Indycar News & Rumors.

[S griffin]

Alex Zanardi's like that American Express advert. Impossible is two letters too long. He's certainly a proper sportsman if ever I saw one

[bjohnsonsmith]

Derrick Walker has quit as IndyCar's president of competition.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120163

To quote that hackneyed turn of phrase from Star Wars: "I have a bad feeling about this."

[Bob Baldwin]

Other Job Oppurtunities ??

have to wonder about the GTLM car also

[Salamus]

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints...isoned-chalice

Two important quotes from this article.

But, in general, racing people are carnivores who eat their own. They’re always *****ing about something, always unhappy, always thinking the worst and always wanting somebody to blame. We’re coming off three of the best oval-track shows in recent memory but IndyCar is making more headlines about freedom of speech than kick-ass races.

He always made driver and track safety paramount and he’s the main reason Road America will be back in 2016 and the schedule is going to expand.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Bob Baldwin

Other Job Oppurtunities ??

have to wonder about the GTLM car also

I've tried to find out who is on the IRL's current Board of Directors but the info is out of date; http://www.bloomberg.com/research/st...vcapId=4289726. It mentions Belskus as President and CEO.

Anyway afaik Walker was the only person in the IRL who had any motorsports experience, unless Leo Mehl is still there. If Mehl has gone, that means the IRL has no senior figure with any motorsport's experience. Not good.

[HJJ]

Walker's side.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/11...=1&limitstart=

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by Bob Baldwin

Other Job Oppurtunities ??

have to wonder about the GTLM car also

They are in the bidding for the Lexus GT3 program for TUSC. Also, the holding company for Falken in Japan might run the 4 enderence races. Falken U.S. will not be involved.

[Nikki Katz]

This series is so frustrating. Is there any chance of a bit of consistency for once?

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

This series is so frustrating. Is there any chance of a bit of consistency for once?

No, that would require competent management, which you’re unlikely to get as long as the series is run by a family-owned company that’s also trying to keep powerful team owners happy.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by Salamus

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints...isoned-chalice

Two important quotes from this article.

Quote:
But, in general, racing people are carnivores who eat their own. They’re always *****ing about something, always unhappy, always thinking the worst and always wanting somebody to blame.

So racing people are just like welfare bums.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

So racing people are just like welfare bums.

I don't know how things are in Finland but that is a touchy subject over here.



I'm going to repost the second quote because I don't know how many people actually read it:

He always made driver and track safety paramount and he’s the main reason Road America will be back in 2016 and the schedule is going to expand.

[Bob Baldwin]

It is the Give Me , Give Me Mentality here in the USA that is going to RUIN us all . Wether it is the Welfare Bum Rip-Offs or the Somewhat Prima-Dona Team Owners and Drivers claiming they " HAVE THE RIGHT " to certain things

And don't get me started on ILLEGAL Immigrants either

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Bob Baldwin

It is the Give Me , Give Me Mentality here in the USA that is going to RUIN us all . Wether it is the Welfare Bum Rip-Offs or the Somewhat Prima-Dona Team Owners and Drivers claiming they " HAVE THE RIGHT " to certain things

And don't get me started on ILLEGAL Immigrants either

Because that would be completely off topic.

[Bob Baldwin]

I certainly don't want to get off topic !!

Bottom line : This is what our racing group does , These are our RULES , IF you don't like them , GO RACE WITH OTHERS

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I don't know how things are in Finland but that is a touchy subject over here.

It's a touchy subject here as well, because we have lots of people who've been laid off when company loses customer base or production is outsourced to China etc.

But then at the same time there are lots of (usually young) folks who choose to go on welfare instead of accepting a job they're offered, because they're not entitled for four-week holiday in July or because Friday at 1 PM doesn't necessarily mean "Yabba-dabba-doo" time.

But....this is a bit too off topic.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

It's a touchy subject here as well, because we have lots of people who've been laid off when company loses customer base or production is outsourced to China etc.

