Detriot Belle Isle Race Thread

[DanicaFan]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/Chevrolet-Belle-Isle-Grand-Prix-1024x6401-510x318.jpg

Race 6 of 16

Race - Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

Location - Streets of Belle Isle, Detroit

Date - Sunday, June 3rd

Time & TV Schedule - Pre-Race Show - 3:30PM Eastern , Green Flag - Approx. 3:45PM Eastern- ABC

Course Type - 2.07 Mile Street Course

Distance - 90 Laps / 184.5 Miles

Practice Sessions -

Friday, June 1st - 12:00-1:00PM & 3:45-4:45PM Eastern
Saturday, June 2nd - 9:00 -10:00AM Eastern
Sunday, June 3rd - Warm-up - 10:45-11:15AM Eastern

Qualifications - Saturday, June 2nd -11:45AM -1:00PM Eastern

Belle Isle Track Information

2.07 Mile Temporary Street Course
14 Turns


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/DanicaRules/track-map-print.jpg


2008 Detroit Indy Grand Prix At Belle Isle Race Information

Winner - #02 Justin Wilson
Pole Sitter - #9 Scott Dixon - 103.09 mph
Length of Race - 2 hours and 11 seconds
Average Speed - 89.911 mph
Caution Flags - 4 for 11 laps
Margin Of Victory - 4.406 seconds
Lead Changes - 4

[DanicaFan]

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

[DanicaFan]

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

[00steven]

Look forward to another great race, this year has been the best in a long time.

[DanicaFan]

Rain fell at Belle Isle today. The top 10 in practice are..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Speed

1. #12 Will Power / 01:12.8355 / 102.313
2. #18 Justin Wilson / 01:12.9343 / 102.174
3. #2 Ryan Briscoe / 01:13.1176 / 101.918
4. #77 Simon Pagenaud / 01:13.1195 / 101.915
5. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:13.3012 / 101.663
6. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:13.3087 / 101.652
7. #27 James Hinchcliffe / 01:13.5110 / 101.373
8. #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:13.5912 / 101.262
9. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:13.8536 / 100.902
10. #22 Oriol Servia / 01:13.9032 / 100.835

[DanicaFan]

Here are the qualifcation groups for tomorrow..

Group 1

#18 Justin Wilson
#77 Simon Pagenaud
#9 Scott Dixon
#28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#22 Oriol Servia
#10 Dario Franchitti
#7 Sebastien Bourdais
#67 Josef Newgarden
#4 JR Hildebrand
#83 Charlie Kimball
#15 Takuma Sato
#20 Ed Carpenter

Group 2

#12 Will Power
#2 Ryan Briscoe
#11 Tony Kanaan
#27 James Hinchcliffe
#3 Helio Castroneves
#14 Mike Conway
#38 Graham Rahal
#8 Rubens Barrichello
#26 Marco Andretti
#5 EJ Viso
#19 James Jakes
#98 Alex Tagliani
#78 Simona De Silvestro

[FIAT1]

Congrats to Dixon for the pole, I can't wait for the start.

[heliocastroneves#3]

Should be an awesome race indeed, congrats to Dixon for the pole!

[elan 02]

Just reviewed the week-end photos and the #10 car looks very (dark) cool. More of a Chevy guy but do have some respect for the Zero.

[Mark in Oshawa]

This is an interesting front few rows. Look at Pags and Tags up there....gonna be interesting....

[heliocastroneves#3]

Chevrolet earned pole positions for the first 5 races and now at the CHEVROLET Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, they failed to do that... :p

[Mad_Hatter]

Rubens hit with grid penalty for chassis change. He'll start 24th..

[nigelred5]

Freakin ABC is buffering again.... does it on every tv in the house on AC, but not on any other stations. WTF???

[Anubis]

All aboard the Viso train!

[nigelred5]

Freakin ABC is buffering again.... does it on every tv in the house on AC, but not on any other stations. WTF???


