2013 IndyCar Series / Mazda Road to Indy discussion

Mid-Ohio race results

1. Charlie Kimball Ganassi-Honda 1hr 43mins 29.1371secs/90 laps
2. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +5.5334s
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi-Honda +28.8735s
4. Will Power Penske-Chevrolet +42.5032s
5. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +46.3449s
6. Helio Castroneves Penske-Chevrolet +48.3249s
7. Scott Dixon Ganassi-Honda +48.5496s
8. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +49.0431s
9. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +49.5609s
10. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +49.9283s
11. Simona de Silvestro KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +50.4925s
12. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon-Chevrolet +54.1360s
13. James Jakes Rahal-Letterman-Honda +54.6693s
14. Oriol Servià Panther-Chevrolet +1:04.6395s
15. James Davison Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +1:05.4079s
16. Luca Filippi Bryan Herta Autosport-Honda +1:09.0090s
17. Ernesto Viso Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +1 lap
18. Graham Rahal Rahal-Letterman-Honda +1 lap
19. Sebastian Saavedra Dragon-Chevrolet +1 lap
20. Ed Carpenter ECR-Chevrolet +1 lap
21. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +1 lap
22. Takuma Sato AJ Foyt Enterprises-Honda +1 lap
23. Josef Newgarden Fisher-Hartman Racing-Honda +2 laps

Retirements

Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +26 laps/Suspension

Fastest lap: 1:06.7403s by Simon Pagenaud on lap 35

Race highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk7_UeVLDMA

Post-race interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdKOd2A-TO8

Championship standings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings

News updates:

Anthony Allmendinger will return in a third Penske entry at Fontana - http://www.racer.com/allmendinger-returns-to-penske-indycar-squad-for-fontana/article/306726/

Stefan Wilson will make his Indycar debut at Baltimore with Dale Coyne Racing - http://www.racer.com/stefan-wilson-to-make-indycar-debut/article/305768/

Gabby Chaves took his first Indy Lights win at Mid-Ohio, closing up the title chase with 3 rounds remaining. Carlos Munoz leads Chaves by 15 points (349 to 334), while Sage Karam drops to third on 333. (http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.co...-first-firestone-indy-lights-win-at-mid-ohio/)

Matthew Brabham continued to demonstrate his superiority in the 2013 Pro Mazda championship by winning rounds 11 and 12 at Mid-Ohio. He is now 65 points clear of Diego Ferreira. (http://www.racer.com/brabham-equals...with-dominant-run-at-mid-ohio/article/305973/)

In the USF2000 championship, Neil Alberico and Garrett Grist took wins at Mid-Ohio, establishing them in 2nd and 3rd place in the points standings respectively. Scott Hargrove increased his lead with two 2nd place race finishes. Two more double-header events at Laguna Seca and Houston will decide the series title. (http://www.usf2000.com/news/13-08-0...Points_Lead_after_Mid‐Ohio_Triple_Header.aspx)
 
A quick news round-up ahead of the Sonoma race:

Matthew Brabham clinched the Pro Mazda championship with two races to spare, by winning both rounds at Trois-Rivières. He set a series record by taking 11 victories and 2 podium finishes from 14 starts. Brabham will receive a Mazda scholarship to assist him in securing an Indy Lights seat for 2014. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-11-Brabham-sweeps-clinches-title)

Bryan Herta Autosport have announced John Hildebrand and Luca Filippi will be contesting the remaining 2013 Indycar races in their #98 entry. Hildebrand is scheduled for Sonoma and Fontana, while Filippi is taking the wheel for Baltimore and the Houston doubleheader event. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-13-Hildebrand-Filippi-complete-season-for-Barracuda)

The first of two pre-race tests at Sonoma Raceway took place yesterday, with Ryan Hunter-Reay setting the fastest time. Lucas Luhr tested for Fisher-Hartman Racing ahead of his planned series debut, while Dale Coyne Racing evaluated Japanese F3 champion Ryo Hirakawa for a potential one-race deal. Ryan Briscoe returned to the #4 Panther Racing entry. (http://www.racer.com/hunter-reay-paces-sonoma-indycar-test/article/307304/)
 
I'm really looking forward to seeing Lucas Luhr and Stefan Wilson race.

I didn't really know much about Luhr but looking at his record it is pretty damn impressive, hope he settles into the car fairly quick so we can see what he's got.
 
Guerrilla said:
I didn't really know much about Luhr but looking at his record it is pretty damn impressive, hope he settles into the car fairly quick so we can see what he's got.
Click to expand...

He's leading the ALMS LMP1 standings this year and won the 24 hours of Nurburgring (SP7 class) again. Pickett might bring over his team (with Luhr) to Indycar because of the changes in USCR next year (no LMP1 class). There's another test at Sonoma next week before the race weekend, so I'd expect Fisher to put him in the car there to get some more seat time.
 
