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Post by Calvin on Dec 12, 2011 0:31:47 GMT -5
I'm running a poll on trackforum and to my surprise currently almost 20% of the users say that a season champ means more to them than a Indy 500 champ. So, what say you?
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Post by Chris on Dec 12, 2011 1:15:53 GMT -5
OK I know this will get some response.. to me the Indy 500 is a race unto itself, meaning the 500 winner is exactly that "The 500 Champ!" but the series should be separate, yeah regular points should be awarded but since the series is held on Road, Street and Oval courses it bears little in common with the 500 and thus a separate "Series Champion" Just like when it was part of the FIA World Championship, winning the 500 scored the same points as Kalamy or Monaco. And winning the 500 didn't give you an advantage in the Championship, and not running it didn't hurt much either..... My 2.5 Cents.. Chris Ps. the poll should include a "Both are important" vote..
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Post by mrindy77 on Dec 12, 2011 8:27:01 GMT -5
All of the other races could go away and I would not care....Indy is the only one that matters to me.
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Post by gavkiwi on Dec 12, 2011 8:57:02 GMT -5
All of the other races could go away and I would not care....Indy is the only one that matters to me. Agreed, and the state of Indycar currently, that may happen. As Long as 33 + cars show up and make the field for Indy, who cares
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Post by professor on Dec 12, 2011 9:37:04 GMT -5
Ask a driver which he would rather win....they would say the 500 i''m sure.
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Post by herk56 on Dec 12, 2011 9:40:09 GMT -5
I know I'm going against the grain here, but with the current state of affairs, to me, the 500 is just another race now. It's become a shadow of its former self.
Brian
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2011 11:06:48 GMT -5
joe leonard expressed to me (more than once) how he would trade all his ama cycle and usac championships for that ONE elusive indy 500 win...
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Post by herk56 on Dec 12, 2011 11:33:25 GMT -5
I didn't think my feelings would be popular, but it's what I think. I would agree that in Joe's era, the 500 was THE most important thing.
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Post by clm1545 on Dec 12, 2011 11:39:45 GMT -5
I think that most, if not all, of the drivers and teams would much rather win the 500, than the overall championship. The 500 is the only race that I have paid to see, in person, for the last few years. I understand that in 2012, there will be 4 championships. The series title The A J Foyt award for the ovals The Mario Andretti award for road races And most prized, for street races, the Mickey Mouse trophy
Take Care Craig
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Post by gavkiwi on Dec 12, 2011 11:43:57 GMT -5
lol @ Craig, Mickey Mouse trophy lol
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Post by mrindy77 on Dec 12, 2011 11:56:07 GMT -5
It has lost its former luster because...there is no inovation, no speed increase, etc. Do away with the series and pour all that money into Indy. Create a huge purse, bring back creativity and make it something interesting. See who can build a better mousetrap! Variety is the spice of life.
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Post by gavkiwi on Dec 12, 2011 12:05:40 GMT -5
It has lost its former luster because...there is no inovation, no speed increase, etc. Do away with the series and pour all that money into Indy. Create a huge purse, bring back creativity and make it something interesting. See who can build a better mousetrap! Variety is the spice of life. I like that idea, imagine Indy with the new Dallara chassis, the Swift & Lola chassis that didn't make the cut, heck even the delta-wing. And see all 4 different chassis mated to different engines, Indy would be soo much better imho. Hey Atleast we don't have a bunch of no name drivers like we did @ Indy in 1996, and 1997. That was just embarrassing.
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Post by mjjracer on Dec 12, 2011 15:30:29 GMT -5
Both have seriously lost their luster, but the "500" is still the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and I'm sure means more to all the participants.
I grew up (in the '60s) believing the 500 to be the greatest thing in the world, with F1 and Le Mans following. So, even though I followed the 500 religiously, I also enjoyed the series, (and this will offend the true traditionalists) especially when they went road racing.
Personally, I think the 500 and the AOWR series of the time was the greatest racing in the world from the '60s through the mid-'90s. The 500 is still racings crown jewel and almost always, like this year, has something happen that leaves you with your mouth hanging open. Hopefully, it and the series can climb back to where it belongs.
But, in answer to the question: It has to be Indy. MJ
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2011 16:03:32 GMT -5
I can name more 500 winners than series champions so I guess that means Indy wins are bigger than series wins.
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Post by stonecold44 on Dec 12, 2011 22:17:57 GMT -5
I can name more 500 winners than series champions so I guess that means Indy wins are bigger than series wins. I'm with you. Indy is still the biggest single day sports event and it has history on its' side.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2011 22:27:19 GMT -5
I didn't think my feelings would be popular, but it's what I think. I would agree that in Joe's era, the 500 was THE most important thing. ..brian-nothing wrong with an honest opinion (as long as the motivation behind it isnt to harm)-especiallywhen it might be seen as 'unpopular'. it takes courage to be an individual in a culture that encourages conformity and bootlicking for the sake of making a dollar...
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Post by Calvin on Dec 13, 2011 0:54:42 GMT -5
The amazing thing now on Trackforum is now 26% say that a season championship is more important. I would bet that most of them are in there early 20's? That came into the sport when CART was not apart of Indy.
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Post by Calvin on Dec 13, 2011 0:56:02 GMT -5
BTW I'm not surprised the about 90% on this forum.
