2014 Indy - the race

[smbrm]

Excellent racing! Exciting finish!!

[INDY22IAM]

Kudos on that. I can not believe 149 laps no yellows. I thought the whole month of May was great to have again. I loved the road course, the new format was truly exciting and than to top it off with today ONE OF THE BEST RACES EVER. I have not seen it yet but the move Hunter Reay put on Helio before turn 3 CRAZY, WOW, POW AND ALL THE ABOVE.

[indy]

Disappointed in the lack of passing during the long green run to start the race. My Dad and I were discussing how unprecedented them doing almost 3/4 of the race caution free*. I thought JPM was in the catbird's seat to do the race in 1 less stop and I thought he might just steal this one but the cautions fell so that it erased his advantage. Enjoyed the shoot out at the end, was a thrilling ending. I like RHR and have for a long time, he's not a Penske guy but I was very happy to see him cement his place in history. I watch with some extended family that are not race fans and they really seemed to enjoy it, too.

Jordan

* in the modern era of full course yellows

[Calvin]

May 27, 2014 0:29:28 GMT -5 indy said:

Disappointed in the lack of passing during the long green run to start the race.

As you were thinking that I was talking to the TV saying dont pass its pointless - save fuel - dont lead - save fuel - dont race - save fuel.

[indycals]

As early as lap 40 I was wondering if the race would go caution free. A part of me was hoping it would and if not, I really wanted to see a 200mp race average (it was 213 when the first caution came out). I wasn't too concerned about it being a boring finish because nobody was running away with it, but I was beginning to wonder how hard it was to pass because there wasn't a lot of it going on early on. And yet they still managed to tie for second most lead changes ever.

[ttocs78z28]

Anyone have a problem with the red flag at the end? Historically, many Indy 500s (13 I think) were completed under yellow. Luckily RHR won. He was leading at the time of red but could’ve lost it in the final restart segment. Not sure what they were doing except putting on a sprint race. In that case, maybe they should reduce the distance 500 to 50 miles. You’d get the same sort of result. I just hate the lack of ingenuity with these cars. Sure, close racing is exciting and fun to watch. But I never minded when a dominant car finished way ahead of everyone else. Those dominant cars had “something special” ..…….great designs in combination with good drivers, mechanics and owners(with a little luck mixed in). This forum worships such cars.

[indycals]

I have mixed feelings about the red flag. I thought it was a bit NASCAR-ish, but the saving grace was that they did need to repair the safer barrier.

The worst 500 I've attended in my 30 years was by far, 1994 - I don't car how special the pushrod Penske's were - they stunk up the joint.

[Calvin]

I had no problem with the red flag as it kept the stupid GWC talk from happing this year.

[mjjracer]

When they threw the red I was thinking "I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't really have that much trouble with it ending under yellow." But then I saw them working on the fence and said, "Oh, well then, that's the reason for the red!"

Don't know that it was, but it made me feel better. :-)

MJ

[indycals]

May 27, 2014 16:35:18 GMT -5 Calvin said:

I had no problem with the red flag as it kept the stupid GWC talk from happing this year.

If the choice is between red flags and GWC, I'll take red flags. God forbid it should happen, but the first driver to win a GWC 500 who didn't lead at 500 miles will not be legitimate in my book.

[indy]

I heard the red flag was to fix the SAFER barrier. Was anyone in T2 to confirm/deny?

Jordan

[spyder]

Yes. We were up in the Southeast Vista and one of the trucks that arrived had steel fence sections and LOTS of welding tanks which were used in the repair. We could see the welding flame. I am am not sure what was welded, but it was on the lower, outer surface of the wall. Kudos to whatever official called for the Red Flag. It was a good decision quickly made.

[INDY22IAM]

That was a great call by the officials. Safety at Indianapolis comes first. I am sure the way the race was going that they thought they better fix it. The way they are going into the turns two and even three wide like the one that took out three potential winners. (at least top 5's) I looked at the replay of that Carpenter crash it happened right in front of me. I thought for a minute they may collect themselves being so tight in the corner but was not meant to be. Ed should really be mad at Towsend Bell more than Hinchcliff. I like all three drivers but what was Bell thinking. Ed was reacting to him coming around the high side and tried to go a little lower but Hinch was trying a bone head move himself. To bad could have made for more a heck of a finish.
I also think far as technology goes these cars are more safe and they do promote better racing. When you have cars like these it is up to the drivers talents and abilities to get the job done. The move that Ryan Hunter Reay made to pass Castroneves, not to many drivers can pull that off and still be on the race track. It was one heck of a move and I think it took Helio by surprise. I thought it was top 5 of the best races we have had at Indy. Who wants to see one guy lap the entire field. That is not racing that is technology racing for the driver.

