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Post by tatocorvette on May 19, 2019 12:27:37 GMT -8
Hello, I can not be objective about this. I live for the Indy 500. My wedding was planned May 31st so anniversary would NEVER conflict. When I graduated college, my parents asked me what do you want as a gift? Go to the Indy 500. Been there 4 times. Most important day of the year. My family, my work and everybody that knows me know that I'm available 364 days of the year for help with anything. EXCEPT THE INDY 500 day. Haven't missed one in over 30 years. Indy 500: Enough said It seems finally last row qualification will happen today. My pics are Hinch, Sage and either Max or Pat. Would love to see Fernando in but it will be tough. And this is just qualifying for the race. Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on May 19, 2019 12:58:48 GMT -8
WOW!
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Post by tatocorvette on May 19, 2019 13:01:32 GMT -8
That kid Kyle was quite a surprise!
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Post by tatocorvette on May 19, 2019 13:03:08 GMT -8
On to the pole run! Fast 9! Go Carpenter team!
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Post by robhart on May 19, 2019 13:12:56 GMT -8
SHOCKING!!! Would love to see Carpenter or Pigot get the pole.
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Post by tatocorvette on May 19, 2019 13:48:14 GMT -8
Good thing I did not bet money on the pole... That was a surprise as well. I was hoping for an all Carpenter front row.
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Post by Chris K. Hale on May 19, 2019 17:40:01 GMT -8
IMHO McLaren came in this year with an unprepared team and thought they were going to be in the top of the field, It was like they felt the McLaren name and history would be enough to walk in and win.... they were not like the Top Teams With all the prestige (multiple years of running), huge budgets and teams with tons of data, guys who designed the cars, Dallara's techs who live and work at the track 24/7 it now looks like too little too late. i didnt feel that way until I heard they did everything on their own until last night when they borrowed Penske's set up data, Andretti's shock package and much more.. Why didnt they do that on the first day of running a car? Last year Alonso could have won with Team Andretti. It just proves how much Experience and Patience pay off at Indy.. Thus Alonso's statement " McLaren will only get in, and win the 500 when they Deserve it" I think Zak Brown learned a valuable lesson today.. Chris
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Post by Ben_B on May 20, 2019 6:41:05 GMT -8
That's too bad about McLaren. They need more makers in the race than just Dallara, if nothing more, just to make things more interesting. I've never been much of a circle track fan, but Indy is my exception. My wife knows on race day, my butt will be planted on the couch. Of course, it's also that way any time there's an IMSA or Blancpain race on, too! Ben
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Post by Joel_W on May 20, 2019 6:55:58 GMT -8
Chris, you already know from an earlier exchange that I didn't think that Alanso/McLaren would make the show. Unfortunately, I was right. Now I've been a huge McLaren fan since they 1st started competing in the Can Am series way back in the early 1960s. I even got to meet Bruce and Denny at Bridgehampton in 1967. So outside of Team Penske, I truly wanted McLaren to not only make the race, but be a true contender for the win.
The honest truth was that McLaren just wasn't fully prepared. Basically, they had one car that was prepared in England, and no real back up. Alonso kept on saying all month long that the car just didn't have the needed speed, and had other issues. The wall ended that cars issues ASAP. It's almost like McLaren treated the race and prep as a step child, and just figured that as basically a spec race they'd be more then competitive with Alonso at the wheel.
Without any doubt Team McLaren was the most funded team there. Yet, all the money in the world didn't help them make the race. No one really seemed to have the right direction to make the needed changes. For them to have to cut a deal with Andretti for their Damper program, and use Penske's setup data is extraordinary. They got a lot faster, but just not fast enough. Even setting up the backup car was a 2 1/2 day affair.
I was thrilled that Pagenaud got the pole for Team Penske. Now I'm hoping that one of the 4 team drivers gets #18 for Mr. Penske.
The double shootout was really a great idea as I enjoyed both.
Like Ismael, the Indy 500 is my favorite race of the year. I can't remember the last time I ever missed it on TV. Just never had the opportunity to attend even one race. This sure is going to be one long week, and every day I check the weather forecast for Indy.
Joel
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Post by robhart on May 20, 2019 6:58:42 GMT -8
It is sure to have a detrimental effect on the sales of tickets, memorabilia, souveniers, kits, diecasts, decals, etc. As a fan, I'm disappointed.
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Post by afx on May 20, 2019 8:15:46 GMT -8
I used to follow the Indy 500 and the CART series closely. After the whole IRL fiasco I lost interest in the race and the series. I understand the economics of using spec chassis but I struggle to get excited about IndyCar again.
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Post by Joel_W on May 20, 2019 10:49:31 GMT -8
It is sure to have a detrimental effect on the sales of tickets, memorabilia, souveniers, kits, diecasts, decals, etc. As a fan, I'm disappointed. Rob, Could have some effect, but the stands will be packed, and the memorabilia & souvenirs will most likely sell out for the top placing teams, especially which ever Penske car wins Joel
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Post by Joel_W on May 20, 2019 11:01:53 GMT -8
I used to follow the Indy 500 and the CART series closely. After the whole IRL fiasco I lost interest in the race and the series. I understand the economics of using spec chassis but I struggle to get excited about IndyCar again. I wasn't exactly a fan of the IRL when Tony George went to war with Cart. Way to many teams that weren't competitive by any means. The series was mostly ovals, and George funded every team that needed funding. I'm sure that if he didn't have the 500 as his center piece, and basically locked up the top 25 spots for the IRL, Cart would have won the war, but he did. Time has proven at least to me that the resulting spec series with one chassis, two engines, and one tire manufacture, has evolved into a great racing series. The races are for the most part exciting with plenty of passing and side by side racing where almost anyone can win on a given Sunday. For my money the Indy Car series puts on a better race then F1 with all their high & super expensive cutting edge technology. Right now it's Mercedes running 1-2 all by themselves, then the next race is Ferrari now having to battle it out with Red Bull, followed by the 3rd tier of every other team where the racing is still racing but I'm hard pressed to really get excited about watching the back markers, with the exception of Williams that should just pack it in and drop down a series till they can get their act together. 1st step would be to get rid of Frank William's daughter as the head Operating officer who from what I've read and heard, has no experience running a race team, and it certainly shows. Joel
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Post by Joel_W on May 24, 2019 9:01:53 GMT -8
I've been following the Indy weather, and while it's gotten a little better, we're looking at rain and T'storms in the morning, and then a 30% chance after 3pm. Yesterday the odds were 50%, so it's trending in the right direction.
Rob, on my one Indy Blog that I follow, he's also a avid Diecast collector, both in 1/18th & 1/43 scales. He had the McLaren Alonso 1/18 scale car and VUSE, which is a tobacco based product, and as with all classed toys isn't allowed on Models, so their primary sponsor wasn't even on the diecast. You would think that these diecasts would be classed as replicas and not toys since they seem to sell at prices starting at $70.
Joel
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Post by tatocorvette on May 26, 2019 11:58:53 GMT -8
WOW!!!! Just WOW!!!
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