The 2010 Danica vs. Simona Thread

[JagtechOhio]

Man, when you look at the roster, and think about the lack of speed differntial of these cars, 8th for Simona is pretty darn good. Marco should have a better car, and he didn't have anything for her.

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Man, when you look at the roster, and think about the lack of speed differntial of these cars, 8th for Simona is pretty darn good. Marco should have a better car, and he didn't have anything for her.

I think Andretti isn't quite at the level of Penske or Ganassi to be competitive every weekend. I don't think its TK or Sonny boy, I think its the cars. With brand new cars in 2012, it will level the playing field a bit as everybody will be trying to adjust the cars to driving styles and track conditions.

That is about the only positive thing I can see about 2012 and makes 2011 even more of a lame duck.

Simona did well today, no shock she's been better than Danica most of the season, the finishes just don't show it.

[JagtechOhio]

RHR pretty consistantly gets everything there is to get out of his car. Tony on some occasions, but with four or five opportunities for identical engineering, there is a consistant team leader.

That's good enough to beat a red car when they have a mishap.

When is the last time Marco has put himself where RHR has been able to get? The first half of the Barber race? Kills me to say it, I can't stand RHR's sniveling attitude. But he's quick.

Simona is doing a comparable job to RHR in getting all there is to get. Comparing budgets and staff, no way HVM should be able to run with AA or KV. And they're doing it with a beat old tub since the Texas cookout.

[Road America Fan]

Good job Simona!

The rook just gets better and better.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by dj4monie

I think Andretti isn't quite at the level of Penske or Ganassi to be competitive every weekend. I don't think its TK or Sonny boy, I think its the cars. With brand new cars in 2012, it will level the playing field a bit as everybody will be trying to adjust the cars to driving styles and track conditions.

That is about the only positive thing I can see about 2012 and makes 2011 even more of a lame duck.

Simona did well today, no shock she's been better than Danica most of the season, the finishes just don't show it.

So, is Bryan Herta coming back to Andretti to play test mule?

Back on topic, how well does Ms diSilvestro look on the cover of Sports Illustrated? For some reason this seems to be the standard by which female pilots are judged

Its great that there is a credible pilot in the series, who just happens to be female. I mean Ms diSilvestro has looked competitive at a number of events this year, in a car that isnt quite top drawer, while Ms Patrick has been in a well resourced team, a good car and doesnt quite manage to get the job done.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Yannick asked for it in the "Silly Season" Thread with this quote:

"The big question will be: Is the "Danica vs Mike" thread on this board going to be replaced by a "Danica vs Simona" thread for 2010?"

To which DanicaFan replied:

"Nothing against Simona but I think she will be just another backmarker, no real threat to run up front.

Danica will destroy her in the races."

That "Backmarker" has put together some good races this year but hasn't been able to finish the deal...until yesterday.

On road courses, the "backmarker for most events has been:

Danica

Especially at Mid-Ohio yesterday

Nice Job, Simona!

[Yannick]

Kudos to Simona for finishing ahead of Danica in a race where both did finish, the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course!

That means Simona has now won under the rules of last years "Danica vs Mike" contest. Up to Mid-Ohio, Danica was kind of lucky that Simona had so many retirements. Yet, Danica's own showing at Texas Motor Speedway was really strong - and I hope she can bounce back rather sooner than later from having been beaten by Simona in "Danica vs Simona".

But what about Mike Conway? How is he doing? I remember some rumors that he might be back whilst the season is still ongoing. Any news? I wish him all the best.

[drewdawg727]

Mike should be back in time for Homestead.

I have the feeling that this contest will come to an end after this Infineon race. Simona is definitely going to fall behind in the ovals.

[Yannick]

Well, I was not fond at all of Simona's move on Matos. She should have pulled back and tried again later.

Neither was I fond of Taku's move on Danica. He made that kind of moves around the time he lost his Honda seat in F1. So it was clearly not a rookie error.

How's the repair bill for KV after Sonoma? Both Sato and Viso had their share of contacts? What about Moraes?

[JagtechOhio]

Sato has had a broken throttle cable in one event, a non-contact rear suspension failure in another, and got walled by Mutoh while he was challenging for fifth late in a race.

The last incident was one where Taku was making a rather bold move on a restart. For many of his other DNF's he has far more responsibility.

The subject of KV Technology's repair costs have fueled a lot of speculation, with the tally of serious bingles now standing at around 20 this season. Not counting minor rubbins like Sunday.

Some people claim that Dallara chassis will be cheap next year, as the cars enter their last season of competition in any form.

I'm thinking it's just the opposite: KV has written off a few this season, and Dallara will likely stop building replacement tubs for an obsolete car that they are working to replace.

By the time Indy has passed next season, some well-worn Dallaras on the sidelines might be fetching a pretty penny. Or some drivers won't have a car to race, regardless of the cost. This year, Simona's Texas cookout car was a write-off, and news so far has indicated that HVM couldn't afford a replacement.

I don't know anything about insurance for damage costs in this series, maybe somebody could provide the details. Hard to believe that helps the bottom line by a lot, even if it does exist.

[Tim Northcutt]

Many years ago in the infacy of the IRL, insurance did exist, but I have no idea if it still does.

I'm not so sure how cheap they'll be, either...especially when you look at what Simona and HVM might be facing with four oval races to go and, IIRC, no backup car left after she became a flaming dish in a crispy-toasted carbon-fibre chassis at Texas

[JagtechOhio]

Luczo/De Ferran got caught out after Indy, too. If there were tubs on the shelf, of affordable spare cars around, you wouldn't think either they or HVM would have a big problem.

So next year, it gets worse. At least that's the way it looks this seat.

