2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel 

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Looks like being a good race, depending on how quickly Bourdais can skip away.
 
JohnBM01
Danica did knock down a Top 5 at Mid-Ohio. It's her best road course finish. I didn't see her win when Mrs. Patrick was in Toyota Atlantic series.

Here's my thing on Danica. I've supported her because I want her to win and finally shut some people up. It was mentioned on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" about when Danica Patrick was trying to pass Ed Carpenter (who was lapped) at Nashville. Deal is... Danica IS under pressure. She has a lot of talent and potential. She has yet to realize it any use it to win. One of the early criticisms of Danica is that she was a lady who signed on with some top-flight teams and performing as well as she can. At least at this point, Danica has had her best finishes for AGR than with Rahal-Letterman. My heart was beating fast when Danica had a chance to catch up with the pack at Texas last month or so. Here's my thing. I'm not ready to say Danica's a flop or a waste of time and money. She can win races. I'm proud just to watch her on television. She's had to take so much flak from media, racing fans, racers themselves... she can't catch a break. Thing is, she doesn't let it get to her head. She's done some of the simplest things to stay competitive. Make starts. Complete most of her races. But as soon as she doesn't win, EVERYONE the world over (generalization) gets on Danica's bad side. The itch that hasn't been scratched was getting the losing monkey off her back. This monkey the size of King Kong. So while people look for any excuse to dislike Danica Patrick much like people try to make low blows and cheap shots against Gran Turismo, I'm still supportive of her. Take a look at this old article I found in my RSS feed to autosport.com:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/60860

It's why I say that Danica's first win may come after a series of good finishes. I called it as climbing the ladder. It's hopefully a ladder that will lead to daylight rather than someone sawing off the lower parts of the ladder. She can get it done. Question is, when? How? Where? At least it's my view. To each his/her own, you know.
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I feel Danica is the "Real Deal". She has shown some moments of real talent. I'm not sure she'll be the one who finnaly breaks through, but right now she's the best bet. Lynn St James showed all kinds of muscle in the Trans-Am series and IMSA but never seemed at ease in an Indycar. Danica seems very comfortable. It's definitely getting down to where Danica needs to show she can do it. Michigan and Kentucky were both real hard luck situations that don't help, especially after cooly working her way toward the front. I'm sure Dario did three seasons before he found victory circle. (He wrecked a lot of cars and blew some excellent opportunities). TK has had some great drives and some pretty lackluster seasons, and frankly after 15 years or so I'm surprised he's still around. She's still pretty young and inexperienced in the fast cars compered to most of the "shoes" at Penske and Ganassi. Marco Andretti looks like a clumsy puppy in comparison to Danica. She could use a little less whining, more driving personality. The pressure is on and she always looks so serious. I'm pullin for the kid, I'd like to see her win some.
 
http://www.indycar.com/multimedia/videos/player.php?v=796

So, Was Dixion's move into Dario's path intentional? When it happened in the race, I thought NO. But, I've been watching that replay and I realize that he was all the way around, with Franchitti coming at him.

By the way Michael Andretti has always been a whiner, especially after his winning ways went south, so his opinion doesn't hold any salt with me.

Danica was rewarded with a career best 2nd place after (Reluctantly I'm sure) letting Dario by to fight it out with Dixon. Her race was marred with a few miscues but she kept the pressure on.

Should be a good show going into Chicagoland next week.
 
KAMKA-Z
http://www.indycar.com/multimedia/videos/player.php?v=796

So, Was Dixon's move into Dario's path intentional?
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Looked intentional to me, but hard to prove otherwise. I feel bad for Franchitti. Not only this race, but it was fairly obvious Scott Dixon's teammate Dan Wheldon purposefully took Franchitti out near the end of the Michigan race three weeks ago. While I'm sure he didn't expect Franchitti to flip, I think he did expect him to crash giving Scott Dixon the opportunity to close the gap on the championship.

Oh well, what's racing without controversy right? ;)


At least Franchitti is in the driver's seat so-to-speak, so as long as he finishes in front of Dixon next week in Chicago, he'll win the championship.
 
