Indy 500

[Emp]

Im going to be crossing off a Bucket List item this weekend, thanks to the significant other and Chevy. The automotive press gets VIP treatment, and that includes a drive around the track in the Camaro Z28 by one of the Chevy drivers on Saturday AM (no rain, please Lord.) I've heard the "speed limit" for this cruise is a mere 160.

Who out there talks the Indy 500 talk? How does Carpenter manage to play with the heavily sponsored/subsidized teams? Are the Chevy engines sturdy enough to hold up to the Hondas? Who do you like for the win? This event needs a Mel Cooley-like contributor.

[waggy]

Carpenter could win, but highly unlikely. He would need a "perfect day"... Great stops, the minimum number of stops, the right adjustments, etc. The big teams just have so much experience and data, and then as the race develops, their cars end up on different strategies, so all the bases are covered.

The Chevy's are sturdy enough, but the Hondas will probably get better milage. Better milage can be a huge deal, and is actually often more important than raw power, unless the power difference is off the charts. I really haven't looked to see where the Hondas stand, but I believe they went to twin turbos on the engine package this year, so just assumed they'd be in the neighborhood.

I'm not really a fan of the guy, but Hinchcliff has looked pretty good. He's been one of the fast guys. Not THE fastest, but right there. Love the new paint job he's got too. Never liked the flouresent green Go Daddy paint. Not sure who is sponser is now, but it looks a little like an old Players cigs paint scheme. So I'll probably be pulling for him and/or a Foyt car, and then whoever like that's in it at the end.

[Muskie]

Im going to be crossing off a Bucket List item this weekend, thanks to the significant other and Chevy. The automotive press gets VIP treatment, and that includes a drive around the track in the Camaro Z28 by one of the Chevy drivers on Saturday AM (no rain, please Lord.) I've heard the "speed limit" for this cruise is a mere 160.

Who out there talks the Indy 500 talk? How does Carpenter manage to play with the heavily sponsored/subsidized teams? Are the Chevy engines sturdy enough to hold up to the Hondas? Who do you like for the win? This event needs a Mel Cooley-like contributor.

If you're good enough to descend from your automotive induced VIP experience to have a beverage with the common man, I shall be at the track early Sunday morning.

Carpenter continues to impress. Mike Conway (his Road Course driver) with a win already this year for the team, and not Ed is back on the pole. I have no idea what will come Sunday. But he's got one of the better teams. Perhaps the best non-Big team. If he were a basketball program he would be X circa 2004 (which would probably irritate him as a Butler Bulldog). I could see Carpenter winning. I could also see Helio (who I'd like to see win a 4th).

However, my call right now is Simon Pagenaud. Just a gut.

[paulxu]

It's just not the same without Danica.

[JTG]

It's just not the same without Danica.

No it's Way Better without that BITCH.

[JTG]

This race will be #54 for me, started going when I was 11. The Start of the Race, is probably the most exhilarating moment in sports. And then realize the crowd is the size of 5 Bengals sellouts in the same place, 275,000 people. Carpenter's problem will probably be his pit crew. He has the tools, as far as a car and him as a driver, but getting in and out of the pits, and race strategy is where his team is lacking. I always root for the Gannasi guys, so a Dixon or Kanaan repeat would be good. But an American driver winning would be really good. Think Rahal or Andretti, Carpenter,Hunter Reay, or New
While your near the Speedway, stop by The Mug and Bun, for home made root beer and a tenderloin sandwich that is huge. Go to Charlie Browns for breakfast, and Dawson's on Main for a great dinner. All are within walking distance from the track.
Take in the parade on Sat. I will be with the Dr. Suess Balloon. Haven't figured out how to wear something X related, while trying to tame a helium filled balloon. I just hope they don't want me to wear that red & white tophat.

[bobbiemcgee]

Actually, Danica had her best race ever @ KC. Drove hard into the turns, something she's never been able to do before, and legitimately beat 35 of the "good old boys." I'm glad she lost the vote for the "All Star" race to get in, didn't earn it.

