Conference oass::racers

Regarding the Mario/Cheever and Unser/Sullivan incidents:

Mario's incident ranks right up there with his running into a parked car a
few years back and last year's collision with the CART safety truck.  I thought
the contrast between what Mario said about the incident and what Eddie Cheever
said was instructive:  Eddie looked extremely angry about the incident, but
he went out of his way to be diplomatic in what he said.  Mario, on the other
hand, claimed that Eddie swerved in on him, leaving him nowhere to go.
Unfortunately for Mario, there was a backward-facing in-car camera in Eddie's
car, and it shows an absolutely rock-steady background picture, Eddie Cheever
on a perfectly straight line, until Mario's car comes toodling up and runs
over his right rear tire for no apparent reason.

After the race, Carl Haas (team manager for Newman/Haas, Mario's team) and
Chip Ganassi (manager of Eddie's team) met and reviewed the video tapes of
the incident.  Afterwards, Carl apologized to Chip for the incident.  If Mario
still thinks Eddie Cheever is to blame, he's alone in that assessment.

A newspaper editorial in Indianapolis cited Mario's comment that "he had nowhere
to go" by suggesting Skip Barber racing school as a place he should go.


Both Danny Sullivan and Al Unser, Jr. have put down their incident to "well,
that's racing."  Little Al is reported to have called a team meeting of the
Galles/Kraco team and asked everybody to drop the incident, let's press
forward, etc.

--PSW

    
    It's just a miscellaneous ramble, but I would bet my money on Rahal at
    the 500.  His combination is not the absolute fasest but it is fully
    developed and reliable as can be.  So is his driving.  Both he and his
    former Patrick crew, led by Jim McGee, have demonstrated they can win
    at Indy.  I think they are on a mission this season.
    
    For a bet on the side I would have to go with Mears and Penske.  
    
    That said I would love to see Unser Jr. or Michael win Indy.
    
    Oh, remember Nelson Piquet badmouthing CART and Indy a few years ago?
    Well he has some interesting quotes attributed to him in the current
    On Track and guess what, it turns out that Indy is more intimidating than
    he thought!  
    
    Has anyone ever subscribed to one or the other of the Indianapolis papers
    for the month of May?  Did you feel it worth your investment?
    
    - Nate (who's *already* tired of the soon to be endless Indy
            retrospectives on ESPN)

.1>  After the race, Carl Haas (team manager for Newman/Haas, Mario's team) and
.1>  Chip Ganassi (manager of Eddie's team) met and reviewed the video tapes of
.1>  the incident.  Afterwards, Carl apologized to Chip for the incident.  
    
    I figure Carl's most urgent apology is probably needed at Ford.  Three
    cars with Ford power in the front pack, and Mario took two of them out
    on lap 1.  Nice job!
    
    re Indy predictions, I don't think it can be predicted, but there seem
    to be a whole bunch of cars with a really good chance to take it, at
    least until we see how they start sorting things out at the Speedway in
    a couple of weeks.
    
    Both Galles cars look like contenders, as do Mears, the Andrettis (if
    Mario can avoid brain fade he's still a possible factor), Cheever,
    Luyendyk, and Rahal.  Guerrero has shown enough speed in IMS tests to
    be up there too.  As dark horses I'd look at Lyn St. James and Nelson
    Piquet, they're both competent pros with competent teams behind them.
    
    I like Cheever, or maybe Luyendyk, but I must confess some subjective
    bias (I may be working on a consulting deal with Ganassi - can't say
    anything more about that).  Cheever has looked good at all three events
    so far this year, and his diplomacy when interviewed after the Long
    Beach incident won him lots of points with me.  If not one of the
    Ganassi cars, I'll be rooting for Rahal.

    Cheever certainly was professional in his comments. I continue to be
    amazed at Mario. But his history is long in this sort of thing, and it
    doesn't go back to only the recent parked cars incidents. I seem to
    remember Mario taking himself and another competitor out of the Belgium
    GP in 1977 (I think?) after Mario was on the pole (by a bunch) but
    didn't make a good start. So he takes his competitor out at Turn 1 or
    2. Oh well.
    
    I think this year's Indy should be quite competitive. If Phoenix is any
    indication, Rahal should be very tough. As stated, he may not be the
    fastest, but that's not what will win anyway. The car looked very quick
    (and very well sorted) at Phoenix and I think he'll play well in Indy.
    Cheever looks like he might finally make an impact. I hope he does.
    Mears can never be counted out, especially at Indy. The guy is magic.
    
    I would count Lyn St. James as a very, very dark horse. She is really a
    mediocre driver IMO. Lot's of folks, including a bunch that do NOT have
    drives this year, are much better. If she can qualify (and I don't
    believe that's a lock) she'll fade quickly. When she set the women's
    closed course speed record a few years ago, she was uncomfortable. You
    could tell from her comments in the article that appeared in Car and
    Driver.
    
    There are a lot of great competitors this year. The Galmers, while they
    look good on road courses, looked quite out of it at Phoenix. It will
    be interesting to see if Unser and Sullivan can bring them around at
    the Brickyard. Personally, I'd really like to see Unser win.
    
    Paul
     

    I think you are right about Mario in Belguim, It was not at spa. If my
    memory serves me right he was dicing with James Hunt in the Mclaren 
    coming up to a right hand hairpin. He tried to go down the inthe 
    inside , there was never anyway he could get through ,taking both out
    of the race. Later Hunt gave Colin Chapman an earfull about his
    drivers anticks.
    
    Garry 
    
    (who has the race in question on video tape)
                               

.4>    remember Mario taking himself and another competitor out of the Belgium
.4>    GP in 1977 (I think?) after Mario was on the pole (by a bunch) but
.4>    didn't make a good start. So he takes his competitor out at Turn 1 or
.4>    2. Oh well.
    
    But isn't that accepted as standard technique for F1 World Champs?	:-)
    

    I am lookink for info on the indy 500. Some friends of mine are
    thinking of going in 93, or 94. Has anyone out there ever gone?
    
    Comments or info please.
    
    Mike
    

    I went three times in the mid-70's.  It's a *great* spectacle.
    Like most racing, TV doesn't do it justice.  The sound, smell
    and speed are incredible.
    
    In terms of seating, I sat on a van roof in the infield on turn
    four each time.  The crowd was somewhat lively and inebriated.
    If I were to go today I'd definitely get a seat in the stands.
    Whatever blows yer dress up I guess.
    
    If you go, be prepared for lines and traffic.  Moving 400,000
    drunken fans into and out of the Speedway takes awhile.

    Looks like me and some friends are going to go in 1-3 years. I want to
    rent a winnebago and go with about 6 guys, but I need to know what
    accomodations there are for such a thing, cost, rv hookup, ticket
    prices, things to lookout for, camping in the infield and bbqing,
    
    This is in the planning stages, but I want it to go off without a
    hitch!
    
    If it is a drunken mess, with people totally out of hand, I'd rather
    save my money and go someplace else.
    
    Thanks for any input at all,
    
    Mike
    

    There was a piece in the local paper and another in AUTOWEEK this week
    about a new project to build a track in Denver. Actually, it would be
    on the Southern edge of the metropolitan area near Centenial Airport
    (that's convientient for the teams and drivers). At any rate, it seems
    that Alan Wilson, the gentleman that ran the Denver Indycar event in
    '91, is seeking $8M to build a 1.3 mile oval with a 2.5 mile road
    course in the interior. Sounds good. Apparently, Wally Dallenbach has
    promised Wilson an August/September 1993 date - if he can get the track
    constructed.
    
    From a spectators point of view, a 1.3m oval with Indycars running
    sounds good to me. It would certainly beat the downtown track they had.
    Yeah, it had style and all the things the sponsors wanted. Ambience, I
    believe is the word they used. But it wasn't much for most of the
    spectators.
    
    I'll be anxious to see how the Indycars do at NHIS this July. It should
    be exciting.
    
    Paul
    

    As far as Indy goes, I've gone to every race except two since 1974. My
    dad has gone to almost everyone since 1946. Tickets are harder to come
    by for grandstands, but they are cheaper to purchase than seating for
    the NHIS. I pay 35.00 bucks a seat and sit on the main shoot just out
    of turn four. In fact, it's right where the ABC camera gets the ground
    level shot of the cars. Anyway, I'd suggest going to the race. People
    do drink...Just stay away from Georgetown Road (outside the track) on
    Saturday before the race, if you don't want to get involved in that.
    However, that's where most of the lots for Winnebago's and campers park
    on race weekend.
    Hotels in the area have their rates set by the locals. I'm about 20
    minutes away from the Speedway in Lebanon, IN. and it costs about
    400.00 for the 3 night race weekend.
    There is a lot of racing around if you're into midgets, sprint cars, or
    the championship dirt cars. Friday night the Champ cars are at the
    Fairgrounds in Indy, Saturday the midgets are at Raceway Park (watch
    ESPN's Saturday Night Thunder) and the Sprint Cars are down the road an
    hour or two in Anderson, IN. for the little 500.
    I'd recommend going of course because it is an event. I've been to
    World Series, Super Bowls, and this thing is a must for any fan of
    racing to witness.
    Let me know if you'd like any other info.
    
    Mark

    re. Mark
    Did you know you just turned many,(most),(all) of us Green with envy?! 
    
    The Mad Weldor....Jim

    In addition to Mark's comments, tickets are always available from
    scalpers. I've never purchased from them so I don't know prices.
    But, on race morning while sitting in traffic, many are still peddaling
    tickets - I'm sure the prices decline as it gets closer to start time.
    
    The hotels are outrageously priced and are three night minimums. If
    you don't need classy accomadations, (I don't) there is a place in 
    Carrolton called American Inn north. I've be there for the past 6 years
    and it's priced at $181 for the three nights. Let me reinforce the
    point within the restrictions of this conference in a nice way....
    it's a place to sleep and the roof doesn't leak.
    
    If you want to get away from the zoo on Georgetown and 16th, we
    cruised the city and found a section called Broadripple...outdoor
    cafes and stuff like that.
    
    One last point (maybe the locals can add more) I usually leave for 
    the track at about 4:00AM and just sit and wait for the gates to open.
    Two years ago we tried leaving a little later and didn't get into the
    facility almost 11:00!!!.
    
    Bob
                                                           

    Well, things are heating up at Indy. This is always an interesting week
    as drivers and teams try to find the fast set up. Jim Crawford, who
    seems to manage to go fast but never finis a race, went really fast
    yesterday - 233+. I predict a 235 lap before the week is over. I think
    someone will need a four lap average of 229+ for the pole and 220 just
    to make the field.
    
    Nelson Picquet has quietly been showing speed. No fool in a race car, I
    expected him to learn quickly and show that he could handle the speed.
    The real question for him will be the race when there will be 32 other
    cars going 220+ around him. Frankly, the Buick powered cars have always
    looked good in practice, but seldom finish the race. Still, I wouldn't
    mind seeing Nelson finish well.
    
    Any oicks for the front row?
    
    Paul
    

    
    inside front row - Mears
    middle front row - Michael A.
    outside fornt row - Rahal
    
    - Nate "roll the dice" Bemis

    
    Well, anyone who really needs to know probably already *does* know but
    I'll post it hear anyway...
    
    Rick Mears wrecked his Penske car at the Speedway yesterday in a
    horrific accident while running in excess of 210 mph.  The video shows
    smoke trailing from the engine compartment prior to the spin so it
    seems likely that he put oil down beneath his own tires.
    
    Mears was very fortunate to suffer only minor injuries and was
    discharged from the hospital last night with injuries to his wrist
    and ankle(s?).
    
    I haven't seen a report in this morning's paper so I can't add more
    detail than that.  Don't know whether he will be able to take part in
    this qualifications or the race.
    
    - Nate

So far, it looks like the pole race is between the Buicks
and the Fords.

My front row prediction (not very original give the practice
speeds):

	Jim Crawford	Michael Andretti	Roberto Guerrero

Row 2

	Mario Andretti	Eddie Cheever		Emerson Fittipaldi

--Mike (lucky stiff who gets to go to both the race and the first
        weekend of qualifications this year)

RE: .16

Actually, Mears had a water pipe break that wetted the tires, causing the
spin and crash in turn 2.  Mears escaped the ordeal with bruises and a foot
fracture.  He is expected to qualify on Saturday.

