Texas Firestone 550

[bjohnsonsmith]

The race is being broadcast tonight by ABC at 8:30pm ET and Will Power is on Pole.

Here are the results for qualifying:

1 Will Power 47.7960 219.182 MPH
2 Marco Andretti 48.1537 217.553 MPH
3 Ryan Hunter-Reay 48.1603 217.524 MPH
4 Dario Franchitti 48.1646 217.504 MPH
5 E.J. Viso 48.2222 217.244 MPH
6 Helio Castroneves 48.2542 217.100 MPH
7 Josef Newgarden 48.3449 216.693 MPH
8 Charlie Kimball 48.3724 216.570 MPH
9 Ed Carpenter 48.3763 216.552 MPH
10 James Jakes 48.3908 216.487 MPH
11 Scott Dixon 48.3998 216.447 MPH
12 Simona De Silvestro 48.4112 216.396 MPH
13 James Hinchcliffe 48.4444 216.248 MPH
14 Simon Pagenaud 48.5613 215.727 MPH
15 Tony Kanaan 48.6184 215.474 MPH
16 Alex Tagliani 48.6337 215.406 MPH
17 Sebastien Bourdais 48.7621 214.839 MPH
18 Oriol Servia 48.8197 214.586 MPH
19 Graham Rahal 48.9790 213.888 MPH
20 Sebastian Saavedra 49.1330 213.217 MPH
21 Pippa Mann 49.2329 212.785 MPH
22 Justin Wilson 50.4121 207.807 MPH
23 Takuma Sato No Time No Speed
24 Tristan Vautier (R) No Time No Speed

[D.R.T.]

Wow that's fast.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The speed is certainly up on the Dallara IR-05. in 2011 Alex Tagliani took pole with a speed of 215.186 mph (346.308 km/h) and Ryan Briscoe did the same in 2010 at a speed of 215.273 mph (346.448 km/h). However, this is still off Billy Boat's fastest race lap of 23.759 seconds, 227.273 mph set in a Dallara IR8-Oldsmobile in 1998, though he did get a tow.

The outright lap record is held by Paul Tracy at 22.542 seconds, 236.678 mph, set in a Reynard 01i - Honda in 2001. I don't think it will ever be broken.

[NaBUru38]

Beware of the birds

[D.R.T.]

Fast compared to 2nd place as well

[canamman]

This is a great race . Always a close finish , lots of 3 wide.
Wonder If we will get a suprise winner? Marco is due.

[NaBUru38]

BJ, remember that IndyCar is removing downforce each year.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

BJ, remember that IndyCar is removing downforce each year.

I'm not quite sure where you're coming from.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Fast compared to 2nd place as well

Yes indeed, and Marco looked really quick on his fastest quali lap compared to everyone before him (a 2:18.something IIRC). Power pretty much demolished everyone.

[bjohnsonsmith]

So many empty stands.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

So many empty stands.

It always looks like that there. It wouldn't break my heart if they stopped running on so many money losing ovals. The crowds are at the road and street circuits, which I much prefer. The cars do look quick and twitchy there though so it makes for some nerve wracking passes.

[broadrun96]

Yeah, watched for a few but the stands looked empty and honestly the track itself looked empty as well. The track really needs 30 plus cars, but I'm not an oval track fan except Richmond.

[Canada ALMS fan]

After all the exciting racing we've had this year that was an exceptionally boring race.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I like oval racing as much as I like road and street courses, it's part of what AOWR is about and what makes it different from F1. It would make sense to look for an alternative to TMS or even temporarily scratch it until an alternative is found, rather than haemorrhaging money that teams and sponsors can ill afford.

Congrats to Hélio.

[Paradise City]

It wasn't a classic but I enjoyed that race.

[canamman]

I give that race a 7 out of 10 in the excitement department. What I like about this season is you never know who is going to win. That alone makes me tune in. Low attendance? Whattya gonna do. Its the new norm in this economy. Great opportunity to go and get a good seat if you have a couple bucks.

[fieldodreams79]

It looked the same kind of crowd as they had at the truck race.

Never liked this type of track for OW cars because of the pack racing. Well, didn't get much of that last night and it was a bore. Heard a comment that the drivers were looking for different tires from last year so the could have to "drive" they cars? Can they undo that before next year?

[JHamilton]

I'm didn't find that race interesting and I think it is because so many went down a lap so quickly. They can't all be great though.

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

It looked the same kind of crowd as they had at the truck race.

I wasn't going to post anything about it, but I'm pretty sure there were more people there for the truck race.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It would make sense to look for an alternative to TMS or even temporarily scratch it until an alternative is found, rather than haemorrhaging money that teams and sponsors can ill afford.

Congrats to Hélio.

Not sure I follow. The event has a promoter that pays indycar. Over the years the event has been well attended and I'm not sure where the teams and sponsors are haemorrhaging money here more than anywhere else?

[MoMedic9019]

I'd much rather watch AOWR on road courses...lord knows there are plenty in the US and Canada.

This was an abysmally boring race.

[broadrun96]

Texas might just be too big to run open wheel cars, Richmond is usually an exciting race and Pocono has been but seems like the larger ovals are often nap inducing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Not sure I follow. The event has a promoter that pays indycar. Over the years the event has been well attended and I'm not sure where the teams and sponsors are haemorrhaging money here more than anywhere else?

Empty seats do not translate into ticket receipts and promoters want a return on their investment, if they aren't getting a return they are losing money. As for attracting sponsors, there's nothing worse than empty seats on a TV screen and TMS was about the emptiest I've ever seen it. It'll be interesting to see what the attendance and viewing figures are, compared to last year.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Empty seats do not translate into ticket receipts and promoters want a return on their investment, if they aren't getting a return they are losing money. As for attracting sponsors, there's nothing worse than empty seats on a TV screen and TMS was about the emptiest I've ever seen it. It'll be interesting to see what the attendance and viewing figures are, compared to last year.

No doubt however there is a massive capacity at TMS.

Interesting to see what crowd is officially announced, or do we just go off Fordcosworthpanoz for confirmation?

I find it remarkable after all the amazing races at IMS including last years now people are questioning its place on the schedule due to a dominant performance by helio.

Of course promoters want a return on investment but apart from watching it on tv what makes you think they aren't?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

No doubt however there is a massive capacity at TMS.

Interesting to see what crowd is officially announced, or do we just go off Fordcosworthpanoz for confirmation?

I find it remarkable after all the amazing races at IMS including last years now people are questioning its place on the schedule due to a dominant performance by helio.

Of course promoters want a return on investment but apart from watching it on tv what makes you think they aren't?

There is massive capacity at TMS but it's not being utilised.

Regarding attendance figures you can either go with FordCosworthPanoz or find out for yourself, the choice is yours.

What makes me think they aren't are all those empty stands. I don't see how anyone can be making money, when tickets aren't being sold.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

There is massive capacity at TMS but it's not being utilised.

Regarding attendance figures you can either go with FordCosworthPanoz or find out for yourself, the choice is yours.

What makes me think they aren't are all those empty stands.

My point more was you can have 90,000 there as they have in the past and its still looks empty.

You mean it's Fordcosworthpanoz or me, there is no room to wait for verified and official crowds to be announced by the venue and promoter?????