OT: Racing 2011 (Spoiler Alert)

[Rodster]

All right boys a new year, thought i'd start things by saying i'm a bit intrigued by the so-called radical design Aldo Nova is setting his sights on for the F1 11 I suppose they'll call it. Also it appears rumors are picking up steam and they must be along since Alonso made a comment that he's not afraid of having Seb as his teammate and the great one Montezemolo said Seb will drive for Ferrari sooner rather than later.

Also there was another rumor and I believe it was Autosport that said Ferrari made an offer to Adrian Newey to replace current designer Aldo "Nova" Costa at Ferrari but he turned them down.

[F308GTB]

I'm looking more to the MotoGP season and hoping Ben Spies has a bangup year.

[Rodster]

I'm looking more to the MotoGP season and hoping Ben Spies has a bangup year.

Bangup and MotoGP are not a good choice of words especially when it comes to our boys Nicky, Colin and Ben.

[toonarmy]

So how many races will F1 have per season by 2014, and how many races are going to be lost in Europe? I was reading an article about the potential of a race in Vietnam and was struck by the following line:

"He added that the proposed Russian GP venue near Moscow has been delayed by the global economic crisis, but that he still expects the venue to be completed in 2012.

"The track is 50 per cent ready, I would say, we can expect the opening in 2012," he said. "I will assist the Russians until then."

Geist also said he is aware of interest in F1 in Bulgaria, Romania, South Africa, Argentina and another venue in China besides Shanghai, but he admitted he did not know of any plans in the Ukraine."

Surely F1 won't become like NASCAR and institute a brutal schedule with way too many dates.

[Rodster]

Haha in Bernie's grand scheme of his I can see him running two duel F1 championships simultaneously and the current leaders battling it out like Nascar's Chase for the Cup.

This guy is like Donald Trump, he can't say no to money. I think he gets off more on the wheeling and dealing as oppsoed to the actual series.

[fletcher21]

Man, this 1991 Mazda 787B is hard to beat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YFogzI7 ... re=related


I discovered it from Gran Turismo. Amazing car. Rotary =

[GB_Simo]

Man, this 1991 Mazda 787B is hard to beat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YFogzI7 ... re=related


I discovered it from Gran Turismo. Amazing car. Rotary =

It's nice enough, certainly. Won at Le Mans too, through reliability more than outright pace but in the days when the 24 Hours was still an enduro rather than an extended sprint. If I was constructing my fantasy garage, though, I'd have two other Group C models in front of it.

First, Nissan R90CK, being thrown around Le Mans in 1990 by the presumably terrified Mark Blundell:



I forget the exact details of the story, such as whether it was a technical issue or an inattentive mechanic, but the onboard lap from that video was conducted with a couple of hundred more horsepower than Mega was expecting to have under his right boot.

My other big love from that era is the Jaguar XJR-14. It ran IMSA in Bud Light colours in '92, I think, but it looked prettiest in the original Silk Cut purple from the '91 World Sportscar Championship. It was also a phenomenally good car. Derek Warwick set pole and fastest lap on its debut at Suzuka - please ignore the bits where Martin Brundle breaks down and Derek finishes about 237th:

[pk500]

By the way, I really enjoyed your blog on the top 10 F1 drivers of 2010, Adam.

[pk500]

IMSA Camel GT was the most bad-ass series in America in the late 80s and early 90s. Besides the incredible Jag Adam mentioned, the series also boasted fantabulous factory entries from Nissan and Toyota, and a scary-fast privateer Joest Porsche 962 prototype.

Pics of those cars:

Nissan NPT-90


Jaguar XJR-16


Toyota GTP


Joest Porsche 962


One of the best races I ever covered as a reporter was the 1992 Camel Continental at Watkins Glen, which featured an unreal battle between the Toyotas, Jags and Nissans in the first sports car race with the Bus Stop Chicane on the backstraight at the Glen. Davy Jones won the pole in the Bud Light Jag at 150.334 mph on the "short" NASCAR course, an all-time North American road course speed record.