--PSW

    According to this morning's VNS, Nelson Piquet suffered
    serious leg injuries in a crash on Thursday.  With all of
    the leg/foot injuries to drivers over the past couple of 
    years, it seems that the Indy cars don't provide the same
    level of protection as the F1 cars.  Or, do they just crash
    harder and more often?
    
    Too bad.  I was looking forward to seeing Piquet in the race.
    
    --Ken

    
    Nelson Piquet wrecked his Buick-Lola at he Speedway yesterday.  Piquet
    suffered multiple fractures to his lower legs and feet.  His month at
    Indy is done.  Nelson was running in excess of 225 mph at the time of
    the accident.  I believe this is the first disabling accident Piquet
    has suffered in his long career.
    
    - Nate

    
    RE: .19
    
    F1 cars seldom have occasion to race faster than 185 mph.  Furthermore
    they have expansive runoff areas, gravel traps etc to allow them to
    scrub off speed before they are likely to impact barriers.
    
    USA today says Piquet was running 228.571 at the time of the accident.
    He had only a few yards to scrub off speed before hitting the
    concrete wall.  That Piquet and Mears are able to survive such
    accidents is testimony to the crash worthiness of their race cars.
    
    Poor Piquet pooh-pooh'ed Indy cars while he was racing F1.  I doubt he
    takes Indianapolis so lightly now.
    
    - Nate

    RE: .21
    
    Yes, I guess driving 225+ a few inches away from a concrete
    wall  could increase the chances for serious injury.  I also
    had in mind A.J.'s crash, which was on a road course.  Then,
    again, there wasn't much a runoff and no gravel trap to slow
    him down.  
    
    So, yes, it probably does have more to do with the tracks they
    race on than with the cars themselves.  
    
    I wonder, with the serious accidents that inevitably occur at Indy,
    if they'll change the rules (a la resistrictor plates in NASCAR) to
    try to slow the cars down?  (Not that I'm advocating that.)
    
    ---Ken
    

It's a bummer about Piquet. I was hoping to see him do well (until the 
buick engine failed at least). 228+ for a rookie wasn't too shabby. I
wonder what his comments will be now? 

I don't know what you could do to minimize an accident at 220+ mph. I 
do think that the safety at many if not most of the circuits in the 
U.S. is a cause for concern. The runoff areas are inadequate at most 
tracks and I haven't been to one track here that had a gravel trap. 
After seeing how they work, first at Silverstone and then again in 
Canada, I would certainly love to see them at the tracks I race at.

    	If they really wanted to slow the cars down and make things more
    interesting they would limit tread width and cross section of tires. 
    The cars would be slower and there would be all sorts of old fashioned
    stuff going on like drifting and stuff.  Limiting engines doesn't work
    unless carried to an extreme.  With limited engines they'll just
    sacrifice some down force and go just as fast.
    						John
    

    
    Perhaps the best way to limit speeds is to reduce the amount of fuel. 
    Years ago fuel was unlimited, more recently limited to 300 gallons.
    Today they are only allowed 280 gallons (I think).
    
    Over the years USAC officials have made many rule changes to reduce
    speeds and increase safty while at the same time allow evolution in car
    design.  
    
    The turbine engine car that Parnelli Jone drove in 1967 blew everone
    away (failed on lap 196). Later USAC made a rule to restrict airflow to
    make the turbine compete on par with the other engines.
    
    Front and rear spoilers were brought to Indy by Penske.  Mark Donohue,
    Peter Revson and Dennis Hue dominated in Sunoco and Gulf McLarens. 
    Later USAC ruled to reduce the width of the wings.
    
    Turbo chargers are regulated by pop-off valves which limit the maximun
    boost.  The drivers can adjust the boost from the cockpit and use this
    to control fuel consumption during the race.
    
    Shortly after tire manufactures built a tire that would last the entire
    race, some drivers attempted the no-pit-stop race packing on 300
    gallons of fuel.  I believe it was the Eddie Sachs crash in '64 very 
    early in the race that caused an enormous fire that covered the track.
    Cars were restricted to carrying 70 gallons until 1973 when several
    other bad accidents occured, one that took the life of Swede Savage.
    Since that year cars are only allowed to carry 40 gallons of fuel, all
    on the left side, and rubber liners are used to prevent fuel spillage.
    
    Jim Hall introduced the ground effects car built buy Carl Haas in 1980.
    Johnny Rutherford drove the Pennzoil Special to victory, but only after
    the suction fans used to create the down force were outlawed.  Another
    device to disturb air flow effectively reducing ground effects has been in 
    use the last few years.
    
    Engine displacement has been set at 161 c.i. for the past 20 years or so. 
    Before that it was 250, 300, and as much as 589 in the early days.
    
    These days cars are designed with safty in mind.  Nothing can protect
    the drivers from the impact, but car parts are designed to absorb
    and break away on impact to minimize injury. 
    
    Almost everything else has improved.  Andretti was the first to wear a
    fire proof mask at Indy after his crash in practice the year he won.
    Full face helmets, pop-off steering wheels, shock absorbing seat
    cushions, pit equipment, are used by all these days.  Even the the
    track safty crews use a piece of equipment they call the "jaws of life"
    to pry trapped drivers from their damaged cars.
    
    By the way - what happened at the track?  What are the speeds? who is on
    the pole?, front row etc.?  I live in Japan and can't get the details.  
    
    If anyone read this far let me know!
    
    Roger
    

  Roberto Guererro (sp?) on the pole with 232.xx mph speed.
  Mario Andretti and Eddie Cheever also on the front row.
  
  Dave

    	Did I hear Dave DeSpain say that Piquet's accident
    	would end his career?
    
    	Scott

RE: .27

Unfortunately, the odds are in favor of Nelson Piquet never driving again.
In an interview, Dr. Terry Trammell said that Piquet's lower left leg and foot
bones were pulverized in the accident and part of the foot torn off.  They
considered amputating the foot, but there is circulation to the tissue
remaining so that will not be necessary.  Dr. Trammell said that if they are
successful in reconstructing Piquet's left ankle, he will never regain function
in it.  Nelson Piquet faces a whole series of bone and skin grafts and
reconstructive surgical operations, and then a long recovery and rehabilitation
process.  From the sound of it, this is a lot worse than what happend to
A. J.

--PSW

RE: Indycar driver safety

Indianapolis seems to be the real problem here.  This year alone, we've had
three serious, maiming injuries (Piquet, Matsushita, and Mears, who is only
able to drive because he's inured to the pain of a broken foot), and we're
only half way through practice and qualifying.  This is worse than the whole
rest of the CART Indycar season put together.

As already pointed out, there's been a lot done with the rules governing
the cars and equipment to increase safety.  I think the time has come to look
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track itself and do something to
it to cut down the carnage.  The new impact cushion at the pit lane entrance
is a good first step.  Some sort of run-off area or impact absorption scheme
in turns 2 and 4 (which seems to be where the biggest problems are) needs to
be put in place.

--PSW

    RE: Indy car driver safety
    
    If you look at the history of Indy, you will find that Indy and the
    Hulmans have done more, invested more than any other track to improve
    safty.  There are two big differences at Indy; speed, low banks.
    
    There is quite a risk that installing scrub off areas would cause
    serious accidents from cars going airborn and flipping.  Many of the
    fatal accidents at Indy werwe a result of cars getting upside down.  It
    was Art Pollard's fatal crash in the '70s that convinced car designers
    to install roll bars on the bottom of cars.  The downforce on the car
    after flipping and landing upside was the reason for his death.
    
    If Indy were to modify the banks to be more like Michigan, then it
    wouldn't be Indy would it?
    
    But I agree, it's time to look seriously at safety again.  Reducing
    speeds seems to be the best solution for now. This enables the cars to
    effectively increase traction and handling abilities too.  Judging by
    history, I will be surprised if something in not done to reduce speeds
    after this year.  The track officials do something almost every year
    anyway.  
    
    I saw Jim Malloy get killed at Indy.  As an Indy lover, I hope
    something is done to improve safety for the drivers.

    
    Roger,
    
    I believe in a previous note you said you currently live in Japan.  If
    you have a moment sometime perhaps you could describe for us the level
    of awareness, interest and enthusiasm for the Indy 500 in particular,
    and IndyCar racing in general, among the Japanese?
    
    Thanks!
    
    - Nate

    RE: previous
    
    Well Nate:
    
    There's not much to tell.  I think most of the people who follow Indy
    Cars in Japan live in my household.  In general there are a lot of racing
    enthusiasts in Japan, but the interests is limited to F1 and other
    local GT and stock car style races.  There is an F1 race each year at
    Suzuka, Japan.
    
    Almost no one I talk to in Japan has any knowledge what so ever about
    CART/PPG.  Occasionally I meet someone who has heard of the Indy 500.
    Every year since I have lived here (1988) the 500 has been broadcast
    live on TV.  It starts at 1:00 a.m. Monday morming here.  Me, the
    dedicated fool I am, always stay up to watch it. The first three years
    they used local commentators for the original American broadcast.  But
    last year they sent their own Japanese crew and broadcast the entire
    race from the Japanese perspective; Hiro Matsushita in the pits for
    twenty minutes, Hiro Matsushita down the back strech, etc.  The TV 
    production team really didn't understand what was going on.  It's quite 
    frustrating to watch Hiro in dead last when Micheal and Rick are dualing
    it out.  
    
    I heard Tokyo was a CART/PPG venue candidate with Denver a few years back.  
    I moved from Denver to Tokyo the year before they ran at Denver.  If CART 
    were to race in Tokyo, the event would be highly publicized. Suzuka is far 
    from Tokyo, and Tokyo is so densely populated. I'm sure CART would sell 
    out at four times the price despite the lack of knowledge about CART in 
    Japan. 
    
    They'd sell two tickets for sure; me and my son!
    
    Roger
    

    Roger,
    
    Could you tell me offline, what the level of F1,II,III,and IV of
    motorcycle  roadracing is ? The Suzuka 8 hour is huge according to the
    racing mags I get.  I just wonder how much is B.S.
    
    Thanks
    
    
    Michael
    

    The International edition of USA Today has given only six lines to the
    Indy 500 since the day-after-qualifications four article edition. 
    
    What happening in practice with race day set ups?  USA Today says Mario
    is top!?
    
    Roger 

    I think a good way to slow down the Indy cars would be to legislate
    flat bottoms like in F1.  I think the ground effects in the cars is the
    biggest reason for increased corner speeds... and biggest danger.
    
    jeff

    Don't know if any of you other "noters" got to go to DECworld, but they
    had Rahal's Indy car as one of the displays, with a DEC logo on the
    rear cowling.  No one there, however, could tell me what Digital was
    doing to merit the "advertising".  I'm assuming it had something to do
    with the car's telemetry, fuel consumption, etc.  Anyone have any
    definitive answer?
    

    No, but maybe we should get them to put a first generation Alpha chip
    in the enhine management system.
    
    

It would cause overheating problems.

--PSW

    I heard the rookie Philipino driver was involved in a fatal crash.  What
    happened?  Did he make instinctive but deathly mistake of 'turning right'?
    
    It's quite sad to see this happen.  He's with famous company now.  Of the 
    40 deaths at Indy, many were greats.
    
    Roger
    

    Jovey Marcello died from the g-forces associated with hitting the Turn
    1 wall at 170mph according to ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch.  He was speaking
    from the cornoner's report that stated there were no other injuries,
    all car parts were recovered and none were broken (causing the
    accidenet, not afterwards, obviously) and no stray pieces entered the
    driver's cockpit.
    
    Jovey was 27, had a wife and child.  His father was at trackside
    apparently.  He was the 1991 Toyota Atlantic champion.
    
    That last sentence has an eerie ring to it.  Mark Dismore was the 1990
    Toyota Atlantic champion, sustained serious injuries during last year's 
    Indy practice, and just recently began making his comeback.
    Unfortunately, he was on the bubble yesterday, and did not make the
    final field.  I guess the point I'm making is that perhaps, even with
    all the Rookie orientation, testing, etc., Toyota Atlantic should not
    be considered an automatic stepping stone to Indy. Don't know how, or
    if, that fact could/should be inforced, but the coincidence of
    Dismore's injuries and Jovey's death one year apart are a bit much.
    
