This whole issue with the standardized engines in Formula One has gotten utterly ridiculous. Yesterday, golden children Ferrari said that if the FIA continues on the path to one, standardized engine, they might leave the series. The FIA's response, "it's not our job to cut costs, it's the teams."
This says to me that the powers that be in Formula One have no clue of how to actually run it. Leaving it up to teams is simply leaving thing status quo, where cutting costs is a game of chicken. It needs a regulatory body to make those changes.
Is a standard engine the right route though? It would kill one of the key distinctions F1 has over the large majority of other racing series: the distinctiveness of it's cars. Re-permitting customer cars is a better option, perhaps with a proviso that no one can own more than one team to prevent some teams from using one as the test subject. Limiting testing would be another way, since that is expensive as well. But to kill the one thing that makes F1 "superior" to most of the rest of the racing world? Madness.
In this cost cutting world, it would also behoove the Bernie & Max Circus to reconsider the global expansion initiative that has become ever present this past decade. Sure as sugar making all these trips to the Middle East and the Pacific Rim aren't cheap, while less costly options just whither away. Certainly trips to Brno, Imola, or the new track in the Algarve would costs millions less in transport than the races in Bahrain or Malaysia. Unfortunately, venue selection has been more focused on how much money Bernie Ecclestone makes from an event than other factors, such as enjoyable racing.
The problem is that these ideas seem to be falling on deaf ears. It may come to a manufacturer exodus that ultimately changes the sport for the better, but being a fan of American Open Wheel that road should be avoided if possible.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A case for new points
ESPN's John Oreovicz just published an article showing how the IndyCar title would have been impacted by different points systems (read it here). I've been doing a lot of thinking about the points system we currently see in IndyCars, and I can't say I'm 100% happy with it.
The case for a different points system:
What do I propose the Indy Racing League should do? Bring back the old CART system of 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. It combines all the elements that the points system should have. It rewards the top drivers at a particular race. While the F1 system is too small for the size of the IndyCar fields, this would give anywhere from 40-50% of the field points for the race. If you award points to any more drivers, you run into the problem of seeing people earning points despite crashing out of races - this year's Richmond race has only 12 finishers.
If you apply this system to the 2008 season, 28 drivers (including every regular team) scored points during the year. The only regular drivers who failed to score a point were Marty Roth, Milka Duno, and Jaime Camara. Two out of three of those names probably shouldn't be in the field anyway, so few fans would moan about their lack of points.
I also like the CART system as a way of paying homage to American Open Wheel Racing. It's a way to put the split behind and race again like we did back before it happened.
The case for a different points system:
- It seems kind of silly to reward individuals simply for showing up to races. Since there's only one race a year where the league has to send people home for having too many cars, there is no pressing need to score the bottom of the field like in NASCAR.
- The current points system is hard to follow. A hardcore like me may have memorized the 50-40-32-30-28-26-24-22-20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12 to 24th and 10 to 33rd, I hazarded to think someone who casually watches the races can tell you how the points work. I bet though if you asked a casual F1 fan what the points are they can tell you. That's because it's easy to understand.
- Little incentive to push lower than 12th place or so. Let's say, for example, you're on a team like Conquest. You're not likely to finish near the front of the field anytime soon on an oval. More likely, you're in about 15th. What reason do you have to push ahead to 14th? One...measly...point. When the champion is scoring over 500 in a season, the drive for a point is far from lacking.
- Something for the backmarkers to push for. This is kind of point 3B., but watch a series with a finite number of points scorers. While the battle up front may be nonexistent in many F1 races, the battle for 7th or 8th is often pretty exciting. That because everybody fighting in that area of the grid, the Williams, Red Bulls, Toro Rossos, and Toyotas all want to score points. A few measly points can mean a lot of money for both drivers and constructors at the end of the year. Having some great battles towards the middle of the pack might give the broadcasters a reason to shine a light on some of those teams the frequent there: the Conquests, Coynes, and Dreyer & Reinbolds, which in turn may make them more lucrative to sponsors who would otherwise say no since they are never on TV except when they crash.
