Most predictable Month of May ever...

[crispy]

And here they are:

1. All time low in laps run in practice. There simply won't be a reason to turn a lot of laps. Honda and Chevy don't want to dip into their "reserve".

2. Very little drama on pole day. We won't see the back and forth shots at the pole at 5:00 PM on Saturday like we have recently.

3. Zero drama on bump day. Strike that, replace bumping drama with "who is going to bring out a backup to qualify since Kat wrecked her one and only on Sunday morning" drama.

4. 3 & 4 will result in major scaling back of TV time next year.

5. Race will be won by "Big Two" anyway. Probably Helio or Dario.

[Doyouloveit?]

Crap, I should cancel my plans for the 500, not make the trip and sell all of our tickets to the race. No sense of going now.

Damn you are one miserable dude. I suspect that since it will be so predictable, you won't be watching any Month of May activities or go to the race Crispy?


I think this year's Month of May activities (i.e., bump day) and will be an anomaly.

[crispy]

What are you talking about? That is me being as positive as I can be this year.

[Doyouloveit?]

What are you talking about? That is me being as positive as I can be this year.

Since you know how it is going end, are you going to bother watching this year?

[Todd Gack]

I think this year's Month of May activities (i.e., bump day) and will be an anomaly.

Just like they were in 2003, 2004 and 2006.

I still see very little reason for things to change much in the forseeable future. The engine folks don't want to do much more then they have to at Indy. Which means maybe 35 or so in the future tops, and very few new teams being allowed to compete.

The engine folks are running the show now. So we will take whatever they give us.

[crispy]

and we'll LIKE IT! or else...

[Todd Gack]

and we'll LIKE IT! or else...

And then when we are proven correct, we'll be shouted down and called "whiners".

[Doyouloveit?]

Just like they were in 2003, 2004 and 2006.

I still see very little reason for things to change much in the forseeable future. The engine folks don't want to do much more then they have to at Indy. Which means maybe 35 or so in the future tops, and very few new teams being allowed to compete.

The engine folks are running the show now. So we will take whatever they give us.

Time will tell. But, I'm not going to let this year's engine supply issues ruin my 500 plans or my enjoyment of the race like the other 200,000 plus attending the race. It is a perfect scenario? Of course not, but it sure is helluva a lot better than no race at all.

What if there are only legitimate 35 entries next year and it has nothing to do with the engine supply?

[Doyouloveit?]

and we'll LIKE IT! or else...

Again, are you going to watch any May activities since you know how it will end? Why is that question so hard to answer?

[Turn13]

and we'll LIKE IT! or else...

What is the alternative?

[Ajax]

No kidding - sounds like my neighbors kid who is 4 sometimes.

"Waaaaaa you're not invited to my birthday party waaaaaa"

[crispy]

Again, are you going to watch any May activities since you know how it will end? Why is that question so hard to answer?

I'll be there on Carb day and Race day. I have six tickets for the race. Only using four of them currently.

No practice days and no bump day. Every other year I make at least one practice and most qualifying days.

My wife asked if she could run the Geist half-marathon this year because she knew it was on Pole Day. I told her to run it if she wanted to. If she does, I'll skip Pole day too.

[Doyouloveit?]

I'll be there on Carb day and Race day. I have six tickets for the race. Only using four of them currently.

No practice days and no bump day. Every other year I make at least one practice and most qualifying days.

My wife asked if she could run the Geist half-marathon this year because she knew it was on Pole Day. I told her to run it if she wanted to. If she does, I'll skip Pole day too.

Good to hear. So, are you going to be surly in the stands on race day and tell people not to enjoy the race because Crispy doesn't like engine competition?

[crispy]

Good to hear. So, are you going to be surly in the stands on race day and tell people not to enjoy the race because Crispy doesn't like engine competition?

You know, I've supported IMS since late sixties and the IRL since 1996. I had to put up with crapwagoneers crapping on it for 14 years.

You all can put up with me now.

[Turn13]

My first race was 1966. I've had to put up with all o' y'all

[Doyouloveit?]

You know, I supported the IRL and IMS since 1996. I had to put up with crapwagoneers crapping on it for 14 years.

