After an interesting off-season, it is time to dust off the cobwebs, light up the engines, and head to the track, as the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season is one again upon us. Even though the schedule has been slimmed down from 17 to 14 races, the series will start its' 11th year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval track w/18-20 deg. banking in the turns. Here are some of the interesting storylines that have come to the surface over the off-season.......
1}Same drivers, different places. Several drivers made changes as to who they'll drive for in 2005, and here are the notable ones.....
a]Dan Wheldon, from Andretti-Green to Target/Ganassi Racing
b]Vitor Meira, from Rahal-Letterman Racing to Panther Racing
c]Tomas Scheckter, from Panther Racing to Vision Racing
2}Welcome back, Buddy! One driver who has a part-timer in the series, 1996 Indy 500 and 2000 series champion Buddy Lazier, will return to the series full-time for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, replacing the oft-hapless Roger Yasukawa. He'll be one of several 500 champions in the grid, joining Dan Wheldon(2005), Buddy Rice(2004) and Helio Castroneves(2001-2002). He'll also be one of several series champions in the grid, joining Wheldon(2005), Tony Kanaan(2004), Scott Dixon(2003), Sam Hornish, Jr.(2001-2002) and 1996 series co-champion Scott Sharp(1996).
3}Who are the rookies? To be precise, Marco Andretti(Andretti-Green Racing), Paul Dana(Rahal-Letterman Racing) and P.J. Chesson(Hemelgarn Racing). All I can say to them is this....if you want to be the one to hoist the Bombardier Cup as 2006 ROY, you had better step up; some of your precedesors will be out there watching. If the past couple of ROY's are any indication, they'll step up.
These storylines should suffice for the time being. All told, I can't wait for the season to start. As always, I'll have qual. and race reviews, summaries, observations, commentaries, and whatever else comes to mind. Here is the event schedule.....
Practice Session #1:March 24, 10:30 am
Practice Session #2:March 24, 2:00 pm
Practice Session #3:March 25, 10:30 am
Qualifying Session:March 25, 2:45 pm
Final Practice Session:March 26, 10:00 am
Toyota Indy 300(round 1 of 14):March 26, 3:30 pm
The race will be broadcast live on ABC Sports, with radio simulcasts on the IMS Radio Network, XM Satellite Radio and the United States Armed Forces Network.
2006 IRL Rd. 1-Toyota Indy 300
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2006 IRL Rd. 1-Toyota Indy 300
Last edited by mlittle on Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dixon tops early practice at Homestead
While everyone has sauntered off down to Miami or decided to go exploring in the Bermuda Triangle(I wondered why T-K's plane headed off in that direction..... ), the first IndyCar Series practice of the year has commenced and ended and a few more storylines have popped up in and amongst the concrete and SAFER-barrier enclosed walls of Homestead.....
1}Practice does make perfect.....With all the drivers now using 2006-sped Honda H-16R Indy V8 engines, it was expected that two teams, Penske and Ganassi, would return to the top end of the charts.....and they did, as Target/Ganassi's Scott Dixon topped the first practice w/a time of 24.897 secs.(214.721 mph). Close behind was Penske's Sam Hornish, Jr. w/a time of 24.898 secs.(214.718 mph), just 1/1000ths' off the pace. On the rookie front, all three Bombardier candidates, Marco Andretti, Paul Dana and P.J. Chesson, all struggled in their first practice, but all three posted times which slot them after practice #1 13th, 16th and 20th.
2}Charge of the Panoz brigade.....Remember that poem by Tennyson about the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of the 1850's? Well, for Rahal-Letterman Racing, this first practice wasn't what they hoped for, as all three of their drivers(the only Panoz entries in the field!) struggled at times during the first practice. However, by practice'd end, their times were competitive, but it does portend a long, long year....
3}The old-timers are back! Although Eddie Cheever, Jr. hadn't turned an IndyCar left in anger since Texas 2002, his times during practice sent a clear signal to the rest of the field, namely, I'm back.........he set a fast lap of 25.152 secs.(212.544 mph). As for his chances come Sunday....he's no stranger to victory lane in Florida(two of his IRL wins came in 1997 and 1999 up in Orlando at WDW Speedway), but he still has a little way's to go to get back in winning form...
Here's how their practice times came out in session #1.....
