Nikon Indy 300 - Australia

[DanicaFan]

Well, the IndyCar teams have a day of practice in now. They had 2 sessions today and they practice again tomorrow. Qualifications are Saturday. Danica didnt do as well as I hoped but now that she has some laps on the track, Im sure she will do good from here on out. I look for her to easily be in the top 10 tomorrow and for qualifications.

Will Power was the fastest today. And look at Dario Franchitti, 3rd quickest!http://www.worldracingforum.com/images/smilies/extras/thumbsup.gif

Here are the combined results of today's practice sessions..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Speed

1. #8 Will Power / 01:34.8084 / 106.130
2. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:36.1609 / 104.637
3. #10 Dario Franchitti / 01:36.1712 / 104.626
4. #5 Oriol Servia / 01:36.4394 / 104.335
5. #06 Graham Rahal / 01:36.4963 / 104.273
6. #02 Justin Wilson / 01:36.5127 / 104.256
7. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:36.5812 / 104.182
8. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:36.8863 / 103.854
9. #36 Alex Tagliani / 01:37.0625 / 103.665
10. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:37.0650 / 103.662
11. #18 Bruno Junqueira / 01:37.3127 / 103.399
12. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 01:37.5183 / 103.181
13. #33 EJ Viso / 01:38.3860 / 102.271
14. #19 Mario Moraes / 01:38.6572 / 101.990
15. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 01:38.8353 / 101.806
16. #2 AJ Foyt IV / 01:39.0920 / 101.542
17. #14 Vitor Meira / 01:39.1538 / 101.479
18. #4 Dan Wheldon / 01:39.8513 / 100.770
19. #26 Marco Andretti / 01:39.8582 / 100.763
20. #7 Danica Patrick / 01:40.0527 / 100.567
21. #34 Jaime Camara / 01:40.4821 / 100.137
22. #15 Buddy Rice / 01:40.7196 / 99.901
23. #20 Ed Carpenter / 01:41.4751 / 99.157
24. #23 Townsend Bell / 01:41.5490 / 99.085

[ShiftingGears]

Well, I can only hope that everything goes Power's way come raceday.

I expect him to take pole.

[ShiftingGears]

Well, the IndyCar teams have a day of practice in now. They had 2 sessions today and they practice again tomorrow. Qualifications are Saturday. Danica didnt do as well as I hoped but now that she has some laps on the track, Im sure she will do good from here on out. I look for her to easily be in the top 10 tomorrow and for qualifications.

Will Power was the fastest today. And look at Dario Franchitti, 3rd quickest!http://www.worldracingforum.com/images/smilies/extras/thumbsup.gif

Here are the combined results of today's practice sessions..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Speed

1. #8 Will Power / 01:34.8084 / 106.130
2. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:36.1609 / 104.637
3. #10 Dario Franchitti / 01:36.1712 / 104.626
4. #5 Oriol Servia / 01:36.4394 / 104.335
5. #06 Graham Rahal / 01:36.4963 / 104.273
6. #02 Justin Wilson / 01:36.5127 / 104.256
7. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:36.5812 / 104.182
8. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:36.8863 / 103.854
9. #36 Alex Tagliani / 01:37.0625 / 103.665
10. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:37.0650 / 103.662
11. #18 Bruno Junqueira / 01:37.3127 / 103.399
12. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 01:37.5183 / 103.181
13. #33 EJ Viso / 01:38.3860 / 102.271
14. #19 Mario Moraes / 01:38.6572 / 101.990
15. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 01:38.8353 / 101.806
16. #2 AJ Foyt IV / 01:39.0920 / 101.542
17. #14 Vitor Meira / 01:39.1538 / 101.479
18. #4 Dan Wheldon / 01:39.8513 / 100.770
19. #26 Marco Andretti / 01:39.8582 / 100.763
20. #7 Danica Patrick / 01:40.0527 / 100.567
21. #34 Jaime Camara / 01:40.4821 / 100.137
22. #15 Buddy Rice / 01:40.7196 / 99.901
23. #20 Ed Carpenter / 01:41.4751 / 99.157
24. #23 Townsend Bell / 01:41.5490 / 99.085


She was terrible. I'm baffled how some drivers who are apparently talented are 5 seconds a lap slower than the top drivers in a spec chassis series.

[Damon]

I'm baffled how some drivers who are apparently talented are 5 seconds a lap slower than the top drivers in a spec chassis series.


