Want to get a lot of attention for the series?

[Marc P. Gregoire]

240 mph qualifying laps at Indy...especially if it was someone like Marco Andretti or Sam Hornish Jr. setting those type of times.

36 seconds in a lap, and if the straight line speeds increase and not neccisarily the cornering speeds (especially now with the SAFER and how much the cars have improved) wouldn't be a massive danger, in fact it'd probably be inside the envelope, and I am sure it would get good attention for the few hours it is on ABC on Pole Day and in the Saturday and Sunday paper if they were turning 240-242 mph laps on Fast Friday.

[Turn13]

That would be cool, but can we handle the risk? (cue mac miller)

I'm recalling Paul Tracy smacking the wall on Pole Day, another time CC guys showed up without much practice in the cars.

[sabin_24]

I'd love to see the speed record broken again. I think that more than anything drew the massive Pole Day crowds in years past.

[Sea Fury]

240 mph qualifying laps at Indy...especially if it was someone like Marco Andretti or Sam Hornish Jr. setting those type of times.

36 seconds in a lap, and if the straight line speeds increase and not neccisarily the cornering speeds (especially now with the SAFER and how much the cars have improved) wouldn't be a massive danger, in fact it'd probably be inside the envelope, and I am sure it would get good attention for the few hours it is on ABC on Pole Day and in the Saturday and Sunday paper if they were turning 240-242 mph laps on Fast Friday.

It's got nothing to do with the strength of a tub or the SAFER barriers, because it's not driver safety that drives the modern need for speed-reduction. It's SPECTATOR safety.

Fly a car at 240 and send major parts of a car over or through the fence, and the series will get attention, all right. I don't think we want that kind of attention.

[Cygni]

240 mph qualifying laps at Indy...especially if it was someone like Marco Andretti or Sam Hornish Jr. setting those type of times.

Of all the myraid of challenges facing IndyCar's rebuilding.... lack of sponsors, instability of teams, the lack of continuity with drivers, accepting a diverse schedule, welcoming ChampCar's teams and venues into the fold, deciding how to merge the history, the 2009-2010 engine package, and everything else...

You are worried about setting speed records? Really? Dude, look out on the salt flats and drag strips of America... that's where your fix is. If you are worried about all time records, i dont think you 'get' modern open wheel racing.

[Captain Nutella]

I'd like to see the cars getting faster, too. At least as fast as they used to be. As far as spectator safety goes, why not raise the fencing? The fences are too low. And what about that new kind of fencing they announced to develop after the IPS crash in Miami? When will that arrive?

[BSJracing]

I'd like to see the cars getting faster, too. At least as fast as they used to be. As far as spectator safety goes, why not raise the fencing? The fences are too low. And what about that new kind of fencing they announced to develop after the IPS crash in Miami? When will that arrive?

NASCAR is about 20 mph slower than thier all time record and it's not hurting them..

Remember that time Allison about put his car in the crowd?

[debris on the track]

240 is too fast to drive safely at the speedway. 33 cars going 235 on race day is way too dangerous.

[Cant_hit_apex]

I'd be very happy with safer speeds in the 220 range.

[prhouch]

I'd like to see the cars getting faster, too. At least as fast as they used to be. As far as spectator safety goes, why not raise the fencing? The fences are too low. And what about that new kind of fencing they announced to develop after the IPS crash in Miami? When will that arrive?

What if the car went through the fence? It happened in October 2003.

[Red Byrd]

I don't see a problem with trimming it out on pole day, and then going back down to around 220-225 for the race itself. 241.5 is the magic number!

[Dizz Fan]

The speed is exciting as it is now.

[fivehundred2go]

What other racing series qualifies at even close to 210 miles per hour on a closed course? There is enough that can go wrong at 220 let alone at 240. I was there the day Arie flirted with 240 at IMS and I think he must have said some things that made some serious impressions with the officials. That unofficial speed was set with a car that was not built to the standards of today. One of the IRL officials did a meeting at one of the DOWNFORCE events at a race and stated the fastest they were looking to go was between 220 and 225 if I remember correctly. After witnessing the flight of Mario at turn 1 IMS a few years back - well I need to say nothing more to convince me 240 is a very bad idea.

[Racemind]

Remember that time Allison about put his car in the crowd?

No... are you thinking of Dega in 1987? The catch fencing kept the car on the track that time, but it think there were still injuries in the stands.



While we're on the subject, let's not forget Bodine's horrific truck crash:

[HotLapper]

240 qualifying laps might be a little extreme...especially if that equates to race speeds of 235...

However, I do think they need to open it up a little. I would love it if some day they opened up the engine package so that teams can build there own engines whether that be Foyt building his own or a team like AGR getting Honda engines and doing their own development. The days of the privateers is where the speed came from and I think it would be awesome to see that return again someday. Although...I'm sure the end result would be Penske winning every Indy500...not that I would complain.