[JTG]

Actually, Danica had her best race ever @ KC. Drove hard into the turns, something she's never been able to do before, and legitimately beat 35 of the "good old boys." I'm glad she lost the vote for the "All Star" race to get in, didn't earn it.

We were discussing real racing ( Indy) not WWE Nascar.

[nuts4xu]

And then realize the crowd is the size of 5 Bengals sellouts in the same place, 275,000 people.

It's closer to 4 Bengals sellouts....but whatever.

Who am I to stop you. You are on a roll....

I don't know anyone who has has a bad thing to say about the experience of an Indy 500 and I am surprised I haven't attended a race in all of these years. I am the farthest thing from a racing fan, but I can appreciate a good time when it smacks me in the face.

[bobbiemcgee]

We were discussing real racing ( Indy) not WWE Nascar.

Kurt Busch and Montoya in Row 4.

[paulxu]

Don't burst his bubble.

[JTG]

Kurt Busch and Montoya in Row 4.

Montoya came from Indycar and F1 before his pitstop in Nascar. Just going back to his roots. Surprised Kyle wasn't the one to try Indy, he seems the braver of the Busch brothers. BTW Kurt smacked the wall pretty good today, was able to get out of the car, but tore it up pretty good.

[bobbiemcgee]

Was hoping to see the "Racing Cavity" makes a comeback.

[waggy]

Montoya is not a Nascar trained driver by any stretch of the imagination. Nor is he an "Indycar" trained driver. But his roots are simply in formula car.

Nascar has done great commercially, and the talent gravitates to where the money is. That's not to say there is no talent in Indycar, it's just not as deep.

[wkrq59]

Covered 15 straight from 1985 (Sullivan Spins and wins) to 99 AJ wins as an owner??? Have no idea who the drivers are this year and who has the strongest cars..HOWEVER, in going through all the previous posts, I haven't seen one name mentioned--Roger Penske...he may have cars for some of the drivers mentioned but I've been away from it for so long that I've forgotten a lot. Except for one thing..I would never bet against Roger Penske. Whoever his driver is and whichever car he has, I like 'em.

:dizzy::medicated::bigstick::overheated:

[PM Thor]

Wifey is headed off to Indy tomorrow to work the race. She's got the Indycar credentials for the season (meaning she can go to any race, anywhere). I'll probably go for Saturday but have to work Sunday so I'll miss the race. We are pretty good friends with Bobby Rahal and his son Graham, who races for the Rahal/Letterman team. The kid is incredibly nice and grounded. We went to the race and got cold pit passes the past couple of years, but last year we had hot pit passes for the race up in Mid Ohio. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Hanging out after the race with Bobby and his family, just really, really nice people. (Only downside is that the National Guard is a sponsor this year, no alcohol!) Letterman was there for the race last weekend, and wife got to hang out with him, and apparently he is pretty funny. (I've got quite a few stories from the 500, like the pit fire that happened literally 10 feet from me, alas I was behind a fence and was impotent in the matter)

As for this year, Graham just doesn't have a very good car. He's a solid driver, but has been snake bitten with ridiculous wrecks and car failure. With the number of cars starting, you could throw 7-8 drivers names in a hat and pull out any of them and they would have a solid chance.

[waggy]

The Target Ganassi Hondas of Dixon and Kanaan were the 2 fastest in yesterdays final practice, which is done in race trim..

[Muskie]

Maybe Kanaan gets a repeat?

[waggy]

Also the gap in speed for those two was very significant as well. They had a 1/2 a mph on the 3rd fastest, Bell, and 2 mph on the quickest Andretti car.

[bobbiemcgee]

Montoya is not a Nascar trained driver by any stretch of the imagination. Nor is he an "Indycar" trained driver. But his roots are simply in formula car.

Nascar has done great commercially, and the talent gravitates to where the money is. That's not to say there is no talent in Indycar, it's just not as deep.

