2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel

[JohnBM01]

G4 show, "Attack of the Show!" had a comedic take on the Danica/Milka confrontation in the pits. It was all a part of a "Women on Wheels" segment during AotS' "Around the Net" segment. Now, here were some "highlights" from this comedic look at this incident:

* one of the co-hosts (Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn) thought Milka was Italian.
* a "decipher" deal had stuff like Milka asking if Danica wanted to see "Mamma Mia!" later on.
* Kevin: "People watch races only for crashes." <<< you know how I feel about that claim.

Just goes to show you, not everyone cares exclusively on facts. They just want to make jokes and say "good TV" without even caring about anything real. These are two pro drivers, not some YouTube jackasses (there is a difference) that perform some kind of comedic or stupid action just for kicks.

Keep sending those comedic takes on this incident and even "it makes for good TV" comments. All you're making me do is get even more angry and intolerant. So fire away.

 

[JohnBM01]

Danica Patrick is unapologetic from last weekend's incident at Mid-Ohio:
http://sports.aol.com/story/_a/bbdp...n/100339?icid=200100397x1206363761x1200301944

She said that her only regret was how public this confrontation would get. She should have known this would reach viral video status. Danica also says that she wants kids to be fans of her as well as their parents. Mostly thinking her image would be hurt if she got too violent and really wanted to risk suspension or probation.



A poll question asked by AOL asks if Danica Patrick is too confrontational. I voted "no." At the time I posted my vote, a total of 51,023 votes were cast (including mine). So far, it's a dead heat. 51% (25,910 votes) said that Danica is NOT too confrontational. The other 49% (25,113) disagrees with me. Milka's not in Edmonton Oiler country, so I don't think we'll see any further confrontation. And if Danica was as much of a hothead as people make her out to be, why didn't she jump over the pit wall and clock Milka in the temple? Like she's THAT bad. Come the f:censored: on.

The second poll asked for who looked worse out of all of this- Danica, Milka, or both. I voted Milka Duno. Over 51,289 votes were cast at the time of my vote. As many as 50% agreed with me that Milka Duno (25,406) came off worse. Over 28% (14,112 votes) say that Danica came off worse. And then, 22% (11,741 votes) thought both of them looked bad. I've stated that Milka Duno didn't represent herself with class or with a professional racing mindset.





Here's a fact- I've NEVER seen racing around that temporary course in Edmonton. Dave Despain raved that this track is the best temporary circuit in a long time. Let's see if the IndyCar stars can come to life with intense racing up in Canada.

 

[RACECAR]

G4 show, "Attack of the Show!" had a comedic take on the Danica/Milka confrontation in the pits. It was all a part of a "Women on Wheels" segment during AotS' "Around the Net" segment. Now, here were some "highlights" from this comedic look at this incident:

* one of the co-hosts (Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn) thought Milka was Italian.
* a "decipher" deal had stuff like Milka asking if Danica wanted to see "Mamma Mia!" later on.
* Kevin: "People watch races only for crashes." <<< you know how I feel about that claim.

Just goes to show you, not everyone cares exclusively on facts. They just want to make jokes and say "good TV" without even caring about anything real. These are two pro drivers, not some YouTube jackasses (there is a difference) that perform some kind of comedic or stupid action just for kicks.

Keep sending those comedic takes on this incident and even "it makes for good TV" comments. All you're making me do is get even more angry and intolerant. So fire away.

I saw it and I say chill man. That show is never serious so its not really a surprise that they had a comedic take on it. If it was a big news outlet like Fox or NBC, then I'd be in agreement.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'lll admit. Sometimes I can't take a joke. I saw the comedic value in this, but I know I get a little crazy and intolerant.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Edmonton GP Starting Lineup
The 2008 Edmonton GP airs tomorrow at 5:00 PM EDT on ESPN!

 

[TS]

Another pole for Briscoe Inferno!

 

[RACECAR]

Scott Dixon wins the Rexall Edmonton Indy!

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Edmonton GP Race Results
Congratulations to Scott Dixon for winning the 2008 Edmonton GP.

 

[Sharky.]

Music to my ears.

You guys reckon he'll maintain his lead and win the title?

 

[Studentdriver]

I wasn't sure before, but I think this race all but clinches it.

 

[TS]

Helio just can't catch a break.

 

[JohnBM01]

I had to attend a dinner, so I completely missed the Edmonton action. Danica finished a disappointing 17th. But the real story was Paul Tracy's 4th place finish. I keep saying he's my favorite controversial character. Now, I give him a new title- my favorite bad boy of racing. Only that this boy was a man in racing these "crapwagons" with a performance that was anything but crap. Congratulations to Scott Dixon. He may well just win out to the 2008 IndyCar Series championship.