[Yannick]

Simona's learning curve on the ovals continues with her making progress, but that does not amount to much when the car does not last. Hence, there are no points awarded in the contest that this thread is about, because both ladies have to finish.
Danica did finish, but was fairly anonymous before moving up into the Top 10. Yet, the choice not to change tires didn't work out for her as opposed to the winner Dario Franchitti, as DanicaFan has already pointed out on the Chicagoland race thread.

[NAC]

In other news - it's Simona's Birthday Today (well in my part of the world anyway, 1st Sep).

My Birthday present to you - You will bet Danica in the next race

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Simona's Texas cookout car was a write-off, and news so far has indicated that HVM couldn't afford a replacement.

Simona's race car since Texas has been an 8 year Foyt car given to HVM in the "merge". She proved she can carry it on road courses, but on ovals that thing is has way to much weight in the wrong places. I do not believe they have a spare car.

Some current cars will be "coming available" at the end of year.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by NAC

In other news - it's Simona's Birthday Today (well in my part of the world anyway, 1st Sep).

My Birthday present to you - You will bet Danica in the next race

Where have you been?

I thought New Zealand had been swallowed into the sea...

[Andy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

I thought New Zealand had been swallowed into the sea...

Well its been raining enough here lately that it just might be soon

[Yannick]

It looks like Simona's still struggling on the ovals in the ancient car HVM offers her. The team looks like they want to finish the season with that car. Luckily, they have some time left to fix it before Motegi.
Mike Conway was doing better on the ovals at this time last year because he was with Dreyer & Reinbold, a team of considerable oval experience. Just like Conquest Racing did to help their rookie Baguette, D&R hired Tomas Scheckter to help Conway develop his oval skills last year and it paid off. Here's hoping his health and fitness may return rather sooner than later.

Danica, on the other hand, did not have a great run. When you look at how driving only on the ovals must have motivated Ed Carpenter, another oval specialist, and compare Ed's performances of this year with last year, it seems that the street and road courses must have cost him some motivation. That might be the case with Danica this year, too. But it is understandable that AA does not want her to replace her on the road courses as she clearly is one of the stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series.

[Splatz the Cow]

Was impressed by Simona at Sonoma. Sorry

But actually she raced pretty hard to get where she was in that race.

Milka should go back to GT cars though, looks out of her depth, or maybe is too old now?

[Yannick]

Originally Posted by Splatz the Cow

Milka should go back to GT cars though, looks out of her depth, or maybe is too old now?

That's very much possible. Is there another current IndyCar driver besides Paul Tracy who is older than Milka?

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Yannick

That's very much possible. Is there another current IndyCar driver besides Paul Tracy who is older than Milka?

Milky Donuts is a bit older than her official age, I can't remember the specific numbers now and don't really care but she is older than PT at 41.

Also here is something for danicafan to chew on:

http://thegarageblog.com/garage/the-danica-enigma/

There is only so much longer they can keep the hype machine going for danica.

[PabloTeK]

Interesting reading, but you ask some of the F1 drivers about their suspension setups and they'll probably give you as blanker look as DP would. Particularly Yamamoto, though he'd give you a blank look if you asked him where the wheels were...

The problem I see is that she likes the car setup the same as Jenson Button and like the tall one she has a very small window of operation which as we can see in both, unless the car is perfectly setup neither of them are as quick as they could be. It's a rather annoying flaw yes but it's not terminal if they have a team that can actually interpret what they want and can put it into action. (Though a spec car makes it harder)

Also I doubt people will get tired of a woman on the TV in motor racing, it fulfils quite a few male racing fan's idea of heaven.

[Taprobane]

I'm amazed that you can compare Danica to a formula one world champion. Whilst Jenson might have a smaller window of operation than say Lewis Hamilton he also has what is regularly described as 'incredible' feel for grip and a racing car, something I've never heard about Danica. Not to mention that I've never even heard any rumours that Jenson's feedback is anything but top drawer.

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by Taprobane

I'm amazed that you can compare Danica to a formula one world champion. Whilst Jenson might have a smaller window of operation than say Lewis Hamilton he also has what is regularly described as 'incredible' feel for grip and a racing car, something I've never heard about Danica. Not to mention that I've never even heard any rumours that Jenson's feedback is anything but top drawer.

It's the way they drive, they both like a little push or understeer in the car and I guess a trait of that kind of style is that you might be more susceptible to oversteer. Plus as Jenson proved many times last year, you might be able to provide enough detail to tell your team what kind of paint is on an apex but they don't always get it right!

I try not be downtrodden on any of the women in the sport (though it is 'kin hard to find good stuff about Milka this year) because otherwise none will be interested in taking part and we end up with the F1 situation of 26 blokes (including Britney) with one woman appearing every 30 million years or so.

To give you an idea of the gender one-sidedness, for any woman who wants to get in F1, as it stands they only need to get a half-distance 10th place to equal the total points scored by every woman, something ain't right there...

Also for next year, I'm thinking Sato vs the recovery crews....

[JagtechOhio]

Not an attempt at prophecy, just a thought...

There is at least a slim chance that one or both of these drivers will be competing in their final IndyCar race. If HVM manages to get Simona's car to Homestead, that is.

She might be wise to discuss the Formula 1 overtures, even for a test driver role, as her Stargate World sponsorship has de-materialized in a Klingon tractor beam. A top shelf GP2 ride might also do her a world of good.

As for Danica, does her IMG management team spend another year watching her halo get tarnished? She won't improve much in IndyCar in 2011, and she won't improve in Nascar until she can run full time.

The money play is to take advantage of her novelty in Nascar, before that shine wears off too. Danica should buy out the remaining year on her contract, run as long as her recognition will carry her in Nascar, and call it a career.