Road and street courses bring the driver in the equation more than ovals, everybody knows that, but with that being said it's ridiculous to say a driver isn't talented when they struggle on a track they're seeing for the very first time, because if that's the case, based off this year I could say guys like Rahal, Power and Wilson have no talent when it comes to oval racing because of how much they struggled at a lot of tracks they were seeing for the first time, which simply isn't true either.

Power is a great road racer and has been on pole at this track twice, so he knows what to do here and that's showed so far by being over a second quicker than everybody else.

[TURN3]

Danica didnt do as well as I hoped but now that she has some laps on the track, Im sure she will do good from here on out. I look for her to easily be in the top 10 tomorrow and for qualifications.

Exactly what were you "hoping" for? Fact: She's HORRIBLE!! Not only in an Indycar where she only occassionally does well in a machine with an aerodynamic advantage over the vast majority of the rest of the field....she can't even hang with half the guys in my Bondurant shifter cart school in Phoenix. Her times in a cart are SLOW also and she has a 30lb to 100lb weight advantage which is huge in a cart. She does not belong in a race car at this level, period (.).

[harvick#1]

thats a scary fast lap by Will, but I hope he gets pole.

sort of surprised by Briscoe, I thought he would be right up there with Will as he has a little motivation also being in his home country

[NickFalzone]

Exactly what were you "hoping" for? Fact: She's HORRIBLE!! Not only in an Indycar where she only occassionally does well in a machine with an aerodynamic advantage over the vast majority of the rest of the field....she can't even hang with half the guys in my Bondurant shifter cart school in Phoenix. Her times in a cart are SLOW also and she has a 30lb to 100lb weight advantage which is huge in a cart. She does not belong in a race car at this level, period (.).

I don't like Danica but that's a bunch of BS. Plus the weight-rule negates her supposed advantage and actually hurts her on road courses without any power steering, as the bigger guys can handle the physical aspects of it easier. Talent-wise I'd put her mid pack and with some of the best equipment she regularly finishes in the top 10. Everything about that girl is taken to extremes when the reality is that she's just ok, not terrible, not great.

[F1boat]

OMG, Power has an enormous advantage.

[nanders]

I do PC SIM Racing and race on most of the tracks Indycars race on. By far, the most difficult track we race on is Surfers. There are a boat load of fast straights followed by either a very tight chicane or a 90% corner with very little run off. This is the first time for this car and the first time for most of the slow runners. I have no problem letting some of these people come up to speed before getting too prejudiced.

[dataman1]

By far, the most difficult track we race on is Surfers. There are a boat load of fast straights followed by either a very tight chicane or a 90% corner with very little run off. This is the first time for this car and the first time for most of the slow runners. I have no problem letting some of these people come up to speed before getting too prejudiced.

Agree 100%. No judgement meant or implied, as a comparison for chassis/engine differences, 2007 qualifications had Power on pole with 1:30.054 and Martinez the slowest at 1:33.892.

[TURN3]

I don't like Danica but that's a bunch of BS. Plus the weight-rule negates her supposed advantage and actually hurts her on road courses without any power steering, as the bigger guys can handle the physical aspects of it easier. Talent-wise I'd put her mid pack and with some of the best equipment she regularly finishes in the top 10. Everything about that girl is taken to extremes when the reality is that she's just ok, not terrible, not great.

What part is BS if you don't mind me respectfully asking? The Indycar weight rule had nothing to do with my statement. I was referring to the difference in weight in a go-cart where I've run laps under equal circumstances as the princess. I'm 90lbs heavier than she and was within .2s of this "professional's" time. In a light-weight cart with absolutely no weight equalizers I'd say compared to regular amatures like me...she's average in that respect, there were guys much faster than her times. Otherwise, competing in an Indycar on tracks that require driver skill...she is not average. She only finishes in the top 10 on ovals where she has top equipment and road courses by attrition. She has not, and never will, demonstrate any talent to "compete" with her skill level. She's HORRIBLE and only has an Indy ride because of her face. Everything I state here is fact from top to bottom...(i.e. what did she accomplish in junior forms of racing to get hired by Rahal to begin with?).

[weeflyonthewall]

She was terrible. I'm baffled how some drivers who are apparently talented are 5 seconds a lap slower than the top drivers in a spec chassis series.

Even Legge stayed within 3 seconds of Power in her first visit to Surfers.
In 2007, Kat qualified with a 1:32:694 in the Panoz. Power's pole time was 1:30.054
In 2006 she posted a 1:34:634 in qualy 2. Power's pole time was 1:31.403
Maybe Danica loses concentration when the balcony Sheila's lift their shirts and bare a pair.