You all can put up with me now.

I was an IRL fan too. Whatever OW series raced @ Indy was the one I was going to support.

I guess my point is, what's the harm of just enjoying Indycar for what it is? Yes, it has its flaws (most of them stemming from a fanatical/splitted fanbase) but it is still better than have no series @ all. The Indy 500 is bigger than just one year, it will be the 96th running and it has endured worse things than an engine supply issue.

[irloyal]

Since you know how it is going end, are you going to bother watching this year?

After I saw how the year was going to play out in January, I made plans for a nice vacation somewhere other than Indy. I'll skip FF and Quals, watch the race on TV in a nice hotel or Sportsbar on the beach, and go to TMS and Fontana this year and see if Indy is worth scheduling in 2013

[Chris Paff]

And then when we are proven correct, we'll be shouted down and called "whiners".

Exactly

[TimmyZ1]

I know its cool to dump on the engine manufacturers in this forum but Jenna Fryer tweeted out in a small interview with RP that its not the engines or chassis count that is the issue. Its the spare parts. There's just not enough of the ancillary stuff to go around at this point.

From what I've heard about laps for practice from interviews I've listened to on TS everyone figures to put in a high amount of miles due to the fact there's still so much unknown about the cars, weather is so unpredictable, and for all intents and purposes there isn't a ton of practice time.

The teams, series, and engine people all realize that Indy is an all together different animal. I'm a big bump day fan myself and while I'm frustrated like you all are I can live with it. I've got a series with 26 cars when last September people were telling me we'd be lucky to get 17. So maybe in 2013 bump day will have 42 instead of 33 like this year. Who knows. I'm just happy OW hasn't died yet.

[Turn13]

It's still the fastest series in the world that races on ovals. I suspect I'll enjoy the 96th running. New cars will be interesting.

It would be nice to see them practice from the friendly confines of E Penthouse, though

[Doyouloveit?]

After I saw how the year was going to play out in January, I made plans for a nice vacation somewhere other than Indy. I'll skip FF and Quals, watch the race on TV in a nice hotel or Sportsbar on the beach, and go to TMS and Fontana this year and see if Indy is worth scheduling in 2013

Good for you. But you are still going to watch.

[Turn13]

Exactly

I guess the people who predicted ratings and attendance declines with the advent of the IRL were in the same boat.

[crispy]

I can't believe I've got Gack and Paff on my side.

Oh well, the enemy of my enemy...

[crispy]

I was an IRL fan too. Whatever OW series raced @ Indy was the one I was going to support.

I guess my point is, what's the harm of just enjoying Indycar for what it is? Yes, it has its flaws (most of them stemming from a fanatical/splitted fanbase) but it is still better than have no series @ all. The Indy 500 is bigger than just one year, it will be the 96th running and it has endured worse things than an engine supply issue.

The harm is watching people running what you love make the same mistakes that you seen time and time again...

And doing it in a way that is grossly unfair to the little guys and NEW teams trying to break into this sport.

[Turn13]

I can't believe I've got Gack and Paff on my side.

Oh well, the enemy of my enemy...

Along with the denizens of a forum or two that shall remain nameless

LIFE is unfair.

[crispy]

Along with the denizens of a forum or two that shall remain nameless

Say what?

Why would that forum be in agreement with me?

Which one are we talking about?

[Turn13]

Say what?

What. What? You don't know me like 'dat...

Why would that forum be in agreement with me?

Because the enemy of my enemy...

Which one are we talking about?

The nameless one. Please let it remain so (check your PM's).

[irloyal]

Good for you. But you are still going to watch.

You betcha! But I'm not doing the traditional several days of attendance. I can't justify my cost of travel for the dissapointment I know I'll see.

[Joonyah]

What are you talking about? That is me being as positive as I can be this year.

You being positive is like the Westboro Baptist Church saying that gays are not as bad as once thought.

[LarryJr]

It's definitely gonna be won by either Helio or one of the Target dudes (Dario & Scott), unless they will all be knocked out when lapping the inexperienced drivers and there are plenty of oval newbies this year...