2009 IRL Season

amacachi

Pity the first race is clashing with the NASCAR, so Sky are only showing the Indycar. Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch the NASCAR tomorrow.

Anyway, anyone got any tips for this season's IRL?

smooch71

amacachi wrote: »

Pity the first race is clashing with the NASCAR, so Sky are only showing the Indycar. Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch the NASCAR tomorrow.

Anyway, anyone got any tips for this season's IRL?

Pretty impressed with Wilson even though it's only the first race and I know he didn't win in the end. Franchitti was good considering he's been away for a year.

It's good to see the so called "transitional drivers" now on an equal footing with the IRL regulars.

I was a big fan of Indycar in the nineties and CART/Champcar after the split. I think this series will only really develop it's own true identity with the launch of the new car and engine package in 2011 (or 2012, don't think they're too sure.

Chopper888

Justin Wilsons performance was impressive in a so called 'small team' who have not won a race for years. I thought with this in mind , he would have put up a stronger fight to Ryan Briscoe at the restart. I think he could have defended his line more going into the 1st corner and forced Briscoe to pass him round the outside.

smooch71

It's a little ironic that, after the earlier years of the IRL when people complained about the fact that they only ran on ovals, when they do run on road courses the races are invariably dull.

I'm looking forward though to seeing them on the hallowed streets of Long Beach..

Dcully

You guys might enjoy this
http://www.indycar.com/racecontrol/indy_superadminu.html

smooch71

Dcully wrote: »

You guys might enjoy this
http://www.indycar.com/racecontrol/indy_superadminu.html

That looks pretty cool.

Nice one

gs39t

God i miss CART. And to a lesser extent, ChampCar. Standing starts? European races? Good riddance.

There were 22 cars in St Pete and word of more for Long Beach, so should be a good season. Shame Detroit was canceled, thats one less race this year. I wonder will Helio end up back in the 3 car or behind bars

Dcully

smooch71 wrote: »

That looks pretty cool.

Nice one

your welcome, its pretty neat alright.

smooch71

Any word on Paul Tracy coming back does anyone know?

amacachi

Anyone watching the Indy 500?

Grim.

amacachi wrote: »

Anyone watching the Indy 500?

yep decent enough race pity about the commentators

amacachi

Aye, always make a wrong call before a replay is shown. :P I'm watching a stream with feckin Chinese adverts, really annoying. :P I'm gonna call the race for Franchitti, have a feeling he's holding a little back.

smooch71

Very emotional win for Castro-neves.

Happy for him thought, he's redeemed himself and seems very popular with the American "fans".

Would have liked to see Paul Tracy do better though. Roll on the Canadian rounds when we can see him in action again.

TheChrisD

Brilliant win for Helio. About time he got a break after the tax fiasco.

Good race for Danica getting 3rd, and Townsend Bell coming from nowhere for 4th. Was hoing more for Tracy, but 9th isn't too bad, still a top 10.

Rahal and Wilson both DNF'd

amacachi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCJVZ9Q3Qgo Last few laps of the other night's race, looks like the rule changes have worked. Course I had to miss the race live. ¬_¬

TheChrisD

Man the end of that race was really tight.

A little bit pissed that Briscoe got the win. Carpenter deserved it. Besides, Briscoe needs to be this year's Helio - getting seven second places before winning at Sonoma :rolleyes:

amacachi

What a set-up for the finale. Briscoe gifted the lead and immediately ****s it into the wall. Goes from having a commanding lead to thrid in the championship.

Having said that it's basically set up so if any of Briscoe, Franchitti or Dixon win at Homestead the title is theirs, the ultimate finale. ^_^

Fabio

Are they showing IRL on Eurosport anymore?

amacachi

Nope, Sky Sports.

I think it was ChampCar that Eurosport had, it folded at the start of last year and some teams joined the IRL.

smooch71

This has turned into a mouth watering finale.

Thank god the last race is on an oval, we'll see some serious racing.

If I were a betting man I'd have to go with Dixon but I'm hoping Franchitti does the deed.

amacachi

smooch71 wrote: »

This has turned into a mouth watering finale.

Thank god the last race is on an oval, we'll see some serious racing.

If I were a betting man I'd have to go with Dixon but I'm hoping Franchitti does the deed.

