Quote:
Originally Posted by Chiana
It's pointless to compare artificially restricted grid to one where you can field whatever you wish wherever you want. Same exact thing as when Mario Andretti complained about the amount of F1 overtaking versus Indycar, as if you could compare overtaking capabilities of non-spec cars to fully spec cars, it's never ever going to be achieved whatever you try.
If F1 opened the doors and said "anyone can attempt to race" like in the pre-qualifying era, AND also kill off the mandated 2 car per team rule, you would not have 20 cars each race.
IndyCar on the other hand HAS "free for all" policy, yet have had trouble attracting 33 relatively cheap spec cars for what they describe as the biggest race in the world.
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The current agreement between F1 and the FIA allows for up to to 12 teams and 24 cars. However, it's set to remain at 10. Back in 2014 F1 had a 22 car field, so my comment was more of an observation than a comparison.
Mario Andretti's complaint was about F1's direction and heavy reliance on aero and how it is adversely affecting racing, particularly overtaking; something F1 fans and there are plenty here at Ten Tenths, are constantly complaining about. IndyCar may be a spec series at the moment but tried out Chevy's and Honda's aero-kits and found they were going to face the same issues F1 is, if they continued with heavy downforce aero-kits and decided to go for a ground effect car instead. The rules are so rigid regarding F1 car design, they might as well be spec cars. The big difference is, F1 happens to have three of the world's biggest road car manufacturers involved, who have vastly bigger budgets than any IndyCar could dream of and yet the racing is poor in comparison.
Indeed, IndyCar has had trouble attracting a 33 car field for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". It was only 10 years ago the series unified with Champ Car, after the near disastrous split back in '96 and it has taken a very long time to rebuild. Plus there isn't all that Philip Morris tobacco money sloshing around anymore and the majority of the big multinational sponsors, decided to go to NASCAR. Anyway, they have a 33+ field this year so fair play too them.