iracing.com

[noshog]

...Is anyone racing the Star Mazda at Suzuka this week (after today)? How good are the base setups with this car?

I have a pretty good one from last season, it's what I'll be starting with this week, flick me a PM and I'll pass it along.

 

[Kevin01SH]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/171964/iRPRoC2.png

Right on! Some big names in that field, nice to see Keselowski taking part in this. My bet is he'll be having a few Miller Lights before the green flag. Also one thing to note, Kyle Larson who won the K&N East title was using an engine that was supplied by my school Nascar Tech. I obviously didnt touch it or it would have blown up probably but its nice to see him take part!

 

[Nastradamus87]

I'm with you there 👍
That series does have problems with drivers as it is now. I've even told other drivers that they are fighting / blocking lapping cars and to get out of the way - and I wasn't the lapping driver, I was just shocked at the total lack of respect and awareness.
<snipped>

I'm surprised the blue flag police hasn't been by to educate you on the fact that blue flags are only an advisory and cars being blue flagged are not obligated by the iRacing sporting code to let lapping cars by them.
(Yes, some people actually believe this.)

My experience has been that the vast majority of drivers on iRacing (including myself) almost leap off the track to avoid interfering with lapping cars. Although, I haven't ventured beyond the Skippy and Star Mazda. Is it not like that in most series?

I also wonder where them slower drivers end up. Maybe they better their lap in another session before they actually race? And I agree with other drivers qualifying. I've only not qualified a few times, so I'm hoping you get less non-qualifiers the higher class series you race in? (Might be way off here lol).


Is anyone racing the Star Mazda at Suzuka this week (after today)? How good are the base setups with this car?

If you're racing at or around peak times when there several splits they must be in the lower splits (since you are most certainly always in the top split ). Even two splits goes along way in reducing the pace disparity between the quickest and the slowest.

I've never raced a higher license car than the star mazda, and I would guess than qualifying participation would increase with licenses, but even at the lower licenses you can find grids with almost all the cars qualified. I think the trick is racing at peak time when there are many splits. When I was racing the skippy, the peak time races on saturday and sunday usually had all but four or five cars qualified, and I even remember one race where all 16 cars qualified.

If people are just jumping in for a fun race I can see not qualifying making sense, but if you are going for points to compete in your division then you're probably going to qualify.

I'm racing the star mazda at suzuka! I have no idea how good the base setups are. Instead I went to the star mazda forum and downloaded the setup pack posted by one of the race teams that has multiple setups for every track on the calendar. I would provide the link but I don't have access to the iRacing forums righ now.

 

[Wilbur]

I actually qualify less for races with higher license (I haven't for trucks or class B car) because usually there are few iffy drivers who think their fast or overdrive. It allows me to run my race and I might take risk with slower cars but usually they aren't trying to prove anything.

Rookie class helped a ton to get infront of the guys who wrecked alot.

 

[Hydro]

I'm with you there 👍
That series does have problems with drivers as it is now. I've even told other drivers that they are fighting / blocking lapping cars and to get out of the way - and I wasn't the lapping driver, I was just shocked at the total lack of respect and awareness.

I'm surprised the blue flag police hasn't been by to educate you on the fact that blue flags are only an advisory and cars being blue flagged are not obligated by the iRacing sporting code to let lapping cars by them.
(Yes, some people actually believe this.)

My experience has been that the vast majority of drivers on iRacing (including myself) almost leap off the track to avoid interfering with lapping cars.

I don't think you read my post correctly. I never said anyone needs to jump out of anyones way. When the driver was aggressively blocking and fighting with other drivers under a blue flag scenario he was indeed violating Iracings sporting code.

6.5. Blue Flag (blue with diagonal yellow stripe) &#8211; Indicates faster cars are approaching. This flag is informational only. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the faster car to safely overtake the slower car. It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent line. It is strongly recommended that a slower car being lapped makes every reasonable effort to facilitate a safe pass.

Exiting corners slower than the trailing drivers and blocking / weaving so they cannot pass - which led to contact - easily qualifies as a violation of the bolded part.
I certainly don't just get out of the way when I'm approached by a driver under a blue flag but I also don't fight them for position. There's a reason they are a lap up on me for the most part - they are faster than I am.

 

[Nastradamus87]

I don't think you read my post correctly. I never said anyone needs to jump out of anyones way. When the driver was aggressively blocking and fighting with other drivers under a blue flag scenario he was indeed violating Iracings sporting code.



Exiting corners slower than the trailing drivers and blocking / weaving so they cannot pass - which led to contact - easily qualifies as a violation of the bolded part.
I certainly don't just get out of the way when I'm approached by a driver under a blue flag but I also don't fight them for position. There's a reason they are a lap up on me for the most part - they are faster than I am.

