'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing'

[HL117]

WTG - Juan, Penske, Chevy and Verizon  -15 years to get a second win better late than never.

[Widewing]

It's too bad that Indycar has devolved into a two engine, one chassis spec series. Even NASCAR has three basic engines. This is what racing has become, world wide. We need a race series like the old Can-Am, which had very limited rules for engines and chassis'. Beyond safety rules, allow for innovation. F1 rules have become utterly over-complicated and more expensive than ever. The days of successful privateers is gone, and that's a shame. It's no longer possible to see the best drivers slug it out, because the best, most expensive cars always dominate.

Remember the IROC series in the 1970s and '80s? Put the best drivers in equally prepared, simple cars and find out who is really the best.

This is why vintage and amateur racing is so much more entertaining. It isn't about the money, it's about the sport and having fun.

[Zoney]

It's too bad that Indycar has devolved into a two engine, one chassis spec series. Even NASCAR has three basic engines. This is what racing has become, world wide. We need a race series like the old Can-Am, which had very limited rules for engines and chassis'. Beyond safety rules, allow for innovation. F1 rules have become utterly over-complicated and more expensive than ever. The days of successful privateers is gone, and that's a shame. It's no longer possible to see the best drivers slug it out, because the best, most expensive cars always dominate.

I do agree that it would be great to have more innovation, but it isn't the privateers that would benefit by allowing more, it would be the Billion dollar companies that would dominate.

Remember the IROC series in the 1970s and '80s? Put the best drivers in equally prepared, simple cars and find out who is really the best.

No sir, what we got to see is who was the best in a crappy street car.

This is why vintage and amateur racing is so much more entertaining. It isn't about the money, it's about the sport and having fun.

Now this I agree with sir, but unfortunately that type of racing is a participants sport and has never drawn enough spectators or money to make a living at it.

[The Fugitive]

IROC was the budget version of F1. Rules make all the cars as close as possible. Driver skill gets you a pass or two, but strategy getting the car up front wins more often than not.

Coke 600 this year is a perfect example, gas mileage won, not the best driver or fastest car.

I'd like to see it go back to where it wasn't so regulated. Dale Earnhardt was asked once about some of the other drivers worrying/complaining about the cars getting too fast at the super speedways, He said something along the lines of if your afraid of going fast get the hell out of the car! Thats what racing is all about.

I understand safety, the monocock design seems to work great as attested to this pass few weeks of practice and racing at Indy, but why do all the cars look the same? Too many rules. For Indy give them a basic design set, width, length, height of a car, engine displacement, monocock for safety and let these guys build a car. Turbo, non-turbo, wings, body flarings what ever! Leave it up to the designers to build what they think will run 500 miles and be the fastest.

NASCAR, same thing except as the cars are suppose to represent what "we can buy and drive" keep the templates, engine displacement rule, build a monocock for the driver (they are getting close as it is), and then let them go.

I'd rather see what innovations come out of it and how drivers handle what they have than watching the same cars painted different colors run near identical laps.

[NatCigg]

It's too bad that Indycar has devolved into a two engine, one chassis spec series. Even NASCAR has three basic engines. This is what racing has become, world wide. We need a race series like the old Can-Am, which had very limited rules for engines and chassis'. Beyond safety rules, allow for innovation. F1 rules have become utterly over-complicated and more expensive than ever. The days of successful privateers is gone, and that's a shame. It's no longer possible to see the best drivers slug it out, because the best, most expensive cars always dominate.

Remember the IROC series in the 1970s and '80s? Put the best drivers in equally prepared, simple cars and find out who is really the best.

This is why vintage and amateur racing is so much more entertaining. It isn't about the money, it's about the sport and having fun.

iroc was sweet. dale kicked butt it those as well. some say he could "see the air". 

[Randy1]

It's too bad that Indycar has devolved into a two engine, one chassis spec series.

I agree.  The old indy racing with innovation was highlighted.  I remember the first of the rear engined cars.   Andy" Granatelli always comes to mind.  The problem is money wins races. 

[mbailey]

Enjoyed the race......just way to many commercials    Had a hard time getting into it when every 10mins they were trying to sell me something

[whiteman]

I thought this was going to be about the 24 Hours of Le Mans coming up.

[Widewing]

F1 cars should require the greatest skill levels to drive quickly. Today, it's just about the opposite.

A lot of things could be done to make F1 more enjoyable to watch. Here's just a few that have been suggested by others.

Limit aero developed downforce. Flat bottoms, no ground effects. Limit total square feet of aero aids (wings, tabs and spoilers).

Get rid of the hybrid nonsense. They have Formula E for those who like racing exotic golf carts.

A simplified engine format, aimed at keeping costs low. No mandatory fuel stops, ditto for tires. No single manufacturer for tires. Allow any and all tire mfgrs.

6 speed manual transmissions, with clutch pedal. Limited electronic engine management. No launch control electronics. Limit telemetry to bare basics.

Pit stops... Only three men over the wall to work on cars. Need more people? Take it to the garage.