The series still ends too early for me. I know the merger kind of screwed around a lot of events and such. The finale is at Chicagoland in early September (I'll be covering college football on GTP by the time this race rolls around). I think there are four more races after this. Maybe three. Then, there's that non-points race when the IndyCar stars have their tour of duty at Surfer's Paradise. And if Scott Dixon wins the title (or already clinched), the New Zealand native will be coming back closer to home to celebrate.



I believe the next race is at Kentucky in the final night race of the season. Take a moment and respond to this if you like:

John's Debate! - Building for the Future
What Champ Car events would you like to see the IndyCar Series take part in for next season? Do you think the season should begin earlier and finish later in the year? How many races do you think next season will bring?


I got to thinking about the Edmonton airport course. I began to think that since Cleveland wasn't going to be raced, Edmonton was a substitute. I still haven't seen this track being raced on. Imagine Cleveland and Edmonton in the same season- two different airport courses. Most memorable to me was when the Burke Lakefront Airport was raced at night as downtown Cleveland was aglow in the distance. * Of course, I'd like to see the Grand Prix of Houston return since it's always fun to enjoy major league racing action in your hometown or near your hometown. * Any of the Canadian street courses would be wonderful. Toronto or Trois-Riveres (or bring back Vancouver!) would be fine. * I usually think Laguna Seca when I think of the former Champ Car. Imagine the IndyCar stars go down the 7-foot drop known world-wide as the Laguna Seca Corkscrew. * Surfer's Paradise is always an intense challenge. I don't think this race is going anywhere off the schedule any time soon.

Carry on, people. Keep this thing going.

 

[TS]

I had to attend a dinner, so I completely missed the Edmonton action. Danica finished a disappointing 17th. But the real story was Paul Tracy's 4th place finish. I keep saying he's my favorite controversial character. Now, I give him a new title- my favorite bad boy of racing. Only that this boy was a man in racing these "crapwagons" with a performance that was anything but crap. Congratulations to Scott Dixon. He may well just win out to the 2008 IndyCar Series championship.

Andretti-Green Racing is falling apart, I was watching Wind Tunnel last night, Robin Miller was a guest and he discussed the issue between Danica, Marco and TK. The incident between Danica and Marco was caused when Michael told them both that Kanaan was about 1-2 seconds faster then both of them and he told them to let Tony by. What did they do? They ended up racing each other and it boxed Tony in and eventually Danica and Marco made contact which allowed Kanaan to get by, but by then, it was too late for him, the leaders were too far gone.

As for Paul Tracy, IMO now that Vision racing has acquired Bryan Herta as a driving coach (or whatever his position is) and how PT's ride was affiliated with Vision I'm wondering if Tony George may consider replacing one (or maybe both) of his drivers with either Herta or Tracy. The results for that team have been absolutely horrendous this year, the team knows they have fast cars, and resources, they just need the drivers. Carpenter and AJ Foyt IV haven't made the best of it.

The series still ends too early for me. I know the merger kind of screwed around a lot of events and such. The finale is at Chicagoland in early September (I'll be covering college football on GTP by the time this race rolls around). I think there are four more races after this. Maybe three. Then, there's that non-points race when the IndyCar stars have their tour of duty at Surfer's Paradise. And if Scott Dixon wins the title (or already clinched), the New Zealand native will be coming back closer to home to celebrate.

Kentucky, Belle Isle Park, Chicago and Surfers remain. And unless Dixon starts finishing 25th, he has the title locked up.

John's Debate! - Building for the Future
What Champ Car events would you like to see the IndyCar Series take part in for next season? Do you think the season should begin earlier and finish later in the year? How many races do you think next season will bring?

I would love to see the Canadian triple crown return, how it used to be in CART/Champ Car with races at Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Vancouver. I would also like to see Portland on the schedule, and with Nashville and Homestead-Miami possibly not returning to the schedule in '09, it's certainly possible.

 

[JohnBM01]

I asked SpeedFreaks this on Myspace. Here's the response I got from SpeedFreaks:

"Hmmm, I know Toronto is a done deal... Portland is being talked about tons... Cleveland may not happen now as there are so many races in the Midwest - they were looking at it as it has traditionally done well, but they don't want to saturate the Midwest... look for Nashville to go away (yipee!) and for possibly Mexico City to be added if not in 2009, then 2010... it's getting good!!!!!" -SpeedFreaks ( http://www.myspace.com/speedfreaksradioandtv ), via Myspace

There's a lot of racing that goes on in the Midwest. It's a bit rare you hear or read something saying "too many Midwest races." Like, is there such a thing?

