Iowa Corn Indy 250

[DanicaFan]

Race 8 of 17

Race - Iowa Corn Indy 250

Location - Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa (Presented by Pioneer)

Date - Sunday, June 20th

Time & TV Schedule - 1:30PM Eastern Time (2:30 Green Flag) Versus

Course Type - 1 (7/8 exact) Mile Oval

Distance - 250 Laps / 218.75 Miles

Practice Sessions - Saturday, June 19th - 11-12PM Eastern & 2:10-3:10PM Eastern

Qualifications - Saturday, June 19th - 5:30-6:55PM Eastern

2009 Pole Sitter - Helio Castroneves

2009 Winner - Dario Franchitti

**Note - All Times listed in Eastern Time, Iowa is CDT time which is 1 hour behind Eastern Time
http://lasttofirst.com/Themes/default/images/icons/modify_inline.gif

[DanicaFan]

Track Facts:

Track Length (after banking)

Turn 1 thru Turn 2 - 1,338 ft
Backstretch - 869 ft
Turn 3 thru Turn 4 - 1,338 ft
Frontstretch - 1,075 ft

Banking -

12,13,14 degrees thru turns
10 degrees thru front stretch
4 degrees thru backstretch

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/IowaSpeedway_1.jpg

[SUBARUTEAM]

just as an aside,

is that a road course in the middle of the oval?
looks like a cool design with a couple of passing opportunities.

[harvick#1]

will the black flag be in the flag stand this week :mark:

[DanicaFan]

just as an aside,

is that a road course in the middle of the oval?
looks like a cool design with a couple of passing opportunities.

Yes, that is a 1.3 mile road course. There is also other tracks built within this facility. A 1/5 & 1/4 mile oval, 7/16 mile road course, and a 1/8 mile dragstrip.

[chuck34]

just as an aside,

is that a road course in the middle of the oval?
looks like a cool design with a couple of passing opportunities.

The road course is a joke. Grand-Am tried it a few years back. It was pretty much a disaster. Too small mainly.

[00steven]

Iowa is a nice facility and has good racing. Can't wait!

[NY2IA]

The schedule of events is interesting. The spectator gates don't open until 1pm on Saturday, despite on track practice in the am. Iowa Speedway reports they don't have the funding to open the gates in the am, as in previous years. They are also limiting cold pit passes to either one day passes for Sunday only or two day passes at a cost of 60.00. Sad to see how this track is not as fan friendly as past years. I am saving my money for Watkins Glen and four days of racing!

[DanicaFan]

Here is the entry list for the race..

Car # & Driver / Car Name / Team

#2 Raphael Matos / HP Luczo Dragon / DeFerran Dragon Racing
#3 Helio Castroneves / Team Penske / Team Penske
#4 Dan Wheldon / National Guard Panther Racing / Panther Racing
#5 Takuma Sato / Lotus-KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#6 Ryan Briscoe / Team Penske / Team Penske
#7 Danica Patrick / Team GoDaddy.com / Andretti Autosport
#8 EJ Viso / PDVSA -Jet Aviation KVRT / KV Racing Technology
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dario Franchitti / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#11 Tony Kanaan / Team 7-Eleven / Andretti Autosport
#12 Will Power / Verizon Team Penske / Verizon Team Penske
#14 Vitor Meira / ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing / AJ Foyt Enterprises
#18 Milka Duno / CITGO / Dale Coyne Racing
#19 Alex Lloyd / Boy Scouts of America / Dale Coyne Racing
#22 Justin Wilson / Team Z-Line Designs-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 Graham Rahal / Dad's Root Beer-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Team Venom Energy / Andretti Autosport
#32 Mario Moraes / KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#34 Mario Romancini / Conquest Racing / Conquest Racing
#36 Bertrand Baguette / Conquest Racing-RACB / Conquest Racing
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / Ethanol USA-Team IZOD / Andretti Autosport
#67 Sarah Fisher / Dollar General-Sarah Fisher Racing / Sarah Fisher Racing
#77 Alex Tagliani / FAZZT Race Team / FAZZT Race Team
#78 Simona De Silvestro / Team Stargate Worlds HVM / HVM Racing
#06 Hideki Mutoh / Formula Dream-Panasonic / Newman Haas Racing

[DavePI2]

once again df thanks for the usefull imformation. For some reason I can't get the entry list to load on my computer(better buy a new one I guess). Good luck to your driver this week.


david

[DanicaFan]

once again df thanks for the usefull imformation. For some reason I can't get the entry list to load on my computer(better buy a new one I guess). Good luck to your driver this week.


david

Thanks, I see win #2 on the horizon for Danica. :)

[garyshell]

Thanks, I see win #2 on the horizon for Danica. :)


One word... mirage.

