Author Topic: The Indy 500... (Read 939 times)

midnight Target · « **on:** May 28, 2004, 07:03:32 PM »

Used to mean something. I was never a big race fan, but I knew it was a big deal when AJ Foyt won his 3rd 500. It was huge when he won his 4th. People would ask .. "Who won?" if they hadn't seen the race over the weekend. Even the Indy pace car was a big deal to the auto maker who was lucky enough to be chosen.

Swede Sabich went to a local High School. It was national news when he slammed into the wall and died. I bet most of you guys have heard of him. I wonder how many can name the last winner? I can't.

I read that this year there were not enough entries, and no one was bumped from the field for being too slow. Sad, the death of an American institution is upon us.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:06:59 PM »

True MT. I couldn't agree with you more. The sad fact is CART lost is scope of why it was there in the first place: competitive racing. F1 is such a freakshow of technology and eye-candy that it will never fade like CART did. The Indy car series broke off because of the declining quality of the competition. NASCAR may have it's detractors, and there is a lot about it I would change, but it's still the most exciting closed course oval racing out there.

RIP Indy 500, you were fun to watch...at one time.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:17:05 PM »

It was fun to watch when there was team innovation and development possible.

Used to be George Bignotti was an Indy star. He was the mechanic with the most wins. Hie George and he would get you a good chance, because he would get your car to be fast.

The formula now is "pick one of these few chassis' and one of these few engines, and use only these tires."

My dad once rented a shop next to someone who built a car to take back to Indy and qualifiy. A privately funded shoestring operation to build a one off car. That is not possible today.

If the formula of the 60's were as tight as it is today, Andy Granatelli's turbine cars and even Jimmy Clarke's Lotus Ford would not be allowed.

Halo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2004, 09:30:13 PM »

Racing is exciting when the racers are not limited because of track or course liabilities. The whole idea of racing is all-out unlimited max performance. Anything that limits that limits the appeal of racing.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2004, 10:56:31 PM »

How many of you guys actually watch the race? The racing is still as good as ever. They are still the fastest closed-circuit vehicles in the world. I wish it was still a CART show, but since TG allowed the CART guys to start running there again, it's been a great race.

As far as NASCAR... well McDonalds is more popular than filet mignon. NASCAR has done a great job of turning a lot of non-racing-fans into racing fans. A great marketing success, but great racing? I don't think so. They just took racing and dumbed it down enough so that Joe Sixpack could get into it.

NUKE · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:07:38 PM »

Anyone hear of Buddy Rice?

DiabloTX · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:12:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
A great marketing success, but great racing? I don't think so. They just took racing and dumbed it down enough so that Joe Sixpack could get into it.

Yeah I know, I mean, actual LEAD changes, how can that be considered GOOD racing? And focusing on the driver rather than the technology? Please, gimme a break...everyone knows it's the car that wins the race.

All kidding aside if you watch NASCAR with blinders on too bad. I watch motorsports for one thing; competition. Something that CART and F1 can't say. Saying the audience is dumb IS dumb. Besides, McDonald's isn't the biggest fast food franchise in the world because they make a poor product that no one likes.

F1 has its' flavor, Indy Car has its' flavor, NASCAR has its' flavor, and so does WRC which is probably the best motorsport in the world IMHO. But I am a gearhead, my love for racing is not tinged by percieved notions fed by innuendo or cliches. The average NASCAR fan is no more a WalMart shopper than the average F1 fan is a Bruno-Magli wearing, Warsteiner drinking, West smoking, Givenchy shopping snob.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:16:14 PM »

Hey if you want competition go down to the local bullring and watch midgets and sprints. I'd take that over NASCAR any old day of the week.

I don't know if NASCAR fans are dumb. I do know that (based on the pure numbers) most of them are people who weren't watching racing 10 years ago. Having a bigger market share doesn't mean NASCAR is better, it just means they have a bigger market share. That's all I was trying to say.

Lizking · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:17:38 PM »

One guy wins the first 5 races, and only loses the sixth because he is a dumb****. Yeah, Buddy, that is racing.

Lizking · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:18:36 PM »

Me too, Funked, and I do.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:18:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lizking
One guy wins the first 5 races, and only loses the sixth because he is a dumb****. Yeah, Buddy, that is racing.

Good luck building that straw man Liz.

Lizking · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:20:21 PM »

So you are saying that that dirver is that much better, or is his equipment that much better?

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:22:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
so does WRC which is probably the best motorsport in the world IMHO.

The funny thing is that David Richards has also greatly "dumbed down" WRC to get more market share. Hell I don't care, all I know is 5 years ago I couldn't get it on any channel, and now I get 4 or 5 hours of coverage for each rally. They also lucked out on the technical rules. Subaru, Peugeot, Citroen, and Ford are almost dead even right now. I think the rules are great, but considering how liberal they are, they are lucky to have four teams that close. I just hope Hyundai and Skoda come back and Mitsubishi will continue to develop their car.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:23:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Hey if you want competition go down to the local bullring and watch midgets and sprints.

I have done that from time to time. Those guys are great too.

Used to be a big NHRA fan until I realised it was only for those with a short attention span.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:23:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lizking
So you are saying that that dirver is that much better, or is his equipment that much better?

Me?
Which driver and which equipment?