thepitwindow

A Game of Pits and Yellows- Toronto 2016

July 18, 2016 thepitwindow

This is Toronto. There will be caution periods. They will come at or near pit windows. Do you pit early and know that will give you track position, or do you wait until your window opens? Team Penske played the yellows the right way. Cautions at the wrong times in Detroit and Iowa cost Helio Castroneves a victory in Detroit and a possible top three in Iowa. Will Power won the race by pitting early, and Castroneves finished second playing the same strategy. Scott Dixon waited for his pit window to open and lost a race he was controlling when a caution fell just before his scheduled stop. The result was a setback for Dixon’s title hopes. I don’t think it is a major setback, but he has to now chase down Power as well as points leader Simon Pagenaud.

The race itself featured some great racing. Battles for position were everywhere. For the most part it was as clean as possible on a narrow track. One driver I did not think drove cleanly was Juan Pablo Montoya. He was reckless and rough. A couple times as he made a pass, he seemed to turn the wheel toward the car he was passing in a bullying fashion. Montoya was driving today like someone desperately fighting to keep his job. The past few races he drove as if he didn’t care.

I’m not sure what to think of race control. Taking no action on the Montoya/Newgarden incident was consistent with their ruling at Indianapolis with Hildebrand/Castroneves. Other rulings today? Did Pagenaud violate the blend line? Was he or was he not given a warning? The television booth at first said he was warned, then said he wasn’t. That was the last we heard about it. Jack Hawksworth complained that his accident was caused by Pagenaud running into the back of him. race Control said they had no video of it. I thought the entire track was covered by video. I’m not sure how something like that could be missed.

I hope to get back to Toronto in the next two years. It is a great event with a wonderful, exciting atmosphere. The fans are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It has a lot of the electricity you feel at the Indianapolis 500.

Notes-

Nice stories –

James Hinchcliffe finishing third at his hometown race after missing last year was arguably the best story of the day.. He has struggled here mightily in the past. Great pit strategy put him in third and the last two yellows came at the right time.

Takuma Sato earned a top 5 for his best finish this year. Until Hawksworth’s crash, it appeared two Foyt cars would be in the top 10.

A tenth place for Marco Andretti is his best finish of the year also. He was racy all day.

Rough days-

Josef Newgarden struggled with his broken hand all weekend. He admitted it was a factor in the crash. He will be reevaluated tomorrow. Fortunately,there are two weeks before Mid-Ohio, another course that could be rough on his injury. Today I think ended any title hopes he had.

Ryan Hunter-Reay continues his lost season. The pit stops and the way the yellows fell gave him his finishing spot. He struggled to get by anyone today. The entire Andretti Autosport team continues to struggle with setup.

The curb in turn 5 broke up during the race causing a yellow. I hope they find a better solution for next year.

This week I’m planning to watch a documentary on the Targa Florio, the Sicilian road race, and attend the USAC Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway. Look for posts about these two events later this week.

A New Garden Grows in Iowa

July 12, 2016 thepitwindow

We have seen the future of Indycar, and it is called Josef. His win in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 300 was the most dominant drive I have seen in a very long time. It was the equivalent of a perfect game in baseball. He was lightning fast, lapping almost the entire field several times. In fact, at one point he had lapped everyone except 2nd place Simon Pagenaud. How often has that occurred since the DW12 came on board? I can’t think of when either.

20141100 — **The last time Josef Newgarden was behind on Sunday**

In 2014 and 2015, Josef finished second here. Last year a botched final stop cost him the win. Before the race we were talking about how Andretti Autosport has dominated this race. The last three years for Newgarden- 2nd, 2nd, 1st. Who’s dominating now?

Before the race I felt Newgarden and Tony Kanaan were the favorites. Kanaan has come close a lot this year, but is still looking for his first win this season. This year for him reminds me of 2014, when he came very close to winning several times before taking the finale at Fontana. For Newgarden, there were questions before the race. Could his broken hand withstand this type of racing? Would his pit stops go smoothly? He dealt with the pain. Other than a small glitch on his first stop, There were no pit issues.

While Josef was running away and hiding from the rest of the field, there was a great race going on behind him. There seemed to be a constant battle for second place, as well as fights for other positions. Good close racing happened all over the track. I saw some incredible passes, but a pass that didn’t happen stood out. In one of his first romps through the field, Newgarden came up behind two cars side by side fighting for position in turn 3. He stuck his nose between them, then backed off and waited until they sorted out the battle. Aside from the start, I thought that was the best move he made all day.