Anyhow, I just wanted to throw that into this discussion. Since the series is one again, we may well see a number of the mainstay Champ Car events join the IndyCar schedule for next year. Whichever ones you think are more likely are your call.

 

[Christhedude]

Here's a fact- I've NEVER seen racing around that temporary course in Edmonton. Dave Despain raved that this track is the best temporary circuit in a long time. Let's see if the IndyCar stars can come to life with intense racing up in Canada.

we were racing with the champ car atlantic at edmonton, same weekend as the indy was and i talked to mario dominguez about the circuit and like me, he just loved it.

I'll get more about my talk to danica and mario later.

Just came back to L.A from edmonton

Chris

 

[KAMKA-Z]

There's a lot of racing that goes on in the Midwest. It's a bit rare you hear or read something saying "too many Midwest races." Like, is there such a thing?

Did Nascah (That's how the locals pronounce it in Maine, with a strong accent on the first syllable) ever say "By gum, ah thank we got too many races here in the South"

I'd like to see Road America back on the schedule. Replace Sonoma with Laguna. Cleveland always did make for some good races. Keep Milwaukee, loose some of the other Mini-ovals. Hmmm, how about Lime Rock? Tiny road course, potential for lots of carnage.


Argh! I missed the Edmoton Race. Dixon is on a hell of a roll. I would expect Wheldon to have a stronger season, but he just can't get it done like Dixon. Dario would've struggled to keep up this year. I'm beginning to think Andretti-Green is too big for it's own good.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, I like Laguna Seca AND Sears Point. Laguna Seca's your SoCal fix while Sears Point is your NoCal fix. Of a different accord, Laguna Seca is a better course overall than Sears Point. It's still a great course to race whether on two wheels or four wheels.

As far as Lime Rock, the track could be able to host 26 cars on my idea of a short track. I love the surroundings. I call it a race track built around a park. Some of the IndyCar racers may have competed at Lime Rock Park in Skip Barber or other series like that. I'd be welcome to add some New England venues, and Lime Rock Park is an excellent venue to represent New England.

 

[JohnBM01]

It's said that the official IndyCar Series schedule for next year will be unveiled today (saying that it's Wednesday as of this post around my way). According to a Myspace comment I got from SpeedFreaks, Las Vegas isn't going to be included. Not sure if that meant the one-off street course race raced earlier this year (or last year) or the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

I picked this up from Wikipedia: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_IndyCar_Series_season >

LIKELY TO BE ADDED:
* St. Petersburg
* Milwaukee
* Iowa Speedway
* Texas Motor Speedway (yay for us Texans!)
* Twin-Ring Motegi (Superspeedway)
* Mid-Ohio
* Surfer's Paradise
* Watkins Glen
* Long Beach
* Toronto (bumps out Nashville)

POSSIBLE RACES:
* Phoenix (the tri-oval, not the planned street course Champ Car WAS going to run)
* Barber Motorsports Park <~ I'd love this!
* Road America
* a five-track deal by Speedway Motorsports Inc including: Las Vegas, Loudon, Texas, Kentucky, and Sears Point.

* Curt Cavin (Indianapolis Star[/I] journalist) reported that 15 tracks were locks:
St. Petersburg, Kansas, Long Beach, Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Richmond, Watkins Glen, Toronto, Mid-Ohio, Edmonton, Kentucky, Detroit, and Chicagoland. His highly likely tracks include Homestead, Sears Point, Twin-Ring Motegi, and Surfer's Paradise. He deemed Loudon and Las Vegas as possible. Nashville was feared out. The uncertainties are of Mexico City, Houston, Elkhart Lake, Portland, Barber Motorsports Park, and Cleveland.



So if this schedule is as is, then we may be looking at an 18 or 19-race season. One of the things I've loved about Champ Car was that they weren't afraid to do some international competition. It's an American series campaigned worldwide against a world of drivers. I liked all the different possible venues thought of by Champ Car. Maybe expanding into some other international markets down the road would help make the current IndyCar Series have a little aspect of the former Champ Car World Series. There have been a number of past Champ Car races that sounded interesting, but never happened. For example, this Hawaii Superprix back in 1999, a proposed race to take place in South Korea, and stuff like that. Maybe the IndyCar Series' appeal will help to add a little more international flavor for this championship in the future. And after all, I'm going to love the Champ Car series for all of its challenges even as the mostly oval racing ICS.



