Ultra-competitive IRL

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 8:54 pm

OK, so I´m a pimp: I work for the Indy Racing League. But if there´s a more competitive motor racing series in the world right now than the IRL, please name it.
 
 Helio Castroneves leads Gil de Ferran by one point -- one stinkin´ point! -- after 13 races this season, with two to go. Defending series champion Sam Hornish Jr. is third, just eight points behind Castroneves. There are 52 points maximum available at each race, so it´s going to be an unreal crapshoot over the last two races.
 
 Wow!
 
 Take care,
 PK

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 10:02 pm

PK,
 
 Great race today. I thought you were the sage of Upstate New York for a while with your pick of Alex Barron. He ran a great race, but made one tiny mistake and there´s the ball game. My pick, Boat and any of the Kelley guys, weren´t as sage.
 
 I´ll second the notion of a great series though. The races are great to watch on TV -- by far the best on-track product going today -- but they are unreal in person. If you are anywhere near Chicagoland next weekend or Texas on Sept. 15, spend the money and grab a seat. You won´t be disappointed.
 
 Disclaimer: I´m a member of PK´s traveling crew, so I may be a little scewed in my views. I´ve had some of the Kool-Aid. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 10:12 pm

And that Kool-Aid is mighty tasty, eh? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Love,
 Jim Jones

Post by **Jared** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 11:40 pm

PK,
 
 What do you like better? F1 or IRL? Curious to get your opinion.
 
 Jared

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 2:02 pm

Jared:
 
 IRL.
 
 F1 is good fun but uncompetitive. I like F1 for its technical aspects, especially the constant development of the cars. I also like the variety of circuits around the world and respect the ability it takes to drive these knife-edge cars.
 
 But the competition in F1 is nearly non-existent. Ferrari and Michael Schumacher are so much better than any other team and driver, respectively, that it´s really sucked all the competitive life from the sport.
 
 Competition was tough in F1 before Ferrari and Schuey started to dominate in 2000, due to the narrow-track cars and ridiculous grooved tires. But now it´s just lousy. Most races are over in the first turn of the first lap or decided by pit strategy, not on the track.
 
 The IRL, on the other hand, features balls-out racing unlike any other series. None of the fuel-strategy chess matches that seem to plague CART and the follow-the-leader, aero-push bullsh*t that all the NASCAR gomers seem to ignore about Winston Cup.
 
 IRL drivers race more aggressively and more ballsy (sorry, Sarah Fisher!) than either NASCAR or CART, mostly because of its competitive equipment and rules package. Plus the short nature of the races -- mostly 300 miles or shorter -- encourages balls-to-the-wall racing. None of this "saving the car for the last 20 laps" bullsh*t that´s so prevalent in NASCAR.
 
 And what makes the competition in the IRL so much more remarkable than NASCAR is that the racing is closer even though the stakes are so much higher and so much more precision is needed.
 
 Make a mistake at 185 mph in NASCAR? Well, you bump fenders and trade a bit of paint. Make a mistake at 220 mph in the IRL? Well, you might be launched in the air after wheels interlock.
 
 Still, IRL drivers routinely run inches apart for laps at a time.
 
 There´s just nothing else like it in major worldwide motorsports today.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 26-08-2002 11:03 ]