IZOD ICONIC Decision For 2012: From Hot Cars ... To Haute Cars

General view of the IZOD IndyCar Series chassis strategy announcement at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on July 14, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Image Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images North America/Clarity Media

IZOD ICONIC Decision For 2012: From Hot Cars ... To Haute Cars

The decision for the future platform and competition in the IRL starting in 2012 was a PUNT. Nothing new here than the Ol' Boys Club sticking together without disturbing the apple cart that has been around 2002 on the manufacturer side.

This excerpted and edited from Pressdog -

Random Reaction Quotes Pushed Out by IndyCar
By :Pressdog.com - July 14, 2010

From IndyCar PR --

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES CAR STRATEGY

INDIANAPOLIS (July 14, 2010) – Quotes from selected IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, team owners, manufacturer representatives and other officials about the 2012 car strategy unveiled by the IZOD IndyCar Series (in alphabetical order):

“The ICONIC group has come up with a smart way of bringing diversity and a new look to the 2012 IndyCar while keeping longtime partner Dallara, who has the expertise and an incredible amount of knowledge of the technical specifications of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Obviously as a team owner, I will have a lot of questions regarding this new concept, and I want to be reassured that the new rules around this car will guarantee a good operating cost control and a good open competition in between teams. It is also good to see that the state of Indiana is behind the project.”
-- Eric Bachelart, Owner, Conquest Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

“Everyone at IZOD is very excited about today’s announcement because the chassis decision encompasses all of the characteristics that attracted us to the IndyCar Series as a title sponsor. The design represents innovation, speed, technology and performance, all of which are attributes of the IZOD brand. The new car, with the extra 100-horsepower push-to-pass capability, will create even greater moments of speed and competition, which is unbelievable. And the fact that they were able to accomplish all of this while keeping the costs contained and the drivers safe is a real tribute to the ICONIC committee and their forward thinking. We think this will bring the sport to whole new level of competition.”
-- Mike Kelly, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Phillips-Van Heusen, parent company of IZOD brand

“This is a great day for all of us in the IZOD IndyCar Series. I couldn't think of a better manufacturer than Dallara to make the Safety Cell, and, of course, make that product in Indiana. Add to that the fact that there will be development around that cell is fantastic. It's what fans and competitors alike have been wanting, and in 2012, we will have exactly that but at a much lower cost than what we are running now. In most aspects of life and business, it costs more to get what you want, but somehow the ICONIC committee has managed to achieve the right product at a substantially lower price. I can't wait for 2012.”
-- Alex Lloyd, Driver, Dale Coyne Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

“A lighter car is more nimble, makes it easier to pass people. With the turbo engine, you can increase that power to pass a lot, and make for better racing anyway, and more horsepower makes it tougher to drive. There’s more mistakes, more opportunities to pass. You couldn’t have asked for anything better. We have a one-make chassis now, and now we’ll have a common tub, which is safe. And you’re able to design your own bodywork.” (Can you imagine going 240 mph at Indianapolis in a car like that?): “I love competition, I’m not sure that it’s necessary to go 240 again. This year, gee, we were going 228, and it’s getting up there. I think it’s something you have to wait, see and watch it develop and see what horsepower works best where, because with a turbo you can adjust that. The thing I like is it will take its own direction with the design because it’s open.”
-- Will Power, Driver, Team Penske, IZOD IndyCar Series
Reference Here>>

My favorite quote came from Tony Purnell,, a member of the committee that formulated the new rules, as he summed up the decision in a challenge to those various participants: "So come on, Ford. Come on, GM, Lotus, Ferrari. Come on, Lockheed. Come on, Boeing. Come on, you engineers working in small technology businesses. We want you to rise to the challenge." Yea, right ... General Motors is still a government operation, and the others really would not want to put lipstick on someone else's frame (pig). It would be hard for any of them to develop "skin" in the game.

Basically, the IRL is looking to create a fashion show reality series entitled "Dress This Italian Pig" (I thought this was to be an American open-wheel racing series with the development of drivers and technologies originating on this continent). The only competition will be between Target and Penske being able to continue to sell the other teams ... last year's dress.

CTRL-CLICK Image to launch video of mushroom buster explanationImage Credit: Swift Engineering

Swift Engineering, a California corporation known for its work since 1983 in aerospace, aviation, automotive and motorsports engineering and design, had this "Spec" thing thought out right. Create a car that would be true to the concept of Open-Wheel racing ... unlike the Delta Wing/Lawn Dart ... yet work the aero package to reduce the effects of the after-draft air "mushroom" and allow the cars to run safely, and more closely nose-to-tail. This "Mushroom Buster" concept, first introduced to the IRL in Concept #66 with the final version in concept #70, would increase competition on the track and allow drivers to do what we watch them do ... win through skill.