Indycar Series Round 15 of 19: GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

ip1emv.png


Venue: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA
Track length: 2.303 miles
Race length: 85 laps (195.755 miles)
Lap record: 1:17.2709 (Will Power, Dallara DW12-Chevrolet, 2012)

Overview: Sonoma Raceway sits on high ground at Sears Point featuring multiple elevation changes, overlooking the Californian desert and a short distance from San Francisco. Indycar under USAC sanction raced once at Sonoma in 1970, 2 years after the track was completed, with Dan Gurney winning in an Eagle-Ford. It wasn't until 2005 that the modern incarnation of the Sonoma event began, with the race length gradually increasing to the current 195 miles. The 2012 layout changes remain in place, although the Indycar version remains slightly shorter than the full 2.52 mile circuit. Other major series Sonoma hosts include Nascar Sprint Cup (on a shorter 1.9 mile layout), AMA Superbikes and NHRA drag races.

Current points standings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings

Drivers' preview:


Entry list:

http://www.indycar.com/~/media//Files/2013/IZOD-IndyCar-Series/13-SON/indycar-entrylist

John Hildebrand returns to Indycar in the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport entry. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-21-Hildebrand-builds-chemistry-with-Barracuda-Racing)

Lucas Luhr will make his series debut in a second Fisher-Hartman Racing entry. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-22-Luhr-up-to-the-challenge)

Ryan Briscoe returns to the #4 Panther car. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-13-Briscoe-testing-at-Sonoma-in-Panther-car)

Spotters' guide:

http://digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net...dycar-spotterguide.pdf?vs=1&d=20130820T173740

Schedule:

http://www.indycar.com/~/media//Files/2013/IZOD-IndyCar-Series/13-SON/indycar-weekendschedule

TV coverage:

ESPN UK - 21:00 Sunday 25th August (live); 06:00 and 13:45 Monday 26th August (re-runs); 11:00 Tuesday 27th August (highlights); 13:00 Wednesday 28th August (highlights); 05:00 Thursday 29th August (highlights); 04:30 Saturday 31st August (highlights)
 
Thanks Indy :)

Looking forward to this one, feels like it's been a long time since a race has been on. Going to try catch it live, quite a nice time it's on too.
 
Ryan Hunter-Reay led the first practice session at Sonoma with a 1:18.6814 lap, followed by Helio Castroneves (1:18.6976) and Dario Franchitti (1.18.8124).

Full timesheet: http://www.imscdn.com/indycar_media/documents/2013-08-23/SONOMA indycar-results-p1.pdf

Practice 1 highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZx28vga8Ok

Scott Dixon was fastest in second practice (1:18.3145), with Helio Castroneves (1:18.6694) second and Will Power (1.18.7454) third.

Full timesheet: http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/2829/2013-08-23/indycar-results-p2.pdf

Practice 2 highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXA4K1MPg2w

Third practice saw Dario Franchitti at the top of the chart with the fastest lap of the weekend so far (1:18.0988). Ryan Hunter-Reay was second quickest (1:18.3542), with Sebastien Bourdais (1.18.5513) rounding out the top three.

Full timesheet: http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/2832/2013-08-24/indycar-results-p3.pdf

Practice 3 highlights: www.youtube.com/watch?v=03s_LMfRLgQ

Combined fastest times from all practice sessions: http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/2832/2013-08-24/indycar-results-pcomb.pdf
 
Last edited:
Dario Franchitti took pole position with a 1:17.5271 lap, and Scott Dixon (1:17.7196) made it an all Ganassi front row. Will Power placed third (1:17.9735). Lucas Luhr qualified a disappointing 25th and last on his debut.

Qualifying highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAgOnSZLVls

Post-qualifying interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hk2HBFG7m8

Full timesheet: http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08...IndyCar-Series/13-SON/indycar-qualresults.pdf

Starting grid

1) Dario Franchitti
2) Scott Dixon
3) Will Power
4) Ryan Hunter-Reay
5) Helio Castroneves
6) Charlie Kimball
7) Justin Wilson
8) Graham Rahal
9) James Hinchcliffe
10) Simon Pagenaud
11) Marco Andretti
12) Sebastien Bourdais
13) Takuma Sato
14) Tristan Vautier
15) Ernesto Viso
16) Tony Kanaan
17) Josef Newgarden
18) John Hildebrand
19) James Jakes
20) Sebastian Saavedra
21) Ryan Briscoe
22) Simona de Silvestro
23) Ed Carpenter
24) Lucas Luhr
25) James Davison*

*10 place grid penalty for early engine change

Top three in the morning warm-up: Scott Dixon (1:18.9674), Ryan Hunter-Reay (1:19.4041), Marco Andretti (1:19.9130).

Full timesheet: http://www.imscdn.com/indycar_media/documents/2013-08-25/SONOMA indycar-results-pf.pdf

Warm-up highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHYUOuvvsgM
 
Last edited:
Was an entertaining race, a lot of cautions but made for some exciting restarts.

Glad for Wilson, a good 2nd place, it was a good come back after being tapped at the start.

Feel for Dixon, not sure that penalty was justified. Glad to see the pit crew seemed alright though.
 
Now that I have ESPN I thought I'd watch the race. My god the coverage is awful, the noise of the cars drowns out anything the commentators were saying. Even after the pit lane incident, trying to hear what the team was saying concerning the drive through penalty was impossible. You had no chance of hearing what the teams were saying to their drivers over the radios. Is the sound this bad at all the races? I have the NASCAR race on now, and have no issue with the sound. Very off putting.

