IndyCar: Surfers Paradise

[LittleAlguy]

Though not a points race, this first (and hopefully not only) Surfers Paradise race sanctioned by the IRL should be a barnburner. Franchitti makes his return to the Indy cars while Wheldon and Meira make their debuts with their new teams. Come join the discussion.

Entry list: http://www.indycar.com/news/2008/surfers/2008_ics_surfersparadise_entrylist.pdf

Schedule (local time):
http://www.indy.com.au/theevent/raceprogram/friday/index.htm
(translated to US time, from Meesh):
http://meeshbeer.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/im-not-in-the-landdownundah/ (http://meeshbeer.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/im-not-in-the-landdownundah/)

Streaming live on Indycar.com

Just under an hour until practice #1

TV sched on http://racefantv.com/

[LittleAlguy]

Ooo, Aussie broadcasting. James Davison is in the booth.

Great seeing the cars again.

[LittleAlguy]

Dixon, Junqueira, and Kanaan yet to go out so far.

As soon as I say that, Kanaan just went out.

[LittleAlguy]

Power thought they would be about 6-7 seconds off the pace from last year but they are already at that level. They should be about 4-5 seconds off by qualifying acc to the commentary crew.

[LittleAlguy]

Servia with decent contact with the tire wall in the first or second chicane (video is a little jumpy).

[LittleAlguy]

http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2008/reports/indycarseries/surfers/indycar-results-p1.pdf (http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5605/84186844rx2.jpg)

Power fastest in P1 with a 1:36.33.

[LittleAlguy]

P2 results: http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2008/reports/indycarseries/surfers/indycar-results-p2.pdf

How about that Will Power!

Foyt and Bell made contact in separate incidents this session.

[ÜberDoober]

Thanks for starting the thread and for the updates, LittleAlguy.

I'm not going to get to watch this one on TV because I don't get ESPN classic. I'm going to have to ponder on the schedule to see what time things are on indycar.com and see if I can even watch it there?

<edit> Thanks to your schedule link, it looks like I'll make it. Cool Beans!

[LittleAlguy]

Qualifying group breakdown from Meesh's blog - http://meeshbeer.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/practicequalifying-groups-list-for-surfers/

How about that Group 2!

[ÜberDoober]

I have the feed up for practice. Aussie commentators and scrunched up video with the wrong aspect ratio that's kind of choppy but when you stop to think about it, even being able to see something live that's happening half a world away is still pretty cool. :)

I may not be able to stick around for qualifying? :mad: Waiting on a phone call before I know.

[LittleAlguy]

Nice hair, Dario. ;)

Power, unsurprisingly, got that very quick lap yesterday on new tires while others did not get a chance to get a clean lap. Even noting that, quite impressive from Will.

Leaders are already in the low 36's after a few laps.

[LittleAlguy]

Ah, I see. I'll make sure to do updates in case you miss all of qualy.

[ÜberDoober]

Ah, I see. I'll make sure to do updates in case you miss all of qualy.

You da man! :thumbup1:

[LittleAlguy]

Hunter-Reay into the 35's. Funnily enough, I was watching the '03 race just before I turned to the streaming video.

LOL, who is that laughing?

[ÜberDoober]

Wet qualifying maybe?

[LittleAlguy]

Oh boy. Talk about a curve.

Pedro Martinez? The heck?

[LittleAlguy]

Onto Group 2 practice 3.

Should be interesting if Dixon's car is a little steadier. He looked pretty ragged yesterday.

edit: not as ragged as, say, Moraes's car, but still

[LittleAlguy]

Better but a little messy in those slow corners.

Dario = smoothness.

[ÜberDoober]

When is qualifying? I just got my call and have be gone for about an hour. :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

Wilson down to 1:34.5. Power just short of that.

[LittleAlguy]

When is qualifying? I just got my call and have be gone for about an hour. :ack2:

It doesn't start for another two hours at least.

[ÜberDoober]

Oh cool! I should be back in time. See ya then! :)

[LittleAlguy]

Alright, I'll see ya.

Not the best end for Dixon. Rice nearly got cooked by the prone Kiwi.

[ÜberDoober]

Indycar.com's live feed just switched over to ESPN's production and looks much better. I'm not sure the guys chatting know their mics are open because they're being stupid. It's kind of funny.

