Round 6: The 99th Indianapolis 500 - Page 3

tux · 17 May 2015, 14:26 (Ref:3538572)

So, things look set to change in a big way.

Just some more info, there was a meeting in the Indycar trailer with at least the Honda engineers and all media was instructed to move away from the Indycar trailer...

Practice session at 11:30 ET

Looks like some changes are coming from the rumours on twitter, Indycar will address the media in due course.

So Marshall Pruett reports.

Engines will return to their low-boost settings, which reduces something in the region of 40-50hp and lowers lap speeds below 230mph.
All teams--from Chevy and Honda--will be required to race in the aerodynamic trim they use in qualifying. This effectively forces teams to abandon low-drag qualifying setups.
Teams are allowed to adjust their wing angles as desired.
Wing wickers are also open.

Now forgive me for being stupid the changes would make the cars less prone to being "twitchy" but the extra drag, lower power will still see cars going 215-220+? Is this really going to make a huge difference if a car does crash?

canamman · 17 May 2015, 14:51 (Ref:3538576)

Oh boy. Things may get messy here. I hope I am wrong.
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/11...-report-sunday

BudLightJaguar · 17 May 2015, 15:08 (Ref:3538577)

I hope we won't be seeing this on next Sunday... USGP05

Nikki Katz · 17 May 2015, 15:11 (Ref:3538580)

I really hope that this works. But they need more practice, you can't throw them straight into qualifying now.

tux · 17 May 2015, 15:35 (Ref:3538591)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

I really hope that this works. But they need more practice, you can't throw them straight into qualifying now.

There is a practice session at 1:30pm local time

Indycar and owners/teams are having more meetings at the moment. Its all got very silly.

Nikki Katz · 17 May 2015, 15:43 (Ref:3538594)

I guess that even once there is practice, we would still need to wait until someone crashes to see what would happen. It's not like there's accidents every session...

canamman · 17 May 2015, 15:54 (Ref:3538596)

According to Marshall Pruett twitter-

Practice 1:30 -2:30 EST- All cars get 1 qual attempt at 3:15 EST.

Should be interesting nonetheless. Feel bad for the engineers and money
spent on every square inch of the car only to have pieces taken off
at a critical time. Wonder what that will do to handling? We shall see.

Burp · 17 May 2015, 16:16 (Ref:3538600)

Thanks for keeping is informed. I'm not watching or following twitter

MoMedic9019 · 17 May 2015, 16:30 (Ref:3538604)

Anyone else not have a good feeling about the race week? Or this weekend? Imola '94 comes to mind..similar eerie feeling I had then, I have now.

BudLightJaguar · 17 May 2015, 16:50 (Ref:3538608)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Imola '94 comes to mind..similar eerie feeling I had then, I have now.

That's exactly how I feel right now.

FLGTFAN · 17 May 2015, 17:08 (Ref:3538610)

The flat bottom is just too large. If you put a sheet to the wind, it's going to fly.

Nikki Katz · 17 May 2015, 17:11 (Ref:3538611)

At least they're doing something. Imola went ahead to its conclusion with no changes regardless of what was happening, which by that point was two fatalities and one near miss. But if these changes don't work then they need to seriously consider cancelling it.

canamman · 17 May 2015, 17:22 (Ref:3538614)

TV coverage showed a couple interviews with the owners.
They are on board with the changes as they see it as
a safety measure for the drivers. Roger Penske thinks
the speeds will be in the high 220's and not in the 230's.

Practice coming up.

tux · 17 May 2015, 17:33 (Ref:3538619)

I see the practice isnt being streamed. Wonder why...

Indycar say while they are on TV they wont stream online. Is all of qualifying on TV?

FLGTFAN · 17 May 2015, 17:35 (Ref:3538621)

That rear wing is pitiful. Might even contribute to the aero problem?

Mystery · 17 May 2015, 17:36 (Ref:3538622)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tux

I see the practice isnt being streamed. Wonder why...

Same reason the FA don't show live football matches on telly at 3pm.

And probably because Chevy asked them not to.

FLGTFAN · 17 May 2015, 17:37 (Ref:3538623)

Kanaan's rear wing is either missing an end plate or sporting a GoPro.

MoMedic9019 · 17 May 2015, 17:42 (Ref:3538626)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

At least they're doing something. Imola went ahead to its conclusion with no changes regardless of what was happening, which by that point was two fatalities and one near miss. But if these changes don't work then they need to seriously consider cancelling it.

No, I know.... it's not the fact they've done something...it's that they are going at it in a half-assed fashion.

10TENTHS · 17 May 2015, 17:59 (Ref:3538631)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLGTFAN

The flat bottom is just too large. If you put a sheet to the wind, it's going to fly.

Then why didn't we see these flips in 2014?

FLGTFAN · 17 May 2015, 18:09 (Ref:3538634)

Maybe because they didn't have these ridiculously small rear wings that (a) reduce downforce, and (b) don't combat lift when backwards at 230 mph. Admittedly, I'm no engineer. What else is different this year?

10TENTHS · 17 May 2015, 18:31 (Ref:3538639)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLGTFAN

Maybe because they didn't have these ridiculously small rear wings that (a) reduce downforce, and (b) don't combat lift when backwards at 230 mph. Admittedly, I'm no engineer. What else is different this year?

Sidepods, front and rear wings (including the wheel pods), holes in the undertray, engine cover. Not an exhaustive list. Back in 2014 the diehards moaned about spec and the cars being too easy to drive at Indy, though.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 17 May 2015, 19:04 (Ref:3538651)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLGTFAN

The flat bottom is just too large. If you put a sheet to the wind, it's going to fly.

The surface area of the undertray was reduced by putting 'holes' in it just behind the leading edge of the undertray, as in this photo. There's a whole article on Racer.com about it. http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/10...kits-new-floor

I can't help but think these 'holes' are a contributing factor. They weren't there last year, or the two previous years, since the introduction of the DW12. If the rear of the car rises up due to impacting the wall, there's nothing to stop the air rushing through these holes and along under the undertray.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 17 May 2015, 20:21 (Ref:3538690)

Qualifying is underway, with Scott Dixon currently first, with a top speed of 227.041 Mph and a 4 lap average of 228.760 Mph, so lap speeds are down.

fieldodreams79 · 17 May 2015, 20:26 (Ref:3538694)

I've out of the loop here due to some personal commitments and unfortunate incidents. Sounds like a real pickle at the speedway, which seems utterly ridiculous how they've gotten this far with this car to still be "figuring it out". Guess that's what we get with a spec series plus aero kits

Maybe they should just another race on the damn road course and bring on some true embarrassment for this series and once great race.

fieldodreams79 · 17 May 2015, 20:34 (Ref:3538697)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Qualifying is underway, with Scott Dixon currently first, with a top speed of 227.041 Mph and a 4 lap average of 228.760 Mph, so lap speeds are down.

Is ABC carrying the coverage? I am away from the house and have the app just has a Gasoline Alley still cam and audio. Looking for another way to veiw.

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