Motorsports

rockylee

My Big screen broke so let me know who won.

Rocky

PF_Flyer

Although I have to say that with the mist/fog they had down there, it hardly looked like Daytona at all. No sunshine.

Didn't make me think spring was coming. And being a restrictor plate race, it kind of comes down to who makes mistakes and who doesn't, both on the track and in the pits. In that regard, it was sort of like watching the Olympic bobsledding. Very hard to recover any ground you lose.

starrow68

Don't follow NASCAR much either but from the results it seems that the finishers in the top 15 were mostly cars that started well down in the pack. I'm not rooting much for anyone but I like to see good driving and moving up the pack seems to take both pit call savey and driving skill.

PF_Flyer

Woo woo.. time for the next rite of spring on the way to summer, Indy!

Any thoughts, predictions?

Kind of interesting that all the cars are now using the same chassis and engine so the 500 is more like the old IROC deal where the cars are basically the same.

carlisimo

I can see McLaren getting closer to the front runners, though not catching up, while Honda, Toyota, Williams and the rest languish.

starrow68

The short practice seems to show that some teams have the right set up and others may have lots of work to do. 228 mph vs. low 220's for many others is a lot of difference. Sure hope they get some dry track time soon.
Randy

corsicachevy

This year's Indy won't be as interesting from my perspective. Last year, Chevrolet (Cosworth) and Toyota were still in the game with the Chevrolets at least somewhat competitive with the dominant Hondas.

This year its all Honda with the choice between Panoz and Dallara as the only mechanical variable. Boring.

As for predictions, I'll go with Michael Andretti to win it all (hey, it could happen). He has what should be the superior car in a Dallarra and more experience than most others on the track. For a dark horse, I'll go with Buddy Rice. He drives a Panoz which could, although unlikely, prove to be the equipment to have. If so, he might have an edge on the field.

I still wish the IRL and CART would unify, adopt two or three approved cars and then open the engine competition up to the NASCAR crowd. It would be interesting to see who could build a 4.5 liter pushrod V8 that could spin at 11,000 rpm for 500 miles. All of NASCAR's restrictions on exotic metals and such would remain in place. The result? The series would immediately have four engine brands with multiple suppliers for each. Costs would go down, competition would improve and we, the fans, would win.

PF_Flyer

That's the other interesting thing. The return of some drivers who had stepped aside.

Reason I'd lean against Michael Andretti is the reason I always tilted that way... he seems to use up his cars shorter than the 500 miles.

Doesn't seem to be much of a Danica Patrick frenzy this year either.

corsicachevy

I figured even an Andretti couldn't destroy a tried and true package like a Dallara/Honda. These modern IRL cars are built so far inside a box that reliability has become a very minor concern.

Now, if this were the over-boosted days of the mid 1990s, then I would bet against Andretti with confidence.

corsicachevy

The Penske cars are averaging about 2 mph faster than the next fastest car in both practice and qualifying. That does not bode well for an exciting race. Hornish and Castroneves will be able to walk away from the field on every restart.

I wonder how much the Captain had to pay for those ringer engines? :-)

So.....I take back what I wrote regarding Michael "I-can-barely-crack-220" Andretti and go with Hornish. I'll stick with Rice for my dark horse.

PF_Flyer

That was some finish. When Hornish took his shot with two laps to go and had to back off of it, I thought he would NEVER get back up there.

Looks like it was a good decision to have him back off for a few laps ealrier to conserve fuel and avoid that last stop.

Got to watch a bit of Monaco F1 too. Those cars are so sticky and quick to accelrate, they almost look like a video game.

starrow68

Sorry I missed both of the races this weekend, but somehow this is more fun as a participant than a spectator.
Got to run for three days at the new extension on the Reno-Fernley raceway. Did both the full course, 4.0 miles and one of the expected race configurations, the H config, and they are both very technical. Not exactly friendly to my 3250 lb. Corvette but none the less fun to learn when running with other marques. In one session took me four laps to reel in a Mini Cooper S that started out of pit lane just two cars ahead of me. Picked up ground on the straights and lose part of it in the twisties but it finally came together when I convinced myself to calm down and just relax. He then chased me for the rest of the session only falling a little behind. Don't know his weight but it was lightened, had an after market suspension package, boosted engine over 200hp and DOT-R's. Compared to my street set up it was a good match.
The former Trans-Am Mustang, 700+hp that took off between us didn't end up lapping either of us so we also felt good about that, too. If you haven't been to a track near you to improve your driving skills, you are missing a motorsports gem!
Randy

rorr

Your experience reminds me of a question:

Who has more fun? The guy in the former Trans-Am Mustang, you in the Corvette, or the guy in the Mini Cooper S? Of the 3, obviously the Mustang is quickest and the Cooper S the slowest. But does than automatically also determine the fun quotient?

