Kentucky Indy 300

[DanicaFan]

Race 15 of 17

Race - Kentucky Indy 300

Location - Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, KY

Date - Saturday, September 4th

Time & TV Schedule - 8:00PM Eastern -Green Flag -9:00PM Eastern -Versus

Course Type - 1.5 Mile Oval

Distance - 200 Laps / 300 Miles

Practice Sessions - Friday, Sept. 3rd -10:15AM -11:15AM & 7:00PM -7:30PM Eastern

Qualifications - Friday, Sept. 3rd - 1:30PM - 3:00PM Eastern

2009 Pole Sitter - Scott Dixon -(Qualifications rained out, set by points)

2009 Winner - Ryan Briscoe

[DanicaFan]

Track Information

1.5 Mile Oval
Banking
Turns -14 degrees
Tri-Oval- 8-10 degrees
Short Straight - 4 degrees

Track Width - 70 feet

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/kentuckyspeedway.gif

[DanicaFan]

2009 Race Summary

Total Laps - 200 / Green Flag Laps - 194 / Caution Laps - 6
Race Length - 1:28:24
Average Speed - 200.893
Best Lap - 218.498mph - #20 Ed Carpenter -Lap 8
Most Improved - #20 Ed Carpenter - 12 positions - started 14- finished 2nd

[DanicaFan]

Here are the championship points going into this race....

Race 14 of 17

1. Will Power 528
2. Dario Franchitti 505 -23
3. Scott Dixon 443 -85
4. Ryan Briscoe 406 -122
5. Helio Castroneves 398 -130
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay 392 -136
7. Tony Kanaan 360 -168
8. Marco Andretti 319 -209
9. Justin Wilson 316 -212
10. Dan Wheldon 309 -219
11. Danica Patrick 275 -253
12. Vitor Meira 257 -271
13. Alex Tagliani 254 -274
14. Mario Moraes 253 -275
15. Raphael Matos 251 -277
16. EJ Viso 225 -303
17. Alex Lloyd 219 -309
18. Hideki Mutoh 209 -319
19. Simona De Silvestro 208 -320
20. Graham Rahal 179 -349
21. Takuma Sato 174 -354
22. Bertrand Baguette 168 -360
23. Mario Romancini 149 -379
24. Milka Duno 148 -380
25. Mike Conway 110 -418
26. Tomas Scheckter 73 -455
27. Sarah Fisher 68 -460
28. Paul Tracy 61 -467
29. Ana Beatriz 45 -483
30. Jay Howard 44 -484
31. John Andretti 35 -493
32. Ed Carpenter 32 -496
33. Davey Hamilton 26 -502
34. JR Hildebrand 26 -502
35. Adam Carroll 26 -502
36. Francesco Dracone 24 -504
37. Townsend Bell 18 -510
38. Sebastian Saavedra 15 -513
39. Bruno Junqueira 13 -515
40. AJ Foyt IV 0 -528
__________________

[Lousada]

I hope Ed can pull it off this time.

[TURN3]

Predicitions DF?

[garyshell]

Predicitions DF?


I predict DF will predict that Danica will take the pole, lap the field twice for the win, cure cancer and pay off the national debt while singing kumbaya.

Gary

[bblocker68]

I'm trying to recover from my Will Power hang over. I'm still bent that he had to take fuel.

[SoCalPVguy]

I predict DF will predict that Danica will take the pole, lap the field twice for the win, cure cancer and pay off the national debt while singing kumbaya.

Gary


Clearly a candidate for "The Best Of" section in the All Danica All The Time thread !!!

[harvick#1]

I predict DF will predict that Danica will take the pole, lap the field twice for the win, cure cancer and pay off the national debt while singing kumbaya.

Gary

I thought the cure for cancer was through Chuck Norris' Tears

I'm really hoping that someone not in the Ganassi/Penske ring wins this race, it would be refreshing for the series for Ed to win, or even Wheldon or Marco

[Jag_Warrior]

I thought the cure for cancer was through Chuck Norris' Tears

I'm really hoping that someone not in the Ganassi/Penske ring wins this race, it would be refreshing for the series for Ed to win, or even Wheldon or Marco

As much as I'd thought of him as not much more than a whiney punk before this season, I think I'd like to see Marco notch a (legitimate) win now. I don't really keep up with him, but given that he seemed willing to work on his race craft during the off-season, I'd kind of like to see it pay off for him.

How does this track compare to Chicago?

[Easy Drifter]

I hope Sarah uses the new chassis now that Howard is not running instead of the old overweight clunker that is also probably a bit of a flexi flyer.

[harvick#1]

How does this track compare to Chicago?

not bad, Briscoe and Carpenter went side by side for the last 10 laps for the checkers.

its a similar Cookie Cutter to Kansas

[00steven]

I can't wait to see how Will Power will respond under pressure. It will be a great race to the championship me thinks.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

not bad, Briscoe and Carpenter went side by side for the last 10 laps for the checkers.

its a similar Cookie Cutter to Kansas

Kansas was always a dull race since I watch IndyCar, Chicagoland was always exciting. So I hope Kentucky is more similar to the latter.

Anyway, I predict Will Power will win. He figured out the ovals, period.

[DanicaFan]

Paul Tracy will be driving the #24 car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for this Kentucky race and at Twin Ring Motegi. The sponsor Motegi Racing Wheels will be the sponsor.

[TURN3]

Paul Tracy will be driving the #24 car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for this Kentucky race and at Twin Ring Motegi. The sponsor Motegi Racing Wheels will be the sponsor.

Do ya' think?

[SUBARUTEAM]

i think will power will be in the top 3. both dario and will P will get help from their team mates - all the way to the championship.

