Might as well kick this one off with a bit of news: http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alexander-rossi-signs-with-andretti-herta-autosport-675074/
It will be confirmed today that Alexander Rossi will drive a fourth Andretti Autosport car in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series.
That's good for him, but also sad for his F1 aspirations. Andretti has done pretty well with the Honda engines although the only real constant performer for Honda last year was Rahal who finally seemed to grow up and stop chucking his toys out of the pram all the time.
I'm also confused. What happens with the rest of the Herta team? Does Gabby Chaves still have a drive?
If we're talking Indy, did you see that finally Conor Daly has a full time ride with Dale Coyne this year.
More good news, both Hinch and Mikhail Aleshin are back from injury. Both are still with Schmidt Peterson, I wish Hinch could get in at one of the top two teams and see what he really has, he's got 4 wins under his belt, I bet he could be a championship contender with Penske or Ganassi.
Just saw Indycar on the schedule at the Glen on Labor Day weekend. $75 for a Sunday ticket
Adrian_Thompson wrote: That's good for him, but also sad for his F1 aspirations.
After his Indy 500 win / $2.5 million payday, I'm not so sure Mr. Rossi is sad about leaving F1.
Far more impressive than his gas mileage win last weekend was his move on one of the big names (Maybe Ryan Hunter Rey?) at the roadrace last month at Barber. He deked him right into a defensive spin. It was amusing as heck.
Marco Andretti said the crew put his front tires on the wrong side.
At least that his excuse.
In reply to iceracer:
Marco and Rossi were near each other all day, until that happened.
So lets say that it didn't. What are the odds that Marco would have the discipline to pull off a fuel savings ending like that? I think he would have pulled up a 1/4 short than a 1/4 lap long.
Anyone else headed to the trashy triangle for the indycar race tomorrow?
General admission seats are only $25, if it's like last year you will only need to use the edge of it!
It was a spectacular and most-tragic event last year, there moves and passes EVERYWHERE, 3 wide through the tunnel turn, 4 and 5 wide on restarts, it was the most incredible race I've seen in person. I've thought about it many times in the last year, how one of the most enjoyable days of 2015 for my me & mrs etifosi, was the last day ever for Justin.
(is it dusty in here?)
I've always been stupified by the amount of risk involved specifically in open-wheel oval racing and have realized & said for decades (since the IRL's inaugural back-breaking season) that the men & women who do that stuff are stoopid-crazy-brave.
Anyway....hope that safety rides with everyone all day, that the vortex keeps the rain away, and that I don't run out of beer. 
Oh, let me know if I need to bring a few extra beers to share with another germ (GRM'er).
e
It's still just a very fast spec series anymore...
WildScotsRacing wrote: It's still just a very fast spec series anymore...
It's way way more than that. Typical short sighted answer. Try watching some of the races.
Every car uses the same chassis and tires. Teams can choose between Chevy or Honda for their V-6 turbo engines. Almost the very definition of a spec racing series. Doesn't affect how good or horrible the racing is though. It could be argued that right now Indycar has the most level playing field in professional motorsports. I don't see any one team with a major advantage over the others.
Track has no plan to push schedule earlier, ahead of certain rain.
97% chance of rain at start time. Looks like no Indycars for the etifosis this year.
Oh well, it's just a spec car series.
I have been to a couple Indy car races over the years and it is just crazy how fast they go. More like the are pilots of some sort of strange plain that fly's a couple inches off the ground
Adrian_Thompson wrote:WildScotsRacing wrote: It's still just a very fast spec series anymore...It's way way more than that. Typical short sighted answer. Try watching some of the races.
There aren't any mercedes V8's, buick turbos or school bus engines anymore so yes, it is in fact a spec racing series. Spec miata good, spec indy boring.
In reply to plance1:
Yawn, whatever.
In reply to etifosi:
I won't go back to Pocono. I went to a few NASCAR, CART and semi truck races in the 80s. The grandstands are on the wrong side of the track so the cars are hard to see since you sit opposite the tri-oval and it was either a rain out or rain shortened every time. I don't see how they still have two NASCAR races when so many good tracks can't get one.
That Texas race was something else. I'm pretty sure Hinch went back to his motorhome and had a little cry. I certainly would have.
Streetwiseguy wrote: That Texas race was something else. I'm pretty sure Hinch went back to his motorhome and had a little cry. I certainly would have.
Amazing finish. Rahal almost celebrated too early.
Video of the final laps for those who missed it (most of America):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WGJXpjy57w
You can complain about it being a spec series if you want, but I'd argue it's the most entertaining race series among the top level racing series from a fan's perspective, and the drivers don't necessarily get the respect they probably deserve. Some impressive skills displayed by all of the drivers during those final few laps.
Wall-e wrote: In reply to etifosi: I won't go back to Pocono. I went to a few NASCAR, CART and semi truck races in the 80s. The grandstands are on the wrong side of the track so the cars are hard to see since you sit opposite the tri-oval and it was either a rain out or rain shortened every time. I don't see how they still have two NASCAR races when so many good tracks can't get one.
Pocono has made a lot of changes in the past (30)thirty years. Last time I saw the grandstand was on the "right" side of the main straight and across from the pits.
In reply to iceracer:
The grandstand and pit road are still on the long straight. If they were on the triangle on the opposite side of the track like Daytona or Talledega you'd be able to see better instead of having the cars going further away. It still rained out both NASCAR races and the Indy race too.
I wholeheartedly agree- Since the series is on broadcast TV I have watched a few races and have been very entertained. Lots of close racing with outcomes up for grabs late. Those guys (and cars..) take a hell of a beating on some awful tracks.
STM317 wrote: Video of the final laps for those who missed it (most of America): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WGJXpjy57w You can complain about it being a spec series if you want, but I'd argue it's the most entertaining race series among the top level racing series from a fan's perspective, and the drivers don't necessarily get the respect they probably deserve. Some impressive skills displayed by all of the drivers during those final few laps.
Wow, that was a spectacular finish.
Wall-e wrote: It still rained out both NASCAR races and the Indy race too.
It's Pocono, what did you expect? Been there ~50 times over the years for "Pro" races and mostly amateur road racing/time trials. Had rain for part of the weekend at least 50% of the time.
Watkins Glen is not much better. Almost every time it was wake up in the morning to overcast skies and drive up the hill into the clouds to the track.
I have done 6 track days at Pocono, never rained.
Luck of the draw.
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