At least this decision to allow anyone to dress up a Dallara chassis matches up to the sensibilities of the title sponsor ... IZOD, a fashion icon brand. This does not, however, increase the driving competition on the track ... the "Mushroom Buster" concept would never be able to be applied consistently. If I were a driver, I'd want the car following my car to be able to be booted off of the track due to the Mushroom Effect when it was following me at 15 miles per hour (if not 14 mph). In this regard I see the decesion by the IRL ICONIC — Innovative, Competitive, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective — Advisory Committee as promoting chaos when a specification series is what they have ... given the fact there is only one chassis manufacturer

One of the major problems with very small, light automobiles is that they can be unsafe in a collision. The Smart solution is the Tridion steel safety shell. Image Credit: ©1998-2006 DaimlerChrysler via How Stuff Works

This decision feels a little like having a "Smart Car" frame dressed ... in a new skin.

... notes from The EDJE

Hershel McGriff Takes On Chuckwalla Valley Raceway For A Shakedown Run

The Money Shot - "Wheel Up" - This image was captured on July 11, 2010 while Hershel McGriff was taking his first runs in his new 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign car during its first Shakedown Trial held at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). Turns #8, #9, and #10 are a series of curves designed to mimic the challenges posed in the famed "Corkscrew" at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Turn # 9 is an off-camber right, left-hand turn that drops off into the strong right-hand turn #10. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Hershel McGriff Takes On Chuckwalla Valley Raceway For A Shakedown Run

A funny thing happened on the way to perform a photo shoot of the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2010, held on July 2, 2010 at the AZUSA Greens Golf Club ... I met Hershel McGriff.

Oh sure, Parnelli Jones was sitting at the same table with other presenters, WCSCHOF members, inductees and Master of Ceremony - Vice President/General Manager Iowa Speedway, Craig Armstrong. They were all there to usher in and honor the 7th class of 12 inductees (many posthumously), and the two hour ceremony was truly an honor to just witness ... but I met Hershel McGriff.

We were talking after dinner, before the ceremony and the subject came up about race tracks in the southwest. I told him that I had attended a track opening last April and that this track was very well designed. The track is located between Blythe and Indio off of California Interstate 10, and is called the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). The funny thing was that Herschel then asked me if the track would allow him to make his first shakedown runs in the new car he had put together to compete in the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign. He mentioned that he was running short on time and it would be of great service to be able to check out the car before he hit the track in Portland to race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, Bi-Mart Salute To The Troops "125" event held the weekend of July 17-18, 2010.

Well, I had talked with the President of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Micky Grana, back in April. I had also met his wife Aimee and so I figured, why not? Just give it a go!

Micky was gracious enough to have a conversation with Hershel and they put together a time this last Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 7:00 am PT.

When I rolled into the paddock area around 7:15 a.m., the McGriff family was already there with the car rolled out of the trailer transporter, Hershel was suited up in the cockpit, the car was cranking up to start, and it caught the spark and roared to life. Ahhhh the sound of a race engine in a Busch, ahh, er, Nationwide, err, NASCAR K&N Pro Series car (once known as a Winston West Series car).

Hershel took to the track and came back quickly. When he rolled up, he was greeted by the one person who has almost always set up his cars to run over the decades, Hershel McGriff Jr., a credible driver in his own right.

The "Hershels" discuss vibration and possible solutions before the car is put up on jacks. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

McGriff, the senior, complained that there was a front wheel vibration right off the bat as he entered the track so they pulled the car next to the transporter, placed it up on jack stands and went to work on identifying the problem. Herschel Jr., with the assistance of his cart-racing daughter, Mariah, found that at cold, or low tire pressures, the front sway bar's outside bolts stuck out and rubbed the inside wall of the tire.

Shakedown pit captain, Hershel McGriff Jr. and his daughter, Mariah diagnose the problem with the front sway bar. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

After about 30 minutes, the car was ready to resume its Shakedown Trial which it passed with flying colors.

Shakedown pit captain, Hershel McGriff Jr. as he re-shims the front sway bar. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Inside the McGriff Coach, after the Shakedown, Hershel commented on how he is familiar with the area around Desert Center, California and the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. He has had a longtime association with Park Corporation which also sponsors his cars. Park Corporation has as part of its business mission the purchase and operation of mining businesses throughout the country.

