Detroit GP Tweet-By-Tweet: The Tale Of Two INDY500's

The podium of the 2012 Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle, MI. L to R - P2 Franchitti, P1 Scott Dixon, & P3 Simon Pagenaud. Image Credit: IICS

Detroit GP Tweet-By-Tweet: The Tale Of Two INDY500's

The truly dedicated can find joy in an event they follow, even if it devolves into a disaster. The American open wheel race in Belle Isle was just one of those races.

As the title of this posting suggests, the Detroit Grand Prix held on an island park named Belle Isle (beautiful island) was a race that lasted about as long (about four hours) as the race held just the week before in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Detroit Grand Prix was just like the INDY500 but without all of those other pesky cars (33 as opposed to just 25), laps, miles, pitstops, non-stop action, lead changes, passing, and competitiveness … at least until the last 15 laps when the race was restarted with a threat of rain in the sky.

As the race was to play out, it basically became a three act event with the first 38 laps being a spirited, YELLOW Flag free, uncontested romp led by pole-sitter, Scott Dixon. This act featured the comic relief of EJ Viso piloting his P4 holding circus-colored CITGO liveried KV Racing Technology Chevy-powered DW12 just slightly slower than anyone behind him wanted to drive but just fast enough to not be passed.

The second act a RED Flag session for about two hours long where ABC Sports tried to make the best of an impending broadcast disaster … a race without a conclusion. This act had all of the suspense of wondering if the cement road patch material used to fix the track would set-up and dry enough to finish the race. Leaf blowers and pavement torches became implements of wonder and interest.

SLIDESHOW ADDED HERE

The third act being the last 15 laps of very hotly contested action with YELLOW Flags, passing, and cat and mouse strategy through to a shortened 60 lap conclusion to a scheduled 90 lap event.

The race was carried on national network, general broadcast television by ABC Sports. This was welcomed by most who follow the sport of automobile racing due to the fact, that more often than not, races are broadcast on the special sports channels that have become part of the exclusive inclusion of a premium cable/satellite delivery package. Not everyone has access, or choose to afford the additional luxury of more than 80 channels provided with a standard package.

Sadly, as this race played out, a broadcast on a special channel would have been the only uninterrupted live delivery of the event besides streaming on the internet. The race never had its proper broadcast conclusion because depending upon one’s timezone, ABC was forced to cut away and pass off to the ESPN News channel … not carried by most standard cable packages.

The Detroit GP track at Belle Isle. Image Credit: #DetroitGP

The following entries come from “Tweet Deck” tweet-by-tweet with added comments from the author:

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
Do not forget to use the official IZOD #IndyCar Series HASHTAG for today’s race #DetroitGP #DetroitGP #DetroitGP – #iics #indycar2012 #dw12

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @kiki85: They seriously don’t have a camera onboard the last winner here? @justin_wilson #IndyCar #detroitgp

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @aRacingfan: IndyCar should have standing starts. #IndyCar #detroitgp @detroitgp

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @CrazyDog984: GREEN GREEN GREEN!! #Indycar #Detroitgp #skyport2

Cars begin race in a Doublefile and jostle for position.Image Credit: IIC

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
TAGS is out of the race #indycar #detroitgp

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
.@scottdixon9 builds a lead over @12WillPower. @justin_wilson says it’s a right rear puncture. Damaged upper wishbone. #IndyCar

Steve @dannycatsteve
That was the first bad start this year #IndyCar

Tony DiZinno @tonydizinno
Wow, fugly start. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Eva Chan @echan50
Justin Wilson out with damaged wish bone. There goes my 1st fantasy pick :( #detroitgp #Indycar

Andy @Gabbahey122475
Awful look start. Not one of @BeauxBarfield best. We know u can do better. #IndyCar

Emma Bracegirdle @EmTheEmu
Dario Franchitti on David Letterman? I NEED to watch that! #IndyCar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
Pagenaud up to P3 #indycar #detroitgp

Mandy Valentine @Indy_Mode
I wonder if Justin Wilson is the first causality of the bumpy circuit? #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Tyler Johnson @tylerjohnsonosu
@LouisSuddaby23 Glad to here there are people watching across the pond! #IndyCar

TJ @Tjamily
Dixon running away from Power very impressive. #indycar

Ron Frankl @ronfrankl
Watching the #IndyCar race from Belle Isle near Detroit. Would love to see #NASCAR racing on this beautiful lakeside track.

Eric Hamme @NegativeVORP
Goodyear started talking about fuel on lap 1, and on lap 6 Marty mentioned lockstop. This is going to be a looooong day. #indycar #detroitgp

Rodrigo Vicente @_RoVicente
P1 Dixon P2 Power P3 Pagenaud P4 Viso P5 Hunter-Reay #indycar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @tonydizinno: Only lap 7 and the #snark is out in full force on Twitter this race. Might be more entertaining I fear. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Wilson: ‘with all the melee I got really sideways. I tapped the wall but really light hit… bent the suspension.’ #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Heather B. @nonnalita
I love summer! Watching the #IndyCar #DetroitGP. Go @scottdixon9!

Chris Munn @Funntastic
I had no idea Jamie Little was pregnant! She looks pretty funny in a fire suit #IndyCar

Colin Z. @WxTurtle
Ryan Hunter Reay just threw a huge block party. #indycar #gpdetroit

Don Mitchell @DonMedia
Whoa there EJ, these ain’t dirt cars. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

EJ Viso scrapes wall in order to keep his P4 position on the track. Image Credit: Mattzel89 @Mattzel89 via Twitter

Matt Porter @ontheeastmke26
road courses are stupid… – #indycar live on livestream.com/indycar

Filip Cleeren @FilipCleeren
Wish they would revert to the old layout next time. Straight after S/F has overtaking potential. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm… #detroitgp #indycar

E.M.H @elmondohummus
RHR was blocking so hard that Suh bull-rushed him to sack the QB. #indycar #detroitgp

Jenna @jmcc09
@martinpinnau I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Viso. The guy is such a liability. #IndyCar

Lisa @lmkenny
“Play the fuel game” and no passing?Sounds like a nap coming on soon. #IndyCar

Filip Cleeren @FilipCleeren
Hunter-Reay officially warned for his block party on Briscoe. #detroitgp #indycar

Ross Nunamaker @RossNunamaker
Dixon in front, fuel strategy race, going to be tough to beat. @detroitgp #indycar

Eric Hamme @NegativeVORP
We’ve seen the DW12 race well at tracks like Barber and Long Beach, but Belle Isle is just a different animal. #indycar #detroitgp

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @Mattzel89: Rubens having engine problems? I thought his F1 career was over… #IndyCar #detroitgp

AJFoytRacing @AJFoytRacing
@Mikeconwayindy radioes in ‘I’m he’s starting to lose a lil rear grip’ @detroitgp #indycar2012 #indycar

Chris Burk @burk992
Race Control: “Oi Ryan quit dropping it like it’s hot on the track. We told you to leave that in the garage” #IndyCar

DZ @HalfShaftBlues
“SQUIRRELY” That counts as a squirrel encounter: drink. #IndyCar

brant james @brantjames
No truth to the rumor that Ndamukong Suh cheap-shotted the #indycar safety truck under yellow. @detroitgp

IndyCar Insider @IndyCarInsider
F.Y.I. Even this race is more exciting than ANY OVAL RACE #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Dannie Lyz Asphall @DannieAsphall
Rahal is p14. #Indycar #DetroitGP

Dave Furst @DaveFurst
I’m not saying there’s a lot of cars backed up behind Viso, but pretty sure he’s in the left lane w his blinker on. #detroitgp #IndyCar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @f1fanaticlive: James Jakes is in the run-off at turn eight on lap 16. #IndyCar

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
.@JamesJakes in the run-off area at Turn 8. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
Most of the field is stuck behind Viso in fourth. #indycar #detroitgp

