Watkins Glen Race Weekend Thread

[luke]

Race 16 of 17 Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Argent Mortgage Watkins Glen International, New York













Friday September 23 - Sunday September 25


www.theglen.com


Weekend schedule: (ET)


Practice 1 Fri. Sep. 23 : 10 a.m. - Noon

Practice 2 Fri. Sep 23 : 1:50 - 3 p.m.

Practice 3 Sat. Sep. 24 : 10:20 - 11:30 a.m.

Qualifications Sat. Sep. 24 : 1 - 2:45 p.m.

Final Practice Sun. Sep. 25 : 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Argent Mortgage Sun. Sep. 25 : 3:45 p.m.




Weekend weather forcast:


Friday
72°F (22°C) | 43°F (6°C) Showers

Saturday
71°F (22°C) | 51°F (11°C) Part Cloud

Sunday
74°F (23°C) | 53°F (12°C) Thunder




TV :

U.S. Race Live 3:30 p.m. (EDT) on ABC

U.K. Race Live 8:30 p.m. (GMT) on SKY Sports 1



Radio IMS



First IRL race: 2005

Total IRL races: 0

Defending champion: N/A

Race distance: 60 laps/204 miles

[rustyfan]

Can't believe it's finally time for the race I've been looking forward to for over a year

[Raglanparade]

Its a pity Briscoe wont be racing, i think he woulda been a real shot at this track.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by jasonhill9884

Its a pity Briscoe wont be racing, i think he woulda been a real shot at this track.

Agreed.

Speaking of road course specialists another one with a shot at doing well should be Georgio Pantano, so following his progress will be interesting.



On a completely separate note, I've 'transferred' the earlier post/thread I made about a story about Watkins Glen into this thread. My original post:

----------------------------------------------------------------
That's Racin' has posted a great article about Watkins Glen - if you are looking forward to the IndyCar race or simply love the track (like I do ), it's a good read:

Open-wheel racing returns to Watkins Glen after 24 years
By JOHN KEKIS

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Woo-hoo!

Helio Castroneves hardly could control his glee the first time he drove through the famed Boot at Watkins Glen International, squealing the tires on a damp racetrack in 40-degree weather last October.

And he was in a rented Pontiac sedan instead of his Toyota-powered IRL race car.

"The place is just fantastic!" Castroneves said. "It's going to create a great show for everyone."

Open-wheel racing returns to The Glen this weekend for the first time in 24 years for the inaugural Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix, and another guy in particular hardly can wait.

Eighty-four-year-old Cameron Argetsinger, the man who started the road-racing tradition at Watkins Glen in 1948, is on pins and needles in anticipation of his duties as grand marshal for Sunday's IRL race.

Full article [here].

[luke]

I feel Pantano would have done better at Watkins Glen as Sears Point is a tricky track. The racing should be better at the Glen and It seems they are using the boot which I think is the chichane when they should cut it out so there would be a run on that back streatch although there is not the world's biggest run off there.

[jethro10]

Danica down the back in first practice. Do I assume that non ovals require more strength and this may be the reason?

Just interested in her seemingly eratic times. Although Infineon would seem to confirm this.

Thanks

Jeff

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by luke

I feel Pantano would have done better at Watkins Glen as Sears Point is a tricky track. The racing should be better at the Glen and It seems they are using the boot which I think is the chichane when they should cut it out so there would be a run on that back streatch although there is not the world's biggest run off there.

The Boot is actually the name of the additional section which the stock cars don't run on - the chicane itself is called the Inner Loop

Speaking of the Inner Loop, it does add an additional opportunity to make a pass so if they indeed do use the chicane it won't necessarily be a bad thing.

[rustyfan]

SpeedTV has a report on yesterday's first-ever wet session for the IndyCar series. Link:

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/19761/

[rustyfan]

Shame to see so little forum-activity for such a good event - congratulations to Scott Dixon on his return to victory lane, and congratulations to the IRL for successfully staging an event lots of people said couldn't and shouldn't (due to WGI being "too dangerous") have been run.

[Snrub]

Kannan again destroys all on the re/starts. It's really odd how good and consistant he has become at it.

A shame that Helio's car went bad on him. Kind of odd too.

Originally Posted by jethro10

Danica down the back in first practice. Do I assume that non ovals require more strength and this may be the reason?

Just interested in her seemingly eratic times. Although Infineon would seem to confirm this.

I think it's a matter of ability and experience. She's had more oval experience in the IRL and typically she has a decent setup on the ovals. Many of the oval races - the way the IRL stages them, aren't as challanging on a driver to do a quick lap. That said she has been reasonably quick on the short ovals.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Shame to see so little forum-activity for such a good event - congratulations to Scott Dixon on his return to victory lane, and congratulations to the IRL for successfully staging an event lots of people said couldn't and shouldn't (due to WGI being "too dangerous") have been run.

Yeah Congrats to Scott for a brilliant drive - as Chip said, we know what he can do given the opportunity.

Quick Scott hammer down the phone to Sir Frank for that vacant Willy F1 drive!!

[thejester]

Look forward to seeing him turning left and right in a1gp later on this year.