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Here we go again!



It's time for the 98th running of the inaugural Indianapolis 500, the legendary race that's been held since the 1911. Back in the day when Ray Harroun won the first 500 in the Marmon Wasp, the world was very different to what we know today. There was no television or internet. No World Wars had even started. The state of Oklahoma was just three years old. New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii were not states. Finland was not an independent country. Rock n' Roll was non-excisting. The first Charlie Chaplin movie was not yet released. The Ford Model T was the hottest thing in the automotive industry. But an Indianapolis businessman Carl G. Fisher had made his vision of automobile racing to become true that year and a foundations of the greatest spectacle in motor racing was born. Today the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one, if not the holiest grounds of motorsports.

And there are many great reasons for people calling the Indianpolis 500 by that. During the last century the speedway has provided triumphs and dramas in the world of sports that are to be remembered for the next generations to come.

When we, the racing enthusiasts, talk about Indy, there's many legends that can be told with just few simple words. Say "Spin and Win" and everyone knows you're refering Danny Sullivan's victory in the 1985 race. Say "Andretti curse" and everyone remembers that since Mario's victory in 1969, the family has been through some hard luck at the Speedway. Just mention a few names from the past and people know the big stories behind them.

Like automotive technical innovations that dawned on the Speedway. Like a rear view mirror, alternative racing fuels, seat belts (1922), front wheel drive (1920s), four wheel drive (1930s), disc brakes (1930s) or 1994 Mercedes-Benz 500I engine.

Or just name few of the great drivers that's lost their lives at Indy: Bill Vukovich, Swede Savage, Gordon Smiley, Scott Brayton, Tony Renna.

Mention the epic Rivalries, like Al Unser Jr vs. Emmerson Fittipaldi or Penske vs. Ganassi

Name few of the runner-ups like Kevin Kogan, Marco Andretti, Scott Goodyear, JR Hildebrand. Not to mention the all time runner-up, Michael Andretti, who's led the most laps of the great race without ever winning it.

Or go with the Hall of Fame drivers like Parnelli Jones, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Rick Mears, Gordon Johncock, Arie Luyendyk

And thanks to the long history of the Indianapolis 500, it has become one of the greatest family tradition in the sports. And not just for the Unsers, Andrettis, Foyts. But for the teams and spectators too.

The Indy is rich with traditions and lores. Memorial Day traditions, Gasoline Alley, milk, Carb Day or the curse of the Smiths, as there has never been a driver with one of the most common surnames to compete in the race. Many great sporting events would be more than happy to have just a small bit of the history that Indianapolis 500 has.

Past few years, we've seen The Andretti curse to continue with Marco Andretti in various forms. We've seen exciting finishes, great battles, most lead changes (first in 2012 with 34, then again in 2013 with 68) and the fastest race of all times. Great drama and spectacle has occured nearly every year on the centennial era and the new tradition of excitement seems to be set to continue.

Dan Wheldon was the runner-up for 2009 and 2010 races. He was the real underdog for 2011 race and he made that race to be the ultimate cinderella story of autoracing world on the moment he crossed those holy bricks for the 200th time that day. Little did we know what future had for him or IndyCar world. A cruel twist of faith prevented Wheldon from ever defending his title next year. But instead of that the world witnessed the triumph of Dan Wheldon's two great friends, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan in the following years. Now the three friends are forever immortalized on the Borg-Warner Trophy, side-by-side, like a metaphore for a starting row of the famous Three Wide formation of the Indy500.

Some traditions keep on living and some are changing. New for this year is the double header when the road course of Indy is taken in use for IndyCars for the first time. The Grand Prix of Indianapolis works as a warm up race for the big one. Will the new format become a new tradition?

This year will be the final time when we hear the great Jim Nabors performing the opening ceremony song "Back Home again in Indiana" while we see many house hold names to make a comeback to the Brickyard. Villeneuve, Lazier, Tracy and Montoya. We also got Andretti and Rahal on the entry list.

The Indianapolis 500. During the last hundred years, everything has changed, but yet, nothing has changed. It's the ultimate quest for speed and immortality for the motorsports world. We are back. Back Home Again in Indiana.



Welcome race fans!



Schedule



Rule changes


Highlights

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"Indy doesn't give you a second chance. You have to earn it."

Pippa Mann gets the third DCR car.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113722

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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.

Another waste of a seat.

She wont qualify. Assuming there are more than 33 entry's.

There are.

I'm considering making the Indy GP its own thread, but if anyone wants to discuss it here, feel free.

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Ducks Angels Sounders Spurs

Should at least change the thread title if we're to include the GP here.

Its not mentioned but Dario is driving the pace car this year

Do the GP in separate thread.

At least she's good to look at...

And she's not Duno terrible.

Which makes me think of something, if Duno could pass rookie orientation then how bad must Scott Mayer have been to fail it twice

She's not offensive but she's not overly attractive. A decent driver though. Better than some of the men on the grid.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Looks aside (because really? Look up Glass Hammer Racing and see what she does to lean against sexism in motorsport), I don't think the seat is that much waster, as Kals pointed out. She has qualified on every attempt so far, and wasn't terribly slow last year in particular. I'd have to wonder what she could do with a more regular drive.

She's reasonable on the ovals. I know Indy Lights is a lame series, but she still had to beat other drivers to win a race in it. And she grew up down the road from me

If it weren't for Phil Giebler, Milka Duno would've been rookie of the year in 2007.

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If you screw up while skydiving, you have the rest of your life to figure out how to fix it.

And that justifies it enough. Her presence can only do good. The ongoing sexism is motorsports underrated tragedy.

Agreed. Although perhaps then they shouldn't continue to paint women's racing cars pink. I know it's for a cause which has a pink corporate colour. But still. It doesn't help eradicate the stereotype and continued sexism.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Yeah, this livery is a bit conflicted - the pink is for breast cancer research, but it's a fair point. I believe this is the first time she has used pink, though.

The pink sidewalls are the pink icing on the cake.


I'll get my coat

Yeah I'm all for a separate thread for the road course race.

Lets keep the 500 thread about the 500.

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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