AJFoytRacing @AJFoytRacing
Alternate fuel strategies starting w Andretti & Kansan pitting early. @Mikeconwayindy saving fuel #indycar2012 #detroitgp #indycar

James Jakes @JamesJakes
JJ off the runoff in turn 8. By radio communication he told us he has braking issues. Headed to pits now. PR. #IndyCar

Domingo Riego @filipinosince75
.@Ryan_Briscoe and @RyanHunterReay mixing it up again… Is RHR always trying a collect a bounty on Briscoe? @RB_Mrs #INDYCAR #DetroitGP

Kev @NonElusiveKev
Watching the Viso train makes me think Indycar should put horns on the cars. #detroitgp #indycar

Taylor Peyton @imtaylorpeyton
Jakes lost his brakes. Hey! That rhymes! #Indycar

Heather Rule @hlrule
Scott Goodyear, I love ya, but you gotta stop with “EXcape” and “EXspecially.” Thanks. #indycar

Marius Berghuijs @srcompetition
Standings top 6 after 20 laps. 1-Dixon,2-Power,3-Pagenaud,4-Viso,5-Hunter-Ray,6-Castroneves! #Izod #indycar #Izodindycar

Eric Hamme @NegativeVORP
Helio and Bourdais get by Briscoe…during a commercial of course. #indycar #detroitgp

Jason Larson @larsoni27
Update, the plain white t-shirts are holding off the socks during the spin cycle much like Viso and just about everyone behind him #indycar

TJ @Tjamily
I LOVE street course but this one needs some more passing zones, Viso is ruining the race for all but the top 3. #indycar

Martin Pinnau @martinpinnau
If Belle Isle is on the #indycar schedule next year, they really need to look at reconfiguring the track. Sucky race so far.

Kris Kleinbub @Bub1515
“@Fieldof33: It’s a good thing Michigan Speedway is sitting empty 40 miles away from this barn-burner at Belle Isle today.” #indycar

JuanPablo Muñoz @juanpa_mv
Que le paso a Rubinho Barrichello? #IndyCar

Heather Rule @hlrule
Folks complaining about lack of passing at #detroitgp. You know where there *is* passing? @roadamerica. #bringbackRA #indycar

Emma Bracegirdle @EmTheEmu
Awwww, Rubinho’s out :( #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
LAP22 TAKU pulls out of line for a pitstop #indycar #detroitgp

Randy Bernard @RBINDYCAR
@IndyCar #INDYCAR it’s official Belle isle grand prix sold out today. Congrats Roger Penske and Bud Denker

Sal Granillo @DustballerSal
@EJVISO your pullin a Danica! Holding up traffic! #muevete #IndyCar

Brian Karczewski @LVI56
Dario gets wing damage trying to make a pass #Indycar

Dannie Lyz Asphall @DannieAsphall
That was an excellent move from Bourdais and then Briscoe let him have it. #Indycar #DetroitGP

Mandy Valentine @Indy_Mode
Viso needs to GTFO of the way #IndyCar #DetroitGP

AJ @ajslideways
No doubt Dario will blame that on Bourdais, Chevy, the track, the Pope, and everyone and everything other than himself. #IndyCar

Ross Lancaster @rosslancaster
Ironic that a Dragon Racing car has an engine problem after the switch to Chevy. #IndyCar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @chickenpilot: ahh the fun of listening to #IndyCar on the internet and watching the tweets but missing #pippamann comments

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Good news. @justin_wilson’s car is mended. He’s back out on track. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

The field from P4 on trailing EJ Viso as he is just slow enough to hold the field up but just fast enough to keep the field behind him. Image Credit: Mattzel89 @Mattzel89 via Twitter

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
With VISO holding up so many cars … where’s Push-To-Pass when we need it? #indycar #detroitgp

And its not like Viso is going slow, he's pushing hard! #IndyCar. Image Credit: Mattzel89

Heather Rule @hlrule
I can’t see that citgo car without thinking milka duno is behind the wheel. Anyone else? #indycar #baddrivers

Shane Rogers @shagers
Sato has committed to the three stop strategy, but he doesn’t have to be 3 seconds a faster a lap for long to come out in front. #indycar

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
Viso pits and uncorks the bottle. #IndyCar

James Jakes @JamesJakes
1.89 sec currently stand between P1 @scottdixon9 and P2 @12WillPower PR. #IndyCar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE

LAP 30 of 90 – Dixon, Power, Helio, Kanaan, RHR, Pagenaud, Marco, TAGS, and Briscoe #indycar #detroitgp

E.M.H @elmondohummus
Squirrels reported trying to “Occupy” Bourdais’s pit stall, but scattered when they saw him coming. ;) #indycar #detroitgp

Andretti Autosport @FollowAndretti
.@RyanHunterReay comes in for a pit stop at @detroitgp! 58 laps to go. #detroitgp #indycar2012 pic.twitter.com/gJcvb3BO

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
LAP33 Leader Dixon pits, Power takes over first. #IndyCar

Dannie Lyz Asphall @DannieAsphall
I don’t think people realise how amazing Graham Rahal is. He is a good driver, I must admit. #Indycar #DetroitGP

Dave Furst @DaveFurst
Hearing the #detroitgp will go back to 2.3 mile layout (ran in late 90′s) next year…incl more passing zones. #good #IndyCar

Jason Larson @larsoni27
Everyone has completed one pit stop, I’ve completed a load of laundry, right on schedule #indycar

Ronald Lanjouw @rlanjouw
@RobertDoornboss #indycar is great and would like @RTLGP to trade their F1 license with Indycar and MotoGP :-)

Filip Cleeren @FilipCleeren
Power not matching Dixon so far. The Kiwi makes it look easy. #indycar #detroitgp

Colin Warnock @justin_wilsonPR
@justin_wilson no longer a contender @detroitgp but just set fastest lap – on primary tyres – after @DaleCoyneRacing make repairs #indycar

Ian Lewis Moore @IanLewisMoore
Looks like everybody & their mama is going to need a new front wing at some point today. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Bourdais cannot catch a break. His day is done. #Desolee #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
No YELLOW Flag laps so far – LAP 37 of 90 #indycar #detroitgp

Jon Easter @johnnystir
E.J. Viso=Moving chicane #detroitgp #IndyCar

Brian Lewis @LewisUnderscore
Who are these idiots who don’t likd the #Dallara DW12? I think it makes for an absolutely stunning machine. #indycar

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
This race needs some squirrels or some rain. #indycar #detroitgp

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
Wilson has rejoined the track in his repaired car but his day just gets worse – he gets a penalty for speeding in the pits. #IndyCar

Rodrigo Vicente @_RoVicente
Kanaan chegando no Power, mas foi pro box… #IndyCar

Gina Navarra @fastlifeofgina
Nooooo Hinch :( #DetroitGP #IndyCar

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
.@Hinchtown into the Tire Wall at Turn 6. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Gina Navarra @fastlifeofgina
And nooooooo Taku :( #DetroitGP #IndyCar

Lewis Franck @LewisFranck
Sato wasn’t trying to pass Dario when he went off. #IndyCAR they are both okay.

A Racing Fan @aRacingfan
Big hit for Hinch, in the tyres at turn 6, and Sat in the wall elsewhere on track. #IndyCar

Maraschino Events @MaraschinoEvent
Sad for two #IndyCar faves @Hinchtown & @TakumaSatoRacer who are now out of the #DetriotGP after both hitting the wall.

