are filled on the second Saturday of qualifying. But there still is a glimmer of hope for those that haven't made it. The second Sunday is known as 'Bump Day' and cars that have yet to qualify can attempt to displace the car that has qualified for the 33rd spot, or, as it is commonly called, the car on the 'bubble'. The next slowest car of the bottom 11 will be on the bubble, if the car previously on the bubble is bumped.
There are 40 entrants for this year's 500 (as of late last week). They represent 77 cars, some of which are 'spare' cars - there is always the chance of smacking the wall at Indy. Anytime there are more than 38 or so cars with the speed to make the field, bump day can be exciting.
The Indy 500 is truly a spectacle and it's an month long affair. It's neat that the car counts are finally great enough to add to the drama. I'll be there for bump day this year.
Oh, BTW, you can watch practice at http://www.indycar.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Lloyd Ruby, RIP
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