2011 Forum Pick 'Em Contest - Las Vegas

[Tim Northcutt]

2011 IndyCar World Championship “Pick ‘em” Contest
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Sun., Oct. 16

DEADLINE FOR PICKS: Friday, Oct. 14, at 10 p.m. (GMT)..That is approx. 3 p.m. in Vegas, when qualifying begins.

Since it is a new track for the series, I'm giving you their only practice session on Friday to gauge how fast they are going to be on this track in quals.

PLEASE Get Them in Before the Deadline

-- The IRL races for the first time in many, many years on the 1.5-mile oval at Las Vegas in the IndyCar season finale that will feature Dan Wheldon taking a shot at the $5 million prize and the finish in the battle between Dario and Will Power for the championship.

Speaking of which, we have our own little 3-way battle going on right here that will be decided as well.

Keep in mind that Wheldon starts from the back of the pack, regardless of how fast he runs in quals. I score the "Slow Speed" anyway, so he won't be a factor unless he is the slowest in speed.

The race is 200 laps and 300 miles

Again…Please copy this template below and use it to place your Picks….

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)

2. The Pole winner’s two or four-lap average speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"


3. The Driver With the Single Fast Lap (2 pts.)

4. The Single Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

5. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1.
2.

ROW TWO:
1.
2.

ROW THREE:
1.
2.

6. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.)

7. Slowest Qualifier’s Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

7. Driver who will “Just Miss” the Top Three Rows (7th Fastest) – 2 pts.

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2011 IndyCar World Cahmpionships Race Winner (2 pts.)

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.)

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps:

100 laps:

150 laps:

200 laps:

6. Driver who will lead the Most Laps: (2 pts.)

7. First car out of Race (2 pts.)

8. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.)

10. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):

Good Luck in Las Vegas the weekend of Oct. 14-16!

[Tim Northcutt]

Be sure to check the Entry List...34 cars will compete.

Conquest just announced that their "TBA" on the original list will be Sebastian Saavedra, who will return to the cockpit at Vegas.

[Tim Northcutt]

I just discovered that the cars will have a practice session on Thursday, October 13, at 11 a.m. local time in Las vegas, in case your schedules in other time zones would warrant you to enter earlier than the deadline.

Since it is a 1.5-mile oval that is allegedly similar to Chicagoland, the teams should have a decent baseline to work from and should be in the ballpark in that first session.

[marcostraz]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: Scott Dixon

2. The Pole winner’s two or four-lap average speed: 216.008

3. The Driver With the Single Fast Lap: Scott Dixon

4. The Single Fast Lap Speed: 216,867

5. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows":

ROW ONE:
1. Scott Dixon
2. Will Power

ROW TWO:
1. Ed Carpenter
2. Dario Franchitti

ROW THREE:
1. Ryan Briscoe
2. Danica Patrick

6. Slowest Qualifier: Ana Beatriz

7. Slowest Qualifier’s Speed: 207.692

7. Driver who will “Just Miss” the Top Three Rows (7th Fastest): Graham Rahal

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2011 IndyCar World Cahmpionships Race Winner: Dario Franchitti

2. The Top Five:
1. Dario Franchitti
2. Will Power
3. Marco Andretti
4. JR Hildebrand
5. Scott Dixon

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race: Marco Andretti

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap: 211.765

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones:

50 laps: Will Power

100 laps: Dario Franchitti

150 laps: Will Power

200 laps: Dario Franchitti

6. Driver who will lead the Most Laps: Dario Franchitti

7. First car out of Race: Buddy Rice

8. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): Townsend Bell

10. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): Danica Patrick

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 143.135

[Yannick]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts) Scott Dixon

2. The Pole winner’s two or four-lap average speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 220.123

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"


3. The Driver With the Single Fast Lap (2 pts.) Will Power

4. The Single Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 220.999

5. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Scott Dixon
2. Will Power

ROW TWO:
1. Helio Castroneves
2. Dario Franchiti

ROW THREE:
1. Alex Tagliani
2. Graham Rahal

6. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.) Pippa Mann

7. Slowest Qualifier’s Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 209.999

7. Driver who will “Just Miss” the Top Three Rows (7th Fastest) – 2 pts. JR Hildebrand

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2011 IndyCar World Cahmpionships Race Winner (2 pts.)

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. JR Hildebrand
2. Alex Tagliani
3. Will Power
4. Dario Franchitti
5. Scott Dixon

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.) Helio Castroneves

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 216.365

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps: Will Power

100 laps: Will Power

150 laps: Dario Franchitti

200 laps:JR Hildebrand

6. Driver who will lead the Most Laps: (2 pts.) Will Power

7. First car out of Race (2 pts.) Jay Howard

8. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

10. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.) Charlie Kimball

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 160.369

[Tim Northcutt]

First practice starts in about 15 minutes in Vegas.