Gary

[TURN3]

One word... mirage.

Gary

Mirage - noun: something illusory, without SUBSTANCE or REALITY

A Synonym = dream

Newsflash, one Ed Carpenter moment doesn't constitute substance or reality. Afterall, he actually almost won and look where that got him. Danica is a female Ed Carpenter, sort of. Ed's got a little class.

[Easy Drifter]

I wonder if Sarah will finally drive the new chassis instead of the old clunker.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Iowa is fun....sort like putting frogs in a blender and turning it on!

My pick to win? Helio.....

[SUBARUTEAM]

thats a big entry card for such a small track.
traffic will be a big issue but will reward the brave and bite those that push too hard

[Easy Drifter]

Not only is it on TSN2 rather than TSN in Canada is is on tape delay until 11pm Sunday night.

[Mark in Oshawa]

thats a big entry card for such a small track.
traffic will be a big issue but will reward the brave and bite those that push too hard

The brave? I know who that isn't...lol

[DanicaFan]

Here are the results of Practice Session 1..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Lap Speed

1. #11 Tony Kanaan / 17.7485 / 181.334
2. #12 Will Power / 17.7626 / 181.190
3. #26 Marco Andretti / 17.7673 / 181.142
4. #9 Scott Dixon / 17.8554 / 180.248
5. #10 Dario Franchitti / 17.8973 / 179.826
6. #4 Dan Wheldon / 17.8983 / 179.816
7. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 17.9316 / 179.482
8. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 17.9576 / 179.222
9. #3 Helio Castroneves / 17.9578 / 179.220
10. #77 Alex Tagliani / 18.0188 / 178.613
11. #22 Justin Wilson / 18.0204 / 178.598
12. #19 Alex Lloyd / 18.0519 / 178.286
13. #5 Takuma Sato / 18.0736 / 178.072
14. #24 Graham Rahal / 18.1328 / 177.491
15. #7 Danica Patrick / 18.1513 / 177.310
16. #14 Vitor Meira / 18.1609 / 177.216
17. #2 Raphael Matos / 18.2194 / 176.647
18. #32 Mario Moraes / 18.2396 / 176.451
19. #8 EJ Viso / 18.2545 / 176.307
20. #18 Milka Duno / 18.2708 / 176.150
21. #78 Simona De Silvestro / 18.4767 / 174.187
22. #36 Bertrand Baguette / 18.5698 / 173.314
23. #06 Hideki Mutoh / 18.6596 / 172.480
24. #67 Sarah Fisher / 19.0669 / 168.795
25. #34 Mario Romancini / 19.1079 / 168.433

[DanicaFan]

Here is the qualifying order for today..

1. #36 Bertrand Baguette
2. #24 Graham Rahal
3. #5 Takuma Sato
4. #12 Will Power
5. #67 Sarah Fisher
6. #11 Tony Kanaan
7. #32 Mario Moraes
8. #19 Alex Lloyd
9. #18 Milka Duno
10. #06 Hideki Mutoh
11. #7 Danica Patrick
12. #78 Simona De Silvestro
13. #2 Raphael Matos
14. #34 Mario Romancini
15. #22 Justin Wilson
16. #10 Dario Franchitti
17. #77 Alex Tagliani
18. #8 EJ Viso
19. #3 Helio Castroneves
20. #9 Scott Dixon
21. #6 Ryan Briscoe
22. #37 Ryan Hunte-Reay
23. #26 Marco Andretti
24. #14 Vitor Meira
25. #4 Dan Wheldon

[Hoop-98]

A few more details;

http://i50.tinypic.com/2zq5yix.jpg

[DanicaFan]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/iowapitlanes.jpg

[Hoop-98]

Turn 1 entry speeds, some seem to drive in a bit deeper than others;

http://i47.tinypic.com/15xq2iw.jpg

rh

[Mark in Oshawa]

Slow in fast out doesn't seem to registar at all with Marco, but with the 3rd fastest time, it appears not to hurt. Ditto with the rest of the top 3.

[TURN3]

Slow in fast out doesn't seem to registar at all with Marco, but with the 3rd fastest time, it appears not to hurt. Ditto with the rest of the top 3.

I was thinking the exact same thing and then seen your comment. He commented before the season started that he had a tendancy to overdrive these cars...looks to be exactly the case at least here.

[TURN3]

Milka put up a pretty good lap here in P2 on a track you certainly wouldn't expect it from her. I checked out the live feed real quick though and seen TK back out of making it 4 wide with her after a Penske and Rahal split her. Pretty dicy...but for all of the times she's in that position, you don't see crashes around her. I say even though she's a tank you gotta hand that to her, she holds her line and makes for some moments of excitement with other drivers.

[DanicaFan]

Milka put up a pretty good lap here in P2 on a track you certainly wouldn't expect it from her. I checked out the live feed real quick though and seen TK back out of making it 4 wide with her after a Penske and Rahal split her. Pretty dicy...but for all of the times she's in that position, you don't see crashes around her. I say even though she's a tank you gotta hand that to her, she holds her line and makes for some moments of excitement with other drivers.

No, TK saw that there were going to be 4 wide and Im sure he knew Milka was involved so he didnt risk it and let off the throttle. It was all TK's doing to make that an incident free moment, nothing on Milka's part, she still sucks. If anything, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and messed up what could have been some good 3 wide racing.

[Hoop-98]

http://i49.tinypic.com/wioi2w.jpg

[TURN3]

No, TK saw that there were going to be 4 wide and Im sure he knew Milka was involved so he didnt risk it and let off the throttle. It was all TK's doing to make that an incident free moment, nothing on Milka's part, she still sucks. If anything, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and messed up what could have been some good 3 wide racing.

What the hell are you talking about? Your comments have absolutely no correlation to my post?????!!!! I specifically said that TK seen what was going on and backed out...can you read? Milka does suck, which is what I said politely (unlike YOU). What I said was that for as many times as drivers are splitting her and going around her in packs she doesn't cause wrecks...she holds her line. If you can't reply to a comment within context, then don't post. And don't you ever whine about people ragging on Danica because you are no different toward Milka. Hypocracy is shameful.

[DanicaFan]

Practice Session 2 Results..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Lap Speed / Difference

1. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 17.7791 / 181.022 / --
2. #26 Marco Andretti / 17.7806 / 181.006 / .0015
3. #12 Will Power / 17.7919 / 180.891 / .0128
4. #10 Dario Franchitti / 17.8012 / 180.797 / .0221
5. #9 Scott Dixon / 17.8096 / 180.712 / .0305
6. #14 Vitor Meira / 17.8101 / 180.706 / .0310
7. #4 Dan Wheldon / 17.8266 / 180.539 / .0475
8. #22 Justin Wilson / 17.8390 / 180.414 / .0599
9. #11 Tony Kanaan / 17.8775 / 180.025 / .0984
10. #3 Helio Castroneves / 17.8821 / 179.979 .1030
11. #32 Mario Moraes / 17.9019 / 179.780 / .1228
12. #5 Takuma Sato / 17.9095 / 179.704 / .1304
13. #19 Alex Lloyd / 17.9225 / 179.573 / .1434
14. #77 Alex Tagliani / 17.9310 / 179.488 / .1519
15. #8 EJ Viso / 17.9527 / 179.271 / .1736
16. #18 Milka Duno / 17.9801 / 178.998 / .2010
17. #24 Graham Rahal / 17.9883 / 178.916 / .2092
18. #2 Raphael Matos / 17.9986 / 178.814 / .2195
19. #36 Bertrand Baguette / 18.0228 178.574 / .2437
20. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 18.0258 / 178.544 / .2467
21. #78 Simona De Silvestro / 18.0262 / 178.540 / .2471
22. #7 Danica Patrick / 18.0887 / 177.923 / .3096
23. #67 Sarah Fisher / 18.1684 / 177.143 / .3893
24. #34 Mario Romancini / 18.2472 / 176.378 / .4681
25. #06 Hideki Mutoh / 18.5436 / 173.559 / .7645

[DanicaFan]

What the hell are you talking about? Your comments have absolutely no correlation to my post?????!!!! I specifically said that TK seen what was going on and backed out...can you read? Milka does suck, which is what I said politely (unlike YOU). What I said was that for as many times as drivers are splitting her and going around her in packs she doesn't cause wrecks...she holds her line. If you can't reply to a comment within context, then don't post. And don't you ever whine about people ragging on Danica because you are no different toward Milka. Hypocracy is shameful.

Settle down Francis.. ;)

[TURN3]

Settle down Francis.. ;)

Clueless aren't ya... :blackeye:

[SarahFan]

Are they racing right now or practicing?

[TURN3]

Are they racing right now or practicing?

Practice and q's over Ken. Curious if race tomorrow will be any good...I think it was a snoozer last year but we'll see.

BTW, you going to Toronto this year? I remember you saying you'd like to. Just curious, I might try.

[SarahFan]

Practice and q's over Ken. Curious if race tomorrow will be any good...I think it was a snoozer last year but we'll see.

BTW, you going to Toronto this year? I remember you saying you'd like to. Just curious, I might try.


