Fontana - 2 Mile Oval, Flat out or Lifting?

**Spike** · 09-11-2012 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by mdkiel

Doesn't exactly sound like a compliment.

Doesn't exactly say he's not good either. In order to competently drive these cars at speed demands that a driver must, a minimum, be good. However, at this level of professional motorsport here's a substantial difference between being simply "good" and being "among the best."

**Indy 500** · 09-11-2012 02:40 AM

Originally Posted by irlracingfan

Check the stats for the last five years and get back to me. The same teams/drivers have won most of the oval races. Among drivers NOT competing for the big three teams Carpenter has faired the best on ovals.

Interestingly, the same teams/drivers also win most of the R/S races, too, which begs the question: When it comes to winning, which is more important, the driver or the team?

Your forgetting in the most part that the best drivers tend to be in the best teams.

**Spike** · 09-11-2012 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by irlracingfan

Interestingly, the same teams/drivers also win most of the R/S races, too, which begs the question:

No, it does not beg the question. (click here)

Originally Posted by irlracingfan

When it comes to winning, which is more important, the driver or the team?

In order to win consistently, you need the best of both.

**mdkiel** · 09-11-2012 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Nigel Red5

....so was a washed up ex-formula one japanese driver that has how much experience on ovals? I got it.. Ed Carpenter is an Oval God.

What does being Japanese have to do with anything?

Why does every discussion on TF have to go straight to hyperbole?

Geez, all I was saying is that Carpenter did a pretty good job.

Was Sato driving his own car, a start up team in it's first year? He was driving for an owner who's won the 500 already.

**1969FIRST500** · 09-11-2012 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by Automotive

So I admit I haven't seen any prep notes for the race, but will the 2 mile oval be a flat out racetrack like MIS has been, or will there be "driving" involved, like at Texas?

What should I expect?

I am guessing you should expect more passing in the first half of the race than the last 10 street circuit/road course events.

You should expect to get up on the edge of your seat a dozen times or more.

You should expect to say "I wish we had more high speed ovals in this series" when the race is over.

At least that is what I am expecting!

**vancecooley** · 09-11-2012 04:16 PM

Carpenter is on par with Danica when it comes to Oval racing. Often fast, rarely winning or top five. Still, very competent. That said, he's the main guy that wants the pack racing of years gone by returned. Meanwhile, most everyone else has moved on

**irlracingfan** · 09-11-2012 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Indy 500

Your forgetting in the most part that the best drivers tend to be in the best teams.

So, by your logic, Will Power is at least three or four times better than Castroneves and Briscoe, and Franchitti is twice as good as Dixon... after all, Power has won four times as many races since joining Team Penske than Helio or Briscoe, and Franchitti has twice as many championships and three times as many Indy 500 wins as Dixon!