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| LIVE UPDATES INDY RACING LEAGUE INDYCAR SERIES & FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS SERIES from MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE Sunday, July 20 |
11:00 AM
Massive amounts of rain, thunder and lightning has postponed the start of the Firestone
Indy Lights race indefinitely. The did driver introductions, but many of the teams and cars
were not even on the grid yet because they only had slick/dry tires and no treads for rain
conditions. I was told Firestone was less than pleased at the lack of preparation by some
of the teams to not have the right tires ready when rain was predicted for today all week.
I - along with thousands of other race-goers - am soaked to the bone after getting caught
away from the media center with only a small umbrella.
The race morning warm-up should be just that - a short time for teams to make sure their
cars are leak checked and all systems are a go for the race. It's not a time to challenge
anyone. But apparently yesterday's Lights winner Raphael Matos, who just took over the
points lead after his win, and former points leader Richard Antinucci didn't pay attention in
the driver's meeting as they took each other out of that short practice time, landing in the
gravel trap.
The power just went out briefly, and this is about the biggest storm I've seen at a track in a
long time (was not in Nashville for their lightning show). Hope all of the fans have their
umbrellas safely tucked away and have found some shelter.
Massive amounts of rain, thunder and lightning has postponed the start of the Firestone
Indy Lights race indefinitely. The did driver introductions, but many of the teams and cars
were not even on the grid yet because they only had slick/dry tires and no treads for rain
conditions. I was told Firestone was less than pleased at the lack of preparation by some
of the teams to not have the right tires ready when rain was predicted for today all week.
I - along with thousands of other race-goers - am soaked to the bone after getting caught
away from the media center with only a small umbrella.
The race morning warm-up should be just that - a short time for teams to make sure their
cars are leak checked and all systems are a go for the race. It's not a time to challenge
anyone. But apparently yesterday's Lights winner Raphael Matos, who just took over the
points lead after his win, and former points leader Richard Antinucci didn't pay attention in
the driver's meeting as they took each other out of that short practice time, landing in the
gravel trap.
The power just went out briefly, and this is about the biggest storm I've seen at a track in a
long time (was not in Nashville for their lightning show). Hope all of the fans have their
umbrellas safely tucked away and have found some shelter.
Saturday, July 19 UPDATES
1:30 PM
ALMS pre-race is underway, with the race scheduled for shortly after 2:00 pm. LOTS of
excitement (and people) in and around the pit area for the sports cars - a key annual
attraction for this course. It's always interesting to see IndyCar crew members who
seemingly disappear from the circuit only to turn up on an ALMS or Grand-Am team -
racing's racing, I guess.
Penske Racing is starting out the weekend the right way, sweeping the front row for
tomorrow's IndyCar Series race, with Helio Castroneves claiming the pole position (Helio
has yet to win a race in 2008). He's in the media tent right now giving his pole position
press conference - always entertaining.
Loving the new (2008) road course qualifying procedure, which actually allows qualifying
on a road course to be fun to watch. The last 10 minutes of qualifying where the top-6
fastest drivers battle it out for the first six spots is a barnburner. With only 10 minutes to
get the quick lap, the drivers have no time to lay back and set up for a perfect lap - they
have to go for it at every corner.
Had a nice, long conversation with legendary announcer Gary Lee, here doing the
international feed for ESPN along with perpetual sidekick and friend Larry Rice. Lee sold
his Whiteland Raceway kart track last year, and is now involved with a classic car/hot rod
shop in Indianapolis, along with his announcing work for ESPN. I had thought the duo
was still announcing the international feed from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, TN, but I
guess a year ago or so they decided to send them on the road to all of the races, hiding
them away in the TV compound most days (which is why I didn't know they were on site).
Rice, unfortunately, is battling lung cancer and is undergoing massive amounts of
treatment to keep it at bay (he successfully defeated tongue cancer in 2000, but
contracted the lung disease three years ago). Please keep Larry and his family in your
prayers.
11:00 AM
What a gorgeous racecourse! I've been here so many other times, but have missed the
past few years, and it just keeps getting better and better every time (you wouldn't know
I've been here before by the amount of time I had to spend getting un-lost on my way into
the track this morning, though).
There's more people here today than I've ever seen at this facility. The walkways are
packed with fans, the parking lots are full with cars, and the campgrounds are
overflowing. For anyone looking for a true race fan experience, this would be the trip to
make. Camp here on the grounds and grab a view from any of the areas situated around
the course for a feel of road racing like nowhere else. My particular favorite is the hill by
the "esses" - a great place to see the cars under extreme braking (after a long straight),
having to dive and dice there way through an extremely hard part of the course. You
actually can see a lot of the track from that hill, which I like! After my feet recover from a
tour of the paddock area, I'm going to head over there to check out some racing action.
The weather is hot and sticky - as it should be this time of year - but no one seems fazed.
Fans came prepared with all of the gear needed to make their day pleasant. Lucky for
the media, we are situated in an air-conditioned tent, which makes taking breaks a
necessary pleasure.
The usual suspects are on top of the speed chart, with dancing king Helio Castroneves
continuing his strong string of performances this year.
Indy Lights veteran Raphael Matos, who is currently fastest in Lights qualifying (just
started), is doing double duty here this weekend, running in the IRL's development
division and also in the #26 Andretti Green ALMS entry in the P2 division (teammate to
Franck Montagny).
The IndyCar Series teams will have a new challenge this year as they tend to their work
in the pits. Mid-Ohio has added an extra Armco barrier on top of the normal-size pit wall,
making the transition from behind the wall to pit lane a true athletic event - especially for
any height-challenged crew members. Now, if there's an accident or fire in the pits, it's
almost easier for the teammembers to run into traffic rather than try to vault that huge
barrier! I can't see how that extra height will make anything safer - it may be more
dangerous as crews will have to somewhat "relearn" how to get back and forth over the
wall safely without tripping or falling. That, and it definitely impedes the view from behind
the wall to where the car pulls in.
1:30 PM
ALMS pre-race is underway, with the race scheduled for shortly after 2:00 pm. LOTS of
excitement (and people) in and around the pit area for the sports cars - a key annual
attraction for this course. It's always interesting to see IndyCar crew members who
seemingly disappear from the circuit only to turn up on an ALMS or Grand-Am team -
racing's racing, I guess.
Penske Racing is starting out the weekend the right way, sweeping the front row for
tomorrow's IndyCar Series race, with Helio Castroneves claiming the pole position (Helio
has yet to win a race in 2008). He's in the media tent right now giving his pole position
press conference - always entertaining.
Loving the new (2008) road course qualifying procedure, which actually allows qualifying
on a road course to be fun to watch. The last 10 minutes of qualifying where the top-6
fastest drivers battle it out for the first six spots is a barnburner. With only 10 minutes to
get the quick lap, the drivers have no time to lay back and set up for a perfect lap - they
have to go for it at every corner.
Had a nice, long conversation with legendary announcer Gary Lee, here doing the
international feed for ESPN along with perpetual sidekick and friend Larry Rice. Lee sold
his Whiteland Raceway kart track last year, and is now involved with a classic car/hot rod
shop in Indianapolis, along with his announcing work for ESPN. I had thought the duo
was still announcing the international feed from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, TN, but I
guess a year ago or so they decided to send them on the road to all of the races, hiding
them away in the TV compound most days (which is why I didn't know they were on site).
Rice, unfortunately, is battling lung cancer and is undergoing massive amounts of
treatment to keep it at bay (he successfully defeated tongue cancer in 2000, but
contracted the lung disease three years ago). Please keep Larry and his family in your
prayers.
11:00 AM
What a gorgeous racecourse! I've been here so many other times, but have missed the
past few years, and it just keeps getting better and better every time (you wouldn't know
I've been here before by the amount of time I had to spend getting un-lost on my way into
the track this morning, though).
There's more people here today than I've ever seen at this facility. The walkways are
packed with fans, the parking lots are full with cars, and the campgrounds are
overflowing. For anyone looking for a true race fan experience, this would be the trip to
make. Camp here on the grounds and grab a view from any of the areas situated around
the course for a feel of road racing like nowhere else. My particular favorite is the hill by
the "esses" - a great place to see the cars under extreme braking (after a long straight),
having to dive and dice there way through an extremely hard part of the course. You
actually can see a lot of the track from that hill, which I like! After my feet recover from a
tour of the paddock area, I'm going to head over there to check out some racing action.
The weather is hot and sticky - as it should be this time of year - but no one seems fazed.
Fans came prepared with all of the gear needed to make their day pleasant. Lucky for
the media, we are situated in an air-conditioned tent, which makes taking breaks a
necessary pleasure.
The usual suspects are on top of the speed chart, with dancing king Helio Castroneves
continuing his strong string of performances this year.
Indy Lights veteran Raphael Matos, who is currently fastest in Lights qualifying (just
started), is doing double duty here this weekend, running in the IRL's development
division and also in the #26 Andretti Green ALMS entry in the P2 division (teammate to
Franck Montagny).
The IndyCar Series teams will have a new challenge this year as they tend to their work
in the pits. Mid-Ohio has added an extra Armco barrier on top of the normal-size pit wall,
making the transition from behind the wall to pit lane a true athletic event - especially for
any height-challenged crew members. Now, if there's an accident or fire in the pits, it's
almost easier for the teammembers to run into traffic rather than try to vault that huge
barrier! I can't see how that extra height will make anything safer - it may be more
dangerous as crews will have to somewhat "relearn" how to get back and forth over the
wall safely without tripping or falling. That, and it definitely impedes the view from behind
the wall to where the car pulls in.