    RIP Jovey.  You will be missed.
    

re: .40
>    I guess the point I'm making is that perhaps, even with
>    all the Rookie orientation, testing, etc., Toyota Atlantic should not
>    be considered an automatic stepping stone to Indy. Don't know how, or
>    if, that fact could/should be inforced, but the coincidence of
>    Dismore's injuries and Jovey's death one year apart are a bit much.

I guess that F1 shouldn't be a stepping stone either since three time 
world champions can be seriously injured like Piquet.

Hmm, where did Rahal race before Indy?
How about Gilles Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg before F1?
Where did the fastest Indy rookie come from?

There are some positively talented people racing Atlantics and until 
Indy Lights, Super Vee and Atlantics (very similar) were the only 
paths to modern day Indy racing. Paul Tracy's spate of accidents is 
certainly no testiment to Indy Lights as a better stepping stone. Hiro 
Matsushita ran both Atlantics and Indy Lights and still isn't safe on 
the track after running a full season of Indy cars.

Racing is dangerous! It is sad to see anyone hurt or killed but I 
don't think it can be stereotyped like that. Any rookie at Indy will 
most likely be at greater risk than someone who has been there several 
times before. I think lots of people have made comments about Hiro's
level of skill which is not proportional to his sponsorship. This
isn't his first race at Indy either. 

Some drivers are good and some just have money. In racing, both can 
get into serious accidents. I still believe that Atlantics are a 
better stepping stone to Indy than Indy Lights.

Glenn

1992 Qualifying Results

Row   Inside                   Middle                  Outside
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1    36-Roberto Guererro      9-Eddie Cheever         2-Mario Andretti
      92 Lola/Buick            92 Lola/Ford            92 Lola/Ford
      232.482                  229.639                 229.503

 2    6-Arie Luyendyk          51-Gary Bettenhausen    1-Michael Andretti
      92 Lola/Ford             92 Lola/Buick           92 Lola/Ford
      229.127                  228.932                 228.169

 3    23-Scott Brayton         18-Danny Sullivan       4-Rick Mears
      92 Lola/Buick            Galmer/Chevy-A          92 Penske/Chevy-B
      226.142                  224.838                 224.594

 4    12-Bobby Rahal           5-Emerson Fittipaldi    3-Al Unser, Jr.
      92 Lola/Chevy-A          92 Penske/Chevy-B       Galmer/Chevy-A
      224.158                  223.607                 222.989

 5    91-Stan Fox              8-John Andretti         19-Eric Bachelart (R)
      91 Lola/Buick            92 Lola/Chevy-A         90 Lola/Buick
      222.867                  222.644                 221.549

 6    44-Philippe Gache (R)    10-Scott Pruett         93-John Paul, Jr.
      91 Lola/Chevy-A          Truesports/Chevy-A      90 Lola/Buick
      221.496                  220.464                 220.244

 7    7-Paul Tracy (R)         48-Jeff Andretti        26-Jim Crawford
      91 Penske/Chevy-A        92 Lola/Chevy-A         92 Lola/Buick
      219.751                  219.306                 228.859

 8    27-Al Unser              14-A.J. Foyt            21-Buddy Lazier
      92 Lola/Buick            92 Lola/Chevy-A         91 Lola/Buick
      223.744                  222.798                 222.688

 9    11-Raul Boesel           39-Brian Bonner (R)     90-Lyn St. James (R)
      92 Lola/Chevy-A          91 Lola/Buick           91 Lola/Chevy-A
      222.434                  220.845                 220.150

10    47-Jim Vasser (R)        68-Dominic Dobson       59-Tom Sneva
      91 Lola/Chevy-A          91 Lola/Chevy-A         91 Lola/Buick
      222.313                  220.359                 219.737

11    92-Gordon Johncock       31-Ted Prappas (R)      15-Scott Goodyear
      91 Lola/Buick            91 Lola/Chevy-A         92 Lola/Chevy-A
      219.288                  219.173                 221.801

1992 Field Average: 223.479
1991 Field Average: 218.590

    	Hey, folks, any more info about the engine swapping problem
    	that was mentioned on Sunday? I turned the channel when the
    	qualifying was over and never heard any more about it.
    
    	Scott

    re: .40 and .41
    
    There are no stepping stones to Indy. No closed circuit racing offers
    the speed that the super speedways do, except maybe NASCAR?  You don't
    see NASCAR drivers migrating to Indy cars.  Cale Yarborough went the
    other way.  Andretti and Foyt dabbled in NASCAR.
    
    "Where did Rahal come from?" - Some sort of road racing wasn't it? 
    Little Al cam from CAN AM, didn't he? Sullivan also came from some
    sort of raod racing. Rick and Roger Mears raced cross-country. Joe 
    Leonard was a championship motorcycle rider before Indy cars, Danny
    Ongias came from the drags to Indy.  Patrick Bedard was a journalist
    before Indy in 1983.  That proved to be a bad stepping stone, he crashed 
    on lap 25, destroyed his car and is lucky to be alive.  I believe that 
    was his first and last Indy car race.
    
    The old USAC boys used to have to race both Indy cars and dirt cars as
    part of the USAC circuit.  Who were they?  Good question for the 'Indy
    Trivia' topic #920. 
    
    "some are good, some have money" - Another who belongs in this category
    with Matsushita is Josele Garza; in nine starts at Indy he only
    finished better than 17th once.  
    
    Good observation about Dismore and Jovey.  I hope it is only
    coincidence. 
    
    "F1 in not a good stepping stone to Indy" - The only rookie to win Indy
    (except for the first race) was Graham Hill in 1966; Jimmy Clark
    finished second his rookie year at Indy and won it two years later; Teo
    Fabi sat on the pole his rookie year; Emo, two time world champion, won
    Indy in 1990.
     
    Roger
    

The only racing that approximates Indy speeds in similar cars are the 
super-modifieds.  Closed course racing at speeds in the 130-150 mph range, 
open cockpit, exposed tires, similar fuel, similar ground effects.  130mph 
on a 1/2 mile is probably real close to 200 mph on a 1 mile or 230 at Indy.
If they hit the walls at full speed there is usually a lot of damage to the 
car and unfortunately to the driver.  But the super-modifieds don't get the 
exposure nor the financial support to allow their drivers to move up to 
Indy.  Seems a shame since these guys are probably the best prepared to 
move up to Indy speeds.  I don't know the speeds they run at Phoenix (only 
track both supers and Inday cars run at) but I think it is in the 150-170 
range.  I know they run Beacon Hill's 1/4 mile in under 11 secs.

Jilly  who_loves_the_roar_of_supers

.44>    There are no stepping stones to Indy. No closed circuit racing offers
.44>    the speed that the super speedways do, except maybe NASCAR?  You don't
.44>    see NASCAR drivers migrating to Indy cars.  Cale Yarborough went the
.44>    other way.  Andretti and Foyt dabbled in NASCAR.
    
    NASCAR does not have the speed that Indy has.  If the cars started
    going that fast the NASCAR folks would just close down the restrictor
    plates a little more to slow 'em down - they've done that consistently
    in the past few years.
    
    I thought Cale was a NASCAR star when he dabbled in Indy cars once or
    twice at the Speedway.  I'm pretty certain he was not an Indy car racer
    who went to NASCAR.  Donohue also "dabbled" in NASCAR.  Would you say
    Andretti "dabbled" in F1, or Foyt (and Mario) at LeMans?  Personally,
    I think any racing at the top levels is far too serious to merit the
    label "dabbling" (with the possible exception of dilettantes like
    Bedard and Posey).
    
.44>    "Where did Rahal come from?" - Some sort of road racing wasn't it? 
    
    Formula Atlantic.  That's the point, the rhetorical question was posed
    in response to a slap at FAtl as a stepping stone to Indy.
    
.44>    "some are good, some have money" - Another who belongs in this category
.44>    with Matsushita is Josele Garza; in nine starts at Indy he only
.44>    finished better than 17th once.  
    
    I really dislike the quickness with which armchair drivers flame their
    (un-)favorite backmarkers, or even frontrunners.  Just one race ago
    there were flames about Mario being over the hill, now he's on the
    front row at Indy.  How about Sneva, is he not good just because he's
    not a frontrunner?  Heck, he got fired after winning the series
    championship a few years ago - how do you correlate that judgement with
    those results?  Point is, just as in that other (extremely boring)
    open-wheeled series, equipment is now about nine-tenths the battle. 
    It's not enough to have money, the only rides with a real chance to win
    are not for sale.
    
    Watching and listening to the qualifications I got a much better
    impression of just how good a driver has to be to get up to speed
    enough to even come close to making the field at Indy.  Lyn St. James
    wrote in her NSSN diary about how a weather change cost them several
    mph, and only drastic revisions to the car's settings got them back up
    to speed.  Somebody else, I forget who it was, was interviewed on one
    of the telecasts (maybe Sneva?) and talked about how a slight wind
    shift was enough to completely alter the handling characteristics of
    the car - I think it was the reason a qualifying attempt was waved off.
    
    When such subtle changes affect the cars so drastically, and we hear
    about some drivers going through seven engines before barely making the
    field due to a lack of horses (that was Gordy, I believe), it really
    points up the gap between the frontrunning equipment and the rest of
    the field.  The skill to keep a car on the track and up to speed is
    really significant, and it's really taxed even more when a driver does
    not have the best quality equipment.  So don't bash backmarkers unless
    you've been there yourself (I have :-( :-).
    
    Also, how come there's an immediate assumption that Jovey and Hiro
    crashed due to driver error, when there is no such assumption about
    Mears and Piquet?  Granted that there is evidence to the contrary for
    both Mears and Piquet, but aren't some folks being quick to assume that
    there is no such explanation for the others?
    

    I'd like to what's happeining with that engine swapping incident too.
    I checked the paper (Boston Herald) today and the starting lineup
    they have is different from the one in this note. They have Mike Groff
    in 26th position, that kicks everyone back one spot, and Scott Goodyear
    doesn't make the show. Who's got the right info?
    
    TPV

.45> The only racing that approximates Indy speeds in similar cars are the 
.45> super-modifieds.  Closed course racing at speeds in the 130-150 mph range, 
.45> open cockpit, exposed tires, similar fuel, similar ground effects.  
    
    how can the ground effects be similar when the airspeed is only about
    60% to 70% of the Indy cars?
    
.45> Seems a shame since these guys are probably the best prepared to 
.45> move up to Indy speeds.  
    
    I dunno.  I don't know the technology involved in the super-mods, but
    I'd have to wonder if they are truly comparable from the seat, in terms
    of things like response to changes in rake and ride height and offset
    suspension settings and tire technologies.
    
    I still believe that there is really no class that is truly comparable,
    like any ladder the next rung will be a step up from the one under it. 
    Point is that a talented and skilled driver may find any of several
    rungs appropriate for the next step, but will still find a learning
    curve in any specific niche.  That's true even for lateral moves, as
    Nelson Piquet eloquently expressed before his crash.  Arguably F1 is
    the best available preparation for Indy, they actually run at similar
    speeds in some locations, but Piquet still needed to be led around by
    an experienced driver to fully master Indy.

.47>    I checked the paper (Boston Herald) today and the starting lineup
.47>    they have is different from the one in this note. They have Mike Groff
.47>    in 26th position, that kicks everyone back one spot, and Scott Goodyear
.47>    doesn't make the show. Who's got the right info?
    
    I believe what happened is that Walker Motorsports took advantage of
    the fact that cars qualify for Indy, not drivers.  Goodyear qualified
    in his "muleto" with a mediocre time but took it rather than chance the
    possible rain-out.  Groff qualified in the number one car that Goodyear
    has been using all month, and preferred.  There was discussion on the
    telecast over the weekend about the chance that they would swap
    drivers, moving both cars to the back of the field.  I heard mention
    that Goodyear was taking the seat in the car Groff qualified, moving it
    to the back and apparently leaving Groff out.
    

    	It sounds like I didn't make myself clear.
    
    	Sunday, a story surfaced that one of the teams, after qualifying
    	successfully, sold their engine. The engine was bought (from a
    	third party) by another team. They also qualified. Thus, we have
    	two cars that qualified with the same engine, which is against
    	the rules.
    