Hershel talked about the anticipation of being at the Portland event this year. He observed that in 2009 the media crush was very intense due to multiple factors. It was the first NASCAR sanctioned race held at Portland International Raceway since 1986, McGriff had won this last race in 1986 and thus was the defending champion, and at 81 he became the oldest driver ever to race in a sanctioned NASCAR event. ESPN, Associated Press, FOX Sports, and all of the media attention that NASCAR could bring was in the mix ... it is amazing that Hershel had enough time to prepare and finish the race at P13. Some people would say, "Geeeez, from Champion to 13th?, What is that about?" Try asking this of the drivers who had been driving the whole season, every season since 1986 and were only able to finish in 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and so on through the field of 27 cars who all came to compete and win.

About the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway? Hershel liked the layout and especially liked the dropping "S" turn combination of #11 and #12 after the slow rising straight that follows the mini "Corkscrew". He said that it reminded him a series of turns that he will encounter at Portland next weekend.

Looking back across the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway from turn #14 to the long, banked, 180 degree right-hand turn #13 at the southern end of the facility. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Further, he wished he had more time and less self-imposed restrictions based upon the shakedown trial task at hand because he really wanted to figure out where the best place would be to place the car in the long, banked, 180 degree right-hand turn #13 reminiscent of the long, banked sweeper at the former Riverside International Raceway which he raced on many times throughout his career.

The McGriff family - Hershel, wife Sherrie, Sherrie's daughter-in-law Sharon (Shakedown pit captain, Hershel Junior's wife), granddaughter and future racer Mariah were getting ready to continue on to Portland, Oregon where the next scheduled stop of those riding in the Coach Sunday night was Bakersfield.

Hershel McGriff at the end of a successful Shakedown Trial in his coach parked at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Herschel McGriff at 82, still has the drive and the grace to express a disappointment on not being able to carry enough speed to have his front wheel rise up off of the pavement for a great action photograph of his 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign car during the Shakedown Trial at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). As one can easily tell, he was even able to deliver on this internal wish (photo evidence at top of posting), in that, he never communicated this desire of his to be able to create a circumstance that would produce such a shot.

Never count Hershel McGriff out once he gets his mind around any goal ... once one meets him and gets to know him on any level, one comes away with the feeling that Hershel may be just the person that could actually deliver on the goal.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: 2010, 50th Anniversary, BI-MART, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Corkscrew. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, CVR, Hershel McGriff, Impala SS, K and N Pro Series, NASCAR, Park Corporation, Portland, The EDJE

Tweeting The Glen 2010 - IZOD IndyCar Series Race #9

Last year's winner for Dale Coyne Racing at The Glen, Dreyer Reinbold Racing's Justin Wilson. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

Tweeting The Glen 2010 - IZOD IndyCar Series Race #9

Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe had combined to win the first five poles since the IndyCar Series began racing at the storied road course in upstate New York's Finger Lakes region, but neither had delivered a victory.

This year, the stage is set for either a Penske win in a big way or a colossal failure in that Team Penske has placed all three drivers in the top three spots on the grid. ChampCar transition driver Will Power, in his first full season ride with Penske racing, who has won two of the eight races run this year, captured the pole for this year's running of the Camping World Grand Prix at Watkin's Glen.

This excerpted and edited from IndyCar.com -

Will Power, the Mario Andretti Road Course Championship points leader, won the PEAK Performance Pole Award for the fifth time this season with a lap of 1 minute, 29.3164 seconds on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit during the Firestone Fast Six shootout.

Teammate Helio Castroneves (1:29.4609) was second – the first time this season a team has swept the front row – while Ryan Briscoe (1:29.9346) and reigning series champion Dario Franchitti will share Row 2. Team Penske started 1-2-3 at Edmonton in '09.

Takuma Sato made his third Firestone Fast Six appearance in the No. 5 Lotus KV Racing Technology car and will be on the third row with defending race winner Justin Wilson in the No. 22 Z-Line Designs car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

The top six were separated by less than a second. Six different teams are represented on the first three rows.
Reference Here>>

Will Power takes the PEAK Performance Pole Award for the 60-lap Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen ... a 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

The following are comments made via "tweets" on Twitter during the running of the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen ... the ninth race of this 2010 17 race season and the second round of twisty street/road courses that were the bread and butter on the former ChampCar World Series.

TheEDJE This 4th of July has special meaning - It's all about our personal freedoms - Happy Independence Day To All! #IZOD #irl #indycar #power #ccws

IndyCarNation While your waiting for the green flag, check out some pics from the entire weekend. http://fb.me/uAuffiZr

Marco26Web Let's roll! RT @garytrib: @Andretti26 car ready to go! http://tweetphoto.com/30809226

indy44 The fire is lit. Let's see a clean start drivers!

pressdog Beer of the race ..... engaged.