It's a shame they can't get rid of the curbs and push the walls back from the racing surface several feet more like Ile Notre Dame in Montreal. They are getting better about it in corners where they have done work specifically for the race, but in a park like Belle Isle, There's no reason over all the years they have been going to Detroit (other than a broke a$$ city government) they couldn't build more of the roads as a purpose built roadcourse. Melbourne is another good example of a way to improve it.

[MAX_THRUST]

OH dear the track is now coming to pieces this is not good for Indy Car or Detroit, definately not good for Sato and Hinch

[Anubis]

Like the F1 races of old! Wasn't it Dallas that disintegrated mid-race? Either way, how do they fix that in a hurry?

[FIAT1]

I don't understand this, it wasn't like decision was made last week to race here. Why not concrete patch?

[SarahFan]

Amatuer hour

[booger]

Put a fork in this race, it's over...1/2 a race...glad I didn't buy a ticket!

[jarrambide]

Put a fork in this race, it's over...1/2 a race...glad I didn't buy a ticket!

The honorable thing to do would be to return everyone's money?, They will not do it and most of them will never go to an IndyCar race, I would be so mad if that happened to me, I could understand torrential rain, come on, that is something you can't control, but the track is a different thing.

[FIAT1]

Restart in 30 min

[dataman1]

While I agree that the fan is screwed in this the decision to stop has to be based on safety. Those jagged edges of concrete will slice racing tires and it would be a crash fest. The owners are already pissed about Dallara part costs they wont want more damage. Heck a piece of that patch could fly into the crowd. Shame on the planners to not do a better job at patching and/or repaving the course.

[numanoid]

I don't think the race can continue. I bet they go out and do 1 more lap under yellow to make it official and then call it.

Tag and Andretti should not have pitted during the yellow. I saw the red flag coming the minute they were inspecting the track.

[Anubis]

Unless they expect the drivers to go off line to avoid the trenches, I don't see how they can expect to continue? It's going to be a farce up there with the New Hampshire wet restart.

[FIAT1]

cool commercial showing Indycar

[numanoid]

Unless they expect the drivers to go off line to avoid the trenches, I don't see how they can expect to continue? It's going to be a farce up there with the New Hampshire wet restart.

They are going to try to fill those trenches with something. I think it will be too much to do, but they are at least going to try it.

[jarrambide]

Anyone here knows about the contracts between IndyCar and the promoters?, Can IndyCar sanction the promoters for something like this?,This obviously is a PR mess in so many ways, people that bought tickets, people watching the race on TV, ABC can't be that happy either, the sponsors.

[Anubis]

I'd have thought there'd be insurance of some sort? Agree it's a PR disaster, especially after a great Indy. Question is, will restarting be an even bigger disaster, or can it be worked around? Canadian GP a few years ago had some last minute track repairs, as I recall. Not quite in-race, but from memory it was either before the start or just before qualifying.

[FIAT1]

Looks like everyone is eating something, snack time, not bad idea...

[jackmart]

Where did he say ppl had to switch to watch on the East Coast. ESPN news, I take it that is a channel not carried by my cable stations :(

[Anubis]

Looks like the weather is coming in there now as well...starting to look rather breezy.

[FIAT1]

espn news now

[FIAT1]

estimated onother 30 min

[FIAT1]

Simona fastest Lotus, now that is funny..

[FIAT1]

Rain

[FIAT1]

XM 94 for those who have x

[numanoid]

Wow, now they are going to shorten the race.

[FIAT1]

Will go back to racing wth race to be shortened. I hope I'm not doing this to much I do apologize but I'm bored

[numanoid]

I heard on twitter it is being shortened to 60 laps...so 15 more laps.

[FIAT1]

..as long it's safe, it is what it is..

[FIAT1]

cars to pits ,new tires for everyone

[FIAT1]

The alternate tire rule will be rescinded for the restart of the race

[FIAT1]

Cars preparing for restart as Kanaan and Power survey the patches

[FIAT1]

and we're on

[FIAT1]

Graham has problems in pits

[FIAT1]

Rain again

[jackmart]

crap any updates on graham???

