History Name THREE Current INDY 500 Drivers....

the year no front engine offys showed up.nothing like the roar of an offy,damn sure dont sound like no ******* bumble bee

 

One year at Mesa Marin I went to the Supermodified show and after the race was over, I went down into the pits and asked the winner if these cars were fast enough to keep up with a current Indycar....He told me that at Phoenix, the only track wherein both Indycars and Supermodifields run, that the fastest 5 or 6 Supers' qualifying times would have qualified them for the Indycar race....yepp, they're that fast..so about 1/10 the cost.

 

Yes, that is true. The polespeed for a super in those days was good enough for about 11th position most times.

I would love to know what one of these would do with a Cosworth/ILmor and a little windtunnel prep.

 

Funny, Tony George is Foyt's God-Son......

I'd like to see Davey Hamilton win. Great guy and what a comeback !! Really, its Indy and the best man or women with the best car and luck at the end of the day will win. Its just the way it is.

 

I started to lose interest when the road racers came on the scene. Then when they added wings, sidepods, and other aerodynamic gadgets I lost interest completely.

I admire driver skills....not engineers or aero experts.

 

More big talk from pessimistic arm-chair dudes. I lost interest when they let them add that sneaky rwear-view mirror thing. Sure, Novis sounded cool and there was a charm to the old roadsters-but that was state of the art at the time. You weren't intrigued by Jim Clark's Lotus running away from the dinosaurs?

It's a bit different when all the cars have the same ch***is and engines but they still have to drive the race. And, you can complain about Danica all you want, but she has brought media attention and money to Indy cars, she apparently has a temper and dsire that make her a racer and when you get your **** away from the computer monior and drive around Indy at 220, then you can say she isn't a driver.

 

WELL SAID!
I get tired of hearing all this **** about how it was better when (fill in the blank). We all lust for things gone by, that's why we build these old cars, but to trivialize the current racers at 230 MPH is complete nonsense and very disrespectful. Danica will not only out run any of of those that talk this **** but would probably kick your *** to. And if you don't think that Helio and the rest of the front runners are true racers, you should pull your head out.

And to the guy that wants to see Janet Guthrie in a swim suit or ******* - I think you need to seek help man
Now Lyn St James in her prime - Maybe, although all the mechanics I know that were there when she was running had a nickname for her "TC" stood for Thunder C*@#, apparently well earned

 

Did anyone say anything about Danica not being a driver?


The '*******' thing was tongue in cheek humor.

 

The rear engine car took over at Indy, but IT DOES NOT REPRESENT what the majority of oval track drivers utilize in this country or any other for that matter.

Oval racers MADE Indianapolis. Even when the rear engine cars had been there a few years, dirt track veterans still had the upper hand. That is what made it such a big deal- The idea that anybody willing to take the chance could make it there.

Johnny Rutherford left Devil's Bowl in 1959, went on to win the 500 3 times. It won't happen again and when the common man sees that, he isn't going to watch like he did.

For 30 years it was okay that the front engine car was gone, but the split made the need for a real change, and yet money got in the way.




I still love Indy, always will. I have been there, felt the Spirits that flow through there. It has an other-worldly feel to it, there is something unseen there that makes or breaks the good intentions of any man.

These days, the Brickyard 400 is as close as it gets for me.

 

Brian I agree with everything you said except the last sentance. To me the Brickyard ruined Indy. Last time we went they had just raised the wall height for the Brickyard. We sat half way up on the starting stretch. Beginning of the race the people down front couldn't see so they stood up, making everyone behind them stand up to see over the guy in front. Half way through the race the people in the front row were standing on their seat to see better. So everyone behind had to stand on their seat to see anything. I love the track history, the ceramonies before the race, but I probably won't go back, except to the musuem. It's a must every time I'm in Indiana.

 

I'm sure a few of you guys have had the opportunity to take a lap or two at the brickyard. I've done it three times in two different hot rods and it gives you a whole new perspective of how difficult it must be to flat foot through the corners at 220+.

 

Funny how you "history buffs" talk about the split, the real split was when CART was formed NOT the IRL, I don't like the state of Indy more than most of you do but to blame Tony George for things that happened when he was in college is stupid, Oh and by the way my step father was one of the founding members of CART and past President and Chief Operating Officer of CART. Here is when it started going to ****, Tony Hulman Died, Then the USAC plane crash, and the formation of CART all happened in a short time period. Hulman Died, most of the USAC guys died, Penske, Patrick etc saw the opportunity to try for a powwer grab. When the IRL was first formed there were a lot of guys I raced with that got a shot at Indy that NEVER would have including Tony Stewart, if it wasn't for the IRL hell he might still be running Midgets and Sprint Cars. Tony George can no more force the CAR OWNERS to HIRE AMERICAN DRIVERS than he can force your boss to hire someone. Like I said I am as unhappy with the state of Indy Car Racing as anyone but to blame Tony is wrong.

 

Are you a Marchese?????

 

My blame about the 'split' goes not to Tony George, but to those car owners that were convinced they could live without Indy and start a new tradition.

I think Tony saved the Speedway's stature to some degree by bringing in the Brickyard 400--after the split in '95-96, the Speedway remained the most important venue there was.

 

Helium won today!

 

So was my response

 

Glad he won, but what a Yawner, at least we had that mobile chicane, Milk N Donuts
The best action ws the officials trying to keep Helio in the car after the win when all he wanted was to climb the fence. Pretty funny to watch.

 

She got third today, and I think from what I heard she could have had 2nd. ABC didn't carry it down here for free, thus we didn't watch.

 

and Lloyd Ruby (RIP)

 

I did get home in time to watch most of it afterall. Third place for Danica wasn't bad, best of luck for next year.

 

Helio was in tears in victory lane. Even if it isn't important to some of you, it was clearly important to him. This remains one of the great races.

 

Giuffre

 

It was a great Race !

 

Three curent Indy drivers- Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick, Milk 'n Donuts !!

 

We had the best seats ever and enjoyed a fanfukintastic race. Helio..**** you gotta like him, even though he drives for Penski. What a race!! Weldon and Danica drove the **** out of it too.

 

Got any Oberdorfer parts laying around?

 

I'd kind of like to see more than one engine/ch***is combination- but then it comes down to the driver,preparation and a bot of luck. Whether you like Honda engines,or not, you have to admire an engine build that will redline at 10,300 and still hold together for 500 miles. I like that the drivers can adjust weight transfer,turbo boost and other factors while they're racing. And those steering wheels are kind of cool-I understand they cost way beyond $45K.

And, apparently, Honda leases the engines. Yours for only $2+ million a year. That would be about 800 new crate SBCs.

 

I don't....let me know what you need and I will get the word out for you.

 

Don't really need anything lol, just thought they were pretty cool engines.

 

After Ryan spoiled us with the great vintage footage, the now is boring. I am so proud of hottie Dana for the 3rd place finish, she is not only a fox but a great driver!! ~Sololobo~