The series moves to Toronto next weekend. By the way, Josef Newgarden is the defending champion there.

Thoughts on Iowa:

As great an event as this weekend was, I think this works better as a night race. The crowd was disappointing. The Friday night ARCA race, which usually draws a fair amount of fans, was smaller as well. I hope having date equity for the next two years will help build the attendance back near what it once was.

This was my third time at Iowa. There seems to be a blown engine tradition here. The 4th of July worthy display when Ryan Hunter-Reay’s engine let go was spectacular. Imagine how cool that would have looked at night.

After a weekend in the vastness of Road America, it was nice to spend time in a more compact venue. Everything at Iowa is easy and quick to get to, with shuttles and golf cart rides to parking lots, campgrounds, and the paddock.

I appreciated the extended paddock hours this year. last year the paddock was only open for passholders for about two hours. This year the paddock was open all day on Saturday.

Alexander Rossi had another solid finish. His average finish on ovals this year is 7th. Rossi is having an incredible rookie year. People need to start paying more attention to him.

Newgarden jumped to second in points with the win Sunday. He needs to gain as many points as possible on Pagenaud in the next three races since he will lose ground at the Texas race resumption.

Mid Season Thoughts and Iowa Prelude

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 thepitwindow

It’s the time of year when the championship becomes more muddled after seeming very clear. I’m not a fan of the current points system, but it does create an interesting title fight every year. Iowa is where Juan Pablo Montoya began to lose his grip on the crown last year. He finished last at Iowa due to a first lap crash. Scott Dixon, his closest pursuer, had mechanical issues, but got his car back on track to earn a couple extra points. Those points proved crucial at Sonoma as Dixon took the title from Montoya. Right now, Simon Pagenaud, Helio Castroneves, and Will Power are the top three in points with Dixon a close fourth. I would not count Dixon out, even though he has had a lot of bad luck this year. Iowa seems to be the track where a Penske driver’s title hopes go to die.

Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, and Tony Kanaan are having really great seasons. Marco Andretti, Takuma Sato, and Jack Hawksworth are not. I wonder which of these drivers will return to their respective teams next year. Graham Rahal appears to be in the midst of a disappointing season, but Iowa is where he really began his surge last year. His podium at Road America could be the beginning of a charge.

This will be my third trip to Iowa. I really like this track. It is 7/8 of a mile long and one constant turn. Indycars lap at about 17 seconds. My first race was in 2012. The cars under the lights were incredible. I’m very disappointed that this year’s race is a daytime event. Another thing I liked at the 2012 race was the USAC midget program on Friday night. What a great show! Midgets going 160 miles per hour is an amazing sight. I wish they could pair with Indycar again here.

The Iowa Corn 300 could be named the Andretti Invitational. Andretti drivers have won six times here, including Ryan Hunter-Reay’s victory last year. It was Hunter-Reay’s third win at Iowa. I expect a different Andretti driver to win this year.

Last year I was fortunate to get a 2-seater ride here. Turns 1 and 2 are teeth rattling bumpy. The car is in a constant turn. I felt my head was constantly leaning out the right side of the car. This ride felt faster than my ride at IMS because of the short track and the perpetual turning motion. Imagine doing this 300 times 60 miles an hour faster than we were traveling.

Saturday evening I plan to go to Knoxville Raceway. I have not been to a dirt track in a very long time, and I am very much looking forward to it. Someday I hope to make it to the Knoxville Nationals, another bucket list event.

Which Andretii driver will win this year’s Iowa corn 300? I’m picking Carlos Munoz. I hope to do a brief report from the track this weekend, and I will have a weekend review next week.

Road America Wrap-Up: Until Next Year

June 29, 2016 thepitwindow

Hot Lap in the Hills

My excitement level for my first trip to Road America increased 100 times when I learned I would get a hot lap ride. One goal I had this year was to get as many pace car rides as I could. So far, I’ve been fortunate to have one at every race but one. I knew this one would be different. Before last Saturday, my favorite hot lap was at Sonoma. Driving up a mountain and swooping down into what looked like nothing was thrilling. I felt Road America would at least be the equal of that one.

While we stood in line waiting to get in the cars, the staff seemed to have their directions reversed. They were bringing helmets and HANS devices to our side rather than the 2-seater line. They also brought out two seats from cars and set them on the ground. Is this just a simulator ride? This was not a mistake. Hot lap riders were going to wear these on the ride. Wow! Never had that happened before. May I re-read the waiver please?