But then at the same time there are lots of (usually young) folks who choose to go on welfare instead of accepting a job they're offered, because they're not entitled for four-week holiday in July or because Friday at 1 PM doesn't necessarily mean "Yabba-dabba-doo" time.

But....this is a bit too off topic.

It is.

[mountainstar]

In regards to the Detrimental Competitor Conduct and Praise the Great Leader or Else rule, this should be no surprise. When a totalitarian regime doesn't control the message and the communications, they are not in control, so of course they will seek to do so. And they have a long history in these maneuverings, even on this very forum some time ago in the good ole Champcar versus the indy racing league days.

People mentioned welfare and that has long been an issue with this series in contrast to the success open wheel racing had with CART. Competitors all get the same payout from the series per car regardless of where you finish. And yes there is prize money at indy and some other prize money and an end of season fund as I recall but as I have mentioned in years past most of these teams have ceased being professional racing teams but racing services companies. When it doesn't really pay anything to finish up the ladder the natural tendency of team owners is to invest the minimum possible.

Instead of lifting people up and making people earn their prizes through something called winning, instead the series wallows in mediocrity. Unlike the NFL or CART, these team owners have no stake in the series, so exist as barking welfare seals hoping to have the series toss as much fish in their mouth as they can.

In regards to Derrick Walker leaving, well I have said this for years, when the top is rotten you can install the most incredibly talented candidates for management jobs and still the business will stagnate. Mr. Walker from his recent comments has seemed to have realized that he may as well have sat home and howled at the moon because whatever he tried to do with the series was not going to amount to a hill of beans.

[D.R.T.]

Thanks for your always balanced opinion Mountainstar

Time to move on

[10TENTHS]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Thanks for your always balanced opinion Mountainstar

Time to move on

He lost all credibility when he claimed Champ Car World Series didn't have any pay drivers in 2007. Does he really think anyone takes him seriously since then?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Ex F1 driver and current Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr, to test with Penske.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120207

[10TENTHS]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Ex F1 driver and current Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr, to test with Penske.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120207

Not surprised they picked him over Chilton (if Max was available), considering the wide variety of cars he's driven. More likely to give useful feedback.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Ex F1 driver and current Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr, to test with Penske.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120207

The real reason is that he ran a Lights race earlier this year. That gives the teams an extra 2 days of testing at Sears Point.

A bunch of teams are doing it.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/11...to-indy-talent

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by HJJ

The real reason is that he ran a Lights race earlier this year. That gives the teams an extra 2 days of testing at Sears Point.

A bunch of teams are doing it.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/11...to-indy-talent

That's interesting, I didn't know about that rule. Thanks.

Mr. Piquet Jr. looked convincing in the Lights car in Toronto, although he was taken out by other drivers in both races unfortunately. As I recall, he also made a comment to the effect that "it's nice to be back in a fast race car" - in comparison I imagine to his usual gig in Formula E.

Toronto 2015, Indy Lights:


Nelson Piquet Jr. in Toronto 2015 by Richard Wintle, on Flickr

[Formulahistory]

Would be very nice to have Piquet jr. in IndyCar, but that's not very likely.

This year silly season in IndyCar is very boring. Newgarden is rumoured to Ganassi, but I don't see that happen.

Much will stay the same, perhaps with Dale Coyne reducing to one car and Rahal Letterman to extend to a second car.

No new teams are expected (no Fan Force United, no Carlin, no Juncos), although it's the year with the 100th running of the Indy-500.

[Nikki Katz]

Wow that was a weird race. Are the officials actually looking into the Karam accident then or was that just one of those things that they'll forget about midweek? I seem to remember Franchitti winning a championship when Wheldon crashed at an opportune moment.

Not that I'm really a fan of the safety car rules anyway. Montoya was very lucky to find himself in the lead. Rahal doubly so.

What differences are there between the US broadcast and the international one? Other than I gather you don't get the graphic that says how many push to passes are remaining flashing across the screen at the same time as the commentators say how nobody knows how many push to passes remain?

If Coyne drops a car next year then can they make sure it's the right one? I hate seeing cars disappear, but the Dracone/Gonzales/Mann car I only notice when it crashes into something.