IndyCar: 2019 Grand Prix of Alabama Discussion Thread

Jonathan Young · Apr 7, 2019

Don’t want to spoil any results in case anyone had the qualifying recording to watch later - but I couldn’t be happier for the pole-sitter! Super nice guy with a great attitude, and a real racer. Hope he does ok in the race, really looking forward to it!

Kenny Paton · Apr 7, 2019

Jonathan Young said:
Don’t want to spoil any results in case anyone had the qualifying recording to watch later

Thanks for the non spoiler, for those of us who are behind the times

Fat-Alfie · Apr 7, 2019

Not really 'open wheelers' though, are they?

Kenny Paton · Apr 7, 2019

Fat-Alfie said:
Not really 'open wheelers' though, are they?

Hey you've not got time to be watching races

TheGrunt · Apr 7, 2019

Fat-Alfie said:
Not really 'open wheelers' though, are they?

If you are referring to the previous manufacturer aerokit era cars, rear wheels were indeed very covered because of the bumper pods and extra aero parts. This is how they look now on the road courses:

I’d say they are pretty open

Fat-Alfie · Apr 7, 2019

Yeah, I was referring to the photo in the OP. I don't know anything about (or have any interest in) indycars.

Ryno917 · Apr 7, 2019

Fat-Alfie said:
Yeah, I was referring to the photo in the OP. I don't know anything about (or have any interest in) indycars.

Yea, those were the ~2016-2017 manufacturer spec aero kits. I wasn't a fan, either. Hideously ugly, too many little bits that constantly got broken off causing debris cautions, and overall the cars made too much downforce.

The new (from 2018) kits look beautiful, have less downforce and basically no little bits to break off (see the Rossi-Pagenaut contact at COTA for evidence of why it's a great thing! Two open wheel cars coming together, one getting some decent airtime, and no debris, no caution. The car in the air even continued on without damage

). I hadn't really been following Indycar much at all since the late 90s myself, but this new kit has provided for some spectacular racing. Most exciting series I watched in 2018. If you're at all interested in modern racing, I highly suggest giving it a watch. All of the 2018 races are archived on the official Youtube channel. Mid-Ohio was especially great; if you don't want to bother with it all maybe just give that one a watch and see if it tickles your fancy.

I'd also recommend Toronto. But I might be a tad biased there...

Jonathan Young · Apr 8, 2019

Yeah, IndyCar is pretty great. The fact that it’s a spec series means it’s unpredictable, even with heavyweight teams like Penske in the mix. Good mix of drivers and at least half of them could take a win on any given day. Typically they can run closer than F1 and the fact that they mix up road courses and ovals (including the awesome Indy 500 of course) really keeps things interesting. It’s a great series, worth checking out, and that’s coming from an F1 fan...

Brandon Wright · Apr 8, 2019

Glad to see you all enjoying our little racing car series.

The racing has been really great lately and so far this season has been pretty exciting! The new body kit sure has improved the racing. Can't wait to see them in person at the hallowed grounds next month.

Jonathan Young · Apr 9, 2019

Brandon Wright said:
Glad to see you all enjoying our little racing car series. The racing has been really great lately and so far this season has been pretty exciting! The new body kit sure has improved the racing. Can't wait to see them in person at the hallowed grounds next month.

You’re going to Indianapolis? I’m so tempted to go too, would love to experience that in the flesh. One of the worlds greatest races, hands down. Go Alonso!

Ryno917 · Apr 9, 2019

Brandon Wright said:
Glad to see you all enjoying our little racing car series. The racing has been really great lately and so far this season has been pretty exciting! The new body kit sure has improved the racing. Can't wait to see them in person at the hallowed grounds next month.

Awesome!

I've thought about making that trip in the past, but I'm not a big oval fan and the idea of sitting in an open grandstand baking in the sun isn't so nice to me. I'd love to experience the event, but just not quite enough to spend the money on it. I've been to Toronto, Barber, Sonoma and Mid-O for Indycar races in the last few years, though, and I'm keen to go to more. If my situation improves this summer I'd like to try to get to Portland later this year.

Jonathan Young · Apr 9, 2019

Having enjoyed the race at Barber, I’m quite tempted to make the trip to Alabama next year. Looks beautiful.

Brandon Wright · Apr 9, 2019

Jonathan Young said:
You’re going to Indianapolis? I’m so tempted to go too, would love to experience that in the flesh. One of the worlds greatest races, hands down. Go Alonso!

Oh yeah, I live about 30 minutes away and go all the time. My best estimate is I've been there over 100 times and probably witnessed about 50 different races there. It's my most favorite place. You should come, I'll give you the tour and show you where to find the best tenderloins.

Bring comfy walking shoes and lots of water, it's a long day with a lot of walking! And also the largest spectator event in the world, pretty cool being in the middle of a quarter million people.

Ryno917 said:
Awesome!

I've thought about making that trip in the past, but I'm not a big oval fan and the idea of sitting in an open grandstand baking in the sun isn't so nice to me. I'd love to experience the event, but just not quite enough to spend the money on it.

To be fair, Indy is not like normal ovals. Even the drivers say it drives like a road course that only has four turns, and in most recent years it's been a real thriller. And besides that, the race is only part of the reason for going, it is an event and a spectacle that is a real experience to be part of. You don't have to bake in the grandstand either, most of the outer frontstretch grandstand has a roof on it. My current seats are under the roof just behind the start/finish line, last year tied the hottest 500 on record and I was just fine in my shady seat.

If you're a motorsports fan you owe it to yourself to take the race in at least once, it's a grand spectacle for sure.

Ryno917 · Apr 9, 2019

Brandon Wright said:
To be fair, Indy is not like normal ovals. Even the drivers say it drives like a road course that only has four turns, and in most recent years it's been a real thriller. And besides that, the race is only part of the reason for going, it is an event and a spectacle that is a real experience to be part of. You don't have to bake in the grandstand either, most of the outer frontstretch grandstand has a roof on it. My current seats are under the roof just behind the start/finish line, last year tied the hottest 500 on record and I was just fine in my shady seat. If you're a motorsports fan you owe it to yourself to take the race in at least once, it's a grand spectacle for sure.

That's my main desire for wanting to attend, for sure.

Glad to see there's shade to be had. As a Canadian, I can't deal with the heat. I used to get mild heat stroke at least 4 or 5 times every summer. Sonoma was murder, almost no shade to be had anywhere there.

(BTW, Subaru represent!)

Brandon Wright · Apr 10, 2019

Ryno917 said:
That's my main desire for wanting to attend, for sure. Glad to see there's shade to be had. As a Canadian, I can't deal with the heat. I used to get mild heat stroke at least 4 or 5 times every summer. Sonoma was murder, almost no shade to be had anywhere there.

Yep, I went to a NASCAR race in Vegas last summer, no shade and temps over 100º F. Despite pounding fluids all day and finding shade when I could I still got massive dehydration and was ill for the next five days. But that's never really happened to me at Indy, there are some places to find shade and it's usually not quite that hot. Last couple years for The 500 they even brought several city busses in and parked them around the infield with the a/c running so you could duck in there and cool down for a bit.

Full disclosure, the shady seats on the front stretch aren't the best for viewing the on-track action but you get to see them blasting by at full chat, you get to see all the pit action, lots of video boards around for replays, and prime viewing of the opening ceremonies. Plus, shade, so for me the trade-off is good. Here's a few of my pics from last year to give you an idea of the view.