MikeM_PR Start will be 2nd time by

AllenWedge Some people are annoyed when they show NASCAR clips during #IZODIndyCar races, I enjoy it because stock cars are (and look) soooo slow

FastMachines The command to start engine by the Camping World exec was kind of limp. Get that guy a Monavie or a Venom energy drink! #IndyCar

DRRIndyCar Almost time for the green flag...

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen gets started

IndyCarNation Green Flag! Lap one complete @wgi

indy44 Wow Sato almost took out Dixon at the start.

sidepodcast watching indycar at watkins glen, and live commenting here: http://bit.ly/d6zj8B #izodindycar

IndyCarNation Top 5 after 3 laps: Power, Briscoe, Castroneves, Franchitti, Dixon.

DRRIndyCar Dixon just passed JW...

IndyCarNation Top pick Paul Tracy on the IndyCar.com poll for surprise drive at The Glen is in 9th. Up 3 spots.

AllenWedge For those who don't realize Adam Carroll has been out of competition for almost a year, and A1GP didn't have flying starts, yet he's 10th

indy44 P1 Power P2 Briscoe -1.11286 P3 Dario -1.3630 P4 Wilson -4.88897 P5 Sato -5.4521

IndyCarNation Dixon with front wing damage. Helio with left rear damage. Look for pit action.

MikeM_PR Dixon and helio get together @justinwilson22 P4 as a result of that

SpeedJournal (SI) Hunter-Reay secures sponsorship for rest of year http://bit.ly/938LIl #autoracing

AllenWedge last night TNT had their own version of side-by-side, have to say I liked it better, kept race full screen with box for commercials

indy44 Huge mistake by Dixon runs into the back of Helio.

deferrandragon Made up 2 positions in 2 laps! Rafa's on a hot streak!

IndyCarNation Top 5 after pit activity. Power, Briscoe, Franchitti, Wilson, Sato.

BeccyGordon @RyanHunterReay is P9... Only comment so far is, understeer.

kvracing 10 laps out of 60. Sato in #5 car is P5, Moraes in #32car is P8 and Viso in #8 car has moved to P22. Power leadsa briscoe, then franchitti

Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

YELLOW Flag - Full course caution - Dan Weldon gets tapped by Alex Lloyd and spins to a stall.

indy44 Somewhere a National Guardsman is punching a Boy Scout.

DRRIndyCar Wilson is battling for position with Sato...

AllenWedge Sato got around Wilson for 4th... trying not to jinx Takuma, so just mentioning pass is as close as I'll get

bobbydracing watching IZOD Indy Car @ Watkins Glenn! I wanna be back there next year! Love the series and the track!

IndyCarNation Wheldon got it started. Still in the field.

Pits Open -

DRRIndyCar Both JW and PT are pitting now...Both will get fuel, switch to the black tires, and get a turn of front wing...

RHR Stalls - looses valuable positions

MikeM_PR @justuinwilson22 first stop 4 tires,fuel, and front wing adj. P15 some cars did not pit

IndyCarNation Lloyd issued penalty for avoidable contact. Green flag!

AllenWedge Interesting mix at front of the field for the restart, and of course ABC is still at commercial... has Comcast merged with NBC yet?

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen - Restarts

kvracing Green Flag. After most of field pitted and Viso stayed out, he is now P2. Moraes P9, Sato P10. Lap 19 of 60

Top three cars stayed out ...

IndyCarNation Top 5 after 19 laps. Dixon, Viso, Tagliani, Castroneves, Power.

IndyCarNation Found in the S's...Dixon's wing when he and & Helio made contact. http://ow.ly/i/2qdS

curtcavin Alex Lloyd charged with hitting Wheldon. Sent to the back. #indycar

pressdog This is NOYB according to ABC but. ...RT @IndyCarNation: Lloyd issued penalty for avoidable contact. Green flag!

AllenWedge Since ABC doesn't care to notice I'll keep the Matos updates coming, he just got Dario for 7th (3rd of cars who pitted under yellow)

IndyCarNation Romancini has a little spin in front of Patrick and keeps going.

Mario Romancini works a little magic at The Glen. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar

indy44 Mario romancing the wheel saves it.

curtcavin BTW: D&R says it's "mix and match" with drivers the rest of the season. I gathered it will be Graham at Toronto, but they wouldn't commit.

indy44 There's been black flags for less. RT @pressdog: @LPXmusic total chop by tracy. If danica does that? But for tracy it is ok for some reason.

PantherRacing Somebody need to share with Alex Lloyd where the passing zones are and maybe do an eye exam. #indycar

IndyCarNation Random driver updates after 23 laps. Viso in 2nd, Matos in 7th, Mutoh in 15th, Tracy in 19th.

