Tag: NBC Sports

The Next Step in Driver Protection

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The Advanced Frontal Protection device  received a formal introduction today before the open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Jay Frye explained the concept and  explained why the NTT Indycar Series chose this system. The device will be used on the cars the rest of the season.

Some facts courtesy of the NTT Indycar Series:

Today is the first time the AFP will be used on track.

The device is made of titanium and manufactured by Dallara.

Versions of the AFP have been explored since 2012.

Dallara introduced the device to Indycar in January.

The AFP has been subjected to and passed the same loads as the roll hoop.

The AFP weighs 2.8 pounds with bolts. Reinforcements to the monocoque weigh 2.1 pounds.

Frye said this is the first phase of cockpit protection.

“Sometime in May we will announce the next phase, ” Frye said.

The next phase is for 2020.  Frye explained the reason for the length of the process.

“You can’t just put something on a car without vetting it all the way out,” he said.

The AFP cost $5,000.  Titanium is more expensive than steel, but its lighter weight was the reason titanium was chosen.

As far as the view from the cockpit, this should be a minimal distraction.

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Track Update

After about 20 minutes of running, the track was closed because of rain. An update will be given n about an hour. Ed Carpenter had the fastest lap at 220.817. I hope to get some photos during the rain delay of som.e of the newer liveries.

I will keep you posted through The Pit Window on Twitter and The Pit Window’s Facebook page.

 

It’s Race, I Mean, Test Day at IMS!

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It’s time.  Twenty eight to twenty-nine cars take to the world’s most famous oval this morning in an open test to prepare for the Indianapolis 500.  The middle part of the day will be for rookie and refresher tests.

Many will be eager to watch Fernando Alonso return to the track

Today’s Schedule:

11:00-1:00  Veterans practice

1:00-3:00    Rookie orientation/refresher tests

3:00-6:00  Open practice

Roster Changes

Dreyer and Reinbold will run newly announced J. R. Hildebrand in the 48 instead of Sage Karam in the 24.

Oriol Servia will drive the 77 for Arrow Schmidt Peterson. Servia is not confirmed for the 500 as of now, but likely will be in this car.  the schmidt entry is an addition to the previously published roster.

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Where to Watch

The test will be live streamed beginning at 10:55  on indycar.com and YouTube.

It is NOT on NBC Gold.

Another place to watch is from the turn 2 mounds and south bleachers.

New Liveries

In addition to Conor Daly’s car 25 revealing yesterday at IMS, Will Power posted a video of his new livery, featuring 5G on the sidepod.  I think he should change his number to 5G. it will give a shout out to the sprint world.

I’m also excited to see the style of numbering on the 48.

 

I will have updates after each segment here on The Pit Window and a full report tomorrow on Wildfire Sports.

 

 

 

 

 

Daly, Andretti Reveal Car 25

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Conor Daly and Michael Andretti revealed the car Daly will drive in the 103rd running of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. The car is mostly matte black, touches of blue and hits of various fighter jets. I really like the shark’s teeth behind the front wheel.

Daly’s entry completes a five car all American lineup for Andretti Autosport. All five cars will carry Air Force labels.

“It’s been a dream of mine to drive for this team for a long time,” Daly said. Getting to practice tomorrow is “a huge benefit. Tomorrow is day 1,” Daly added.

The unveiling also give those in attendance their first look at the Advanced Frontal protection device which will be on the cars tomorrow and for the 500. The piece is taller than i thought it was. It is very thin. The device does not appear as if it will obscure the drivers’ vision.

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The front view shows the AFP device just in front of the cockpit. I asked Daly how he thought the device would bother the vision. He said he wasn’t sure. The device is on the simulator, but he wants to see what it’s like when he actually drives the car.

A closer look at the AFP

Tomorrow’s test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins with veterans on track from 11-1, followed by rookie orientation between 1 and 3. The final round of testing begins at 3 and goes until 6. The turn 2 mounds will be open for spectators. the test is also live streamed on Indycar’s Facebook page.

The Pit Window will have updates after each session and a full wrap-up on Wildfire Sports Thursday morning.

The Soul of the Race

It’s called qualifying. It means you have to meet a standard which in this case means being one of the fastest 33 drivers. That is one tradition that must stay. A chance to win the greatest race in the world should not just be handed to someone.

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Above: Willy T. Ribbs exultant after finally qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 in 1991.

I am back at The Pit Window summer headquarters after a long two day slog through Georgia traffic jams and torrential rains through four states. The  controversy about guaranteed spots for the Indianapolis 500 began as I was traveling. I wanted to wait until I returned to gather points of view and form my own opinion.  While the Indianapolis 500 is the heart of the racing world, qualifying for the race is the event’s soul.

I agree that many traditions have disappeared and are not returning. I know we will never again have 30 days at the track or four days of qualifying. I’m okay with that. No guaranteed spots in my opinion does not fall in the category of tradition. It’s called qualifying. It means you have to meet a standard which in this case means being one of the fastest 33 drivers. That is one tradition that must stay. A chance to win the greatest race in the world should not just be handed to someone.