I would disagree in that he won the 2000 race and Roger Penske gave him a car this year. If he can remain patient and not get too aggressive, he has a good shot at winning again.

[PM Thor]

Ok, just got back from Indy (can't stay for the race, have to work tomorrow). I know that I'm spoiled, but I really have to share this story. So, Wifey works for P&G, which owns Prilosec, which sponsors Graham Rahals National Guard team, the Letterman-Rahal-Lanigan team. We were able to go to the sponsor party tonight, which was awesome, but here is the best part.

David Letterman. I cannot speak more highly of the man. My friend is having a biopsy of a brain lesion done on Tuesday, and she is a HUGE Letterman fan. I mean HUGE. Wifey conveys our friends story to his people, who tell him, he comes to us for her details, like the outlook, her husbands name, all of it. So, in the middle of this event, he has us call her, and Dave gets on the phone. I'm thinking a quick "Hey get better" kind of call. No. Letterman walks away from everyone, and talks to our friend for well over 15 minutes. We still don't know what he said. That is a good guy.
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[xu82]

Ok, just got back from Indy (can't stay for the race, have to work tomorrow). I know that I'm spoiled, but I really have to share this story. So, Wifey works for P&G, which owns Prilosec, which sponsors Graham Rahals National Guard team, the Letterman-Rahal-Lanigan team. We were able to go to the sponsor party tonight, which was awesome, but here is the best part.

David Letterman. I cannot speak more highly of the man. My friend is having a biopsy of a brain lesion done on Tuesday, and she is a HUGE Letterman fan. I mean HUGE. Wifey conveys our friends story to his people, who tell him, he comes to us for her details, like the outlook, her husbands name, all of it. So, in the middle of this event, he has us call her, and Dave gets on the phone. I'm thinking a quick "Hey get better" kind of call. No. Letterman walks away from everyone, and talks to our friend for well over 15 minutes. We still don't know what he said. That is a good guy.
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Wow, that's awesome. You never know about people in the public eye. If someone is willing to drop what they're doing to make a difference in a strangers life with no expectation of public knowledge or some type of reward, it says volumes about the type of person they are. That's very cool for everyone. It makes me think more of him. It also makes me agree you're spoiled. :)

And best of luck to your friend.

[PM Thor]

Yeah, Dave was incredible. Just meant so much to my wife and our friend, both of them bawled their eyes out.

Did I mention Larry the Cable Guy? No? He's cool too. Just sayin'. Yes, this is Larry, Graham, and Bobby Rahal playing Cornhole Friday. Wifey took the pic. My life is freaking surreal, I know.

And I know I'm biased, but damn I really think Graham Rahal is going to do well. Starting 20th, but that's nothing new. Top 3 finish. #Go15.

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[xu82]

Yeah, well, I took my golden retriever to the dog park so..... I guess you win. I stepped in shit and you did significantly better. Very cool.

[Emp]

Great race, great finish, and a great time for my first 500.

Watched Carpenter get hosed/squeezed on the second to last restart. Hunterhaas made an insane inside pass at the end of the backstretch during that final 8 laps.

[waggy]

Glad they red flagged it. Otherwise it would've ended under yellow, or a restart with 1 lap, which is even worse imo.

The speed can't really be appreciated on TV due to the size of the place and the camera locations. But occassionally they have a trackside shot where you get a greater sense of how wicked fast they are moving.

Hunter Reay earned it. Great race.

[Muskie]

It was a great race, though my favorite driver came hundredths of seconds from winning a 4th Indy 500. Also got to spend a few minutes with Emp basking the in the glory of IMS.

[PM Thor]

Wow, #Hunter-Reay started 19th, right next to my guy Graham. RHR wins it, Rahal has electrical issue and DNF. Snake. Bitten.

[bobbiemcgee]

Wow, #Hunter-Reay started 19th, right next to my guy Graham. RHR wins it, Rahal has electrical issue and DNF. Snake. Bitten.

Heartburn in the Prilosec Car?