IndianapolisMotorSpeedway – Page 6 – The Pit Window by Mike Silver

Mid Ohio-Start of the Homestretch

July 28, 2016 thepitwindow

This weekend Indycar begins the start of its final stretch of races. And by stretch, I mean really stretched out. After this race, only three races plus the completion of Texas remain. Pocono, the next race, is three weeks away. The season ends seven weeks from this weekend.

Mid-Ohio was my first road course race in 2008. This will be my seventh race here, the most at any track outside IMS. I really like this track for a lot of reasons. It is in a beautiful rural settting. There is constant on track action. The tram system makes it easy to get around. I even enjoy that it is still lacks some of the newer things that other tracks have installed for fan comfort.

Race day crowds are consistently large as you can see from the photo above of last year’s race. I feared a steep decline in attendance when IMSA left, but I haven’t really noticed much difference. I enjoy watching from the esses (above). Turn 4 is actually the first racing turn as they start on the backstretch.

Last year was my first trip to Mid-Ohio that was totally rain free. It doesn’t appear we’ll be that lucky again. At my first race, it rained just before the race. The rooster tails on the first few laps were spectatcular. The spray hung in the air for several seconds. I hope it does rain a bit during or right before the race starts. Tire strategy becomes more interesting in that situation.

Indy Lights has a weird history in my time here. In 2008, two drivers collided and ended up near the inside fence at turn 5. They got out of their cars and punches were thrown. Never heard from either of them much after that. I’m not sure which year, but the leader pulled into the pits on the last lap before taking the checkered flag, handing the victory to the very surprised second place driver. Last year in Race 1, the leaders decided to play a game late in the race to see who could make the most mistakes. R C Enerson won the race after riding around fourth or fifth all day.

This race could help determine if Scott Dixon has a legitimate shot at catching Simon Pagenaud for the championship. This has been a good track for Dixon. I don’t expect that to change. this weekend. Qualifying has been important here in the past, although the last two years pit strategy has determined the outcome. Dixon won from starting last in2014; Rahal won from thirteenth last year.

Enjoy the race. Remember for those of you playing at home, it’s on CNBC at 2pm Sunday with a re-air on NBCSN at 5.

Farewell, Target

July 27, 2016July 27, 2016 thepitwindow

I am as stunned as everyone else at the news of Target leaving the series at the end of the season. This should not be a surprise. I felt this day would come, but the suddenness and reality of it really hit hard. twenty-seven seasons as a sponsor with one team is an amazing record. I doubt we’ll ever see that again. So, I thank Target for their sponsorship of Indycar.

I am very sponsor loyal. When Dollar General sponsored Sara Fisher’s cars, I shopped there. When they ended the relationship, I stopped shopping there. When Verizon came on board as the series’ sponsor, I switched to Verizon.My car rides on Firestone tires. I will now be looking for a new place to do my shopping after September 18. Silly? Definitely. Petty? You bet.

There is an other issue with Indycar sponsors. Many are things not readily available to the average consumer. NTT Data, ABC Supply, and Gallagher don’t have products a regular person like me can purchase. Notice I didn’t say normal person.

Realistically, sponsors come and go. We fans can show our gratitude with our dollars. We can show our disappointment the same way. I’m not urging a boycott of Target. That is an individual choice.

I will miss the beautiful red cars, and especially the lightning bolts that returned to the livery this season. Apparently, Chip knew this was coming and appears to have a plan in place. My concern is Tony Kanaan may be the odd man out.

Notes:

I am heading to Mid-Ohio tomorrow. It is one of my favorite venues and the one I have been to the most outside of IMS. It sounds like many people I haven’t seen in a long time will be there. I’m very excited to reunite with them. More on Mid-Ohio tomorrow before I leave.

Going Home-A Small Step Back to Racing’s Roots

July 25, 2016 thepitwindow

I was heading home after a long time away. The first race I ever saw was a dirt track race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The short tracks hooked me on racing. I had focused so much on attending Indycar races lately that there was little time for other racing. Thursday night, I at last had the opportunity to finally go to a short track for the Rich Vogler Classic, a USAC Silver Crown race, at Lucas Oil Raceway.

The program had constant on-track action. The Silver crown cars practiced, the thunder roadsters had qualifying heats, then ARCA had a brief practice for their Friday race. Silver Crown qualifying followed, then the thunder roadster race. After that race, vintage sprint cars took laps. The prelude to the feature race concluded with the USAC Hall of Fame induction. While Tony Stewart was the most prominent inductee, Pat O’Connor, Tommy Hinnerschitz, and Dick King also were a part of this year’s class.