If the IndyCar Series could race any track in the world, here are some non-American choices of mine:

* Mont-Tremblant
* Rio de Janerio (oval or road course)
* Interlagos
* Donnington Park
* Monza
* Lausitzring (Road Course)
* Kyalami (Tomas Schecter(?) can race in his home country. That is, if he's still in the series)
* Dubai Autodrome
* Sepang
* Shanghai
* Suzuka
* Autopolis
* Fuji (though I don't like the new-look Fuji all that much)
* Adelaide



What do you make of this schedule news?

 

[TS]

I was reading that on MyNameIsIRL, and according to their sources that the IndyCar Series would open with the race at St. Petersburg on April 5th and it would end at Homestead-Miami on October 11th, the Indy 500 is scheduled to be on May 24th.

It's said that the official IndyCar Series schedule for next year will be unveiled today (saying that it's Wednesday as of this post around my way). According to a Myspace comment I got from SpeedFreaks, Las Vegas isn't going to be included. Not sure if that meant the one-off street course race raced earlier this year (or last year) or the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

According to ESPN, there won't be any races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway or the temporary street circuit that champ car used in 2007.

This is the provisional schedule, courtesy of trackside online:

2009 IRL INDYCAR SCHEDULE
Date Track
April 5 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
April 19 Streets of Long Beach
April 26 Kansas Speedway
May 24 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
May 31 The Milwaukee Mile
June 6 Texas Motor Speedway*
June 21 Iowa Speedway
June 27 Richmond International Raceway*
July 5 Watkins Glen International
July 12 Streets of Toronto
July 26 Edmonton City Centre Airport
Aug. 1 Kentucky Speedway*
Aug. 9 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug. 23 Infineon Raceway
Aug. 29 Chicagoland Speedway*
Sept. 6 The Raceway at Belle Isle Park
Sept. 19 Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
Oct. 11 Homestead-Miami Speedway

*Saturday night

 

[TheCracker]

I
If the IndyCar Series could race any track in the world, here are some non-American choices of mine:

* Mont-Tremblant
* Rio de Janerio (oval or road course)
* Interlagos
* Donnington Park
* Monza
* Lausitzring (Road Course)
* Kyalami (Tomas Schecter(?) can race in his home country. That is, if he's still in the series)
* Dubai Autodrome
* Sepang
* Shanghai
* Suzuka
* Autopolis
* Fuji (though I don't like the new-look Fuji all that much)
* Adelaide

What do you make of this schedule news?

How about Brands Hatch? - they even named their short circuit the 'Indy Circuit' after the series visited the UK in '67(?). CART also raced at the circuit in 2003.

What proportion of the 2009 season is run on ovals?

Do you think there should be more oval rounds or more road/street rounds?

 

[Earth]

2009 Indy car schedule

April 5 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
April 19 Streets of Long Beach
April 26 Kansas Speedway
May 24 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
May 31 The Milwaukee Mile
June 6 Texas Motor Speedway*
June 21 Iowa Speedway
June 27 Richmond International Raceway*
July 5 Watkins Glen International
July 12 Streets of Toronto
July 26 Edmonton City Centre Airport
Aug. 1 Kentucky Speedway*
Aug. 9 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug. 23 Infineon Raceway
Aug. 29 Chicagoland Speedway*
Sept. 6 The Raceway at Belle Isle Park
Sept. 19 Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
Oct. 11 Homestead-Miami Speedway

Upsetting only seeing 3 permanent road courses on the schedule

Good to see Long Beach and Toronto back on the schedule

Hopefully Road America, Portland and Cleveland Airport will be added 2010

I'm not a fan of all the high banked ovals designed for NASCAR being on the calendar, but if brings fans and money OK for now

Phoenix, Michigan, California and Gateway Intl should have been on the list for ovals instead of lets say Kansas and Chicago

I want

40% permanent road courses
20% street courses
15% 1 mile ovals
15% 1.5 mile ovals
10% 2+ mile ovals

=
60% road courses
40% ovals

Right now the schedule is

33% 1.5 mile ovals
27% Temporary Street Courses
16% Permanent Road Course
16% 1 mile ovals
5% 2+ mile ovals

=
56% ovals
44% road courses

It's actually pretty balanced, but there are too many 1.5 NASCAR ovals on the schedule for my taste and way too few permanet road courses

 

[JohnBM01]

No Surfer's Paradise apparentely from this provisional schedule. What I'm going for is the IndyCar Series with elements of the Champ Car World Series. The IndyCar Series made its money in competitive oval racing, so I'd keep the ovals. I actually like IndyCar best for oval racing. Fast cars and competitive races are what draws me to this series. The old CART had some great oval racing as well. So I wouldn't trade a lot of ovals for this series. Someone mentioned not racing a lot of NASCAR ovals? I can really think of that one (then) IRL race when the series ran at Charlotte/Lowe's Motor Speedway with that huge crash that killed some fans. It's still not that bad as I don't mind them. Only as long as these cars don't have to race Martinsville or Bristol.