[FIAT1]

Green

[FIAT1]

Yellow, Helio,Ed in the wall

[jackmart]

i see graham is out on the track now, was it the rain that caused the crash, how bad is the damage. LOL is anyone viewing it that can answer these questions

[FIAT1]

Briscoe in pits,has problems .Dixon1 Pagenaud2 Power3

[MAX_THRUST]

Watching the race in Japanese. Not my strongest language, I only know how to count to ten and say hello.

[jackmart]

does anyone have a link for streaming that they could pm me?

[MAX_THRUST]

The track situation is not good at all, feel sorry for those who bought a ticket but at least they got the cars back out. Not good though that they had to stop.

[MAX_THRUST]

Indycar - Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Live Stream Online (http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/54600/5/indycar---chevrolet-detroit-belle-isle-grand-prix--live-stream-online.html)

[FIAT1]

10 laps ,no rain, green

[FIAT1]

cool, thanks

[MAX_THRUST]

These side by side restarts just aren't working, cut costs by stopping side by side restarts

[jackmart]

nevermind thanks for the link!!!!!

[FIAT1]

Josef is the man,what a pass on JR and Andretti..

[garyshell]

"you not have the proper plugin to view this video" from my android phone .

[FIAT1]

Congrats to Dixon, and for the race ?One to talk obout.

[MAX_THRUST]

Night guys off to bed before the missus gets stressed with me.

[nigelred5]

What a cluster#u€# of a race.

[jarrambide]

These side by side restarts just aren't working, cut costs by stopping side by side restarts

I hate train restarts, no real excitement, I love side by side restarts, I expect professional drivers to handle side by side under normal conditions.

[jarrambide]

What a cluster#u€# of a race.
The biggest problem was how many viewers that are not hard core fans switched channels, 2 and 1/2 hours under red flag plus a switch to ESPN News for both sides of the country at different times pretty much made it unwatchable for anyone who is not in love with AOWR.

[00steven]

What ashame after such a good 500. There goes the momentem. I respect Roger for trying but we should be at MIS rather than Belle Isle.

[SoCalPVguy]

POS race for a POS track in a POS town on a POS television situation.

Track is crap both in design and condition, one passing place, a crappy surface that degrades into un-raceableness. ( my new word of the day).

Boring race, pole to finish. Dixon's good but not that good.

Indescribably bad television situation, made worse by delays and an all day marathon over several channels. If the ratings is 0.0001 I would be surprised. TG's bad TV contract will kill off Indy car long before Randy B does.

Detroit is a hell hole with bad weather, bad neighborhoods, high crime.. If it wasn't for American Jewelry and Loan pawn shop the whole damn town should be bulldozed over like the empty slums around that area.

Any good will from an exciting Indy 500 is gone, gone, gonzo !!!

Roger Penske should be ashamed of foisting this debacle on us .. no wait - he made money on it.


Randy B- Take my advice if you truly want to improve Indy Car: Do not ever race at Belle Isle again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FIAT1]

I don't remember and don't understand why they did not go to old schedule and tradition to have Milwaukee after Indy.

[anthonyvop]

I don't remember and don't understand why they did not go to old schedule and tradition to have Milwaukee after Indy.

Because Tradition and Milwaukee have been the type of scheduling what has been killing the series for years. The only reason it is back on the schedule is because some people cannot grasp that tradition doesn't sell when it comes to IndyCar. If it did, there wouldn't have been thousands of empty seats at Indy Last week and miserable TV numbers.

Tradition doesn't sell in NASCAR or F1 or ALMS or the WRC.

BTW. The disaster that was this race in Detroit had nothing to do with the date.






Randy B- Take my advice if you truly want to improve Indy Car: Do not ever race at Belle Isle again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The race was a sell out so expect it back on the schedule if the Captain wants it.

[call_me_andrew]

That was... awful.

[garyshell]

Tradition doesn't sell in NASCAR or F1 or ALMS or the WRC

Three words:formula one Monaco.

Gary

[SoCalPVguy]

The race was a sell out so expect it back on the schedule if the Captain wants it.