HANS device fitting is meticulous. It’s a good fit if you can’t breathe. The helmet must align perfectly with the device so that head movement side to side is limited. Once the helmet is in place, I was asked to turn my head left and ride to test the fit. Sitting in the seat was the final check. The helmet, HANS device, and seat head rest all work together for safety.

Finally, I got in the Camaro SS. My driver, Gail, drives the Holmatro command vehicle during the races. It was my fourth time riding with her. It’s the first time I saw her with a helmet on for these rides. It was a relief riding with a driver I knew. We pulled away. By turn 2, I had a new favorite hot lap.

Road America is the fastest non-oval I’ve ridden on. This track is pure momentum. The straightaways are breathtaking. The turns are all very different. Many are sharper than they appear. The most exciting moment was going into turn 5. She was giving the brakes quite a workout as we approached the corner. The cars carry a lot of speed coming down the hill from turn 4. On the straights I got glimpses of the incredible scenery. I even waved to my friends as we zipped by their campsite. They later said they never saw me. I was surprised how steep the hill to the start/finish line is. The last turn is basically flat and then you begin rising up the incline.

I exited the car, removed my helmet and restraints, and walked slowly back behind the pit wall. My first thought was that this hot lap was nearly as good as a 2-seater ride. Other riders had the same impression. I don’t know if the helmet is just for Chevy rides or if Honda will be requiring it as well. It definitely added to the excitement and intrigue of the experience.

Final Notes

The new track gift shop is the nicest one I have seen outside of IMS. They have lots of track apparel, souvenirs, and an amazing collection of posters. It is open year round…

I was sad driving through Milwaukee on my way to Road America thinking there wouldn’t be a race at the Mile this year. After five minutes at Road America, I got over it…

The television coverage was excellent, and the aerial shots gave spectacular views of the track. This had to be a challenging race to cover because of the size of the facility…

One item that could be improved is the paddock tunnel. It is open to golf carts and pedestrians with no designated lanes for either. Driving a cart through became quite an adventure at times. Widening it just a bit and adding a pedestrian lane would make it safer for everyone.

The Kohler Grand Prix rivaled Indy in feel and excitement. I cannot wait for next year’s race…

Finally a couple of photos. (Top) Will Power’s left front tire in Victory Circle. I wonder how many more laps he could have lead if the the race had gone green sooner. (Bottom)Ryan Hunter-Reay leads Takuma Sato up the hill to turn 6..

The Forest Primeval with a Racetrack Inside

June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 thepitwindow

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a great idea. Two great things- peanut butter and chocolate together in one entity. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you’re two favorite things could be combined into one? This weekend, I found this concept come to life. My two favorite things- national parks and race tracks- joined together. They call it Road America.

Indycar returned to Road America after a nine year absence. The sign above sums up how most everyone felt about this. I saw her holding this sign at the beginning of Friday’s first Indycar practice. She was facing the straight leading into turn 5 so the drivers could see it as they came down the straight. When the fans here first saw the cars, there was a loud, enthusiastic cheer. Never have I heard that anywhere for a first practice.

There is so much to talk about. I will begin talking about the fans and their experience and the track today. Later in the week, more thoughts about the facility, the area,and highlights of my hot lap ride.

The Fans

The first timers, myself included, were in awe of the place. many of my friends from Indianapolis and elsewhere only had three things to say: “This is my new favorite track,” “Best track I’ve ever seen,” and “I can’t wait to come back next year.”

Fans who attended the CART and Champ Car races were absolutely giddy over the return. At my hotel Saturday morning, a man wearing an event shirt from the 2006 race was joined by his son and grandson. I saw many three generation groups at the track . The cheering continued all weekend. Race morning the paddock area had the buzz you feel at Indy on Race morning. That gave me chills.

Road America is a very fan friendly place. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Fans have several options for getting around. I went with the golf cart, splitting the cost with friends. An attendant at the cart rental place told me they rented all 600 of their carts for the first time ever at an event. Other people took advantage of the free shuttle carts. Many others rode bikes, scooters, or motorcycles. I heard the track has bikes for rent. Most people , it seemed, brought their own.

The food choices were as abundant as I have ever seen. Every stand had a wide variety of choices, including vegetarian and vegan options. One stand just outside the paddock tunnel even had organic choices. Steamed corn on the cob was a very popular food choice.