I was just having a bit of fun. All I meant was that most people make every reasonable effort to not impede cars on the lead lap.

However, while the one part you highlighted does suggest that blue flagged cars should not drive defensively (block) lapping cars, the rest of the of the section seems to say that there is no obligation to obey blue flags and thus there no penalty for not abiding by them.

6.5. Blue Flag (blue with diagonal yellow stripe) – Indicates faster cars are approaching. This flag is informational only. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the faster car to safely overtake the slower car. It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent line. It is strongly recommended that a slower car being lapped makes every reasonable effort to facilitate a safe pass.

I think most people will agree that the rule is written this way for the same reason there is a no fault penalty system for collisions; creating an automated system for correctly judging all the possible situations is beyond what devs are currently capable of.

Am I wrong? Can a person be successfully protested for not following blue flags?

 

[left888]

The blue flag rule is very clear It is the passer who must be responsible overtaking the slower car. The slower car should help this along.

However, I have seen countless times where the faster car doesn't even want to use his brakes and if the slower car doesn't get out of his way immediately the faster car either runs into him or gets on his mic and starts crying to the slower car.

The way I look at this rule is that, I will allow a faster car past me when I am able too. If I am in the apex of a corner then the faster car will have to wait until I can get over safely. If the faster car gets on his mic and starts crying then I just might make him work for it. Even worse, when a faster car decides to take me out because lord knows I made him use his brakes and didn't get out of his way "right now" then I say, "what goes around comes around"

 

[Adam41]

I'm racing the star mazda at suzuka! I have no idea how good the base setups are. Instead I went to the star mazda forum and downloaded the setup pack posted by one of the race teams that has multiple setups for every track on the calendar. I would provide the link but I don't have access to the iRacing forums righ now.

Cool. I saw that too. I think I'll have a little go with the medium downforce setup first then try out some others. 👍

 

[livemusic]

I have some SM setups from last season. Not sure if the car has changed anything this season, if not they should be useful. If you want them just tell me and I'll post it here this afternoon.

 

[BRP17]

I have some SM setups from last season. Not sure if the car has changed anything this season, if not they should be useful. If you want them just tell me and I'll post it here this afternoon.

There also are plenty of setup on the IRacing forum.
I used one for Iowa, and picked up a 3rd place finish on my 1st oval

 

[Adam41]

Had a go with a setup from the forums and went from a 57.6 to a 56.9. Felt a bit loose especially around Spoon but I guess I'll find that out in a race... when it's too late lol. Thanks for the offer livemusic, I'll try some from the forums first. 👍

 

[SKIDMARX]

Well, I know who I'm supporting.... Richard Westbrook, especially as he is listed twice on the list

But in all seriousness I will probably be supporting Shane Van Gisbergen, Richard Westbrook and Justin Wilson.

It is good to see that it is predicted to be a strong field this year.

 

[Hydro]

I was just having a bit of fun. All I meant was that most people make every reasonable effort to not impede cars on the lead lap.

Am I wrong? Can a person be successfully protested for not following blue flags?

👍 I think we agree on the entire rule, and the blue flags the situation I described was really more about irresponsible driving that involved a blue flag situation. I'm not really sure about a protest involving blue flags. I've been blocked several times (I'm sure we all have at some point) but I never look upon it as a "it's my right to pass you" scenario.

I think you could protest depending on how the scenario played out. In the situation I described the driver in question aggressively blocked the approaching drivers which does break the rule on blocking, and led to contact that was entirely avoidable. Due to the fact that it was in a situation that involved the blue flag waving at him I would think (hope) that the reviewing steward would take that into consideration.

However, if a driver protests that he was gaining on a driver being blue flagged and that driver didn't just give up the spot because he wasn't able to pass him due to the other driver being on pace or faster, then I don't think the protest should be honoured. A good example is when a driver gets taken out in lap 1 but continues racing after the pit stop. If he's down a lap but just as fast as the drivers a lap up, then I wouldn't expect that driver to just give up the position as easily. I wouldn't expect a fight for position, rather I would expect the driver to maintain his pace and lines thoughout the lap(s). If I was to wind up passing him, and he winds up passing me back for whatever reason then it's all good. Everyone is there to race after all 👍

The way I look at this rule is that, I will allow a faster car past me when I am able too. If I am in the apex of a corner then the faster car will have to wait until I can get over safely. If the faster car gets on his mic and starts crying then I just might make him work for it. Even worse, when a faster car decides to take me out because lord knows I made him use his brakes and didn't get out of his way "right now" then I say, "what goes around comes around"

100% ageed. I really don't get guys trying to pass in the apex's - especially if there is a straight that follows. I was down a lap due to a lap 1 punt in the Caddy series and late in the race the leader divebombed me going into the final turn - from about 2 car lengths back. He apologized over the mic, but seeing as he took himself out as well as me, it just left me shaking my head. He could have easily passed me on the straight that followed, and attempting a pass like that (even cleanly) really only slows both drivers down.