I just want to congratulate Tony Kannan for winning in Detroit, Justin Wilson for winning at Assen (was Champ Car at Assen?), and Danica Patrick on getting her best-ever finish in second. She earned it in complete weirdness. Danica was looking at 5th or 4th, but it wasn't until Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon got tangled up. Danica's 2nd kind of proved a "theory" I had envisioned for Danica. I said that she would probably climb up the ladder with best finishes. And all season long, she has. Her highest-ever finish before this season was fourth. Remember when I said, "oh, man. My heart was beating for Danica"? That was when she was in third at Texas. She'd get another 3rd at Nashville. And just this past Labor Day weekend, Danica got 2nd. Now there's only one thing I can't wait to hear or read:

"...and Danica Patrick will win!"

Mrs. Danica Patrick... go for the jugular! Get yourself a win and make IndyCar fans proud! Which leads me to this debate question:

John's Debate! - The Winning Game
Granted Danica doesn't win at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, what are the chances (out of 100%) that Danica...
(a)...gets her first win next season?
(b)...gets more than one win next season?

Have at it!
 
Just watched the live timings. Not to give anything away, but I'm pretty pleased :) Well done lad!
 
Emoticon it with me, guys: :eek:

And I thought that was the kind of finish I would only ever see on Youtube. (linked: 1997 US 500)

Very intense finish, just the way I was hoping it would happen (1-2 shootout between 1-2 in the championship). Would've liked to see how it would've gone down without Danica spinning into the pitlane - then there would've been a lot of pressure on the pit crew, since both drivers definitely would have had to have stopped.

Still what we got will probably go down in the history books for a while, at least among oval track racing (along with what, this year's Daytona 500 maybe?). Feel sorry for Dixon and all those rooting for him; thought Franchitti was going to be the one that ran out but I guess he got by on fumes and maybe a bit of karma (for those who think Dixon ran into Franchitti at Belle Isle).

I'll admit that I hoped Franchitti would win, though, since I'm a fan of Andretti Green; maybe it's because they have a lot more well-known drivers (Marco and Danica, at least are more well known to me and perhaps some of the people in the States than drivers like Dixon). So I'm happy, the fans are happy, and Dixon is probably kinda bummed. But he's already got one title, at least. :)

(And Marco retired again due to a mechanical failure. Just no luck for him this season. It's a shame.)
 
Well, I can't wait for the next Indy season. This sure was an interesting race. This was actually the first, full, Indy race I have watched. I saw most of the Indy 500. Since I am really new to Indy I wasn't really rooting for one or the other. I still felt sorry, though, for Dixon. What an awful feeling. :nervous:
 
Congrats to the the Flying Scottsman (literally) on his win and championship.
However my heart goes out to Scott Dixion,he was ONE TURN away from a championship.
 
Sharky.
'tis a bad day for NZ motorsport.
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Good day to be British, though - second British drvier to win the IRL in three years.

I haven't seen the finish yet, one for me to look forward to.

Someone give Dario number 4472.
 
Roo
Good day to be British, though - second British drvier to win the IRL in three years.

I haven't seen the finish yet, one for me to look forward to.

Someone give Dario number 4472.
Click to expand...

Very proud of Dario. A really hard-fought championship. Both drivers deserved to win it.
 
CardcaptorYoshi
Emoticon it with me, guys: :eek:


Very intense finish, just the way I was hoping it would happen (1-2 shootout between 1-2 in the championship). Would've liked to see how it would've gone down without Danica spinning into the pitlane - then there would've been a lot of pressure on the pit crew, since both drivers definitely would have had to have stopped.


(And Marco retired again due to a mechanical failure. Just no luck for him this season. It's a shame.)
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Absolutely Amazing! I've been watching races for nearly forty years (I'm Old) and I can't ever recall a championship down to 2 drivers vying for the lead and the championship on the last lap of the final race! Winner take all! If it had been scripted in a movie it would have been too far-fetched to believe. Eat your heart out NASCAR!

Danica, once again showed all the strength to win and choked, better luck next year kid.

Marco Andretti's whole year was so awful that it made Danica's year look OK.
 