There are sell outs and there are sell outs, True, all 30,000 grandstand seats were sold. But 30K that's NOBODY. Heck even Milwaukee can sell out, if it cuts back to 10,000 seats. calling this a sell out is a joke. I remember when races like this got 100,000 on race day. College football draws 100K per stadiums around the country week in and week out. LOL on you for calling this a sell out.. The 500 had about 400K on site and it was not a sell out so you insult my intelligence by crowing that Detroit's measly 30K (7-1/2 percent of Indy) was successful because it "sold out "? I stand by my statement this was a POS event all round. Yeah the Captain made money but it is more evidence that the owners should never run a racing series again !

[anthonyvop]

Three words:formula one Monaco.

Gary

Glitz($$$$) and Glamor($$$$$) scheduled the same week as the Canne Film Festival ($$$$$). Take those away and pooof! It's gone.

[anthonyvop]

There are sell outs and there are sell outs, True, all 30,000 grandstand seats were sold. But 30K that's NOBODY. Heck even Milwaukee can sell out, if it cuts back to 10,000 seats. calling this a sell out is a joke. I remember when races like this got 100,000 on race day. College football draws 100K per stadiums around the country week in and week out. LOL on you for calling this a sell out.. The 500 had about 400K on site and it was not a sell out so you insult my intelligence by crowing that Detroit's measly 30K (7-1/2 percent of Indy) was successful because it "sold out "? I stand by my statement this was a POS event all round.

While 30K isn't a number to be excited about you can be quite sure the Roger Penske made sure it was enough to make money if he sold enough signage and sponsorship. If Roger Penske made money on this race you can be damn sure it will be back next season.

[jarrambide]

Glitz($$$$) and Glamor($$$$$) scheduled the same week as the Canne Film Festival ($$$$$). Take those away and pooof! It's gone.

Glitz and Glamour are synonymous with Monaco, a huge part of that glamour Monaco has is due to the Grand Prix de Monaco, which by the way, is older than F1 by about 20 years, you take the Grand Prix away, you take a big chunck of the glamour Monaco has, F1 needs Monaco because they need that tradition, Monaco needs the F1 because they need that tradition.

Have you been to Monaco?, I have and I can tell you the racing is horrible, I would not cry a single tear if that race goes away, but most hard core fans I have talked to love that race because of its history, drivers seem to covet a first place there because of the history, believe me, it is all about tradition.

[jimispeed]

This was a great track when the cars had extra hp boost for push to pass. But without it, it's just a parade. Most of the race everyone was stuck behind Viso with no power to pass him!

[SarahFan]

Sell out?

Didn't look like a sell out

[nigelred5]

If RP made money it's because they spent about $100 on the racing surface. They should have patched concrete with ooooh I dunnno, maybe Concrete??? The first time. I've seen tracks break up before, but that was just inexcusable.

[heliocastroneves#3]

Great race in Belle Isle! Too bad it was shortened but it still was awesome. I've seen 6 awesome races during this IndyCar Series season so far, and definitely can't wait for the Firestone 550K at Texas Motor Speedway, which is up next! :)

[Chris R]

Because Tradition and Milwaukee have been the type of scheduling what has been killing the series for years. The only reason it is back on the schedule is because some people cannot grasp that tradition doesn't sell when it comes to IndyCar. If it did, there wouldn't have been thousands of empty seats at Indy Last week and miserable TV numbers.

Tradition doesn't sell in NASCAR or F1 or ALMS or the WRC.

BTW. The disaster that was this race in Detroit had nothing to do with the date.




The race was a sell out so expect it back on the schedule if the Captain wants it.

Tradition is important to all 4 series but it can also be an impediment to identifying when change is needed. Without consistency(another name for tradition) none of the series could have ever built much of a fanbase.... However, things change and what was a consistent success can become a consistent failure.....