[dataman1]

..... when the balcony Sheila's lift their shirts and bare a pair.

One of the best reasons for a mate to go to Surfer's IMO.

[champcarray]

It's good to see that 24 cars are there, and its great to see Dario's name on the board...

[Ranger]

Excellent. First time IndyCar is on TV here this year. :up:

Unfortunately it highlighted how bog-slow those Dallara's are. 4 seconds per lap slower than the Panoz was quite visible through the chicane.
I haven't seen the backmarkers yet, but up to 7 seconds per lap slower is quite a bit embarrassing for drivers in top teams.

I'm not sure if the IRL road course rules are similar to ChampCar last year regarding closing of the pitlane entry and exit and the possible resultant lottery but it looks like Will is going to take some beating from a 1.3 second practice advantage.

[Mad_Hatter]

Interesting that Dario has handed Scott his papers twice in his first two sessions.

[ShiftingGears]

Road and street courses bring the driver in the equation more than ovals, everybody knows that, but with that being said it's ridiculous to say a driver isn't talented when they struggle on a track they're seeing for the very first time, because if that's the case, based off this year I could say guys like Rahal, Power and Wilson have no talent when it comes to oval racing because of how much they struggled at a lot of tracks they were seeing for the first time, which simply isn't true either.

But that is because their teams are still learning how to set the cars up to oval specifications. Besides from Milwaukee, they have no experience. All of the drivers and teams have been in many street course races. And there is no explanation for being 5 seconds a lap slower than the opposition in a spec series.

Also the Dallaras are horribly unspectacular. Seeing the Panoz through the chicanes is a sight I'm going to miss.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=CRfLM5W4XcM

[DanicaFan]

Well, here are the results of today's practice session. I dont like the look of this. Danica placed even lower. I still have faith in her. Hang in there Danica.

Wilson and Power running fast.

Rank / Car# & Driver / Time / Speed

1. #02 Justin Wilson / 01:34.5072 / 106.468
2. #8 Will Power / 01:34.6523 / 106.305
3. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:35.0684 / 105.828
4. #10 Dario Franchitti / 01:35.1053 / 105.799
5. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:35.7208 / 105.118
6. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:35.8260 / 105.003
7. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 01:36.0483 / 104.760
8. #5 Oriol Servia / 01:36.1073 / 104.695
9. #06 Graham Rahal / 01:36.2337 / 104.558
10. #36 Alex Tagliani / 01:36.5997 / 104.162
11. #33 EJ Viso / 01:36.6073 / 104.154
12. #18 Bruno Junqueira / 01:36.7597 / 103.990
13. #19 Mario Moraes / 01:36.9109 / 103.827
14. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:37.0313 / 103.698
15. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 01:37.7170 / 102.971
16. #2 AJ Foyt IV / 01:38.2213 / 102.442
17. #14 Vitor Meira / 01:38.4132 / 102.242
18. #4 Dan Wheldon / 01:38.6506 / 101.996
19. #34 Jaime Camara / 01:39.0564 / 101.578
20. #20 Ed Carpenter / 01:39.2413 / 101.389
21. #26 Marco Andretti / 01:39.3099 / 101.319
22. #15 Buddy Rice / 01:39.3540 / 101.274
23. #7 Danica Patrick / 01:39.8326 / 100.789
24. #23 Townsend Bell / 01:41.0120 / 99.612

[ShiftingGears]

Just started pouring.

[ShiftingGears]

And Danica breaks the front wing 20m out of the pitlane, noodles around for several laps, then spins it into the wall and stalls it. Hopeless.

Everyone banking their time in the final seconds, Briscoe in the top 6!

Wasn't expecting that.

[ShiftingGears]

8 tenths!!! :eek:

[DanicaFan]

Well, qualifications are over. Will Power takes the poll. Congrats Will. He is joined by Scott Dixon in the front row. Unfortunately Danica didnt have a good qualification run, she recorded no time due to her causing a caution during the session by crashing and stalling the car. I look for her driving skill and good pit strategy to bring her to the top.

The track was wet due to rain and therefore the times were slower, especially for the first group.

Here is the starting grid..

