Indy 500

[Lizard Racing]

A lot of people are saying Alexander Rossi did not deserve his win in the 500.  He kept out of trouble, conserved his fuel and took a late-race gamble.  He also turned the fastest race lap on 106.

Since Indy Car racing as become a spec-car series, the only advantage someone has is in strategy.  When there are 17 cars still on the lead lap at the end, and one second covered the first 10 qualifiers, that's competitive.

[Draggon]

That's stupid, Indy has been won more than a few times on fuel strategy. Danica won Motegi in '08 on fuel, and the haters dispelled that too. 

[Edsel-Dan]

Herta, Rossi's Co-owner won with Dan Weldan the same year Dan died at Vegas

on Fuel TOO

 

Rossi Definitely Deserved that win!!!

He used Brain as well as Good driving to be where he was at the end!!!!!

 

Anyone record the race??

I can't get ABC right now

That channel broadcast's at a LOWER output than my CSE/Fox channel does

Towers are Equal distance from me and only a Few degrees difference in the Same general direction

 

Depending on size, I can send a blank DVD (or 2-3)

or a Thumb-drive 128 GB are $33.oo now at my Wally's

These are 3.o

Sandisk 2.0's were $25.oo for 128 GB

 

[Lizard Racing]

EdselDan:  try going to indycar.com.  They have a highlights video.

The definition of winner is the one who reaches the finish line first.  No matter how it's done.  I have seen a lot of 500s that were won in the last 10 laps.  Indycar is probably the most competitive series going right now.

[Longbox55]

Anyone who claims that Rossi didn't deserve the win probably didn't actually watch the race!

[bbowser]

Anyone who claims that Rossi didn't deserve the win probably didn't actually watch the race!

Well said!  Not a lot of action in a fuel mileage race, but he got there first.   When Bell and Hunter-Reay (sp?) got together in the pits, that changed the complexion of the entire race.  It certainly had more drama than the 600 that followed!

[Edsel-Dan]

Not interested in Chopped video (high-lights)

I want the Entire Event

from Pre-race to Post Race Un-Edited!!

Commercials and All!!

I use do that!!!! 

 

There are 2 to 3 copies of Nurburgring 24 on Youtube

that are not only Complete, but Beyond Complete

1 is 64++ HOURS

another 72++ HOURS!!!

Edited June 3, 2016 by Edsel-Dan

[Jim N]

Unfortunately, this happens every time there is a race decided on fuel mileage.  These comments are made in NASCAR too.  I give that team all of the credit in the world.  They saw early in the fuel run that this was the only way they could win the race.  They followed the strategy and events fell in their lap.  Had there been a late caution or if the pit cycle had fallen where the fuel would have taken the field to the end of the race, this would have been moot.

I think this is a much harder way to win a race than people give them credit.  Rossi had to make sure no one passed him and then drive so that he saved every drop of fuel he could.  Race car drivers are conditioned to go as fast and make the car go as fast as it possibly can.  It takes a lot of discipline to drive a car in this manner.

[Longbox55]

 

  These comments are made in NASCAR too. 

They sure are. I was actually surprised that I didn't see anything like that about Kurt Busch's win at Pocono, which was won on mileage. Then this weekend, they're running Michigan, which is well known for being a fuel mileage track.

 

[High octane]

Looks like there's a cry baby no matter what the subject is.

[stavanzer]

I watched the whole thing start to finish. Rossi won Fair and square.

Would I have preferred a different driver to win? Of course. But he won, and did a great job of driving to do it.

No cheating (on his part) this year.

[Pau7060]

Alexis ran 500milesj just like everybody else . Some never lead a Indy car race but for the only one that counts. 33 cars ran this same race with their own agenda and strategy for getting a WIN. I think a few are unhappy about a first timer at the 500 got a win . I race UAS Unlimited Dirt Gokarts , leading race is fun getting win is a lot more fun! http://oi59.tinypic.com/jr32q8.jpg. 

Edited June 10, 2016 by Pau7060

[Vince Nemanic]

Would the strategy been more valid if a Penske, Ganassi or Andretti crew chief had tried it?   I think not.

Also please remember that the same weekend that Danica used fuel strategy to win the IRL race, Dale Junior used fuel strategy to win his first race for Hendrick.  I don't recall anyone bemoaning that victory.

[Muncie]

Alexander Rossi showed a lot of talent in a couple of F1 starts last year  - well deserved the 500 win - probably see him win another or back in F1...