I was joking....... dfan suggesting milka was ruining the 3 wide racing today ... When of course the wernt racing today were they


No Toronto ...... I'm stil persona non grata .... I really need to get a pardon

[TURN3]

I was joking....... dfan suggesting milka was ruining the 3 wide racing today ... When of course the wernt racing today were they


No Toronto ...... I'm stil persona non grata .... I really need to get a pardon

Well don't I feel like a goof, I didn't get it! Sorry.

Shucks thats too bad about Toronto.

[e2mtt]

Pole for Will Power... I'm impressed. Looking like a championship for him. Maybe somebody will give him an F1 ride.

[DanicaFan]

Congrats to Will Power for getting the pole. Here is the starting grid..

Row 1

#12 Will Power - 181.337
#9 Scott Dixon - 181.332

Row 2

#26 Marco Andretti - 181.005
#3 Helio Castroneves - 180.884

Row 3

#10 Dario Franchitti - 180.859
#77 Alex Tagliani - 180.851

Row 4

#5 Takuma Sato - 180.672
#6 Ryan Briscoe - 180.672

Row 5

#7 Danica Patrick - 180.085
#4 Dan Wheldon - 179.902

Row 6

#22 Justin Wilson - 179.875
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay - 179.666

Row 7

#14 Vitor Meira - 179.615
#19 Alex Lloyd - 179.366

Row 8

#11 Tony Kanaan - 179.109
#32 Mario Moraes - 178.974

Row 9

#24 Graham Rahal - 178.312
#67 Sarah Fisher - 178.185

Row 10

#8 EJ Viso - 178.091
#78 Simona De Silvestro - 177.919

Row 11

#2 Raphael Matos - 177.842
#36 Bertrand Baguette - 177.224

Row 12

#34 Mario Romancini - 176.436
#06 Hideki Mutoh - 173.468

Row 13

#18 Milka Duno - No Time

[ShiftingGears]

Pole for Will Power... I'm impressed. Looking like a championship for him. Maybe somebody will give him an F1 ride.

Haha, never happening.

[FormerFF]

What's going on with Tony Kanaan? With Marco on the second row, I'd expect more from hm.

Hopefully, Milka will find she has handling issues within a few laps. With that many cars on a small track she could create a lot of issues.

[Anubis]

Good effort from Sato.

[TURN3]

Versus about to interview Danica. My prediction of Danica's comments "Ummmm, well, ya know.....Ummmm, well, ya know.....Ummmm, well ya know" Over and over again. At least all these foreigners don't embarass the English language.

[Nikki Katz]

Ouch... Duno.... This series could really do with one fewer car.

[DanicaFan]

Ouch... Duno.... This series could really do with one fewer car.

Maybe us fans should sign a petition and get her off the track. What a great move by Marco to avoid the accident.

[garyshell]

Whoa Milka! I would have loved to have heard Marco's radio when she pulled in front of him like that.

Gary

[TURN3]

Very interesting to see the drastic change in different cars performance as the stint goes on.

[SarahFan]

I'm relaxing in a hot spring in lava hotsprings Idaho....

If I could get a lap and top 5 would be great..

[DanicaFan]

What was that last yellow flag for anyway ??

[TURN3]

What was that last yellow flag for anyway ??

To keep Graham and Danica from going a lap down, the usual.

[garyshell]

Now that was cheesey, Arute.

Arghhh.

Gary

[DanicaFan]

Now that was cheesey, Arute.

Arghhh.

Gary

That was crazy. I hope none of those marbles roll thier way down to pit lane. ;)

[DanicaFan]

Let's go TK !

[woody2goody]

Taku hit the wall :(

He was half a second a lap faster than the leaders as well.

[garyshell]

Damn! I hate these freakin' front wings. Aero is NOT our friend. Sato washed out and hit the wall, because the air was taken off the front end. IRL get rid of the wings on the next generation of cars. Either that or mandate the elimination of all turbulence off the rear of the car. Wings have ruined racing.

Gary

[TURN3]

Way to go TK! Good to see the monkey off his back!

[DanicaFan]

Awesome job by Tony Kanaan. A great win for Andretti Autosport.

[DanicaFan]

Here are the final results..

