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I was just talking to a friend of mine and we were debating the accident yesterday. Everyone points to the fencing as a major issue and I don't argue that fencing was an issue. I figured I would post our discussion here and get the "groups response". Two things immediately came to my mind.
1. Temporary Circuit - By definition you cannot have a "temporary circuit" and have the same expectations for track safety/maintenance. I may be wrong, but grinding the surface of the track to remove bumps at Houston/Brazil/Baltimore is not the same as the diamond grinding at IMS. We are talking about two separate techniques and results. One is for auto racing and one is for my daily driver to knock take quite the hit to my suspension during a surface transition. Fencing has to be easily put into place and removed. Heck look at the info coming from IMS just about how large the "curbs" were that are being removed from the road course. . . I believe I heard the curbs were three feet deep. Your sidewalk / temporary rumble strips don't compare. I don't know what the answer to building a temporary fence capable of not moving or coming apart, but I'm not an engineer. He posed the question why we don't see similar accidents in other series. I couldn't come up in my mind any other "major" motorsport racing on temporary circuits, except F1 @ Monte Carlo. I am not an avid follower of F1, however I believe Monte Carlo although temporary is unique in the fact that there isn't very much "grandstand seating" more penthouse and balcony seating. I'll leave it to the TF Gods to correct me.
2. Spec Racing - My friend posed why does it seem to be IndyCar has the moniker of being the only series with this problem? My response was I think it is spec racing. I may be naive to think that there are only differences in engines and shocks/springs. . but that is about all it really appears different. So how spec'd are the cars? Same brakes? Same aero? etc? I think the buzz word for IndyCar and tracks is "passing zones" Reminds me allot of the NASCAR COT "progressive banking." We make it so cars can't actually race because we want the competition tight, but as a result take away all "racing" out of it. IMO what happened to race craft? What happened to stalking a car waiting for the driver to miss a corner. . . still not make contact. . . and make a successful pass? If braking is the same for everyone then nobody has the advantage to brake deeper and change entry to setup a pass. . same on exit with horsepower. If all the engines are sealed then approximately 50% of the cars can't be passed based off horsepower. So then we create push to pass. . .which also becomes push to defend. I think the evil nobody wants to discuss about spec racing is the inability to get away from another car. . . to pass another car. . .Yes we still cars get off to good leads, however we are talking only by tenths of a second a lap. .so they do spread out over time. I don't think we get to see green flag runs where too many back markers are caught on street/road courses. Seems we get cautions before that becomes an issue. So how do we see passing these days? Bump them out of your way seems to be what I've seen most of, rare to see the truly good clean pass not assisted by push to pass.
I was just curious the take of everyone else and the holes in my theories. Couldn't find a post that really discussed any of these specifics so started a new thread. Have at it and I look forward to reading the responses. . . back to work for me!
1. Temporary Circuit - By definition you cannot have a "temporary circuit" and have the same expectations for track safety/maintenance. I may be wrong, but grinding the surface of the track to remove bumps at Houston/Brazil/Baltimore is not the same as the diamond grinding at IMS. We are talking about two separate techniques and results. One is for auto racing and one is for my daily driver to knock take quite the hit to my suspension during a surface transition. Fencing has to be easily put into place and removed. Heck look at the info coming from IMS just about how large the "curbs" were that are being removed from the road course. . . I believe I heard the curbs were three feet deep. Your sidewalk / temporary rumble strips don't compare. I don't know what the answer to building a temporary fence capable of not moving or coming apart, but I'm not an engineer. He posed the question why we don't see similar accidents in other series. I couldn't come up in my mind any other "major" motorsport racing on temporary circuits, except F1 @ Monte Carlo. I am not an avid follower of F1, however I believe Monte Carlo although temporary is unique in the fact that there isn't very much "grandstand seating" more penthouse and balcony seating. I'll leave it to the TF Gods to correct me.
2. Spec Racing - My friend posed why does it seem to be IndyCar has the moniker of being the only series with this problem? My response was I think it is spec racing. I may be naive to think that there are only differences in engines and shocks/springs. . but that is about all it really appears different. So how spec'd are the cars? Same brakes? Same aero? etc? I think the buzz word for IndyCar and tracks is "passing zones" Reminds me allot of the NASCAR COT "progressive banking." We make it so cars can't actually race because we want the competition tight, but as a result take away all "racing" out of it. IMO what happened to race craft? What happened to stalking a car waiting for the driver to miss a corner. . . still not make contact. . . and make a successful pass? If braking is the same for everyone then nobody has the advantage to brake deeper and change entry to setup a pass. . same on exit with horsepower. If all the engines are sealed then approximately 50% of the cars can't be passed based off horsepower. So then we create push to pass. . .which also becomes push to defend. I think the evil nobody wants to discuss about spec racing is the inability to get away from another car. . . to pass another car. . .Yes we still cars get off to good leads, however we are talking only by tenths of a second a lap. .so they do spread out over time. I don't think we get to see green flag runs where too many back markers are caught on street/road courses. Seems we get cautions before that becomes an issue. So how do we see passing these days? Bump them out of your way seems to be what I've seen most of, rare to see the truly good clean pass not assisted by push to pass.
I was just curious the take of everyone else and the holes in my theories. Couldn't find a post that really discussed any of these specifics so started a new thread. Have at it and I look forward to reading the responses. . . back to work for me!
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