IndyCars at Texas Motor Speedway & Cockpit Protection

Stevensville Mike · 6/8/20, 9:24 PM

Well, fans, we are nearly into the Summer of 2020 and IndyCar has staged their first round in the Lone Star State (an open invitation for all Lloyd Ruby and Johnny Rutherford fans to reflect and comment now).

With no fans in attendance, the crowd wasn't really that much smaller than in years' past, but I watched the race tonight after taping it on my VCR Saturday night. Don't laugh - it still works well.

I have seen better chases, and I have seen worse, but for anyone watching.....

...did the cockpit protection/aero screen screw your head up so much as you could NOT get it all in perspective and hate watching? No, it didn't, did it? You never even noticed once the cars were at speed and dialed in at that fast blast track.

To close the topic in driver protection in open cockpit cars.... you never noticed and you will never notice again until you watch old footage of racing.

Thank you IndyCar. Thank you safety.

Rest in Peace Justin Wilson. Your lost life will save someone. It was not in vain.

jim goerge · 6/8/20, 9:52 PM

I thought the cars looked pretty kool, and Mike you"re right at speed you didn"t even notice . As long as that cockpit protection keeps someone from getting hurt or worst, I"m all for it.

Stevensville Mike · 6/8/20, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim goerge

I thought the cars looked pretty kool, and Mike you"re right at speed you didn"t even notice . As long as that cockpit protection keeps someone from getting hurt or worst, I"m all for it.

From a racing perspective, although the broadcast did not show any of it during pit stops, the tear-offs on the new windscreen were fairly impressive. I had not thought of that until they showed the cars leaving pit lane for the start, looking from the pit wall, of the HUGE hand grips to tear them off for the new windscreen. With that wide panorama view, it is one more new thing to take into account as the 2020 starts.

Yet another variable.

Pro and con windscreen banter aside, I would like to take this opportunity to say that all of us on IOW are glad you are back onboard, Jim. You are why fans like us keep watching and learning. Personally, you are also one of my mentors and coaches.

Your bud always,

Mike

jim goerge · 6/9/20, 3:10 AM

Mike Thank you for the kind words, but friend I"m just me no more no less. I"m just glad I could help you out , as I had been there before.

Rpracing1 · 6/9/20, 9:08 AM

I liked them and figure very good idea.

jjones752 · 6/9/20, 9:59 AM

The only time I really noticed them is in the head-on shots but it wasn't objectionable and the safety aspect greatly outweighs any perceived cosmetic "defects". At some angles they actually look pretty cool, especially the way the teams have incorporated them into the wrap designs. Charlie Kimball's Tresiba scheme is especially attractive to me.