YELLOW Flag

Thomas Kruytzer @ThomasKruytzer
Full course yellow door die spleetoog en goDaddy #rtlgp #indycar

Chris Daly @TheChrisD
Wow, Belle Isle is seriously coming apart :O #indycar

A Racing Fan @aRacingfan
A huge chunk of the track came up and that’s what took out Hinch! #IndyCar

Safety crew pulls poorly patched road material out of large cracks in the road surface after James Hinchcliffe get derailed and crashes into the tires lining the track. Image Credit: IICS

Joe Ortiz @LeoJTravis10
Looks like Detroit is having a Daytona moment there. #Indycar #detroitgp

Jason Larson @larsoni27
Song of the race… youtu.be/Maz6jFdvn2Q #indycar – Dog’s Eye View – Everything Falls Apart

Jacob Black @JacobBlackSPEED
Wow, @Hinchtown going all “@MarcoAndretti” on the radio, and rightly so. Track is busted up. #IndyCar

Safety crew pulls poorly patched road material out of large cracks in the road surface probably originally prepared by public union road crew labor at great expense. Image Credit: IICS

E.M.H @elmondohummus
Holy crap… and I thought *my* city’s roads were bad. #indycar #detroitgp

Riemberg Barros @riemberg
Kanaan P4 #IndyCar

Mac Morrison @Mac_Morrison
The #DetroitGP track surface is coming up in some places and flying into chalets. Caught this piece! #IndyCar yfrog.com/h4n8txdj

_chrisUK @_chrisUK
Watching #indycar on @SkyIndyCar – cars crashing and bits of the track falling apart! @Hinchtown isn’t going to be happy!

Lindsey Chavers @LAChavers
signs of the economic times: Not even racing sports can afford to keep equipment up! #indycar #daytonahole

Crash Gladys @CrashGladys
@SpeedFreaks I think a red flag is necessary considering how deep those divets are now. #Ouch #indycar #detroitgp

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
We need to stick a 2×4 in it! RT @CrashGladys: Red flag is necessary considering how deep those divets are now. #Ouch #indycar #detroitgp

Safety crew pulls poorly patched road material out of large cracks in the road surface after James Hinchcliffe get derailed and crashes into the tires lining the track. Image Credit: IICS

Mattzel89 @Mattzel89
This is going to be a problem #IndyCar twitpic.com/9siy2l

John Wertz @jwertz77
This is extremely embarrassing for the @detroitgp promoters/RP. Not good. #IndyCar

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
Red flag apparently coming. #indycar #detroitgp

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
Political Question: Public Union workers responsible for road patches at Belle Isle? Jus’ askin’ #indycar #detroitgp

Safety crew pulls poorly patched road material out of large cracks in the road surface after James Hinchcliffe get derailed and crashes into the tires lining the track. Image Credit: IICS

Remi Bernard @RemiBernard
They’re gonna run under yellow til halfway, then call it a race and go home. Next year, go to Milwaukee. This is embarrassing. #Indycar

Fake Charlie Whiting @charlie_whiting
Maybe they should just put @TheOrangeCone on the massive canyon in the track. #IndyCar

RED Flag

Chris Daly @TheChrisD
@Mattzel89 Thought it was 50% + 1 lap? They’ve stopped after only 45 laps, they need 46 laps? #indycar

Mattzel89 @Mattzel89
From another turn #Indycar twitpic.com/9siz95

Matt White @MattW1986
Daytona pothole anyone #IndyCar

Jenna Fryer @JennaFryer
RT @AP: #IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard: `I felt like dead man walking’: apne.ws/K6l3rm @RBINDYCAR

Sini Salminen @SiniF1
I guess the race won’t be restarted? #IndyCar

SPEED Channel, Inc. @SPEED
And in @IndyCar land, the track is literally coming apart. Race currently red flagged. #IndyCar

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
Red flag. #indycar

Alex Coates @AlexCoatesy
Bob the builder, can he fix it? #IndyCar @SkyIndyCar

Ash (アシュー) @racingAsh
Tough situation. Can’t repatch it. IndyCar ground effect would just pull it up. Like Goodyear said, it’s like a vacuum. #DetroitGP #IndyCar

Steve Dreiseszun @SteveDreiseszun
Photo: Wow. #DetroitGP track at Belle Isle is causing unexpected problems. #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/jiLOuD5p

LAP45 of 90 – RED Flag in play

Beaux Barfield hopeful to restart the race – going to inspect on-site #indycar #detroitgp

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
Says @Hinchtown “(The track) is a mess.” giant pieces of track sealant coming up. #indycar #detroitgp

Mattzel89 @Mattzel89
Video of the #IndyCar incidents caused by the track breaking up youtube.com/watch?v=Z0x9WK…

Ross Bynum @therossbynum
Isn’t Detroit a wonderful place! Just as lovely as I always heard. No infrastructure issues at all! #IndyCar

Fake Charlie Whiting @charlie_whiting
I feel for @BeauxBarfield. Perhaps running twice in Toronto makes sense. #HintHint #IndyCar

Dustin Long @dustinlong
#IndyCar fans suffering through issues with track coming apart & stopping event _ #NASCAR fans can relate to that from a couple of years ago

chris adkisson @CAcoach53
im going to school because i want to do this for a living! #IndyCar @FollowAndretti @MarcoAndretti pic.twitter.com/cy8qw0z4

Autoweek Racing @AutoweekRacing
Just in: Officials at @detroitgp say the #IndyCar race will be ready to start again in 30 minutes.

Dan Brunell @Dan_Brunell
The potholes and crumbling asphault for the #Indycar #DetriotGP was planned to give the drivers an authentic Detroit driving experience.

nascarcasm @nascarcasm
All #IndyCar has to do is put some blacktop in the grooves and have Ndamukong Suh stomp it firmly into place. #DetroitGP

Dannie Lyz Asphall @DannieAsphall
If we didn’t have this red flag, would we have seen all these mini documentaries? #Indycar #DetroitGP

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
People reporting chunks of sealant landing in (and flying over) the chalets along the track. #detroitgp #indycar #dangerous

Ann-Marie Smihal, 43, of Grosse Pointe displays the piece of the track that launched over the fence and smacked her in the thigh on Sunday. She wasn't hurt. "It was just shocking, and I'm just glad it didn't hit my children," she said. Image Credit: Eric Seals - Detroit Free Press

Mattzel89 @Mattzel89
#IndyCar patching progress, errr… twitpic.com/9sjayz

Allen Wedge @AllenWedge
even during a stoppage ABC can’t be bothered to interview/show non-top drivers/teams or give us any kind of relevant information #IndyCar

Jenna Fryer @JennaFryer
Actually, surprised no #IndyCar drivers are pulling a @keselowski right now. They could totally be tweeting their thumbs off.

E.M.H @elmondohummus
This last 30 minutes is the only time all year Lotus has kept pace, right? ;) #redflagjokes #indycar #detroitgp

matkeeling @keelingover
Come on they’re concreting the race track and then expecting to run again? Ridiculous, cowboy builders! #Indycar @SkyIndyCar

TB @Brewtdb
“@paultracy3: There isn’t a road in the whole state without a pothole … Lol” #INDYCAR #DetrioitGP

Dave Ellis @daveellis0808
Some guys with a wheel barrow are going to fix an entire race track. #indycar

Leaf blowers and butane gas flame throwers used to dry the patch compound before the race could be restarted. Image Credit: IICS

wendy kroon @blokkypirate
Er wordt op zn Amerikaans geasfalteerd. Awesome!! Bell Isle #indycar #Detroit pic.twitter.com/IXk7dCCM

Gord Smith  @elgordo99
What’s gonna happen with TV? #IndyCar #DetroitGP RT @hinchontrack Race to resume @ 6:30
Concrete Patching Continues

A Racing Fan @aRacingfan
BADMAN #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/WJECjcex
Raindrops detected … not raining yet but this is now causing additional concern

nascarcasm @nascarcasm
Now would be ideal time for Kid Rock to grab his guitar and entertain the crowd with a rendition of “Beauxwitdaba.” @BeauxBarfield #IndyCar

Dave Furst @DaveFurst
Roger Penske update from #detroitgp: Repairs are going well…looks like we’ll re-start. Going full distance is a question tho… #IndyCar

JMV1070 @JMV1070
Anybody else believe there is no way this stuff will stay sealed? #indycar

Autoweek Racing @AutoweekRacing
Well, so much for 30 minutes. They’re shooting now for 6:30p ET. Rainclouds threaten. #IndyCar #DetroitGP yfrog.com/kfd69xaj

Filip Cleeren @FilipCleeren
Track officials not ready to commit to a restart time yet. We are watching paint (quick fix) dry. #indycar #detroitgp

Torches and leaf blowers are used to "speed up" repairs - HERE

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @brian_wiggins: To ESPNEWS we go! #IndyCar

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE
RT @rosslancaster: Figured they’d move the race to ESPNEWS. ESPN2 has NHRA and ESPN has SportsCenter and NBA pre-game. #IndyCar

Dustin Long @dustinlong
#IndyCar … ABC announces that those watching on East Coast will have to switch to ESPN News at 6 pm EASTERN for continued coverage of event

Time: 6:48 local time – Cars are getting ready to take to the track and must do so with the color code tires they came in on.