[garyshell]

Rahal to Drive for Fisher at Kentucky

Sep 1, 12:11 AM (ET)
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (AP) - Graham Rahal is re-teaming with Sarah Fisher Racing for this weekend's IndyCar Series race at Kentucky.
Rahal drove for Fisher's team at St. Petersburg, Alabama and Long Beach early in the season, then finished 12th at the Indianapolis 500 for his father Bobby's Rahal-Letterman Racing team. The Ohio native also drove for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing at Iowa and has signed to drive six of the final eight races for Newman/Haas Racing.
Considered one of the best young American drivers on the circuit, Rahal didn't have Kentucky included in his deal with Newman/Haas before hooking up with Fisher's team.
Fisher is scheduled to drive at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday.

Didn't see that coming.

Gary

[DanicaFan]

That is awesome about Graham being in this race.

[DanicaFan]

Do ya' think?

No, I know it.. ;)

[TURN3]

No, I know it.. ;)

And only by a full day behind the rest of the world...something about that with you huh?

[DanicaFan]

Here is the entry list for this race...

Car # & Driver / Car Name / Team

#2 Raphael Matos / HP DeFerran 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 Go.Daddy.com / Andretti Autosport
#8 EJ Viso / PDVSA-KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dario Franchitti / Dixie / 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
#20 Ed Carpenter / Panther-Vision-Fuzzy's Vodka / Panther Racing
#22 Justin Wilson Team Z-Line Designs-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 Paul Tracy / Dad's Root Beer-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Meijer / Andretti Autosport
#32 Mario Moraes / KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#34 Bertrand Baguette / RACB-Conquest Racing / Conquest Racing
#36 Tomas Scheckter / Conquest Racing / Conquest Racing
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / Team IZOD / Andretti Autosport
#66 Graham Rahal / Service Central-National Tire & Battery / Sarah Fisher Racing
#67 Sarah Fisher / Dollar General / 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

[DanicaFan]

Here are the pit assignments..

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

[grungex]

I predict DF will predict that Danica will take the pole, lap the field twice for the win, cure cancer and pay off the national debt while singing kumbaya.

Gary

:roll:

[beachbum]

I predict DF will predict that Danica will take the pole, lap the field twice for the win, cure cancer and pay off the national debt while singing kumbaya.

GaryYou forgot world peace

[DanicaFan]

I honestly do think Danica will get the pole here at Kentucky. She runs very well here. She started 5th here last year and finished 7th.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

I honestly do think Danica will get the pole here at Kentucky. She runs very well here. She started 5th here last year and finished 7th.

There are a number of tracks she did run well in previous years, but not this year. Kentucky will be another one in my opinion. She needs to decide which series she wants to focus on in order to at least get back to her 2009 performance level, because what she currently does clearly doesn't work in either series.

[beachgirl]

I honestly do think Danica will get the pole here at Kentucky. She runs very well here. She started 5th here last year and finished 7th.

Finishing 2 places behind where you started is not "running very well".

[DanicaFan]

Practice has begun !

[DanicaFan]

Top 5 currently are..

Castroneves
Kanaan
Wheldon
Dixon
Franchitti

[DanicaFan]

Castroneves, Dixon, Kanaan, Andretti and Briscoe are top-5. Moisture in turn 1 and debris - Yellow Flag.

[DanicaFan]

Yellow Flag still..

Top 10:

Helio Castroneves
Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Marco Andretti
Ryan Briscoe
Will Power
Dan Wheldon
Takuma Sato
Ed Carpenter
Vitor Meira

[DanicaFan]

Back to green!

[DanicaFan]

Mario Moraes just creeped into the top 5.

[DanicaFan]

Yellow flag again.... rain. :(

[DanicaFan]

Top-10: Castroneves, Dixon, Wheldon, Kanaan, Moraes, Meira, Andretti, Briscoe, Power, Carpenter

[DanicaFan]

At this moment here are the current practice standings..

1. #3 Helio Castroneves
2. #9 Scott Dixon
3. #4 Dan Wheldon
4. #11 Tony Kanaan
5. #32 Mario Moraes
6. #14 Vitor Meira
7. #26 Marco Andretti
8. #6 Ryan Briscoe
9. #12 Will Power
10. #20 Ed Carpenter
11. #19 Alex Lloyd
12. #5 Takuma Sato
13. #10 Dario Franchitti
14. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
15. #2 Raphael Matos
16. #7 Danica Patrick
17. #36 Tomas Scheckter
18. #77 Alex Tagliani
19. #67 Sarah Fisher
20. #34 Bertrand Baguette
21. #22 Justin Wilson
22. #8 EJ Viso
23. #78 Simona De Silvestro
24. #24 Paul Tracy
25. #06 Hideki Mutoh
26. #66 Graham Rahal
27. #18 Milka Duno

[SarahFan]

Top-10: Castroneves, Dixon, Wheldon, Kanaan, Moraes, Meira, Andretti, Briscoe, Power, Carpenter

Danica hasn't been yet?!?!

[DanicaFan]

With this rain and a chance for more, Im worried they may not get qualifications in. They start at 1:30. This track is also well known for weepers.

[beachgirl]

Danica hasn't been yet?!?!

16th.

[EagleEye]

I honestly do think Danica will get the pole here at Kentucky. She runs very well here. She started 5th here last year and finished 7th.

When you predict she will win every pole, every race, lead every lap, any prediction becomes a farce. Funny, she started 5th and FELL to 7th last year. Way to move up! How did she do the year before? I remember seing her car break in T4, and she crashed in T2 in practice and she had to start 26th and finished 11th.

Here is how "well" she runs at Kentucky:

YR ST FIN
2005 1 16
2006 11 8
2007 11 16
2008 26 11
2009 5 7

AVG 10.8 11.6

Very average numbers.

How is this for a prediction: The pole will go to a Penske or Ganassi car, 2/1.

[DanicaFan]

I was there in 2008 when she crashed in practice. In fact, I got the sidepod to that car. :)

[DanicaFan]

Track green to odd numbered cars.

[DanicaFan]

Green to all cars now.

[DanicaFan]

Yellow again. Session about over.

[DanicaFan]

Here are the results of the 1st practice session..