Hopefully, they'll have LT&S and that it isn't a testing session

[Daisy]

Since last minute picks didn’t work last time and I’m planning to go to bed early to night, hereby my picks for the final round. Good luck everyone!

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: Dario Franchitti
2. The Pole winner’s two or four-lap average speed: 225.002
3. The Driver With the Single Fast Lap: Dario Franchitti
4. The Single Fast Lap Speed: 225.081

5. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows":

ROW ONE:
1. Dario Franchitti
2. Helio Castroneves

ROW TWO:
1. Scott Dixon
2. Ryan Briscoe

ROW THREE:
1. Oriol Servia
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay

6. Slowest Qualifier: Sebastian Saavedra

7. Slowest Qualifier’s Speed: 219.668

7. Driver who will “Just Miss” the Top Three Rows (7th Fastest): Will Power

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2011 IndyCar World Championships Race Winner: Scott Dixon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
1. Scott Dixon
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Danica Patrick
4. Will Power
5. Oriol Servia

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race: Scott Dixon

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts): 223.898

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones:
50 laps: Dario Franchitti
100 laps: Dario Franchitti
150 laps: Dario Franchitti
200 laps: Scott Dixon

6. Driver who will lead the Most Laps: Dario Franchitti

7. First car out of Race (2 pts.) Sebastian Saavedra

8. Best "Mover" of the Race: Dan Wheldon
10. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race: Ryan Hunter-Reay

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 177.771

[Tim Northcutt]

They are still practicing, but here goes nothing...The draft is a BIG part of racing here, apparently.

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)

Will Power

2. The Pole winner’s two or four-lap average speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

222.436 (in clean air...no tow)

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"


3. The Driver With the Single Fast Lap (2 pts.)

Will Power

4. The Single Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

222.670

5. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1.Power
2.Dario

ROW TWO:
1.Kanaan
2.Dixon

ROW THREE:
1.Carpenter
2.Briscoe

6. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.)

Beatriz

7. Slowest Qualifier’s Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

219.502

8. Driver who will “Just Miss” the Top Three Rows (7th Fastest) – 2 pts.

Servia

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2011 IndyCar World Championships Race Winner (2 pts.)

Dario Franchitti

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. dario
2. Dixon
3. Power
4. Carpenter
5. Servia

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.)

Dixon

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

224.875

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps: dario

100 laps: dario

150 laps: dario

200 laps: dario

6. Driver who will lead the Most Laps: (2 pts.)

dario

7. First car out of Race (2 pts.)

Viso

8. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.)

wheldon

10. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)

Kanaan

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):

176.991

[Tim Northcutt]

The practice times didn't help at all!!!

This should be a wild race, based on what is out there.

Good luck to all, especially daisy and marcostraz!!!

May the best competitor win!!!

BTW...I made some WAGs here...I am not confident in what i've posted herer at all.

let's see how it shakes out!

Enjoy!!!

[Tim Northcutt]

Contest is Closed.

Good Luck, everyone!!!

[Tim Northcutt]

Here are your Quals Results:

No one had Kanaan for the Pole

Tim was closest to the pole speed: Actual-222.078 Tim-222.436

No one had kanaan for the Fast lap

Tim was closest to the Fast lap Speed: Actual-222.121 Tim 222.670

In the Top Six, marco had 4 pts, Tim 3, daisy 2 and yannick 1 pt.

No one had Simona as the slow qualifier

Tim was closest to the Slow Speed: Actual-218.132 Tim-219.502

No one had Ryan Hunter Reay for the Just Miss, but Tim had a Top Six driver for 1 pt.

Results after Quals;

1. Tim N. - 10 pts.
2. marcostraz - 4 pts
3. daisy - 2 pts.
4. Yannick - 1 pt.

Good luck tomorrow in the race!

[Tim Northcutt]

Season Contest Standings after 18 of 19 events:

1. marcostraz - 298.5 pts (one win)
2. Tim N. - 297.5 pts. (nine wins)
3. Daisy - 296 pts. (six wins)
4. NaBUru38 - 205.5 pts. (one win)
5. Yannick - 150 pts.
6. Chiana - 107 pts.
7. drewdawg - 26 pts (one win)
8. Jaques -12 pts.
9. Victor - 10 pts.
(tie) Oreti - 10 pts.
11. Jahiegel - 9 pts.

