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CART
Jul 4, 2002 0:12:09 GMT -5
Post by Danny Boy on Jul 4, 2002 0:12:09 GMT -5
Unlike F1 not only do you get overtaking in Cart but when the yellows come on you can get a and not feel you may miss the only exciting event to happen during the race. Danny Boy
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CART
Jul 4, 2002 16:30:27 GMT -5
Post by Henrik on Jul 4, 2002 16:30:27 GMT -5
I suppose a race review from Chicago is a bit overdue, but since I’m on the road currently I do have a reasonable excuse.
So, the weekend started by us arriving to the track on the Friday to get some of the early action, and catch up with some people from the teams. Problem was, we couldn’t get in as there were no tickets being sold. After speaking to a number of officials, we were finally informed that it was a two day event, and so nothing was happening on the Friday.
Next day, we made our way back to the track, and found a rather run down track installation. Chicago is one of the small 1 mile ovals, and so the infield paddock area becomes limited. However, considering that there was basically no hospitality in place, this did not pose a problem. We walked around the paddock for a while, struggling with the intense heat Chicago was experiencing, and saw poor Max Papis. I feel really sorry for the guy, because he is a great driver, and he has had some great results this year with basically no budget. His team didn’t even have a T car, but still they managed. Well the money has now run out, and Papis has no more ride.
In talking to some other people, it became clear that the current mood is not too optimistic. Everybody has total faith in Chris Pook and what he is presently doing, but it is feared by many that it may just be one year too late. Time will tell, but the race field is certainly become very thin. One team member was commenting that he thought perhaps CART would become a series with no ovals at all, and simply let the IRL run their only oval series on their own. This may be a solution, but I feel CART should have a few ovals on its schedule only to be the most complete racing series. Doing only street course and permanent tracks will only make it into a lesser F1.
It was in very low spirits that we made our way to the grandstand to watch the qualifying. Finding them deserted did nothing to lift our mood. However, once the first car made it around the track, the excitement started coming back. An hour later, with Dario on pole, we were in a much better mood, and actually looking forward to the race the next day.
We got to the track reasonably early on Sunday, but there was no real rush as not many people had begun showing up. The heat was intense though, and one walk up and down the paddock had us soaked, and scurrying for shade and a cold drink! Not much else was going on, so we sat there for a while, not daring going too early to the uncovered grandstand.
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CART
Jul 4, 2002 16:31:05 GMT -5
Post by Henrik on Jul 4, 2002 16:31:05 GMT -5
Chicago cont.
When we finally did settle down in our seats, a fair number of other spectators had showed up. The seats were not as empty as I had initially feared, and so we were ready for the action to begin. Unlike F1, CART is not too precise when it comes to the starting time, and so it was with a 15 minute delay that the cars got going. Finally the green flag, and that adrenaline rush as the cars roared by! Then Kenny Bräck tried an impossible manoeuvre on Vasser in turn 1, succeeding in knocking both cars out of the race. Great start!
After a number of laps under yellow, the race was finally under way. Problem now was that it is very difficult to overtake on this oval. So, we got to watch a procession of 16 cars going around in a circle until the first pit stops. Most of the race went on like this, but luckily Paul Tracy managed to spice things up a bit as he tackled Tagliani. It was all good fun, and it did manage to wake us up. A few others had some mechanical issues, and two drivers lost a wheel coming out of the pits (after both Tracy and Bräck having had the same problem in previous races, I think they better look into this problem soon), but other than that it was just da Matta cruising up front for yet another victory.
Oh, I suppose Takagi needs an honourable mention. He is really losing it, not spinning but coming in 4th. I better have a talk with him in Toronto!!
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CART
Jul 7, 2002 14:08:41 GMT -5
Post by dani on Jul 7, 2002 14:08:41 GMT -5
wow!i'm so happy right now, I just found out that I wasn't going crazy, I do get cart on my tv (it's on CBS!) and i'm watching toronto right now! Hope everyone's having fun!