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/kentuckypractice1.jpg

[TURN3]

I was there in 2008 when she crashed in practice. In fact, I got the sidepod to that car. :)

Have you seen the commercial with Lance Armstrong...where he calls out adult males as ineligible to use emoticons? You're the other guy in that commercial...the one he ridicules. Stop it, stop it now.

[DanicaFan]

After 6 cars qualifying, Baguette holds on to the provisional pole. Even edged out Dario Franchitti.

[DanicaFan]

12 cars run so far. Hideki Mutoh currently on the provisional pole.

[DanicaFan]

Will Power currently on top.

[DanicaFan]

Ryan Hunter-Reay made contact with the wall in turn 2 on his first qualifying lap.

[DanicaFan]

Wow, poor Tony Kanaan had a bad run. :(

[DanicaFan]

Wow! Ed Carpenter now on provisional pole.

[beachgirl]

I honestly do think Danica will get the pole here at Kentucky. She runs very well here. She started 5th here last year and finished 7th.

Only 13 places off your prediction in qualifying.

[DanicaFan]

Only 13 places off your prediction in qualifying.

Hey, the whole Andretti team has struggled here during this qualification. Not sure what is going on.

[beachgirl]

Think Ed might be on a mission?

[beachgirl]

Hey, the whole Andretti team has struggled here during this qualification. Not sure what is going on.

You're right, they have been. Whatever changes they made for qualifying backfired, for sure.

[DanicaFan]

Congratulations to Ed Carpenter for the pole.

[harvick#1]

Think Ed might be on a mission?

finally!!!!!! someone new up on Pole!!!! so tired of seeing the Ganassi/Penske combo,

it would be a major relief for the IRL to finally have a new winner thats not Ganassi, Penske, or AA.

[TURN3]

Hey, the whole Andretti team has struggled here during this qualification. Not sure what is going on.

I can give you some idea. It probably is the same reason they've been getting worse each year for the past 4+ seasons.

BTW, very big congrats to Ed here. Given how well he ran at Indy and Chicago, you sort of have to wonder what suddenly has gotten into that Vision machine (supported by Panther). Way to go guys!

[DanicaFan]

Here is the starting grid with the average speed..

Row 1

#20 Ed Carpenter / 217.933
#12 Will Power / 217.829

Row 2

#4 Dan Wheldon / 217.700
#9 Scott Dixon / 217.533

Row 3

#06 Hideki Mutoh / 217.374
#34 Bertrand Baguette / 216.988

Row 4

#32 Mario Moraes / 216.879
#3 Helio Castroneves / 216.857

Row 5

#6 Ryan Briscoe / 216.600
#36 Tomas Scheckter / 216.589

Row 6

#10 Dario Franchitti / 216.533
#14 Vitor Meira / 216.434

Row 7

#77 Alex Tagliani / 216.391
#5 Takuma Sato / 216.265

Row 8

#26 Marco Andretti / 216.173
#22 Justin Wilson / 215.944

Row 9

#7 Danica Patrick / 215.820
#19 Alex Lloyd / 215.272

Row 10

#78 Simona De Silvestro / 215.003
#20 Raphael Matos / 214.948

Row 11

#67 Sarah Fisher / 214.813
#8 EJ Viso / 214.595

Row 12

#24 Paul Tracy / 214.270
#18 Milka Duno / 213.343

Row 13

#66 Graham Rahal / 212.364
#11 Tony Kanaan / 210.831

Row 14

#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / No Time (Contact Turn 2-1st Qualifying Lap)

[DanicaFan]

I can give you some idea. It probably is the same reason they've been getting worse each year for the past 4+ seasons.

BTW, very big congrats to Ed here. Given how well he ran at Indy and Chicago, you sort of have to wonder what suddenly has gotten into that Vision machine (supported by Panther). Way to go guys!

I thought you liked Andretti Autosport Turn 3 ?

And I am suprised at how slow Graham Rahal and Paul Tracy have been so far this weekend.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

It's as though the starting positions were randomly drawn out of a hat. Conquest suddenly has a good oval car - any connection with the arrival of Tomas Scheckter? Andretti got something very wrong. The KVRT cars seem to be spread out through the field, which decreases the probability of yellows but they can still crash with drivers from other teams.

[EagleEye]

Here is the starting grid with the average speed..

Row 1

#20 Ed Carpenter / 217.933
#12 Will Power / 217.829

Row 2

#4 Dan Wheldon / 217.700
#9 Scott Dixon / 217.533

Row 3

#06 Hideki Mutoh / 217.374
#34 Bertrand Baguette / 216.988

Row 4

#32 Mario Moraes / 216.879
#3 Helio Castroneves / 216.857

Row 5

#6 Ryan Briscoe / 216.600
#36 Tomas Scheckter / 216.589

Row 6

#10 Dario Franchitti / 216.533
#14 Vitor Meira / 216.434

Row 7

#77 Alex Tagliani / 216.391
#5 Takuma Sato / 216.265

Row 8

#26 Marco Andretti / 216.173
#22 Justin Wilson / 215.944

Row 9

#7 Danica Patrick / 215.820
#19 Alex Lloyd / 215.272

Row 10

#78 Simona De Silvestro / 215.003
#20 Raphael Matos / 214.948

Row 11

#67 Sarah Fisher / 214.813
#8 EJ Viso / 214.595

Row 12

#24 Paul Tracy / 214.270
#18 Milka Duno / 213.343

Row 13

#66 Graham Rahal / 212.364
#11 Tony Kanaan / 210.831

Row 14

#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / No Time (Contact Turn 2-1st Qualifying Lap)

I would have put money on Ganassi or Penske being on pole, but I was wrong (see, not so hard to admit). Happens when i have too much time on my hands~

How about you, where did DP end up? 17th, lower than her normal average here, at the track you claim she does so well at.

Back away from the Makers Mark booth!

