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Post by Joel_W on May 26, 2019 12:40:42 GMT -8
One of the best races I've seen in many a year. I'm exhausted just from watching it. I won't post winners or losers so everyone who recorded it, can watch it 1st.
What I will say, and already Twittered about was the horrendous coverage from NBC, which was worse then their regular Indy coverage. A million commercials with split screens and no sound on the race side, so I used mute. The split was more like 60/40 commercials. I'm sure that NBC made a fortune off of the race. I'm equally sure that their response if they do actually post one, is that their Gold package for the full season or the month at Indy has no commercials. I have no intention of paying for any additional services via cable when my monthly bill was over $200 and we cut back some to $180. Still totally outrageous.
Joel
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Post by Ben_B on May 26, 2019 12:59:10 GMT -8
Agreed! Great race! And you’re right, NBCs coverage suc... er, um, left a lot to be desired. Ben
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Post by tatocorvette on May 26, 2019 14:29:15 GMT -8
As part of the pre-race celebration of the 50th anniversary of Mario's win in '69, he was taken around the track in a '69 Pace Car, just like he did back in 1969. The NBC commentators said "... and Mario taking a ride in a .... vintage car..." [Insert Facepalm here] Absolutely no clue!
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Post by clowncar on May 26, 2019 19:43:56 GMT -8
2 engine suppliers, 1 chassis supplier That surprised and struck me when I read the stats. On the one hand, it tends to lay things on the drivers’ plates. Expertise is wonderful to behold. On the other hand, I equally enjoy seeing interesting, innovative machines, especially at this level.
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Post by tatocorvette on May 27, 2019 3:02:45 GMT -8
There are rumors of a third engine manufacturer in the works. Speculations say it could be european, most likely BMW. I thought that McLaren could be testing the waters to develop their own chassis but that seems unlikely. Dallara seems to have a stranglehold on the chassis design. I think they are trying to get different aero packages so the cars will look slightly different, but that is not really making a difference. However, I DO like the looks of today's Indy car. Far better than the previous one. I wish there were other tire manufacturers. Good Year left decades ago and concentrated on Nascar. Michelin is doing really well in sports car racing, but for the last hundred years it has been only Firestone or Good Year at Indy. I think today's Indy car has a good balance where many drivers are capable of winning, putting the pressure on the setup, the drivers and pit execution. If anything, the Indy 500 has proven once again it is one of the toughest races in the world. Many, especially outside of the US, think that oval racing is easy. It is not. It is just different. Bill, I was there when Emmo won in '93!
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Post by tatocorvette on May 27, 2019 5:13:37 GMT -8
Race highlights:
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Post by Joel_W on May 27, 2019 5:42:02 GMT -8
As I previously posted, this was one of the best of the best Indy 500s I've seen, and I've been watching them and Cart on tv for as long as they've been on the air.
From a personal perspective, I love how the series has evolved. The racing is close, exciting, and literally the little guys have an excellent chance to win on any given Sunday. The reasons are many, but the fact that there is just one chassis, one tire manufacture, and just two engine manufactures, means that every team has the opportunity to the package that they want to run within realistic limitations.
When Nascar had two tire manufactures competing for the top teams contracts, the tires were faster and faster, but more and more apt for blowouts as grip and weight were everything. Nascar went to one manufacture so that a safer, more reliable tire was the result.
Of course the teams with the most resources can develop and refine in house, which they do.
Just compare Indy Car to F1's race yesterday. Monaco ranks as one of the most boring non-races of all times. Absolutely no passing, no nothing up front. The only change of position was when Verstappen got a 5 sec penalty leaving the pits because they couldn't see the lane with Ferrari's entire pit crew blocking their view. Every year the Monaco race get worse then any of the previous races. I hated Monaco since Senna could block Mansell for 5 laps even though it was apparent that Mansell could pass him if there was actually track to do so. Also, the spread from the top teams to the back markers is greater every year as the costs to develop, hire the best engineers, technicians, and drivers makes or breaks a teams efforts. What's more. Small, independent teams have less resources, especially choices or say in engine packages.
the issue of Indy Cars popularity after Indy really has nothing to do with Indy. Generally, they have horrible attendance was on Ovals, while real road courses are packed houses. And street courses depending on the race do ok to extremely well. I personally love Road America, and Laguna Seca. Even Nascar is having a harder and harder time filling the stands that once were packed houses for every race.
We as fans have so many choices of types of racing, or other sports on every single weekend via cable (in my case) that I can and do bounce around if a race is boring. I also record a few races per week as I did with the Monaco GP, and watched it after dinner. It did provide much needed nap time as my nap with nothing changes from before nap time to after nap time. Add to that the number of race series and races you can actually watch on You Tube which doesn't count in any manner for their overall ratings. I personally get to follow sooner or later the Aussie Super Car series. Now there's a super competitive series that keeps me glued to my chair start to finish every single race.
Joel
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