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CART
Jul 7, 2002 15:58:08 GMT -5
Post by greg99 on Jul 7, 2002 15:58:08 GMT -5
Did you see me waving at you dani?
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CART
Jul 7, 2002 20:33:25 GMT -5
Post by JWK on Jul 7, 2002 20:33:25 GMT -5
Henrik- i saw that race yesterday- and i thought i was only getting slightly time delayed coverage :Freak: They were allready 4 abreast when KB tried to go round the outside! nuts! It was annoying about Scott Dixon losing the wheel out of the pits as he was mixing it up with takagi around that time. It was nice also to see Andretti carving through the field before his retirement. ....ummmm..... cheers?
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CART
Jul 8, 2002 17:22:49 GMT -5
Post by dani on Jul 8, 2002 17:22:49 GMT -5
hey greg! That was you waving? but you didn't even resemble a duck!
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CART
Jul 9, 2002 21:24:44 GMT -5
Post by greg99 on Jul 9, 2002 21:24:44 GMT -5
That's coz I was the swan next to the duck......
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CART
Jul 13, 2002 12:55:10 GMT -5
Post by Henrik on Jul 13, 2002 12:55:10 GMT -5
So the ruling by Tony George came through regarding the Indy 500 results (I know I’m a bit late reporting this, but hey I was on vacation!). It obviously came as no surprise that Helio kept his victory.
However, there are some interesting points relating to his decision that I find totally absurd. I’ll quote from Autosport :
“George also stated that a caution period begins when race control calls it on the radio, even though the rules say that it is when the caution lights or flags appear out on the track.”
Man, I don’t even think Bernie would have gone that far! He makes a decision clearly against the established rules! So much for IRL!
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CART
Jul 13, 2002 13:29:03 GMT -5
Post by greg99 on Jul 13, 2002 13:29:03 GMT -5
You sound surprised Henrik? As much as I love Helio, if he was a true sportsman, knowing full well he had not won the Indy 500 this time, he should have made a statement if not stepped down on his own accord. My 2002 winner is Paul Tracy. Helio is now in sync with IRL. Good little soldier. And if you tell me that he was following his team's instructions, well, that makes him also fit with today's F1 philosophy. Bye bye Spiderman, nice knowing you. I know I'm being too hard on Helio and he probably doesn't deserve this bashing, but that's all this IRL decision inspires me at the moment. Give me a few more minutes and I'll
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CART
Jul 14, 2002 19:20:19 GMT -5
Post by da_silva on Jul 14, 2002 19:20:19 GMT -5
Cleveland, Well done Patrick, and Tracy third. A great day for Canada. ;D
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CART
Jul 15, 2002 1:10:38 GMT -5
Post by Henrik on Jul 15, 2002 1:10:38 GMT -5
Indeed it was a great day for Canada!
Caught the race on CART.com as usual, but was frustrated to not be able to see it. I love the Cleveland track!!
Oh well, maybe we should have extended our vacation by one week and stopped over in Cleveland. It was on the way....
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CART
Jul 15, 2002 16:12:38 GMT -5
Post by da_silva on Jul 15, 2002 16:12:38 GMT -5
Hehe,
Indeed, it was on the way. ;D
I'm just glad Da Matta didn't win again.
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SrrhforPlayersRacingTeam
Guest
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CART
Jul 16, 2002 14:58:13 GMT -5
Post by SrrhforPlayersRacingTeam on Jul 16, 2002 14:58:13 GMT -5
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CART
Jul 23, 2002 18:00:15 GMT -5
Post by da_silva on Jul 23, 2002 18:00:15 GMT -5
Ummmm,
Barry Green has sold off his CART team to Andretti!! WOW.
Is this to free up cash for his interest in Arrows with Craig??
Andretti doesn't know if the team will go to IRL yet of not. DOH.
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