Indy had lots of empty seats because it was ridiculously hot and people these days care more about comfort and health than auto racing (can't blame them - I would not have gone either)... And breaking tradition is exactly why Indy has falling TV numbers - tradition was broken when the split of 1996 occurred - traditionally there had been one "indycar" series - not two - people became confused and gave up....

NASCAR is now caught in a tradition conundrum - they traditionally have absurdly long races that nobody wants to sit through any longer but used to be a great ways to kill a day (an amount of time most people no longer can afford to kill).... Do they break an out-moded tradition and change or ride the tradition into the ground??

[Chris R]

speaking of tradition, it is time to go back to pre-recorded/tape delayed race presentations. Allow the race to play out in real time without regard for TV and then play it back in consolidated/polished form. Then when you have the unavoidable stuff that happens like yesterday or Las Vegas or if someone takes out the track dryer you do not subject your fans to hours of uncertainty but rather a clear and concise presentation of what happened... It is time to go back to the future on that one..... I should improve the product and maybe even reduce TV costs and risks....

[nigelred5]

Nascar did shorten many of the 500 mile races to 400 milers several years ago. I was at the last 500 miler at Dover and I can tell you, 500 miles at Dover was brutal. I was sitting in the old wooden stands that used to be at the exit of turn 2 where the bridge is now. It was well into the 90's on a cloudless day and I fell asleep in the stands for over a hundred laps in the 300's range and didn't miss so much as a pass. NASCAR could easily cut the length of their races and limit the 500 milers to Daytona and Talladega, make the 2.0 mile tracks 400 miles, 1.5's to to 300 miles, 1 milers to 250 and the smaller tracks to 200 miles. They are still running 500 friggin laps at Bristol. That's just insane.

[nigelred5]

The biggest problem was how many viewers that are not hard core fans switched channels, 2 and 1/2 hours under red flag plus a switch to ESPN News for both sides of the country at different times pretty much made it unwatchable for anyone who is not in love with AOWR.

And then there are the hardcore fans that missed the announcement of where the conclusion of the race would be broadcast and could not find it anywhere even after I heard the race would restart at 6:30. I watched the first half and as much as I was hoping for it, I just saw nothing good. It sounds like there was good racing, but as usual, ABC simply isn't capable of following it. I couldn't believe how many banners were in the fencing totally blocking any views. It actually appeared they were hiding Belle Isle from TV viewers. The ads can be down on the walls and still be seen well by the TV cameras. it's not like on site viewers can see them . I actually like to see the surroundings of a race course. And when they take the time to give a beautiful overhead "Chamber of Commerce" view of the course, they totally obscure it with promos for rediculous events. They might as well race through tunnels.

Sometimes I swear it seems like they send out the ice dancing crew in their off season to do Indycar races. Has anyone in that trailer ever watched a race?

[FIAT1]

More I think obout it is like what you gonna do? We all know that Detroit is terible track. Race was done more for the motor city that needs us, and chevy ,than for some great racing that would come of it. We don't always get what we want, sometimes the curve ball coming our way requires us to duck or dodge, altering our game plan. They did what they had to do in bad situation and fixed a track to finish the race. Everyone is alive and well to bitch obout it, not every race is perfect, learn and regroup and on to next one. I would like to remeber this race for Josef daring move and passing three people in last laps in between concrete canyons.

[Anubis]

Nascar did shorten many of the 500 mile races to 400 milers several years ago. I was at the last 500 miler at Dover and I can tell you, 500 miles at Dover was brutal. I was sitting in the old wooden stands that used to be at the exit of turn 2 where the bridge is now. It was well into the 90's on a cloudless day and I fell asleep in the stands for over a hundred laps in the 300's range and didn't miss so much as a pass. NASCAR could easily cut the length of their races and limit the 500 milers to Daytona and Talladega, make the 2.0 mile tracks 400 miles, 1.5's to to 300 miles, 1 milers to 250 and the smaller tracks to 200 miles. They are still running 500 friggin laps at Bristol. That's just insane.