Heh, wasn't expecting that from anyone on here. :P

I would love if they switched Chicagoland to the last race, always seems to throw something good out. Remember 2007? Has to have been one of the best endings to any season of any sport.

Fancy Briscoe meself, once he wins he pretty much has the title, unless Dixon comes second and leads the most laps. He seemed to be holding back a bit in Motegi at the start and even without the yellow flag he was looking good for the win.

smooch71

amacachi wrote: »

Heh, wasn't expecting that from anyone on here. :P

I would love if they switched Chicagoland to the last race, always seems to throw something good out. Remember 2007? Has to have been one of the best endings to any season of any sport.

Fancy Briscoe meself, once he wins he pretty much has the title, unless Dixon comes second and leads the most laps. He seemed to be holding back a bit in Motegi at the start and even without the yellow flag he was looking good for the win.

Yeah, the whole '07 season was a classic and the end was like a Hollywood movie. Lets hope Ganassi fill both cars up with enough fuel this time!

Chicagoland threw up another classic race this year and would have been a great venue for the finale. The push to pass seems to have worked.

I wonder did Briscoe just lose his cool trying to get out in front of the pace car. I don't think Dixon or Franchitti would have hit the wall like that.

amacachi

smooch71 wrote: »

Yeah, the whole '07 season was a classic and the end was like a Hollywood movie. Lets hope Ganassi fill both cars up with enough fuel this time!

Chicagoland threw up another classic race this year and would have been a great venue for the finale. The push to pass seems to have worked.

I wonder did Briscoe just lose his cool trying to get out in front of the pace car. I don't think Dixon or Franchitti would have hit the wall like that.

It was one of those amazing things though were error had very little to do with it, it was thanks to drafting that it ended like it did. Fantastic stuff.

Aye, what is it about that track. Missed both of the ridiculously tight finishes this season, though I didn't know who had won so watching the youtube video was fine. Was it Kentucky when the Carpenter was on the inside and had power boost yet still lost? Brilliant stuff.

The commentators I thought were a little too, hmmm, defensive I though. While it's obviously a simple mistake to make someone at that level should never make it. Still, sets it up absolutely beautifully for tomorrow.

Also hope this serves as a bump/reminder to check out the race tomorrow for everyone, should be bloody excellent.

amacachi

Just a headsup for everyone, coverage starts on Sky Sports 2 at 9.30 on the Red button and 10.15 on the main channel.

amacachi

7 laps in, great so far. Have a feeling Briscoe might be just saving fuel, silly stuff form Dixon and Franchitti.

Grim.

excellent race grats Dario

lol and he runs out of fuel doing burnouts

aidan_dunne

Fair play to Dario and the Ganassi boys, that was one hell of a brave strategy to run but it paid off for them in the end. Talk about cutting it fine but it all worked out.

Dario, you are one lucky sonuvabitch, especially having a missus like Ashley Judd! Jammy fecker!

amacachi

Gotta feel a little sorry for Dixon and Briscoe, had either done a proper fuel-saving run on the last stint they probably would've won it, but they made the logical choice of expecting yellows. Haven't seen it anywhere but I would guess it was the fastest IndyCar race ever?

Congrats Dario.

Grim.

amacachi wrote: »

but I would guess it was the fastest IndyCar race ever?

second fastest i thought one of the commentators said

good night of racing Bathurst 1000 was awesome aswell

amacachi

Grim. wrote: »

second fastest i thought one of the commentators said

good night of racing Bathurst 1000 was awesome aswell

Damn, thought the lack of cautions would make it fastest by default. Motors TV showing the Bathurst? Hope they'll be showing a replay at some point.

Grim.

replay of the Bathurst on motors tv now

TheChrisD

It was a great race near the end wondering if Dario would make it. Shame for Ryan, kinda wanted him to get it since he did an Helio this year by finishing second nearly every time :rolleyes:

amacachi wrote: »

Damn, thought the lack of cautions would make it fastest by default.

Fastest race was one at California from a couple years ago. 2 mile oval, which would be faster by nature.

smooch71

Great end to the IndyCar season. I hope the F1 ends on such a climax but I fear it won't.

The pace of the leading three cars was phenomenal. Even Dario who was in fuel conservation mode and still managed to stick on the lead lap.

Fair play to Sky for giving us the red button option too.