The starting lineup gives the race its flavor. Are there drivers starting in the back that will charge to the front? Will a top driver staring near the front fall back quickly? How do the Indycar regulars stack up against drivers fro another series? There just a few of the things we would lose. The 500 would be just another race on the schedule.

On race morning, I take a moment to think of what it took for each driver to get into the race. Some had a fairly easy time, having signed with a top team with the best equipment. Others had to fight for every sponsor dollar just to put a car and team together to get to to the track. Their sponsors are just as important as those of the full time teams. But I appreciate that all had to endure the stress of Indianapolis qualifying, a nerve wracking four lap run. Some of the drama of being on the grid or not race morning could lose its luster if the owners advocating guaranteed spots get their way.  I think it would take  some of the soul from the race. The grid would be less pure.

There would still be some space for one-offs, about ten with the current full time grid. What happens when the full time roster expands? Is this proposed format really fair to a team like Meyer Shank Racing, who is only running ten races this season? Why should a second tier full time team put much effort into qualifying? They just need to post a time, why try too hard?

When qualifying used to be spread over two weekends, I would pick and choose when to attend.  Pole Day was a given. I rarely went to Day 2. Day three was hit and miss. If the field would be filled the second Saturday, I would go later in the day to see the 33rd qualifier and to see if any bumping would take place. Bump day really had no action until the last two hours, so I would head out around 2:30.

With guaranteed spots, I’m not sure I would find Pole Day that interesting.  I would probably just wait for the non guaranteed cars to qualify see who will make it. There will be less drama without a big name near the edge.

Putting full time drivers in the field automatically would lessen the value of the race.  The owners are selling the soul of the Indianapolis 500 for sponsor dollars. I hope this is not the direction we’re going. Please don’t steal the soul of the race.

 

 

 

 

 

Latest from Wickens and Other News

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The latest Robert Wickens video, posted just before 2 pm today:

 

 

Windom Added to Freedom 100 Field

Chris Windom will drive for Belardi Racing in the Freedom 100 Indy Lights race on May 24 at the Indiana[polis Motor Speedway. Windom entered the race last year, but a practice crash on Thursday prevented him from qualifying or racing.

Windom joins Jarrett Andretti in the race as a one off entry.

Long Beach Postscript

Rossi’s win was the 200th for Andretti Autosport across their various racing series.

Zak Brown of McLaren asked about Pato O’Ward’s availability for next year. That would be great pairing. Apparently McLaren’s performance in this year’s 500 will determine what the team does next year.

Look at the podium from Sunday. These are your main contenders for the series championship. Will Power might join the group, but he will need the same kind of May he had last year to get back in it.

 

Quick Thoughts- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

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The  streak of clean starts came to a quick w\end at the fountain.  Not surprising, but the bigger surprise was that was the only yellow of the day.

Indycar needs to do a better job of getting the cars lined up before the start, Only three or four rows were lined up.

What a dominant drive by Alexander Rossi. This is the Rossi I expected to see at St. Pete. I think his season actually started today.

I wonder if NBC could pout a camera outside the track opposite the fountain. I’m think there could be some great shots from there.

The NBC scoring pylon is okay, but it is very disconcerting when they change sponsors and wipe out the data for a few seconds. You like the Firestone standings?  Get a load of the NTT board. Just switch the name at the top.

Will Power will be happy to get to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  He has had issues three weeks in a row. He is fortunate to be sixth in the standings.

Sebastien Bourdais did a nice job coming back from the right rear tire problem on his first stop.

Scott Dixon had some great battles on track.  Loved watching him challenge Rossi and Power,  then stalk Ruan Hunter-Reay and Graham Rahal in the final laps.

Another awful day for Colton Herta. His botched pit stop was followed by race ending contact.   He now has two consecutive last place finishes but still leads the rookies in points.

Rahal definitely blocked Dixon and cost himself a podium. The good news for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is the team has three top ten finishes the last two weeks, giving them a lot of momentum heading to Indianapolis.  The team has found something. watch out for both drivers the rest of the year.

Takuma Sato has lead two straight races and now has 5 bonus points.

Look for a full race report on Wildfire Sports tomorrow.

The Pit Window moves to summer headquarters later this coming week, so I may only be here if some big news breaks.

Quick Thoughts- Long Beach Qualifying

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

I really like Indycar Live before qualifying. Krista Voda and A. J. Almendinger did a great job on the set and also in the time between rounds on NBC Gold.  I hope we see this more before qualifying.  In fact a midweek Indycar show might be nice.

I would be happy to not hear the term “Go Fast Day” ever again. I really don’t want to hear it on Pole Day at IMS.

That was a great qualifying session. Every round had some intrigue.

Felix Rosenqvist is having an awfull difficult time at Long Beach. If he doesn’t cause a caution tomorrow, I’ll be surprised.

Once again, Hinchcliffe and Bourdais get bitten by the red bug.

Is this the beginning of Pagenaud’s resurgence?

Is this the real beginning of Rossi’s season?

Honda cars seem a lot faster than the Chevys on black tires.

Graham rahal now has been in The Fast Six two races in a row and Sato just missed.  The RLL team has found something. I hope it continues.

Look for a complete qualifying report on Wildfire Sports tomorrow.