1. #11 Tony Kanaan
2. #3 Helio Castroneves
3. #8 EJ Viso
4. #6 Ryan Briscoe
5. #12 Will Power
6. #9 Scott Dixon
7. #14 Vitor Meira
8. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
9. #24 Graham Rahal
10. #7 Danica Patrick
11. #4 Dan Wheldon
12. #77 Alex Tagliani
13. #19 Alex Lloyd
14. #2 Raphael Matos
15. #26 Marco Andretti
16. #34 Mario Romancini
17. #36 Bertrand Baguette
18. #10 Dario Franchitti
19. #5 Takuma Sato
20. #06 Hideki Mutoh
21. #78 Simona De Silvestro
22. #67 Sarah Fisher
23. #18 Milka Duno
24. #22 Justin Wilson
25. #32 Mario Moraes

[DanicaFan]

I am wondering how you can have Justin Wilson not finishing last for accidentally causing the crash with Moraes ?

[garyshell]

I am wondering how you can have Justin Wilson not finishing last for accidentally causing the crash with Moraes ?


Simple, since both went out on the same lap, they are scored based on the last time they crossed start/finish. Hence Justin is ahead.

Gary

[DanicaFan]

Thanks guys. I was about to break out my rule book. ;)

[00steven]

Milka shouldn't race, plain and simple.

[harvick#1]

So glad to see TK finally get his win, Hes quickly becoming one of my new favs in the IRL, especially since he has a great sense of humor which showed at Indy.

[Jag_Warrior]

So glad to see TK finally get his win, Hes quickly becoming one of my new favs in the IRL, especially since he has a great sense of humor which showed at Indy.

Yeah, he's a very likeable guy. I still don't understand why he didn't go with Ganassi, instead of remaining a babysitter/setup slave at AA. But at least he finally gets a well deserved win. :up:

[I am evil Homer]

Impressed by Sato shame he didn't finish but congrats to TK great drive.

Is the governing body going to do anything about Duno? I'm all for having anyone who wants to have the opportunity to compete but when it's clear you're a danger to yourself and others it's time to say "thanks, but no thanks".

[beachbum]

Damn! I hate these freakin' front wings. Aero is NOT our friend. Sato washed out and hit the wall, because the air was taken off the front end. IRL get rid of the wings on the next generation of cars. Either that or mandate the elimination of all turbulence off the rear of the car. Wings have ruined racing.

GaryThe problem was a rookie mistake and marbles. Sato admitted he was surprised by the effect of losing the front wing and once he got into the marbles "he was just a a passenger". He also felt he was chopped a bit as. It happens in all forms of racing, even NASCAR. You can't eliminate air, nor can you change the laws of physics. Most of the experienced racers time their passes better to avoid getting caught in the "wash". He will learn

If you take off the wings, what do you have? The car still leaves a "hole" in the air, and anything that creates downforce is going to effect the air behind the car, even tunnels. The downforce is what gives the startling cornering speeds. Does anyone seriously think fans would put up hard earned money to watch cars with no downforce circulate at stock cars speeds? They would just be rear engine Silver Crown cars (which do have aero aids) and who watches them?

[e2mtt]

Damn! I hate these freakin' front wings. Aero is NOT our friend. Sato washed out and hit the wall, because the air was taken off the front end. IRL get rid of the wings on the next generation of cars. Either that or mandate the elimination of all turbulence off the rear of the car. Wings have ruined racing.

Gary

You can't take aerodynamics out of racing, period. To drive a racecar, you have to learn when & where turbulence & slipstream affect your car. No other way about it.

On an aside, regarding aero & Danica, when she was racing in Nascar back in the 2nd or 3rd race of the year, I heard a very funny exchange on the radio with her crew chief. She was insisting on running a half-groove lower then whatever car was ahead of her, because she liked the aero downforce on the front left corner of her car. The crew on the radio was trying to get her to pull up into the draft & try to get a run on the car in front of her, because they thought her car was fast enough to move up. She replied that car felt too loose when she did that, and it felt better running the line she was, & she didn't know why she wasn't going faster. You ever hear a really exasperated crew chief on the radio? :-)

[harvick#1]

Whoa Milka! I would have loved to have heard Marco's radio when she pulled in front of him like that.

Gary

anything Danica can do, Milka can do better :p :

[beachbum]

You can't take aerodynamics out of racing, period. To drive a racecar, you have to learn when & where turbulence & slipstream affect your car. No other way about it.

On an aside, regarding aero & Danica, when she was racing in Nascar back in the 2nd or 3rd race of the year, I heard a very funny exchange on the radio with her crew chief. She was insisting on running a half-groove lower then whatever car was ahead of her, because she liked the aero downforce on the front left corner of her car. The crew on the radio was trying to get her to pull up into the draft & try to get a run on the car in front of her, because they thought her car was fast enough to move up. She replied that car felt too loose when she did that, and it felt better running the line she was, & she didn't know why she wasn't going faster. You ever hear a really exasperated crew chief on the radio? :-)That really makes you wonder if she knows what "loose" is. The car should have been a lot tighter right behind another car. I did read that Tony Jr basically gave up at one event (Calif?) and really had to tighten the car up for her or she couldn't drive it. Of course, that was real slow - but "comfortable".