[DanicaFan]

Eagle Eye, I agree, I thought Will Power had the pole clinched on that run he had. Did not expect to see Ed beat him but it was nice to see. Well done by that team.

[Otto-Matic]

Ed Carpenter on Pole ?!? Both Conquest cars in the top 10 ?!?! I hope this is a sign of good things to come for the race. Oh God pleeeeaaassseee lets have a new winner this week :s mokin:

[anthonyvop]

Way to go

http://edwardablake.com/Special_Ed_Logo.jpg

Congrats to his team as well.

[TURN3]

I thought you liked Andretti Autosport Turn 3 ?

And I am suprised at how slow Graham Rahal and Paul Tracy have been so far this weekend.

I generally do not dislike AA the team. But when you put Marco and Danica in your cars year after year after year and get progressively worse as an entire team while drivers like Dario and Bryan Herta move on...it is easy to see why they aren't as good. I personally believe, and have stated many times, the team gets worse BECAUSE of these two inadequate drivers. Throw Mutoh into that deal too becuase he's no different and was there for 2 or 3 years.

As for Rahal and Tracy qualifying toward the back...all you have to do is look which teams they're driving for this weekend. Plus compared to teammates, respectively, they're on pretty on par with them generally speaking. I heard PT ran a really high line for his qualy. If that is true, means to me they're working on a high groove setup which is where he's typically made hey on others through the years...Kanaan similiarly.

[DanicaFan]

Here are the results of practice session 2..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Speed

1. #4 Dan Wheldon / 219.008
2. #9 Scott Dixon / 218.892
3. #26 Marco Andretti / 218.834
4. #12 Will Power / 218.449
5. #11 Tony Kanaan / 218.211
6. #14 Vitor Meira / 217.938
7. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 217.821
8. #10 Dario Franchitti / 217.821
9. #5 Takuma Sato / 217.809
10. #20 Ed Carpenter / 217.750
11. #3 Helio Castroneves / 217.623
12. #34 Bertrand Baguette / 217.612
13. #77 Alex Tagliani / 217.382
14. #7 Danica Patrick / 217.341
15. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 217.334
16. #36 Tomas Scheckter / 217.212
17. #32 Mario Moraes / 217.005
18. #8 EJ Viso / 216.988
19. #19 Alex Lloyd / 216.629
20. #24 Paul Tracy / 216.570
21. #78 Simona De Silvestro / 216.401
22. #22 Justin Wilson / 216.292
23. #67 Sarah Fisher / 216.136
24. #2 Raphael Matos / 216.018
25. #66 Graham Rahal / 215.177
26. #18 Milka Duno / 213.677
27. #06 Hideki Mutoh / 211.596

[anthonyvop]

Row 9

#7 Danica Patrick / 215.820




Wait!

I thought that with the end of the road course races we would see Danica return to dominance?

[beachgirl]

Wait!

I thought that with the end of the road course races we would see Danica return to dominance?

We have.

[Jag_Warrior]

Well, when you Peak, you win (one race in a career).

Say, let's have some fun. Pick the lap that you think a KV Racing driver will cause the first yellow.

Name the driver and the lap.

Of course, I hope no one gets hurt. But we know that one of these clowns is going to crash. Dogs bark. KV Racing drivers crash. That's just what they do. So pick the lap and the clown, I mean "driver", in question.

I'm going with Hideki Mutoh on Lap 8.

[harvick#1]

Well, when you Peak, you win (one race in a career).

Say, let's have some fun. Pick the lap that you think a KV Racing driver will cause the first yellow.

Name the driver and the lap.


Sato Slap by lap 30 :D

[gm99]

Say, let's have some fun. Pick the lap that you think a KV Racing driver will cause the first yellow.

Name the driver and the lap.

Of course, I hope no one gets hurt. But we know that one of these clowns is going to crash. Dogs bark. KV Racing drivers crash. That's just what they do. So pick the lap and the clown, I mean "driver", in question.

I'm going with Hideki Mutoh on Lap 8.

Mutoh is not a KV driver, though ;)

[Otto-Matic]

Sato Slap by lap 30 :D

I'm picking Moraes to crash on the opening lap, taking out Helio.

[beachgirl]

Well, when you Peak, you win (one race in a career).

Say, let's have some fun. Pick the lap that you think a KV Racing driver will cause the first yellow.

Name the driver and the lap.

Of course, I hope no one gets hurt. But we know that one of these clowns is going to crash. Dogs bark. KV Racing drivers crash. That's just what they do. So pick the lap and the clown, I mean "driver", in question.

I'm going with Hideki Mutoh on Lap 8.

Oh wow - so many possibilities, so much potential! The mind boggles...is the warm-up lap included?

[Mark in Oshawa]

EJ Viso is the first KV driver to bring out a yellow.....

[TURN3]

EJ Viso is the first KV driver to bring out a yellow.....

That's a risky pick! I gotta hand it to you though, to win big you have to go big!! Viso crashes slighly less than Moraes who crashes slightly less than Sato. Now that isn't saying much is it!? I'll take Moraes today, I'm guessing around lap 52, shortly after the first round of stops.

[DanicaFan]

I tell you who is starting to impress me the last couple races and that is Bertrand Baguette. He is showing signs of brilliance lately. He qualified 6th for today's race. Never would of guessed that. Look forward to seeing how he does tonight.

[beachgirl]

I tell you who is starting to impress me the last couple races and that is Bertrand Baguette. He is showing signs of brilliance lately. He qualified 6th for today's race. Never would of guessed that. Look forward to seeing how he does tonight.

So am I. He was totally disregarded as a racer by a lot a people earlier in the year. He's just kept at it, improving all the time, with no fanfare. He's doing a really good job.

[Lousada]

Bertrand Baguette is doing very well this season. He is also one of the few Indycardrivers with a more than decent racing career before he landed here.

As for which KV driver will crash first, mm very hard. We haven't had a "big one" this season (apart from the start at Brazil). I have a feeling tonights the night and EJ Viso will be involved...

