Battistini's amazing Indy Light race

[seppefan]

Four abreast into turn one. What an amazing race. Battistini had never raced an oval before this year and looks like Panther are on the up with second in the 500. Seems dillon may get a IRL drive next year if he carries on like this ( and gets a sponsor !).The 500 was interesting with some great moves from TK to take the lead and Vitor somehow getting between two cars to take the lead however I was lucky enough to see the lights race as well and it was a thriller.

[vintage]

Dillon had a great weekend - pole, led the most laps, and the win. But for my money you've got to love Hildebrand - engine trouble in qualifying, started 21st, and drove through the field to third by lap 29 - all passes, no retirements in front - and then got collected by Davison. I think he would have given Battastini a run for the money!

Very exciting race! Watch on ESPN2 on May 31.

[seppefan]

Yes he was impressive and we will see more of Hildebrand this year I hope and believe. Competitive series and a good feeder for the IRL.

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[usgrandprix]

Looks like he is being rewarded with a test at Mid-Ohio and maybe a ride at Surfer's:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67825

The test is really for Panther and Meira to get a leg up at Mid-Ohio, though. If you're an ICS team and have a Lights team you are rewarded with an extra test. The Lights driver tests with the ICS driver half and half. It's good for the ICS team to set up the car for an upcoming race and it's good for the Lights drivers to get some experience. Provides some incentive for the ICS teams to get invloved in Lights, too.

Still, I think they need to loosen up the Lights cars. I don't think the current fomula is doing the graduates any favors on ovals as there is a long list of guys that did well in Lights and can't cut it in IndyCar. Hope they address this with the next car.

[seppefan]

" loosen up " can you explain. Thanks usgrandprix

[usgrandprix]

I just think they stick too well in the oval turns. They seem very manuverable in corners where an IndyCar will not be. The line (and importance of getting that exactly right) seems very different.

I think they probably have too much downforce for their power. I don't think you need to add too much power (it is Lights, afterall) but maybe a smaller tire combined with a more trim car will get the drivers better expereince at the lightning-fast corrections they need to make and gaining an understanding of setting up an oval car just on the edge. I think they learn a lot of drafting and passing, but not enough "feel" for the car. I don't think they learn the lifting/momentum game so much becasue they can manuver out of trouble easier.

I think they are probably fine at providing road course experience and I'm not going to sit here and say they are easy to drive by any stretch. Just from what I've seen of their races and how their graduates have faired (Mark Taylor, anyone) they could mimic the IndyCar oval experience a bit better, at least the tougher ovals.

[Madmonk]

They really need to merge Indy Lights and the Atlantics...

We've lost alot of talent somewhere in between these dualling ladder series and the big leagues: Wade Cunningham, Jonathan Klein, Bobby Wilson, Thiago Medeiros, Arie Luyendyk Jr., Cory Witherill, Leonardo Maia, Chris Festa, Aaron Fike, Raphael Matos, James Hinchcliffe, Simona de Silvestro, Jonathan Summerton, Robert Wickens, Jonathan Bomarito, Jon Fogarty, Bryan Sellers, Michael Valiente, Rocky Moran Jr., Hoover Orsi, David Rutledge, Joey Hand, etc. And that doesn't include drivers who made it to Indycar or Champ Car, but never really got a fair shake: Jay Howard is the latest victim.

Here's my idea, when the new Indycar chassis regs are introduced, they should make the Indy Lights Series teams buy the old Dallaras from the Indycar teams and give them all detuned spec engines. The Indy Lights drivers get some relevant experience in a detuned Indycar, the cars are already developed to keep costs down, and it gives current Indycar teams a market to dispose of their old equipment.