Indy 200 at Disney...the first ever IRL race

[Down F0rce]

Indyracing.com have uploaded a short video of the first ever IRL IndyCar Series race, as well as the starting grid and race results. Interesting stuff, keeps us amused in the off-season anyways

Click here to download.

Here's a better quality version, but it's over 2MB.

[thebear]

I worked timing and scoring for the event. This was of course MANUAL T&S as transponders were "in the future". It was quite busy due to the short track and high speeds.

[Testure]

I don't wanna start an argument, but those cars looked so much sexier

There's an associated article on the site which is worth a look. Has a few funny quotes from Brian Barnhart about the league's "founding principles".

[kingfloopy]

Does the Disney track even exist anymore?

J.D.

[graeme]

Yes, I think so - I did a Richard Petty driving experience there a couple of years ago.

[thebear]

Originally posted by kingfloopy
Does the Disney track even exist anymore? J.D.

It's more like "Brigadoon", appearing out of the mists, when necessary. It is not on anyone's racing schedule.

[MLM]

Originally posted by thebear
It's more like "Brigadoon", appearing out of the mists, when necessary. It is not on anyone's racing schedule.

LOL, good analogy!
All we need are Cyd Charrisse and Mickey Mouse romping up and down Space Mountain, LOL (which doubles for the hills of Scotland...we must remember to plant a little heather on it, too, to make it realistic )

ps...maybe we could throw in Dario wearing a kilt and playing bagpipes for good measure!

[GP Racer]

If it takes seeing Dario in a dress(oops, I mean kilt!), MLM, to make you a fan, I'm sure he would accomodate you!

[graeme]

So when was the first Disney IRL race? Were there many races there?

[kingfloopy]

I figured the track was still there. I was on vacation in Flordia when they held the first race (didn't go). It was in Feb 1996 I think. Buzz Calkins won and Tony Stewart was second. They raced there from 1996 to 2000. They held several NASCAR truck races there too. I found most of this info on the IRL website.

J.D.

[Down F0rce]

Actually, the race was in January of '96

[gttouring]

i think USAC silver crown races there still- i liked the tight tringle track, the turn one ars really had a huge lift there it sounded very cool

[MLM]

Originally posted by GP Racer
If it takes seeing Dario in a dress(oops, I mean kilt!), MLM, to make you a fan, I'm sure he would accomodate you!

I forgot to add Ashley trailing behind him, reciting Robert Burns' poetry.
(hmmmm, and I'll run along Dario with a wind machine to blow up the.....um,never mind )

Actually, GP, I do watch IRL races on occasion. I also watch NASCAR.

[GP Racer]

I'm glad to hear that MLM, I mean the part about watching some IRL races!

I know you like Champ Cars to, as I see you posting there often. I believe you can like both series also, CART and the IRL, although some of the guys on the CART forum really can't believe thats possible, and unfortunately look down on those of us that do.

Well, soon enough we'll know if there are going to be one or two series to root for.

[BootsOntheSide]

I remember watching the race on Sky, not really making much of it ebcause I didn't expect the IRL to be a success. How wrong I was. it was an exciting race, but it was clear that the driver calibre was much lower than CART's - how times change.

[GP Racer]

I'm not really turned on by the drivers in CART myself.

Paul Tracy drove wrecklessly half the time and barely took the title, over a relatively weak field. Half were rookies, and half were driving Reynards that couldn't compete, yet Tracy came in second for Driver of the Year. I couldn't figure that out. Maybe its because he was there for so long, and is really the only big name left.

To me the IRL does have the better drivers, but none registered at all on the Driver of the Year award. Strange?However 6 made Autosports Top 50, which was nice to see.

Not sure you can call the IRL a success yet, but there is definetely a buzz going around the series this year, that hasn't been there in the past. Times are still changing...

[jklein6419]

IRL MAY HAVE BETTER DRIVERS BUT ITS HARD FOR THEM TO SHOW THEIR SKILL WHEN ALL THEY DO IS HOLD THEIR FOOT THE FLOOR GOING IN CIRCLES FOR 2 AND A HALF HOURS

[Down F0rce]

[Fan]

Originally posted by jklein6419
IRL MAY HAVE BETTER DRIVERS BUT ITS HARD FOR THEM TO SHOW THEIR SKILL WHEN ALL THEY DO IS HOLD THEIR FOOT THE FLOOR GOING IN CIRCLES FOR 2 AND A HALF HOURS

Huh??

[GP Racer]

This may sound funny, but I recently bought the IndyCar Series game for my computer.

While I never thought driving an openwheel car at 220MPH was easy, this game has given me a new found respect for just how hard it really is. Its extremely hard to pass, and any mistake can be catastrophic to both yourself and the rest of the field. I actually find it more difficult than "driving" some of the road course games.

Maybe jklein needs to buy this game!

[Down F0rce]

Indeed, it's a brilliant game

[gttouring]

well done eh? I would've liked a close view of the car from 3rd person, it is about 50 meters away when you play it.

are the USAC SilverCrown cars ever broadcast on Tele from Disney? i don't think i have ever seen a race there. just read about it and seen it on the schedule

[alesi95]

havn't seen the clip but i seem to rememeber it. Wasn't the winner Buzz Calkins(?) and Tony Stewart was in the field.

[Down F0rce]

Yup, Buzz Calkins was the winner. Tony Stewart was indeed in the field, infact you can see him in the clip chasing Buzz in the final few laps, but having to settle for second.

[marcus]

and today is the 8th annivesary of this event.

Happy birthday to the Indy racing League