Darn, she lost.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
It would have been more fun to see it run full-out at the end without the caution. She was leading toward the end but the wolves were already lapping at her heals...and with or without the remaining gas issue (which both she and others had) it would have been interesting. Sometimes strategy plays as big a part as the speed.
She has nothing to be ashamed of coming in 4th...and neither does the person coming in 15th. They're all good drivers who make the race fun to watch. She just happened to bring a lot more attention to it and that was good.
She has nothing to be ashamed of coming in 4th...and neither does the person coming in 15th. They're all good drivers who make the race fun to watch. She just happened to bring a lot more attention to it and that was good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
I agree that she made the race more interesting to watch. She's a good driver as well. I was pulling for her, but I can't help but bring up these two points:
1. She weighs 100 lbs less than most of the other drivers. This gives her a HUGE advantage.
2. It sure seems that the drivers that were taken out by her spin on the caution lap got swept under the table. Was I in the restroom or going for more chips and dip? I don't recall them even saying who got taken out. Certainly no interviews with these drivers after the incident...
1. She weighs 100 lbs less than most of the other drivers. This gives her a HUGE advantage.
2. It sure seems that the drivers that were taken out by her spin on the caution lap got swept under the table. Was I in the restroom or going for more chips and dip? I don't recall them even saying who got taken out. Certainly no interviews with these drivers after the incident...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by vetracer
1. She weighs 100 lbs less than most of the other drivers. This gives her a HUGE advantage.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett TX
Actually the rules state that the chassis must weigh 1,525 pounds minimum, including all lubricants and coolants used during the event, but does not include fuel or driver.
So she does have a bit of an advantage as far as weight goes.
I thought she drove a very good race for a rookie and hopefully she will have a long future with the IRL
So she does have a bit of an advantage as far as weight goes.
I thought she drove a very good race for a rookie and hopefully she will have a long future with the IRL
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay FL
ABC's coverage was terrible. Too many commercials - what happened to the side-by-side coverage of other IRL events or why couldn't they negotiate advertising the way the US & England soccer game was televised?
ABC also concentrates on "emotion." We can tell when somebody is dissappointed - duh! But what happened to the car and why? What was the Shania Twain line about Jack Arute?
Also no commentator mentioned that it was Bourdais that hit the fence on lap 198 and why? Nobody mentioned that Kanaan and Franchitti had fallen back and why? And nobody noticed how B. Lazier was driving the wheels off his car, using all the track and came from nowhere to be competitive.
Now I was rooting for Danica. I saw her in St. Pete and although she drove the car pretty hard (I was impressed) she still hit the brakes 50' earlier than other fast cars. A newspaper report noted that her 100 pound weight advantage translated into 1 mph on the Indy track. She is smooth and smooth is fast at Indy. Too bad Inge and Scheckter couldn't finish the race because of her spin.
The pace car looked great and I enjoyed the race because of the drivers despite the tv coverage.
ABC also concentrates on "emotion." We can tell when somebody is dissappointed - duh! But what happened to the car and why? What was the Shania Twain line about Jack Arute?
Also no commentator mentioned that it was Bourdais that hit the fence on lap 198 and why? Nobody mentioned that Kanaan and Franchitti had fallen back and why? And nobody noticed how B. Lazier was driving the wheels off his car, using all the track and came from nowhere to be competitive.
Now I was rooting for Danica. I saw her in St. Pete and although she drove the car pretty hard (I was impressed) she still hit the brakes 50' earlier than other fast cars. A newspaper report noted that her 100 pound weight advantage translated into 1 mph on the Indy track. She is smooth and smooth is fast at Indy. Too bad Inge and Scheckter couldn't finish the race because of her spin.
The pace car looked great and I enjoyed the race because of the drivers despite the tv coverage.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
It looks like she proved that she's for real alright!
From all the publicity they'll be more watching the other races now.
I just hope she doesn't suffer from ABC turning it into the 'Danica 500'
From all the publicity they'll be more watching the other races now.
I just hope she doesn't suffer from ABC turning it into the 'Danica 500'
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Originally Posted by S2K
I admit that I've never watched car racing in my entire life. However, I tuned in to watch the last 20 or so laps of the race. I was definitely hoping Danica would win it. I admit for a sport that would usually put me fast asleep at the mere sight of it, it was pretty thrilling up until the end.
The C6 pace car was pretty cool to. I think between that and if Danica would have won, I may have watched an entire race the next time around....er okay, probably not.