 

[G.T.Ace]

There really should be a vote-kick option. I was just driving with the MX-5 in two different open practice rooms and in both joined some idiot crashing cars on purpose.

 

[Jav]

She's real...

 

[ErikAndre71]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfY33M5nF4&list=PL646304A376C8752E&index=1

 

[Jav]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfY33M5nF4&list=PL646304A376C8752E&index=1

Ohh God!!! Funny feeling on my pants...

 

[SKIDMARX]

She's real...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfY33M5nF4&list=PL646304A376C8752E&index=1

Indeed it does look very special, seems like they have put more effort into this car.

I may get it, I think I'll wait and see what people's reviews are first before I get it.

 

[Jav]

Indeed it does look very special, seems like they have put more effort into this car.

I may get it, I think I'll wait and see what people's reviews are first before I get it.

Supposedly it is a fun easy to drive car... Not sure how true that might be, but I can't wait to find out!! 7 days, 7 loooooong days...

 

[SKIDMARX]

Supposedly it is a fun easy to drive car... Not sure how true that might be, but I can't wait to find out!! 7 days, 7 loooooong days...

Hopefully no too easy, I do like a challenge.

There are a few points on the video where it looks a little out of shape on the exit of some corners. It could be an impatient tester but if not then it looks like it will bite your face off if you get it wrong.
And yes, I do apologise for the 'bite your face off' part... It was the first thing I thought of, and no it isn't aimed at anyone just in case somebody thinks it is.

 

[noshog]

Well, I know who I'm supporting.... Richard Westbrook, especially as he is listed twice on the list

But in all seriousness I will probably be supporting Shane Van Gisbergen, Richard Westbrook and Justin Wilson.

It is good to see that it is predicted to be a strong field this year.

I've got four Kiwi's to support in that list But unfortunately I'll be stuck at work when it's on
They don't do replays do they 💡

 

[Jav]

Not trying to hype it but internally many of us feel this is the funnest road car we have ever built. You can judge for yourself next week. This car includes an improved steering model that makes for a nicer driving car. Steering model improvement a result of the continured R&D of tire model as they work together. Hope it will be on most cars next build. Makes lot of the cars drive a little nicer.

Oh God! It keeps geting better and better! Hopefully the Ford GT will benefit greatly from this updated models next season!

Hopefully no too easy, I do like a challenge.

There are a few points on the video where it looks a little out of shape on the exit of some corners. It could be an impatient tester but if not then it looks like it will bite your face off if you get it wrong.
And yes, I do apologise for the 'bite your face off' part... It was the first thing I thought of, and no it isn't aimed at anyone just in case somebody thinks it is.

Well, relatively easy... No car on iRacing is "easy", think of the Riley/Corvette/Cadillac when they say "easy".

 

[livemusic]

Yeah, the McLaren is looking good. I'll probably buy it in January to run in a league championship that's going to use it.

 

[fatkrakr]

Glad to hear they are working on a fix for the NTM. I hope they will have it ready for the next update.

 

[Jav]

Man I can't wait for that car! Looks like they've also made our lives a lot easier on the art department! I can pretty much see all the Blanc Pain Endurance Series liveries are there, all we need is to put the correct sponsors!

 

[Mac K]

Looks hella sexy

 

[Kevin01SH]

Mac... Mustang Challenge... Now...

 

[Kamuifanboy]

I return to the service on the 18th lol.

 

[SpecMiata-JSW]

Glad to hear they are working on a fix for the NTM. I hope they will have it ready for the next update.

Maybe it's a goofy question but what's wrong with the tire model? Is it that the tires are too grippy when cold?

After years of Gran Turismo's horrendous tire model iRacing seems pretty spot on.

I'm just a bit curious what you think is wrong with it?

 

[fatkrakr]

Maybe it's a goofy question but what's wrong with the tire model? Is it that the tires are too grippy when cold?

After years of Gran Turismo's horrendous tire model iRacing seems pretty spot on.

I'm just a bit curious what you think is wrong with it?

Thats part of the problem, you should not be able to turn your fastest laps on cold tires, but also the grip level goes away to fast. The tires should just be getting to max grip in about 4 laps instead after about 3 laps the tires are giving up. Then there is the lateral grip or lack there of. The lateral tire grip is like an on off switch. You either have 100% or 0% no inbetween.