[SarahFan]

Bertrand Baguette is doing very well this season. He is also one of the few Indycardrivers with a more than decent racing career before he landed here.

As for which KV driver will crash first, mm very hard. We haven't had a "big one" this season (apart from the start at Brazil). I have a feeling tonights the night and EJ Viso will be involved...

Mike Conway at Indy?

[beachbum]

Bertrand Baguette is doing very well this season. He is also one of the few Indycardrivers with a more than decent racing career before he landed here.

As for which KV driver will crash first, mm very hard. We haven't had a "big one" this season (apart from the start at Brazil). I have a feeling tonights the night and EJ Viso will be involved...My money's on Sato. He hasn't "disappointed" yet. The only question will be the other car. Another KV party?

[NickFalzone]

I would like to see Viso or Moraes get into Tracy, just for the post-race fireworks. Tracy has had a few good one-liners recently on Twitter like "The KV drivers have hit everything but the helicopter today". My guess is that he would not react so jokingly if one of them took him out tonight.

[beachgirl]

Well, Viso is starting behind Simona tonight, and his car seems to have some kind of magnetic pull toward hers. I hope for her sake it's not him, and her. She doesn't deserve it.

[TURN3]

Good point in the post above...and we need a rules clarification before the start. When the 1st KV car crashes, what if they take out another KV car? Do we have an automatic tie between those 2 drivers or what? I don't think we can leave it open to "who's fault" it is because that is very subjective.

Answers quickly...start about 15 minutes away.

[TURN3]

Lauging hystercally!!!! Way to go to those choosing Sato.

[NickFalzone]

My money's on Sato. He hasn't "disappointed" yet. The only question will be the other car. Another KV party?

too obvious. If only Sato could have held off another lap or two, I would have been right with Viso.

[Hoop-98]

Heck, you guys set the goal at 5ft then dunk!!

[beachgirl]

Outstanding on Sato's part - a KV car not taking someone else out when they crash. Miracles do occur. One down, two to go.

[TURN3]

Heck, you guys set the goal at 5ft then dunk!!

LOL, true!

I was hoping Tracy would bolt outside and run with Kanaan but he was boxed in on the inside. At any rate, another good start by TK, wow!

[TURN3]

Outstanding on Sato's part - a KV car not taking someone else out when they crash. Miracles do occur. One down, two to go.

Can we play for 2nd place with Viso and Moronass?

[NickFalzone]

what scares me is that the KV boys actually make Milka look vaguely talented.

[NickFalzone]

Oh well, equipment problems kept Viso from crashing.

[beachgirl]

Two down, one to go, and they haven't taken anyone with them. Large miracles do occur.

[TURN3]

A little optimistic for Meira to be going 3 wide on a lapped car and a Penske...a little patience and all 3 still racing.

[beachgirl]

That was avoidable. That's a shame for both Simona and Ryan.

[TURN3]

If they are no yellows, Helio and mayyyybe Dixon are looking really good here.

[DanicaFan]

Sato is absolutely horrible.

Congrats to Helio Castroneves for the win.

[anthonyvop]

Blehhhhh

Fuel mileage races suck

[TURN3]

Blehhhhh

Fuel mileage races suck

There are different kinds of fuel mileage races and this is the kind that doesn't suck. What sucks is when they used to dial the mixture back to lean and follow each other around as slow as possibe without passing. I have no problem with a race run at full speed that comes down to a splash and go. Pretty much auto racing at it's roots...not sure why you constantly have to have something to complain about. Maybe have an enima...geez us, your attitude sucks.

[DanicaFan]

I know Turn3 will say something opposite and negative but Danica ran a good race tonight. Im proud of her.

[TURN3]

I know Turn3 will say something opposite and negative but Danica ran a good race tonight. Im proud of her.

She didn't do anything stupid, and for one of the top 9 cars on the grid in terms off budget and support, she finished 9th. She deserves absolutely no mention with her performance...plain mediocre. Finished last on her team (RHR mechanical), and just ahead of Conquest.

What I will say is the only 2 drivers out there that really deserve to be recognized for their runs are Ed and Bertrand. Really special what they've done the past couple races on these big tracks.

[anthonyvop]

There are different kinds of fuel mileage races and this is the kind that doesn't suck. What sucks is when they used to dial the mixture back to lean and follow each other around as slow as possibe without passing. I have no problem with a race run at full speed that comes down to a splash and go. Pretty much auto racing at it's roots...not sure why you constantly have to have something to complain about. Maybe have an enima...geez us, your attitude sucks.

Nope

No matter how you spin it....Helio droned around 5 mph slower than the leaders then took a boring win while the faster cars pitted.


Fuel mileage races suck.

As for my attitude, it is painfully obvious you are just blind to anything possibly negative about the IRL. I have posted many times something that many would consider positive and yet you never seem to see them.

So, it is you that has the "attitude"

[DanicaFan]

Here are the final results of the race..

1. #3 Helio Castroneves
2. #20 Ed Carpenter
3. #4 Dan Wheldon
4. #11 Tony Kanaan
5. #10 Dario Franchitti
6. #26 Marco Andretti
7. #9 Scott Dixon
8. #12 Will Power
9. #7 Danica Patrick
10. #34 Bertrand Baguette
11. #22 Justin Wilson
12. #24 Paul Tracy
13. #19 Alex Lloyd
14. #36 Tomas Scheckter
15. #77 Alex Tagliani
16. #2 Raphael Matos
17. #06 Hideki Mutoh
18. #32 Mario Moraes
19. #18 Milka Duno
20. #66 Graham Rahal
21. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
22. #67 Sarah Fisher
23. #14 Vitor Meira
24. #6 Ryan Briscoe
25. #78 Simona De Silvestro
26. #8 EJ Viso
27. #5 Takuma Sato

[anthonyvop]

She didn't do anything stupid, and for one of the top 9 cars on the grid in terms off budget and support, she finished 9th. She deserves absolutely no mention with her performance...plain mediocre. Finished last on her team (RHR mechanical), and just ahead of Conquest.