DRRIndyCar Lap 23....JW P13 and PT P19..

indy44 Top 5 Dixon Viso Helio Tagliani Power

IndyCarNation If you're not in front of a TV, you can follow live video and timing & scoring online, here: http://ht.ly/26Toi

kvracing Viso will b pitting from 2nd place next lap. Alternate tires and fuel.

AllenWedge I love Marty Reid, he's so surprised Dixon is still out there, yet Helio (who pitted on same lap) is not all that surprising in the least

kvracing Dixon and Castroneves in to pits, moving Moraes to P5 and Sato to P10.

AllenWedge hahaha even coming out of the pits Milka is too slow so Helio has to make it 3 wide between turns 1-2

curtcavin This might bite me, but early returns on Adam Carroll are very good. #indycar

TheEDJE Alex Lloyd retires from the race - mechanical (I think the Boy Scout couldn't handle being in the back of the pack) #IZOD #irl #ics #TheGlen

IndyCarNation Lloyd has retired. It's lap 29 and Power is back in P1.

AllenWedge Marco has been trying to pass TK for about 10 laps now, curious if he'd be more aggressive if it were someone else

Dale_Nixon Uh Marco, exactly why would you expect @TonyKanaan to "let" you by? #IndyCar http://myloc.me/8OLbo

deferrandragon Top 3 are Power, Briscoe and Rafa

TheEDJE @deferrandragon You Goooooo CCWS!

deferrandragon Rafa has lost telemetry and can now only communicate via radio with crew

pressdog Is Will Power driving with his knees?

Push-To-Pass - Of the top three, Matos has only 5 of his 20 pushes left.

kvracing Lap 35, Moraes P5, Sato P10 & Viso P18. Window for pitting is next few laps. Sato pitting lap 37, Moraes lap 38

curtcavin Everyone in unison: That Power kid ain't bad. #indycar

momn3boys It's beautiful up there in Upstate NY, Watkins Glen gorge is amazing. Fun weekend, great place to watch racing! Def comng back #Indycar @wgi

Power leads by 1.57 seconds and a couple of more P2P's and coming into the pits on LAP 37. Power and Briscoe take REDS

AllenWedge Briscoe beats Power out of the pits, don't think Power is going to settle for that even if they are teammates #IZODIndyCar

YELLOW Flag - Full course caution - DeSilvestra collects the ARAMCO barrier

TheEDJE The leaders who pitted before the Yellow, should be good to go 'till the end #IZOD #irl #ics #indycar

AllenWedge boo every time we're about to get a crazy set of strategies against each other we always manage to get a yellow to negate it all

kvracing Yellow Flag lap 39 for de silvestro. Moraes and Sato have already pitted. Viso will pit once the pits are opened.

IndyCarNation Yellow flag. Grab another drink and enjoy the rest of the race.

Dixon looses ground with the YELLOW Flag - will pit and end up at the end of pack ... Viso - REDS and Castroneves - Blacks also come in

curtcavin New goal of Dixon and Helio: Get what they can. #indycar

pressdog Hope it's a war, that is.

Dale_Nixon @tomasscheckter Ill take Dario then...

TheEDJE @pressdog - You like a race like I like a race ... UGLY - War's on between Briscoe and Power

MikeM_PR @justinwilson22 came in for a slash of fuel to be able to run hard to the end

SpeedFreaks @Dale_Nixon I've never been fan of holding races on holiday wknds as people want to travel 2b w/ friends and family, not necessarily sports

Dale_Nixon @SpeedFreaks yeah agreed. The late local time of this race makes it a tough travel too. I didn't get home until 2 am in 2007

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen - Restarts

TheEDJE Power takes Briscoe in the Bus Stop - Way to go!

pressdog Power is a goddamn road animal.

openpaddock Thinking after today, IndyCar.com and @IndyCarNation may be the only way to watch the race when I am not there!

tomasscheckter Mad respect for will power he does not mess around.

gassracing That's what happens when you have a quality driver RT @PantherRacing: Gotta admit when the @NationalGuard car (cont) http://tl.gd/2a78jh

kvracing Lap 45 of 60. Moraes #32car is P6, Viso #8car is P15 & Sato #5car is P18

TheEDJE Franchitti gets around Briscoe for P2 ... drops Briscoe to P3 - Power may actually get some competition

AllenWedge A pass for 2nd = ABC at commercial #IZODIndyCar we've got at least 7 more commercials in this race right?

