Picturesque Baltimore with a race track laid out around Camden Yard Ballpark. Andretti Autosport driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay as hr takes warm-up laps at the Baltimore Grand Prix. Image Credit: indycar.comInagural IZOD IndyCar Baltimore Grand Prix - Tweet-By-TweetA first-time new event on the IndyCar schedule deserves a report that, in itself, is a New Media approach to describe the Inagural IZOD IndyCar Baltimore Grand Prix - Race 15 of 18 for the 2011 season.
Welcome to an internet based exercise that this author/editor calls Tweet-By-Tweet. It is a form of New Media reporting on an event from the perspective of mostly well informed and rabid followers of a particular discipline that happen to be communicating LIVE at the same time, sharing their reactions to the happenings of an important event.
The following "Tweets" (entries from Twitter social media portal) come from those who have an account on Twitter and become followed by people of similar interests plus specific #hashtag searches. Contributors who "Tweet" (create an entry made on Twitter) come from many backgrounds such as racing team communications personnel, writers, drivers from other series, bloggers, and just plain fans.
This excerpted and edited from Twitter with entries added from IndyCar Race Control and the author - pressdog Let's light this candle ... and all tighten our helmet chin straps ...
I don't think #indycar could have asked for any more from this inaugural event. Unbelievable crowds, community support.
Here's where I am for race start [photo above]. 5 mins to go!! #bgp2011 #IndyCar yfrog.com/h3outxqj
How many laps r they gonna run before they start the race?
If you have armrests on your chair they might be missing when this race is over. #IndyCar
Race Start:
Green green green [above] ... twitvid.com/YXJZY
Only lined up the first three rows. Get used to seeing that today. #indycar
Commentary: Lap 1: #28 - Ryan Hunter-Reay improved to 5th from 6th.
Safety Crew almost caught in the race start.
TWO PASSES IN TWO CORNERS. That's more than Sonoma had ALL RACE.
Power takes it back
Commentary: Lap 2: #82 - Tony Kanaan improved to 26th from 27th.
Using the chicane looked stupid, but they likely did that on purpose to avoid turn 1 carnage
Anyone else notice the traffic light blowing in the draft from the race cars? #awesome
Iron savored ... Conway getting MASSIVE air in the B Dub's car that I am watching in B Dubs because I asked them to show it.
If you're watching on @VERSUSIndyCar, let us know what you think of the No. 27 Team @BWWings in-car shots! [Car photo above - Image Credit: indycar.com] #Bdubs
Might take a while before drivers are confident enough to drive like idiots.
That's the best we could've asked for regarding the start and lap one considering the track, nice job #BGP2011 #IndyCar @BaltimoreGP
Graham is legit keeping pace with Power. We just flat don't see anyone do that very often. #indycar
Errr... RT - Top @Mattzel89 (twitpic.com/6g3oah) & Bottom @GrahamRahal (http://t.co/OIByylQ): what the hell was the safety truck still doing on the track at the start?! #IndyCar
You won't want to go smacking that kerb at T13 hard all day. These cars won't love that. #indycar
LAP 8 of 75 – top 10 settle in as Power, Rahal, Franchitti, Briscoe, Bourdais, RHR, Conway, Viso, Dixon, and de Silvestro
Graham did not DEFEND when Power tried to retake the lead. Are we angry about that? No we (I) am not.
Will Power leads by over a second. #IndyCar
After 10 laps, @EJVISO is P8, Sato P24 and @TonyKanaan @GEICORacing is P26
Drivers starting to find rhythm, T&S says half the field keep putting up their fastest lap of the race almost every lap
Sebastian Bourdais has a problem and comes into the pits
Bourdais in the pits with a problem, he's stuck in 3rd gear
Kyle to RHR: "That's 10 laps complete. Just take your time and work you way up to Briscoe." #IndyCar #BGP2011
Watchin' Indy Car...... One question ....... WHY does Open Wheel ANYTHING insist on running on street circuits??
by SBPopOffValve - @SBPopOffValve OH MY GOD! PASSES! WHAT IS THIS? SORCERY?!
First round of pit stops for tire changes – back markers looking to change things up by going out of fuel window sequence. Sheckter, Andretti, Patrick, Servia, & Castroneves pit to name a few.
@DanicaPatrick #baltimoregrandprix ... twitpic.com/6g3t84
Kanaan passes Patrick, right in the place his brakes failed this morning, brave
It will be a two-stop race. These guys pitting now need to get to about Lap 40. #indycar #bgp2011
After 20 laps, Viso is running P6, Sato P14 and Kanaan P24
Sato has already close 2 seconds of gap off of Hildebrand, telling you, Sato is moving big time (hopefully he can control it)
Leaders getting caught up with lap cars. #IndyCar
LAP 21 Will Power and Graham Rahal come in to the pits leaving Dario in the lead.