Very glad to see the pit crew all ok, bet their feeling it today. Thought the penalty was a bit harsh seeing how the mechanics wasn't even looking around him.
 
BeanBandit said:
Now that I have ESPN I thought I'd watch the race. My god the coverage is awful, the noise of the cars drowns out anything the commentators were saying. Even after the pit lane incident, trying to hear what the team was saying concerning the drive through penalty was impossible. You had no chance of hearing what the teams were saying to their drivers over the radios. Is the sound this bad at all the races? I have the NASCAR race on now, and have no issue with the sound. Very off putting.
Click to expand...

I experienced the opposite. :confused:

BeanBandit said:
Very glad to see the pit crew all ok, bet their feeling it today. Thought the penalty was a bit harsh seeing how the mechanics wasn't even looking around him.
Click to expand...

Generally hitting a crew member or pit equipment is an automatic drive-through penalty, unless they were outside their box or otherwise obstructing the pit lane. The race director (Beaux Barfield) gave his reasoning for the specific penalty after the race, I don't know if you watched the post-race coverage. For the most part his calls have been good, nothing near as atrocious as the F1 stewarding.
 
Last edited:
I noticed the sound did seem a little off for this race, the commentary could have been a little bit louder, but i've never noticed that before so hopefully just a one off.
 
Indy500 said:
I experienced the opposite. :confused:
Click to expand...

Guerrilla said:
I noticed the sound did seem a little off for this race, the commentary could have been a little bit louder, but i've never noticed that before so hopefully just a one off.
Click to expand...

Hopefully it is just a one off. Next race i'll put through the amp and see how that sounds.

Indy500 said:
Generally hitting a crew member or pit equipment is an automatic drive-through penalty, unless they were outside their box or otherwise obstructing the pit lane. The race director (Beaux Barfield) gave his reasoning for the specific penalty after the race, I don't know if you watched the post-race coverage. For the most part his calls have been good, nothing near as atrocious as the F1 stewarding.
Click to expand...

I know that Indycar is very protective of the pit crews, as they should be, and i've seen plenty of drive through's for hitting equipment. I just found the way that the tyre man was holding the wheel very strange. I didn't hear what the race director said after the race, wish i had now. But i do like how Indycar makes clear their decisions, and they aren't drawn out like we get in F1.
 
BeanBandit said:
I know that Indycar is very protective of the pit crews, as they should be, and i've seen plenty of drive through's for hitting equipment. I just found the way that the tyre man was holding the wheel very strange.
Click to expand...

At the previous pit stops, the crew member in question (Travis Law) did the same thing when retrieving the right rear wheel and wasn't hit. Given his background (7 years with Penske, starting in ALMS) he doesn't strike me as someone who would engage in gamesmanship at the risk of getting run over. Sometimes the old wheels are left flat in the box and then cleared once the car has been released, but that isn't always practical (it creates a wider obstruction for drivers in the pit box immediately behind, for one thing).

BeanBandit said:
I didn't hear what the race director said after the race, wish i had now. But i do like how Indycar makes clear their decisions, and they aren't drawn out like we get in F1.
Click to expand...

Some say they intervene too little (usually F1 types) and some say they intervene too much (the "rubbing is racing" crowd ala Nascar). It's a difficult balance to achieve. Then again, sometimes a problem takes care of itself (Saavedra).
 
Sonoma race results

1. Will Power Penske-Chevrolet 2hrs 20mins 46.8226secs/85 laps
2. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +1.193s
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi-Honda +3.4038s
4. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +4.1266s
5. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +4.7042s
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +5.1074s
7. Helio Castroneves Penske-Chevrolet +8.5383s
8. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +9.0231s
9. Simona de Silvestro KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +9.2858s
10. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon-Chevrolet +11.2082s
11. Graham Rahal Rahal-Letterman-Honda +12.0359s
12. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +15.1056s
13. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +17.7606s
14. Ernesto Viso Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +18.5207s
15. Scott Dixon Ganassi-Honda +20.2165s
16. John Hildebrand Bryan Herta Autosport-Honda +20.7611s
17. Ryan Briscoe Panther-Chevrolet +29.4788s
18. James Davison Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +43.7768s
19. Ed Carpenter ECR-Chevrolet +1 lap
20. Charlie Kimball Ganassi-Honda +2 laps

Retirements

Sebastian Saavedra Dragon-Chevrolet +4 laps/Collision
Lucas Luhr Fisher-Hartman Racing-Honda +4 laps/Engine
Takuma Sato AJ Foyt Enterprises-Honda +18 laps/Suspension
Josef Newgarden Fisher-Hartman Racing-Honda +29 laps/Gearbox
James Jakes Rahal-Letterman-Honda +57 laps/Engine

Fastest lap: 1:19.9320 by Will Power on lap 74

Race highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDdn6FpNHBo

Podium interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l45vUTI4BI0

Championship contenders discuss the race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGbsaCMfpS0

Championship standings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom