Indy 500 today... does anyone care?

[MyBradKeselowski]

Nope not interested...

[Tony T]

It used to be a stand-alone race with names from all over the world. Now it is a crown-jewel-type race in the izod IndyCar series (at least I think that is right-I lost touch when there was two competing series and all that). I do try to watch it. I don't even recall there having been the big announcement of the Official Pace Car selection - that used to be big news! I must say that the record number of lead changes does show that the cars are not just running a 220 mph parade...they can pass. The rear bodywork on these cars really thew me off though. Not nearly as open-wheeled as they used to be! The final lap is always the best one to watch!!

That said...is the Indy 500 relevent? I would say that yes, it is relevent. Not nearly as much as it once was, but I do hope that they do continue the traditions and hope they can find ways to keep it as relevent as it can be.

I also watched the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600...Another great race. Too bad we up here in teh Great White North had our long weekend last weekend...I had to get up for work this morning after going to bed at about 11PM!

Edited May 28, 2012 by Tony T

[Lunajammer]

I've watched every race since about 1972. Before they showed it live on TV I'd listen to it on the radio, then watch the edited version on TV that night. It's a personal tradition that I don't expect my family or friends to understand so I don't talk it up a lot.

The CART/IRL split is irrelevant today because CART is gone and the old guard CART people (Penske, Ganassi, etc) are on board at IRL so I don't see things better or worse. This is where we would have ended up anyway, very likely with the same drivers that ran yesterday. For a race that some don't consider relevant, viewership and track seating has expanded threefold. Just quietly.

[1930fordpickup]

Now that they have shipped off the Bratnica over to NASCAR it might be worth watching again next year.

[rmvw guy]

Yeah, I know this is Monday but, I just finished watching the race as it was blacked out in our area and we had to record it while the Charlote race was on. I've been a fan of the 500 all my life living here in Indiana. I thought it was one of the best! A great tribute to last year's winner Dan Wheldon. The new cars are awesome! And credit should be given to Firestone for a wonderful tire lasting throughout record temps. ....Tony....The official pace car for the 500 has been the Corvette for several year now. I liked it the old way when they switched manufactures every year. I think they still have a official car for the parade.

Edited May 28, 2012 by rmvw guy

[CadillacPat]

What Race???????????????????

Like everything else today it was "regulated" down to a crawl.

Clonelike, identical vehicles that looked more like a Homecoming Parade.

CadillacPat

[Ace-Garageguy]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I'm with the guys who loved Indy when it was about innovation and sport....sport including back-yard small-time guys building winning cars. With the influx of huge marketing money and management, to me it's lost its soul entirely. Come to think of it, that's pretty much the way I've felt about motorsports in general these past 25 or so years. Time was, a guy like me could have built an F1 car too. Never again.

I usually listen to the audio feed from Indy, just for nostalgia, and I watch some of the in-car work. I have respect for anyone who drives or flies in competition, but it just isn't accessible to mere mortals, and it WAS when I was a kid.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy

[dragin70s]

I used to love Indy. I attended in 1970, including practices, qualifying and the race. Al Unser won it. For my entire childhood, the Indy 500 was a family event, even though all of the other years were just watching on TV.

When everything changed, and "Indy" cars were split into two sanctioning bodies, I lost interest. It was like having a World Series, but only half of the teams were allowed to qualify.

My interest in Indy is now nostalgic, and I would love to go back to the track and visit the museum, but no real interest in attending the race.

However, sorry, but I must say I am much more tolerant than many. Just because it isn't my thing I am not going to dismiss and criticize. Opinions are like.......well, we know the rest. Any competition performed at the very highest levels is worthy of respect.

[mr moto]

I still watch it (most of it) out of habit as much as anything but it ain't what it used to be.

[mikemodeler]

I grew up with open wheel racing and the Indy 500 was always a family event for us. I never went to the race but always listened/watched it over the years. The days of excitement for this race used to be something I lived for- pole day, qualifying, bump day, carb day- they were something that meant a lot to a kid who wanted to be involved in auto racing somehow. Most of the excitement was lost for me when the series split and they started paying people to enter a car- no more drama over some underfunded team knocking off one of the big time teams.

I watched a few of the early laps yesterday, then it was a 4 hour car ride home from Atlanta to Charlotte where I did watch the last 100 laps of the Coke 600. I went to the 600 2 years ago and while it was great to see the pre-race ceremonies, the race is quite long if you get there early and stay til the end.

The Indy 500 ain't what it used to be but it still is a great race. Maybe one day soon it will regain it's standing as a "must see" event.

[Guest Johnny]

What Race???????????????????