The idea is to restart the race and have it run for 15 more laps to LAP 60

Shaun Pechin @Shaunpaddock
now everyone was trying to cheat…guess if your not trying to cheat…your not trying. #IndyCar

Ken and Lydda @AbuelosDeTrece
“@indycaradvocate: Cross your fingers, all. Let’s see if we can keep this sucker together by sheer will for 15 laps. #INDYCAR” You said Will

1hr. 59min. into the RED Flag condition – Engines fire and warm-up

Ash (アシュー) @racingAsh
Great to hear motors running. Oh boy. Please hold patch work, hold. Kudos to the fans in Detroit! Godspeed drivers. #DetroitGP #IndyCar

TheMiniChad @TheMiniChad
Watching #IndyCar – thinking we might see a return of Will Power’s famous fingers if these patches don’t hold up.
Graham Rahal will not move – he believes the clutch has failed – Electronics

SpeedFreaks @SpeedFreaks
WHAT?? Now rain is an issue before the green restart?? Holy crap… come in for rain tires and it’s anyone’s race! #DetroitGP #IndyCar

Restart – GREEN GREEN GREEN

Brian Karczewski @LVI56
Wait, they are gonna go green and it;s RAINING??? #Indycar

Mr. Wise Guy @DoctorGooFee
#indycar kudos for ABC for keeping this on TV…
Power gets jumped by Dixon and this allowed Pagenaud to pass Power placing him at P3

Michael Henson @ChasingBristol
New favorite #Indycar chat quote: “Bad, meet Worse.”

TV coverage jumps to ESPN NEWS …

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
Castroneves spins into the wall, Carpenter also spins at turn seven. #IndyCar

YELLOW Flag – Debris quickly cleaned up

Restart – GREEN GREEN GREEN

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
.@dariofranchitti jumps 2 P’s @simonpagenaud and moves up to 2nd, Power 3rd @scottdixon9 still leads. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
.@EJVISO stals and spins at Turn 5. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

LAP53 YELLOW Flag

Franchitti is able from P4 pass Power, then Pagenaud to have TCGR in place for a repeat one two finish as was the case the week before at the INDY500.

Funny thing – the red-colored DW12 of Dixon’s was riding on Black code tires and was pulling away from the black-colored DW12 of Franchitti’s that was riding on Red code, softer compound tires
Target Chip Ganassi now sitting P1 and P2 with only six laps to go

Restart – GREEN GREEN GREEN

Zachary Houghton @indycaradvocate
Founded in 1867, the DetroitGP is the longest-running continuous single race in history… #INDYCAR

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
No change in the top four at the latest restart, Servia now up to fifth, six laps to go. #IndyCar
Dixon has almost a full second led on teammate Franchitti

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Dixon,Franchitti, Pagenaud, Power, Servia. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Mr. Wise Guy @DoctorGooFee
#indycar I think the black tires are made out of the same stuff they patched the track with before the race.

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
Tagliani takes Andretti who has front wing damage, Newgarden follows him a few corners later. #IndyCar

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Lap 57 Now. Dixon still leads with Franchitti following. Pagenaud P3, Power P4. Servia P5. #IndyCar #DetroitGP

Mandy Valentine @Indy_Mode
We’ve actually got some good racing going on here! With 2 laps left. #Indycar #DetroitGP

Rodrigo Vicente @_RoVicente
2 LAPS TO GO! #IndyCar
Final Lap … everyone is behaving themselves!

CHECKERED Flag

Scott Dixon wins. Franchitti 2nd, Pagenaud 3rd, Power 4th, Servia 5th, Kanaan 6th, Hunter-Reay 7th, Kimball 8th, Conway 9th, and Tagliani at 10th #IndyCar – Full field finish HERE

Larry Lage @LarryLage
#IndyCar didn’t keep the feel-good buzz from the Indy 500 in part because the track in Detroit was awful. Check out pix goo.gl/aH6F7
ENDS

This final event opinion excerpted and edited from More Front Wing –

It’s hard to imagine a much bigger letdown after a thrilling Indianapolis 500 than the show witnessed today. If INDYCAR must return to Belle Isle — and I don’t think anyone would really be sad if they didn’t except Roger Penske and Scott Dixon — then please don’t make it happen immediately after Indianapolis. Perhaps this would be a good race to put in the fall when competing against opening weekend of the NFL season but not immediately following the event with more eyeballs than the rest of the season combined.

… notes from The EDJE

96th #INDY500 Tweet-By-Tweet - A Live Blog Effort

The famous control tower IMS pagoda at dawn the day of the 96th Indianapolis 500. Image Credit: Jeff Gluck via instagram

96th #INDY500 Tweet-By-Tweet - A Live Blog Effort

This edition of the "Greatest Spectacle In Racing" will be unique due to one major overriding issue, the new Dallara DW12 is racing in its first oval race and it happens to be the biggest, most historic venue one could choose for this maiden outing.

Fans and drivers are excited to see how this platform will perform in traffic because these cars are much kinder to the cars that trail behind them due to the aerodynamic effect known as Mushroom Busting incorporated into the design of the body work. What this means is that the disturbed airflow behind the car has been directed above the racing surface much more quickly than previous designs and this allows a car riding behind another car to be more stable and be able to get a "TOW" from the car in front.

Multiple car teams like Andretti Autosport with five cars entered may have an advantage if the team drivers work together as roller-derby teammates would work together to "sling-shot" each of their drivers forward.

The additional subtext to this 500 mile race would be the durability of the new racing engine formula. Three engine manufacturers have been authorized to produce these engines and it would seem that the weakest link resides with the DW12's powered by the Lotus/Judd turbo-charged engines. How many laps will they go before they are 1) Black-Flagged for being too slow or 2) if they will be able to complete the 500 miles still running without a failure.

Of course the final outcome will be watched by the Chevrolet and Honda engine team for their own ability to be able to complete the 500 miles still running without a failure as well.

Predictions are that either KVRT's Tony Kanaan or defending championship team of Bryan Herta Autosport's #98 Alex Tagliani would be the winner at the end of 500 miles. If the race is won by a multiple car team that would go to Andretti Autosport with Ryan Hunter-Raey. Fastest female now that Danica Patrick isn't sucking the PR air out of the room goes to Andretti Autosport's Ana Beatrix. Top former F1 driver goes to KVRT's Takuma Sato. Highest placing former INDY500 champion would be Helio Castroneves - Motorsports Unplugged Radio.

The following entries come from "Tweet Deck" tweet-by-tweet with added comments from the author:

Matt Archuleta @indy44
What a great intro on ABC. Spotlighted Dan Wheldon on Borg-Warner trophy. "That's what it takes to ride with Legends." #Lionheart #Indy500

 Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluck 39s
Cool pic. RT @penskeracing: Minutes before the walk out to #Indy500 @h3lio & @12WillPower collect their thoughts. twitpic.com/9pxgn8

Indy Motor Speedway @IMS
Cars are lining up on the front stretch! Head over to get a chance to see the new DW12 cars up close and personal. #Indy500

Chris Siegle @chrissiegle
You'd think with every Dan Wheldon tribute that is shown on TV, they'd get easier to watch. But they haven't for me. #Lionheart #Indy500

Sam Schmidt Mtsprts @SSMIndy
@simonpagenaud talks with Honda guests. Thanks to @HondaRacing_HPD for all they do. #Indy500 @IndyCar pic.twitter.com/IneJrVaz

Indy Motor Speedway @IMS
Driver introductions and pre-race ceremonies are about to begin! What's your favorite #Indy500 tradition?

