The Singlemost Factor in Appreciating INDYCAR over NASCAR

NASCAR's revision of its points system, and the reaction to it, has returned me, like the swallows to Capistrano, to my very core base of appreciation for INDYCAR. Screaming typographics aside, the debate of on-track action between INDYCAR and NASCAR for this writer has always boiled down to one very simple inherent element - open wheels.

In reaction to the points system changes in NASCAR, driver Clint Bowyer states, 

"...you're out there giving it 100 percent, you’re out there to win the race 

each and every week anyway, but you’re not going to 

step underneath somebody if you’re loose 

and you know they’re going to make you even looser. 

You’re not going to try to make that pass for 

a fifth place and take a chance of finishing 35th."

Recollecting the 'mosh-pit' nature of action often found in a stock car race, there are some who will see it as Bowyer does, encouraging more caution and conservatism to attain the precious points for your season, seemingly reducing the impetus to race. One wonders if this also allows for backmarkers and multiple-car teams to play a more significant role in the system. I certainly don't have any immediate suspects, but one could see how a car suffering misfortune early and dropping back to 32nd place could roll around out there until the opportunity presents to, er.. 'assist' a teammate by impeding or (dare I say it?) 'chrome horn' an opposing car out of contention (that doesn't really happen, does it?).  Tongue, meet cheek. 


The ability to 'bump and grind' and 'loosen-up' and 'slide-job' and 'soldier on' after repairs (and all those other wonderful stock car colloquialisms) certainly allows for this to happen. Perhaps that IS the very nature of that form of auto-racing which makes it popular with so many.  For others, this isn't racing at all which brings me to my point (yes, finally).


INDYCAR (or Indycar as I like to call it), from it's inception, has the simple and inherent beauty (and violent danger) of being an auto-racing form which has vehicles specifically featuring open-wheels. No fenders means no 'grind-bump-draft-slide-job-loosen-sheet metal repairs'. 


'Open wheels' means a pass must be judged and made skillfully or the penalty for locking wheels often takes both drivers, and even others, out of the race (or sometimes on a tragic occasion even out of this life). To this writer, this is, and has always been, the singlemost reason why I appreciate the sport of Indycar more than any other form of racing. 


Formula 1, it can be argued, contains the highest level of technology in a similar open-wheel format, but due to their European origin on street and road courses, it's oft-turned and rapidly-deccelrated wheels requires primary skill in braking and turning and never reaches the overt and thrilling speeds (or passing) found with Indycars on ovals. NASCAR had speeds sometimes approaching the relative ballpark of Indycars (albeit many years and restrictions ago) on matching ovals, but all too often relies on less-sporting driving skills and tactics, and certainly aren't also made very well for going left AND right as Indycars will also do.


I am fully aware that success in NASCAR also requires a skillset, but in my view Indycar has always represented the apogee of where extreme speed meets sporting skillfulness. I also believe that once seen in this light, Indycar has no equal in what it provides to its audience. Only then does one begin to truly understand the heritage and legacy found in its 100 years of racing.


The latest chassis (and engine) rules for 2012 have embraced this heritage by allowing this primary element to remain, yet not allowed private technology budgets to attempt to dictate the competition. This is why INDYCAR is still my preferred form of auto racing and why so many, who've yet to cast an eye on it will appreciate it as we, the dedicated, do.


Nearly every year since my third Indy 500 back in 1988, I've brought a person who has never seen an Indycar race (or in some cases any auto-racing event) to their first Indycar race only to have them be amazed at the sounds, smells, sights, speed, and atmosphere of it all. I'm glad to have passed this along to my friends as my father and mother did for me back in 1979. I intend to do it again this year and challenge you to bring at least one 'newbie' to a race in 2011, as there is truly no substitute for the experience.

The Curious Case of Sam Hornish

Much ado will probably be made over the next several days and weeks regarding one Mr. Sam Hornish, Jr. and his future in racing.  Much more will likely be made again about a return to Indycars and specifically, the Indy 500.