[Jag_Warrior]

That really makes you wonder if she knows what "loose" is. The car should have been a lot tighter right behind another car. I did read that Tony Jr basically gave up at one event (Calif?) and really had to tighten the car up for her or she couldn't drive it. Of course, that was real slow - but "comfortable".

I don't want to take a good thread and turn it into a(nother) Danica thread, but do you think that's one of the reason that many formula car drivers tend to have a difficult time with stock cars??? In most any form of circuit racing, AFAIK, "looser is faster". But many stock car drivers cut their teeth going sideways and hanging the rear end out much of the time. That's probably not the case for the overwhelming majority of open wheel formula car drivers. In addition to Danica not being much more than an average driver to begin with, and having a shocking lack of understanding about basic setup principles, do you think the "looser is faster" thing is a double whammy for her?

Since (obviously) better drivers than The Danica have had their struggles in stock cars (Montoya, Franchitti, Speed, Allmendinger, Tracy, Hornish, et al), I just wonder if that handling variation is part of what makes it harder for them to cross over? Stewart is an exception, but he started out in sprints and stock cars before he ever got in an IRL car.

[TURN3]

I don't want to take a good thread and turn it into a(nother) Danica thread, but do you think that's one of the reason that many formula car drivers tend to have a difficult time with stock cars??? In most any form of circuit racing, AFAIK, "looser is faster". But many stock car drivers cut their teeth going sideways and hanging the rear end out much of the time. That's probably not the case for the overwhelming majority of open wheel formula car drivers. In addition to Danica not being much more than an average driver to begin with, and having a shocking lack of understanding about basic setup principles, do you think the "looser is faster" thing is a double whammy for her?

Since (obviously) better drivers than The Danica have had their struggles in stock cars (Montoya, Franchitti, Speed, Allmendinger, Tracy, Hornish, et al), I just wonder if that handling variation is part of what makes it harder for them to cross over? Stewart is an exception, but he started out in sprints and stock cars before he ever got in an IRL car.

I think you raise a valid question overall but I don't see it applying in Danica's case. She just isn't a very good driver, period. I think for a talented driver it just takes time to adapt.

Montoya has been doing very well with a previously lackluster team. Ganassi's Cup outfit has steadily made progress in recent year built around Montoya (he's not having a good year this year though obviously). Almendinger is doing pretty well with a pretty bad team, it took him a year and a half to get that way though. I'd say he easily runs as well as Kahne and is better than Sadler. Hornish, ehhh, I just don't think he's as talented as his Indycar record might show. Franchitti, never had a chance...per Chip. I think Dario is about as talented as a driver as anybody in any form of racing. With a full season in a properly funded car he'd be right where Montoya is and Ganassi would've been a better team by now too. Tracy, kicked tail at the plate races and roadie he drove in Mexico. Driving for a team that litterally built their car in the owners garage at home wasn't representative. He tested for Childress and was offered a contract but for 1/4 of what Forsythe was paying him to keep Champ Car afloat.

Each of these guys give some credit the the theory that it takes about a year or year and a half to make the transition, in my opinion.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I don't want to take a good thread and turn it into a(nother) Danica thread, but do you think that's one of the reason that many formula car drivers tend to have a difficult time with stock cars??? In most any form of circuit racing, AFAIK, "looser is faster". But many stock car drivers cut their teeth going sideways and hanging the rear end out much of the time. That's probably not the case for the overwhelming majority of open wheel formula car drivers. In addition to Danica not being much more than an average driver to begin with, and having a shocking lack of understanding about basic setup principles, do you think the "looser is faster" thing is a double whammy for her?

Since (obviously) better drivers than The Danica have had their struggles in stock cars (Montoya, Franchitti, Speed, Allmendinger, Tracy, Hornish, et al), I just wonder if that handling variation is part of what makes it harder for them to cross over? Stewart is an exception, but he started out in sprints and stock cars before he ever got in an IRL car.

Of course it is that. That said, I don't think for a second that the OW driver cannot adjust in time. Montoya is a contender to win on a lot of ovals, so I would say he has made the transition. Franchitti never got a full season in. Speed, Dinger and Hornish show flashes of getting it. Tracy, well he did ok in the few Daytona races he entered and did ok in the road racing event at Mexico. It is no secret that is why the Sprint and Midget guys like Kahne and Newman followed Stewart and Jeff Gordon to Cup. The modern OW race car is designed NOT to be loose. Loose at Indy means you eat a wall, and these cars being light like they are will not be very drivable if the downforce goes away.

