2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel 

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JohnBM01
So you are you all concluding that this year's Indy 500 could be more brutal than that race at Las Vegas a few years ago that took Dan Wheldon's life?
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No-one here has said that.

JohnBM01
Remember- this is the first oval race of the season (if you can believe it) for these new cars.
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Indy has been the first oval race of the season for a few years now.

JohnBM01
For as much as adjustments and experience went into the street and road courses so far, we and the IndyCar teams will learn dealing with the new cars and aero packages on the ovals. I'm hopeful the teams will figure something out here.
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Not sure we can learn anything as we don't actually work with the cars, but i'm sure the teams will be all over the data.
 
What's going on is these cars have become more aero sensitive. That said, it was like this in 2012 too. Let the drivers get settled in. And Indy track wise is fine. The stands and other commodities are what really need upgraded.
 
I think its turn 1 wall. It lifts the car in the air enough for the air to get under the car and lift it. Mike Conway did the same thing in the 2012 Indy 500
 
JohnBM01
So you are you all concluding that this year's Indy 500 could be more brutal than that race at Las Vegas a few years ago that took Dan Wheldon's life? I'm sure these cars will have to be adjusted in many ways to ensure nothing vicious happens. Remember- this is the first oval race of the season (if you can believe it) for these new cars. For as much as adjustments and experience went into the street and road courses so far, we and the IndyCar teams will learn dealing with the new cars and aero packages on the ovsls. I'm hopeful the teams will figure something out here.
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Makes me yearn for 2 weeks of practice/testing before the first day of Qualifying to sort out the cars like back in the day.
 
**DELETED: Accidental double post***
 
BRRT_Angel
What's going on is these cars have become more aero sensitive. That said, it was like this in 2012 too. Let the drivers get settled in. And Indy track wise is fine. The stands and other commodities are what really need upgraded.
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The difference is that when the 2012 cars crashed, they went on their sides but then came back down (they never got airborne except for Conway who got punted up by Will Power); these cars in very similar accidents are getting airborne and flipping:

2012 Crash:

2015:
 
Here's what they think the issue might be...

Earlier in the day IndyCar told Chevy teams they could remove the wicker in the wake of Castroneves’s crash, with Team Penske chief Roger Penske telling reporters that it had kept the nose of the car down so well that it allowed air to get under the rear of the car as it spun.

“It’s the first time we’ve run the speedway bodywork and it’s pretty hard to simulate that in a wind tunnel,” Penske told ESPN.

“But we’ve got smart guys and we’re going to investigate.”

Chevrolet has now reportedly told its teams not to use its low-drag sidepods until further notice, giving their teams one day to adjust their cars ahead of qualifying and time trials this weekend.
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http://m.foxsports.com.au/motor-spo...oneves-backflips/story-fn8albtt-1227356038449
 
That's interesting, who'd of thought the little wicker would cause such issues...ahh the black art of aerodynamics is intriguing.

Honestly though the Road Course side pods on the Chevy look better anyway so...win. :D
 
This sucks, I had a feeling we'd see another car get air after how easily Helio's did. They need to figure this out, I hope removing the wicker works. :nervous:
 
We wanted faster cars. We got em...with a side of even bigger and scarier crashes:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Edit: Around the Horn spoke on the recent crashes and while those guys know nothing about the sport, they all commented saying as someone from the outside looking in that they should slow the cars down to keep them from flipping or make sure the spectators are safe and referenced the St. Pete incident where a fan was struck by a wing in the head.
 
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Relax, its the first race weekend with these kits. They'll fix it and hopefully get them where they don't fly. Technically, we only had one incident where the car got airborne without contact. The second was literally caused after the initial impact.
 
That's why I don't trust traditional sports reporters in regards to motorsports discussion, cnd01. Only traditional panelist on "Around the Horn" most trustworthy on racing topics is Tim Cowlishaw. I almost wanted to blog on traditional sports reporters discussing motorsports and how I'm sickened of them making motorsports seem worse than it really is. It's sad.

I do think the teams will get the aero issues worked out. I'm sure any absolute worst-case scenario will be averted once we get to the Indy 500.


Qualifying, as I learned, got rained out for today, and the qualifying will resume tomorrow morning.
 
3 cars with the Chevrolet aero kit have been upside down this week now, serious questions will be asked before the race...
 
Marshal Pruett is saying they might be lowering the boost and mandating minimum wing angles for Chevy.

And there goes Carpenter's chance for 3 straight poles. Carpenter wasn't running the wicker that Penske thought might have been the problem.
 
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Its the wings that are the problem, Chevy needs to get that sorted or they shouldn't race imo.
 
TDZdave
Has qualifying started yet?
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It's on hold until they fix the fence that was damaged during Carpenter's crash, and Indycar figures out what to do to try to keep the cars on the ground.
 
spacecowboy73
It's on hold until they fix the fence that was damaged during Carpenter's crash, and Indycar figures out what to do to try to keep the cars on the ground.
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Perhaps ask the teams if they still have last years aero kits floating about?

Seriously gotta give it up for the drivers though, they know this is a possibility and they still go for it, can see why F1 never gets total support from the U.S.A
 
Well you can't go with the attitude of fear as a driver, but safety wise something has be sorted, if it doesn't the warning signs are all there if something bad happens in the race.
 
Just announced Indycar is still talking to the manufacturers about what to do. Then they'll have to practice for a while again. Qualifying's still a ways off, and then lets hope it doesn't rain.
 
From Marshall Pruett

10:36 ET: Speaking with multiple sources on Gasoline Alley, the following appears to be the direction INDYCAR will take its technical specifications for the rest of the event. The series has not made an official statement on the changes, nor have they updated the loyal fans as to what's going on or the reason for the rpolonged red flag:

  • Engines will return to their low-boost settings, which reduces something in the region of 40-50hp and lowers lap speeds below 230mph.
  • All teams--from Chevy and Honda--will be required to race in the aerodynamic trim they use in qualifying. This effectively forces teams to abandon low-drag qualifying setups.
  • Teams are allowed to adjust their wing angles as desired.
  • Wing wickers are also open.
 
Its another flip caused by contact with the wall, though its interestingly not Turn 1 this time.
 
Rumour from IMS has it that Chevy and Honda both don't like this, with Chevy saying they won't race unless Indycar keeps these changes, but Honda saying they won't because of the Q/Race restriction (which is unfair on them, after all Chevy messed up not Honda).
 
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