Why such a negative attitude?


What I will say is the only 2 drivers out there that really deserve to be recognized for their runs are Ed and Bertrand. Really special what they've done the past couple races on these big tracks.

Hats off to Special Ed. Baggy is impressing me.

[DanicaFan]

I told you about Baguette. Only the 2nd oval this guy has seen and is doing quite well.

[Jag_Warrior]

Mutoh is not a KV driver, though ;)

Whoops! :D Maybe I meant Sato? Who knows? Heck, I can't keep the Clown Squad straight. Mutoh, Sato, Moraes, Viso... aren't they all just brothers from other mothers?

Not a bad race tonight. I hit the "delete" button as soon as it was done, but it was better than average, IMO. It did appear that the cars were able to pass easier than in the last race.

[Jag_Warrior]

I told you about Baguette. Only the 2nd oval this guy has seen and is doing quite well.

I was one of the people who bagged on Baguette (pardon the pun) early on, so I have to give you props for a good call. I thought he was just going to be another Tristan "Gummy Bear" Gommendy ride-buyer/backmarker type. But it looks like he has some actual talent.

And I'll give you another one. Mainly by keeping her nose clean, but still, Danica did post a decent result tonight. There's no point in being faster than lightning if you wind up in the wall (*cough cough* Sato!).

[TURN3]

Nope

No matter how you spin it....Helio droned around 5 mph slower than the leaders then took a boring win while the faster cars pitted.


Fuel mileage races suck.

As for my attitude, it is painfully obvious you are just blind to anything possibly negative about the IRL. I have posted many times something that many would consider positive and yet you never seem to see them.

So, it is you that has the "attitude"

Well if you want to have a pissing match over which one of us has a worse attitude based on the posts in this forum, I think it'll be pretty close to unanimous in my favor. I see plenty wrong with the IRL. And I've made my feelings known. I've also looked to be on the side of SOLVING problems instead of being one (like you). Try again sweetheart.

[TURN3]

Why such a negative attitude?

Wasn't negative...called it like it is. She did nothing to merit a discussion in this forum...good or bad.


Not a bad race tonight. I hit the "delete" button as soon as it was done, but it was better than average, IMO. It did appear that the cars were able to pass easier than in the last race.

I agree, wasn't so much about drafting tonight as it was getting to the outside of 1 & 3 where you could blast off with some momentum. Marco and TK especially showed how that is done.


I was one of the people who bagged on Baguette (pardon the pun) early on, so I have to give you props for a good call. I thought he was just going to be another Tristan "Gummy Bear" Gommendy ride-buyer/backmarker type. But it looks like he has some actual talent.

Me too +1. Although I should get some redemption for calling Sato out as a hack. I got that one correct!

[anthonyvop]

Wasn't negative...called it like it is. She did nothing to merit a discussion in this forum...good or bad.


I may have an "attitude" according to you but you don't have a sense of humor.

I was joking.

[harvick#1]

I'm picking Moraes to crash on the opening lap, taking out Helio.

well were close Sato never made it one lap :rotflmao:

[garyshell]

Just got home from the race. It was lots of fun for those of us in the stands. Nice sized crowd, I think it was up substantially from last year. We sat at pit out directly across from the Target pits. Nice place to sit. It gives you a great view of the start finish kink.

The track announcers were ragging on Simona pretty hard as if the wreck was her fault. It was at the other end of the track some we didn't see it. But the replay on the jumbotron look like it was Meira trying to go under her. How did it play out on the broadcast replays.

Lots of passing throughout the pack. The crowd was very attentive to all of the passing too. Nice to see that! Ed was the darling of the crowd. Every time he made a move they were on their feet.

How the hell did TK and Marco make up so much time on the last real pit stop. I was SHOCKED at where they came out. Likewise how did Ed make it out in second? (Anyone know when the Versus rebroadcast is? I want to see those stops in slow mo.)

My wife and I had a GREAT time. I was a bit disappointed that Helio won on the fuel strategy. But the rest of the nights dog fights more than made up for that. (Unlike Anthony who is so myopic that the fuel strategy out weighed every thing else. Big surprise... not.)

Gary

[Scotty G.]

1. Nice sized crowd, I think it was up substantially from last year.

2. The track announcers were ragging on Simona pretty hard as if the wreck was her fault.

3. Ed was the darling of the crowd. Every time he made a move they were on their feet.

4. Likewise how did Ed make it out in second?


1. I think you be wrong. The crowd looked way down on TV from last year. Trackside Online also agreed on that. Very disapointing turnout. I think the Reds playing the Cardinals (and the Reds being in 1st place) this afternoon and the UK/Louisville football game took a lot of people away that normally may have attended. Plus, its football season. Lots of folks tune out racing come Labor Day weekend.

2. Vitor made a boneheaded move. Not sure where he was going, but he ended up exactly where he belonged...in the fence. Vitor gets a lot of 'love' from folks in the internet world, but he makes a ton of mistakes. Of course, when was the last time he won a professional race? He just may not be that good.

3. He's an American driver and a underdog. He's become easy to root for.

4. He stayed out longer then everyone else who pitted. Versus was clueless, during that whole deal. If Helio had run out of fuel, they had no clue Ed was in 2nd.

[garyshell]

There were more cars in the lot than last year and the crowd was spread a lot further into turns one and four than last year. Don't know if the track publishes numbers or not. I am pretty sure it was not way down. It was hard for me to tell from looking at the crowd in the seats because of the gaps, but I am certain there were more cars in the lot this year. Thats pretty easy to determine as they are no gaps in the lots. There is only one lot there: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2842+Cypress+Way,+Cincinnati,+Hamilton,+Ohio +45212&ll=38.711835,-84.913201&spn=0.015873,0.038409&t=h&z=15
And cars were parked in rows closer to the road this year and further toward the edges of the lot.

Gary

[Scotty G.]

There were more cars in the lot than last year and the crowd was spread a lot further into turns one and four than last year. Don't know if the track publishes numbers or not. I am pretty sure it was not way down. It was hard for me to tell from looking at the crowd in the seats because of the gaps, but I am certain there were more cars in the lot this year. Thats pretty easy to determine as they are no gaps in the lots. There is only one lot there: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2842+Cypress+Way,+Cincinnati,+Hamilton,+Ohio +45212&ll=38.711835,-84.913201&spn=0.015873,0.038409&t=h&z=15
And cars were parked in rows closer to the road this year and further toward the edges of the lot.

Gary


With the camera shots, it looked way down from last year. Go back and look at the final laps from last year's race (which Versus showed on the pre-race show). There were a lot of folks past the start-finish and into Turn 1 last year.

This year, there were very few folks there.

The crowd was down. Trackside Online's guy has been going for years and he noticed it. If there were more then 30,000 in attendance, I'd be shocked.

Still more then were at Chicago last week.

I truly think Kentucky's reputation has hurt themselves with folks traveling from good distances (from Indianapolis, southern Ohio and Louisville/Lexington). That place is (or at least has been in the past) a pain in the ass to get out of after a race is over. People don't want to sit in their cars until well after midnight, after a race that starts at almost 9:00 is over. And they have never been fan-friendly (SMI regs, I am sure). Add in a bad economy, and it being Labor Day weekend, and its no wonder people don't show up.

Indy Car should be doing EVERYTHING they can do, to finish their season before football starts (which is this weekend). Indy Car can't get the casual folks to pay attention to begin with.

Kentucky will be a ghost-town next October for the Indy Car race.

[gm99]

I told you about Baguette. Only the 2nd oval this guy has seen and is doing quite well.

Did he drive around with closed eyes on the other four ovals that he raced at this season or why didn't he see them?

You told us about Baguette alright:



Just another backmarker for awhile. Have to see what he can do. Im not over excited about it though.

[beachbum]

Lets see, we have someone who was at the track suggesting attendance was up or at least the same and someone who watched on tv claiming it "looked" way down. I am "sure" TV gives a more accurate picture that seeing it with your own eyes (sarcasm alert)

I was watching on TV, so it it only a rough guess but the truck race the previous night looked pretty empty, even compared to the IRL race.

[beachbum]

I know Turn3 will say something opposite and negative but Danica ran a good race tonight. Im proud of her.Just to make you feel good, she did have a good race and had the speed to run in, and with the lead pack all night. Her pit crew gained her positions at almost every stop which helped. The fuel mileage by Helio trapped all but the lead pack a lap down which rather mixed up the results

Now back to regularly schedule programming. Blocking rules are obviously not being enforced and there was a lot of bobbing and weaving in the lead pack. But some of Danica's moves, particularly on her own teammates, were real eye poppers. No wonder TK was not happy with her after the race according to the radio interviews.

[anthonyvop]

(Unlike Anthony who is so myopic that the fuel strategy out weighed every thing else. Big surprise... not.)

Gary

Watching the typical Vs coverage means that very few of the back in the pack dicing was seen.

Still doesn't take away from the fact that it was a fuel mileage race. "YAWN"

[NickFalzone]

I was barely paying attention to the crowd size as the racing was fairly exciting. But tbh Scott the shots did look like a larger crowd than usual there. Particularly in the shots just before the race went green.

[DavePI2]

sorry if this point has been discussed before but I didn't have a chance to watch the race till this morning(went to michigan football game yesterday). Who was the genius that thought scheduling a race on a saturday night the first week of college football season was a good idea? If someone was trying to kill this race they couln't come up with a much better idea. People in the midwest only care about college football on saturdays after the first week in september. Did they really think they could compete with that? H### i might have gone to the race myself but I wasn't giving up tickets for the wolverines. It is amazing what has happened to this race. When I went to the 2003 and 2004 races the place was close to sold out. Now , well everyone saw the crowd last night and it is a sad statement of what has become of this race. If things keep going this way we won't be racing at kentucky in a couple of years either. Kentucky needs a better date or this race will be dead soon.

[Anubis]

I cant stand Lindy. You can tell she knows nothing about Indycar except what is written on the cards in front of her. She sounds disinterested like she is just there for a paycheck. Put me in that spot, I would do a much better job.


Bertrand Baguette oval record this season prior to Kentucky :-

Kansas - 20th
Indy - 22nd
Texas - 22nd
Iowa - 17th
Chicago - 12th

Meanwhile, in the DF booth :-


I told you about Baguette. Only the 2nd oval this guy has seen and is doing quite well.

That's you doing a better job, yes?

[Anubis]

Nope

No matter how you spin it....Helio droned around 5 mph slower than the leaders then took a boring win while the faster cars pitted.


Seemed like a reasonable throw of the dice by the team IMO. They had nothing to lose and took a gamble that paid off. Pretty sharp thinking if you ask me. How would you have played it were you in Tim Cindric's shoes? I'm curious to know.

[garyshell]

With the camera shots, it looked way down from last year. Go back and look at the final laps from last year's race (which Versus showed on the pre-race show). There were a lot of folks past the start-finish and into Turn 1 last year.

This year, there were very few folks there.

The crowd was down. Trackside Online's guy has been going for years and he noticed it. If there were more then 30,000 in attendance, I'd be shocked.

Still more then were at Chicago last week.

I truly think Kentucky's reputation has hurt themselves with folks traveling from good distances (from Indianapolis, southern Ohio and Louisville/Lexington). That place is (or at least has been in the past) a pain in the ass to get out of after a race is over. People don't want to sit in their cars until well after midnight, after a race that starts at almost 9:00 is over. And they have never been fan-friendly (SMI regs, I am sure). Add in a bad economy, and it being Labor Day weekend, and its no wonder people don't show up.