Some of my friends camped at the track. They liked the idea of camping inside the track, but felt the price was higher than at other tracks. The showers were better than they expected, even featuring hot water. Some campers had motor homes or RVs. Others just packed everything in their personal vehicles and set up tents. I visited my friends’ campsite Saturday evening. It looked like a site in a national park.

My friend D. J . Jordan rated the camping experience as very good overall. In addition tothe showers, he thought ice at the nearby concession stand was reasonably priced. His campsite was between turns 8 and 9. He felt the campsites could have been marked better, and the gate staff should have been more prepared to tell campers how to find their site. The site marker was in the middle of the area rather than at the back. I was trying to locate some other friends who told me their location number. I never found them because the areas are very poorly marked. D. J. thinks the quiet hours began too early at 10 o’clock. He would have preferred 11 or midnight. Enforcement seemed inconsistent between camping areas.

All seating, except for the suites, is general admission. The grandstands I saw Sunday were completely full. I sat on the hill overlooking turn 5. There were benches there, which were very full, and behind them people brought lawn chairs to watch from the shade of the trees. Fans were sitting very far back in the woods. Another nice feature that is not part of other road courses is the proximity of full service concession stands. It seemed every seating area had a complete stand nearby enough to get to quickly and return to your viewing spot.

My idea of camping is a hotel room with no television. Elkhart Lake has several nice resorts which I understand the teams mostly reserved. I stayed in Manitowoc, about 40 minutes away. Other people stayed in Sheboygan, a 20 minute drive, or Fon du lac, about 30 minutes away. People who decided to attend at the last minute stayed close to an hour from the track. My advice if you want a hotel for next year, book early to get as close as you can.

The Track

This is a very proper racetrack. Long fast straights lead into brake chewing tight corners. Sweeping curves lead to steep elevation changes. The hill climb to start finish makes the line seem farther away than it is. My favorite spots were turn five and Canada Corner.

Turn 5 is at the end of a downhill straight and the cars immediately go uphill afterwards. They pass under a bridge at the top and then quickly hit turn 6.

Canad Corner (right) is as scenic a corner as you will ever see. You can watch from the top of the hill or go down steps to a grandstand. Out of Canada Corner is Thunder Valley (left). This is a great viewing spot.

On Wednesday I will post about my hot lap ride and more thoughts on the weekend

The Forest Primeval with a Racetrack Inside

June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 thepitwindow

The Fans

Some of my friends camped at the track. They liked the idea of camping inside the track. The showers were better than they expected, even featuring hot water. Some campers had motor homes or RVs. Others just packed everything in their personal vehicles and set up tents. I visited my friends’ campsite Saturday evening. It looked like a site in a national park.

The Track

…More Great Cars from Vintage Weekend

June 21, 2016 thepitwindow

Here are eleven more cars that I really liked from The SVRA show and Motostalgia Auction. Above is a 1912 Metz. Where possible, I have identified the cars. Again, this event is well worth your time. If you can’t come to Indy for it, go to the SVRA website to see when they race near you.

The 48 is the Sumar Special driven by Bobby Grim.

Top left- 1924 Isotta; Top right- 1950 Jaguar; 1947 Chrysler Windsor Town &Country;

Bottom left- Packard

Bottom right- 1960 Austin Healey

A Roar from the Past- Vintage Racing at IMS

June 20, 2016 thepitwindow

The ghosts of the past loom everywhere at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You feel their presence wherever you step. I always get chills walking across the track on race morning, imagining who made a daring pass here, who lost control and hit the wall, what it would look like in a car at the start of the race. This weekend the ghosts came alive.

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association made their third visit to IMS. I made my first visit to this meeting. For those who love old cars, not just old race cars, this is a must see event. It is a museum come to life. You can walk through the garages and see the cars. Then you take a seat in the stands and watch them race. Saturday’s main race was a pro-am event featuring former 500 drivers paired with an amateur driver. Robby Unser won in this Cobra.

The group has race meets all across the country in a season that begins in February. In addition to IMS, they also race at Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Sonoma, and Fontana. Cars are grouped according to type, year, and engine displacement. The people I talked to from the organization are passionate about what they do. As a fan who loves the history of the sport, I appreciate their dedication to preserving the past.

The Motostalgia Classic Car Auction took place Saturday evening. Classic passenger cars and race cars were available for bid. I escaped without making a purchase. Here are a few of the beauties that I was just a few thousand dollars short of getting:

I had seen many of the cars race at the Speedway. Seeing the evolution of technology unfold so graphically was the highlight of the show for me. One garage row began with a 1911 National that raced in the inaugural 500. Walking further down the row, there were roadsters from the 50s and 60s, early rear engine cars, and the cars of the 90s.

