First I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Easter and in honor of our risen Savior Jesus Christ I'm going to make every effort to be civil and respectful in my responses.
Originally Posted by Brickyard:
Never said they couldn't. What I said is that would be an unsafe formula....furthermore, explain to me how you plan to get those cars up to 235 mph. Also, explain to all of us how you plan to get butts in the seat to watch one of the three most prestigious races in the world after explaining to everyone that you are going to step in the time machine and turn back the clock in technology, safety, and speed. Sounds like riveting stuff......
@ Mr Brickyard,
One thing I think that has to be acknowledged is there is a difference of POV between fans and racers, we just see things differently. Having said that I'm going to concede that you and I will most likely never agree and that this will be my last response to you in this thread. I am a racer, I've also been a crewman and I've also worked in the motorsports industry building shocks for the entire spectrum of motorsport, from oval to road and drag racing, to handicap downhill skiers, to snow mobiles and commuter trains. I've dedicated my life's work to being "IN" motorsports one way or another. I've been involved in racing going back to 1986 when I was 16 and I've worked on several different types of cars, but not one of those cars had a speedometer in it... I've never seen anyone declared the winner for having turned the highest top speed and the reason is, actual racing isn't about achieving the highest speed.
My guess is that you are a fan of "The Indy 500", that is your main thing, your holy grail. You obviously are well versed in its history or at least know how to use google and have lots of free time. Whichever, it doesn't matter, but you being a fan have your own ideas about what constitutes a race, specifically the Indy 500 and you have your own opinions about what led to its decline in stature and/or relevance. I do find it humorous that you believe the American racers should have changed how and what they race so as to be better suited for racing in the Indycar ranks. The Indianapolis Motorspeedway is an oval track, the majority of tracks in America are ovals and the highest percentage of those, are dirt. Racing on a dirt oval track is about as American as it gets, road racing has never been a big draw in the US, it's just not what we like. We play our own games, we drive on the right side of the road and we like V8 engines. American racers are doing exactly what we've always done and frankly what we are good at. I know you like CART and Penske and going 235MPH and that you believe TG is the devil and that he brought the roof down on "Your" race. While I don't disagree that things didn't go to plan, I do think the idea of returning the focus of IndyCar racing back to ovals was the right thing to do. There didn't have to be a split, Penske and the other owners who left could have stayed and worked things out, but the "Captain" chose to leave and took his friends with him.
Racing is NOT about who can set the highest top speed, not even in drag racing. Top Speeds are something they do at The Bonneville Salt Flats. Most fans, especially today, don't care about peak velocity or technology, in truth the higher the speeds the worse the racing. You scoffed at my suggestion of using something like a Gold/Silver Crown car, but I actually love open wheel racing, American style. It doesn't have to be a roadster, but I would like to see any and all wings phased out.