Indy 500 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Kurant · 05-29-2005, 08:40 AM

Just curious, did anyone else think the introductions and the live band and the "Supermen and 1 superwoman" thing was just a LITTLE overdramatized? I wanna see racing!

laconic1 · 05-29-2005, 09:53 AM

Yeah, it was a bit much, I also think this nonstop focus on Danica Patrick is too much. Ok, she's hot and everything but come on, there are other fast drivers there. And who is that other announcer next to Scott Goodyear. That guy is so annoying. Jerry Punch is the only decent announcer there.

Craven Morehead · 05-29-2005, 10:13 PM

I met Danica nearly 2 years ago. She is tiny. And hot. But there was far too much attention given to her today. ABC does a terrible job.

pan6467 · 05-30-2005, 10:32 AM

I think considering she was the first lady to achieve all she did and finish in 4th place AFTER spinning out, she deserved all the attention.

Of course I'm a HUGE team Rahal/Letterman fan.... and 2nd and 4th in the race is just way too cool. (I've always been a Bobby Rahal fan as my family knows him personally and I grew up going to the Mid-Ohio races. Hopefully, we'll get IRL back now that they are doing road courses and not just ovals.)

Janey · 05-30-2005, 12:07 PM

I watched the last 40 or so laps. Forgot the race was on, then found it by accident. The last bit was so exciting, it was anti-climactic when Danica was overtaken. Iguess not enough fuel lowers the pressurue and slows you down?

Scott is good. I know him from back when he raced out of Toronto, and won the Rothmans Porsche Turbo Challenge ...

IRL is going to do road circuits now? will they rejoin with CHAMP (CART) then?

pan6467 · 05-30-2005, 01:17 PM

I read where Champ and Indy were in talks to merge, but in all honesty, there isn't anything in Champ (CART) anymore. Once they lost FED-EX and the cigarette sponsorships (which led to it's bankruptcy and name change), everyone migrated back to George's IRL and left Champ too weak to really compete anymore.

Craven Morehead · 05-30-2005, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

I read where Champ and Indy were in talks to merge, but in all honesty, there isn't anything in Champ (CART) anymore. Once they lost FED-EX and the cigarette sponsorships (which led to it's bankruptcy and name change), everyone migrated back to George's IRL and left Champ too weak to really compete anymore.

Well, that's not really accurate. What hurt CART (now Champ Car) was the defection of Honda and Toyota to the IRL. Along with all the millions they were pouring into the series as well as funding teams. Now that they are in the IRL, they aren't any happier. ANd form what I have heard their investment is even greater. Toyota is close to announcing they are withdrawing leaving Honda as the only engine supplier left. Chevy has already announced they are done. Honda does not want to be the only engine supplier. The IRL is in a corner, either they placate engine manufacturers or loose them. Rumor has it the IRL is considering using the same engine spec as is used in Grand Am. However that is a non-stressed engine and if used in a modern day Indy Car it would have to rest in a cradle. Not an easy task. And these are rather low tech engines. So the IRL may look on the surface to have the upper hand but really they are in a very precarious position.

Champ Car is rebuilding. It is not a strong series although it does enjoy very strong support at selected venues, i.e. Long Beach, Monterrey Mexico, Toronto, Montreal and Mexico City. The new owners of Champ Car also purchased Cosworth this year. Cosworth was sold by Ford and is the manufacturer of the current Champ Car 2.65L turbo engine and ironically, the Chevy IRL 3.0 L V-8. While Champ Car does not have buckets of engine manufacturer money flowing into the series, it does have a stable engine situation, something the IRL does not.

In reality, both series are in bad shape. When Tony George split the series in 1996, he essentially killed the sport. I don't know if it will ever get back to its 1995 levels.

Serpent · 05-30-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craven Morehead

Well, that's not really accurate. What hurt CART (now Champ Car) was the defection of Honda and Toyota to the IRL. Along with all the millions they were pouring into the series as well as funding teams. Now that they are in the IRL, they aren't any happier. ANd form what I have heard their investment is even greater. Toyota is close to announcing they are withdrawing leaving Honda as the only engine supplier left. Chevy has already announced they are done. Honda does not want to be the only engine supplier. The IRL is in a corner, either they placate engine manufacturers or loose them. Rumor has it the IRL is considering using the same engine spec as is used in Grand Am. However that is a non-stressed engine and if used in a modern day Indy Car it would have to rest in a cradle. Not an easy task. And these are rather low tech engines. So the IRL may look on the surface to have the upper hand but really they are in a very precarious position.

Champ Car is rebuilding. It is not a strong series although it does enjoy very strong support at selected venues, i.e. Long Beach, Monterrey Mexico, Toronto, Montreal and Mexico City. The new owners of Champ Car also purchased Cosworth this year. Cosworth was sold by Ford and is the manufacturer of the current Champ Car 2.65L turbo engine and ironically, the Chevy IRL 3.0 L V-8. While Champ Car does not have buckets of engine manufacturer money flowing into the series, it does have a stable engine situation, something the IRL does not.

In reality, both series are in bad shape. When Tony George split the series in 1996, he essentially killed the sport. I don't know if it will ever get back to its 1995 levels.

the long term future for Champ car toe looks better than the IRL as, toyota we all know is leaving shortly, could even bee at the end of this year. And when toyota leaves, honda will more than likely follow. (toyota wants to be in NASCAR) So that leaves the IRL shopping for engines, and MONEY.. Which Champ car has more of right now than the IRL. So my guess is a merger will happen sooner rather than later with the IRL taking a back seat to champ car in 2 years.

05-29-2005, 08:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kurant Junkie Location: Don't worry about it.	Indy 500 Just curious, did anyone else think the introductions and the live band and the "Supermen and 1 superwoman" thing was just a LITTLE overdramatized? I wanna see racing!

05-30-2005, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I think considering she was the first lady to achieve all she did and finish in 4th place AFTER spinning out, she deserved all the attention. Of course I'm a HUGE team Rahal/Letterman fan.... and 2nd and 4th in the race is just way too cool. (I've always been a Bobby Rahal fan as my family knows him personally and I grew up going to the Mid-Ohio races. Hopefully, we'll get IRL back now that they are doing road courses and not just ovals.) __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

05-30-2005, 01:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I read where Champ and Indy were in talks to merge, but in all honesty, there isn't anything in Champ (CART) anymore. Once they lost FED-EX and the cigarette sponsorships (which led to it's bankruptcy and name change), everyone migrated back to George's IRL and left Champ too weak to really compete anymore. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

05-29-2005, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	Yeah, it was a bit much, I also think this nonstop focus on Danica Patrick is too much. Ok, she's hot and everything but come on, there are other fast drivers there. And who is that other announcer next to Scott Goodyear. That guy is so annoying. Jerry Punch is the only decent announcer there.

05-29-2005, 10:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Craven Morehead Custom User Title	I met Danica nearly 2 years ago. She is tiny. And hot. But there was far too much attention given to her today. ABC does a terrible job.

05-30-2005, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Janey Junkie Location: Toronto	I watched the last 40 or so laps. Forgot the race was on, then found it by accident. The last bit was so exciting, it was anti-climactic when Danica was overtaken. Iguess not enough fuel lowers the pressurue and slows you down? Scott is good. I know him from back when he raced out of Toronto, and won the Rothmans Porsche Turbo Challenge ... IRL is going to do road circuits now? will they rejoin with CHAMP (CART) then?