[Calvin]

I think a lot of people didn't realize that this years race was the 2nd closest finish in 500 history - .060 sec.

[SWT500]

And the closest 1-2-3 finish ever!!! Just great for the fans and series all around.

[Art Laski]

I liked the call. I'm not sure, though, that safety can be cited, as if they had finished under yellow, they wouldn't need the wall! But given the decision to stop it, of course the repairs were necessary. Now, if there were fewer laps left, like 3 or less, I would have hated that call. All in all, a great race.

[spyder]

Something that I have not heard from any commentator or anyone on this Forum is the fact that several years ago Roger Penske had to choose a driver. His choices were Will Power... and Ryan Hunter-Reah. I wonder if Roger pondered that Sunday as he must have pondered firing Gary Bettenhausen so many years ago. The Captain is, after all, fallible. But I have a feeling he is not one to lament past decisions, but... Will Power has always, almost, met the high expectations set for him at Penske. RHR has always exceeded them. Just sayin', spyder

[indycals]

Good point, spyder. I had forgotten about that.

This 5-loss Indy streak is Penske's longest losing streak since 73-78. *



*for races he actually entered. Between 1979 and 2009 Penske had not lost more than two in a row.

[pbh51]

May 27, 2014 16:00:21 GMT -5 ttocs78z28 said:

Anyone have a problem with the red flag at the end? . . . I just hate the lack of ingenuity with these cars. Sure, close racing is exciting and fun to watch. But I never minded when a dominant car finished way ahead of everyone else. Those dominant cars had “something special” ..…….great designs in combination with good drivers, mechanics and owners(with a little luck mixed in). This forum worships such cars.

No, I did not have a problem with the red flag as safety should come first.

On the other hand, I agree with you entirely about the lack of ingenuity. I hate the very look of these cars and I hate the fact that they are the only chassis now running. This has become NASCAR with wings (both of which I also hate).

The race is boring and has been for a long time.

The contrast with F1, even when Vettle was winning every race, is glaring.

pbh

[jamesharvey]

The red flag was the right thing to do. It accomplished two things: first, it made the track safe for all of us and, second, it provided a shoot-out finish. Castroneves had a chance to win it but was outdriven by Hunter-Rhey. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be? Enough about the spec series. The 1987 race had 28 March chassis and 5 Lolas. Similar numbers during the '80s. Cosworth was the dominant engine at the time. You race what you brung!
Jim

[Deleted]

I am a huge critic of anything Hulman

and I thought RHR and Helio did a great job of not wrecking. I don't think you could have had that with Ed or Hunchtown.

Decent race, I miss the days of engine failure. No yellows is hard to do. I also think the cars are easy to drive.

[mrindy77]

I have an 11 and 14 year old son and daughter. They have been to every Indy 500 since they were born. They thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience this year. They understand pit strategy and how many laps can be run before they need to pit. They have their favorite drivers..Kanaan and Hinchcliffe. They know all of the drivers by the car/sponsor they drive. They were jumping up and down and going crazy the final 25 laps. They did not care about a red flag. These are the future/now fans of the 500. The drivers are fan friendly and they received autographs and pics from everyone they asked. It was exciting. They enjoy the museum and the 'old' cars and the 'old' drivers. I have no issue with a red flag for safety. I get the ending under yellow business...I've seen a number of them in 38 years...but they are always a huge disappointment. In this case I think the right call was made.

[indycals]

May 28, 2014 19:40:58 GMT -5 @hubie said:

I also think the cars are easy to drive.

I was kinda thinking that too, until Scott Dixon of all people put it in the wall.

[Deleted]

Indy has been part if my life since age 4 and going to the time trials with family and friends for several decades was an annual rite that was part of the start of summertime and all the hope that goes with it after long winters in the Chicago area. So many changes over time, but I still try and find a way to embrace interesting stories and a few drivers to root for. Not overly fond of the new cars, but they are starting to "grow" on me and I can handle them better than last year. Gone are the days of the cars seemingly looking different year by year so that in a 5 year span, the cars were almost completely different. All thing considered, I thought it was an entertaining race. I agree with the poster who said that a race where one car laps the field is not exciting. There is something to be said for a race where there are so many potential winners going into the last few laps. And whatever happened to blown engines? Don't see the plume of smoke behind cars anymore! My nephew who is in his early 30's attend the race each year and has a blast, like mrindy77's kids, maybe a new generation is turning on to what is still a great spectacle. Sure Indy is a bit sanitized/corporatized since the days of the Riff-Raff Social Club in the infield and I don't know if there is much boob-showing anymore, but the place looks great compared to the 60's - 70's IMO. Driving over 220 mph with 32 other cars around still takes some big kahoona's in my world. I still love Indy!

[mrindy77]

Carb day...turn 3...still plenty of boob...among other things.