Dave Walker @reklawed
Turned on the #Indy500 only to discover that #IndyCar hasn't honoured Greg Moore and kept his number retired. That is beyond disappointing

Craig Terrill @TerrillMusic
"When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash, then I long for my Indiana home" #indy500

The recorded version channeling Jim Nabors seems grand and appropriate for this first race of the DW12

on Frankl @ronfrankl
In-cars on ESPN3.com just went live. #IndyCar

Brad Plummer @PlummerBrad
why do i not have the video only sound? - #indycar live on livestream.com/indycar

 Mike Saverko @Msave69
Like to thank all our veterans for giving us a chance to enjoy #Indy500 and #Coke600 today!! This wknd for you!! Thanks!! #NASCAR #IndyCar

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN!

IZOD IndyCar Series @IndyCar
GREEN FLAG FOR THE 96TH RUNNING OF THE #INDY500! #indycar2012

All cars safely around for a full lap - James Hinchcliffe takes the first lap

Two laps two lead changes as Briscoe takes the position back

Steph@MoreFrontWing @99forever
Okay, guys. The only lap you need to lead is the 200th. Relax, please. #indy500

Graham Rahal's fuel light alarm is flashing on lap 8 of 200

Wayne Willis @WayneWillisJr
These cars are racing really nice. Looks good so far. #Indy500 @JamieLittleESPN

Jay Howard @JayHowardRacing
[PIC] Seeing #dannyboy car circle @IMS is not only emotional bt special 4 all his many fans, me included #indy500 @IMS lockerz.com/s/212340109

Peter Leung @BaronVonClutch
Race Control has black-flagged Jean Alesi and Simona de Silvestro. Both cars were lapping about 10mph slower than rest of field. #Indy500

Lap 15 of 200 - Lotus/Judd cars are out of the race as predicted yesterday on Motorsports Unplugged Radio - "Wouldn't last 25 Laps"

YELLOW Flag - Clauson spins and saves the car and doesn't hit the wall - Pits Open

EJ Viso punts Dario Franchitti in pit lane and turns the #50 car around - nose cone change ordered by Chip Ganassi

Patti Rodisch @nascar_lugnuts
that was a frantic set of pit stops...#indycar

LAP 17 of 200 - Restart - GREEN, GREEN, GREEN!

IZOD IndyCar Series @IndyCar
Incident between Viso and Franchitti on pit lane was investigated. No action taken. #Indy500 #indycar2012

Fuel consumption may be down from expected due to the temperatures on the track

9 lead changes between three drivers by Lap 24 of 200

ABC replays the "single-file" restart and there were as many as five-wide at one point

IZOD IndyCar Series @IndyCar
Pic: The start of the 96th Running of the #Indy500. #indycar2012 pic.twitter.com/8x0Wyi8C

Ryan Brothers @renegade_3
RT @INDYracereview: . @MarcoAndretti is back in the lead. #IndyCar #Indy500

Tom Meyer Klipsch @TOMMYKlipsch
Lets go @Andretti26 #TeamRCcola #Andretti Leading the #Indy500! instagr.am/p/LIyFPuTENu/

LAP 34 of 200 - Top five - Andretti, Hinchtown, Briscoe, Tagliani, and Kanaan

GREEN Flag ptistops begin

F1 Fanatic Live @f1fanaticlive
L43 Hinchcliffe pits. #IndyCar

Doug Demmons @dougdemmons
Jean Alesi says he'll be back next year and he won't be driving a Yugo ... I mean, Lotus #Indy500

Ron Frankl @ronfrankl
Hinchcliffe told by team they're beating everyone on fuel mileage. Not concerned to be first to come in. #IndyCar

James Jakes @JamesJakes
4 more #Firestone tires and fuel! Fast work by the crew today! Indy500 #IndyCar

LAP 49 - Newgarden car stalls in the pits - hand pushed and restarted

Dragon Racing's Katherine Legge two laps down in P28 - Teammate Sebastien Bourdais in P23 one lap down

LAP 50 of 200 Top 10 - Andretti, Dixon, Hinchcliffe, Briscoe, Sato, Power, Kanaan, Franchitti, Rahal, and Conway

Graham Rahal is just not up to speed - complains of too much downforce

Tagliani must have had a terrible pitstop - he's dropped to P24 on lap 64 of 200 after running in the top 5at lap 34

Marco Andretti is showing great strength on lap 68 with a lead, running alone at .6689 ahead of Scott Dixon - lapping at 217mph

 Bruno Tarulli @BrunoTarulli34
Kanaan paro otra vez en boxes. Sato es tercero. Sigue adelante Marco Andretti, nieto de Mario. #IndyCar #Indy500

Jenna Fryer @JennaFryer
Marco Andretti has now led more laps than he'd led in all his previous combined #Indy500 (31 laps led) #IndyCar

Anthony Stuart @Anthony_Stuart
#INDY500 came back into my room… definitely awake now! Some absolutely amazing driving on display @imsupdates

Dario Franchitti has worked his way up to P5 since dropping to P28 with the first pitlane incident

LAP 74 - Andretti in the pits, Hinchcliffe in the pits, RHR in the pits, 29 laps on a tank of gas

LAP 75 - all three Penske Racing cars in for fuel and tires

Dixon and Franchitti P1 and P2 before their pitstops - two Honda-powered lead the race

14 different lead changes as Charlie Kimball takes the lead on transition

YELLOW Flag - Mike Conway and Will Power in a big crash after Mike Conway pulss out of the pits. Conway on the pitstop ran into three of his crew members and was assesed a drive through penalty which he was going to serve on the next lap.

Conway's ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing car just spun in front of Will Power as it looked like a front wing problem that caused instability

Four cars out of the race - the two Lotus cars and now Mike Conway and Will Power - Slow motion of the accident showed the safety of the systems built-in to the cars and the track

 Andretti Autosport @FollowAndretti
After dropping back with push condition, @RyanHunterReay climbing back into fray. P7. #Indy500

Tony @PopOffValve
Looks like more folks are seeking out the misting stations @IMS - worst heat of the day right now.

Allen Wedge @AllenWedge
@tonydizinno everyone ok, Conway hit wall alone Power couldn't avoid and got under him

Bill Zahren @pressdog
As Conway gets airborne he's all like "fabulous. this again" heart rate climbs to 49 bpm

LAP 88 0f 200 - GREEN Flag Restart of second caution period of the race 

Top ten - Andretti, Dixon, Sato, Kanaan, Franchitti, Hinchtown, RHR, Briscoe, Rahal, and Kimball

LAP 89 of 200 - YELLOW Flag - Ana Beatrix hits the wall alone - backend got loose and barely brushes the wall

Pits Open with many takers - RHR decides at last moment to not go in - Hinchcliffe has a pit problem - Dixon and Franchitti stay out as well

Jim @RacingBluejay
What the hell is it with rear tires today at #IMS? #Indy500 #IndyCar

Ryan Brothers @renegade_3
Sad to see my man @12WillPower have to end his day early #Indy500 . A little momentum lost from his amazing start to this #IndyCar season.

Stephanie Flint @stephmflint
Listening to the #500 on the radio as I drive home isn't quite the same after experiencing it as a @PrincessIndy500 last year... #indycar

Formula 1 @F1grid
PHOTO: A lot of empty seats at the Indianapolis 500 #Indy500 #IndyCar twitpic.com/9pzaod

On pit out, Ana Beatrix pulls out slowly and causes a traffic jam on the out lane

LAP 95 0f 200 - GREEN Flag Restart of third caution period of the race

All cars safely through in very tight racing quarters - this Mushroom Busting design delivers a quality racing product!

