- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
Already have it covered. Announcement coming on Tuesday.
CLOSED SERIES
- Thread starter Eva
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- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
I'm just going off what I was sent via e-mail.
- 2,532
- swiftautosport9
Final Driver Announced
It was announced Sunday at the media day in Indy that @1996mikey2412 will be the fourth driver in the Swift Autosport arcinal.
The Start
In the beginning it started out as a 1 car operation. But after a great showing in touring cars the team managed to find the funds for a second car. Which led to the joining of @AGNT009 after being let go by Robie-Brown Racing.
The Third
After weeks of testing with the help of engineer @Gino Caberlin the team decided to take a few weeks off from testing.
They came back to a young karting star looking for an Indy ride. So Smith made the decision to look for some money in the teams budget. He did have to make some cuts to the touring car side of the team but he found the room for @NinjaEvo to join the team.
We asked Smith what he was thinking when he made the choice to field a third car. Here's what he had to say:
"It was a tough decision to cut things from the championship winning touring car team we had but I wanted to give him a chance. I feel confident in my decision to cut things from touring car so I have more money to field my team in the IndyCar Series."
Late Arrival
With Smith, AGNT,& Ninja already testing,& preparing for the Indy 500 it was definitely came as a surprise to Smith when his old friend Mikey called him looking for an IndyCar ride. "I didn't know what to say" Smith was quoted saying when Mikey first called him on that cold November day.
Smith called Mikey back the next day,& told him "I can't promise you a full time ride but I can promise you a ride." Mikey did have other offers on the table but he decided to stick with his old friend. Thus the unexpected four car team was born.
Media Day
Today's media day the day where all teams,& drivers reveal their firesuits for the season. But for some teams like Swift Autosport it means its time to reveal the official team lineup for the 2014 season. Below are a few shots of Mikey's first time on track for the team: (Full Credit Goes To @redbullrider20)
Mikey flying down the front strech to start another lap at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Smith, AGNT,& Mikey taking the green flag for a practice race. (Both Smith,& Mikey's first IndyCar laps ever.)
Mikey making the teams first competition pit stop.
View of the inside of Mikey's #10 Swift Autosport Lotus.
(That marks the end of the article thanks for reading. Any problems please inform me via PM.)
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- 2,532
- swiftautosport9
Just so we're clear that number isn't taken, nor retired correct?
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
You are correct.
- 1,617
- Halifax, West Yorkshire
- NinjitsuEvolved
- Gaijin Kaiju
👍
- 235
- Tennessee
- AGNT009
I see another potential flaw with the rulebook. Regarding blocking. Agree that you should get 1 block move during the race, but I believe last lap anything should go. Because if you are going to say only 1 block allowed, then leading out of the final turn at Indy oval, you are a sitting duck. As the 2nd place driver, all I have to do is pump fake the leader into using up his 1 block, then pass him, and if he blocks twice call for a penalty. If someone wants to risk getting spun by overblocking, thats on them, but limiting to 1 block on the final lap is asking the leader to lay over with such a long run to the bricks at Indy.
- 235
- Tennessee
- AGNT009
I would also like to hear from race control how certain racing etiquette scenarios are going to be viewed.
Im seeing a lack of etiquette so far. For instance, the car in FRONT of you going into a turn has lane selection. The proper way to race Indy is to ride the wall on the straights, dive to the white line in turns 1 and 3, outside to the wall, then back inside for turns 2 and 4. So if you are going into a turn, and the car in front of you is on the outside wall, that DOES NOT mean you can dive to the inside and take his lane, when you know full well they intend to come to the white line in the turns. Nearfear pulled this stunt on me during a practice race and I got punted into the wall when he insisted on using 8 tires and I took damage.
As drivers, I think we should be able to call out for a penalty review on the spot. And the safety car writes down the cars involved and the lap number. Then when the race is over officials can look at replay and decide if a penalty was warranted. I think penalties should be 3 seconds each. So even if you win the race, but you were punting everyone and racked up 12 seconds worth of penalties, if a car finished within 12 seconds of you, they won, not you. Im seeing a disturbing lack of caution in the turns and I think harsher penalties need to be given out so drivers are more cautious with keeping their cars of their competitors in the turns. Lift if necessary to hold your line in a turn. Indy turns are plenty big enough to go in 2 wide, the inside car doesnt need 3/4 of the track or more when they know someone is on their outside.
Im seeing a lack of etiquette so far. For instance, the car in FRONT of you going into a turn has lane selection. The proper way to race Indy is to ride the wall on the straights, dive to the white line in turns 1 and 3, outside to the wall, then back inside for turns 2 and 4. So if you are going into a turn, and the car in front of you is on the outside wall, that DOES NOT mean you can dive to the inside and take his lane, when you know full well they intend to come to the white line in the turns. Nearfear pulled this stunt on me during a practice race and I got punted into the wall when he insisted on using 8 tires and I took damage.
