Indycar Concept

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I'll watch more IRL if they put up on-screen graphics that go "KA-POW" AND "WHAAAAM" every time the cars crash.

Ah, it's a work in progress. To borrow a term from some other "Civil War", American open-wheel racing is in "Reconstruction".

When I first heard the split was over, I looked at the rules/schedule. "Our" (CART) tracks, "their" (Earl) cars. Being old enough to remember how close the 1994/95 CART seasons came to taking the masses' minds off NASCAR, I was just glad the whole pissing contest was over. What an absolute waste. I guess "Phony" George was more of a corporate business school moron than he was a racer..

I'm hoping that once the series is a little more stable, the 2011-13 rules will allow something other than the "spec series" chassis and motors the Earl cars required. I still think that going back to even the 1992 CART rule book would result in faster, better handling cars than the current IRL specs.

If all they care about is saving the teams money, and close racing, they should just run formula Vs.

4eyes wrote: If all they care about is saving the teams money, and close racing, they should just run formula Vs.

IIRC, Brock Yates said something similar about F1 when folks began to realize the aero grip wouldn't let cars get close enough to pass each other. Something about making them all drive Formula Ford?..

The more I see it, and the more I read about it, the more I like it. IRL needs a big shakeup if it wants to be relevant. Here's a great article written by Gordon Kirby on it. He says it has no problems with stability or agility, even with the narrow front track. Not sure if he's blowing smoke, but with Ganassi behind it, I think it has a chance.

Honestly though, I would love to see the following rule package, not only for IRL, but most racing series in general.

1) You only can choose between XX gallons of gas, or YY gallons of some alt-energy fuel to complete the distance. 2) You car must fit inside this box. 3) It's gotta be safe for the driver and the fans. 4) Profit! Oh wait, there is no rule 4, just go race.

I think you'd see a lot of creative thinking out there. Sure having big bucks to spend might give you a better chance, but it'll be the best idea package that will win. Not to mention that we might see some trickle-down tech in our daily drivers.

friedgreencorrado wrote: BTW: Jerry, I agree with you about the CART 2001 event at TX Speedway, but consider that the place was only a mile and a half around. As you say, the banking was probably the killer, since there'd been no such problems at the (flat) Milwaulkee Mile. By modern standards, Indianapolis is "flat" as well. What's the banking there? 16deg or so?

asked google...

What is the degree of banking in the turns?

Each of the four turns on the oval is banked at exactly 9 degrees, 12 minutes, the same dimensions as when the track opened in 1909.

I really hope the IRL recovers from where it is now. I didn't watch a single race last season...mainly because I didn't have Versus, but also because I didn't give a E36 M3.