IndyCarNation Let's see what Dario has for Will. Lots of racing left.

curtcavin Just heard someone say Dario keeps fuel in a vile in his pocket. LOL! #indycar

Dale_Nixon I think we've all got marty rattled now - oh wait he's always like that

IndyCarNation Some more random driver updates. Moraes in 6th, Wilson in 12th, Tag in 18th, Meria in P22.

indy44 Good showing by P4 Matos P5 Wheldon P6 Moraes P7 RHR

Dale_Nixon @curtcavin Chris Simmons - best fuel calc engineer on pit lane. My pick remains Dar-i-o on the farm-i-o

Ten LAPS to go!

kvracing 10 laps remain. Moraes remains P6, Viso moving up to P14 and Sato P19.

IndyCarNation Ten laps to go. Is Dario waiting for the right moment, or is Power too strong?

curtcavin It seems to me: The title comes down to Power or Dario. #indycar

IndyCarNation Drivers aren't afraid to kick up some dust. Looks like everyone's fighting for positions.

IndyCarNation [Photos] Go Daddy helmets - IZOD IndyCar Series posted a photo: Ready for the race. http://ow.ly/17ZZ6f

curtcavin Dixon and HCN in a duel mid-pack! #indycar

indy44 Power leading by .8620

openpaddock Come on Dario!!!! #IZODIndyCar

IndyCarNation Looks like Andretti, Dixon, Helio and Wilson are having some fun. Dario just picked up the pace.

Dale_Nixon What happened to @paultracy3 and carroll? They are a ways back now... #indycar

IndyCarNation Matos is having an impressive 4th place drive. But he's got company.

openpaddock Told Power he would be ok and the gap grows a little...that guy is awesome! Sooo fast!

AllenWedge Mario Moraes got around Wheldon, don't worry about that ABC viewers, it was only for 5th place

IndyCarNation Franchitti is 1.3 seconds behind Power.

pressdog Hard to judge attendance by TV. I'd keep WG ahead of Mid O and Infineon based on qual of racing.

indy44 Dario's mirrors all full of Briscoe

kart58 Wow - looks like KV racing's drivers will both finish.... finally.

IndyCarNation Power's lead increases. P5-P8 looks like it could get exciting.

pressdog Power will win barring air strike.

indy44 2 laps left, time to make a move if possible.

Last Lap - Franchitti baubles and Briscoe takes over P2 on turn 1

indy44 Kanaan has to fuel then kills engine that sucks.

openpaddock IndyCar.com announcer just called Dario veggiemite (sp)...slightly disturbing!

The only multiple winner in the ICS this year, breaks the Penske jinx of not winning from pole at Watkins Glen ... Will Power takes a win at the Glen!!!!

deferrandragon Rafa matches career best with 4th place finish. Nice bounce back by him and the team.

SpeedFreaks Good job, Sunshine??? Will Power's new nickname?? Guess those Verizon commercials with he and Justin Allgaier haven't really worked. LOL!

IndyCarNation Congrats to Will Power. Some great drives. Matos, Moraes & Wheldon come to mind. Thoughts?

indy44 Will Power is insane on the road and street courses. Made it look easy.

Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen Podium: Power beat Briscoe by 1.2 seconds and Dario Franchitti finished third, ahead of Raphael Matos and Mario Moraes. Briscoe passed Franchitti entering the first turn of the final lap. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar


How they fared (** denotes CCWS driver or team transition affliation):

Pos  Driver               Team                    Time/Gap
1.  Will Power**           Penske             1h40m27.4391s
2.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske                 + 1.2181s
3.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi                + 1.4573s
4.  Raphael Matos**        De Ferran Dragon       + 5.3454s
5.  Mario Moraes**         KV**                     + 9.3229s
6.  Dan Wheldon          Panther                + 9.7523s
7.  Ryan Hunter-Reay     Andretti              + 10.5003s
8.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi               + 12.0546s
9.  Helio Castroneves    Penske                + 12.9834s
10.  Justin Wilson**        Dreyer & Reinbold     + 13.5635s
11.  EJ Viso**              KV**                    + 18.7591s
12.  Hideki Mutoh         Newman/Haas           + 20.2279s
13.  Marco Andretti       Andretti              + 26.6965s
14.  Paul Tracy**           Dreyer & Reinbold     + 27.7310s
15.  Takuma Sato          KV**                    + 28.8774s
16.  Adam Caroll          AFS/Andretti          + 29.3624s
17.  Alex Tagliani**        Fazzt                 + 35.3753s
18.  Bertrand Baguette    Conquest**              + 36.5350s
19.  Vitor Meira          Foyt                  + 36.9869s
20.  Danica Patrick       Andretti              + 38.2675s
21.  Tony Kanaan          Andretti              + 38.6700s
22.  Mario Romancini      Conquest**                 + 1 lap
23.  Milka Duno           Dale Coyne**              + 3 laps

Retirements

Simona de Silvestro  HVM**                38 laps
Alex Lloyd           Dale Coyne**         22 laps
(ht: autosport.com)

... notes from The EDJE

West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class on Friday

8,500 Oakland fans watched as Woody Brown flipped his Mercury stock car during the ARA 300-lap race on 7/27/52. Unhurt, Brown did some hurried repairs and returned to finish 10th, that's Fred Steinbroner in the #16. John Soares won the event. Caption & Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class, July 2nd

The people who will be inducted into the 2010 West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame, by tradition, come from two main categories - Historic Era (achievements that came prior to 1970), and Modern Era. This year will also see the addition of a new category - Career Contributor (for members of the media and public relations professionals of any era).