    	The chief steward/whatever (Tom Binford, I believe) said he would
    	not say anything until he had all the info.
    
    	ESPN was supposed to update the story, but I changed channels and
    	never heard another word.
    
    	Scott

.29>  Indianapolis seems to be the real problem here.  {...}

.29>  As already pointed out, there's been a lot done with the rules governing
.29>  the cars and equipment to increase safety.  I think the time has come to 
.29>  look at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track itself and do something to
.29>  it to cut down the carnage.  The new impact cushion at the pit lane 
.29>  entrance is a good first step.  Some sort of run-off area or impact 
.29>  absorption scheme in turns 2 and 4 (which seems to be where the biggest 
.29>  problems are) needs to be put in place.
    
    I think the problem is inherent to ovals, in that adequate runoff space
    on the outside of turns is incompatible with spectator viewing areas. 
    At the kind of speeds that a super-speedway allows, adequate runoff
    areas will need to be very expansive.  It's not clear that minimal
    runoff areas would help or hurt the situation.  As JD McDuffie showed,
    runoff areas are not a cureall.  Cars at Indy speeds are ballistic
    projectiles once they go out of control, in order to be effective a
    runoff area must be adequate to decelerate the projectile without
    disrupting its ballistics in an unfavorable fashion.  Basically it
    seems to me that the only really effective safety move is to slow the
    cars.
    

    re: .44
    
    >    Little Al cam from CAN AM, didn't he? 
    	...and SuperVee (and probably others) before that
    
    >    Sullivan also came from some sort of raod racing. 
    
    	...Formula 1 , early 80's

Regarding the engine swapping incident.  The engine that Gordon Johncock used
in the car in which he qualified had apparently, through a circuitous route,
been used previously in a car that had qualified earlier.  The engine had
been removed, sold to another team, who sold it to yet another team, and it
ended up in Johncock's car and he qualified with it.  Some of the teams who
got bumped on Bubble Day filed a protest with USAC.  The USAC chief steward,
after much consultation and thought, said that he could find nothing in the
rules to prevent the same engine being used in qualifying more than one car,
so he let the status quo stand and disallowed the protest.

--PSW

re: .41
As Bruce mentioned, I was posing rhetorical questions, but the answers
are:

>where did Rahal race before Indy?
>How about Gilles Villeneuve and 
>Keke Rosberg before F1?
>Where did the fastest Indy rookie come from?

Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic	(Jim Vasser)

Partially off the subject,
Michael Andretti and Arie Luyendyk both came from Super Vee, a very
similar class to Atlantic.

My point (which seems to have gotten lost) is that I believe that 
Formula Atlantic is at least as good a direct stepping stone as 
anything else out there to get into an Indy car. They are modern,
fast, open wheeled, winged cars with ground effects. 

Glenn
P.S. The F1 comment was supposed to be a joke also. ;-)

    	If an Indy car went from horizontal to vertical at the end of the
    straight, it would go more than 1/4 mile up before it started to come
    back down.  Therefore a runoff area would have to be 1/2 mile or so
    long to deccellerate a car that got loose (assuming that aerodynamics
    don't do anything when the car isn't going in the direction that it's
    pointing.
    	As I said before the answer is tall skinny tires.  The rule could
    be that the sidewall must be 40% of the tread width as measured with
    the car on the pavement.  No part of the car could touch the ground
    with the car sitting on it's rims.   Maybe we could get the F1 cars to
    do the same, and then we would find out who really could drive. 
    Wouldn't it be fun to see the big boys driving their cars sideways and
    stuff like that just like in days of yore?
    						John
    

    Tall skinny tires would take away from the handling of the cars.
    Improved suspension, ground effects, wings, and wider tires add to 
    safety.  Leave the tires, restrict the horse power -- with less fuel!
                                                                       
    It's the safest, most effective way to reduce speeds and increase
    safety.
    
    Roger
    
    P.S. Sorry for taking offense to the F1 comment :)

    Could it be a combination of driver inexperience and aprehensiveness
    along with driving for a team that can't set up a car as well as the
    top guns? This could also include a communications gap between the
    driver and mechanical team. J.R. had a tough time getting his car
    moving on Sunday. If the driver can't explain to the team what's wrong
    with his car, or if the team doesn't understand what he needs done this
    could really mess things up. Breakage is one thing, and we'll never do
    away with it, but a new driver coming up to those speeds and
    mis-reading a cars signals, or a missed set up can be disaterous.
    
    Just a thought.
    
    BTW, I read in the paper yesterday (Nashua Telegraph this time) that
    some doctor said that Jovy's helmet was sitting on his head sideways.
    He claims the helmet spun, (his ear was where his nose should have
    been), exposing the side of his skull to massive injury. The doctor
    said 2 straps on a helmet might have prevented this.   Just F.Y.I.

    A couple of things:
    
    Someone recently pointed out to me that the Indy cars currently go
    around the circuit at a speed greater than the takeoff speed of the
    Concord. Nuff said.
    
    The other word (speculation) about Marcello was that a wheel hit his
    helmet. I couldn't see that clearly from the tv coverage, though it did
    seem that one came off. A real tragedy for sport.
    
    Paul
    

    RE: .57
    
    I agree, there is no substitute for experienced teams, experienced drivers, 
    and experience communicating.  The team withs more experience have
    significant advantage in getting a car to perform well.
    
    The newspaper article I read made no mention of Jovey's helmet spinning
    on his head.  I once heard that an ameture sprint car driver was killed
    when his helmet tilted forward and downward on first impact, then the
    driver whipped backward and the lower rear portion of his head, exposed
    by the tilted helmet, struck a roll bar.  The helmet slipped back into
    place afterward.  The driver was killed instantly from a broken skull,
    but doctors were puzzled at first because the helmet was in place and 
    not damaged.  BMW had designed a helmet that follows the contour of the
    chin/jaw and fits closely all around the neck to avoid these type of 
    accidents.  The helmet splits down the middle for getting in and out of.  
    I guess it never caught on.  Too bad, it may have saved Jovey's life.
    
    RE: stepping stones
    
    Michael Andretti was quoted in USA Today as saying most of the 17
    accidents at Indy this year were 'freak' mechanical related, including
    Rick Mear's. 
    
    In the same article, Eddie Cheever conceded that 10 years of Formula
    One competition didn't fully prepare him for maneuvering around the
    Speedway: "No matter where a driver comes from or how much talent he
    has, once you get out on the Speedway, you better have some hard-core
    miles under your belt."
    
    Roger
     

.59>    BMW had designed a helmet that follows the contour of the chin/jaw 
.59>    and fits closely all around the neck to avoid these type of accidents.  
.59>    The helmet splits down the middle for getting in and out of.  
.59>    I guess it never caught on.  Too bad, it may have saved Jovey's life.
    
    Or it may not have.  Even if it did, it would likely just substitute 
    some other failure mode that would kill somebody else.
    
    Personally, as a driver with considerable experience around racing, I'd
    be real hesitant about strapping on a helmet that was *-> designed <-* 
    to split in half.  Even if it did meet Snell SA standards (which it
    very well might not - that could be the reason it didn't make it out of
    the R&D labs into the real rough and tumble world).
    
    I'm getting awfully tired of suggestions for quick and easy solutions
    to problems that don't have quick and easy answers.  As Mr. Lewicke
    pointed out in his recent posting, there is a whole heck of a lot of
    kinetic energy tied up in an Indy car at speed.  There are some
    practical limits about what can be done to mitigate the effects when it
    gets out of control.  Speculating about hypothetical possibilities to
    address imaginary situations (do we *KNOW* that the helmet moved?) may
    be counterproductive, if it leads us to compromise real values to solve
    unreal problems.
    
    It looks to me like the left front wheel might have hit Jovy in the
    head.  The reported helmet damage and head injuries were left side. 
    The left front wheel departed the car, after the impact, on the video
    it looked like it might have been folded back up over the chassis and
    cockpit on impact.  There might even be a possibility that the
    combination of suspension damage, chassis attitude, and belt stretch
    caused Jovy's helmet to hit the wall, or parts sandwiched against the
    unyielding wall.  In any case, there are such situations in which the
    helmet could fail.  Heck, the chassis itself can't be made proof
    against all possible impacts, a helmet has much less mass and structure
    at the designer's disposal.  If the impact can't be kept within the
    helmet design limits, it will fail, and a wheel coming off could very
    well exceed them.  Ask Robert Guerrero about it...
    
    Point is, racing is inherently dangerous.  We should try to minimize
    the danger, but we must recognize that safety is determined by a system
    of interrelated factors including the environment, the vehicle, and the
    cockpit equipment.  Focusing on one element (and one that may or mayn't 
    have failed) does not enhance safety if it causes us to overlook other
    factors.

.57>    Could it be a combination of driver inexperience and aprehensiveness
.57>    along with driving for a team that can't set up a car as well as the
.57>    top guns? {...} J.R. had a tough time getting his car moving on Sunday. 
    
    My first reading of this was that it says JR is inexperienced? ?? ???
    
    I think you've hit on one part of the issue, but I think it's not so 
    much the driver as you've suggested, but the team's ability to field
    optimally set up first-rank equipment.  The cars are so precise and
    sensitive that if they are not spot on, they are too far off to get up
    to competitive speed.  The driver enters the equation because at that
    speed it is not possible for a driver to carry a suboptimal car without
    substantially increasing the risks.  I'd say it's mostly a matter of
    team funding, the second-rank teams cannot afford the testing and track
    time to refine the settings and really exercise both the equipment and
    thier skills.  Heck, there was one front-rank team recently that hired
    another team to stand in for them on a TV commercial shoot because they
    were too busy testing to take time to satisfy their sponsorship
    obligations!  Meanwhile, you've got teams and drivers trying to make
    the field with twenty to forty laps total track time.  Think about the
    difference in their learning curves!
    
.57>    BTW, I read in the paper yesterday (Nashua Telegraph this time) that
.57>    some doctor said that Jovy's helmet was sitting on his head sideways.
.57>    He claims the helmet spun, (his ear was where his nose should have
.57>    been), exposing the side of his skull to massive injury. The doctor
.57>    said 2 straps on a helmet might have prevented this.   Just F.Y.I.
    
    I need to read that article to really comment, but my gut reaction is
    that the doctor in question has evidently never worn a helmet like the
    one I've worn when racing my Formula Ford.  Anything that would turn
    that helmet on my head would break my neck if the helmet didn't turn.

    re: the past several... rebuttals not necessarily in order of original
    notes.
    
    	-  I did not take a "slap at FAtl" in my initial note relative
    	to whether or not it should be a stepping stone to Indy.  My 
    	boyfriend as had 3 (one March and 2 Ralts, two weeks ago getting
    	10 "gift" laps in a Toyota Atlantic Swift) and our best friend
    	has been driving a Ralt for years.  They are wonderful race
    	series.  My comments were put forth as food for thought only
    
    	-  As stated in my initial note re: Jovey's death, according
    	to the coroners report there were NO marks on Jovey's body or
    	helmet.  He was not hit by the tire or any flying suspension
    	pieces (or any other pieces for that matter).  There was also
    	no evidence that the belts loosened/broke causing the head
    	trauma.  Also all pieces from the car were accounted for, 
        examined, and found not to have failed causing impact.
        Again, all this is from the coroner's report and findings
    	of track personnel.  Based on that info, I believe it safe to 
    	assume Jovey's death was driver error.
    	-  I would also go so far to assume that the inquiries and
        publication of the of the news relative to Jovey's death were
        more indepth because a death was involved.  Hiro's accident
    	while may have been caused by driver error or mechanical
    	failure, my guess is only the team knows for sure. No death
    	was involved, therefore, no wide publication of details.
    
     
    

    re: .60
    
    I wish now, I hadn't mentioned the BMW helmet. I'm not very experienced 
    in racing.  I was careless not realized that it probably would have 
    killed someone else.  Maybe Jovey was better of without it..  Sorry for 
    those who were offended.
    
    Either way, it's a shame Jovey was killed.
    
    Roger
    
    

    Four more days... Who's picking who?
    