I'll admit this is why my interest in Nationwide and the trucks has grown in recent years. The races are still a reasonable length but without getting utterly tedious. Not an attention span issue either, as I'll happily watch endurance GT racing, but the Cup races just seem to have become 400 miles of cat and mouse then 100 miles of idiocy topped with the usual green which checker mayhem. More often than not I'll have it on in the background whilst doing something else and only really drift back for the closing stages.

[champcarray]

Should a series somehow "compensate" a drive who has been shafted by a track? In this case, a chunk of track sent Hinch into the tire barrier. Should he have been allowed to restart with a backup car? Should he have been given points for the position he was holding when the track bit him?

[Jag_Warrior]

Since there was apparently some sort of "technical issue" that (only) affected DirecTV Tivo subscribers and my local ABC affiliate (as well as my NBC, CBS, Fox and PBS affiliates - but not CW!), I wasn't able to watch or DVR this race. As it seems there was lots of "something" that happened, I wish I could at least see the tape.

Technology is only cool when it works. :(

[jimispeed]

Detroit was never a great track. Ever! Horsepower makes no difference, they'd all have the extra power and the same situation would apply.

Well, I guess it's just my opinion! And I remember, and still watch my old DVD's just to remind me that if you have enough hp boost with push to pass then it comes down to who pushed it first, and who hit the brakes last. All of the drivers wish they had it on every street/road course, and I wish they'd hurry up and implement it again. It seperates the men from the boys! It was exciting to watch.

[FIAT1]

Despite some holes in the road, IndyCar showing some real signs of positive growth - Autoweek (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120604/INDYCAR/120609923?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social)

[jarrambide]

Should a series somehow "compensate" a drive who has been shafted by a track? In this case, a chunk of track sent Hinch into the tire barrier. Should he have been allowed to restart with a backup car? Should he have been given points for the position he was holding when the track bit him?

Everyone had to race on the same track, that would be like compensating someone because a part of another car breaks away and hits one of your tires.

[00steven]

What a cluster#u€# of a race.That was my thought exactly.

[Marbles]

Who patches cement with asphalt? I'm sure there is some rocket scientist here who can fill me in on the benefits of that as opposed to the quick dry cement they used -during- the race... and they probably had to send somebody to Lowes to get it! Thankfully we had the earth opening up as well as the sky or this race would have been the typical Belle Isle "well... another one in the can" race. Sucks not to have ESPN news... and a Quiznos sized piece of asphalt stuck in your front suspension.

Some neat moments but overall a very forgettable race(wise). I always think of Belle Isle as some sort of Penske charity case.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I always thought the track showed how fast the cars could corner, and it was interesting to see a guy hustle around there, but I for the life of me cant figure out why they cant make a change or two to create a passing zone or two.

As for the lousy patches, that stuff is sealer with aggregate. It it isn't asphalt, and it held up all the way through the weekend until Sunday when the repeated beating and suction of the ground force started pulling it up. I blame Roger's organization and the Indycar officials for not knowing more of the pitfalls of this stuff, but I would hardly fire them all over it either. They have raced on many a street circuit, many with similar patches and never had an issue. Sometimes the merde hits the spinning blades.

That all said, Belle Isle isn't a great venue for a large crowd. I am shocked RP keeps persisting with promoting this track. As for ABC/ESPN, well to say their broadcast sucked would be kind to vacuum cleaners.....just awful watching them cross promote and dumb it all down for us...

[mike15]

Bring Cleveland back along with the 500 at MIS.
Detroit and Mid-Ohio historically have never been good races.
I know Mid-Ohio, a race that I have attended frequently, has been a fan favorite but only because of the facility and not the racing.

[Marbles]

As for the lousy patches, that stuff is sealer with aggregate. It it isn't asphalt, and it held up all the way through the weekend until Sunday when the repeated beating and suction of the ground force started pulling it up. I blame Roger's organization and the Indycar officials for not knowing more of the pitfalls of this stuff, but I would hardly fire them all over it either. They have raced on many a street circuit, many with similar patches and never had an issue. Sometimes the merde hits the spinning blades.


I've always suspected you worked in the aerospace industry. ;)