The West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame was founded in 2001 to memorialize significant contributions to the sport’s development and history. Inductees are drawn from people who have served in its many disciplines including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, and most recently, publicists and members of the motorsports media.

Yakima Speedway - Yakima, Washington in June, 1961 Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The twelve motorsports figures from historic and modern eras that will be recognized Friday (July 2, 2010) when the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inducts its seventh class at Azusa Greens Country Club in Azusa, Calif are as follows:

Historic Era (6 inductees) - Driver Bob Caswell of Walnut Creek, Calif., Car Owners Bill “Tiny” Clinton of Los Angeles/Joe Mangini Jr. of Walnut Creek, Calif., Crew Chief Herb Nab, Tire Provider/Specialist Duane Edwards of Southgate, Calif. and Starter/Race Chief Steward Mel Fernandes of San Leandro, Calif.

All of the above awards will be honored posthumously.

Modern Era (4 inductees) - Driver Mike Chase of Redding, Calif., Car Owner Allen Beebe of Modesto, Calif., Car Owner Rod Osterlund of Plumas County in Northeast California, and James “Jimmy” Smith of Newport Beach, Calif

Career Contributor (2 inductees) - The late Gordon Martin, long-standing motorsports writer and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and Mel Larson, longtime spokesman for the sport of stock car racing.

Turn #11 (?), Laguna Seca Raceway (now, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) near Monterey, California. Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. (PDT) and this seventh class will bring the total number of inductees in the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame to 93.

... notes from The EDJE

24 Hours of Le Mans 2010: Saleen notches first ever win at last ever event

Jack Leconte’s Larbre Competition - Saleen S7R driven by Gabriele Gardel, Roland Berville, & Julien Canal for the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Image Credit: antsphoto

24 Hours of Le Mans 2010: Saleen notches first ever win at last ever event

A Saleen S7R wins the last LMGT1 classification race to be held at the 24 hours of Le Mans. In its 78 year history, a Saleen car has never won at Le Mans ... until today, when the Jack Leconte’s Larbre Competition - Saleen S7R driven by Gabriele Gardel (Roland Berville, & Julien Canal co-drivers) crossed the finish line in P1 at the end of the 24th hour. The Saleen is the only car racing at Le Mans that is not racing in the FIA GT1 World Championship.

In winning the LMGT1 Class, the #50 Larbre Competition Saleen S7R completed 331 LAPS, 2ND was the #72 Luc Alphand Adventures Corvette C6,R with 327 LAPS, and 3RD was the #52 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin with 311 LAPS. This will be the last year the LMGT1 Class will be run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in order to align the 24 Hours of Le Mans format with the ALMS and the classification formats they have adopted. This is a good move for Le Mans because this will allow more competitive teams from across the "pond" to be able to enter into this hallmark motorsports race event.

The 78th running of the 24 hours of Le Mans was a race that saw many firsts but chief among them was that a new overall distance record had been set when the #9 Audi Sport North America - Audi R15 TDI diesel-powered car crossed the finish line, with Timo Bernhard driving, completing 392 laps. Timo led a event podium sweep of Audi R15 TDI's in a surprise ending when the faster paced group of Team Peugeot Total - Peugeot 908 HDi - FAP diesel-powered cars that had qualified in the first three positions (also at Le Mans setting record speeds) to start the race (with a fourth one from Team Oreca Matmut in P4) ... and pulled away with one of the cars having over a lap lead on the Audi cars, at one point, had to retire and never completed the race.

It is Audi's 9th overall 24 Hours of Le Mans win, equaling the total notched by Ferrari ... both manufacturers are in second place in wins behind Porsche who have 16 overall wins.

What this 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans shows is that in the end it is endurance and perseverance that carries the day. Hats off to all the winners in class beginning with LMP1: #9 Audi Sport North America - Audi R15 TDI | LMP2: #42 Straka Racing - HPD ARX.01 | LMGT1: #50 Larbre Competition - Saleen S7R | LMGT2: #77 Team Felbemayr Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR | Michelin Green X (completing the most laps on the least amount of fuel): #42 Straka Racing - HPD ARX.01.