Power out in P3 behind Briscoe and RHR.
This butterfly [photo above] just landed on crew guy Miguel's shoulder! Is that good luck?!
ow.ly/i/gMcq
Briscoe is going to stay out an extra few laps here and try and mug Dario for 3rd. #indycar #bgp2011
Hats off to drivers. We all thought there'd be contact by now. 22 laps in. #indycar
Hats off to the crowd, too. Not only is it SRO, it's STILL SRO despite sweltering heat. #indycar
Fastest service in pit lane [Will Power] takes care of business, taken by the crew of @RyanBriscoe6 . twitpic.com/6g41bj
LAP 25 of 75 Top 10 – Power, Rahal, Franchitti, RHR, Briscoe, Viso, de Silvestro, Dixon, Meira, and Pantano.
@FollowAndretti boys just ROCKED that stop!!! He got the 6 Yeah Buddy! P4!
Well, it's no Toronto so far, but I don't see a lot of complaints of boredom, either. Good sign? #indycar
Ziggy to Mike: "Try to keep the tires pressures up, go another lap and see what we can do." #IndyCar #BGP2011
LAP 30 - Penalty charged to Power for skipping Chicane – 3 seconds
@12WillPower charged 3 seconds for running the chicane. Gave 2 seconds back on last lap. Still owes 1 second. #indycar
Common Sense from Race Control there on Chicane skip by Will Power. #indycar #bgp2011
Power ran the chicane & his penalty was to slow 1 lap time by 3 seconds.
Marco Andretti in 24th place is holding up the leaders in turn #9
Man, what is up with Marco Andretti lately on roadies? Dude needs a Herta spin just to stay on the lead lap.
YELLOW Flag – Full Course Caution at LAP 32.
Full course caution, pits closed.
Full course yellow for Scheckter in turn 8
Current Top 10 (30/75): Power, Rahal, Franchitti, Hunter-Reay, Briscoe, Viso, de Silvestro, Dixon, Meira, Pantano. bit.ly/o1tqIr
Holmatro Safety Team gets to Scheckter belatedly. Probably tooling around somewhere on the track.
This restart should be a hoot. #IndyCar
I'm sure the drivers will use the same circumspect caution and care on this restart that they displayed at Toronto. #indycar #BGP2011
Problem for No. 27 may be shocks. @BWWings team working hard to get Mike back out. #IndyCar #BGP2011
Starting to see passing in turn one. #bgp2011 #indycar
Let me assure you, they won't be as conservative on this restart now they now how hard it is to pass. #indycar #bgp2011
Coming up on halfway in this race, already. #Indycar #BGP2011
#bgp2011 will be remembered by many as the moment AOWR came back :) #indycar
Still yellow. Team #DHL #CircleK @SunDrop up to 4th. #IndyCar #BGP2011
Back to Green @BaltimoreGP! Top 10: Power, Rahal, Franchitti, Hunter-Reay, Briscoe, Viso, de Silvestro, Dixon, Meira, Pantano
GREEN, GREEN, GREEN
Commentary: Yellow Flag at: 15:54:26.530 Contact
Viso and RHR spinning, gets through and Dixon has flat tires … bunches up the field with 7 cars needing assistance in Turn 3.
P4 en el reinicio. ...... Vamossssssss (via bix)
UH Oh! @orangemen_nl: Orangemen carpark [above] @ T3 #BGP2011 #Indycar: pic.twitter.com/xCgjFyx
I think Hinch gained a few positions in that nonsense! LOL #indycar
Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay started the collection – RHR out, Hinchcliffe out, Janes Jakes out, Vitor Meira nose damage repaired and back out in P18.
Tony Kanaan started dead last and is now up to P8.
LAP 40 of 75 – Top 10 are Power, Rahal, Dario, Viso, de Silvestro, Servia, Briscoe, Kanaan, Kimball, and Hildebrand.
I tell you, that's the long yellow that Kanaan needed to make it to the end. #indycar #bgp2011
Briscoe will get a penality, but race control need to figure out the order first. #indycar #bgp2011
More krap from race control #BGP2011 #IndyCar
And Kanaan's move has been nullified?!? #IndyCar #BGP2011
Marco out of the No. 26 car; for now, it sounds like gearbox problems. #IndyCar #BGP2011
Kanaan and Sato pit under yellow. Viso is P5, Kanaan P11, Sato P19. Lap 43 of 75
@TonyKanaan So sorry that your skill in picking a line to get through that mess means nothing in INDYCAR.