I'm not going to pretend that just because we're both from the humble, rural midwest that this writer has any particular insight into his current state of mind, BUT, honestly, it's almost as if Sam needs the advice of a trusted friend who might suppose he just didn't need a break from it all. 


Playing third-string on a team can be taxing, especially when you consider he's been the first-string all-star on the upward trajectory for a vast majority of his career.  First-string until he stepped into a stock car that is. A new challenge is precisely what he got when he traded wings for fenders, but I'm guessing being support for, first one, then two, other drivers was not the dream job he was looking for. 


Understanding that 'taking a year off' in sports most often leads to the severe decline in career opportunities (and performance), the reluctance to step back from it for a second is without question. Yet in review of his career path, one has to wonder if a year of doing something different (ALMS, Grand-Am, Rally cars, Sprinters) or whatever, just for the fun of it, might not be a panacea for his driving malaise. 


Again, this is pure speculation by a rank amateur whose only credentials in driving are a current and valid Indiana drivers license and has driven the wonderful Indy Racing Experience car for 4 laps at the hallowed IMS.  Still, one wonders if this is less a racing issue and more an issue 'between the ears'. Most true fans would certainly only hope he does what's best for him and that it helps his journey in racing for the long-term.  

Time to Hit Refresh

A much need design overhaul occurred today and I will be eager to hear your feedback.  As much as I love clean an simple design, I wanted to add graphical tie-ins which I hope will add and not detract from the experience.  I'm by no means a graphic artist and my livelihood isn't tied to whether there's traffic here or not, so please feel free to comment pro or con. This space is mainly for my Indycar blatherings and your enjoyment as well so if the design offends or is distracting, I'd love to know.  I'm also posting a picture to see how they might appear...

Sample picture caption.

Kibbles and Bits...

End of another year and, as many do, I pause to look both back at the previous year and ahead at what may come. I looked back in my blog entries to find some unfinished drafts and decent thoughts within which I now unabashedly review and present this day as blog-filler (or 'clearing the mental-leftovers' if you will).

- There were no less than three posts which contained only a title and no body copy. Those titles were; "The Yellow Submarine", "Next Generations", and "Peter Brady". Fairly certain where I was going with the former two, but not the latter (fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to blog, son).

- A few unfinished 'for/against' or 'wish list' themed entries appear rightfully dated now, based on the happenings of 2010.

- A very long and incomplete summary of this year's Indy 500 trip was present.  I enjoyed reading my recap and now am wishing I had done this for each year I've gone.  Recently I've found great Indy daydream material when I get sucked into the detailed historical journals posted by Paul Dalbey over at MoreFrontWing.com. I'll post a snippet of mine here:

[...So in review, here are my impressions for the 94th Indy 500 - 2010.

1. Camping - My group of early-middle aged crazies (with the annual rookie tripper) again enjoyed the relative freedom found in 5 days of a lesser regard for manners, hygiene, liver protection, ambition, order, and calm. All in all, the camping portion of the trip was another success and the near-perfect weather was a huge factor in being able to enjoy the weekend to its fullest. An under-canopy bar and music area was new this year and was a rousing success. Duly noted.

2. Food and Beverage - I will say that the absence of the 4-star chef from our ranks was noticable on many levels but the no moreso than the decrease in ambition and direction shifting the eating to a more improvised dinner each night. The quality was still there, albeit a reduction in the anticipation of knowing what was ahead for our gullets each night was noted. We tried a keg this year in support of our multitudinous cases of beer. BeerFail. To keep the keg cold and palatable, a larger tub and more ice than we had available was required. I just returned it last night to retrieve my deposits, feeling like we had fallen short of expectations. Most, if not all, of us were just as happy with the numerous dirty 30s loaded and emptied in the 5-day iced coolers. Duly noted....]

I plan to continue my blogging here and, with the upswing in Indycar mojo, hope to make time for more timely and consistent entries for the seven (oops, just fact-checked my stats) make that, nine of you who read this.  My aim for 2011 is to continue to provide something that's not already being made out there. This requires the use of only my brain primarily so you can see how we're standing on shaky ground.