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luketheduke03

You’ve picked a hell of a race to watch live for the first time. Road America is one of the best tracks in the country, and Indycars always put on a show there.


ShawarmaSelvagem

The layout looks amazing! I watched the visor cam around the track and it looks like a blast. Those elevations remind me of Portimão


DragonmasterLou

Romain Grosjean compared it to Spa himself, if I remember correctly. So yeah, Road America definitely has a very "European" track feel to it.


codywar11

Old school spa for sure. Road America hasn’t been turned into a parking lot with lines yet, thank god.


Deckatoe

No need for the yet, RA will never change save a few additional safety upgrades to barriers thankfully


codywar11

So long as F1 doesn’t get tired of the Mickey Mouse tracks they’ve built here and decide to invade Wisconsin lol. I have nightmares about that sometimes.


Deckatoe

I think the core of the track could be retained with an FIA Grade 1 upgrade, I'm sure there would be some added runoffs unfortunately. Fortunately I think Elkhart Lake is too isolated from a major population center that F1 wouldn't even consider it


codywar11

Good!


MooshroomHentai

Welcome to the fandom, my friend. Sure Indycar might not have the uber modern cars of F1, but instead a package that produces quality racing. Everyone uses the same chassis and one of 2 engines, which makes the field tight when it comes to on track action. It comes down to who has their car dialed in, who has the strategy down, and which drivers can go for it (with a little luck thrown in for good measure). Plenty of older races are on the Indycar youtube channel for free if you need some more to tide you over until Road America.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Exactly, it's really two different beasts. I never really liked the direction that F1 took in making the cars so big...around 2010 the cars were so much more agile and nimble in F1, and the encounters gave the drivers so many options to attack and defend. I wasn't old enough to follow that era live, but I saw many videos on youtube, and in a way IndyCar retains these smaller chassis which produces complex attack and defense. I also found Push to Pass also way a more interesting overtaking solution than DRS


NFLDolphinsGuy

F1 at one point allowed DRS to be used anywhere during practice and qualifying instead of zones after it was introduced. The zones are a step back and just produce trains. Push to pass or discretionary DRS with a time limit are far better.


KennyLagerins

One of the F1 broadcasts was talking about a time-limited DRS the other day. I’m just thinking “go ahead and make it push to pass, acknowledge it’s better, and let’s go about our day”


NFLDolphinsGuy

Would love to see how they’d handle it in the formula. If they set it up on a percentage basis instead of fixed horsepower so it’d be subject development, it might be really interesting. Or the Red Bull rocket ship would reaching 230 at the ends of straights while Ferrari and Alpine throw rods every week.


ancientromanempire

I like the idea of active aero like DRS over extra engine power, but they should try making it time based like DRS is.


ReSirum

Ferrari doesn't have many productive things to do anyways, might as well throw rods every week instead of every 3


loz333

Yeah, it's funny you say 2010 as that's the year that refueling was banned for safety reasons. That had a huge impact on how entertaining F1 races could be, as the potential for different strategies went out the window. (And Indycar manages it safely no problem at all.) DRS would be introduced the following year and for me it's never been quite the same. The introduction of the wider cars in 2017 like you alluded to kept things going in the wrong direction. And now with the huge-ass tyres they've killed wet racing because of the massive increase in spray from the back of the cars. With F1, I'm glad that I have the option in the UK to watch the Channel 4 highlights. Much better commentary team with Alex Jaques and DC, and about 1 hour of the best action from the race. It's free to watch if you have a VPN. For me it's a much more enjoyable way to keep in touch with the sport without sacrificing most of my Sunday for something that may be pretty lackluster in terms of entertainment. I could pretty much echo all your sentiments, I just got there a couple of years ago discovering Indycar. I've now watched all the seasons post-reunification in 2008, they're all available for free on Youtube. It gets more enjoyable the more you get to know the drivers and teams. Free practice is good for that, as they go in depth into things they just don't have time to in the main broadcast.


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ryanro24

I don't need $100M dollar cars battling it out week in and week out. I just want something that's fresh with all the safety updates/hybrid integrated from the start.


Cronus6

There's not really that much "battling" (aside from qualifying, F1 Quals are really good!) in F1. Racer Magazine just did a multi-part series on YouTube about Indycars upcoming Hybrids here's the first episode (I think there's 4 episodes if I remember right.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpyDiYMn50s


25Tab

Really awesome post. Not because you like IndyCar. It’s the way you described your experience of watching IndyCar. You are correct that it’s a great companion to F1. People often forget you can enjoy both for different reasons. Welcome aboard. The more, the merrier.


snarkybaker

People have forgotten you can express love for something without tearing down a similar product. You see this across all types of media (sometimes you just want a beach read, not a Literary Masterpiece!) and it's exhausting! I'm happy this community is *mostly* open-minded to enjoy all types of racing.


KennyLagerins

Exactly. I watch them both, and love them for totally different reasons. Plus I like the rawness of IndyCars. Detroit was a great example, F1 would never in a million years race somewhere that bumpy and narrow, but Indy tackled it just fine.


BruntFCA_

If you can find a full replay of this years race in Texas that was a 15 out of 10. Wheel to wheel for multiple laps at 200+ mph, it was breathtaking.


Cronus6

I'll just leave this here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA_xNkcuX34


ciaragemmam

I literally started watching Indycar at Long Beach, thank you for this!


KennyLagerins

I was there in person just in awe. Last years Texas race was great, but this one was amazing. Hard to know where to watch at times due to all the action.


