Round 6: The 103rd Indianapolis 500, 14th-26th May.

[mstets]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Especially not NBC today, calling out numbers different than what the screens said. It was a cluster this afternoon if you only listened but a great show and stressful, Indy for the pole and the field should be.

Think it will be a fun show tomorrow and it sounded like everyone thinks there will be weather issues so look out. Apparently Bump Day gets precedence over Fast 9 in the event of weather delays, as it should.

How are they working the schedule? If pole qualifying is rained out and the track gets dry later, do they default to qualifying the last 3 cars? Seems that would mean no more shuffling of the fast 9. Since there's so much at stake for the pole, I'd think it should still be up for grabs even if the session has to take place on Monday or Tuesday.

[mstets]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Especially not NBC today, calling out numbers different than what the screens said. It was a cluster this afternoon if you only listened but a great show and stressful, Indy for the pole and the field should be.

Think it will be a fun show tomorrow and it sounded like everyone thinks there will be weather issues so look out. Apparently Bump Day gets precedence over Fast 9 in the event of weather delays, as it should.

Not sure the timing system was working as it should have been. What came over the website was evidently correct as far as the 4 lap qualifying times, but there was no 4 lap average speed or total lap time for any completed runs. Don't know if NBC had access to better data, but it was pretty hard to keep track of things based on the online data from Indycar.

[mstets]

Have to mention the performance of DragonSpeed. Who would have guessed that they would have solidly outperformed Carlin, Juncos and McLaren in qualifying? Guess that you could argue that they didn't outperform Carlin as Kimball is starting 7 spots ahead of Hanley. But there are two Carlin cars not yet qualified.

[peebee2]

Poor day for Carlin. Three of the four cars they own in the bump session.

[JHamilton]

It's looking like it is going to rain all day.

[Akrapovic]

McLaren regularly seems to over-estimate their own abilities.

[gert]

Originally Posted by mstets

Pretty sure the time is withdrawn if the car takes the green flag, possibly if the car leaves the pit lane. They don't want qualified cars in Line 1 that intend to go out and do 3 laps and wave off, just to prevent someone else from getting a run in. Rahal could have pulled out of line and kept his time but once he started the run he was no longer qualified. Risky but it really paid off, moving him up about 10 starting positions.

Yes, that's right, I think. It's just that by being in line there was no risk for him, until he actually left the pitlane. He would not risk anything if he couldn't start if time ran out.

Likewise Alonso's time (and the others) that he already has, still stands despite him being in line again.

[gert]

If I understood correctly, Alonso was using a Carlin car instead his primary McLaren car. Does that mean: a road-course car?
O'Ward was also using a road-coarse car after he crashed his oval car.
I'd be surprised if Carlin had a spare oval car for Alonso but not for themselves.

Hinchcliffe on the other hand has an oval car to try and qualify.


At least, that's how I understood it ?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by gert

If I understood correctly, Alonso was using a Carlin car instead his primary McLaren car. Does that mean: a road-course car?
O'Ward was also using a road-coarse car after he crashed his oval car.
I'd be surprised if Carlin had a spare oval car for Alonso but not for themselves.

Hinchcliffe on the other hand has an oval car to try and qualify.


At least, that's how I understood it ?

Hinch’s back up car was also a road course car.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

McLaren regularly seems to over-estimate their own abilities.

Seems to be a fine art with them.

[S griffin]

I thought Fred was planning on doing a race or two prior to the 500 to get more experience? Or did I hear wrong?

[JHamilton]

Track is green.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I thought Fred was planning on doing a race or two prior to the 500 to get more experience? Or did I hear wrong?

He tested at Texas a couple of weeks ago.

[JHamilton]

227.5 for Hinch and 227.3 for Alonso are pretty strong. That might be enough.

[Armco Bender]

Alonso has left the building.

[JHamilton]

Juncos bumps McLaren!

31. Karam
32. Hinch
33. Kaiser

Pato, Chilton, Alonso out

[mstets]

Final row: Karam, Hinch, Kaiser. Wow.

[peebee2]

All 3 Carlin cars in action today out.

How long for McLaren to buy Juncos IndyCar team?

[Armco Bender]

That was quite exciting race for last place on the grid.
Well worth being late for work.

[Graz]

McLaren totally underestimated what’s needed. It’s like they felt an entitlement.

If Alonso is serious, he needs to commit full time to the series with a team who knows what it’s doing. Forget McLaren.

This is good for IndyCar. Proves it ain’t easy.

[mstets]

Pretty decent band of showers nearing Indy from the west.

[pirenzo]

Well, that's certainly been a humbling experience for Fernando. Danica Patrick didn't think he'd be back earlier in the pre-show but I hope she's wrong...

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by peebee2

All 3 Carlin cars in action today out.

How long for McLaren to buy Juncos IndyCar team?

Even if they did, the Juncos car is hardly much quicker... yes it’s now in the show, but the aim of Mr Alonso winning the race would still be wildly optimistic

[S griffin]

I think this has been a reality check for Fred and McLaren. They need to commit a bit more to Indycars, if Fred is going to win the final part of the triple crown. Even if it is not a full time programme, it needs to be more than a one off

Anyway, what are the chances we’ll get another new name to add to the Borg Warner trophy?

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Even if they did, the Juncos car is hardly much quicker... yes it’s now in the show, but the aim of Mr Alonso winning the race would still be wildly optimistic

Although it's a different chassis, Juncos has been in the top 15-20 all week. McLaren hasn't been close, so I think Juncos has a better chance in the 500. I'm disappointed as I've been a fan of McLaren for a long time now and I expected a Team Penske level of preparation. I'm not there, but it doesn't look like they were close to ready. It really has to irk Zak Brown that the car that bumped them has no sponsorship.