The C6 pace car was pretty cool to. I think between that and if Danica would have won, I may have watched an entire race the next time around....er okay, probably not.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
Made in USA
Originally Posted by U2bassAce
I was with Colin Powell the day he heard he was going to drive the pace car. He was totally stoked. During his prepared coments he said his friends told him if he retired he had to get a "toy". So he said "I went out and bought a Corvette" "and boy I love it!!!!" I got to talk to him for a while about his Vette and told him I had just ordered one. He was totally in to it!!! Check out the pic!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by GTO_Vette_Guy
If you've ever been to the 500 and seen these cars race in person, you would never fall asleep at the sight of it again.
I was there, and it was awesome. Danica was definitely the crowd favorite. For a rookie, she drove a great race. She even apologized for her mistakes (lap 180 spin/crash, killing the engine during a pit stop). Since there were only 17 out of 33 running at the end, she's not the only one who made a bonehead mistake or two.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: houston tx
I don't care who wins as long as it is a close race.
While she got a lot of attention I didn't see any interviews with the driver hit by her during caution/ restart. His opinion may be less than favorable.
While she got a lot of attention I didn't see any interviews with the driver hit by her during caution/ restart. His opinion may be less than favorable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
I had the pleasure of watching the last 30 laps in the pilot lounge at JFK's business jet terminal. The USAF Thunderbirds had just finished a show and were hanging out with us. They were all cheering for Danica. When the race ended, they went back into their debrief of the show they just flew, and my F/O & I flew down to IAD (D.C.). What a race! I couldn't wait to get back home to drive my C6! 
Thanks to the T-Birds for making my day! It was great to meet you guys & gals!
SB
Thanks to the T-Birds for making my day! It was great to meet you guys & gals!
SB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
Originally Posted by Braced
I had the pleasure of watching the last 30 laps in the pilot lounge at JFK's business jet terminal. The USAF Thunderbirds had just finished a show and were hanging out with us. They were all cheering for Danica. When the race ended, they went back into their debrief of the show they just flew, and my F/O & I flew down to IAD (D.C.). What a race! I couldn't wait to get back home to drive my C6!
Thanks to the T-Birds for making my day! It was great to meet you guys & gals!
SB
Thanks to the T-Birds for making my day! It was great to meet you guys & gals!
SB
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 7,810
Likes: 417
From: FL
Originally Posted by Corvette Junkie
I would have like to see her win.
.23, 5' 1", 100 lbs..................................... .................................
and a kick *** driver..................
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
How does driving your C6 stack up against flying a business jet? I love driving the C6, but the jet has to be a little more fun, right?
The C6 is not work! Although it doesn't suck flying one of these taking some celeb to a cool event somewhere.Here's my work ride at Telluride, CO:
Here's my C6:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
Originally Posted by Braced
Not really. The flying job is work. The C6 is not work! Although it doesn't suck flying one of these taking some celeb to a cool event somewhere.
The C6 is not work! Although it doesn't suck flying one of these taking some celeb to a cool event somewhere.http://www.airliners.net
Ok, sorry to go OT back to Danica and the race...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,877
Likes: 531
Originally Posted by shopdog
I believe the rules say the minimum car weight is with driver. So a light driver means the car has to be made heavier, and vice versa.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,877
Likes: 531
I felt especially energetic, so I went to the IRL web site to get the car's weight, and as I expected its the cars weight without the driver.
http://www.indyracingleague.com/tech/chassis.php
http://www.indyracingleague.com/tech/chassis.php
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Palm City FL
[QUOTE=vetracer]I agree that she made the race more interesting to watch. She's a good driver as well. I was pulling for her, but I can't help but bring up these two points:
1. She weighs 100 lbs less than most of the other drivers. This gives her a HUGE advantage.
Dan Wheldon weighs a whopping 157 lbs. If you look at most of the IRL drivers, they are pretty thin individuals.
Having been to Indy several times, I have to admit this being the first time in many years that I have watched the race on TV wire to wire. It all has to do with wanting to see how well Danica would do. Say what we will, but at 200+ mph, she showed a lot of guts. Time will tell if she is capable of becoming an exceptional driver, but it appears that she has a good start.
1. She weighs 100 lbs less than most of the other drivers. This gives her a HUGE advantage.
Dan Wheldon weighs a whopping 157 lbs. If you look at most of the IRL drivers, they are pretty thin individuals.
Having been to Indy several times, I have to admit this being the first time in many years that I have watched the race on TV wire to wire. It all has to do with wanting to see how well Danica would do. Say what we will, but at 200+ mph, she showed a lot of guts. Time will tell if she is capable of becoming an exceptional driver, but it appears that she has a good start.