... notes from The EDJE

Surprise Swift Tour Yields A Look At "Concept 66" / Updated With "Concept 70"

Swift Engineering's 2012 IZOD IndyCar design concept 66 CAD image with California Speedway background. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Surprise Swift Tour Yields A Look At "Concept 66" Platform
(originally posted 4/16/10 - 1:28 PM)

If the folks at the IZOD IndyCar Series are thinking with a level head, given what we, at The EDJE, were exposed to at a surprise tour of the Swift Engineering facility in San Clemente, they will soon be singing "We get our kicks settling on Concept 66" as their way of the future of open-wheel racing.

Swift Engineering's 2012 IZOD IndyCar design concept 66 artist rendering. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

We were invited by the Publisher of The Motorsports Report, Dicken Wear, as an impromptu field trip after checking in at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Credentials area to pick up our Photo Vests for this weekends event. What a bonus since the major motorsports events of the day would be background shots taken while the IRL, ALMS, World Cup Challenge, and Firestone IndyPro Series cars practiced so the teams could dial in for the races ahead.

Swift Engineering's 2012 IZOD IndyCar design concept 66 CAD image without background. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

A group of about 20 people (writers, drivers, engineers, and photographers) gathered and were treated to a tour of the facilities at Swift that included a look and demonstration of their on-premises 140 mph wind tunnel, driving simulator, and composite fabrication areas. We were led on the tour by Program Director, Casper Van Der Schoot originally from Holland by way of Hogan Racing.

Casper enlightened the eager crowd with the concept of designing to reduce the effects of the vortex "dirty air" so that the platforms could race nose to tail with greater safety and, of course, greater competitiveness. The design concept of how to do this came in the development of a rear wing and forward rear wheel pod shapes that turn the Concept 66 into a "Mushroom Buster"!

One can not totally eliminate the shroom effect, but by shrinking the width of the shroom plume, and raising the "cap" of the shroom so that it is moved away from the following platform ... the mushroom is effectively busted.

UPDATE: Swift Concept #70 proposal for the next IZOD IndyCar

The IZOD IndyCar ICONIC Committee earlier this week, received a presentation previewing Swift's concept #70. The #70 is the latest evolution open-wheel car concept and incorporates aspects of the six previously launched concepts Swift has designed over the past nine months.

Swift Engineering's Design Concept #70 placed into a Long Beach Grand Prix track background. Image Credit: Swift Engineering via Racer

“Our latest concept evolves elements from our previous concepts and from the direct feedback we have received from the series, teams and fans,” said Casper van der Schoot, Swift's Program Director in an interview published in Racer. “I would like to thank the fans who have provided great feedback to us through our Facebook page and in particular Erik Berkman and Dave Marek from Honda for sharing with us their data and modeling for their next generation V6 powerplant as well as their chassis styling concept that weighed heavily in our design.”

The main thing that Swift was able to design in and keep in the #70 was a nose-to-tail racing safety and competition design concept known as "The Mushroom Buster" explained in the breakthrough design first introduced with Design Concept #66 above.

The 70 has increased signage real estate, as demanded by the teams,” said Mark Page, Swift's Chief Scientist to Racer. “We enlarged the car's bodywork and angled the surfaces so that they present the best view to the fans. We also have a new 'Mushroom Buster; design. This promotes passing by busting the 'mushroom cloud' of dead air behind the racecar. Our number 70 model was run through extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics on our new Cray supercomputers. The Cray has increased our capability 50-fold, and we now know our car will have significantly less drag than the current car.”

“The monocoque is larger than the current spec,” stated Chris Norris, Swift's chief designer in the same Racer interview. “It is designed to accommodate driver size from Danica [Patrick] to Justin [Wilson] with added padding beneath and behind the driver. In addition we have added anti-wheel lock blades dubbed, ‘Satan's teeth' aft of the front wheels, attached to the front of the sidepods. Also an anti-lift approach to the design of the front wings and sidepods will dramatically reduce the likelihood of the car getting airborne.”

The IZOD IndyCar series is reviewing Swift's and four other manufacturer's value propositions and is expected to make its decision for the next generation IndyCar for 2012 by June 30.

We, at The EDJE have one question (actually two), does the "Lawn Dart" (Delta Wing) closed-wheel design have any of these considerations built in to their design(?), and if the Delta Wing could deliver what Swift Engineering has proposed ... will fans of open-wheel racing ever accept a car that by design definition - isn't even open-wheel?

We are holding our breath ...

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Mushroom Busting, 2012, 66, Casper Van Der Schoot, Concept, Concept 70, Design, IZOD IndyCar, Swift Engineering, Dallara, The EDJE