It is why I think Danica is in for a world of hurt unless she sucks it up and learns, because it is obvious from her short NASCAR career so far she cannot grasp that she must learn to accept the loose race car. Very few guys win in NASCAR if they are driving comfortble tight cars. Danica has never developed that feel in a type of car she has driven most of her racing career, so I fail to see how the heck she is going to do this when it is clear she shows no interest in doing so.

[Mark in Oshawa]

AS for the race, I would be for more Iowa ovals every year. Best oval race I have seen in a while in the IRL, and I am glad to see New Hampshire is back next year too.

On a flat oval, or a tight one like Iowa, the guys have to drive the race car and adjust....and it separates the men from the boys, and the women from...well the rest of the women...lol..

Dump the cookie cutter foot to the floor shows if all you are going to do is give them enough wing to run flat out, and give me more Iowa's where they had to breathe on the throttle.

[garyshell]

This just in, the end of the world is near:

http://www.ibj.com/the-score/2010/06/22/tony-kanaan-danica-patrick-feud-could-wreck-indycar/PARAMS/post/20687

What a steaming load of horse excrement. Who is this HACK? Does he not understand that rivalries are a GOOD thing, even among team mates?

Gary

[Mark in Oshawa]

This just in, the end of the world is near:

http://www.ibj.com/the-score/2010/06/22/tony-kanaan-danica-patrick-feud-could-wreck-indycar/PARAMS/post/20687

What a steaming load of horse excrement. Who is this HACK? Does he not understand that rivalries are a GOOD thing, even among team mates?

Gary

I don't know if he is a hack. I think he points out quite rightly that going after Kanaan will erode her popularity. I think everyone is just about fed up with the Bitchy/cranky/whiney bit she does...and Kanaan is making it pubically clear he is not carrying the water for her any more.

My only complaint with his article is his assertion that she was justified in calling her team out. She wasn't. She isn't smart enough to make that car that fast on her own, and she needed them a hell of lot more than they needed her. I don't know if Danica will ever figure it out, and I hope she doesn't. IT is nice to have a nice easy decision every day knowing I can cheer against ONE driver for sure...

[TURN3]

First of all, to a man, each and every professional media person out there has long agreed that one of the many missing ingredients in Indycar these days is that of a rivalry. So this guy isn't thinking very clearly in my opinion.

Secondly, I know others here agree with what I started saying 2 1/2 years ago...that the sooner Danica is gone the sooner Indycar can start rebuilding credibility. The fact she is the highest profile driver is a joke considering she's likely not one of the top 30 most talented active openwheel drivers. Pretty hard to sell a legitimate product to educated people when your poster child is a side act at the circus show.

[garyshell]

I don't know if he is a hack. I think he points out quite rightly that going after Kanaan will erode her popularity. I think everyone is just about fed up with the Bitchy/cranky/whiney bit she does...and Kanaan is making it pubically clear he is not carrying the water for her any more.

My only complaint with his article is his assertion that she was justified in calling her team out. She wasn't. She isn't smart enough to make that car that fast on her own, and she needed them a hell of lot more than they needed her. I don't know if Danica will ever figure it out, and I hope she doesn't. IT is nice to have a nice easy decision every day knowing I can cheer against ONE driver for sure...


Mark, anyone who titles an article "Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick feud could wreck IndyCar" is a hack, plain and simple.

Gary

[harvick#1]

I rivalry is when two teams hate each other but still repect each other and the game they play

TK has zero respect for The Brand and hes not afraid to diss her in public either, Danica is off to Nascar and she will fail, she will try and come crawling back to the IRL but no team is gonna wanna spend that money to get her and get mediocre results

[NaBUru38]

it separates the men from the boys, and the women from...well the rest of the women...lol..
Girls?

[Jag_Warrior]

I don't know if he is a hack. I think he points out quite rightly that going after Kanaan will erode her popularity. I think everyone is just about fed up with the Bitchy/cranky/whiney bit she does...and Kanaan is making it pubically clear he is not carrying the water for her any more.

My only complaint with his article is his assertion that she was justified in calling her team out. She wasn't. She isn't smart enough to make that car that fast on her own, and she needed them a hell of lot more than they needed her. I don't know if Danica will ever figure it out, and I hope she doesn't. IT is nice to have a nice easy decision every day knowing I can cheer against ONE driver for sure...

What this guy missed is that while a feud between Kanaan and The Danica might erode her popularity, it very well might INCREASE his. And rather than wrecking the IRL, it actually might tell some of the long time fans (the real racing fans, not the bikini shot fans) that have been turning off their sets, it's time to return... we're back to cheering for real racers and making fun of hacks (Shiggy, "the Human Wrecking Ball", anyone?).