Ridiculously good racing by cars and teams with ridiculous budgets. The manufacturer orgy never could last, but those were glorious days for North American sports car racing.

[Rodster]

Man you don't realise how fast those cats are going until you see it from the dashboard cam. I don't think videogames do justice the phenomenal concentration and the reflexes it takes to drive that fast and keep the car on the track. I was wondering what Adam meant by the 'presumably terrified Mark Blundell until I saw him fighting the wheel at those speeds.

[Dave]

I loved the GTPs. As you said PK, it wasn't sustainable, but it was bad ass while it lasted.

Interesting TV package for ALMS this year--a lot of streaming on ESPN3 and delayed with shortened races on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC. As someone that can stream ESPN3 through the X360, I really like the deal since it looks like all qualifying sessions and races will be live on ESPN3.

[fletcher21]

I finally saved up 5,200,000 credits in GT5 so I could buy the beloved Mazda 787B #55 Le Mans winning car. Just shy of 900hp with the biggest turbo, it's a dream. I have a question, though. In the interior view where you can see the cluster, there's a digital gauge that goes from 99.99 at idle to around 38.00 while driving. Is that some kind of gas mileage indicator? It goes down to almost 0 when you are flooring it from a stop, so I figure that's what it is. I don't really see how that could help a driver, since it isn't like it says "343 miles til empty" or something, and it's based on how much throttle they are giving.

[pk500]

I finally saved up 5,200,000 credits in GT5 so I could buy the beloved Mazda 787B #55 Le Mans winning car. Just shy of 900hp with the biggest turbo, it's a dream. I have a question, though. In the interior view where you can see the cluster, there's a digital gauge that goes from 99.99 at idle to around 38.00 while driving. Is that some kind of gas mileage indicator? It goes down to almost 0 when you are flooring it from a stop, so I figure that's what it is. I don't really see how that could help a driver, since it isn't like it says "343 miles til empty" or something, and it's based on how much throttle they are giving.

If the gauge sinks to zero when flooring the throttle, it could be some sort of "available turbo boost" gauge, but I'm not sure.

Have fun with that car!

[fletcher21]

I finally saved up 5,200,000 credits in GT5 so I could buy the beloved Mazda 787B #55 Le Mans winning car. Just shy of 900hp with the biggest turbo, it's a dream. I have a question, though. In the interior view where you can see the cluster, there's a digital gauge that goes from 99.99 at idle to around 38.00 while driving. Is that some kind of gas mileage indicator? It goes down to almost 0 when you are flooring it from a stop, so I figure that's what it is. I don't really see how that could help a driver, since it isn't like it says "343 miles til empty" or something, and it's based on how much throttle they are giving.

If the gauge sinks to zero when flooring the throttle, it could be some sort of "available turbo boost" gauge, but I'm not sure.

Have fun with that car!

I have a feeling it's something to do with the fuel, since at idle it'd technically be getting the best gas "mileage" and at WOT, it would be sucking down fuel like mad. Very odd.


One thing for you, Paul. How much more does it cost to sit in that covered section at Indy? I can't remember at the time, but I wanna say it's between turn 1 and 2? The one next to the grandstands that's covered. I have no idea what it's called, but it looks awesome. I spent 4 hours grinding on GT5 yesterday, doing the same 5 laps @ Indy for 117,000 credits. I don't know how many laps I did in 4 hours, but it was a hell of a lot. I am close enough to Indy that I feel like I owe it to myself to go see the race one of these years. Where is the place to be if I will be attending my first race?

[fletcher21]

The place I was looking to sit can be seen on the right at 0:38-0:40. That building on the right. Is that spectator seating, or is that only for the VIP and the pretty people like car owners and things of that nature?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TgmaTg9YTU

[GB_Simo]

I finally saved up 5,200,000 credits in GT5 so I could buy the beloved Mazda 787B #55 Le Mans winning car. Just shy of 900hp with the biggest turbo, it's a dream. I have a question, though. In the interior view where you can see the cluster, there's a digital gauge that goes from 99.99 at idle to around 38.00 while driving. Is that some kind of gas mileage indicator? It goes down to almost 0 when you are flooring it from a stop, so I figure that's what it is. I don't really see how that could help a driver, since it isn't like it says "343 miles til empty" or something, and it's based on how much throttle they are giving.