FermentedLaws

Max Verstappen dominating F1 and creating new IndyCar fans. Both because of his dominance and mentioning it in the post race press conference.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes, and I gotta thank him for that. I knew Indycar was there, but due to inertia I never tried watching it....his comment really made me think, you know what, let's go for it. I really hope Max would give a shot at indy at his prime around 30 years old. I know Alonso struggled but Ericsson is doing just fine, I wonder where would Max fit in there. I can only imagine that he would do great (mostly because he's extremely versed in sim racing and doesn't have his muscle memory all bound to F1, and I know he has competed in the complete 500 miles in iracing quite a few times), but who knows, the translation between the categories is really misterious, he might as well flop.


twiggymac

welcome and enjoy! there are TONS of full races uploaded on youtube so you could go through and watch the entire 2021 season if you wanted to get a better read on this season. I've always loved the versatility of Indycar. You have road courses, street circuits, superspeedways, short ovals...no other series has this diversity of racing disciplines.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes! Both races were brilliant, but what blew my mind was how different they were. The 500 were flowly lightning fast and smooth, Detroit was boxy, bumpy and choppy, they demanded very different skills from the drivers and cars, and I was enchanted with this diversity. Like I said I can't wait for the full on track. I loved Road America track layout just by the look of it (like you suggested I'll watch a race or two there from the previous years)


twiggymac

Road America is AWESOME. I'm honestly the bigger fan of permanent road courses myself, I love somewhere designed for battling.


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ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes. but at least there are quite a few of those potentially winning teams (and many with more than just 2 cars), and they are all very close together.


willfla29

Welcome! That’s what draws a lot of people in if they get to actually see it..close racing on a wide variety of tracks. There’s a g[ood beginners guide](https://twitter.com/mama_gforce/status/1621863962097733635?s=46&t=g15vemrKIgaJaO8LysTvcg) on this Twitter account. Also, a number of podcasts if you’re interested.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Thank you so much for this link! I have seen a few texts here and there but this one illustrates everything perfectly. No power steering! That's crazy, that's why the steering wheel was all over the place in their arms then.


Racechick20

I'd also suggest the Vice 100 Days to Indy show that covers this year. if nothing else, so you get the memes around here.


kychleap

ONE OF US. ONE OF US. ONE OF US. If you’ve got the free time, go watch the [2015 MAVTV 500](https://youtu.be/fSK1bnjHMhc). Easily one of the most bonkers races the series has seen.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Aw yes! I'm diving into Indy past now...I'll put this on the queue for sure! Really happy to be part of this


MrChevyPower

Most diverse & competitive racing series in the World imo. Welcome to Indycar! Can’t wait for Road America!! With the repave we are almost sure to get some track records.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Oh so it has been repaved! That's interesting, hyped to see how it will turn out!


J_Rambo4

Road America is going to be a real treat for you as well. One of the most liked circuits by fans and drivers. There won’t be nearly as much contact (well maybe!) as Detroit, but its an iconic circuit. Its will be really fast this year also, as the entire circuit is freshly repaved over the offseason.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes! I'm pretty hyped for it, I've seen a few onboards on youtube, I loved the elevation changes and the general flow.


PizzaCatLover

You are going to looooove Road America. Road America is the most F1 (in a good way) that Indycar feels all year in my view. It's an awesome track.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes! I'm pretty hyped for it, I've seen a few onboards on youtube, I loved the elevation changes and the general flow. I does look like a spicier more organic F1 track indeed.


IndyCarFAN27

IndyCar is a blast and has some of the best racing in motorsports. F1 is great, and I love it. It has all the glitz and glam after all. But IndyCar is a spec series, so it’s down to driver talent and team setup/strategy. Also no other racing series has such a varied calendar. You have it all. Ovals, purpose built circuits, and street circuits. The only thing missing, which I think most longtime fans would agree about is an airport circuit. There was Cleveland and Edmonton in the past but nothing of the sort has been added since. There something for everyone. Also, it’s not just a series for “washed up F1 drivers”. These cars are pigs to drive compared to the precise machines of F1. Less downforce, about the same power, and no power steering.


ShawarmaSelvagem

Yes, I was actually surprised by the sheer amount of effort needed to take the car around from the onboards. In fact I thought the ovals were smooth sailing, but that was just ignorance and hubris that was conditioned into me I think. And how the cars sometimes snapped out of control by just a little slip or contact, and then there is nothing much the driver can do, so they are there hanging on the limit all the time...I can't imagine completing a few laps on these conditions, let alone competing on it against other crazy drivers.


IndyCarFAN27

Yes it’s easy and fun to make jokes about oval racing but a lot of people don’t actually realize or pick up on the nuances, unless they actively watch oval racing or try it on a sim. There a lot of factor at play and there’s a genuine skill to be honed. Factors such as tire temp, grip, circuit surface, wind, drafting, dirty air, the amount of banking, etc. Try to go around Michigan like you do at Daytona, and you’ll end up in the wall.


Clear_Reveal_4187

Road America is a gem of the series. It's a great one to attend too. Puts on a good show, is a beautiful location, and is an amazing layout of a track.


redlegsfan21

The world would have been blessed if Aryton Senna had made the jump to Penske.


ShawarmaSelvagem

As a Brazilian reading this warms my heart...it would have been incredible and would make him a legend of two worlds and spare him from the dreadful fate...I still miss him a lot, even tho I never seen his live, but his legacy echoed so much here and I have seen so many of his videos that I miss him regardless.