1}Scott Dixon, D/H........................24.897 sec./214.721 mph
2}Sam Hornish, Jr., D/H.................24.898 sec./214.718 mph
3}Tony Kanaan, D/H......................24.933 sec./214.418 mph
4}Helio Castroneves, D/H...............24.937 sec./214.381 mph
5}Bryan Herta, D/H........................24.996 sec./213.871 mph
6}Dario Franchitti, D/H....................25.021 sec./213.665 mph
7}Dan Wheldon, D/H.......................25.027 sec./213.613 mph
8}Buddy Rice, P/H..........................25.053 sec./213.389 mph
9}Ed Carpenter, D/H......................25.096 sec./213.026 mph
10}Vitor Meira, D/H.......................25.132 sec./212.718 mph
11}Kosuke Matsurra, D/H...............25.140 sec./212.648 mph
12}Eddie Cheever, Jr., D/H.............25.152 sec./212.544 mph
13}Marco Andretti(R), D/H...............25.161 sec./212.473 mph
14}Scott Sharp, D/H.......................25.257 sec./211.663 mph
15}Danica Patrick, P/H....................25.269 sec./211.564 mph
16}Paul Dana(R), P/H.....................25.275 sec./211.512 mph
17}Tomas Scheckter, D/H...............25.282 sec./211.456 mph
18}Buddy Lazier, D/H.....................25.340 sec./210.972 mph
19}Felipe Giaffone, D/H..................25.472 sec./209.876 mph
20}P.J. Chesson(R), D/H.................26.016 sec./205.491 mph
Second practice session to commence around 2 PM; timing charts will reflect fastest time from either sessions 1 or 2.....
), the first IndyCar Series practice of the year has commenced and ended and a few more storylines have popped up in and amongst the concrete and SAFER-barrier enclosed walls of Homestead.....1}Practice does make perfect.....With all the drivers now using 2006-sped Honda H-16R Indy V8 engines, it was expected that two teams, Penske and Ganassi, would return to the top end of the charts.....and they did, as Target/Ganassi's Scott Dixon topped the first practice w/a time of 24.897 secs.(214.721 mph). Close behind was Penske's Sam Hornish, Jr. w/a time of 24.898 secs.(214.718 mph), just 1/1000ths' off the pace. On the rookie front, all three Bombardier candidates, Marco Andretti, Paul Dana and P.J. Chesson, all struggled in their first practice, but all three posted times which slot them after practice #1 13th, 16th and 20th.
2}Charge of the Panoz brigade.....Remember that poem by Tennyson about the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of the 1850's? Well, for Rahal-Letterman Racing, this first practice wasn't what they hoped for, as all three of their drivers(the only Panoz entries in the field!) struggled at times during the first practice. However, by practice'd end, their times were competitive, but it does portend a long, long year....
3}The old-timers are back! Although Eddie Cheever, Jr. hadn't turned an IndyCar left in anger since Texas 2002, his times during practice sent a clear signal to the rest of the field, namely, I'm back.........he set a fast lap of 25.152 secs.(212.544 mph). As for his chances come Sunday....he's no stranger to victory lane in Florida(two of his IRL wins came in 1997 and 1999 up in Orlando at WDW Speedway), but he still has a little way's to go to get back in winning form...
Here's how their practice times came out in session #1.....
1}Scott Dixon, D/H........................24.897 sec./214.721 mph
2}Sam Hornish, Jr., D/H.................24.898 sec./214.718 mph
3}Tony Kanaan, D/H......................24.933 sec./214.418 mph
4}Helio Castroneves, D/H...............24.937 sec./214.381 mph
5}Bryan Herta, D/H........................24.996 sec./213.871 mph
6}Dario Franchitti, D/H....................25.021 sec./213.665 mph
7}Dan Wheldon, D/H.......................25.027 sec./213.613 mph
8}Buddy Rice, P/H..........................25.053 sec./213.389 mph
9}Ed Carpenter, D/H......................25.096 sec./213.026 mph
10}Vitor Meira, D/H.......................25.132 sec./212.718 mph
11}Kosuke Matsurra, D/H...............25.140 sec./212.648 mph
12}Eddie Cheever, Jr., D/H.............25.152 sec./212.544 mph
13}Marco Andretti(R), D/H...............25.161 sec./212.473 mph
14}Scott Sharp, D/H.......................25.257 sec./211.663 mph
15}Danica Patrick, P/H....................25.269 sec./211.564 mph
16}Paul Dana(R), P/H.....................25.275 sec./211.512 mph
17}Tomas Scheckter, D/H...............25.282 sec./211.456 mph
18}Buddy Lazier, D/H.....................25.340 sec./210.972 mph
19}Felipe Giaffone, D/H..................25.472 sec./209.876 mph
20}P.J. Chesson(R), D/H.................26.016 sec./205.491 mph
Second practice session to commence around 2 PM; timing charts will reflect fastest time from either sessions 1 or 2.....