    I think I like Michael.  He has the speed, but the equipment isn't
    proven.  He and Little Al both want it bad, but Little Al doesn't
    appear to have the speed.  If Michael intends to race F1 next
    year, you can bet he to put this one under his belt.
    
    Among the ones I'd like to see win it; how about Gary Bettenhousen?  It 
    would be nice to see him win one for his father who was killed at Indy 
    before he won.  I'm not much of an A.J. fan, but it would be something
    to see the legend win it again.
    
    Buicks and Fords??? If it goes to a Chevy, you just about have to bet
    on the Rocket Man or Bobby Rahal, maybe Emo.  It's been a while for Danny.
    
    How about Rookie of the year?  tough call, Ted Prapas is probably most
    experienced at Indy, but slowest qualifying.
    
    Record time? The cars are going faster this year, but that along with
    six rookies may lead to more caution periods.  I will guess 176 mph
    average speed.
    
    One thing we know for sure: the highest placing woman will be Lyn St.
    James. 
    
    Roger
    

    
    OK Roger, I'll bite.
    
    Where my money would be:
    
    	Bobby Rahal, fast and consistant he has proven equipment
    
    Sentimental favorite:
    
    	Either Roberto Guerrero or Jim Crawford
    
    - Nate

    Just thought I would put something in about Helmets and Snell SA
    standard. Some time ago I read a thing how snell rate helmets. From the 
    stuff I read, provided the helmet fits correctly, is not damaged, if
    the user is then suffers head injuries there is nothing much that could
    have been done to avoid it. I think the article suggested that they
    test to distruction. 
    
    	I personally use bell helmets. I have had an accident at 70/80 mph
    	in a kart where the kart overturned. The Helmet was damaged, it
        protected my head as best I could have expected. 
    

.64>    Four more days... Who's picking who?
    
    I'll take the bait, too.
    
    Michael will be there.  His equipment is up to the needed speed, 
    and they've had a few races and a lot of testing to work on the
    reliability.  Mario could be there too, but his "luck" will outweigh
    the testing and reliability, look for him to DNF out of the front pack. 
    If he runs to the finish, he could be the first one to finish.
    
    I'm rooting for the Ganassi team, because I have some personal ties to
    them.  Both Arie and Cheever will be up to speed, I also expect them to
    have the equipment sorted well enough to have some chance of
    reliability.  I'd like to see either of them win it, I think they've
    both got a chance, if I had to choose one I'd favor Arie because he
    won't have the chance for many other wins this season...
    
    The Buicks are quick, not sure about reliability of the cars and teams
    as well as the engines themselves.  Crawford and Guerrero have shown
    the speed to set the pace, whether they can maintain it for 500 miles
    is yet to be seen.
    
    Chevies, surprisingly off the pace this year, but you can never count
    Penske out.  Rahal might also be there.
    
    Bottom line, if I had to bet on one single driver I'd put my money on
    Michael.  But I wouldn't wager a large sum...
    
    
    Rookie of the year?  I'll be rooting for Lyn and wouldn't be at all
    surprised if she nabs it.  Otherwise, Paul Tracy.
    
    BTW, does anybody know what engine was in Lyn's car when she qualified? 
    I'd read she turned down a Chevy because her ties with Ford are too
    important to her, but then I thought I saw a grid listing showing her
    with GM power.  Anybody know for sure?
    

    Who will probably win the race..........Michael Andretti
    Who I'd like to see win.................Danny Sullivan
    Rookie of the year......................Paul Tracy
    
    
    BTW.  The year with the most rookies at Indy was 1982 and I think they
    had 8 or 9 that year.  That's my guess.
    
    Terry

    The year with the most rookies was 1911 (first race).  There were 43.
    
    Roger
    

    RE: .67
    
    Lyn qualified with a Chevy-A.  Chevy-Bs and Fords aren't for anyone who
    can pay.
    
    Roger

RE: .67

Lyn asked Fords permission to use the Chevy cause the old Ford couldn't 
get her in the field. They said, go ahead.

One of the comments during qualifying was that Buick had actually 
de-tuned the engine to get better reliability out of it. I think that 
the qualifying engines were hand grenade motors that won't come near 
the race. I think that will make the Buick powered cars fall back early.

Picks:
	sentimental:	Roberto
	reality:	Michael (if the Ford makes it 500 miles)
		else:	Mears
	rookie:		Vasser over Tracy

I'll bet Michael will be up front within the first 20 laps and will
lead at least 1/3 of the race (until the engine goes).

Glenn

    	I've been doing some more thinking about the safety issue.  It
    seems to me that the danger is collisions with the wall that have a
    large angle of incidence.  If the angle of incidence can be reduced the
    force of the impact will also be.  A car that is inches from the wall
    and then hits it will hit gently, but a car that crosses the whole
    track first will hit a lot harder.  So the question is are there any
    parts of the track that are seldom if ever driven on, places like the
    extreme outside of turns, etc?  If there are such places is might make
    sense to move the wall inward, narrowing the track.  With the wall
    closer to the travelled surface a car will hit earlier and at a lower
    angle of incidence.  There would probably be some increase in the
    number of crashes, but most of them would be less severe.  Another
    question might be whether people ever manage to drive out of potential
    crashes using the part of the track that I'm suggesting that they take
    away.
    	Feel free to suggest this to the powers, and make sure that they
    get my name right on the check.
    						John
    

    1....Michael Andretti
    
    2....Rahal
    
    3....Cheever
    
    4....Luyendyk
    
    5....Al Jr.   Would be 1st if his car was a little faster.
    
    Terry

.72>    It seems to me that the danger is collisions with the wall that have a
.72>    large angle of incidence.  If the angle of incidence can be reduced the
.72>    force of the impact will also be.  
    
    I think there are two factors that are significant.  One, most
    significant, is the angle of incidence between the linear trajectory of
    the car and the wall surface at impact.  The other I haven't completely
    figured out yet, but it seems to involve the angle of attack between
    the chassis and the wall at impact, and also the angular rotation of
    the chassis relative to the impact.  Basically, it all seems to add up 
    to a situation in which it may not be possible to completely prevent
    the possibility of serious impact, short of turning them into slot
    cars.
    
    In other words, I think if there's enough room to race there will
    probably be enough room for a snap spin, perhaps due to mechanical
    failure, to cause the car to present what will effectively be a
    full-frontal impact square on the wall.  That seems to be what happened
    to Nelson Piquet.  It's also what happened to Bob Roth at NHIS.
    
    BTW, it's not clear that Jovy should be included in discussions about
    track safety, until the causal circumstances are better understood. 
    From the latest definitive information I've seen, he may well have
    suffered a medical problem unrelated to racing, which then caused the
    crash.  I'd wait to see what the final determination is, if any, before
    considering his crash as evidence of a track safety problem.
    
    --bruce

I better get my picks in before I go get in the car and point it towards
Indy.

Winner - Michael (The Fords will be the fastest.  At least 1 of the 4 will
                 finish.  Michael is the best bet of the bunch.)

Rookie - Jim Vasser (The most impressive rookie so far this year.  Seemed
                    to get comfortable and find sufficient speed at Indy
                    fairly easily.)

Sentimental Favorites - Roberto, or AJ, or Gary B.

    Here's the results of "who's picking who" Indy 500 survey:
    
    	Responses:	7
    
    	Winner:
                                        	honorable
    	Driver			to win		mention		sentimental
    	-------------------------------------------------------------------
        Ma. Andretti		-		2		1
    	Mi. Andretti		5		-		-
    	Bettenhausen		-		-		2
    	Cheever			-		1		1
    	Crawford		-		1		1
    	Fittipaltdi		-		2		-
    	Foyt			-		-		2
    	Guerrero		-		1		3
    	Luyendyk		-		1		1
    	Mears			-		3		-
    	Rahal			1		3		-
    	Sullivan		-		-		1
    	Unser Jr.		-		2		-
    	
    Rookie:
    
    	Prapas			1		-
    	St. James		1		-
    	Tracy			1		2
    	Vasser			2		-
    	
    
    Power Plants:
    
    	Engine			knocks for		knocks against
    	--------------------------------------------------------------
    	Buick			1			2
    	Chevy-A                 1			-
    	Chevy-B                 -			1
    	Ford                    1			4

    My pick: Bobby Rahal - he has a proven package, he set up (early on)
    for the race conceding the pole to the faster (and more fragile,
    unproven) Lola-Fords and Buicks, and he's hungry. As an owner and a
    single car entry he's focused like never before.
    
    That said, I wouldn't mind seeing Al jr win. The Galmer doesn't appear
    to have the speedway speed the Lola's have, but it looks strong. Either
    Al or Danny could be there at the end. And you can never count out
    Mears. If his injuries aren't too painful, he could take #5 - he is the
    master tactician on the oval.
    
    I don't believe the winner will come from the front 2 rows.
    
    Paul
    

It certainly was an interesting race. We were all wrong. Unser Jr. did 
a good job in the end to win in the closest Indy 500 finish.

I knew Michael's car wouldn't make it. Does anybody have the total 
number of laps he led? He had the whole field covered the entire day
and it seemed that he wasn't even trying. He was running in the low
220s all day until Arie got behind him. He picked the pace up to 228
pulled away and then went back to the low 220s. Then about 19 laps 
from the end his car stopped :-(

Roberto! Ok, the car couldn't have finished but??????? To spin off the 
track on the first warmup lap and smash the car?????

The accidents were certainly depressing. I can't believe how many 
people smashed cars. Some of it was probably due to the cold weather 
but not all. It only takes one or two laps to heat up tires. There 
were many accidents which came after a bunch of green flag laps.

I'll bet Michael and Mario are going to petition for the Indy 450! How 
many would they have between them if it ended then?

    It was distubing to watch! I mean, how many laps were run under the
    yellow?? That much destruction hurts!
    
    I think Michael led something like 161 laps, though I don't have the
    exact count. There was no question he had the field covered. Some
    people will bemoan the Andretti luck; others might say Michael pused
    too hard when he had the field covered. Either way, he looked to be the
    class of the race. No one came close to him.
    
    I viewed the race with a friend, John Jones, who drove at Indy (was
    rookie of the year) and raced three seasons is Indy cars. (He can't
    find money this year. Sound familiar?) He said that the main problem
    was that all the practise, including Carbueration Day, was done with
    bright warm conditions. Track temp on race day was quite low. He felt
    that it would have taken a bit longer than usual to get the tires up to
    operating temperature. Al jr commented yesterday on Speedweek that
    another problem was that folks wanted to get a jump on the restart
    because passing was difficult otherwise. (It did seem that many on the
    incidents happened right after the green came back out.)
    
    Though I didn't pick him, I was delighted to see Al, jr win. He is a
    class act and will be a great champion. But there is a lot of work yet
    to be done to make the Galmer a speedway car. And the Fords are clearly
    more powerful. The upcoming races should be interesting with two more
    road courses followed by two ovals. Detroit's a real question mark
    since it is a new circuit, and NHIS hasn't seen Indy cars. What a busy
    5 weeks it will be.
    
    Paul
    

    
    Isn't it interesting to see how different families fortunes are tied
    to the Indy 500?  The Unsers have had phenominal success at Indy and
    for the Andrettis and Bettenhausens mostly heartbreak and pain.
    
    I hope all those injured at Indy this year make rapid and complete
    recoveries.
    
    - Nate

    Indy 500...exciting...competitive...
    
    
    
    
    NOT
    
    
    What a joke of a race.  Those boys (CART) better get a clue...soon.
    
    The indy 500 was an institution that I grew up with.  I used to listen
    attentively before live coverage was available, it made Memorial Day a
    very special day all of it's own.
    Now it's nothing but a cruel..and painfull joke.  Kinda like a cage
    wrestling match.  Whoever is standing...in this case running..at the
    end wins.  No car should be able to lap the entire field...save 2
    cars...in less than 30 laps.
    
    The NBA playoffs were much more entertaining.  To those that were
    injured, get well quickly.  To those few who finished, well done.
    Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good...right Little Al?

.78>  Roberto! Ok, the car couldn't have finished but??????? To spin off the 
.78>  track on the first warmup lap and smash the car?????
    