Qualifying sessions: Drawn by lot. Best of three laps. No 2nd chance qualification. This way, all factors are random based on the drawing. This would tend to put faster cars further back if conditions were not ideal. No qualifying set-ups, meaning you must race what you qualify. Officials can impound the entire field after qualifying if the teams can't be trusted. Only supervised repairs can be made after qualification. Any unauthorized set-up changes result in starting from pit lane with a 10 second penalty (minimum penalty) up to disqualification (maximum penalty), depending on the extent of the changes.

All engine manufacturers must be willing to supply at least two teams (including their primary team), but no more than three. Engines for the those teams will be selected at random, 1 race prior. This eliminates manufacturers from selling second rate engines to customers.  No more than 2 engines per car, per race.

I'd like to see F1 simplified. It would draw more entries and privateers. Racing would be more entertaining, rather than a parade.

[DREDIOCK]

Racing aint racing anymore. Least not racing worth watching cept for the wrecks which is the most entertaining part of the activity anymore and hasnt been since NASCAR was true "Stock Car Racing" and F1 cars looked like a cigar on wheels

[BaldEagl]

While I  acknowledge the import and history of the Indianapolis 500 I can't acknowledge it as ''the greatest spectacle in racing".

Here's a very short list of contenders (Indy 500 included):

24 Hours of LeMans
Baja 500
Dakar Rally
Daytona 500
Grand Prix of Monoco
Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

[MiloMorai]

Like your ideas for F1 Widewing but as long a bernie is running the circus nothing will change.

Watched the Spa 12 Hour Enduro on the weekend. Only 2 persons changing tires and could only be done before or after the refuel was done. Would like to see this for all racing where there is pit stops.

[68ZooM]

the purest form of auto racing is still found at your local track whether it be dirt or asphalt.

[narsus]

Widewing, as you say some changes would be good, some not. I'm interested in what you said, and will respond about each point you made.

F1 cars should require the greatest skill levels to drive quickly. Today, it's just about the opposite.
Agree, but make them hard to drive with silly power output instead.

A lot of things could be done to make F1 more enjoyable to watch. Here's just a few that have been suggested by others.

Limit aero developed downforce. Flat bottoms, no ground effects. Limit total square feet of aero aids (wings, tabs and spoilers).
I respectfully disagree here, F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport I think it is too reigned in. F1 should be nuts, stay open wheel and cockpit and go berserk from there.

Get rid of the hybrid nonsense. They have Formula E for those who like racing exotic golf carts.
Agree completely!

A simplified engine format, aimed at keeping costs low. No mandatory fuel stops, ditto for tires. No single manufacturer for tires. Allow any and all tire mfgrs.
Agree and disagree here. I agree about more than one tire manufacturer, no mandatory fuel stops (but these will happen anyway)...a lighter car will less fuel is much faster than a full one (it will just add to strategy). Engine format I am on the fence, turbos are cool or superchargers, naturally aspirated let them all in.

6 speed manual transmissions, with clutch pedal. Limited electronic engine management. No launch control electronics. Limit telemetry to bare basics.
Disagree here too, F1 is about innovation...road cars have semi-automatic transmissions F1 shouldn't go backwards.

Pit stops... Only three men over the wall to work on cars. Need more people? Take it to the garage.
This is F1 not NASCAR, if pit stops are 3 seconds so be it.

Qualifying sessions: Drawn by lot. Best of three laps. No 2nd chance qualification. This way, all factors are random based on the drawing. This would tend to put faster cars further back if conditions were not ideal. No qualifying set-ups, meaning you must race what you qualify. Officials can impound the entire field after qualifying if the teams can't be trusted. Only supervised repairs can be made after qualification. Any unauthorized set-up changes result in starting from pit lane with a 10 second penalty (minimum penalty) up to disqualification (maximum penalty), depending on the extent of the changes.
The three session knock-out qualifying is ok now, makes going to the race more fun as well...we get to see the cars on track more. Paying big sums of money to travel and see the race (only 19-20 in the world) fans should see more not less. There are penalties now, what you qualify with is what you race with...tires, wing settings, just fuel is different they need to have enough to get through whole race and can't use more than 100kg.

All engine manufacturers must be willing to supply at least two teams (including their primary team), but no more than three. Engines for the those teams will be selected at random, 1 race prior. This eliminates manufacturers from selling second rate engines to customers.  No more than 2 engines per car, per race.
What you said in the beginning is basically what it is now. No engine supplier has more than three teams now anyway except Mercedes, now that Honda is back will see some changes  (Mercedes 4, Ferrari 3, Renault 2, Honda 1 just came back this year). The teams only can use 4 engines for the whole season to keep costs down, 2 per weekend or more is what it used to be years ago. Very Expensive! As far as choosing and engine one race ahead of time, I don't think that would work at all. Much more to these cars than a drop in engine (different size, dimensions, attaching points, etc.

I'd like to see F1 simplified. It would draw more entries and privateers. Racing would be more entertaining, rather than a parade.
With KERS and DRS passing is much more common now than it used to be. But changes should be made, I don't agree so much with simplified.

 

[Widewing]

I loved racing when the driver was more of factor than the car... Today, driver skills almost take a back seat to what a driver brings in terms of money....

Gurney, Clark, both Hills (Phil and Graham), Hulme, Brabham, Surtees, Hall, McLaren, Donohue, Revson, Stewart, Peterson, Cevert, Spence, Amon, and on and on....