My favorite car of the show was not an Indy Car. the Brian Redman Formula 500 machine ( below). At one time it was converted to a Can-Am spec before restored to this version. Redman’s autograph is just below the Year in Goodyear. I thought this just screamed, “I’m a race car!” I never saw an F5000 race live, but I can imagine the noise and the vibration of the ground.

Tomorrow I will post more photos. I took way too many to put in one post.

I hope this show returns to IMS next year. I will definitely return. Next up on my bucket list summer is Road America next weekend. I plan to post something each day and a race review by Tuesday.

Note- Thank you all for the overwhelming response to Friday’s post. I was very touched by your thoughts.

The Last Gift- A Tribute

June 17, 2016June 17, 2018 thepitwindow2 Comments

Note- I first published this two years ago in honor of my late wife, Vicki Silver. In honor of what would have been her 70th birthday today, I’m reposting it. Thanks for reading.

“I just want one thing for Christmas. “

“I know what it is and no, I won’t give you that. It’s dangerous. You could get killed and then I’d be all alone”

We had no clue how ironic that statement would become a few months later.

“What else do you want?” she demanded.

“Nothing. It can be for my birthday too,” I countered, “since it costs about what you’d spend altogether anyway.”

The discussion ended. I gave her no more gift ideas.

On Christmas morning she handed me a thick envelope.

I opened the envelope and then opened the card. A wad of cash fell out. Inside the card she had written, “ Enjoy your 2 -seater ride!”

Ecstatic doesn’t begin to describe my feelings or my love for her at that moment. “Just don’t get killed,” she warned.

Ever since Indycar created their 2-seat stretch race car, I had wanted to ride in it. Now my opportunity was just months away.

I reserved a spot for early May. The morning of my ride she was quiet, fearing the worst as she tended to do. She left for work with just a nod and a reminder to call after the ride. I was about to make a joke that she would definitely get a call from someone, but thought better of it.

I arrived at the Speedway and joined the line at registration. “Please read and sign the waiver,” the girl at the table recited the mantra to each person as she handed out clipboards. No problem. I had signed waivers to get into the pits at races, so this would just take a second. But, wait.. there must be 10 pages here! Reading War and Peace would take less time than it would to get through than this waiver.

Paragraph 3, Page 1 contained the words “maimed or killed”…I checked the next page-“maimed or killed” ,the next “maimed or killed”. The phrase repeated itself throughout.

Scanning the rest of the document, I did not see a sentence saying, “I realize I am about to do something really stupid… “

After signing the waivers we went into a trailer to change into drivers’ suits. I learned that most riders were cashing in a birthday or Christmas gift as well. We had a great time sharing stories about races and tracks until it was time to head to the pits.

This is a very organized operation. The cars are lined up, head scarves, helmets, and gloves get distributed efficiently, the riders are assigned a car and order.

I watched with envy as the other riders got in the cars and returned with a huge smile on their faces. Finally it was my turn. I stepped into the cocoon and lowered myself into the seat. A Mini-Cooper seems spacious now. The crew strapped me in, asking me to scoot lower. Any lower and I wouldn’t be able to see anything. After they lowered my helmet visor, there was an eerie silence and a feeling of isolation for a brief moment before the engine started. Here we go!

We accelerated down pit road. It was fast but not too fast. I’m thinking, “This isn’t so bad”. Then we got on the track. Ignore my previous thought. Pushed to the back of the seat and holding on to the handles, I looked down the backstretch. It didn’t seem so long now. When we turned left I slid to the right side of the tub then back again as the car straightened. I was screaming for joy!

We passed the pits to begin the full speed lap. How do the drivers ever find their pits, I wondered, looking at the blur on my left. On this lap, I noticed that each turn, although supposedly identical, had a different look. The view on the right is white wall, close enough to touch.

In less than three minutes, it was over. The crew unstrapped me and I climbed from the car, wearing the same large grin I saw on the people who went before me. Of course, I dutifully called to tell her how great it was. I’m not sure she understood a word I said.

Just over a month later, the monster appeared. It would not go away; it only exerted its will over her more and more. There were small, short-lived victories, but after four months the monster won. Somehow she knew the 2-seater ride would be her final gift to me. I know it made her happy to give it to me, as we both took great joy in exchanging gifts. It was a reluctant gift given out of unconditional love.