Thunder roadsters are old 60s era Indy roadsters with modified bodywork. They somewhat resemble sports cars. The back end of one had the appearance of a Corvette. Some were still open wheel, while most had full fenders. It is an interesting concept.

usacsilvercrown 097 — Three of the thunder roadsters in line for qualifying. The number 18 won the race.

The Silver Crown race, 100 laps around the 5/8 mile oval, included NASCAR driver Ryan Newman in the 19 car field.I have heard of the other drivers in the field. I saw some of them race at Iowa Speedway when Indycar had a program with them in 2012. I wish they would come back there. It would be better than the current preliminary at Iowa. These guys love to race. They race several times a week. for little reward. Many know this is as high as they’re going. in their careers. They do it because they love what they do.

Kody Swanson led all the way and edged his brother Tanner at the finish in a two lap shootout after a late caution. While Swanson led by large margins throughout the race, there was plenty of action deep in the field. I learned after the race that it was the first time Kody had beaten his brother in a Silver Crown race.

usacsilvercrown 109 — Kody Swanson (left) talks to the crowd after winning the Rich Vogler Classic Thursday night.

I really enjoyed the evening’s program. There was minimal down time. Hearing some of the great names from the past called out during the Hall of Fame induction brought back some great memories. I need to become more familiar with the drivers in this series so that I can have an easier time tacking who is in which car.

This evening whetted my appetite for more short tracks. I hope to get to one next month. The last time I saw a race on dirt was probably the 1969 Hoosier 100. It’s been awhile, but I’m coming back to where I started.

Movie Review- A Sicilian Dream

July 20, 2016 thepitwindow

I have always enjoyed reading about the great races in Europe- Monaco, Le Mans, Monza, the Mille Miglia, a thousand mile road race through Italy. Another race that fascinated me was the Targa Florio in Sicily. It did not get the attention of the other European races. Until today, I knew less about it than any other race. Today I saw A Sicilian Dream, a documentary about the Targa Florio, at the Indy Film Fest. Another screening will be Saturday afternoon at 3:15 pm at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

The story has former driver Alain de Cadenet, who nearly lost his life in a horrific fiery crash during the 1970 race, driving the 44 mile, 710 turn course with Francesco Motosco, who remembers watching the race as a boy. They drive a 1931 Alfa Romeo, rumored to be the car driven by Tazio Nuvolari in the race. The film interviews people who watched the race, last held in 1977, and still have fond memories of the event and what it meant to Sicily. We also hear from a relative of the race founder, Vincenzo Florio, whose husband was the promoter in its final years. Vincenzo was a dreamer and impulsive. The youngest son of a shipping magnate, he was not involved with the family business and had time to pursue his ideas.

The first race was in 1906. During the previous year, Florio mapped out a course through the towns in the la Mondie mountains (only 92 miles long), built grandstands and a timing stand. The race distance was 276 miles- 3 laps. The course changed several times. For a few years it ran the perimeter of the island. Its last iteration was a 44 mile circuit with a distance of 484 miles- 11 laps. In the early days there were no pit stops. Drivers would tour the course before the race and hide cans of fuel in the woods at points where they thought they would need to refill. In later years, drivers marked areas of the track that they thought would give them the most trouble. They spray painted walls and rocks as a warning. Each driver did this individually. One of the most striking scenes was one of these trouble spots. each driver not only marked their trouble spots, but they each used a different color and a different symbol. Some of the rocks seemed to have hieroglyphs on them from the various markings.

The story of de Cadenet’s 1970 crash was told from a point of view I didn’t expect. The son of the spectator who watched his father pull de Cadenet from his burning car and drag the unconscious driver across the road reenacted his dad’s actions at the spot where the crash occurred. Brian Redman also had a fiery crash in that year’s race. One charred piece of Redman’s car remains on display in Sicily. There is a touching scene where he sees the piece and picks it up. You can just imagine what he’s feeling at the time.

After 1977, the race stopped. There were many factors.in its demise. First, finances. There was never any admission fee for spectators. Early on, the whole operation was funded by Florio. Second, safety. There never guardrails nor spectator protection.Crowds had grown to more than 500,00. The streets had become too narrow for the cars. Third, the cars themselves. Manufacturers began building special machines just for this race, reaching speeds up to 150 miles an hour on the long straight. The cars simply outgrew the track. The race continues as a rally now.

The film contains a lot of vintage footage of races gone by. The passion shown by the citizens talking about watching the race was touching. You can feel the passion in their voices. It was fan ownership of the event. At the end, a British vintage auto club is set to tour the course in their own cars, many of which are relatives of the cars that once drove the great road race.

For more information about the film, visit the website, siciliandreammovie.com

Photo above- Stirling Moss driving the 1955 Mercedes he drove to victory in the Targa Florio. Photo by Lothar Spurzem

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