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Wheldon tops session 2; Meira crashes
The second session saw winds pick up dramatically from the earlier session(winds 15-20 mph from northwest for most of session 2), causing drivers to adjust setups for Saturday practice and qualifying. Target/Ganassi's new hire, 2005 series champion Dan Wheldon, topped the session w/a speed of 215.561 mph/24.800 secs.; there was one scary incident, as Panther Racing's Vitor Meira(#4 EcoNova Dallara/Honda) spun and crashed heavily into the turn 4 outside wall, causing damage to the right-side and rear of the car. Meira, though, climbed out of the car unassisted, was checked at the infield care center and has been cleared to drive, according to IRL Medical Director Dr. Henry Bock.
Here are the combined session times for today......
1}Dan Wheldon, D/H.......................24.800 sec./215.561 mph(2)
2}Scott Dixon, D/H..........................24.897 sec./214.721 mph(1)
3}Sam Hornish, Jr., D/H...................24.898 sec./214.718 mph(1)
4}Tony Kanaan, D/H........................24.933 sec./214.418 mph(1)
5}Helio Castroneves, D/H.................24.937 sec./214.381 mph(1)
6}Bryan Herta, D/H.........................24.996 sec./213.871 mph(1)
7}Dario Franchitti, D/H.....................25.021 sec./213.665 mph(1)
8}Buddy Rice, P/H...........................25.053 sec./213.389 mph(1)
9}Tomas Scheckter, D/H..................25.086 sec./213.110 mph(2)
10}Scott Sharp, D/H........................25.095 sec./213.035 mph(2)
11}Ed Carpenter, D/H......................25.096 sec./213.026 mph(1)
12}Kosuke Matsurra, D/H.................25.126 sec./212.765 mph(2)
13}Vitor Meira, D/H..........................25.132 sec./212.718 mph(1)
14}Eddie Cheever, Jr., D/H...............25.146 sec./212.599 mph(2)
15}Marco Andretti(R), D/H................25.161 sec./212.473 mph(1)
16}Danica Patrick, P/H.....................25.200 sec./212.143 mph(2)
17}Paul Dana(R), P/H.......................25.272 sec./211.512 mph(1)
18}Buddy Lazier, D/H.......................25.340 sec./210.972 mph(1)
19}Felipe Giaffone, D/H....................25.410 sec./210.390 mph(2)
20}P.J. Chesson(R), D/H...................25.511 sec./209.558 mph(2)
Practice for Sunday's Toyota Indy 300 resumes tomorrow w/session #3 at 10 am US EST, followed by qualifying at/or/about 2:45 pm US EST.
Here are the combined session times for today......
1}Dan Wheldon, D/H.......................24.800 sec./215.561 mph(2)
2}Scott Dixon, D/H..........................24.897 sec./214.721 mph(1)
3}Sam Hornish, Jr., D/H...................24.898 sec./214.718 mph(1)
4}Tony Kanaan, D/H........................24.933 sec./214.418 mph(1)
5}Helio Castroneves, D/H.................24.937 sec./214.381 mph(1)
6}Bryan Herta, D/H.........................24.996 sec./213.871 mph(1)
7}Dario Franchitti, D/H.....................25.021 sec./213.665 mph(1)
8}Buddy Rice, P/H...........................25.053 sec./213.389 mph(1)
9}Tomas Scheckter, D/H..................25.086 sec./213.110 mph(2)
10}Scott Sharp, D/H........................25.095 sec./213.035 mph(2)
11}Ed Carpenter, D/H......................25.096 sec./213.026 mph(1)
12}Kosuke Matsurra, D/H.................25.126 sec./212.765 mph(2)
13}Vitor Meira, D/H..........................25.132 sec./212.718 mph(1)
14}Eddie Cheever, Jr., D/H...............25.146 sec./212.599 mph(2)
15}Marco Andretti(R), D/H................25.161 sec./212.473 mph(1)
16}Danica Patrick, P/H.....................25.200 sec./212.143 mph(2)
17}Paul Dana(R), P/H.......................25.272 sec./211.512 mph(1)
18}Buddy Lazier, D/H.......................25.340 sec./210.972 mph(1)
19}Felipe Giaffone, D/H....................25.410 sec./210.390 mph(2)
20}P.J. Chesson(R), D/H...................25.511 sec./209.558 mph(2)
Practice for Sunday's Toyota Indy 300 resumes tomorrow w/session #3 at 10 am US EST, followed by qualifying at/or/about 2:45 pm US EST.
