OT: Racing 2011 (Spoiler Alert)

[pk500]

BTW, I know the IMS is pretty tight-lipped about its attendance figures, but it looks like a very large crowd today, compared to past 500s. Will this crowd be setting any records for an open-wheel race at IMS?

Crowd was up over the last five years or so. But no record. Still the largest single-day spectator sporting event in the world, though.

[pk500]

Wow, what an ending...have to feel bad for JR

JR's Corn Flakes will have milk substitute on them for some while. I've seen people win the Indianapolis 499.7 before, but I'm struggling to recall anything quite like that.

A tremendous run from Wheldon, though. There can't be many in the field who race Indy any better or more consistently than Dan.

Wheldon set an Indianapolis 500 record today by winning while leading just one lap -- the last 900 feet of the last one. The previous record was two laps by winner Joe Dawson in 1912.

[pk500]

Awesome Indy 500 today. Seemed like it went by very fast. I still don't understand how one of the Target cars did not win. They clearly had the machines to beat. From the coverage it was hard to understand what went wrong, especially when they were stating that Dixon was the fastest car in the field over the final laps. I guess their pit strategy was just that bad. Those double-file restarts need to go. Yes it was exciting, but not in a good way (for me at least). One question: If the yellow had been thrown before Wheldon passed JR, would JR have won?

Ganassi didn't get enough fuel in both Dario and Dixon's cars on the final stop. Fuel screw-up cost the team in qualifying and the race.

[miget33]

JR on the final turn? Deja Vu All over again

[toonarmy]

Unbelievable. What are the odds of two JRs losing big races in the final corner on the same day? Tough finish for Dale Jr.

[miget33]

To add in more, both were National Guard sponsored cars

[toonarmy]

To add in more, both were National Guard sponsored cars

Kind of odd that both drivers in the National Guard cars almost never win yet they both were winning on the final lap of their respective races on Memorial Day weekend. The only thing that stopped them from winning was driver error and lack of fuel. I'm sure it's all just coincidence, but it's still odd.

[Gurantsu]

So last night on a hunch I looked on ESPN3, and lo and behold the Indy 500 is there. Woohoo! Needless to say, I'm very happy that Xbox has that feature!

[GB_Simo]

Was today the first recorded instance of a Moto GP race from Barcelona being less exciting than the corresponding Formula 1 event?

While I'm here, if folk are insistent upon censuring Simoncelli after that business at Le Mans, what should we do with Kenan Sofuoglu?

[Rodster]

Ohhh man he landed on his HEAD ! Was he alright or did he suffer major injuries?

[GB_Simo]

Ohhh man he landed on his HEAD ! Was he alright or did he suffer major injuries?

Julian Simon's head is fine, Rod, but his right leg is broken. Multiple fractures to the tibia and fibula.

[pk500]

Was today the first recorded instance of a Moto GP race from Barcelona being less exciting than the corresponding Formula 1 event?

Probably. MotoGP produced a rare turd today. Pedrosa needs to return soon, or Stoner will catch Lorenzo and run away with the title. But there's a strong rumor that Dani reinjured his collarbone while training, which could postpone his return.

To take the theme of your original question further, Adam: Who would have guessed in February that F1 would be arguably the most exciting, spellbinding major motorsport series in the world this season through the end of May? Just about every race has been filled with drama and action.

A good friend of mine who is a 20-plus-year veteran of the traveling F1 press corps said some of the true old-timers among F1 journalists don't like this new era of the sport this season because they actually must pay attention to more than the first lap before starting to write their race reports, delaying their departure from the track. My buddy wasn't kidding, either!

[GB_Simo]

To take the theme of your original question further, Adam: Who would have guessed in February that F1 would be arguably the most exciting, spellbinding major motorsport series in the world this season through the end of May? Just about every race has been filled with drama and action.

You could, if you were so inclined, argue that that F1 has never been in this position on a sustained basis before. Classic races here and there, yes, but an entire run of events offering as much entertainment as any major series you care to name?

[Rodster]

I can honestly say after listening to several F1 races on BBC. Please BRING BACK JAMES ALLEN !!!!!!!