    I'm still amazed by that occurance.  My first thought was that he'd
    broken a half-shaft (winning the Kevin Cogan Memorial Trophy?) - from
    the quickness with which the car turned hard left from a straightline
    attitude I couldn't imagine any other explanation.  Even Roberto's
    explanation sounded like it could be such a scenario, hard acceleration
    to put some heat into the tires would also produce maximum stress on
    the CVs etc.  I'm still wondering about Guerrero, especially after the
    cover-up of Cogan's mechanical failure (that low-key revelation cost
    Penske much respect from me).
    
    As far as all the spins, I had to wonder if there were some of those
    "weepers" up in four.  I noticed that at least two of the spins on the
    restarts started so similarly that it seemed superimposing the video
    frames would have shown they began at the same identical spot.  Looking
    at the three sets of impact marks on the outside wall, they showed
    almost identical trajectories - close enough that I could figure the
    variations to be due to differing fuel loads or driver skill at
    delaying the inevitable.  All that says to me that there may well have
    been something other than simple driver error at work.
    
    Cold temps certainly would have been a contributing factor, and there
    may've been a little oil or changing surface involved too.  I think
    that racing rubber (especially when hot) will eat up the small amounts
    of oil that normally get sprayed around a track, but the colder temps
    may have interfered with this.  Also, the weepers as I understand it
    are like small springs or condensation that comes up through the track
    surface, so they would've lifted any oil deposits from within the
    track, and in the form of an oil:water emulsion no less!  I'm really
    curious to know if this was the case, but if so I'm not sure that IMS
    would admit it because of the PR issue that would result.
    
    I felt that Luyendyk gave a great interview after his shunt, it was
    brief, cogent, and didn't skirt the question.  It also answered my
    question upon seeing the incident, because his crash followed a greatly
    different profile than any of the others.  I though he'd lost something
    in the front end, and when he explained that the front bottomed out
    entering four it told me just what he'd lost: precious grip.
    
    Certainly have to wonder what this debacle does for Tony George's
    attempts to get cozy with FISA?  I'm not sure Nige and Ayrton will find
    Piquet's experience a very inspiring example to follow....

RE: .81

>    What a joke of a race.  Those boys (CART) better get a clue...soon.

CART has little or no control over the Indy 500.  USAC sanctions Indy.
    
>    Now it's nothing but a cruel..and painfull joke.  Kinda like a cage
>    wrestling match.

Certainly something needs to be done to keep the track from maiming drivers
the way it does now.

>    Whoever is standing...in this case running..at the
>    end wins.  No car should be able to lap the entire field...save 2
>    cars...in less than 30 laps.

Clearly you haven't been following Formula 1 racing.

--PSW

    re: last
    
    Definitely not...and for just that reason.
    
    yyyaaawwwnnn...wake me up when xxxxxxxxxx in the yyyyyy wins the race.
    (substitute the hot driver and car combo for the year for xxx and yyy)

    re-2,
    
    	(read Boring)..CART...F1...they're all the same.
    
    
    B.A.

    Caught a brief look of Bobby Rahal testing at NHIS on the 
    WMUR noon news.  The sound was down low, but I thought I
    heard him say that he was lapping at 175.  Looked great
    going through turns 1 and 2 --- looked like he hardly backed
    off, unlike the BGN cars which have to really slow down for 
    the corners.  
    
    I imagine they'll show the film clip again on the 6:00 p.m.
    news show.
    
   Can't wait for race weekend!
    
    Ken
    

    yesterday the local paper (Keene Sentinel) had a short story about the
    test schedule.  Mentioned Rahal's test and a couple of others in the
    next week or so.  Biggest one was next week (I think) with Mario, Mike
    and Jeff (probably not, now) along with Cheever, Luyendyk, and one
    other car, I think it might've been Mears but not sure.  Sounds like
    they're going to find out how the traffic affects things pretty soon!
    

    re: .87
    
    Do you know if spectators are allowed in to watch the test sessions?
    
    
    Ken
    

    re .88 - I believe the story I saw said they are not open to the
    public. 
    
    Last night there was a story on Rahal's test, his quotes sounded pretty
    enthusiastic about it (he said he especially liked the drop off into
    three).  Commented that there seemed to be multiple lines through the
    turns, should make for interesting racing.
    
    Oh, yeah, best time:  :23.02 (approximately 165mph lap average)
    
    Given the weather, I think they might do a little better than that on a
    good warm day.  Should be interesting!
    

    Has anyone heard any updates on Mario and Jeff Andretti's medical
    conditions? Will Mario be able to race at Detroit?
    
    Paul
    

    don't know about Mario.  
    
    Local paper ran a tiny item coupla days ago about Jeff, said he'd
    undergone surgery for the third time since the accident, and that
    doctors reported they found no tendon damage.  So I guess he's not in
    great shape but could be worse off...

Latest report on Usenet was that Mario would not be racing in Detroit.
Arie Luyendyk is the most mentioned possible candidate as a substitute driver
at Newman/Haas.

--PSW

    I heard that Mario had been released from the hospital, and I assumed
    he wouldn't be racing. Has Arie been named? He is the most likely, I
    guess. How will he and Michael get along? it will be interesting to
    watch. BTW, does anyone have any info on the Detroit circuit? Am I
    right that the cisrcuit is on Belle Isle and uses mostly (all) public
    roads? Any comments on it?
    
    Paul
    

Yes, the Detroit Grand Prix moves to Belle Isle this year.  There was
a diagram of the track layout in this week's AutoWeek.  It looks like
it should be an improvement over the old street layout.  I believe it
is all on public roads, but they are not laid out in a grid like city
streets.  If I remeber right, I don't think there was a single 90 degree
corner on the circuit.

Mike

    What a blessing!! I think that city circuits bring in people and look
    good on tv. Certainly that was the case here in Denver. But they
    usually don't make for good racing and certainly don't give the
    spectator much. The early diagram I saw of Belle Isle looked
    interesting but only the race itself will show it off. Were there any
    projections as to lap times/speeds?
    
    Paul
    

Teo Fabi is going to sub for Mario at Detroit.  Brian Bonner will
drive A.J.'s car (which I presum Jeff Andretti would have been driving
if he had not gotten injured at Indy).

I haven't heard anything about speeds at Belle Isle, but it 'looks' like
it should be faster than the old street course with more opportunities
for passing.

Mike

    
    Yesterday Al Unser Jr. tested at NHIS and proclaimed the track the best
    1 mile oval he has ever seen (long straights + tight corners).
    
    Danny Sullivan will test there today.
    
    Michael, Cheever and Luyendyk test the Ford/Cosworth there next
    Tuesday.
    
    It was reported that the Mario and Michael were not happy to have
    Luyendyk racing a Ford at Indy since he reaped the benefits of their
    development work without having contributed to it.  Perhaps the
    Andrettis made sure someone non-threatening (ie. Fabi) got the ride
    at Detroit or until Mario could return?
    
    - Nate

    That last comment form the Andretti's sounds all to familiar - more
    like whinning - not winning. Guess Arie was a threat to them. The fact
    that he was not able to secure sufficient sponsorship for a full season
    must not matter to them. It's this kind of comment that has made the
    Andrettis rather unpopular. For me, I used to hold Mario in high
    regard. I pulled very hard for him when he was with Lotus. Even then he
    seemed to make mistakes that I felt a man of his experience should not
    have made. (Someone made the observation that in 1978, if Lauda had
    been at Lotus, he would have secured the Championship much earlier in
    the season. Mario threw points and finishes away.)
    
    I guess I feel like Mario has diminished his image and stature in the
    sport by making these types of comments. It's sad considering his level
    of talent and achievment.
    
    Paul
    

Rick "Rear View" Mears will also miss Detroit because of Indy injuries.
Paul Tracy will fill in.

    
    I was amased, watching the Indy 500 on tv the lack of
    skill being displayed by so many, on the yellow flag restarts.
    You'd think these guys never heard of cold tires. 
    
    Steve

    
    
    BTW
    
    	What is the average MPG an INDY car is supposed to run to make it
    	on the gas allowed.
    
    Lou

    Indy cars must get at least 1.8 MPG - on alchohol-based fuel, not gas.
    They haven't run gas for nearly 20 years.
    
    

    
    
    Knew about the fuel type ...and was pretty sure it was 1.8, but had someone
    disagreeing with me.
    
    Thanks
    
    
    	Lou

Detroit GP results: (only the top 5; I don't have the paper at the moment)

  1) Bobby Rahal  (92 Lola/Chevy-A)
  2) Raul Boesel  (in Hiro Matsushita's 92 Lola/Chevy-A)
  3) Stefan Johannson  (in Tony Bettenhausen's 91 Penske/Chevy-A)
  4) Michael Andretti (92 Lola/Ford)
  5) Danny Sullivan   (Galmer/Chevy-A)

Michael, for once, did not dominate.  Paul Tracy actually caught and passed
him at one point, without the benefit of slower traffic or anything.  Rahal
was also just as fast as Michael (faster at the end of the race).

Michael spun on the next to last lap when his right front suspension broke
and dropped fron 2nd to 4th.  After the last yellow ended, Michael was doing
everying he could to catch Rahal.  I told my son at the time (a Michael fan)
that the way Michael was driving, I didn't think he would make it to the 
finish.  He didn't.  Interestingly, the corner of the car that broke (RF) was 
the only one that Michael hadn't hit the wall with that day.

Boesel and Johannson (spelling?) did great.  While not quite as fast at
Michael, Tracy, and Rahal, they weren't far behind.  This was in a pair of
cars that with their original drivers would have only made the top 10 by
surviving a race of attrition.  And it was Johannson's first Indy race ever.

In one camera shot of Rahal's pit, you could see that he had at least one
Digital laptop computer.  There were 3 laptops, but only one was facing the
camera so you could see the logo.

--Mike

    I thought Johannson did a great job. It proves that the car is much
    better than the owner. Stefan could be a contender on the right team. I
    saw him wandering the pits last August here in Denver. It was plain he
    was trying to get a ride. 
    
    
    Paul
    

    Johannson has a good track record remember. He did F1 with McClaren
    (among others) and sportscars with Mercedes. A good all-rounder.

RE: .104

>I told my son at the time (a Michael fan)
>that the way Michael was driving, I didn't think he would make it to the 
>finish.  He didn't.  Interestingly, the corner of the car that broke (RF) was 
>the only one that Michael hadn't hit the wall with that day.

Perhaps that's the corner of the car that he hit Al, Jr. with.


Excellent rides on Stefan Johansson's and Raul Boesel's parts.  This must give
Tony Bettenhausen and Hiro Matsushita pause for thought.

--PSW

.107>  Excellent rides on Stefan Johansson's and Raul Boesel's parts.  This 
.107>  must give Tony Bettenhausen and Hiro Matsushita pause for thought.
    
    I don't see why.  I doubt that either of them can realistically believe
    they are among the best drivers in the series let alone in the world,
    while Stefan Johansson and Raul Boesel have both proved that they are
    truly world-class talents in sports cars.  I don't think it would be
    viewed the same if Bobby Rahal stepped into Tony's or Hiro's car and
    showed the difference between a backmarker and a frontrunner.  Why
    should it be any different just because they were frontrunners in some
    series that runs mostly on other continents?
    
    Personally, I'd be surprised if the results had been otherwise.  I felt
    Johansson was one of the outstanding young talents in F1 when he first
    got there, and really haven't seen anything to cause me to reduce my
    respect for his abilities.

    I agree with the observations about Johansson in the Bettenhousen car.
    Stefan is a fine driver and Tony has never really been viewed as a top
    rank driver. Here at the Denver GP last year it was only a matter of
    Quite a gap in skill. But if Stefan had a good, consistent ride I
    believe he would be the equal of most everyone in Indy cars. Tony's
    team has resonable equipment this year and Stefan showed it well.
    
    Paul
    

RE: .108

I think you misinterpret my remark.  My point was that this conclusively
proves that the poorer performances in the past were due to the driver, not
the car, in case that had ever been in doubt.

--PSW

.110>  I think you misinterpret my remark.  My point was that this conclusively
.110>  proves {...} in case that had ever been in doubt.
    
    Perhaps I misread it.  I didn't think it had ever been in doubt that
    those two were among the lesser drivers in the series, so I hadn't felt 
    any comment was called for.
    