The ironic thing is Dario ran out of fuel on his victory lap. That made me chuckle.
 
To CardcaptorYoshi: Even though San Jose is closer to my hometown (San Francisco), I'll take Laguna Seca over the San Jose street course any day. Laguna Seca is a far better course. However, I'm still not going to waste my money on race tickets until the CCWS & ICS reunite.
 
Laguna Seca is a brilliant race course, and while it shows well on TV, like Sears Point/Infineon, Laguna Seca is best seen live in order to truly appreciate it's elevation and that amazing downhill corkscrew.

That said, I'll definitely miss the SJGP as there is nothing quite like a GP street course, and the San Jose course was really a superb street course, but unfortunately Champ Car simply isn't enough of a draw to justify shutting down such a high volume area with such a low turn out.

At least we still have Vegas. 👍
 
First of all, if you think Laguna Seca is a boring and uninteresting track, have your head examined. The moment I best seem to remember was watching the highlights of when Alessandro (otherwise Alex) Zanardi pulled off that incredible pass on the Laguna Seca corkscrew to win the race. It's illegal nowadays, but it was an incredible moment. I'd love to see this as the United States GP, if not Barber Motorsports Park or (maybe) Miller Motorsports Park.

Great news. I'm proud for Dario Franchitti. He just motored his way to the 2007 championship even after going airborne in two different races. I'm proud for him. I'm also proud of the driver who races that black and blue #7 Motorola car. Think that driver is... uh... Danica Patrick! She goes from 4th as her best to two 3rd finishes. I always said she hasn't done was Sarah Fisher has done- finish 2nd. And albeit in weird fashion, Danica gets 2nd. She can win a race. It's more of "when" and not "if." Danica will get that first win. She'll get the clichéd monkey off her back for the 2008 season. She probably could have advanced further in the field had it not been for her spin on pit road at Chicagoland.

Overall, it's been a great season. I am concerned though. Some of the stars of Indy Car will go to different teams or even leave the IndyCar Series. I'm not sure if they can get more drivers to commit or even get more race entries for events. I'm not saying every race should have 33 cars like at Indy, but at least something to sweeten the pot. Any of you want to share your concerns about a lot of drivers possibly leaving the IndyCar Series or even ride changes in ICS?
 
Yeah, on the radio last night they mentioned that Dario has said he is undecided about staying with Indy or going to NASCAR. He has earned a ton of respect in my book this year and I have lost all respect for drivers that jump to the NASCAR cash cow. Yet, I still secretly wish them all to win and eventually push out all the good ole boys. Imagine the American icon, NASCAR, overrun by foreign drivers. The attitudes would change, the sponsors would change, and I even think the fans would change.


Anyway, I am seeing an ugly trend of successful drivers from other series going to NASCAR. I get bored watching cars go in circles. I am not waiting on pins and needles for the next crash, so I fail to see the excitement in anything but a close race. Indy has a good mix of oval and road racing, which shows the drivers to be both good technically and competitively. NASCAR is very short on road courses and then only a handful can do it really well, or can set the car up for it properly.

My excitement lies mostly in sports car racing, but I love open-wheel as well. These races can excitement by the technical skill displayed, the mechanical beauty of the cars, and none of it requires car parts flying through the air for me to find it cool. I have now witnessed three LeMans races and an Indy race in person and nothing at any oval race I have seen (yes, I've been to those too) compares to the thrill of watching them come around the turn, fly past, each car distinctive by sight and sound (even without sponsors), and then staring in awe at the perfectly timed and placed braking and turning as they disappear out of sight, but never sound.

I am not trying to NASCAR bash here, rather I want to explain why I have issues with drivers wanting to enter NASCAR. They aren't doing it to show off their prowess, and they aren't looking to be considered the best in the world. It is purely a money grab and it bothers me. They have the right to do it, sure, but I would prefer to watch them in something with a bit more excitement for me.

It also makes it harder to pick a favorite driver when they move to a series I don't/can't watch.


I'll stop my whiney rant now. Dario, puhlease don't go to NASCAR. And if Danica rumors of her leaving start again let her go to ALMS. They let women in and out without so much as a peep.
 
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