Indy cars

I'm sad he died. It's especially sad for his two kids and the wife. That said, he chose to do what he did knowing full well the risks, and his wife chose to share that life. He chose to challenge himself at the highest level he was capable of. He took risks to see if he was up to it. While we can recoil in horror at the final moments of his life, it was a life of fulfillment, testing human courage and strength, working to setting a higher bar of personal achievement. The snarky media that only shows up for the gore and the pontificating are a bunch of parasites. What a contrast! Some of these same media duds are praising the unkempt slugs "protesting" around the country currently. These do nothing welps who are basically saying "feed me, feed me......I want, I want" after you get past the bank/business bashing. They all, media and protesters, could learn something about striving to do your best, commitment to an endeavor, and putting "it" on the line from Dan Wheldon......................but they won't. They're too selfish, coddled and insipid. RIP Dan.

Well said Uncle Bob, it is indeed extremely unfortunate that he joined the ranks of many young motor sports stars that ended their lives at an early age. It is a shame that he is gone as well as Dale Sr. and Eric Medlen among others, but I believe that they all perished doing what they loved best.

This is a good read,not some media crap,but by someone who knows what he's talking about.
WHELDON’S DEATH PUTS INDYCAR AT a CROSSROADS

Yeah, good stuff in there. Thanks for the link, H!

Here's something that F1 has in the works .

Attachment 51703

Very Nice!!!

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

More road courses would help, accept that the crowds go away. American's are used to sitting in a grandstand with a view of the entire track, not perched on a hillside somewhere way back from the track to catch a glimpse of the cars once a lap as they go by... There are a lot of Saturday night ovals that draw bigger crowds then the SCCA Nationals! Ovals are the preferred racing in this country....

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You are probably right about ovals being preferred now but in the past America loved road courses (Watkins Glen etc...) So what has changed? I always preferred going to road courses (not street courses) rather than the contained ovals (use to be Indy 500 and Milwaukee Mile only). Now I'm too old, I just watch on TV.

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Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Well said Uncle Bob, it is indeed extremely unfortunate that he joined the ranks of many young motor sports stars that ended their lives at an early age. It is a shame that he is gone as well as Dale Sr. and Eric Medlen among others, but I believe that they all perished doing what they loved best.

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Dan's death was eerily similar too Greg Moore's death. The way the car hit the catch fence and being the last race of the season. Maybe less wing and down force would have kept the car on the ground. The older cars never seemed to fly like that in incidents.

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Originally Posted by Two8tyThree

Dan's death was eerily similar too Greg Moore's death. The way the car hit the catch fence and being the last race of the season. Maybe less wing and down force would have kept the car on the ground. The older cars never seemed to fly like that in incidents.

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Did you click the link HWorrell put up??? It's an interesting article by a guy who knows Indy cars, not some media dude pushing the hype to increase his ratings.... Anyway, the author gets into some of the same things you mention concerning the aero on the current car, when they get in the air they fly, not just bump wheels, go up and fall down like a sprint car or a midget. Waiting to see the 2012 car and what all has been changed on it.

You mention Indy and the Milwaukee Mile, brings back a lot of memories for me. When I was a kid, Dad and us boys went to Indy every year, including a seat to watch the Mini-Indy at the 18th Street Speedway, the Indy 500 on Monday, then up to Milwaukee for the Indy Car race there the next Sunday!!!! When we got home we would get after our own summer racing program(s) with those three races as our motivation!!! My pals were all circle burners and ran to the mailbox on Thursday to get this weeks copy of Speed Sport and see how our hero drivers in USAC had done the weekend before, we all aspired to race USAC midgets, sprints, and Champ cars and dreamed of the day that maybe we would be good enough someday to run Indy!!!! None of us made it, but the dream kept us going!!!! Now, you just buy a ride and go race Indy cars......

What is those catch fences made of??.Pretty tough stuff stopping a car going 220 mph.

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Originally Posted by 1gary

What is those catch fences made of??.Pretty tough stuff stopping a car going 220 mph.

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I don't think it matters what the catch fence is made of. At those velocities even with a Hans Device the brain will tear from the brain stem causing instant death (i.e. Dale Earnhardt and Greg Moore incidents). The flying cars is what is of concern to all, speeds do need to be reduced. I would personally like to see the aerodynamics greatly reduced giving the skill back to the drivers, faster isn't always more exciting.

The catch fences I have likely looked at millions of times and never gave a thought as to how do they do that??.

Most of the catch fences I've encountered where standard chain link with 1/2 cable woven thru the bottom,middle and top.And I have been to some rural tracks that had nothing more than 3 inch square welded wire fence with 1 or 2 cables stretched taught on the outside just @ the grandstand area.

I think if the safer barriers went up to just before the catch fence curls over it would help with these faster speeds.

Guys-I am living proof the safety rules save lives.I was at one time involved in a track drag race crash that was a 7 rollover at the top end.I only remember two of them and that took about two yrs to come back to me with to this day parts are still missing.Accept risks??.Sure.At the same time do what ever it takes to save lives.And no-I didn't stop driving because of the crash.

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Originally Posted by 1gary

I think if the safer barriers went up to just before the catch fence curls over it would help with these faster speeds.

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Betcha the people in the first 50 rows of seats would complain about their view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!