TBK-Light.com

Harding will run Honda engines for the coming season.

https://racer.com/2018/12/06/honda-to-p ... r-in-2019/

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After the accident at Pocono (in particular the bit where Wickens' car detached RHR's onboard camera from the rest of his car), there were some witterings from some largely hysterical people about how Indycar needed some sort of head protection now, if not sooner, and damn the unintended consequences of such a move.

Today, the FIA published the conclusions from their investigation into the startline accident at the Belgian GP regarding the performance of the halo.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14054 ... -spa-crash

The most interesting part as it pertains to Indycar (and indeed, to F1), is below;



So if Wickens' car had been rotating closer to the ground, and RHR was driving straight at it, a halo would have done very little for him.

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, the '30km/h' referenced in the quote above refers to relative speed, not absolute.

_________________
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.

To be fair, the Halo is not designed to stop a car, its primary purpose is to stop wheels and other medium to large objects from striking the driver, something that some would say is fixing a problem that doesn't exist because of wheel and bodywork tethers that are mandatory in Indycar, whereas only the wheel tethers are mandatory in F1.

This brings me back again to the point that as much as F1 may break it's own arm patting itself on its back through all these technological and safety advances, they are still in some respects light years behind the redneck racing leagues (aka NASCAR and INDYCAR) who have mandated bodywork tethers for donkeys years already, something F1 still doesn't do.

While I fully agree that a head protection system is needed, the FIA just sticking the halo on every single car while not going ahead with trying anything else isn't the way to go IMO. I think IndyCar is going in the right direction with the aeroscreen, still wish more groups in general would at least do some tests on other devices and designs for single seaters. Personally always have wanted to see the aeroscreen mixed in with a expanded roll hoop (i.e. like a NHRA top fuel dragster roll cage) or a Supermodified style roll cage.

Look at the new Formula E car, that's the way the sport is heading

Halo is just the start, the wheels are being covered too, then eventually the entire cockpit will be closed.

Open wheel racing is over.

Maybe the FIA want to gradually morph F1 into a class in WEC and let Formula E lead the charge for whatever they want to call the top of the ladder for what is now open wheel racing

_________________
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

indycar would use the halo if they didnt run on ovals where it obscures vision on the banking. i get what you mean with the nhra style cages, but those are specifically meant to prevent debris from entering from the rear (exploding engines, etc.). in fact if you flip the nhra cage around its basically a halo in reverse, preventing debris from entering the front (wheels, mclarens, etc.)

Main thought process that I had in terms of NHRA cages is to deflect debris from falling into the driver, with the aeroscreen helping in terms of deflecting debris from the front. Granted there is still that window of opportunity, but at least it's lessened with those two.

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Open wheel racing is not over by any means, just because one series tries bumpers or closed wheels doesn't mean that others will follow suit.

To me: as long as there's open wheels then it's a open wheel series, it doesn't matter if it's open cockpit (IndyCar), open cockpit with cages / protection devices (IndyCar w/ aeroscreen, FIA sanctioned series w/ Halo, short track & dirt open wheel), or closed cockpit (Modifieds, NHRA top fuel dragsters with canopies installed)

Didn't a dragster driver die because of flailing rubber from a tyre blow out?

Honestly even if they closed up the wheels or put a roof over the cockpit, I'd enjoy it just the same as long as the racing's good. The days of real open cockpits like they had in the past are gone, they've been closing up more and more, you won't get the same early 90's openness again.

I do prefer the aeroscreen to the halo.

Yes, Darrell Russell.

I believe that incident was why some teams (mainly DSR) started working on the canopy structure. Knowing that would take longer to do a full-cockpit protection device / canopy style structure for a open wheeler (given the requirements of longer races, changing weather conditions such as rain, and proper extraction methods if the hatches were damaged), main thought is that it would help in the present short term while a full protection option is still being developed for a open wheeler.

Wouldn't be surprised if IndyCar had a extended roll hoop system around the driver if they ever did a full canopy though.

Personally prefer the aeroscreen the most on looks, but if there's any safer option that doesn't cause other major safety or vision issues (i.e. halo on tracks with any sort of banking) then I'm fine with it

With IndyCar's new fuel supplier deal with Speedway, it has been confirmed that the series will continue to use E85 through the end of the current engine cycle (2020).
https://racer.com/2018/12/07/indycar-to ... ough-2020/

Tony Kanaan was the most recent guest on Marshall Pruett's IndyCar podcast
https://racer.com/2018/12/05/the-week-i ... ny-kanaan/

Robin Miller has returned to the mailbag in the recent weeks
https://racer.com/2018/12/05/robin-mill ... acing-hpd/

Indy 500 return for Kurt Busch is on the table with his new NASCAR Cup ride at Ganassi
https://autoweek.com/article/indy-500/c ... turn-table

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Barber to have the following support series: Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Cup, FIA/SCCA F3 Americas powered by Honda, IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Americas, IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA presented by Yokohama

Long Beach will have Historic IMSA GTO Challenge on the support card as well for next year.

Update on Juncos' efforts for next season
https://racer.com/2018/12/12/juncos-pus ... tay-fluid/

IndyCar to have a pre-season test at Laguna Seca in February.
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news ... y/4312768/

Tino Belli, Dialma Zinelli & Chris Beatty has been awarded the Dino Toso Award at the World Motorsport Symposium for their efforts on the "UAK18" aerokit that debuted this year.
https://www.indycar.com/News/2018/12/12 ... Toso-Award

Marshall Pruett has some pretty good podcasts this week, those being with the following: Bobby Unser (My Racing Life & Career) & Mark Miles (This Week in IndyCar)

Robin Miller's mailbag for this week (December 12)
https://racer.com/2018/12/12/robin-mill ... acing-hpd/

DragonSpeed have found the budget for 5 races. Ben Hanley will drive.

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/ ... ar-in-2019

_________________
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.

NBC Sports will retain Paul Tracy for 2019

The evidence concluded it did it? Who the fuck writes these releases, Mr Bean?

As long as he talks about racing I enjoy listening to him, so I welcome that decision. Plus now he has to force himself to stay nice for at least a fraction of his time. If they fired him he would probably be more of an arshole in the future.
The hack story is bullshit.

I am pleased by this news.

Good. Who gives a fuck what he writes in his free time.

SJW snowflakes do aparantly.

As evidenced by people digging up 8 year old tweets to try and discredit someone

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

Small possibility of Busch doing the 500 again this year.
https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/1 ... s-possible
I'm looking forward to an Alonso, Busch, Ericsson top 3 rofl