Like everything else today it was "regulated" down to a crawl.

Clonelike, identical vehicles that looked more like a Homecoming Parade.

CadillacPat

They have several different shells but once a team hits on one that goes faster the others all switch to that shell!

[mrmike]

I actually forgot about ALL racing yesterday. I gave up on NASCAR years ago, I lost interest in the Indy 500 several years ago, and I watch F1 if I remember that there is a race to watch. Sometimes I think there is better racing watching my DVDs of Grand Prix or LeMans. But then, that's just me...

[Craig Irwin]

What Race???????????????????

Like everything else today it was "regulated" down to a crawl.

Clonelike, identical vehicles that looked more like a Homecoming Parade.

CadillacPat

In a few years the Fairness chassis samemobiles will run 500 miles and everybody will get a participation trophy.

[roadhawg]

In a few years the Fairness chassis samemobiles will run 500 miles and everybody will get a participation trophy.

With electric motors too.

[martinfan5]

With electric motors too.

Not just the Indy car series, I can see that happing to all forms of motorsports , thanks to big bother ,

[Craig Irwin]

With electric motors too.

It'd take weeks! , run 10 laps, recharge the batteries, run 10 laps,........

[Rob Hall]

I had a good time this weekend at the Indy 500...was hot, but my seats were in the shade. Exciting race. Watched some of the Monaco GP Sunday morning and the Charlotte 600 Sunday evening from my hotel. Had a nice weekend in the green Midwest.

[martinfan5]

I had a good time this weekend at the Indy 500...was hot, but my seats were in the shade. Exciting race. Watched some of the Monaco GP Sunday morning and the Charlotte 600 Sunday evening from my hotel. Had a nice weekend in the green Midwest.

Good to hear you had a good time, where were your seats at?

[Rob Hall]

Good to hear you had a good time, where were your seats at?

Section C, a bit north of the pagoda & start/finish line...near the end of the pit lane. Clear views of turn 4 and the main straight. Also made a trip to the legendary 'Mug & Bun' for the root beer.

[Art Anderson]

I'm kind of surprised that nobody has posted anything regarding the Indy 500. Personally I'm no fan, but I figured it would get at least a post or two here.

So is the Indy 500 still relevant to you guys? Just curious. Like I said, I couldn't care less, but I am surprised that nobody has mentioned it.

Harry, meaning no disrespect here, but Indianapolis is Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis 500 is what it is, incidently the longest-running closed course racing event on the planet. FWIW, the winner at Indianapolis sees his name becoming a household word--more so than the vast majority of sports heroes.

For those who think racing at Indy is merely going around in circles--not many other race cars,drivers, or indeed the track itself require 800 turns at speeds in excess of 200mph--that's something that requires more precision than just about anything in any sport, rivaling the finest gymnasts, acrobats, even ballet dancers. One twitch of a wrist, one split second glitch of the brain, and that concrete wall (even with the SAFER barrier) becomes a formidable obstacle--just ask Marco Andretti.

I respect all forms of motorsport, but of all, Indy is my favorite by far. Unless one has been to at least one 500 mile race, it's hard for me to see how any honest criticism of that race can be made.

Art

[Rob Hall]

As an event in terms of scope and size, it's kind for motorsport fans what going to the Super Bowl is for football fans. I've gone the last two years and a couple times in the past, I think it's going to be an annual tradition, along w/ the US F1 race once that gets going..

[Fat Brian]

I watched Indy and the 600 Sunday and have to say I enjoyed Indy far more. It was just a better race this year, I was really hoping Tony Kanaan could have won but his restarts were so slow he couldn't stay in the lead.

[Harry P.]

FWIW, the winner at Indianapolis sees his name becoming a household word--more so than the vast majority of sports heroes

If you take 100 random people (not racing fans, just 100 random people off the street) and ask them who Dario Franchitti is, my guess is you'd be lucky to get 10 correct answers.

Ask those very same 100 people who Eli Manning or Albert Pujols is, and I think the number of correct answers would be far higher.

I sincerely doubt that "Dario Franchitti" is anywhere close to being a household name.

[Rob Hall]

If you take 100 random people (not racing fans, just 100 random people off the street) and ask them who Dario Franchitti is, my guess is you'd be lucky to get 10 correct answers.

Probably..but who cares what the general public thinks?

I sincerely doubt that "Dario Franchitti" is anywhere close to being a household name.

This is his 3rd Indy 500 win....he's quite well known amongst motorsport fans, I would think.

[bill_rules]

So I should be able to pick up my semi-open wheel Dario Franchitt Indy car kit at my LHS real soon?