I ask because my cousin has both a C5 Corvette and a Mini Cooper S, and he feels that generally speaking the Cooper S is more fun to drive. (Neither has been on a track; he has a '66 Shelby GT350H that he open tracks and vintage races).

corsicachevy

The end of the Indy 500 was more than a little fishy. Hornish had to jump waaaaay out of the throttle, get his composure and then cracks off one of the fastest laps of the race. How, exactly, does one get out of the gas and still lay down a blistering lap? Something isn't quite right there. Me thinks someone had an ace in the whole all day long.

As for fun at the track, I can personally attest to having an absolute ball while driving a 1976 Ford LTD in a "bomber class" race at Golden Sands Speedway outside of Wisconsin Rapids. My ventures in the hobby stock class was no more fun or challenging - just faster. The same holds true for go-carts. I've had fun while driving a four stroke 100cc cart with a centrifugal clutch as well a two stroke 250cc shifter cart. The later was more scary than fun.

PF_Flyer

But I thought by backing out of it he had killed any momentum he had, and there wasn't much time to build it back up.

A lot of factors could have entered into it though. Hornish could have been carrying less fuel and been lighter because of his decision to conserve fuel and avoid a last pit stop after his drive through penalty. Or Andretti could have bee closer on fuel than Hornish and Hornish was able to turn it up to full rish on that last lap for power. Or maybe a 19 year old thought he had it sewn up after turn 4 of lap 200.

Andretti did pretty much run straight to the line, with no blocking moves. Hindsight is 20/20, but I'm thinking he or his pit should have taken a guess (the fact that Hornish tried the inside and had to back out should have been a clue) about which side Hornish would try at the end and make a pre-emptive move in that direction.

jlbl

An Audi diesel prototype is the absolute winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, France, this year.

More information at
http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/live/pages/accueil_gb.html

Regards,

Jose

carlisimo

I wonder if they'll ban diesels, like they banned rotaries after Mazda won Le Mans with one.

jlbl

You may be right, unfortunately. However, VW Touareg TDIs have been racing at the rally Paris-Dakar for the last, I think, couple of years.

One think I can tell due to my own experience is that modern street-car diesels have lost their bad smells, and are not 'reelers' anymore.

Jose

dhamilton

Audi and the guys for continuing their domination of Le Mans.

jlbl

And those Audi prototypes are nice cool-looking cars, aren't they?

Jose

starrow68

Corvette took it's class again over a stiff challenge from the Aston Martin's and another US product, the Panoz, beat a lot of Porsche's to boot. Wish I'd seen or heard some of the race but I was out hiking with the Malamutes, exercise is good.
Randy

xkss

Takes lead in last hour

andys120

Juan Pablo Montoya is going to NASCAR!

xkss

Martin Short, Stuart Moseley, and Joao Barbosa finished 5th in class and 20th overall at Le Mans in their new Radical SR9. The car hadn't completed a race in either of the first two Le Mans Series races.

They had led the P2 class at the 3 hour mark.

Radical SR9 at Le Mans

The Le Mans Series has the same four classes as the American Le Mans Series.

Le Mans Series

xkss

xkss

The Saleen S7R of Acemco Motorsports finished 6th in class and 11th overall in the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Terry Borcheller, Christian Fittipaldi, and Johnny Mowlem were the drivers. Christian had never raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans before this year.

A Saleen S7R had never finished the 24 Hours of Le Mans before (previously raced in 2001, 2002, and 2003).

During the night

xkss

Stephane Ortelli and Soheil Ayari won the GT1 class of the 1,000 km of Spa in May of this year.

Saleen Oreca

starrow68

The Radical in all its variants is simply amazing and I'm seeing more and more of them on track in the hands of relative new comers all the time. In theory it should be cheaper to keep on track but the lower cost of tires and brakes seems to be offset some by the fact that the motor, usually a motorcycle variant, gets a rebuild after some fairly short duty cycles. In the hands of a good driver they are great but getting up to speed when the tires are race rubber and unlike street tires don't really provide a loud warning when they are going to let go slows many down trying to find the limits without getting into walls. Might try a class in one next year at Spring Mt. Motorsports Park outside Las Vegas next year if all goes well.
Randy

starrow68

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=2285

boaz47

that more and more races or should I say types of races are becoming restricter plate races?

xkss

watch sports car racing instead.

xkss

Three teams will race with a new 3.4 liter V-8 from Honda next year in the P2 class.

ALMS news

starrow68

If only it were so easy. The Corvette in ALMS has had a restrictor plate for at least one race and the Corvettes in Speed World Challenge have had them and then even cut back further from there.