Yes, it's a set of fuel indicators, assuming you're on about the gauges I believe you are. Go to 1:51 in this video, where they're illuminated by sunlight to the left of the steering wheel:



One is current fuel level, the other is average fuel consumption. Just above them you can see a blue strip with some squiggles on it - the rightmost of those says that 1 lap = 7 litres. That would have been about right for a lap of Le Mans so I guess Polyphony had access to the winning 787B, which was the only 787B to win a race of any kind in period and didn't race again after its Le Mans victory. The driver had to know these things because under the rules at the time, each car had a ration of fuel for the full 24 hours and it was important to know that the race timer would run out before your fuel supply did.

I'm not absolutely sure whether they're implemented correctly in-game and whether it's worth paying any attention to them, but that's what they are.

[fletcher21]

Thanks, Simo! That video you posted is of the stealth. It appears to be MUCH quicker than my standard 787B. I noticed the fuel gauges don't move in that video, but mine move with every rpm. Thanks for the clarification, man.

[fletcher21]

PK: Where is the best place to sit at Indy? I want to take in a 500, maybe in 2012. I want to enjoy the experience, so money isn't an issue.

[fletcher21]

Now THIS is racing! One of my all time dream cars, the Castrol Tom's Toyota Supra. This is from 1997.

[pk500]

PK: Where is the best place to sit at Indy? I want to take in a 500, maybe in 2012. I want to enjoy the experience, so money isn't an issue.

B Stand or E Stand, preferably Penthouse. Those are both in the entrance of Turn 1. That's the famed "covered" stand to which you referred in your prior post.

Those seats sell out quickly, so I would consider either the Southwest Vista (entrance of short chute between Turns 1 and 2) or the Northwest Vista (Turn 4) as alternatives. They're uncovered, so bring your sunscreen.

Fletch, I'm glad you want to come to the "500." It's unlike any other race -- hell, any other sporting event -- on Earth. But you MUST make your virgin trip this year, not in 2012. This May is the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500, and we're going to have a TON of special activities for fans. From old cars on track for parade laps to nearly every past winner back for a race weekend autograph session and so much more, it's going to be magical.

There's no such thing as a "normal" Indy 500, but trust me, dude: This May is going to be so much more special than May 2012.

Ticket info.: http://www.imstix.com
Track map with stands: https://secure.brickyard.com/Tickets/Fi ... F615BDA90B

[DChaps]

I agree with Paul. If you are planning on going to the Indy 500 sometime soon, definitely go this year. I will be taking my son this year for his first Indianapolis 500 and we can't wait!

[pk500]

I agree with Paul. If you are planning on going to the Indy 500 sometime soon, definitely go this year. I will be taking my son this year for his first Indianapolis 500 and we can't wait!

Right on, Don! I want to meet you cats!

[GB_Simo]

Haven't seen this reported anywhere yet but I understand that ex-Tyrrell designer Derek Gardner has passed away. Few men achieved so much in such a short spell in Formula 1 - Gardner was only with Tyrrell from 1969 to 1977 but in that time he designed their first F1 car, put together the machines that carried Jackie Stewart to two of his three world titles and came up with the P34 six-wheeler that won in Sweden with Jody Scheckter at the wheel. Every F1 machine he designed for Uncle Ken won races at some point during its life and while his name might get lost a little in a decade better remembered for the work of Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray and Patrick Head, his achievements stand against any designer you could name. RIP.

[pk500]

Very cool video. I can't wait for the season opener March 27!

[Rodster]

Ducati's GP11 bike = sweetness !



"Italian graphics and helmet design guru Aldo Drudi has followed Valentino Rossi over to Ducati, and has designed the team's new livery."