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Penske duo top timing charts in session #3
During qual. runs for the Indianapolis 500, if somebody should break the track record, the first thing one hears is announcer Tom Carnegie beloowing out, "It's a new track record....." That could well happen here when qual. takes places this afternoon following practice session #3, as both of Marlboro-Team Penske's drivers, Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish, Jr. found themselves at the top of the timing charts, with times of 24.574 sec. and 24.586 sec. Both times were faster than the current qual. record, currently held by Rahal-Letterman Racing driver Buddy Rice, set during qual. back in 2004. However, the biggest surprise of the session was in the performance of Rahal-Letterman's drivers, as all three found themselves P6(Rice, 24.816 sec./215.428 mph), P7(Patrick, 24.874 sec./214.921 mph) and P8(Dana, 24.889 sec./214.797 mph).
Judging by the timing/scoring charts............records could indeed fall today when qual. occurs, around 2:45 PM US EST(19:45 UTC).
Judging by the timing/scoring charts............records could indeed fall today when qual. occurs, around 2:45 PM US EST(19:45 UTC).
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Qualifying is set to begin for round 1 of the 2006 season, the Toyota Indy 300, from Homestead-Miami Speedway. The qual. format is as follows.....each driver will get two laps to set his or her fastest lap; the driver w/the fastest qual. lap will start on the pole. 2004 series champion Tony Kanaan has just exited pit lane and qual. is set to begin.
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First lap for Kanaan, a 215.932 mph........second lap for Kanaan......and his second lap, a 216.178 mph, as he sets the first qual. time of the session. Next up......#26 Marco Andretti, followed by the first of the Rahal-Letterman drivers, #15 Buddy Rice.
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Second lap for Marco Andretti a little slower than the first, so his first qual. lap will count, a 214 even.
Next out, Buddy Rice, 2004 Indy 500 champion..........
Next out, Buddy Rice, 2004 Indy 500 champion..........
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Correction, Target/Ganassi's Scott Dixon, in the #9 Target D/H, was out on track just now, and sets top speed for the moment w/a sec. qual. lap of 216.769.
Order now stands.....Dixon, Kanaan and Andretti.
Vitor Meira now out on the track........carrying new sponsors, EcoNova, along with longtime sponsor Pennzoil on the sidepods.....first lap, 213.567......currently P3, exiting turn 4 for the checkers.......second lap, 213.932, well off the current qual. pace set by Dixon.
Order now stands.....Dixon, Kanaan and Andretti.
Vitor Meira now out on the track........carrying new sponsors, EcoNova, along with longtime sponsor Pennzoil on the sidepods.....first lap, 213.567......currently P3, exiting turn 4 for the checkers.......second lap, 213.932, well off the current qual. pace set by Dixon.
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2005 Bombardier ROY Danica Patrick now out on track.......216.101, now heading down the backstraight to complete qual. lap 2.......sec. flyer, 216.798 mph, and that puts her P1 provisionally at the moment. Surprising, though, that she used a very high line going through 3 and 4 than the others, and still puts her car on the pole for the moment ahead of both Dixon and Kanaan.
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Defending series champion Dan Wheldon completes his qual. run, and currently sits in P4 w/a speed of 215.804. New Foyt Racing driver Felipe Giaffone now out on track........first lap a 215.463...beginning his second qual. flyer............Giaffone crosses the line P5, sec. lap slower than the first, so his first lap stands.
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Rice finishes his first lap, a 215.808 mph......second lap, 215.913 mph, placing him P4 at the moment......next up is the third Rahal-Letterman driver, rookie Paul Dana......
Dana raced in three events last year, but missed the remainder of the season due to injuries suffered at Indy during a practice crash prior to the 500. First lap, 215.426, second lap coming up..........215.593, and he slots into 6th alongside Wheldon, outside of row 3.
Dana raced in three events last year, but missed the remainder of the season due to injuries suffered at Indy during a practice crash prior to the 500. First lap, 215.426, second lap coming up..........215.593, and he slots into 6th alongside Wheldon, outside of row 3.
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Rookie P.J. Chesson, driving the #91 CarMelo Dallara/Honda for Hemelgarn Racing, now begins his qual. run.....first lap, 212.011 mph, begins his second lap........his second lap a little quicker, a 212.211 mph, slots into P10.
Current top-5 provisionally.....Patrick, Dixon, Kanaan, Rice and Wheldon......
Second half of qualifying begins......
Current top-5 provisionally.....Patrick, Dixon, Kanaan, Rice and Wheldon......
Second half of qualifying begins......
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Next up...the first of the two Vision Racing cars, driven by Ed Carpenter; his teammate, Tomas Scheckter, is next....Carpenter's first lap, a 215.218 mph........Scheckter was the polesitter for Panther Racing in 2005, and Carpenter will sit 8th provisionally, w/a speed of 215.218 mph.
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Correction, Aguri-Fernandez's Kosuke Matsurra now on his qual. run, and his first lap is a 215.190 mph.......his second lap coming up.....slower than the first.......Matsurra now sits P9 on the provisional grid.
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