As drivers, I think we should be able to call out for a penalty review on the spot. And the safety car writes down the cars involved and the lap number. Then when the race is over officials can look at replay and decide if a penalty was warranted. I think penalties should be 3 seconds each. So even if you win the race, but you were punting everyone and racked up 12 seconds worth of penalties, if a car finished within 12 seconds of you, they won, not you. Im seeing a disturbing lack of caution in the turns and I think harsher penalties need to be given out so drivers are more cautious with keeping their cars of their competitors in the turns. Lift if necessary to hold your line in a turn. Indy turns are plenty big enough to go in 2 wide, the inside car doesnt need 3/4 of the track or more when they know someone is on their outside.
- 1,617
- Halifax, West Yorkshire
- NinjitsuEvolved
- Gaijin Kaiju
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
I see the calling for hyper realism here. With the way the regs are set, it's nearly impossible to pass on straights since bump drafting isn't allowed. Unless you're in a pack (I know for a fact that after 5 green flag laps the top 6 won't be), there's no clear way to get in a pass. Sure it's likely to draw incidents, but Indy is wide enough to where if you wanna keep a position, you need to defend from the start. If you're going to use the arch in turns, prepare to be passed. You have fair warning. As for reporting to SC, that won't truly work as the SC isn't a PRB steward. The PRB will have 8 people reviewing this race, including the IRG Chairwoman. They'll find everything.
- 4,716
- Indiana
- CWM_Spirit
May someone please tell me when practice gets busy? I need more time running with other cars as this is my first oval race, and first single-seater race. Not a good combination I know, that's why I want as much time as I can around others before the race so I learn everything in practice and avoid doing something stupid in the race.
- 1,617
- Halifax, West Yorkshire
- NinjitsuEvolved
- Gaijin Kaiju
Six in at the moment @redbullrider20
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
To follow through with my announcement plans, the officlal IRG Safety Car Official for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is @trobes29 He will be race director, so any penalty he gives out during the race must be followed by all racing drivers. I feel that having him as a SC will be a great thing for this race.
- 235
- Tennessee
- AGNT009
Can "bump drafting" be specifically defined here. I would like to know exactly how things will be judged coming to the line. Like, are we not allowed to touch cars and push? Can we be connected a few seconds before a penalty is issued? Id like to think you more mean Slam drafting, where the back car has a run and slams the front car to give a push, which in Indy would never happen and in Nascar highly risky. Are we allowed to come up gradually on the lead car and then stay tucked in? I want this WELL spelled out so there arent a bunch of judgement calls AFTER the race and cars get penalized unfairly.
When the cars are in a pack, we're going to be touching, its a game, so its kind of unavoidable, so I assume that isnt going to get called or we're ALL getting thrown out.
Id recommend no obvious slam drafting, and a 3 and 3 second connect rule. In replay, if 2 cars are connected for 3 consecutive seconds, the 4th second is the penalty. We'd be allowed to gently draft, connect for 3 seconds, pull apart, and then CANT reconnect for at least 3 seconds. This would be a fair drafting rule for ovals and road courses. IMO. Hardy, please let Angel know if this is ok with you. That way we all have a clear definition of it, and replay cant lie, because the race clock will show if a connection lasted to the 4th second.
When the cars are in a pack, we're going to be touching, its a game, so its kind of unavoidable, so I assume that isnt going to get called or we're ALL getting thrown out.
Id recommend no obvious slam drafting, and a 3 and 3 second connect rule. In replay, if 2 cars are connected for 3 consecutive seconds, the 4th second is the penalty. We'd be allowed to gently draft, connect for 3 seconds, pull apart, and then CANT reconnect for at least 3 seconds. This would be a fair drafting rule for ovals and road courses. IMO. Hardy, please let Angel know if this is ok with you. That way we all have a clear definition of it, and replay cant lie, because the race clock will show if a connection lasted to the 4th second.
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
Bump drafting is defined by IRG as "the connecting of two drivers bumper to bumper outside of a racing pack". If you're in the pack, obviously it's unavoidable. But you cannot push when there's less than 3 cars around you. You can tuck in behind to try fuel saving, but you can't bump someone around the track. This is coming from the PRB which makes all rule calls.
- 2,532
- swiftautosport9
Less than 3 does that mean if all my cars are nose to tale coming to the line we can be bumper to bumper?
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
Tuck in as in absolutely no touching. And making a train would be illegal as well because if so my team could put 1/3 of the field alone into a line.
- 4,716
- Indiana
- CWM_Spirit
That practice race was really fun. Was a really cool feeling going so fast and charging through the field. I will say two things though:
- To the organizers, I would recommend finding better means of communication rather than the *delayed* text and typing. If there's someone with a microphone or someone the drivers can talk to who can call yellows then please implement this (if it hasn't already).
- To the drivers, who do manage to get in the 500 mile feature race, please don't quit until the checkered flag is waved. I absolutely hate it when people quit halfway through just because they're having a bad race. It's racing, **** happens. This is especially true for this race because there are three people who aren't going to make the cut and to see someone quit out of a spot they would've ran the full race in is kind of a kick in the face for them.
- 7,524
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- BlackRose_Atomic
To answer the first point, the SC will have a mic and at least half the field will as will. If necessary I will use it, but I hate using it. And I agree definitely with everyone sticking it out all 500 miles.
- 4,716
- Indiana
- CWM_Spirit
@trobes29 should be fairly proficient at calling cautions. Hopefully it will be done rather quickly to prevent confusion among the drivers.
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