    There may be another factor too.  It seemed to me that the comment
    denigrated the two drivers unfairly.  
    
    To me the fact that a driver does not extract the full capability of
    the car is not sufficient reason for disrespect.  There can be many
    reasons for not using the full potential of the car:  lack of ability, 
    lack of skill, and lack of desire among them.  None of those merit
    disrepect, to my way of thinking.
    
    Others may feel that the only drivers worthy of respect are those who
    have the ability and skill and desire to extract the absolute maximum 
    performance from their vehicles, but I disagree strongly.  To me, a
    driver who is able to race competently for tenth place in car capable
    of fifth is still worthy of considerable respect (albeit not as much as
    the driver who can take that car into fifth, or even better fourth!). 
    By the same token I have less respect for a driver who shows
    questionable manners or racecraft (those being elements of competence
    in my book) while racing for the lead - that was my reason for
    downgrading Senna in the past.
    
    It depends on your yardsticks.  By mine, there was no reason to knock
    Tony or Hiro, and it seemed like they were receiving a knock.  If I was
    incorrect, I apologize for the misinterpretation.
    
    --bruce
    

The next race:

Sunday, June 21
Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200
Portland International Raceway
1.922 mile road course
104 laps
199.89 miles
1:00 - 3:00 PDT, live on ESPN

Results the past few years (as much data as I have anyway)

  1991  Michael, Fittipaldi, Rahal, Al Jr., Mario
  1990  Michael, Mario, Al Jr., Sullivan, Mears
  1989  Fittipaldi, Rahal, Luyendyk, Fabi, Pruett
  1988  Sullivan, Luyendyk, Fittipaldi, Al Jr., Mario
  1987  Rahal
  1986  Mario, Michael, Al Jr.
  1985  Andretti (I think this means Mario)

Has anyone heard anything about the following burning issues?

 o Will Mario be back?
 o Will Mears be back?
 o If Mears is back, will Paul Tracy get a car to drive?
 o Will Boesel, Johannson, Danner, Bonner, Groff, et al, keep the rides
   they had at Detroit?

    
    	For you INDY fans...Al Unser Jr and Aire Larendike(sp) are moving
    on to the Winston Cup scene next year...so the report said...Seems that
    they are not happy with the way things went at Indy last month..with
    all the wrecks and all the money spent.
    
    	Don't know why they would pick W/C...they're gonnna get killed
    there just a fast!  In a racing point of view of course...
    
    B.A.

    
    BA,
    
    I would be inclined to treat this report with considerable skepticism.
    
    - Nate

I read in Autoweek that Max Mosely of FISA was in need of medical attention at
Indy.  Gee, I wonder what made him ill?  Could it have been all of the laps run 
under yellow?  I wonder what he thinks of Indy cars now?  I was surprised that
none of the people in CARS_UK picked up on this item.

Jeff

    re-2,
    
    	If Jr can get out of his contract, he's scheduled to run the
    Baby-Ruth Ford in some test sessions.  If it all pans out.
    
    B.A.
        

RE: .111

I have nothing but respect for anybody who can qualify an Indycar, which is
far more than I will ever be able to do.

That being said, Tony and Hiro have rides while there are other, far more
capable drivers (most notably Arie Luyendyk) who do not.  As a fan, I would
like to see the best drivers possible in the Indycar field.  I realize, of
course, that raw driver talent is not the only factor involved in getting a
ride, and that economics (sponsorship) and politics also enter into the
equation.

--PSW

        Here's an interesting item for you Indy fans. A friend in
        our P.C. business sent this to me:
    
    
       " Last night we filled a PC order for Rahal Racing Inc.
       You don't think Bobby is gonna install an Eclipse in
       his Lola do ya ? Maybe he needs it to add up all
       the money he makes."
    
         I was told that there is a digital emblem on his car up
       by the roll bar behind his helmet. Anyone seen this?
    
         A sometime Indy/Cart fan.
    
         Scott

re .115

It has something to do with a broken jaw and Tony George's suite....

There was some speculation AJ was seen leaving the room afterwards, but 
this was found to be untrue since someone claimed to have seen him driving in
circles during the incident......

:-)

Dave

    Mosely fell down some steps at Indy apparently and suffered concussion.
    Word has it he fell asleep on the way to the mens room.

re: a bunch back.

If you watch the in-car camera from Michael's car you can clearly see 
that he bent the right front suspension more than 20 laps from the end 
when he hit the outside wall trying to get by Tracy. Not only was it 
bent, but it was moving as he drove which would cause the handling to 
be completely unpredictable while driving. The fact that he was able 
to hold onto second place and push Rahal for first, shows his
incredible talent!

IMHO, that was one of the best races I've seen in a very long time.


Glenn

    I would not be surprised to see Al jr drive a NASCAR nnext year - part
    time. He may have been a bit dismayed by the cost and mayhem at the
    Brickyard, but he won. Open wheel racing is in the Unser blood. But
    I'll bet he'd love to get a shot at the Daytona 500. It's at as time of
    year when he could fit it into his schedule. There aren't a lot of guys
    who have had success in both Indy cars and stocks - AJ & Mario come to
    mind. Did AL sr and/or Bobby race NASCAR at all? Still, I can't quite
    see Li'l Al doing NASCAR fulltime.
    
    Paul
    

This morning's newspaper (Denver Post) says that Mario
will run at Portland this weekend.

He'd stand a better chance of winning the race if he drove.

--PSW

.123>  This morning's newspaper says that Mario will run at Portland ...
    
.124>  He'd stand a better chance of winning the race if he drove.
    
    ah, didn't Mario suffer foot/leg injuries at Indy?  so running
    certainly seems more surprising and newsworthy...

Good point.

--PSW

    
    	Is there going to be an Indy race in Louden?  I keep hearing
    blips on the radio but can't an accurate idea of what's going on.
    It's supposed to by July 5th at the Louden Race way.
    
    	Thanks,
    
    	Rodney

    INDY cars WILL be at Loudon (NHIS) the weekend of July 4th. My gut is
    Sunday the 5th but I'm not sure.
    
    jim e

    	Where does one pick up tickets for this event?  It would be
    nice if DEC had discount tickets to this.
    
    	Rod

The New England 200, a round of the PPG IndyCar World Championship,
will be held at New Hampshire International Speedway on 5 July.
Tickets are available from the NHIS box office.  The phone number
is posted in an earlier reply to this note, I believe.

--PSW

    Speaking of the Indy Cars at NHIS on 7/5, ESPN in its ultimate "wisdom"
    is televising the race but blacking it out in New England.  
    
    I live in NH and will be at the race on Sunday (Friday 6/3 as well for
    practice and qualifying, but that's another story).  Could I get one of
    you out of New England noters to tape the race Sunday and lend me the
    copy?  
    
    Would much appreciate it.
    
    Barb

    Monday June 22,1992 may have signalled a new page in the long fabled
    history of the Brickyard.  When Rusty Wallace drove his MGD Pontiac
    from the garage area onto pit road (squelching the tradition of pushing
    cars onto the track only) and took the first "official" test lap by a
    Winston Cup team; it may have started a new era at Indy.
    A 2 day session of "tire testing" by top NASCAR teams at Indy has left
    the door open for a possible Winston Cup race at the brickyard in years
    to come.  Officials dismiss the possibility of a race in 93' but have
    said that a 94' date would not be out of the question if all parties
    reach agreement.
    4 tire compounds were tested during the 2 day affair which was
    culminated by a highly unofficial 10 lap test race on Tuesday in which
    the drivers ran 3 abreast down the straights and 2 wide in the corners. 
    The preferred line entering the corners was putting the left front
    wheel right on the edge of the apron, sometimes even in the grass.
    The drivers all were surprised at the speeds they were able to attain
    and at the smoothness of the track surface itself.
    50,000 seats were made available for the sessions and the attendance
    was excellent according to track spokespersons.  
    The good ole boys out on quite a show for the crowd and track workers
    were impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of the drivers and
    crews.
    
    Unanimous opinion was that it was a huge success and that a NASCAR race
    would be exciting, competitive and successfull at Indy.

    .132�    Unanimous opinion was that it was a huge success and that a NASCAR race
    .132�    would be exciting, competitive and successfull at Indy.
    
    	I expected no less!
    
    Of course, when you've seen the best...
    
    B.A.

    NHIS - 7-5-92
    
    I went, I saw, I was impressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    I stood next to the track when the cars were at speed and saw something
    I never saw on race cars before.  Vapor trails coming off the rear
    wing, unbelievable!
    
    My only complaint was that only 20 cars started, other than that,
    I certanly fulfilled my "need for speed".
    
    Gone racin
    Gaff

NHIS IndyCar weekend observations:

     o	Unfortunately, my "IndyCar weekend" consisted of just Sunday.  My 
	Friday plans fell through, and Saturday was a complete washout.

     o	Nice-sized crowd for the IndyCar event.  I'll bet there would have 
	been more spur-of-the-moment attendees if the weather wasn't so chancy.

     o	After having attended so many Busch Grand National races there, I 
	found it *very* difficult to keep track of the flow of the race.  
	I'd watch a car go into the corner, then look back to see the next 
	car and overshoot it!  Those are very fast cars.  It was interesting...

     o	I was disappointed that so few cars started (21, I think), but was 
	pleasantly surprised at how much action there was...at the speeds 
	they were going, 20 cars filled up that mile.  From what little I 
	saw of the television coverage I taped, I think it was difficult 
	to position the cameras for good viewing.  It may have looked like 
	a parade on TV, but really wasn't.

     o	Michael Andretti, suspecting a bad tire, pitted late for fresh 
	rubber.  Otherwise, Rahal would have had his hands full with that 
	late yellow.  Andretti was remarkably quick with cold tires and full 
	loads.

     o	Pity about the weather...I would have been there all weekend, so 
	I'm feeling a bit shorted right now.  Good thing there's a BGN
	300-lapper there next weekend.

     o	Impressive fortitude shown by Johannson.  Can you imagine being 
	thrown into an oval race for the first time, getting almost no 
	practice, and all of this on a track that *nobody* is familiar 
	with?  Yikes...

     o	IndyCars are remarkably quiet, but I was pleasantly surprised at 
	the marvelous howl they make when you set 20 of 'em loose all at 
	once...It ain't F1 (*nothing* else is), but it was a good sound.

     o	The "Up With People" Sunday-morning concert was bad enough to 
	sterilize small animals over large distances.  It turned my small 
	hangover into a large one.  I would consider coming late to a race 
	if they were scheduled again.  Awful!  Mr. Bahre will be receiving 
	my opinion of that show very soon...

     o	Traffic on 106 didn't look too bad, but things were messy in the 
	Concord area.  I used alternative routings to very good effect.

     o	The amount of space allocated to each IndyCar is about double in 
	length what a Grand National car gets.

     o	A car-owner by the name of Paul Newman was seen arriving by 
	helicopter on raceday.

     o	The Indy Lights were entertaining, but they desperately needed more 
	vehicles.  Only 11 started.  They definitely did *not* fill the 
	mile.

     o	The Barber Slaabs were surprisingly entertaining.  There was one 
	Colombian yahoo (Guzman I think) who would regularly get his car 
	all out of shape into 1.  It was the first-ever oval race for the 
	Barber Slaab series.

     o	Just before the race, the parachute drop was an attention-getter.  
	The 'chutists deplaned at about 1000 above the ground, and got a 
	pretty good "Ooooh!" from the crowd.  Dial 1-800-U-Go-Jump...

    
    RE: -.1
    
    Gaff, yes it certainly was a great event.  I would have liked for more
    cars to be frontrunners but between them Michael and Bobby put on a
    good race with lots of excitment.  They made some *very* decisive
    passing moves!
    
    random thoughts...
    
    - What a shame Goodyear missed getting back on the lead lap in the middle
    of the race when he was the fastest of the lot.
    
    - Stefan Johansenn ran very well given it was his first oval race.  A
    shame his engine let him down.
    
    - Rahal was very fortunate he was not adversely affected by Boesel's and
    Johansenn's engine failures.
    
    - Rick Mears sure does make an uncompetitive package perform well.
    
    - I wish the Galmers were more competitive on ovals.  Did you see how
    much front wing they were carrying!
    