Conwezys @Conwezys
Lap 98 #lionheartforever #LIONHEART #indy500

White sunglasses placed on the faces of everyone in the stands

James Foreman @James__Foreman
#indy500 #indycar2012 #hondaindy @girlracercouk - Dan Wheldon's wife Susie watching the race from the pits, must be a very tough day for her

Halfway - LAP 100 of 200 - Top 10 drivers are TCGR's Dixon & Franchitti, Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Raey, CGR's Graham Rahal, Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Takuma Sato, CGR's Charlie Kimball, Panther Racing's JR Hildebrand, Dale Coyne Racing's James Jakes, and Sam Schmidt Motorsport'sTownsend Bell

The field has settled down nose to tail in order to save fuel

LAP 112 - Pitstop by RHR after not taking fuel after the last yellow flag

Top six positions are Honda-powered DW12s

Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluck
Will Power on crash: "(Conway) said the team sent him out w/a broken wing. I don't understand why they would do that." #IndyCar

Taylor J. Ness @tness88
Many drivers, including seasoned veterans, seem to be having trouble with getting going out of the pit box. #INDY500

Robby Howard @robbyhoward1
Charlie Kimball, the first driver credited with racing with diabetes, has moved into the fifth position. #indy500

Dario Franchitti in and out of the pits on Lap 118 - Dixon gets one more lap after leading 34 laps - in and out

LAP 121 - Takuma Sato leads all drivers with the 18th lead change in the race and the first time in IMS history that a Japanese-born driver has led an INDY500 race

Ryan Hunter-Raey's car is giving him troubles and comes into the pits - may be terminal - right rear upright giving way

Rubens Barrichello leads a lap at INDY500 after 33 laps between fuel stops

LAP 125 - top five are Sato, followed very closely by Franchitti, Dixon, Andretti, and Hildebrand ... oops, passed by Rahal

Four Chip Ganassi managed cars in the top 10 - P2 Franchitti, P4 Dixon, P5 Rahal, P7 Kimball

Indy Star Sports @IndyStarSports
RT @indystar_hutch: Top five at Indy thru 131 (13 on lead lap): Sato, Franchitti, Dixon, Andretti and Rahal. #Indy500

Filip Cleeren @FilipCleeren
Marco still looking good to win this. #indy500

Allen Wedge @AllenWedge
Just watched Marco pick off Dixon on ESPN3, I wish they offered this to everyone

Team Chevy @TeamChevy
Total of 20 lead changes today. Most ever at #Indy500 - 29. @IMS #ChevyIndy500

Crash Gladys @CrashGladys
Turn 2 is never the hardest turn, but drivers r reporting that due to the tailwind it is increasingly difficult 2 turn there #Indy500

Mandy Valentine @Indy_Mode
Come on @TonyKanaan & @Hinchtown - U guys can do it! (well, not both of U, obviously, but U can be 1st & 2nd!) Drive boys, drive #Indy500

Vibration troubles with Marco Andretti's car which may be the same problem with the CV Joint as Ryan Hunter-Raey's car Marco in pitlane ... and out

YELLOW Flag - LAP 145 of 200 fourth of the race - Andretti Autosport's Saavedra stalled on pit in lane

Almost everyone in the pits - very hectic - now 12 cars on the lead lap - should be cycled forward for the restart

After pitstops by the field the top ten positions are Sato, Franchitti, Dixon, Hinchcliffe, Wilson, Kimball, Briscoe, Kanaan, Castroneves, and Barrichello

LAP 152 of 200 -  GREEN Flag Restart of fourth caution period of the race

 IZOD IndyCar Series @IndyCar Green green green! Sato leads on Lap 152. #Indy500 #indycar2012

Single file restart with a log jam - Franchitti takes the position away from Sato - then Dixon TCGR in P1 and P2

Hinchtown now targeting TAKU! - Everyone needs to make one more pitstop so fuel strategy is out the window

Kanaan just eclipsed Hinchcliffe - after one lap, Hinchcliffe takes the position back

LAP 159 - Dixon passes Franchitti for the lead with TAKU right behind - oops, Franchitti passes Dixon right back

Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluck
It's official: The temperature has reached 93 degrees, making the hottest #Indy500 in the 96-year history of the event.

Hasby Díaz Colina @dernierslayer
#INDY500 VUELTA 145 1.Sato 2.Franchitti 3.Andretti 4.Dixon 5.Wilson 6.Hildebrand 7.Kimball 8.Hinchcliffe 9.Bell 10.Castroneves 24.VISO

YELLOW Flag - LAP 164 - Josef Newgarden's car lets loose and pulls to the infield of the track - Pits Closed

Pits now open with 35 laps to go - al little long to stretch to the end - WOW all leaders in - Hinchcliffe runs over a hose and delays at getting out of pits - lost positions way down the order

Ron Frankl @ronfrankl
Hinchcliffe being told repeatedly by cc to save fuel; James acknowledges but says he" doesn't want to lose the field." #IndyCar

Oakley @oakley
RT @OakleyRacing1 The #Indy500 - @scottdixon9 leading followed by fellow O driver @dariofranchitti - will they hold on? #indycar2012 Lap 168

Speculation is that with leaning down, all of the leaders my be able to make it to the end - possible penalties to Rahal and Hinchcliffe

LAP 171 of 200 - 30 LAPS To Go - GREEN Flag Restart of fifth caution period of the race

Three wide and Justin Wilson gets by Sato - Franchitti takes the lead - Wilson set sights on Dixon

Kanaan in the mix with Franchitti, Dixon, Wilson, Sato and Kaanaan

Wilson slips up near the wall and losses places back to P7 - now top five is Dixon, Franchitti, Sato, Carpenter, and Kanaan

YELLOW Flag LAP 181 - Ed Carpenter spins and is in OK shape - no crash or damage, may have kissed the wall - actually no touch - white line sends the car skidding

LaMarquis Martin @LaMarquisMartin
100% skill, 200% luck there by @edcarpenter20 #indy500 #indycar

Tony @PopOffValve
Holy cow. Screw green/white/checkers, this is going to be a GOBSMACKING finish to the #Indy500.

Kendra McKinley @dance_kenny
another new record! most lead changes in a single race. 31. #Indy500

Max Papis @maxpapis 41s
Hats off to the class act of @CLTMotorSpdwy to show #Indy500 on the giant screen #classact

LAP 176 - Franchitti back in the lead with radio commands to manage fuel at "4.3 on the dash"

Dixon sets a new lead change record ant the INDY500 with 30 lead changes for this Mushroom Buster DW12

LAP 184 of 200 - 16 LAPS To Go - GREEN Flag Restart of sixth caution period of the race

Kanaan streaks to the lead from P6 - Franchitti passes TK back - Franchitti tries to bunch the field - Kanaan takes the lead again

YELLOW Flag - up to P8 Marco Andretti hits the wall and the tires on the right side of the car are bent - inside wheels hit the white line and spins

Declan Brennan @TheRaceTool
Has anyone noticed how FECKING AWESOME the Indy 500 is? :) #IndyCar

Curt Cavin @curtcavin
Pretty sure @TonyKanaan wishes he hadn't taken the lead just before that crash. He's going to be second (or maybe fifth) by Turn 4. #indy500

T.Marc Jones @TMarcJones
Ok ladies and gentlemen; 7 lap shootout! Is this an exciting race or what! #INDY500 #indycar2012 Let's go @TonyKanaan

Angelique @Angeliquecr
This next restart is gonna test the sphincters of every soul at the @IMS #RaceDay #indy500 #Indy500SnakePit #indycar2012

Top five before restart are Kanaan, Franchitti, Dixon, Briscoe, and Wilson

LAP 194 of 200 - 6 LAPS To Go - GREEN Flag Restart of seventh caution period of the race

Franchitti passes on restart - Oriol Servia maks a charge to the front and is in P6

Two laps to go Sato holds on to Franchitti's tail and is in P2 - Sato tries to pass on the inside, touches the whiteline and spins - YELLOW Flag

CHECKERED Flag - Franchitti becomes a three-time winner under a YELLOW Flag. WOW!