Personally I like a good dust up (hey, it's a genetic personality defect - like a handicap, so leave me alone! :p ). The wars between Prost and Senna, Schumacher and Hill, Schumacher and Villeneuve, Schumacher and Montoya, Hamilton and Alonso, etc. just made F1 incredibly more exciting than it would have otherwise been. And what about the epic slap fights between Paul Tracy and, well... EVERYBODY! Especially him and Michael Andretti! Does anybody else remember Paul promoting (I think with t-shirts) the Michael Andretti Racing School for the Blind? It was for downtrodden racing drivers who had failing eyesight. :rotflmao: Or Andretti's comeback that featured Paul on a box of Captain Crunch cereal. Or what about hot-headed Robby Gordon putting a fat donut on the side of Mike Andretti's car at Cleveland(?) after a race! The most exciting things about CCWS, as it was stumbling to its grave, were the Tracy vs. Bourdais battles! I had SO much hope that Allmendinger and Scott Speed would wind up in good cars in CART/CCWS. Why? Because I read many years ago in AutoWeek that they hated each other. Two young hot shoes in good cars that couldn't stand the sight of one another?! Oh yeah! :bounce:

As for American sponsors preferring that teammates play well together... uh, newsflash: Danica and Kanaan don't have the same primary sponsors! Go Daddy is only there because of The Danica. I have no idea what the 7-11 sponsorship is based on. But I find it hard to believe that Kanaan is going to get a call from anybody at 7-11 chastising him for taking The Brand to task for her attitude and actions, especially when it brings MORE exposure to their driver.

IMO, what the IRL needs is MORE controversy and hard feelings among drivers, not less. I can't stand much more of this syrupy, feel good hand holding! As it stands now, Barney the Dinosaur is going to be the next series mascot. Ol' Barney singing, "I love you. You love me." And I hate Barney the Dinosaur! :angryfire

The way I see it, if the IRL needs a popular Danica in order to survive, the future is not bright.

[Mark in Oshawa]

What this guy missed is that while a feud between Kanaan and The Danica might erode her popularity, it very well might INCREASE his. And rather than wrecking the IRL, it actually might tell some of the long time fans (the real racing fans, not the bikini shot fans) that have been turning off their sets, it's time to return... we're back to cheering for real racers and making fun of hacks (Shiggy, "the Human Wrecking Ball", anyone?).

Personally I like a good dust up (hey, it's a genetic personality defect - like a handicap, so leave me alone! :p ). The wars between Prost and Senna, Schumacher and Hill, Schumacher and Villeneuve, Schumacher and Montoya, Hamilton and Alonso, etc. just made F1 incredibly more exciting than it would have otherwise been. And what about the epic slap fights between Paul Tracy and, well... EVERYBODY! Especially him and Michael Andretti! Does anybody else remember Paul promoting (I think with t-shirts) the Michael Andretti Racing School for the Blind? It was for downtrodden racing drivers who had failing eyesight. :rotflmao: Or Andretti's comeback that featured Paul on a box of Captain Crunch cereal. Or what about hot-headed Robby Gordon putting a fat donut on the side of Mike Andretti's car at Cleveland(?) after a race! The most exciting things about CCWS, as it was stumbling to its grave, were the Tracy vs. Bourdais battles! I had SO much hope that Allmendinger and Scott Speed would wind up in good cars in CART/CCWS. Why? Because I read many years ago in AutoWeek that they hated each other. Two young hot shoes in good cars that couldn't stand the sight of one another?! Oh yeah! :bounce:

As for American sponsors preferring that teammates play well together... uh, newsflash: Danica and Kanaan don't have the same primary sponsors! Go Daddy is only there because of The Danica. I have no idea what the 7-11 sponsorship is based on. But I find it hard to believe that Kanaan is going to get a call from anybody at 7-11 chastising him for taking The Brand to task for her attitude and actions, especially when it brings MORE exposure to their driver.

IMO, what the IRL needs is MORE controversy and hard feelings among drivers, not less. I can't stand much more of this syrupy, feel good hand holding! As it stands now, Barney the Dinosaur is going to be the next series mascot. Ol' Barney singing, "I love you. You love me." And I hate Barney the Dinosaur! :angryfire

The way I see it, if the IRL needs a popular Danica in order to survive, the future is not bright.
JAG...I am with you on all of it...

Especially the last line. If we need Danica that bad, you might as well shut the doors. I think the IRL has been held BACK actually because of Danica. As I said before, if she was so valuable, why do the ratings NOT reflect it?