I know Brands Hatch was raced by the CCWS. To add a little more challenge, they could race the Grand Prix course and not so much the short course. There was one other track I forgot to mention as far as "any track in the world." And that would be... Adria. This track in Italy is all about quick laps. It's like a go-kart track made for big cars. You want full-contact racing? This could be your fix!

 

[m.piedgros]

The only difficulty with the 1.5 mile ovals is that the Dallara produces waaay to much downforce, and the Honda produces not near enough power. This issue has been rehashed by certain aspects of the IndyCar fan community multiple times, but less downforce, more power, more diversity is what will do well. Contrary to popular belief following the decisions that NASCAR makes is not the right thing. NASCAR, and I'm digressing here, is hurting a lot of its old fans with schedule choices, and choices on the tech package (aero, spec series nature etc.) and in due time they will need to reinvent themselves to stay on top. Hopefully the IndyCar series or ALMS or someone will be there with a legitimately good RACING product to replace NASCAR at the top. You may not believe me now, but NASCAR won't be on top forever. I feel like a NASCAR fan in 1992, "IndyCar won't be on top forever!"

m.piedgros

 

[RACECAR]

First of all, welcome back m.piedgros. Where have you been?

The only difficulty with the 1.5 mile ovals is that the Dallara produces waaay to much downforce, and the Honda produces not near enough power. This issue has been rehashed by certain aspects of the IndyCar fan community multiple times, but less downforce, more power, more diversity is what will do well. Contrary to popular belief following the decisions that NASCAR makes is not the right thing. NASCAR, and I'm digressing here, is hurting a lot of its old fans with schedule choices, and choices on the tech package (aero, spec series nature etc.) and in due time they will need to reinvent themselves to stay on top. Hopefully the IndyCar series or ALMS or someone will be there with a legitimately good RACING product to replace NASCAR at the top. You may not believe me now, but NASCAR won't be on top forever. I feel like a NASCAR fan in 1992, "IndyCar won't be on top forever!"

m.piedgros

"Looks like the tables have turned, mr. powers"

 

[TS]

The IndyCar Series will return to ABC-TV for five races in 2009, including the Indianapolis 500, but the rest of the races will move from ESPN and ESPN2 to Versus, series and television officials confirmed Wednesday.

Versus, which is owned by Comcast and is home to the NHL and the Tour de France, will carry a minimum of 13 races next year in a multiyear agreement.
Advertisement

Versus is Channel 46 in Comcast's Central Indiana lineup.

Versus reaches more than 73 million homes. ESPN and ESPN2 each reach about 96 million.

The IndyCar Series is counting on additional programming on Versus, including pre- and post-race shows, extended broadcasts and specialty shows that will be detailed today in a teleconference.

ABC's four non-Indy races have not been selected. Next year will mark the 45th year for the 500 on the network, and this contract, which includes international rights, runs through the 2012 season. Officially, all races are produced by ESPN Inc.

ESPN has hosted Indy-car races since 2000, with ESPN2's connection to the sport dating to 1998.

Time to start calling your cable and satellite providers to make sure that you'll be getting Versus in time for St. Petersburg next April.

 

[JohnBM01]

Something I learned from yesterday is that you can count on the Indy 500 to be with ESPN and ABC until 2012. The deal was extended for this network and this race.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Kentucky 300 Starting Lineup
The 2008 Kentucky 300 airs tomorrow at 6:30 PM EDT on ESPN2!

 

[TS]

Marty Roth is starting 11th, but the question is where will he finish?

 

[JohnBM01]

This is the final night race of the season. Something I forgot to post in my latest post was that Tony Kannan's staying with Andretti-Green for at least the next five years. Be strange to imagine him in other places. Then again, I felt the same way in (then) CART when Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti weren't part of Team Kool Green back then.

It would be tough to go against Scott Dixon the rest of the way unless he truly tanks to the IndyCar abyss the rest of the way. If Scott Dixon doesn't win this race at Kentucky, who are your other favorites to win? I have no favorites though I always want Danica to have a strong showing (even winning). Okay... maybe Dan Wheldon to win Kentucky if Scott Dixon doesn't finish P1.

 

[JohnBM01]

[UPDATE] I learned a few minutes ago that Danica Patrick will start last after having a crash at Kentucky. It would be one hell of a comeback if Danica actually goes from worst to first, which (and I love Danica) is highly unlikely.

Good luck to all who'll take on the Bluegrass State's finest superspeeday.