Cavin/Autoweek Story

[JoeBob]

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?content_code=00871270

Interest rundown of the "issues" that IPS has. I'm really surprised that so many people involved with the series spoke about it that bluntly and honestly.

Hopefully, that means they're working on addressing those issues.

[Defender]

I could go for elimination of some of the downforce and all the racing on tracks bigger than 1.5 miles. Heck, just limit them to the mile and unders and have a few races on short tracks the IRL doesn't go to.

[step33T]

Pretty fair summation of where things are in the IPS.

They are doing a lot of things right, and some things WRONG!!

I'm glad to see the candidness of the the engineers. That's refreshing, and important to the long term viability of the series.

I'm also highly interested in the "Road to Indy" car. That is a program a lot of us could get behind.

The engine program will only get better with Menard taking over that aspect of the series. They should get more reliable, more stable, and produce better HP. All of that would be a good thing. And I'm sure there are some inexpensive ways to reduce the downforce on the cars.

My other suggestion: They should be running the IPS cars at Richmond.

Plus, my insurance program would help the cost factor considerably.

[JoeBob]

Originally posted by step33T
I'm also highly interested in the "Road to Indy" car. That is a program a lot of us could get behind.

Should be interesting. And, they should have done it 20 years ago.

[Lucky161]

Basically I agree with what all of you said. There is hope still.

[step33T]

And the good news from this is that Curt is actually WRITING about the Pro Series. They need all the attention they can get, even if it is critical.

Honestly, I believe the IRL does have plans to make things better. And they have some good people running that show now. Next year needs to be a leap forward though as the first year and a half will be over soon, and the "They are a brand new series" excuse (while somewhat valid), just won't cut it anymore.

[Turn13]

What I took from the article was that many of those involvced, including those running the series, acknowledge shortcomings but see improvement coming:

Bailey points out that Indy Lights, which he helped start in 1986 and managed for years, required a significant growing period, too. It later propelled such drivers as Paul Tracy, Greg Moore, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan, along with many others, to the big time.

“It took us five years to get a guy out of the series into CART, and we didn’t have the support from CART the way this series has from the IRL,” he said.

Carpenter and Witherill said the lack of technical lessons learned are offset by the practical skills refined. That includes things like racing around cars of equal speed, navigating the draft and functioning in the IRL’s paddock. Working under Pro Series driver coach Rick Mears and consultants Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Sr. can’t be underestimated.

And how can you doubt Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Sr. ?

I think Howard should also appreciate this:

...an IRL-sponsored “Road to Indy” car is in the works to give drivers without money a chance to shine.

[step33T]

Howard?????

Appreciate???

I'm of the opinion those are mutually exclusive terms.

He wouldn't appreciate it if you let HIM choose the driver of that car

[mvc]

I'd really love to see the IPS move in the direction of running more short tracks, and more races. That is the chance to reconnect the Indy Car to the local short track fan, as Carl s would say. Do something creative, and give the drivers a chance to show their true talent.

[drtuba]

Here's what I would like to see:

16 ICS races

16 IPS races--eight in conjunction with the ICS (as the undercard on Sunday), and eight at different venues (insert your favorite short tracks here), and on different weekends. That would give us 24 race dates and hopefully fill in some of the early-season gaps. It also opens up the potential of the ICS drivers cherry-picking the IPS races when they can.

Probably just dreaming, but it might be fun if it worked...

[indyrace1]

On the insurance matter-the underwriters have learned over the last 7 years--Indy cars on ovals equals big payouts in claims---you may never see on track crash damage in Indy car again!

[jetdoc]

Originally posted by JoeBob
Should be interesting. And, they should have done it 20 years ago.

I'm thinking they're doing a pretty good job considering this is their SECOND year in existence. They've created some hellacious racing this year for the most part.

[gofastturnleft]

Not a bad article. I'd rather see a story about what needs to be done as opposed to what is wrong though. What does the future hold in terms of changes for the series? What do the people running the series see as critical areas that they are attending to? The problems are pretty evident, what is being done or should be done to change those problems?

[dalz]

HA! I got thrown under the bus a few days ago for suggesting a chimpanzee could drive an IPS car... Not that I don't usually deserve it tho....

As for a feeder feeder series--the current Star Mazda cars will be obsolete next year after their new car debuts. Maybe this could make a good entry-level short-track rear-engine OW series. They are the definition of affordable, reliable, and predictable to drive. There's a lot of them around. They've done ovals before. Just hope the cars could be beefed up a little to withstand oval impacts better.

[B/Mark]

The fundamental difficulty with the IPS chassis is that for places like Fontana it carries too much fixed downforce and therefore is a little too easy. But at many other circuits it works just fine eg, Gateway, Homestead and Phoenix.
The Formula just needs some more power, easily done, and lower fixed downforce and drag, not quite so straightforward.
But this package is not so far away, next year, its second full season will see some of this addressed, with other mods probably end of next year,
The formula however has other problems and cost is the biggest issue right now, keeping grids too low.