    - It looked like the place was sold out from my seat in the
    grandstands.  So why hasn't NASCAR granted a Winston Cup date?  
    
    Nate

    My $.02:
    
    	Three great races although, as noted in other replies, there could
    have been more cars in each. 
    	It was the first time I'd been at NHIS and it's quite impressive. I
    couldn't believe the size of the main grandstand.
    	Took an hour to get there from my house and THREE hours home so I
    have to disagree with a previous reply saying that traffic wasn't THAT
    bad (took me an hour just to get out of the parking lot).
    	I sat in the Concord grandstand on turn 1 ($35 for the seat) and it
    was great viewing. Could see almost all the track and had a perfect
    shot into the pits with my binoculars.
    	I was surprised at how entertaining the Indy Lites and the Saab
    series races were. 
    	RE:.135, the "yahoos" name is Diego Guzman and he was a wild man! 
    My friend and I just kept laughing and were amazed at this guy as every 
    time he'd hit turn 1 he'd get all squirrely and the tires would be howling 
    and the car would be making these short, lateral, jerky motions. Neither 
    one of us figured he'd make the end of the race without kissing the wall 
    but he held in there. 
    	If you think some of the passing moves were good with the Indy cars
    you should have seen these Saab guys. At one point two of them came
    abreast down the front straight with one guy just behind them. They hit
    turn 1 and right in the middle of the turn the guy behind them passed
    BETWEEN them in the MIDDLE of the turn. I couldn't believe they all made 
    it through.
    	All in all, a very entertaining day. My nephew was there and he's
    going this weekend to see the Bud 300. I intend to see one of those
    NASCAR races there myself some day.

    I too got a great kick out of Guzman in turn one. I sat in the same
    section, and even my 7.9 year-old son got some good laughs out of this
    guy. He has to be a great driver to have not hit the wall. I have had
    road cars with these handling problems, and I sympathized with that guy
    totally. 
    
    I'm glad the lights raced in the afternoon instead of the scheduled
    morning run, since half the crowd would have missed that race.
    
    Mike

    
    Those of you not in the habit of reading the F1 note in CARS_UK may be
    interested to know there is considerable speculation over there about
    an announcement anticipated at this weekend's British GP.
    
    Apparently Lotus (who have been rather resurgent this season) plan to
    make a major sponsorship announcement.  It is beleived that Castrol
    Motor Oil will sponsor them next season as will the Dirt Devil company.
    Speculation is that an American driver will be named to the team.  So,
    who currently has Dirt Devil sponsorship?  Michael Andretti.  Who
    currently drives the Ford powered Indycar (Ford engines are in no small
    part responsable for the recent success at Lotus).  Michael Andretti.
    Who has been eyeing F1 longingly for a few seasons now.  Michael
    Andretti.  Who's dad won the World Champiionship in a Lotus...?
    
    Well, you get the picture.
    
    It will be interesting to see what/where Michael and Unser Jr. will be
    racing next season!
    
    - Nate

    Sounds very interesting.  What is the File/Entry of Cars_uk?
    
    

MARVIN::CARS_UK, topic 1557 for F1 '92.

The NHIS IndyCar race was a blast!  The attendance was 55,000-plus,
a record for a sports event in NH.  Enough people stayed to see the
Indy Lights to set a record for Indy Lights attendance, as well.
I suspect it was the same for the Barber Snaabs, too.

I had seats in row 35, section AS (just south of start/finish, about
3/4 the way up the stands).  From there you can see the entire track
and the entirety of pit lane except for one pit, which was blocked
by the flag stand.  The only thing that doesn't work out from there
is the track announcer--the PA system is totally drowned out by the
noise from the cars.  Next time I'll bring a radio and tune in to the
track announcements there (essential to determine the complete race
order once the yellows come out--the leader board only shows positions
1-4).

The early evaluation from the drivers was that passing would be
difficult.  This didn't seem to be the case in the actual race.  There
was lots of good action.  Rahal, in particular, didn't seem to have
any trouble passing anybody anywhere on the track.  He made it all look
so easy.

The IndyCar crowd (drivers, owners, press) all had nothing but praise
for the track and facilities.  Certainly, from a spectator's
perspective, it's a good track.  I don't think there's a bad seat in
the house.

--PSW

    Nice to hear such good reaction from NHIS. The tv coverage was good and
    the track looks like a winner.
    
    What do you folks think of the talk about Andretti to Lotus and/or
    Unser to Benetton? Yeah, I know, the official word is that Unser went
    to test but ...
    
    Paul

Both are certainly plausible rumors.  Little Al, in particular,
has won both the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Championship.  He's won
both of the big prizes in IndyCar racing, so if he's interested in F1,
this is a logical time to make the move.

Neither Al nor Michael has any reason to move to an uncompetitive F1
ride.  I think both would do well in F1, once they learn the cars
and the circuits.

--PSW

Has anyone heard about Unser's test drive? I'm wondering how he did
and what they all thought of each other. 

I thought Al Unser, Jr. wasn't scheduled to test driver for Benetton
until September.

--PSW

I thought Little Al was supposed to do the Benneton test last week???

Anyway, it's a shame that Tracey's transmission broke. It looked like 
it was shaping up to be a good fight between him and Michael. Was he 
too hard on the trans or did it just break by itself? I hope Penske
lets him do some more road course races. That is where he is best. 

    
    Re: Unser Jr. and Benetton
    
    I believe the seat fitting was last week and the test will be at
    Estoril in September.
    
    - Nate

Yeah, I guess that I got it from the tv that the seat fitting was last week and 
the test will be in September. I'd like to see L'il Al in a Benetton next year, 
especially with the recent progress the team is making. I hope the new Ford V12 is 
good.

Michael certainly looks to have the measure of folks these days. When things keep 
together he seems to be able to dominate. He looked very strong at Toronto and 
seems equally stong and at home on both ovals and raod courses. He would do well 
in F1 and I expect to see him there in the near future.

I was impressed to see Tony George sitting with Bill Stoakan (sp?) on the tube 
yesterday. IndyCar and Indy have much to gain by working together and much to lose 
if they don't. By making sure that both groups are moving together technically, 
they will strengthen the standing and future of the class.

Paul

Well, I didn't set the VCR before going off for my own weekend of 
racing & banging at Pocono, so I missed Michigan.

I heard that the finishing order was something like:

Goodyear
Tracey
Boesel
Unser Jr.
Pruett??

Did anybody watch it?

Glenn

    Yup, you got it right - Goodyear and Tracey had a good dice going
    almost 'til the end. They were the only two on the lead lap.
    Goodyear was much faster on full tanks, and Tracey's car
    started to sour about 5-10 laps from the end ... Goodyear got both
    Boesel and Tracey around the outside and never looked back.
    
    Scott
    

It was great to see Scott Goodyear break trrough to his first win. His team has 
been making steady strides for two years and the reward was there. He and Paul 
Tracy look like a big part of the future of Indy Car. I believe that's expecially 
true since there are a number of Indy Car stars nearing the end of their driving 
careers - Mario and AJ. And other driver who may quit some time in the next few 
years - Rahal, Fittipaldi, Sullivan. If Unser and Andretti go to F1, as expected, 
the new boys could grow in stature quickly. I see the next season or two as a time 
of great change for Indy Car racing. It will be very importnt for the leaders of 
the sport to lead - not fight.

The good news is, it looks like it's going that way.

There was a good piece in RACER this month about the proposed changes that will 
affect Indy car rules next year, especially at Indy - smaller rear wings, flater 
bottoms, altered diffusers. Big Al Unser drove a test in one of the Lola-Buick's 
recently. He was able to set a benchmark time of 228 mph in the '92 spec car. When 
the car was changed to the proposed '93 specs, he went 213 mph. There were no 
comments from him, but the results would seem to speak for themselves.

Paul

    I've been working a lot of late nights, I get home in time to see the
    re-runs of Elkhart Lake first on CBC Sunday at 11:30 and last night
    on TSN after 12.
    
    My problem is I fall a sleep half way through (not because it's too
    slow, it looked like a good race) and don't know who won or how 
    Scott Goodyear did ?
    
    I remember Tracy was overcooking it all over the place, I think he's
    showing his age.
    
    I know I should use the VCR but who's thinking after a long day of 
    moonlighting.
    
    Can someone help me out ?
    
    Thanks
    Fred
              

    
    Fred,
    
    Fittipaldi won the race.  I beleive Unser Jr. was second, Rahal third,
    Michael A. fourth and Mario A. fifth.  Tracy spun off while attempting
    to overtake another car, got high sided and had to be pulled out by the
    safety vehicle.  He lost a lap or two and never figured in the race
    again.  Goodyear had a *big* wreck on the back of the course and I was
    afraid he was pretty seriously hurt but thankfully not.  He walked away
    from the wreck and no injuries were reoprted during the broadcast.  The
    video failed to show Goodyear's wreck or what caused it.  The McKenzie
    team will have a real thrach to get a chassis built for the upcoming
    race in Vancouver.
    
    - Nate

    Thanks Nate, 
    
    Goodyear was going pretty well it was he who was almost taken out by 
    Tracy, but I don't think they touched.
    
    Scott did take off someones front wing, with his left rear wheel, I
    wounder if this may have had something to do with the crash ?
    
    They should be able to get him running at least the back up car, after
    the second place at Indy the crew chief said they would be buying
    another Lola. I hope they did.
    
    Thanks
    Fred
        

    How did the season end?  Who won the championship?  How did Rahal and
    Mi. Andretti place in the last race?
    
    Side question: Why did participation in this topic dry up?
    
    Roger

    The Laguna Seca season closer was pretty decent racing, and better
    drama. Michael and Mario took 1-2, but Rahal took the championship with
    a 4th place (or did he get up to 3rd?).
    
    I'll have to let someone else supply details, I'm fairly workbound.
    Maybe similar conditions are part of the reason for your side question.
    
    Cheers,
    Chuck

    RE: last couple
    
    	Rahal finished 3rd, after Paul Tracy had to park it after a not so
    	clean pass of a slower car (Tracy was running 2nd, and looking to
    	press Michael when he got caught up in traffic).
    
    Scott

Yes, Rahal finished 3rd, Eddie Cheever 4th, and John Andretti 5th.
As far as overall points, Rahal had 196 (got 14 for 3rd) and
Michael had 190 (got 20 for 1st), so it was a close finish overall.
It was upsetting to see Paul Tracy go out so near the end. I was
surprised Vassar didn't leave him more space since Michael had
just passed him and Tracy had been right behind him for many laps.
He lost a front wing which caused him to lose it later in the same lap.
Anyway, Laguna Seca is a beautiful track. I'm not sure you can tell 
from the camera angles, but parts of the track are quite hilly and 
it's very steep through the ESSes. A definately challenging but safe course.
    
    Peter

I imagine that Roger Penske has probably read the riot act to Paul Tracy again, 
after he threw away a podium finish like that.  If he can restrain some of that 
competitiveness while he learns the tracks, he'll be a great driver.

--PSW

Rahal benefitted some from attrition (though not an unexpected level
of attition).  Tracy, Fittipaldi, and Goodyear were all faster and
were all ahead of Rahal till they had their problems.  Goodyear had
a broken header and Fittipaldi a throttle linkage problem, I think.
It would have been more interesting if Rahal had had to race for
his needed 4th place, instead of just biding his time and falling
into it.  He was playing it smart, though, and was able to just
cruise in. 

    RE: 157 through 161
    
    Thanks for the update.  I'm already looking forward to next year.  I
    guess I'll have to become an F1 fan to continue following Mi. Andretti!
    
    Roger
    

    I thought my numbers didn't look right in .159. Rahal did finished 
    the season with 196. But, Michael had 192. Besides the 20 for first, 
    he got 1 for fastest qualifier and 1 for most laps led. That's why
    Rahal needed to finish at least 4th. Anyone have the totals for
    the rest of the drivers??  

     pos  pts  driver
    
      1   196  Bobby Rahal
      2   192  Michael Andretti
      3   169  Al Unser, Jr.
      4   151  Emerson Fittipaldi
      5   108  Scott Goodyear
      6   105  Mario Andretti
      7    99  Danny Sullivan
      8    94  John Andretti
      9    80  Raul Boesel
      9    80  Eddie Cheever