2017 Indianapolis 500

[Rutherford]

Well they can still keep it, but it's for the reserve drivers.

Don't know how you guys watched Indy, but I watched an american stream. And I do not know if i watched more indy 500 or commercials,

I was complaining about the commercials in the CTA Chat too.
Galahad replied 'it is a commercial occasionally interrupted by racing.'

There was a commercial every tens minutes, sometimes the gap was smaller than that between commercials.

I don't know how US Americans live with all the commercials.

 

[Galahad]

I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday - as others have said it feels as though everyone gained from Alonso being there, rather as when Hulkenberg raced at Le Mans. In a way I'm almost glad he didn't win, as he's highly likely to come back and do it again.

I would be very doubtful about him (or any successful F1 driver with nothing left to prove) going to contest the whole series, as Mansell did, though. Drivers can get seriously hurt, and worse, and while that might be worth the risk for one blue-riband event, it isn't for a whole season. Furthermore the viewing figures and sponsorship doesn't add up to a great deal, compared to the Indycar heyday, and while big names add profile, and manufacturers could help, overall I suspect they'd be better off in WEC or DTM.

 

[The Artist.....]

Galahad

Does Alonso need any more money? He's reportedly earning £40 million per year from McLaren - which when added to any commercial deals he has in Spain should see him very comfortably off. Alonso can, more or less, do what he enjoys doing from now on... If he doesn't think he will win in F1, he can choose to race IndyCar, or Le Mans, or Go-karting then he will be more than supported to do so!

 

[Galahad]

Well, we'll see.

 

[The Artist.....]

Well, we'll see.

I suspect that if Alonso's options are limited to a McLaren again next season, he may well cut his losses and try something different! Of course, if Alonso leaves, then McLaren will immediately be challenging for the WCC again!

 

[vintly]

I missed the race and Monaco - was at a festival, but have just caught up with things. Not seen any highlights yet but there's £105 in my betfair account courtesy of one Max Chilton

 

[FB]

Is that the Chilton family's Spanish cousin - Juan Max Chilton? I'll get me coat.

 

[Olivier]

I'm glad Dixon was unscathed after his horrific accident. It seems those cars really take off upon contact.

Alonso seems to have pissed **someone/something** to have this type of luck/fortune. He seemed content after the race but he definitively can't catch a break

 

[Tuscan1969]

Big shame Alonso did not get to the line : would have loved to see those last few laps. Chilton also did an immense job.

 

[Road of Bones]

In case no-one's seen this...

Indy 500 won by Takuma Sato? « Sniff Petrol

 

[Olivier]

Take a listen: James Hinchcliffe interviewing Fernando Alonso

Hinchtown

and look for the second last episode. Not because he's Canadian, but James' podcast are really cool

 

[FB]

This might not be a popular comment with fans of Indycar racing but given that Fernando was able to drop in to one of these cars and be super competitive it demonstrates (too me at least) that this race series isn't really all that and that the drivers are pretty mediocre. Let's face it, as Sniff pointed out, Max Chilton finished 4th which probably means that if they widened the chassis to fit my fat arse I'd have a fair crack at being on the podium.

 

[Andyoak]

Does that mean Mansell's making a comeback?

 

[Olivier]

This might not be a popular comment with fans of Indycar racing but given that Fernando was able to drop in to one of these cars and be super competitive it demonstrates (too me at least) that this race series isn't really all that and that the drivers are pretty mediocre. Let's face it, as Sniff pointed out, Max Chilton finished 4th which probably means that if they widened the chassis to fit my fat arse I'd have a fair crack at being on the podium.

Max did surprisingly well considering the rest of the results he's got so far. Let's see how Gutierrez fares next race at Detroit and we can draw some more conclusions ...

 

[Kewee]

Indycar verses F1......some drivers adapt to the Indycar scene and the ovals with greater ease, but a major factor is the entire Indycar scene is free of the internal politics that many drivers past and present dislike so much in F1. It becomes so unsettling many are never able to show their best.

 

[siffert_fan]

Indycar is also much more of a "spec" series than F1, where, if you are in the best car, you are far more likely to become WDC than possibly better drivers that find themselves in lesser cars.

FB if you could pony up $75M, you might be able to buy your way into an F1 ride

 

[FB]

I'll have a look down the back of the sofa.

 

[The Pits]

if they widened the chassis to fit my fat arse I'd have a fair crack at being on the podium.

dont let Tony Kanaan hear you say that!!

 

[F1Brits_90]

disagree with that FB i think that indycar is bit like GP2 or BTCC where they are teams you want to be in like Ganassi, Penske & Andretti but the gap between the front runners & midfield is quite small, so if you get a good driver they can outperform the team
& the smaller teams or better drivers out of position with strategy & luck, can get themselves up the order like Rossi who won it 2016 or castroneves & chilton who pitted out of sequence banking on full course yellow

 

[FB]

dont let Tony Kanaan hear you say that!!

I now understand that comment

Perhaps it says more about Fernando's ability as a driver? However, there are many as good as him on the grid in F1. I'm not so sure how many on the grid in Indycar would fair so well in a Grand Prix even if dropped in to one of the most competitive cars.