Indy Road Course Could Switch to Counter-Clockwise

[davewilson]

Due to safety concerns regarding a possible MotoGP race, Formula 1’s USGP at Indy could switch to a counter-clockwise orientation on the track, autosport.com reports.

With the Indianapolis Motor Speedway believed to be closer than ever to adding a fourth event to its annual calendar, the controversial Turn 13 on the road course (Turn 1 on the oval) would be ill-suited for the MotoGP bikes, as the riders would exit the bend at high speed towards the front straight’s outside wall.

Switching the F1 course to counter-clockwise would not only end the risk of a repeat of the 2005 tire fiasco – when Michelin-shod cars couldn’t stand the loads going through the bend – but also put all four IMS events running on the same orientation: the IndyCar Series’ Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on the oval, and the USGP and MotoGP race on the road course.

The switch, however, isn’t expected to happen before 2008 at the earliest, when the rumored bike event at IMS is expected to take place.

The Stig

[cosworth151]

This would seem to be a more viable fix than re-routing the track, as had been mentioned before. It could be interesting to see the same track run the other way. I don't think that has ever been done.

Of course, we're all assuming (and hoping) that there still will be an F1 race at Indy after this year.

[davewilson]

You lot drive on the wrong side of the road anyway!
It is another thing to expect our chaps ,to go round the other way........But if we look a bit deeper,centrifugal forces,tyres?
Need i say more.Who makes the Nascar tyres?.....Lets put a set of those on because they go round quite well!
The stig

[cosworth151]

Goodyear does the tires (tyres, to you) for NASCAR. Firestone, owned by Bridgestone, does the ones for Indy Car.

That would make them go the same directions as all of the other races there.

[davewilson]

Good point cosworth,Goodyear have always had a good tyre,and of course with the swap to Bridgestone for everybody we have a level playing field.
I just hope the American GP goes well, and we never have another fiasco ....I dont think F1 over -there would survive?

The Stig

[Dare]

I hope they change too,I'd like to
see what turn Ralph chooses to
crash in then

[davewilson]

dare,those concrete walls take no prisoners do they?...I dont think it matters where he goes off.

The stig

[Dare]

dare,those concrete walls take no prisoners do they?...I dont think it matters where he goes off.

The stig

Oval racing is a very dangerous form of
racing with no runoff areas,just hard
concrete walls,Forcing drivers to wear
the Hans device is probably the best
rule in racing,Dale Earnhart would still
be alive if he wore one and Richard Petty's
grandson too.

[cosworth151]

Indy pioneered the SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) walls a few years ago. The trouble was, they were set up for the counter-clockwise oval, so Ralf missed them the first time he hit Turn 13 in 04. They extended them by the next year so that he hit them in 05. The IndyCar site has a good post on them:

http://www.indycar.com/tech/safer.php

Other IndyCar. Champ Car and NASCAR tracks have addopted them.

[davewilson]

Good information cosworth,they look a better option than just the concrete.
Thanks
The stig

[Dare]

Indy pioneered the SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) walls a few years ago. The trouble was, they were set up for the counter-clockwise oval, so Ralf missed them the first time he hit Turn 13 in 04. They extended them by the next year so that he hit them in 05. The IndyCar site has a good post on them:

http://www.indycar.com/tech/safer.php

Other IndyCar. Champ Car and NASCAR tracks have addopted them.

Forgot about them Cosworth,wonder how many lives would
have been saved if they were installed 50 yrs ago?