[Howard Cohen]

To win the Indy 500 takes more than luck and fuel economy, it also takes talent, planning, engineering and so many other factors that we could spend all day talking about them. In the end, he drove a car 500 miles without leaving the car to go to the bathroom (ask yourself how they do that  )  at speeds of 225MPH plus, sitting in a very small cockpit about the size of a coffin with his head being buffeted by the winds (nature and car induced) and the G-forces and the heat (some drivers will sweat 10-20 pounds in a race) and the smell of the burning rubber and the fuel and the oil someone may spill and many other factors. Don't demean the win because he is a rookie, congratulate him for winning over the more experienced drivers and teams  

Oh, my car club helps organize the Toronto Indy and has since it's inception. I have been a volunteer the past 5 years and will volunteer again this year. The teams arrive several days before the race to set up their tents and work areas, then test their cars, teach their drivers the many ways around the circuit, adjust their cars, discuss race strategy, talk to thousands of fans and the media and in the end, hope they win the race. I am always amazed at how much work they put into their cars, hundreds or thousands of hours to race for 3 hours. It's ain't just luck  

 

http://public.fotki.com/howardcohen/toronto-indy-2015/

 

[Crazy Ed]

    Heck AJ Foyt once won the Indy 500 once without changing Tires the ENTIRE Race. Now THAT was a Tire Strategy . Would those "Experts" say he didn't Win that Race?

[Skooter]

Successful racers lose many they should have won and win some they shouldn't.  The list is long, but you could start with Unser Sr and Jr who both won when lead cars puked out toward the end. They were masters at putting themselves into the top 3-5 positions late in the race, ready to pounce when the lead car(s) conked out.  Foyt said something to the effect...You take 'em any way you can get 'em.  He lost many he should have won.

[Art Anderson]

 

Unfortunately, this happens every time there is a race decided on fuel mileage.  These comments are made in NASCAR too.  I give that team all of the credit in the world.  They saw early in the fuel run that this was the only way they could win the race.  They followed the strategy and events fell in their lap.  Had there been a late caution or if the pit cycle had fallen where the fuel would have taken the field to the end of the race, this would have been moot.

I think this is a much harder way to win a race than people give them credit.  Rossi had to make sure no one passed him and then drive so that he saved every drop of fuel he could.  Race car drivers are conditioned to go as fast and make the car go as fast as it possibly can.  It takes a lot of discipline to drive a car in this manner.

 

Well, considering that every Indianapolis 500, beginning with 1974, has run with a strict limitation on available fuel (through 1973, fuel was virtually unlimited  with cars carrying upwards of 70 gallons on-board), this has become a non-argument frankly.

 

 

[Art Anderson]

    Heck AJ Foyt once won the Indy 500 once without changing Tires the ENTIRE Race. Now THAT was a Tire Strategy . Would those "Experts" say he didn't Win that Race?

Actually, I believe that Jim Clark,in 1965, was the first driver to win at Indianapolis on a single set of tires.

Art

[Crazy Ed]

Actually, I believe that Jim Clark,in 1965, was the first driver to win at Indianapolis on a single set of tires.

Art

    He woulda been, 'cept AJ did it in '64 

[Art Anderson]

    He woulda been, 'cept AJ did it in '64 

Nobody ever won at Indianapolis on a single set of tires until Clark did it in 1965.  Sorry!

[Lizard Racing]

Foyt won in '64 on a single set of tires.

Before that in the 30's, a Cummins diesel made the 500 miles nonstop.  Memory fails me on further details without looking it up.

[Art Anderson]

    He woulda been, 'cept AJ did it in '64 

Nope,  Foyt had to have a couple of tire changes in '64, given that he was driving his old Roadster having solid axles--whole lotta driftin' with one of those.  In fact, Clark was just the second driver to finish the Indianapolis 500 on just one set of tires--the other being Bill Cummings in 1931, driving the Cummins Diesel Special--that car ran the entire 500 miles WITHOUT a pit stop!.

Art

[Lizard Racing]

I don't mean to be a pain, but since I have no life, I kept all my Sports Car Graphic magazines from the 60's.  On page 16-17 of the August 1964 issue  is the annual Firestone two-page ad about their victory in the Indy 500.  Included is a Quote from Foyt:  "Firestone tires did a tremendous job.  I went all the way without a tire change."

Winning any Indy 500 (no matter how) is a lifetime achievement.  I was just reading profiles of the winners in this year's program and was amazed at the number of winners who perished in racing accidents.  Some even the same year.

[Edsel-Dan]

The most recent Indy winner to die was Dan Weldon

And Yes that same year, And in a Race

The Last race of the season. Dan was entered

and a Sweepstakes/contest was the reason

If Dan won a Fan selected would win too

Do not remember if it was $500,000,oo

or a Million. But then that BIG crash!!

How many involved?? 10? 15?? I know several

Dan's car was hit, sent airborn and Cockpit side into the fence.

When they got back in the cars for a Formation lap to conclude the race, I think they already knew......

Dario was Crying, as were others

 

And Last year, Justin Wilson was caught up in a crash at Pocono

If you did not see it, you wondered why he stopped

A piece of the car that hit the wall sailed up, and was at the 

Wrong place in the air as Justin came past

The piece hit his helmet, and flew away

Justin;s car came to a stop

The car behind him had a lot of damage, but his appeared to have none.

Yet ALL workers went to Justin.

Again, I think most knew, but confirmation would take almost a day

 

Rossi was In the Correct place to Win.

He also had lead earlier during the race

 

Had Kanaan, Rahall, Castroneves won this way, No one would have said anything

about the win, EVEN if it was the ONLY lap lead by that driver!!!!