Contest winners by event:

St. Pete - drewdawg
Barber - Daisy
Long Beach - Daisy
Sao Paulo - Daisy
Indy Pole - Tim N.
Indy Race - NaBUru38
Texas 1 - Tim N.
Texas 2 - Daisy
Milwaukee - Tim N.
Iowa - Daisy
Toronto - Tim N. (wins tiebreaker)
Edmonton - Tim N.
Mid-Ohio - Tim N.
Loudon - Tim N.
Infineon - Tim N. (wins tiebreaker)
Baltimore - Daisy
Motegi RC - marcostraz
Kentucky - Tim N.
Las Vegas - ?????

[Daisy]

Well, a 100% improvement of last times qualifying result

But serious, I very much doubt I'm gonna recover from this, I need very good race picks and I don't see that happen with the current grid.

What time is the race?

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Well, a 100% improvement of last times qualifying result

But serious, I very much doubt I'm gonna recover from this, I need very good race picks and I don't see that happen with the current grid.

What time is the race?

It is at 3:45 p.m. EDT on ABC in the USA

[JeremySmith]

Dan Wheldon has just passed away after a huge accident at Las Vegas..RIP

[Tim Northcutt]

I have no idea how to score the rest of the contest, Gang.

I'll wait and see what indycar issues as a race report, but I don't know if they will even declare a winner.

Stay tuned....

I'd like for you to weigh in...

[marcostraz]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

I have no idea how to score the rest of the contest, Gang.

I'll wait and see what indycar issues as a race report, but I don't know if they will even declare a winner.

Stay tuned....

I'd like for you to weigh in...

I think taht the best thing is to cancel the race and make the standings after qualifications...

[Tim Northcutt]

FINAL Season Contest Standings after 19 events:

1. Tim N. - 307.5 pts. (ten wins)
2. marcostraz - 302.5 pts (one win)
3. Daisy - 298 pts. (six wins)
4. NaBUru38 - 205.5 pts. (one win)
5. Yannick - 151 pts.
6. Chiana - 107 pts.
7. drewdawg - 26 pts (one win)
8. Jaques -12 pts.
9. Victor - 10 pts.
(tie) Oreti - 10 pts.
11. Jahiegel - 9 pts.

Contest winners by event:

St. Pete - drewdawg
Barber - Daisy
Long Beach - Daisy
Sao Paulo - Daisy
Indy Pole - Tim N.
Indy Race - NaBUru38
Texas 1 - Tim N.
Texas 2 - Daisy
Milwaukee - Tim N.
Iowa - Daisy
Toronto - Tim N. (wins tiebreaker)
Edmonton - Tim N.
Mid-Ohio - Tim N.
Loudon - Tim N.
Infineon - Tim N. (wins tiebreaker)
Baltimore - Daisy
Motegi RC - marcostraz
Kentucky - Tim N.
Las Vegas - Tim N.

Based on Marcostaz' suggestion, since we did score quals I just used those totals for the event.

Thanks for participating this year!

Next year, you'll have more choices, such as "Best Honda Qualifier" Best Chevy Qualifier," etc.

I did that years ago when there were multiple chassis and engine manufacturers in the series.

I enjoyed doing the contest again and look forward to next season.

[Yannick]

Thank you Tim N. for finally closing this dark chapter in the history books of motorsports.

This note goes out to the folks on the ten-tenths forums who know me from my postings.
I hereby announce my retirement not just from the Pick'Em Contest, but from the forum altogether, on which I spent too much time.
With racing series playing with fire in this kind of way (increased danger for the sake of the "show") and the outcome this has had (a deceased driver), there is no way I can justify my interest in motorsport towards my friends and family.
That's the message I get from this terrible event: spend more time with your friends and family (than on internet forums about motorsports).
So I say goodbye.
I will also stop designing fantasy racetracks. To my colleagues from the "My Tracks" forum, if you read this: I feel this is the right time to retire.

I will remember Dan Wheldon (RIP) as the incredible winner he was. It's still hard to write this in past tense. I could not talk about it until now, having watched the Las Vegas race on a webstream until the 5 tribute laps were over. The way they were racing, three wide all the way from right after the 2-lane running start, was way too dangerous. And then came what people in the IndyCar community were afraid of for many years: the so-called big one.
On the webstream on my screen, it looked like a battlefield. Having seen many races and many crashes on screen before, I was aware right at the very moment there was one car in there which looked especially bad after the crash. In replays, it became obvious this car entered the scene when most of the cars involved in the process had already crashed. But it got airborne and only the wall and the fence would stop it.
Basically, that could have happened to anybody running near the back of the pack in that race. That is too high a price to pay just for a "show". I mean this is not ancient Rome and these are not gladiators exactly.
Things were happening so quickly that only in the aftermath, it turned out that said car was Dan Wheldon's.

The motor sport community lost one of its greatest ambassadors on Sunday.
It's so sad that there was nothing anymore that the motor sport community could do for him after that crash. Dan was so enthusiastic before this race and he was actively promoting it as commited and convincing as only he could. The thought that with all this hard work, he effectively promoted people watch his own death is sickening. It's like the unthinkable happened.