[Rodster]

The off again, on again, off again saga of the Bahrain GP appears to have received a final death blow. Bernie said the teams have unanimously said NO and it's up to them and there's nothing he can do about it. Also the 2012 calendar was slated for 21 races and that was shot down by the teams and Jean Todt.

[toonarmy]

The off again, on again, off again saga of the Bahrain GP appears to have received a final death blow. Bernie said the teams have unanimously said NO and it's up to them and there's nothing he can do about it. Also the 2012 calendar was slated for 21 races and that was shot down by the teams and Jean Todt.

Clearly a good move to vote no on Bahrain. I wonder which event will be axed for 2012?

[Rodster]

Pat Fry says he thinks he's figured out why the Ferrari has been so slow with the hard tires and why the car doesn't generate enough heat in those tires. Funny how it takes a non Italian a few weeks on the job to understand what Aldo Nova wasn't able to do other than designing mediocre cars.

[pk500]

Pat Fry says he thinks he's figured out why the Ferrari has been so slow with the hard tires and why the car doesn't generate enough heat in those tires. Funny how it takes a non Italian a few weeks on the job to understand what Aldo Nova wasn't able to do other than designing mediocre cars.

Aldo Nova:



Aldo Costa:

[Rodster]

I'm amazed it took you that long to figure it out.

[GB_Simo]

If Mike Rockenfeller has got out of that shunt in anything like the spotless condition McNo seems to be in after his, I'm buying an Audi in the morning. Early reports seems to be that the safety cell was intact and he's in very good health, which is just remarkable after an accident like that.

[F308GTB]

If Mike Rockenfeller has got out of that shunt in anything like the spotless condition McNo seems to be in after his, I'm buying an Audi in the morning. Early reports seems to be that the safety cell was intact and he's in very good health, which is just remarkable after an accident like that.

Honestly my concern was more for the folks behind the tire wall who seemed to narrowly escape some significant shards of carbon.

[toonarmy]

The race from Montreal looked to be a complete farce as it started under yellow and was red flagged for a pretty long time. It ended up having one of the most exciting finishes in the history of F1. Button's drive was nothing short of amazing in the final couple stints. Amazingly he had 6 pit stops to Seb's 3. Schumi had a nice run as well. Kobayashi was fun to watch, as he was edged out of a spot at the very end by less than a tenth of a second. What looked like it would be a mess of a race turned out to be as fun as they come. Hell, we even had a race marshal damn-near run over as he waddled out onto the tarmac and fall over as Kobayashi came around the turn, lmao. DRS and tires brought us yet another crazy race.

On a side note, boo on FOX here in the US for starting coverage 2 laps into the race. Glad they stuck with things through the end though. Also, what is the point of having full wet tires if Whiting is not going to let them run in the rain? I understand not running when it is a torrential downpour, but the SC was out quite a few laps when the race could have easily been green.

[Rodster]

Awesome race, do agree it looked to be a farce and ended in a spectacular finish. I wish I had known FOX was broadcasting the race, I wouldn't be streaming it on the net.

Nice charge by Schu. !

[Rodster]

I'm amazed at how well the teams have adjusted to the new engine rules. So far into this season I can't recall one blown engine and I can't recall any team changing engines. Anyone have info on that if that is indeed the case?

edit: Lewis needs to quit screwing around, the dude is hanging with the celebrity crowd and I think it's affecting his driving. It's like he's suffering from the L.T./Tiger Woods syndrome...."look at me i'm Lewis Hamilton".

What a fake smile during the trophy celebration, you could tell he was stewing when his team told him to park the car and his teammate won. A lot more including Emmo and Niki Lauda have jumped on the anti Lewis crazy driving bandwagon.

Lastly, i've read that Jenson is under investigation for incidents including a collision with Capt. Morgan who was equally pissed when he dropped out of the race.

[pk500]

EPIC performance by Colin Edwards on stage during the Riders For Health auction last Saturday at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This is the funniest, most genuine dude in worldwide motorsports.

NSFW, by the way!