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Post by indycals on Dec 13, 2011 2:17:28 GMT -5
As I said on TF, it is impossible to tangibly 'see' someone win a series championship. Points are not tangible. They are somewhat random and can vary widely from one series to the next. You can see someone win a race, of finish second or whatever - that is a tangible result. But you cannot see them win points for those positions, because points only exist in theory. A race win is tangible - you can witness it directly - you can physically see someone drive the race distance faster than anyone else.
Let me put it this way: A driver can win a championship without ever being the first across the finish line. You can not win a race without being the first across the finish line.
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Post by Calvin on Dec 13, 2011 2:27:38 GMT -5
Let me put it this way: A driver can win a championship without ever being the first across the finish line. You can not win a race without being the first across the finish line. Just ask how Tom Sneva feels about that. He won the 1977- 1978(no wins) National Championship and still got fired for supposedly not Winning Indy.
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Post by jamesharvey on Dec 13, 2011 14:45:57 GMT -5
Most of us call recall winners of Indy that we saw or learned about. I don't pay much attention any more to season champions. Sorry. Some of my interest went away when then stopped using numbers based on last year's points especially with the champions not using #1. My best example of a "modern" driver honoring the past was Ryan Newman painting his 2000 USAC Silver Car car in the colors and livery of Johnny Parsons Indy winner 50 years before. Jim
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Post by mjjracer on Dec 13, 2011 15:08:48 GMT -5
I can tell you who won the '72 500 but I have no clue who won the championship that year. (I'm sure someone will let me know I guess that pretty much says it. MJ
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2011 14:38:42 GMT -5
For me, growing up, there was only Indy, Monaco, and Le Mans. Perhaps thanks to Wide World of Sports. The 500 is the Grandaddy of them all.
I like your proposal gavkiwi, Indy had always been a free-for-all just look at the 60! The entire month of May was dedicated to the intrigue and the race for the Poll with the 500 as the main event. I miss the old days alot.
If the IRL was in force back in the 6os they would still be driving roadsters.
I say “Take The Gloves Off” return the 500 to a run what you brung race again, maybe we would get some McLarens or Ferraris back to mix things up.
As was said I don't remember any of the past season champions but I sure do remember the 500 winners.
Race On!
John
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2011 17:59:55 GMT -5
Grew up 40 miles north of Indy and saw my first practice in 1968 and my first race in 1970. Went to every race up to 1995, came back to watch Juan destroy the field and have attended every unified race since. IMO none of the races past 1995 have had the same importance or feel. Still love the 500 but it is not the same. Tony George, the split and Spec cars/ engines to me has taken a lot of the old mystic out of it. Hopeful that different turbos rekindles some of that feel despite the ugly cars. If the series is a diverse series(ovals,streets and roads---before that dirt cars), and rewards drivers for wins, nothing in racing can deny that a champion is the top of his game. IMO that is what made CART great and will still make IndyCar a good product. IMO a series champion should always be the one with the most wins. Playing "mickey mouse" point games delutes a series. I vote "both important," but they are nothing like they used to be.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2011 20:56:48 GMT -5
F If the IRL was in force back in the 6os they would still be driving roadsters. {WHAT'S WRONG THAT??} I say “Take The Gloves Off” return the 500 to a run what you brung race again, maybe we would get some McLarens or Ferraris back to mix things up. As was said I don't remember any of the past season champions but I sure do remember the 500 winners. Race On! John I AGREE YOU A 100%!!! Russ
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Post by macsparty on Dec 16, 2011 8:25:45 GMT -5
There is no right or wrong answer, but as the question asked what is most important to YOU, I definitely went with Indy. As noted, it's lost some shine, some attention. The cars are monotonous at best. But every race day, the crowds, the pageantry, the sight of 33 cars going full bore down the straight to take the green, well, it doesn't get any better than that, and whoever wins will be remembered forever.
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Post by indy on Dec 24, 2011 1:57:11 GMT -5
500 - it is the race for this formula
Jordan
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2012 4:47:19 GMT -5
I've set here now for forty minutes figuring how to answer your simple question, for it kindled the flame of memories of men long dead who when they influenced my young life drew pictures in my head of dirt tracks and racing cars, sleepless nights thrashing on machines that for all their efforts might pay their gas money back home the next day.
They took us kids to the Speedway. 1957 was my first race, I haven't missed one since. Stories on how I was introduced to Bob Veiths #7 roadster and how the Sumar driver became my first hero began a love/hate relationship for this event that still burns fifty six years later. I've passed it to my son. He will begin the motorsports Tech school @ Univ. Northwestern Ohio in Lima this June. He'll probably work for Dallara, who knows.
This Race makes people preform to a level worthy of admiration but short of worship. No one person has been able to place such importance upon themselves that this event would skip a beat without their attendence. It seems at times the Speedway is a depository for the souls, spirits and personalitys of countless millions who passed through its gates with illusions of grandeur.
Its a contest. The only champion that matters is the next one. For the likes of me and mine it will continue @ 16TH & Georgetown.
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Post by ironduke86 on Jan 2, 2012 12:52:06 GMT -5
definitely THE 500 watched the month old wide world of sports as a kid to get 20 minutes of coverage and hardly new for years there were other races at all as tv coverage got better obviously followed as much of the season as tv gave me but the 500 gives a driver immortality
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