Indycar - Iowa Corn 250

[DooberRoni]

Indycar Iowa Corn 250
Iowa Speedway

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/IowaCorn250.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/indycarLogo.gif (http://www.indycar.com)
Qualifying, Saturday June 21
5:30pm Eastern
2:30pm Pacific


http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/ABClogo.gif

RACE - Sunday, June 22
1:00pm EASTERN
10:00am PACIFIC

Schedule info courtesy of (clicks)
http://www.dooberville.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=52 (http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm)
Because the one at Speed Bites!

Not sure with all the flooding in Iowa this round shouldn't have been rescheduled out of respect but it continues on according to the schedule. The buzz is that this was one of the worst races of last season and no changes have been made to the aero package to make it any better. Firestone supposedly is bringing a grippier tire that is supposed to help but with the larger grid, maybe this race will have some excitement after all?

Weekend schedule attached:

[ÜberDoober]

Brilliant! :ack2:

Starts at the same time on TV as the French GP. :angry-004:

[ÜberDoober]

Looks like Roth Racing is fielding John Andretti again in Iowa? That's cool. :)

[ÜberDoober]

Just home from work and catching up on this fine Friday afternoon. Looks like Duno crashed and things have been hampered by rain.

Practice times below. Danica on top so far. That's cool! :) AGR looking a little stronger except for poor Tony Kanaan. Penske looking good too!
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/iowaPractice.jpg

[LittleAlguy]

Something broke on TK's car during the early part of session and thus was unable to complete more practice time. Good thing they have a bunch of time to do so tomorrow.

I didn't get to watch the race last year (was in Cleveland for CC) but one thing I noticed about the track is that the backstretch looks awfully short. Even compared to Richmond, there doesn't seem to be as much room to get a run and get inside another car.

It's a good thing that PCM and Dominguez have Visit Mexico City sponsorship through 2009 or else I'd be really concerned about them "re-evaluating" though hearing that doesn't exactly make me feel great.

According to this, Jay Howard may be back for the Glen and the other remaining road and street circuits (http://www.isitmayyet.com/index.php/2008/06/19/the-west-coast-hates-iowa-corn/)

[ÜberDoober]

Doesn't surprise me about PCM. Last race, Dominguez said "the car was junk, the team was junk and he was a rolling chicane".

Just waiting for qualifying. Have a full house today so pretty occupied and will keep busy until then.

[LittleAlguy]

I think that was Junqueira who called his car "junk" although Dominguez's car wasn't exactly great either.

[ÜberDoober]

DOH! Of course you're right.

Well two cars then rain. :ack2: The Grand-Am from Mid-Ohio has been a spinfest in the wet. Send some of that rain my way. It's 115º here today and we could stand to chill a bit. :)

[LittleAlguy]

The good thing is that if they don't have a long period of rain, they should be able to get it dried quickly. Also, they have lights so they could qualify under the lights potentially. (they can go as late as 9:30 CT apparently according to the radio)

Yeah, Iowa does not need anymore rain.

On another note, how does one look at Asian Formula 3 for a driver (ref. to Battistini)? Some find.

[LittleAlguy]

The grid will start by entrant points. Given the nature of this track, it will take some attrition or some tough driving to make up spots from the back.

[ÜberDoober]

I swear I posted here earlier today? Watched the pre race stuff and saw what a beautiful day it is in Iowa.

Watching F1 on the TV and Indy on the computer. How come the feed is full browser size instead of the little 3x2 window I normally get? Weird. Picture is better in the smaller size.

[LittleAlguy]

Look at RHR!

[ÜberDoober]

Duno lapped on lap 8. Go TK! :)

[LittleAlguy]

TK to the lead.

[LittleAlguy]

Duno is running Allemann/Gregg speed.

[ÜberDoober]

First yellow! Carpenter in the wall.

[LittleAlguy]

I'm a bit surprised that Mutoh hasn't done more as of yet. He's been quick this weekend.

Dixon falls back a bit on his stop.

[LittleAlguy]

Both DP and Servia lost out quite a bit on the restart.

[ÜberDoober]

What's up with the shark fins on RHR's front wing?

Good race pace and fewer cautions so far than expected. There seems to be two lines contrary to the doom and gloom predictions of the pundits.

[LittleAlguy]

Yeah, they're definitely racier than expected. The Lights race seemed to be a pretty good portend.

Dixon gets by RHR for 7th. Nice run for John Andretti so far and Foyt IV.

[LittleAlguy]

Rice is out.

Leaders into heavy traffic.

[LittleAlguy]

Camara stopped on track.

[LittleAlguy]

Slow stop for Castroneves.

Wheldon gets caught up on the high line.

[ÜberDoober]

Huge loss for Wheldon on the restart. :ack2:

[ÜberDoober]

Doh! My browser just crashed. :mad:

Andretti to the front and Dixon going backwards.

[LittleAlguy]

Marco to the lead.

RHR and Foyt 4th and 5th respectively.

Good racing midpack.

[ÜberDoober]

Caution! Moraes parked!

[LittleAlguy]

Quickie yellow, please? This is the type of yellow that should be 3-4 laps AT MOST.

[ÜberDoober]

Unlucky stop for J. Andretti. Too bad as he was really looking good. Marco loses the lead back to TK.

[ÜberDoober]

Bernoldi was lucky not to collect somebody else. If they stop now, they'll be good to go till the end.

Not that they were particularly effective on the DP-01's but it's time for some onboard starters.

[LittleAlguy]

I like the paint scheme on Marco's car.

Oh boy, we've got alternate strategies here.

[ÜberDoober]

Ok, Moraes is in the pits so throw the damn green again. :mad:

[LittleAlguy]

They seriously need to shorten some of these yellows. They don't need to pit every single time.

[ÜberDoober]

Poor TK. :mad:

This will be a long cleanup.

[LittleAlguy]

TK loses it. :(

Big help for Wheldon, Mutoh, and Patrick.

[ÜberDoober]

They said Wheldon wasn't running full rich. I think Dixon and Marco both took fresh rubber on their last stop and Mutoh and Danica didn't make that last stop. As long as they don't take 30 laps to clean up the mess, it could be interesting?

[LittleAlguy]

This is big not only for their fuel but also for tire wear.

[LittleAlguy]

I want to gag when I see those ethanol ads.

[LittleAlguy]

Great move by Marco (assist to DP).

Very good move by Will Power.

[ÜberDoober]

If Marco had gotten by Mutoh he might have had something for Wheldon? Good finish under green this time! :)

[LittleAlguy]

Wheldon holds off Mutoh.

Marco nearly had another late race incident but saves it. Dixon manages to salvage a good run. That's what wins championships.

[ÜberDoober]

Final Results courtesy of Indycar.com (http://www.indycar.com)

Happy birthday and congrats to Dan Wheldon.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/iowaResults1.jpg
oops 20th twice
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/iowaResults2.jpg

[ÜberDoober]

Wow! They actually have a real podium box and a cool trophy!

As always, thanks LittleAlguy for hanging out! :thumbup1:



(and mush, I saw you lurking there! :D)

[LittleAlguy]

No problem. Anyway, see ya Saturday for Richmond.
:cheers2: