Great Indy 500

In open wheel racing the wrecks are usually more destructive, whereas in NASCAR they can bang and shove like a bunch of alley fighters. My personal preference is Formula 1 for cars and MotoGP for the bikes. The level of engineering and skill is far above anything in America. Thats why you don't see any American drivers in Formula 1. And few in MotoGP. In Formula 1 they turn those 2.4 litre V-8s 18,000 plus rpm with no forced induction. And the engines have to go 2-3 races without an overhaul. I noticed in the indy 500 the Honda furnished engines were only turning about 10,300 rpm max. The MotoGP bikes weight a bit less than 300 lbs and produce a bit over 200 hp at about 14,000-16,000 rpm. This is based on last years specs. The bikes are a bit different for the 2009 season. I think the best driver/rider, whether car or bike, right now is Valentino Rossi who rides for Yamaha this year. You just have to watch a MotoGP race to see what these guys can do. Un-be-livable. The closest car driver to Rossi, IMO, is Micheal Schumacher, when he was at his prime. But I love any kind of racing, boats, carts, bikes, cars, airplanes, even people races. To my way of thinking there is no higher level of shooting competition than short range BR. Kind of like the Formula 1 or shooting. Just my opinions of course. Add $8 to them and it will get you a cupacoffee at Starbucks. :)
 
4 wheeled road racing has gotten to be all about blocking. I blame Senna for getting this started in F1. He used to make these huge swoops across the fast straights on the first couple of laps if somebody was trying to make some brave move on him on cold tires.

Put fenders on those cars and that BS would come to an end real quick.

Car racing is all about tires, chassis/set up/aero, and motor. Bike racing it all comes down to the guy in the seat.

Don't even get me started about mixed class racing like endurance racing or SCCA racing. Half the time you aren't even racing against the guy that balks you or puts you off the track.
 
The "600" may turn out to be the "100". :rolleyes:

There will be about 100,000 unhappy fans.

Quick, who finished second at Indy? Everybody knows that the lady driver was third. She gets all the publicity even when she doesn't win. I hate to see her name in print anymore. She's gets more ink than Obama. Well, almost.

Ray
 
Heck, I can't even remember who won :D Oh yeah, Roger Penske ['s money ].

Notice on the run to the finish that Castroneves gapped them instantly and then controlled the gap to the end. I wonder how far ahead he could have been if he had run all out in those last few laps.
 
The pole position was won with a 4 lap average speed of 224.864 mph. What was he doing on the straights ??? The 33rd car qualified at 220.597 mph. Can you imagine going 150.597 mph faster than the posted speed limit of 70 mph on most freeways and starting in the last position ??? They're REALLY shooting those loads HOT!!! :D
 
4 wheeled road racing has gotten to be all about blocking. I blame Senna for getting this started in F1. He used to make these huge swoops across the fast straights on the first couple of laps if somebody was trying to make some brave move on him on cold tires.

Put fenders on those cars and that BS would come to an end real quick.

Car racing is all about tires, chassis/set up/aero, and motor. Bike racing it all comes down to the guy in the seat.

Don't even get me started about mixed class racing like endurance racing or SCCA racing. Half the time you aren't even racing against the guy that balks you or puts you off the track.

Kinda makes one wonder why you watch racing.;)
 
The only racing telecasts I watch beginning to end are the NHRA national events and the MotoGP 800's. Nascar, F1, MX and other races just get viewed a little bit when channel surfing.
 
Oh Well

That was a big let down. "The Coca Cola 301" was rather anti-climatic.

But I still enjoy NASCAR, you take the good with the bad.............jackie
 
Nascar the racing is pretty good.

Nascar the organization is unfathomable. Why the secrecy ?

What was in Michael Waltrip's gas tank?

What was in Mayfield's bloodstream ?

Why do you apply the highest fines ever and the worst suspensions ever on a no name team that buys their engines when said engine is .17 [iirc ] cubic inch too big ???? 358.17 cubic inches. A high time overheated engine at that. Unreal.
 
Was there something else on after the Monaco Grand Prix? Actually it was better than most recent 500's but I'm sorry, it just ain't the same since they turned the whole deal into a Honda spec race. Come on, tell the truth, how many times durring the broadcast did everybody ask themselves "who the hell is this guy" with about 2/3's of the field?
 
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The main reason there are so many wrecks in Indy car racing is because there are so many truly unqualified drivers. Yes they have to "qualify" and are classed as a "rookie". "Rookies" need to work their way up and become qualified, experienced drivers. NASCAR........defies description. As close as I can get is "pro wrestling". What an oxymoron. Maybe they should call it silhouette racing. :p
 
Indy Car Racing is like watching paint dry without the satisfaction of getting the job done.
 
In open wheel racing aero technology has resulted in dramatically lower lap times but it has made wheel to wheel racing nearly impossible at tracks with fast corners, whether road race courses or oval tracks.

It's funny that people whine about Nascar but the stock cars put on a much better show at Indy than the Indy cars do. I was amazed at the speeds the first time the stock cars ran at Indy. I didn't expect the speeds they turned with those flat corners.
 
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