TBK-Light.com

The time has arrived.



The 108th Running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing is set to take place, as usual, on the Sunday before Memorial Day, provided the weather is cooperative. 34 cars are entered, which means that one driver will be joining Cindric in the stands on race day.



(Yes, the track map on the series website is from last year. This is the sort of thing you can get away with when the layout hasn't changed in 115 years.)


Changes

Whilst the most anticipated change will not be going ahead, there are differences to both the technical and sporting regulations.

-The hybrid units are not ready, but the lighter bellhousing developed to compliment it is in place which represents a weight saving of around 30 pounds. This almost guarantees that the pole speed record will fall for a third consecutive year, although a big stretch would be needed to break the 237mph barrier and topple Luyendyk's absolute record.

-After a wheel from Kirkwood's car escaped the confines of the track during last year's race, a new rear suspension upright has been mandated, as well as larger retaining nuts for the uprights on all 4 corners.

-The track has been slightly modified, with a new catchfence on the inside of turn 3 and a new SAFER/concrete wall on the inside of the short chute between turns 3 and 4, with the SAFER extending around the inside of turn 4 as well. New foam has also been installed inside all existing SAFER barriers.

-The 'dragon' has been banned, with drivers no longer allowed to race below the inside line on the exit of turn 4.

-A restart line was introduced at all races following the less-than-exemplary display of standards at last season's finale, and IMS is not an exception. Drivers must pass this line before attempting to overtake on restarts.


Entrants




Schedule (all times EDT)

Track record a chance?

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Follow me on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/135625678@N06/

The Fortnight (with 3 layover days) of May!

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RIP Birmingham Wheels: here's some of the crash videos I recorded when it was there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKIE ... 5t9d5PvoHA

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/paulhadsley

once again, we go back home again in Indiana, with a real chance of a double win at Memorial Day

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

um

Yay, it's the month of May!

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ALPINE SKIING CRASHES SPREADSHEET

If the only change is that 30-pound drop, I doubt it.

So they're going in with the same configuration and a 30 pound drop this year?

I hope they've tested those things backwards in a wind tunnel....

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RIP Birmingham Wheels: here's some of the crash videos I recorded when it was there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKIE ... 5t9d5PvoHA

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/paulhadsley

Rossi said on his podcast that the weightloss happened on the rear of the car, and that this isn't the right place for weight loss as it will make finding the right balance harder. He expected the speeds to be similar to last year.

Was the track different enough to matter too? There was a grass divider on some turns in 1996, but they could still cut turn 4 on the apron significantly, couldn't they?

Track is the same - in 96 Tony George turned up the boost to ensure his series took all the records.

Here we are nearly 3 decades later an nobody as got anywhere near Arie's record.

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Follow me on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/135625678@N06/

It's a good thing, then, that they have over 20 hours of practice to get it right. I am confident that Ganassi at the very least will make the most of the lighter car.

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The weather forecast for tomorrow looks discouraging, and Wednesday's practice may start late as the track will need drying, but after that it looks warm and dry until at least the end of qualifying.

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Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

SPAM have confirmed Illott in the 6.

Today looks like a washout. Tomorrow probably mostly overcast. Thursday nice. Friday (while still too far away to call) looks quite bad. Qualifying weekend looks good (showers possible on Saturday) to great (Sunday).

Larson getting his week started in the right way.

The track is green - at least for now.

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Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

I wasn't expecting the rain to hold off long enough to get any running today, so this is a pleasant surprise. Dixon already up to 229.1 mph

Aaaand that was it for the forseeable future.

Chip Ganassi gets his cover blown.

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Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.