But was it really unthinkable? When you have listened to driver interviews leading up to the Las Vegas race, there was one who said it was going to be a crazy race and warned of a big crash. Nobody listened, maybe because they all thought it was promo for the show.

Ever since Indy, on this forum, I was a supporter of Dan having a chance at taking part in this race, because his Indy 500 victory for a one-off team in only their 2nd race deeply moved me. He was a great talent. I will remember him for this victory, not for the way he died.

Therefore, with me quitting this forum and trying to quit motorsports entirely, I leave my login and signature intact, which remembers the good times. However, I will change my password and displace the new one.

And please, IndyCar or IRL or whatever you call yourself, can you take care of the winner of the fan experience, Mrs Babenco? She surely wasn't in for this kind of an experience when she was in the pits with Dan's crew. I haven't a clue whether she has health insurance or not and really, it should not matter since she is your winner. So in case she needs a psychologist or a therapist after this "experience", please fund it for her. Thanks.

[Yannick]

Addendum:

I must add that Randy Bernard really should really reconsider the new speed records he is aiming at for next year's Indy 500. Is the risk really worth it, just for the spectacle?
I'd say no, but that's why I'm quitting.
Goodbye guys.

P.S.: bjo, if you want to talk, you have my email.

[NaBUru38]

Good bye, Yannick! Have a good life wherever you want to go and whatever speed you want to feel it!

This was the worst way to finish a season. At least everyone reacted as they should. I hope that IndyCar keeps improving and learning from this.

- o -

Tim, the 2010 Pick Em Up items list was too long. As everone else, I plan to take less time for it next year. So I propose you a shorter questionnaire. Let's try it:

Fast Six / Top Three Rows:
o- 5 pts for correct polesitter.
o- 3 pts for correct P2 (P2-P3 at Indianapolis).
o- 2 pts for correct P3-P6 (P4-P9 at Indianapolis).
o- 1 point for correct driver in the first three rows, wrong spot.

Polesitter's average speed
o- 3 pts for closest speed.
o- 1 extra point if also picked correct driver.

Top 5 finishers:
o- 10 pts for correct winner.
o- 5 pts for correct podium finisher.
o- 3 pts for correct P3-P5.
o- 2 point for correct driver in the top 5, wrong spot.

Most laps lead:
o- 3 points for correct driver.

Fastest lap:
o- 2 points for correct driver.
o- 1 point for closest speed.

Best mover:
o- 1 point for correct driver.

Average speed:
o- Tiebreaker for closest speed.

It's 17 picks versus 28 this year. It takes less time, and emphasizes gloryful achievements. Plus, the improved points scale gives more points for the most important results. Other suggestions?

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Good bye, Yannick! Have a good life wherever you want to go and whatever speed you want to feel it!

This was the worst way to finish a season. At least everyone reacted as they should. I hope that IndyCar keeps improving and learning from this.

- o -

Tim, the 2010 Pick Em Up items list was too long. As everone else, I plan to take less time for it next year. So I propose you a shorter questionnaire. Let's try it:

Fast Six / Top Three Rows:
o- 5 pts for correct polesitter.
o- 3 pts for correct P2 (P2-P3 at Indianapolis).
o- 2 pts for correct P3-P6 (P4-P9 at Indianapolis).
o- 1 point for correct driver in the first three rows, wrong spot.

Polesitter's average speed
o- 3 pts for closest speed.
o- 1 extra point if also picked correct driver.

Top 5 finishers:
o- 10 pts for correct winner.
o- 5 pts for correct podium finisher.
o- 3 pts for correct P3-P5.
o- 2 point for correct driver in the top 5, wrong spot.

Most laps lead:
o- 3 points for correct driver.

Fastest lap:
o- 2 points for correct driver.
o- 1 point for closest speed.

Best mover:
o- 1 point for correct driver.

Average speed:
o- Tiebreaker for closest speed.

It's 17 picks versus 28 this year. It takes less time, and emphasizes gloryful achievements. Plus, the improved points scale gives more points for the most important results. Other suggestions?

I'll consider these changes.

[marcostraz]

I hope Yannick will re-think his decision...Wheldon death was a tragedy, sure, but I think that the love that he had to the race should be a teaching for us...remember all the best, happy moment about racing, and remember with so much love Wheldon raced, and try to re-find your passion...

[Daisy]

I could not have written that any better Marco.

Of course congratz to Tim for his victory overall, well deciverd, most victory and even not competing full time. Hope you will pick all races next year Tim.

Whatever changes are made to the contest, I'll try to back next year. Let me think if I have some ideas.