The fact is that street cars are just about too fast on some tracks today, especially for the safety equipment on board. I have only done road courses and never gotten past 135mph yet (usually only up to 105 to 120) but for those that go to road ovals like Las Vegas MS and Fontana there are street C5 Z06's doing in excess of 150mph. There are drivers from 20 years ago that would have given up an arm for that kind of performance in a full race car. Just 3 laps in one of the new Z06's and I know the car is beyond my talent level. Restrictor's or restrictions may just be good sense.

boaz47

I understand to a degree but I would hope there were a better way. It was the same when I was getting into motorcycle racing when Ontario motor speedway was still around. Shortly after the two stroke Yamahas starting totally dominating bike racing the AMA decided that they would allow 4 stroke bikes more CCs to compete. They were racing 1000cc 4 strokes against 750cc two strokes. Then they started putting restricter plates in the Yamahas. The debate isn't if it was good or bad only that it finally destroyed the street two stroke race bike in the 750 class. CARB and the EPA finished them off on the street. It just doesn't seem much like a race when Vettes are restricted and Ferraris aren't. And I was talking about sports cars as you can see.

starrow68

I have to agree, that putting restrictors on the Vettes and leaving the Aston Martin's without didn't make for better racing at Miller MSP in Utah. Turns out ALMS didn't even follow their own rules in that case and backed off. But time will tell what they do next. In Speed World Challenge it is even worse since it seems that the PTB wouldn't like a privateer to win the series that is supported to a limited extent by several factories. Caddy & Porsche seem to be putting in the most effort with the Vipers in the mix but a private Corvette has come up big so they get more restrictions in the name of better competition. It is hard to tell from the outside if better competition is really just a way to reward those who give the most support to the series.
Then again you have to ask how 'production based cars' like the CTS-V and 911 can be made similar. In the case of the Caddy it has the engine and drive train 7" further back than the production car, with the driver basically in the back seat, same I think for the GTO. It seems they are all just tube frames with body panels. Oh well it's better than all left turns ...
Randy

boaz47

well, perhaps, but many race fans seem to find oval racing pretty interesting. Maybe because they can see the whole race and maybe because the drivers are more fan friendly, I don't know. Most people will admit that passing is one of the more interesting things about racing. And Oval racing offers more opportunity for passing. Whatever the case oval racing is one of the more profitable forms of racing. But that is another subject all together.

Isn't it a shame when the most interesting racing news for the week is Danica Patrick going to team green?

xkss

Why is it a shame that Danica Patrick will be racing for Andretti Green Racing next year?

IRL news

Also, I doubt the CTS-Vs will race in Speed GT thru 2008.

xkss

link one

link two

link three

rsholland

Pretty wild!

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/1332

Bob

bumpy

Wild indeed. STi's may be tough, but you still need to land them on more than one wheel.

wscgirl

Hey guys! and gals! I am the event promoter for the World Street Challenge at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, MO our event has a drag racer with over $158,900 to pay out! We have the biggest turn out of PRO MOD cars in the US and we have an Auto Show that is off the chain! Over 1,500 Chevys, Mopars, Fords, Imports, Low Riders, And this year Jagermeister is hosting our Bikini contest and Celebrity DJ's venue. We have none other than DJ Freestyle and Producer/Engineer Demo from Timbaland's own crew! It's going to be a great party with awesome racing and hot girls and some of the baddest show cars in the US. Check it out at www.worldstreetchallenge.com

limoken

Hi i really enjoyed the 1st wsc event, i came all the way from california for this event ,hopefully next year it will be bigger and more non-fords will show up auto lifestyle events are the future of our sport...........more is better!.....

goodgradesnow

When is the next race?

paisan

I believe it's this Sunday at Dover, DE

-mike

maverickj

is anyone going to the 2008 Grand Prix of Sonoma? Danica Patrick will be racing in that race...anyone a fan of hers?

paisan

I'm not a big fan of hers. I think she gets too much attention just because she is a chick. I respect her as a driver, however, she is just that a driver, not some kind of superstar and doesn't deserve the overly done up attention she gets.

-mike

maverickj

I think it is amazing that she has become the 1st women to win in the Indy car race series. I'm sure that soon things like, first woman to run for president and first women to win in car racing will be overlooked once it happens more often...it's still great to see major 1st steps taken toward...for men and women!

Are you planning on watching the Grand Prix races in Sonoma?

paisan

Nah, I'm more a fan of club racing and closed-wheel as opposed to open wheel.

-mike

maverickj

Awwe, too bad because they are having a sweepstakes to win a sweet 4 day vacation to Sonoma, Sonoma Grand Prix tickets included in the package of course.

Have you been to any racing events live...or only watch thru the old tube?

paisan

I actually race myself I currently race with NASA in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas. I am also a track instructor for NASA, SCCA, PDA and a few other organizations.

I am actually planning on attending at least one Rolex race this year hopefully.

-mike