I'll tell you the smart thing though. Race Control set the order *before* they opened the pits. That was a heads up move by race control.
RT @Crushr99: @99forever TK can't pass 'disabled' cars under yellow, That's why Hildebrand won the 2011 Indy 500. #IndyCar #Not
Top 10 in reset running order - Power, Rahal, Dario, Briscoe, Viso, de Silvestro, Kimball, Hildebrand, Beatriz, And Servia. Additional delay to clean up gearbox oil laid down by Marco Andretti as he ended his race coming into the pits.
A whole lot of cement dust down to cover that oil
People, calm downb, TK gained half the positions back when everyone pitted and will get the rest when those other pit too
Still under yellow. Patrick 12, Hunter-Reay 18, Andretti 23 (out), Conway 25. #IndyCar #BGP2011
by BeccyGordon - @BeccyGordon he better! and how can they put all those stopped cars back into their positions before turn 3?! wtf so does RHR get 4th back?
LAP 49 - GREEN, GREEN, GREEN
Briscoe will get a penalty sent to back. #IndyCar
Servia and Kanaan racing for the win it sounds like
After 20mins of yellow we r back to Green. Lap 49 of 75
Briscoe gets a penalty. That part is right, at least. #indycar
Interesting double race going on now! Oriol is the 1st car to have stopped... Power trying to build enough gap..... nov.us/=NDE3Ng==
Simona has passed Viso on the restart to advance to P4! #BGP2011
O is now P6. SERVIA! SERVIA! SERVIA!
Current Top 10 with 23 laps to go [52 of 75]: Power, Rahal, Franchitti, de Silvestro, Viso, Hildebrand, Servia, Kanaan, Dixon, Beatriz
Lap 52, P8 (by Benito)
I can't believe no one has smacked the wall in turn 9 yet. #indycar
P6 through P10 sees a real dogfight breaking out between Servia, Hildebrand, Kanaan, and Dixon.
Rahal pits from 2nd [Lap 56]
Ok. One bullet dodged. O got by on track before GR exited the pits
Will Power pits on Lap 58 – Lead goes to Franchitti – Viso pits
Simona running a great race today. P2 #IndyCar
Franchitti pits and Simona de Silvestra takes the lead followed by Power, Servia, Kanaan, Franchitti, Dixon, Tagliani, Patrick, Sato, and Meira
Simona Pits - Power, Servia, Kanaan, Franchitti, Dixon, Tagliani, Patrick, Sato, Meira, and … RHR!
I'm so confused on strategy, but RHR is ahead of Graham. Go Ry go!!'
Terrible pit stop by @HVMracing #justsayin'
O has P2P for almost every remaining lap. We are P2 now and all have stopped.
Current Top 10 (lap 62/75): Power, Servia, Kanaan, Franchitti, Dixon, Tagliani, Patrick, Sato, Meira, Hunter-Reay bit.ly/o1tqIr
One-Half a second separates P6 – P8 – Sato, Tagliani, and Patrick.
10 laps to go and Will Power is in another world flying by at over 9 seconds ahead of P2 Oriol Servia.
10 laps to go, Kanaan is P3, Sato P6 and Viso P15
Check out the latest #indycar Series photos from #Baltimore courtesy of SPEED. See the photos at bit.ly/nkovmX
Top 10 Power Servia TK Dario Dixon Sato Tagliani Danica Vitor RHR #IndyCar
If Dario Franchitti looses another position, Will Power will come aeway from the BGP tied for the season championship! This may not happen because he is being followed by his team-mate Scott Dixon.
Will Power is in another time zone. #IndyCar [up by nearly 12 seconds on Lap 71]
Our pit lockerz.com/s/135871147
Nice! Kevin Lee says on-air that @Hinchtown and @NewmanHaas are going to Motegi to run for ROTY!
Patrick passes RHR to take over P7 on Lap 73.
@plowey with an impressive run today P12 #IndyCar
3 laps to go, the @godaddy car is P8
3 laps remain, TK is still P3, Sato P6 and Viso P15
To O: Use your overtake
White flag! One more to go!!
Will Power wins the Inaugural @BaltimoreGP! P2-P10: Servia, Kanaan, Franchitti, Dixon, Tagliani, Patrick, Hunter-Reay, Meira, Rahal
Chequered flag - Power wins! Servia 2nd, Kanaan an amazing 3rd, Dario 4th
And we've got a championship battle on our hands, folks! #indycar
KVRT-Lotus disaster in the hairpin when Viso takes out Sato – WHEN is this guy going to lose his ride!