Indy Car should be doing EVERYTHING they can do, to finish their season before football starts (which is this weekend). Indy Car can't get the casual folks to pay attention to begin with.

Kentucky will be a ghost-town next October for the Indy Car race.


Don't know what to tell you. I didn't see the TV coverage. And my estimates of an increase are not based on looking at the seats. As I said that is a fool's errand because of the gaps in the crowd. There is no way in hell for anyone to judge based on that. I don't care how long Trackside online has been doing it. It would be like trying to guess the solid volume of a hunk of swiss cheese. But because of the way they force folks to park, there are no gaps at all in the parking lot. And it's pretty easy to see there were more rows being used than last year and cars parked further to the east and west extremes of those rows.

As for the egress from the place. My wife and I walked out the main gate at 10:40 PM and we were out of the lot in 20 minutes flat. We hit I-71 another ten minutes after that. Bruton's folks worked with the local police to turn all the lanes except one on all of the roads into exits from the tracks. Cones were setup everywhere to restrict inbound traffic to a single lane and outbound to three or four lanes. Folks were directing traffic at every intersection to make for a VERY quick exit.

Gary

[beachgirl]

Seemed like a reasonable throw of the dice by the team IMO. They had nothing to lose and took a gamble that paid off. Pretty sharp thinking if you ask me. How would you have played it were you in Tim Cindric's shoes? I'm curious to know.

I don't see Helio's win last night as any different in any way from Danica's Motegi win in 2008. In both circumstances, a shrewd strategy move paid off.

[Marbles]

Some decent moments for sure. An interesting race.

Questionable discretion on Miera's part but there was at least a 1 1\2 lanes worth of real estate when he pulled that ill-fated maneuver. Not exactly the bone-headed move that the chivalrous ape squad in the booth (girl do no wrong) or soon to be ex-Penske driver would lead us to believe. Simona deserves a bit of credit for this.

The KV crew demand a new section at champcarstats.com for futility. There are multi-car teams with a single driver who has a tendency to wreck and there are single car teams who's driver has a predilection for wadding up the office furniture but a whole team of drivers that bend it up? Hang on... Joey Chitwood and the Hell Drivers -- the CNE -- I was 6 years old -- I've seen this before. I like Sato, some fiendish driving and a notorious late braker in F1 but Formula Spun fans have to tuck their horns in at the next OW peeing match WHEN HIS NAME COMES UP.


I'm telling you, check HCN's cool suit for fuel line fittings. It's the second one this year. He's the Darrel Waltrip of Indycar and although I wouldn't be climbing the fences over that it's a victory none the less.

Solid run by old man PT and congrats to Ed.

The place did look empty though.

[Phoenixent]

Some decent moments for sure. An interesting race.

Questionable discretion on Miera's part but there was at least a 1 1\2 lanes worth of real estate when he pulled that ill-fated maneuver. Not exactly the bone-headed move that the chivalrous ape squad in the booth (girl do no wrong) or soon to be ex-Penske driver would lead us to believe. Simona deserves a bit of credit for this.

Drivers were told at the drivers meeting if you are a lap or more down stay at the bottom. But that is were Miera went to gain a spot and it was a bold but bone headed move. Just like his move at Chicagoland the week before both moves were not the typical Miera style.

[garyshell]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/indycarkentucky2010---01.jpg

[garyshell]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/indycarkentucky2010---02.jpg

[Hoop-98]

Some decent moments for sure. An interesting race.


I'm telling you, check HCN's cool suit for fuel line fittings. It's the second one this year. He's the Darrel Waltrip of Indycar and although I wouldn't be climbing the fences over that it's a victory none the less.

Solid run by old man PT and congrats to Ed.

He only got one more lap out of the last tank than Ed;

http://i51.tinypic.com/30u4foo.jpg

rh

[beachbum]

He only got one more lap out of the last tank than Ed;

rhAfter the last stops, the announcers were saying no one can make it. Somehow they couldn't do the math because Helio's last stop under yellow with 53 laps to go put him in a very realistic window. Even if it stayed green (as it did), just a little fuel conservation was going to work. They didn't even seem to notice his relatively slow pace.

On the other hand, maybe they did. Without a yellow, even with 50 laps to go, it was obvious Helio was going to win as he was the only one who could make it. The only suspense then would have been predicting a yellow, but with 2 of the 3 KV cars out...........

[SarahFan]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/indycarkentucky2010---01.jpg


Click here for a larger printable map
Track Construction Photo Gallery

Capacity:
66,089 Grandstand Seats
50 Luxury Suites
210 Seat Private Kentucky Club
2,000 seat Blugrass Club
100 Private RV Spaces on backstretch
220 Infield Camping Spaces
140 Reserved Camping Spaces
1,000 General Camping Spaces

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=INDYCAR&E=Kentucky/Saturday_race&Y=2010&O=24


the place seats 66k....its clear in the photos that half the place isnt even sat....and Id say its generous to say the other 1/2 is 1/2 full

mix in a 500-750 in the luxery boxes... afew vendors and leftover team members from the trucks and 20k max....


*and if there were traffic problems with the place 1/4 full i cant imagine what its like getting out of there after a nascar race

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Maybe the crowd would be bigger if the Trucks and the IndyCars ran on the same day. Or wouldn't it?

[Hoop-98]

Hard to say, the truck crowd "looked" a lot smaller. My guess is the ticket revenue would be lower.

When they ran ChampCar at Vegas (which was a poorly promoted last minute track buy) the truck crowd took off after the truck race , or for sure after the first caution.

So my guess , more people, less money.

rh

[TURN3]

Hard to say, the truck crowd "looked" a lot smaller. My guess is the ticket revenue would be lower.

When they ran ChampCar at Vegas (which was a poorly promoted last minute track buy) the truck crowd took off after the truck race , or for sure after the first caution.

So my guess , more people, less money.

rh

Yes, that Vegas deal was sad. We were walking in and it looked like somebody cancelled the race or something. Was a really nice show too.