Row 1
1. #8 Will Power / 01:34.9451 / 105.977
2. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:35.7672 / 105.067

Row 2
3. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 01:35.8007 / 105.031
4. #10 Dario Franchitti / 01:35.9336 / 104.885

Row 3
5. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:36.4030 / 104.374
6. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:36.7425 / 104.008

Row 4
7. #36 Alex Tagliani / 01:41.3122 / 99.317
8. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:41.4023 / 99.229

Row 5
9. #02 Justin Wilson / 01:42.0429 / 98.606
10. #33 EJ Viso / 01:42.9185 / 97.767

Row 6
11. #14 Vitor Meira / 01:44.3348 / 96.440
12. #19 Mario Moraes /01:51.5054 / 90.238

Row 7
13. #06 Graham Rahal / 01:55.6155 / 87.030
14. #26 Marco Andretti / 01:52.2084 / 89.672

Row 8
15. #5 Oriol Servia / 01:55.6628 / 86.994
16. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 01:53.3353 / 88.781

Row 9
17. #18 Bruno Junqueira / 01:58.0183 / 85.258
18. #4 Dan Wheldon / 01:53.9160 / 88.328

Row 10
19. #20 Ed Carpenter / 01:58.7664 / 84.721
20. #34 Jaime Camara / 01:54.0514 / 88.223

Row 11
21. #23 Townsend Bell / 01:58.9264 / 84.607
22. #15 Buddy Rice / 01:54.3489 / 87.994

Row 12
23. #7 Danica Patrick / No Time
24. #2 AJ Foyt IV / No Time
__________________

[harvick#1]

well done Power, clearly in a league of the field his own at surfers.

excellent job for Ryan starting P5 :D still hope for at least one of our good American drivers :p :

will be interesting if anyway really has anything for Will, or if it will be a battle for 2nd tomorrow

[Nikki Katz]

Does anyone know when this happens UK time? I know it's the middle of the night so I probably won't watch it anyway, but our clocks change tonight which is confusing, and the countdown on the website says 7 hours 45 minutes, yet it's 9:15 now and the website states it starts at 10:30pm ET. I'm sure that can't be right!

[Andrewmcm]

10:30pm ET = 2:30am BST, which will be 1:30am GMT as the Americans don't put their clocks back a week later than us in the UK.

[DanicaFan]

Ryan Briscoe wins at Sufer's Paradise. Congrats Ryan!

[DanicaFan]

Unfortunately, Danica had a bad race. She had a bad weekend. Time to move on, she will be back strong next year. She got clipped by Helio which left damage to the front wing causing her to pit to replace it. Then she stalled the car during the yellow trying to avoid the stalled cars on the track that caused the yellow. The safety crews didnt get her started very quickly on that. http://trb.ipbfree.com/html/emoticons/sad.gif

Here are the final results..

1. #6 Ryan Briscoe
2. #9 Scott Dixon
3. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay
4. #36 Alex Tagliani
5. #5 Oriol Servia
6. #33 EJ Viso
7. #3 Helio Castroneves
8. #27 Hideki Mutoh
9. #06 Graham Rahal
10. #4 Dan Wheldon
11. #02 Justin Wilson
12. #15 Buddy Rice
13. #26 Marco Andretti
14. #14 Vitor Meira
15. #18 Bruno Junqueira
16. #10 Dario Franchitti
17. #2 AJ Foyt IV
18. #7 Danica Patrick
19. #34 Jaime Camara
20. #20 Ed Carpenter
21. #11 Tony Kanaan
22. #8 Will Power
23. #23 Townsend Bell
24. #19 Mario Moraes

[maccadownunder]

Danica had nothing today. Looked like she backed off on a lot of the corners... It wrecked havoc with Legge last year and it looks to have done the same with Danica this year,,,

[harvick#1]

poor Will, what happened to him.

but congrats to Ryan, another win under his belt since he was blasted early in the season for being in a seat he doesn't deserve. great job for RHR for getting a podium finish and EJ on a 6th place.

but please, would you please stop trying to make Danica sound like a superstar road course racer, because she definitly is not one, she is pretty good on Ovals, but a joke on road/street courses

[Rex Monaco]

Did anyone else think the TV coverage was subpar? There was no pit coverage for the leaders, but then a little later they had extended pit coverage for 20th place Danica to replace her wing.

And did they cover a race for position long enough to show a pass in real time? Or were they all shown as replays?

I ended up turning the channel to watch a rerun of NCIS and only came back during commercials.

The ICS really needs to improve their TV coverage if they want to get people excited about their racing.

The only thing ABC has done that I like, is the picture in picture commercials. I hate when NASCAR goes to commercial and then comes back with some major race changing event shown to us as a replay.

[garyshell]

A very cool page on the venues website. The map has panoramic photos at various points around the course.

http://maps.indy.com.au/


Gary