Will Power wins, but Baltimore, you are the champions. #bgp2011 #indycar
Will Power started from the pole, led the most laps and rolled on to win Sunday's inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix IZOD IndyCar Series race. Power, who has dominated qualifying in the series this season, tallied his record-tying sixth victory of the year. The IndyCar Series championship points race tightens to only 5 points separating points leader Dario Franchitti and Will Power with three races to go - one street/road course and two oval courses!
We all know how good Will Power is on the road and street courses, the big question is if he can run with Dario on the ovals. #IndyCar
@12WillPower congrats on another victory [#6 on the season]
Another nice run for Oriol Servia & @NewmanHaas one of these days they'll be back in victory lane...sooner than later #BGP2011 #IndyCar
Rahal very unhappy with the 10 lap yellow
Rahal post race interview calls the officiating terrible. #IndyCar
Sounds like they herded the goats off the track and finished strong(er). Festival of Outrage at the IHJ tho.
So does Danica get penalized for passing under a yellow condition? You know what, never mind.
Will Power wins the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. #bgp2011 #indycar
Describing the traffic jam "It was just confusion, we looked like a bunch of idiots out there." -Scott Dixon
Servia: "The car was great, the strategy worked even better...I knew w/o any mistakes, the podium was ours." #IndyCar #BGP2011
For this long time #IndyCar fan , it feels good to hear, a lot of fans saying they can't wait for next year! Outstanding event by #bgp2011.
by IndyCarGarage - I'm not a big fan of most street races, but a great crowd today in Baltimore and a thumbs up for the inaugural event.
Eh?? RT @Dale_Nixon: Looks like @DanicaPatrick got a Pantano-esque penalty from 7th to out of the Top-10. She is NOT going to be happy.
@SBPopOffValve comingsoon Brian France statement on Danica run.
IndyCar to Danica as it relates to moving on to NASCAR next year … don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
The biggest winner is Baltimore. My goodness, did they ever put on a great event. Well done.
TK, P3! [on podium, right] (by Benito) yfrog.com/mm74ngj
Hahaha! Awesome! RT @im4irl: At Indy, met @Fieldof33, I actually said "nice to meet you, but I agree with Steph most of the time".
That needs to be on a t-shirt RT @im4irl: @99forever @shagers @fieldof33 "nice to meet you, but I agree with Steph most of the time".
Ooh, you're giving me all kinds of ideas for our next t-shirt sale! LOL RT @shagers: That needs to be on a t-shirt
And with no contrived playoff format! RT @WhateverJoel: "How can a title battle be within 5 points with 3 races to go?" -Brian France
Also add me to the million people who have said what a great event Baltimore put on for #Indycar!!! ... nov.us/=NDE3OA==
RHR no mention of Danica pass in post race interview, clearly this one is a non-isse. time for fans to drop it #IndyCar
In the end, at the winner’s podium, the crowd at Baltimore gathered around as if it was at a stage door waiting for a rock star to show up … Will Power gains 57 points in three races which eclipses Darion Franchitti’s 55 points over four races gain on Power last year to win the championship.
@BaltimoreGP: Victory Lane [photo above] #bgp2011 yfrog.com/h2mgwccj #IndyCar
People estimate the crowd to be larger than Long Beach over the last three days … wake up Long Beach!
For #bgp2011 #indycar First timers: Next Races on TV: Japan Sep 17 11:30pm ET Versus; Kentucky Oct 2 2pm Versus; Vegas Oct 16 3pm ABC.
In the Podium post race interview, a deeply superstitious P3 Tony Kanaan reflected that after the warm-up crash where his car lost its brakes while traveling approximately 170mph (no injuries, on-board video here), he noticed every engine has a number assigned to it by Honda and that since the team planned to use the engine and transmission in the back-up car, he looked at the number … it was #99. It turns out the car number that Greg Moore drove was #99 … Tony stated he took this as a sign that Greg Moore was not ready to have him be side-by-side with Greg in heaven.
… notes from The EDJE
Derrick Walker's Team Falken Tire as it tracks around the city street course at the Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. Image Credit: The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron
Team Falken Tire's Wolf Henzler maintains the inside passage at race start (left-inside) to gain two positions on the opening lap of the Baltimore Grand Prix. Image Credit: The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron
Team Falken Tire's Brian Sellers leads the GT Class during the Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. Image Credit: The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron
Derrick Walker's Team Falken Tire takes the trophy in the GT Class (photo left) at the podium ceremony at the Baltimore Grand Prix. Image Credit: The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron
