All-purpose open-wheel (F1, IRL) racing thread

It was A.J. Foyt, face covered in soot still from what I assume was the smoke from the crash. I can't believe they ran the race after that.

Look up the 1955 Victory Lane photo. All smiles, holding the paper that has a refer to the fact that, oh yeah, two-time defending champ Bill Vukovich happened to be killed today, too.

It's totally macabre.

 

When I was a kid in the '60s, motorsports were my favorite sport as a fan. But by the time I went to college, I was totally off them. I admit sex, drugs and rock and roll played a part in that, but mostly it was all the funerals.

 

More images of the 2018 chassis redesign.

New images of 'NEXT' car for Verizon IndyCar Series unveiled

It's going in the right direction as far as design goes, but it's still a spec series. Just because I understand the economics doesn't mean I can't dream about the possibilities.

Too bad there's not a way to sell identical rolling stock based on the DW12 and let each team create unique aero framework from 3D printers within set rules. You come up with a package that blows the doors off the field? Good for you. They can go back to the shop and try something new next week Unfortunately, that would raise costs exponentially. And open wheel is basically scrambling to stay afloat for the time being.

Or just make it open comp, unlimited horsepower, no holds barred. Bring back the turbine! Of course, that'd leave Penske, Andretti and Ganassi to make up 10-car fields. But in all honesty, how is that any different since CART and carbon fiber?

You can't put the genie back in the bottle. But Indianapolis was always about innovation and evolution, pushing the envelope and advancing the industry. Is there enough of either to rekindle true interest in the actual engineering, or has it become just a big Midwestern spring break party/day-long infield concert that includes some race cars?

 

These are excellent questions to which I have no idea as to the answer. But I will note that my wife, not a racing fan, said not too long ago that the idea of the sport was to see who had the fastest car. That seems lost today in all areas of the sport in favor of rule-based parity.

 

That's F1 and it's boring as shit.

 

And I'm an F1 fan who finds IndyCar boring more often than not. IndyCar definitely has much closer racing on a typical weekend, but spec series just don't do it for me. I'm not a fan of ovals, either.

Thankfully, there are two teams dominating F1 this season instead of one, which makes it infinitely more interesting.

 

The sport is a tough sell in 2017. Car culture is going away, and that combined with short attention spans makes me wonder how the series is viable long-term. 300,000 people still show up at Indy, but I fear it eventually is the equivalent of minor-league baseball. Just a night out.

The Kentucky Derby has similar issues. But at least you know it's the best horses in the world, it only lasts two minutes, and you can bet on it.

I cherish every second at the 500. I watch or DVR the series all season long. But it's a tough sell to people I know who aren't already fans or are NASCAR or F1 fans.

 

I went once, in 1967, the year of the Parnelli Jones turbine car. It's a great memory I'll always cherish. But you know, once was enough.

 

I was born, I live, and I'll die in Indiana. This will be 14 of the last 16 for me, and damn if I won't be a faucet during the pre-race ritual. "Taps" gets me every time, of course, but so does "Back Home Again" and a dozen other little things.

It never gets old to hear the roar go up when someone like Marco or Kanaan or Ed Carpenter passes for the lead.

 

I can dig that. I feel somewhat that way about the Boston Marathon, which any outsider would be justified in thinking is one of the most ridiculous sports events of them all.

 

Not this outsider! My 4:30-6 a.m. time bloc every morning is dedicated to getting there.

But I know what you mean.