[big dar]

God the new cars rear wing is huge Whole car looks like something from a fairground
Is the lack of overtaking due to the very bumpy nature of street courses

[smooch71]

As a longtime Indycar fan I'm finding it increasing difficult to support this series.

I've really tried to like the new cars but seeing them all together with those ridiculous side skirts and bumpers, I'm sorry, they're awful.

Never thought I'd say this but last years IRL crapwagons looked better. And I hated them.

A golden opportunity to put Indycar back on the map has been lost by allowing Dallara to design those hideous machines.

Unfortunately it was a painfully boring race too. Its a pity the series has to go to these street circuits and sacrifice so many oval races. Dull as ditch water.....

[gs39t]

The cars look like a cross between bumper cars and the spaceships from Wipeout: 2097

Race wasnt spectacular but there are clearly bugs to iron out, and teams/drivers still getting to grips with the new car.

Felt quite wierd overall being the next race since Vegas

[amacachi]

They shouldn't have the anti-interlocking crap for street or road course races, it's only at ovals that it's dangerous.

Just noticed the current formula Nippon car, think it's one of the proposals IndyCar turned down, would've been a better choice IMO.

[TheChrisD]

I will agree that the flared sidepods aren't a pretty picture, but it's just for a year since there will be Aero Kit competition in 2013.
Still wish that the RC kit was as the prototype they showed last year. It may have been wide and still had the carbashians, but at least it was made to look good.
Also, Indy/Texas/Fontana might still help with the looks department as the updated rear wing setup makes them look like Batmobiles

As for the race, yes I'll admit it might have been a bit underwhelming, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt given it was the first race for it all, so maybe teams and drivers were being more conservative than usual, which you can see from Power being so ginger into Turn 1 on the first restart. Still found it more interesting than most F1 street races.

They definitely need to work on speeding up the caution periods though, it took forever to get going again from them.

[smooch71]

Originally Posted by TheChrisD

I will agree that the flared sidepods aren't a pretty picture, but it's just for a year since there will be Aero Kit competition in 2013.

Are these wheel guards not part of the rules?

I think they'll be on the cars no matter who designs the aero kit.

[amacachi]

Other than the looks I'm happy enough with the cars, they looked a lot more lively than last year's and they don't seem too bad when following traffic. Thought the overtake assist would've made more difference though.

[TheChrisD]

Originally Posted by smooch71

Are these wheel guards not part of the rules?

Yes, those are the "carbashians" - the stuff behind the rear wheels. I was referring to the flared sidepods in front of the rear wheels.

This was the RC prototype shown last year. Hopefully the Aero Kit competition next year will mean we'll get something like this on the RC's.

[amacachi]

Originally Posted by TheChrisD

Yes, those are the "carbashians" - the stuff behind the rear wheels. I was referring to the flared sidepods in front of the rear wheels.

This was the RC prototype shown last year. Hopefully the Aero Kit competition next year will mean we'll get something like this on the RC's.

I thought the stuff in front of the rear wheels was mandated as well to prevent interlocking wheels?

Also I don't think there'll be any aero competition til 2014.

[TheChrisD]

Originally Posted by amacachi

I thought the stuff in front of the rear wheels was mandated as well to prevent interlocking wheels?

As far as I know, the only thing that is mandated is that the sidepod has to be that wide. I recall reading somewhere that the flared sidepods was Dallara's vision of "fast" and to reduce drag from the rear-wheels, which was primarily a design for the ovals, per the prototypes.

Originally Posted by amacachi

Also I don't think there'll be any aero competition til 2014.

Except the 2013 aero rules are being finalised and Dallara has stated they won't be making a 2013 aero kit :3

[amacachi]

Originally Posted by TheChrisD

As far as I know, the only thing that is mandated is that the sidepod has to be that wide. I recall reading somewhere that the flared sidepods was Dallara's vision of "fast" and to reduce drag from the rear-wheels, which was primarily a design for the ovals, per the prototypes.

It's the width that's the problem.

Except the 2013 aero rules are being finalised and Dallara has stated they won't be making a 2013 aero kit :3

Who'll want to make aero kits? Lotus have enough to do fixing their ****ty engines.

[TheChrisD]

Originally Posted by amacachi

Who'll want to make aero kits?

Rumours were rife that Lockheed Martin would have made one for this year, so maybe next year

[Infoanon]

Originally Posted by amacachi

They shouldn't have the anti-interlocking crap for street or road course races, it's only at ovals that it's dangerous.

Interlocking wheels is the most feared type of accident in any form of open wheel racing - indycar,formula 1 - indeed Michael Schumacher has raised the issue on many ocassons.

Sadly interlocking wheels where the cause of the Jeff Krosnoff tragedy a few years ago on a street circuit.

Monaco has been highlighted as a particular circuit where an inter locking wheel accident could occur.

[amacachi]

Originally Posted by Infoanon

Interlocking wheels is the most feared type of accident in any form of open wheel racing - indycar,formula 1 - indeed Michael Schumacher has raised the issue on many ocassons.

Sadly interlocking wheels where the cause of the Jeff Krosnoff tragedy a few years ago on a street circuit.

Monaco has been highlighted as a particular circuit where an inter locking wheel accident could occur.

Looks more like the speed difference was a major issue. They used stuff like Conway's crash as justification for the design when it was speed difference that was the main issue.

[Infoanon]

Originally Posted by amacachi

Looks more like the speed difference was a major issue. They used stuff like Conway's crash as justification for the design when it was speed difference that was the main issue.

1996 Toronto race - Stefan Johanssons car interlocked wheels with Jeff Krosnoffs car - it had nothing to do with speed difference.

There have been similar accidents in formula 1 but none to the same degree.

The Mike Conway accident was caused by Ryan Hunter Reays car running out of fuel and slowing in front of Mike causing Mike Conways car to launch over the rear of the car.

Yes it makes the cars look like big go karts - but driver safety must come first.