Final top ten - Dario Franchitti (from P33 to P3 on one stint), Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Oriol Servia (former Lotus-driver), Ryan Briscoe, James Hinchcliffe, Justin Wilson, Charlie Kimball, Toensend Bell, and Helio Castroneves

This is the first race of the season not won by a Penske Racing driver, but it still is a race win by either a Penske Racing or a Chip Ganassi Racing driver!

Ashley Judd Franchitti is absolutely beside herself as well she should be - Dario Franchitti becomes a Three-Time INDY500 Winner - dedicates the race to Dan Wheldon in post race interview (paraphrased).

"To be placed on the trophy besides Dan means the world to me."

Dario gets an Igloo cooler full of icy water dumped on him ala winning Football Coach/Super Bowl style.

 Post race interview has Takuma Sato complaining that he had taken the position but Dario pinched him down so hard that it caused him to have to be below the whiteline causing his DW12 to spin and hit the wall. 

The 96th Indianapolis 500 is in the books and should be renamed the "Mushroom Buster 500" in honor of the technology that brought together a great, competitive, and record 35 lead change race.


... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: #indycar, 96th Indianapolis 500, DW12, INDY500, Swift Engineering, @TheEDJE, tow

Dallara DW12 Speedway Aero Takes A Nod From Swift Engineering

The Dallara DW12 in Speedway Configuration rear wing side-by-side with the Swift Engineering Concept 66 Mushroom Busting design and the similarities are striking. Image Credit: Various resources combined by Edmund Jenks (2012)  

Dallara DW12 Speedway Aero Takes A Nod From Swift Engineering

The major difference with the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 ... the Greatest Spectacle in Racing ... and virtually all previous editions of the race is the racing platform technology.

Most people who have been following American open wheel racing since the beginning know the trials and tribulations with the separation and unification of the series but few really have a handle on as to why this year will be different than any other year.

The IZOD IndyCar Series has adopted a new chassis that handles the flow of air much differently than chassis of previous years and this change lays mainly in the concept of managing the airflow vortex that is created by the car and what happens to the flow of air after it leaves the back end or rear wing of the open wheel chassis. The car punches a change of the nature of the air ... or hole in the air and this allows a car that is following to pass through the same space more easily, with less drag. Some have come to term this effect as "Tow" but what is really happening is that the new design manages the flow of the air to allow for the vortex "mushroom" to be busted. An aerodynamic design feature first pioneered by Swift Engineering and put into play by some very enterprising aerodynamic engineers at Dallara for the Speedway Configuration of the DW12 chassis.

Bryan Herta Autosport's Alex Tagliani had the following observation as to this "Mushroom Busting" effect upon the trailing car, a car following a lead driver:

“You can really see it. If you make the corners flat (out), and being within three car-lengths, you'll get sucked in,” explains Alex Tagliani, who's understandably bullish about his chances having both a Honda and running with defending champion team Bryan Herta Autosport. “If your car isn't as good, and you're maybe four lengths back, you'll still be able to suck in three, but you'll just getting right on their back.”

This is where the timing element comes into play. “Getting closer, you get more disturbed, and if you lift, you become a sitting duck,” he says. “The timing of the draft is very important, but you also have to stay within the appropriate distance to pick up the tow and get by the guy.”
(quote ht: Racer.com)

The following was first published on 4/16/2010 and updated on 6/10/2010 by Edmund Jenks after a visit and tour of the Swift Engineering creation and production facility located in San Clemente, California:

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 Magazine. “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 Magazine. “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 the Swift and four other manufacturer's value propositions and is expected to make its decision for the next generation IndyCar for 2012 by June 30, 2010.
[Reference Here]

Well, Dallara won the contract and the incorporation of the mushroom busting design in the DW12 is very evident, more so than with a road/street course aerodynamic set up. Maybe as this author had done with the quote used by Alex Tagliani for this article, Dallara should place at the bottom of each rear wing assembly [ht: Swift Engineering] ... do ya' think?

This year, the "tow" will be the story of the 96th INDY500 race and it will be because of moving the dirty air vortex up and away from the track surface - Mushroom Busting - which will allow cars to be more stable and gain an advantage on the track if used properly.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: 2012, 66, 70, Casper Van Der Schoot, Concept 66, Concept 70, Dallara, Design, DW12, IZOD IndyCar Series, Speedway Configuration, Swift Engineering, @TheEDJE

INDY500 DW12 #poleday And #bumpday Weekend Trials

Ryan Briscoe, No. 2 IZOD Team Penske Chevrolet, will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500. With a four-lap average speed of 226.484 MPH and a time of 2:38.9514, Briscoe captured his career-first pole position for the Indy 500 and the 17th for Team Penske by the closest margin in the history of the race. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

INDY500 DW12 #poleday And #bumpday Weekend Trials

What is a racing series without its unplanned moments of friction? Short answer? ... not interesting at all and this last weekend in the IZOD IndyCar Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) had its share of unplanned moments of friction.

During 2011 and many of the previous years at IMS during the qualifications process known as Pole Day and the following day known as Bump Day (new media Twitter communications hashtags #poleday and #bumpday), the unplanned friction centered around Series Management and Team relations. This year, the weekend was spiced up with the addition of integrating the nuances of a new racing platform formula that has the choice of three turbo-charged 2.2L engine power-plants - Chevrolet | Honda | Lotus .

View slideshow: INDY500 DW12 #poleday and #bumpday weekend trials

One of the biggest concerns, in fact, centered itself around the perceived lack of competitiveness and power developed by the Lotus engine. The cracks of this controversy began to show themselves amongst the four teams (HVM Racing/Dreyer & Reinblod Racing/Bryan Herta Autosport/Dragon Racing) and five drivers that had run the first three races of the season with mild moments of success. This mild success was not the result of having inexperienced and unsuccessful drivers piloting the new DW12 Dallara chassis with the Lotus engine (HVM's Simona de Silvestro - P3 in Atlantic Championship 2009 - DRR's Oriol Servia - P4 2011/11 top-10 finishes, BHA's Alex Tagliani - P11/6 top-10 finishes/2 poles, DR's Sebastien Bourdais - P1 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and DR's Katherine Legge - P3 in Atlantic Championship standings 2005  - the most winning driver being four-time Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais).

Before the traditional activities that surround the month of May at IMS in the lead up to the INDY500, two teams (Dreyer & Reinblod Racing/Bryan Herta Autosport) lobbied series management and won release from their obligation to use the Lotus engine in their DW12's, in fact one team, Bryan Herta Autosport did not travel to the fourth race of the season at Sao Paulo, Brazil to prepare for the transition to the Honda engine. After Sao Paulo, Dreyer & Reinbold racing negotiated an alliance with Panther Racing to be supplied and supported with a Chevrolet engine which had them change their logo for the rest of the season to reflect the alliance.

During the first chance at getting practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lotus had trouble delivering engines for Dragon Racing (while Dragon Racing launched a lawsuit to seek about 4.6 million dollars in damages due to the breach in their contract). The team missed out on six practice sessions and sought permission from the series to change to a different engine supplier. With permission granted, Dragon Racing was able to get Sebastien Bourdais and Kathrien Legge through Rookie Orientation on Thursday with Chevrolet engines.

In the meantime, in order to save some face, Lotus put their support behind a one-time team effort, Fan Force Racing to place 47 year-old Lotus driver/ambassador and former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi on the track to qualify along side of the one remaining team of HVM Racing and Simona de Silvestro.