[ÜberDoober]

First session underway. Danica out first and tears her nose off.

Half the track seems totally dry? Doubt the wet tires will last long.

[LittleAlguy]

Oh boy, this is nip and tuck time.

Lucky Rahal.

[ÜberDoober]

Mmmmm. Donuts.

Poor Danica. Two crashes in one session. :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

Hey, Jeff's brother. I was wondering what he's been up to since his Indy Lights days.

I wonder why the T&S is formatted so weirdly.

[ÜberDoober]

I wonder why the T&S is formatted so weirdly.

I refreshed mine and it looks better. Boy, homeboy Briscoe barely made it.

[LittleAlguy]

Pretty cool that they separated the G1 and G2 drivers with the faded ink.

[LittleAlguy]

G1: Hunter-Reay, Tagliani, Meira, Viso, Moraes, Briscoe

[LittleAlguy]

I still would not risk slicks. That last corner (and a couple others) is still pretty wet and it will just kill your exit speed onto the front straight.

edit: heh, they just showed me. :-P

[ÜberDoober]

Wow! That was pretty exciting.

Power, Kanaan, Wilson, Dixon, Franchitti, Castroneves.

[LittleAlguy]

G2: Power, Kanaan, Wilson, Dixon, Franchitti, Castroneves

oops, beat me to it, lol

[LittleAlguy]

Slicks for all!

Moraes around.

Wow, what a session! Dixon, Castroneves, Franchitti, Briscoe, Power, Hunter-Reay

[ÜberDoober]

No AGR cars in the fast six. BTW, you were pretty dang quick on the draw there. ;)

[LittleAlguy]

I'm a little surprised Wilson didn't make it. Seemed like the difference was whomever was able to get in an extra lap.

[LittleAlguy]

You just don't mess with Will Power in qualifying at this place. :D Eight tenths over Dixon.

[ÜberDoober]

Awesome for the Aussies. Power on pole.

Nice comeback debut for Dario. :)

[ÜberDoober]

I'm off to watch tv in bed for a bit. Need to get up at 4:40 for live MotoGP qualifying in the morning.

Should be a good race tomorrow. Can't wait. Nite nite. :seeya:

[LittleAlguy]

Goodnight. Have a good sleep. :seeya:

[LittleAlguy]

Surprise, surprise, Will Power is fastest in warm-up. Most of the people who have been quick this weekend are near the top.

There were a couple of incidents during the session: Junqueira and Camara touched the barriers but with relatively little damage. Briscoe knocked off his front wing.

[LittleAlguy]

Wow, that was such an extensive RaceDay.

[ÜberDoober]

Well, it looks like I won't be watching the race. The "click for video streaming" takes me to some ESPN360 crap so I guess that's it for me. :mad:

I'm a little angry right now.

[LittleAlguy]

That blows. :mad:

Will Power is just flying.

[LittleAlguy]

Big loser from the early scuffles: Wilson, Franchitti, Moraes, and Meira.

edit: Wilson had to start in the back due to gearbox issues.

[LittleAlguy]

I'm frustrated because I hoped to watch the race online while the World Series was on the tube. Now I have to switch back and forth.

Briscoe is slowly gaining on Power.

Wilson up to 13th by Marco.

[LittleAlguy]

Alternate strategy time!

[LittleAlguy]

Will with an error. Man, this just stinks. :(

[LittleAlguy]

Bad luck for those who did not come in before the yellow.

Yellow for a traffic jam involving Carpenter, Rahal, Foyt, and DP.

[LittleAlguy]

Great scrum for the lead.

Franchitti loops it. FCY

[LittleAlguy]

Junqueira and Wilson with a little rendez-vous. Both came into the pits.

Kanaan going very slowly.

[LittleAlguy]

Rahal will have to pit again. Briscoe retakes the lead on the cycle.

[LittleAlguy]

Put the drinks? :confused:

Now the great cricket/rugby match between Australia and New Zealand.

edit: looks like Hunter-Reay is trying to make this a three-car battle slowly but surely

[LittleAlguy]

Briscoe wins! Congrats to him. :) Dixon certainly harried him at the end but just not enough.