IndyCar to get NASCAR-style Lucky Dog

[cosworth151]

Former bull riding boss Randy Bernard has decreed that IndyCar will get a NASCAR-style Lucky Dog free pass this season. Under each full course caution, the first car one lap down will get a free pass to get on the lead lap.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110310/IRL/110319997

Please, Tony, hurry back!

[Ian]

If you or your car ain't good enough to be on the lead lap what's the point ? You'll soon be a lap down again quick enough surely. 

[Jericoke]

If you or your car ain't good enough to be on the lead lap what's the point ? You'll soon be a lap down again quick enough surely. 

I don't know.  We know that cars handle differently with different fuel loads or tire conditions.  You could set up your car to work best when it's running light, let yourself fall behind early, and then take the lucky dog spot.

Conversely, you could anticipate a yellow flag, and go down a lap to fill up on fuel.  (Any word if Flavio is moving into IRL?)

[cosworth151]

The reason given was for cars caught out on green flag pit stops. It gives tham back the lap they would have regained when the rest of the field made green flag stops. I think it's phoney as fake rain.

[Jericoke]

The reason given was for cars caught out on green flag pit stops. It gives tham back the lap they would have regained when the rest of the field made green flag stops. I think it's phoney as fake rain.

American racing has much more full course yellow than F1 usually does.  I don't think it's a great rule, but it is frustrating to see a driver have a great day undone when a back marker spins out right after a green flag pit stop, and the competition gets to pit under yellow.

I doubt I'm going to watch much IRL this year, which ever way the rule goes.

I am looking forward to the new chassis next year though.

[cosworth151]

I'm just the opposite. I'll be watching all I can this year before the minivan motors ruin the series next year.

[Jericoke]

I'm just the opposite. I'll be watching all I can this year before the minivan motors ruin the series next year.

I was kinda put off by the rebadged Nissan and Cadillac engines they used to use.  Putting street car motors in a top series race car just seems wrong to me.  (The irony being, that's what they're supposed to do in NASCAR, but don't.)

I think if they're going to abandon V8s, that they need to get more radical than they have.

I'll still tune in in May, and might even try to get to the Toronto Indy to see if running unique cars finally opens the series up to competition.

[cosworth151]

Since Randy grabbed this from NASCAR, maybe he should have looked back a few years. NASCAR tried V6's in the Busch (now Nationwide) series. The teams hated them and the fans quickly abandoned the series. NASCAR, the teams and manufacturers had to quickly swallow all of the money they had wasted trying to make a watchable V6 and return to V8's.

[Jericoke]

Since Randy grabbed this from NASCAR, maybe he should have looked back a few years. NASCAR tried V6's in the Busch (now Nationwide) series. The teams hated them and the fans quickly abandoned the series. NASCAR, the teams and manufacturers had to quickly swallow all of the money they had wasted trying to make a watchable V6 and return to V8's.

Maybe.  But if he can't find anyone to make V8s, how's he going to race cars with V8s?

(I suppose one solution is to find someone who can find manufacturers who will supply V8s)

But NASCAR Cup Series is hemmoraging fans, even with V8s.  IRL lost a huge amount of fans running V8s.

All the same, F1 has grown in the 10 years I've been watching, even though the engines have been downsized.

[cosworth151]

Not here in the U.S.

[Scott]

Lousy TV coverage and way too much sports (especially motorsports) competition on TV.

USA = Baseball, football (maybe not next year), basketball, hockey, golf, NASCAR, IRL, NHRA, MonsterTruckRacing, etc...
 
Europe = Soccer (Football), skiing and F1  Life is simpler here...   

[John S]

Lousy TV coverage and way too much sports (especially motorsports) competition on TV.

USA = Baseball, football (maybe not next year), basketball, hockey, golf, NASCAR, IRL, NHRA, MonsterTruckRacing, etc...
 
Europe = Soccer (Football), skiing and F1  Life is simpler here...   

Can't forget the Cricket, Rugger and Horse racing for us Brits Scott. 

[Scott]

Oh, but that's not really on TV, is it?   

[cosworth151]

I turned on ESPN2 in the middle of the night a few years ago and saw a rock-paper-scissors tourney from Japan. 

We also have a total overload of poker on TV.

[John S]

Oh, but that's not really on TV, is it?   

Whaddaya mean - Horse racing is on twice a week at least most weeks of the year, and Rugger and cricket are both all over the box at present with the 6 Nations Rugby and World one day Cricket tournaments both going on at the moment.