During the activities over the week-end to fill the traditional 33 places allowed for the INDY500 field, many speculated that their may not actually be 33 cars that could qualify for the field. If this were to happen, it would be the first time since 1947 and result in an embarrassment to the new formula of the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Other unplanned moments of friction came primarily through the process known as Bump Day. After the field of 33 cars is filled with qualifying runs, anyone who wishes to challenge to get into the field could present a car and post a time faster than the slowest qualified car and "Bump" the slowest car out of the field ... hence Bump Day.

Briscoe bested fellow Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 driver, James Hinchcliffe, No. 27 Team Go.Daddy.com Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, by .0023 of a second. Hinchcliffe’s qualifying run was 2:38.9537/226.481 mph. The difference is the equivalent of 9.168 inches. Here, James Hinchcliffe displays the gloves he wore for his inspired run - these driving gloves were worn by fellow Canadian and legendary IndyCar driver, Greg Moore. Image Credit: @hinchtown via Twitter

This on-site experience excerpted and edited from AP -

In The Pits: Drama _ of course! _ in IndyCar again
By: JENNA FRYER

One can't help but wonder, though, if there's been too much back-room politicking going on since Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened its gates May 10 to begin preparations for Sunday's race. Almost every day since has had some sort of controversy - many bordering on comical - and rumors have run rampant about everything from an alleged owner-led charge to oust CEO Randy Bernard and IndyCar supposedly blocking two teams from fielding cars on Sunday's bump-less Bump Day.

Then came the long list of penalties announced Sunday night, about 30 minutes after practice had concluded for a four-day off period.

IndyCar found 18 different infractions among 13 teams in pre-qualifying inspection, and track historian Donald Davidson believes the numbers were a one-day record for the series, though fines have never been consistently announced.

Few teams were immune and the entire front row was docked a total of $70,000 for five penalties split between pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe of Penske Racing, and Andretti Autosport teammates James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Briscoe, in Charlotte on Monday to promote the Indy 500, wasn't sure his Penske team had actually violated the brake rule that brought a $15,000 fine. Penske team president Tim Cindric confirmed on Twitter that Will Power's car indeed had unapproved brake pads, but claimed the team never would have sent Briscoe out with the same pads once Power's had been flagged.

Either way, Briscoe believed IndyCar - behind new race director Beaux Barfield and vice president of technology Will Phillips - had taken a huge step in levying so many fines.

"It's surprising because we haven't seen much of that in the past," Briscoe said. "But I think we are seeing a new guy in charge of the rules now, and maybe in the past, some things have been let past, and I think it's good that teams are being penalized for not abiding by the rules 100 percent. Rules are there to be followed, rules are made to be enforced and they should be."

That strong stance from the sanctioning body likely came as a shock to team owners - and it came during yet another stretch of off-track drama.
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It left only two Lotus-powered cars in the field, and they've been so far off the pace that many are openly wondering if they should even be allowed in the race. It didn't help that 47-year-old former Formula One driver Jean Alesi, who has never before raced an oval, said he felt "unsafe" in the car and was "concerned" for his fellow competitors because it is so slow.

Rubens Barrichello, who spent 19 years in F1 before moving to IndyCar this season, believes Alesi is handicapped by his Lotus engine.

"It's been very unfortunate that the Lotus power is not up to the speed," Barrichello said. "If we do end up racing with that 10- or 15-mile (speed) difference, it could be a problem for both of the (Lotus drivers). I hope just that he has a safe race."

IndyCar needs Alesi and Simona de Silvestro in the race to avoid not having a full 33-car field for the first time since 1947, but it's possible that the two cars will be black-flagged for failing to maintain a reasonable speed.

There was disappointment Sunday when no team owner threw together a last-minute entry to try to bump one of the Lotus cars out of the field. Both Jay Howard and Pippa Mann indicated they were close to putting together deals, but couldn't get Chevrolet or Honda to give them an engine. That led to rumors it was IndyCar who halted the engines to protect Lotus - an allegation series officials vehemently denied.

Let's not forget the TurboGate saga, either, with Chevrolet losing two appeals trying to prevent Honda from using a new compressor cover on its turbocharger. The defeat has supposedly left powerhouse owner Roger Penske so infuriated he's refusing to speak to Bernard, but yet it's Penske who has a driver on the pole and two more starting on the second row.

Penske, who at least publicly has preached a message of unity and support of IndyCar leaders, goes into the 500 perfect on the season with five poles and four victories. Honda, meanwhile, had only one driver qualify inside the top 10.

So from the outside, it sure looks like a mess for IndyCar. But Bernard is fond of claiming "all press is good press," and if drama gets fans to tune into Sunday's race, then maybe IndyCar knows exactly what it is doing.
[Reference Here]

Here is how the field is set for the 98th running of the INDY500:

Pos  Driver               Team/Car                      Speed
 1.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske DW12-Chevy             226.484
 2.  James Hinchcliffe    Andretti DW12-Chevy           226.481
 3.  Ryan Hunter-Reay     Andretti DW12-Chevy           226.240

 4.  Marco Andretti       Andretti DW12-Chevy           225.456
 5.  Will Power           Penske DW12-Chevy             225.422
 6.  Helio Castroneves    Penske DW12-Chevy             225.172

 7.  Josef Newgarden      Fisher DW12-Honda             224.037
 8.  Tony Kanaan          KV DW12-Chevy                 224.751
 9.  EJ Viso              KV DW12-Chevy                 224.422

10.  Rubens Barrichello   KV DW12-Chevy                 224.264
11.  Alex Tagliani        Herta DW12-Honda              224.000
12.  Graham Rahal         Ganassi DW12-Honda            223.959

13.  Ana Beatriz          Andretti/Conquest DW12-Chevy  223.920
14.  Charlie Kimball      Ganassi DW12-Honda            223.868
15.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi DW12-Honda            223.684

16.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi DW12-Honda            223.582
17.  James Jakes          Dale Coyne DW12-Honda         223.482
18.  JR Hildebrand        Panther DW12-Chevy            223.422

19.  Takuma Sato          Rahal DW12-Honda              223.392
20.  Townsend Bell        Schmidt DW12-Honda            223.134
21.  Justin Wilson        Dale Coyne DW12-Honda         222.929

22.  Michel Jourdain Jr   Rahal DW12-Honda              222.893
23.  Simon Pagenaud       Schmidt DW12-Honda            222.891
24.  Sebastian Saavedra   AFS/Andretti DW12-Chevy       222.811

25.  Sebastien Bourdais   Dragon DW12-Chevy             223.760
26.  Wade Cunningham      Foyt DW12-Honda               223.258
27.  Oriol Servia         Panther/DRR DW12-Chevy        222.393

28.  Ed Carpenter         Carpenter DW12-Chevy          222.324
29.  Mike Conway          Foyt DW12-Honda               222.319
30.  Katherine Legge      Dragon DW12-Chevy             221.624

31.  Bryan Clauson        Fisher DW12-Chevy             214.455
32.  Simona de Silvestro  HVM DW12-Lotus                214.393
33.  Jean Alesi           Fan Force DW12-Lotus          210.094
(ht: autosport)

Please be aware that the rule book has a provision that if cars do not maintain an adequate speed for safety reasons, they will be Black Flagged and removed from racing on the track. This rule is known as the 105% Rule.

@TheEDJE TWEETS from Bump Day:

If officials were to enforce the 105% rule 33rd qualifier today would need 215.1598mph avg or better, Clausen in at AVG: 214.455 #indycar #indy500

de Silvestro HVM Racing - 214.393 | Alesi Fan Force United - 210.094 Mak Field | 105% rule, 215.1598mph avg not in play on #bumpday #indycar #lotus #chevy #honda

AS for the former Lotus drivers - Bryan Herta Autosport benefited the best from the change by having Alex Tagliani qualify at P11.

Another @TheEDJE TWEET:

@BourdaisOnTrack safely in at P25 - 223.760 #bumpday would have been good enough for P15 on #poleday #indycar #indy500

... notes from The EDJE



** Article first seen as INDY500 DW12 #poleday And #bumpday Weekend Trials at Technorati **