What do I propose the Indy Racing League should do? Bring back the old CART system of 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. It combines all the elements that the points system should have. It rewards the top drivers at a particular race. While the F1 system is too small for the size of the IndyCar fields, this would give anywhere from 40-50% of the field points for the race. If you award points to any more drivers, you run into the problem of seeing people earning points despite crashing out of races - this year's Richmond race has only 12 finishers.
If you apply this system to the 2008 season, 28 drivers (including every regular team) scored points during the year. The only regular drivers who failed to score a point were Marty Roth, Milka Duno, and Jaime Camara. Two out of three of those names probably shouldn't be in the field anyway, so few fans would moan about their lack of points.
I also like the CART system as a way of paying homage to American Open Wheel Racing. It's a way to put the split behind and race again like we did back before it happened.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
My Favorite 5 IndyCar races of 2008
Since every race that really counts has been long over, I'm taking a nice look back at what went on in the 2008 IndyCar season. It was definitely a year that tried to push the American Open Wheel sport forward, if for nothing else but unification.
Of the seventeen races this season, these five are the ones that struck me as the most intriguing and exciting. I will not be taking historical significance into account, so don't expect to see Danica's win at Motegi here - the shock of the last three laps is all the was interesting there.
5. Richmond
Was this race a crashfest? A war of attrition? Absolutely. Every once and a while I like seeing these kinds of races to shake things up. The ultimate shakeup though came when Jaime Camara, pitiful at every other start of the season, pushed to the front and took the lead with during a caution. But then, he kept it. Despite having Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti on his tail, he held onto the lead and battled up front in a Conquest. When Camara crashed on lap 217, it was a devastating blow. I only felt so bad when seeing a car all crashed up at Indy when it happened to Sarah Fisher. It's rather unfortunate for Jaime that he was unable to show this kind of form at any other race that season, but it made for some interesting racing.
4. Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Mile was the first race when the gap seemed to close between IRL teams and ex-Champ Car ones. The low banked nature of the Mile gave us the first really great run by an ex-Champ Car guy - Graham Rahal, starting second. While a second year AOWR driver, he acted like a rookie in meeting his race's end by not being patient enough while lapping Darren Manning battling for position.
The day began with the next-gen front row of Marco and Graham, but it was a guy starting 11th who took the cake. Ryan Briscoe's job looked to be in jeopardy, being 18th after Indy in a Penske. This race probably saved his career, and his drive was a strong one. His car looked good coming through the field all the way to the front. He even got a little bit of luck from the racing gods, narrowly avoiding the Marco-Ed-Vitor crash.
3. Texas
While what passed for coverage from the "Worldwide Leader" was horrendous, it failed to diminish what was a good Texas race. There was a lot of nice side-by-side action (and not just because Briscoe was holding up the high line) that I've come to expect at Texas Motor Speedway. The finish was unfortunately muted due to the Marco-RHR crash near the end that cost them each a wonderful finish, causing the race to end under yellow. Still, being under the lights at Texas is one of the best things IndyCars have to offer.
2. Chicagoland
The last two races at Chicagoland have produced classic finishes. Both times, Scott Dixon failed to win, although this time he had just enough to win the war for the championship. It had all the elements of a great IRL race: tight packs, side by side racing (even if the result of team blocking), and a guy coming from the back of the pack. Helio drove a hell of a race, and pulled out a great pass right at the finish. I knew from first glance he had one, no matter what the transponder said.
1. Watkins Glen
It may have looked like this countdown would be without a right turner, but the fact is that IndyCar doesn't go to that many of great quality. While the Glen may be passed its prime as much as Mid-Ohio is, it still managed to put on a show. This is a rare race of the season that is defined by an accident. Maybe you could say that about Homestead (TK would have won if not for Viso's crash), but certainly Scott Dixon plowing into the rear end of Ryan Briscoe's car altered this race. It took out the big timers, leaving two guys looking for win #1: In one car, Darren Manning, many years in IndyCar and driving for a drought ridden AJ Foyt team. The other, Ryan Hunter-Reay, twice a winner in Champ Cars but has not gotten there in the IRL. Manning got to the front thanks to going off sequence (which they did at just about every road/street race they didn't qualify well for), while RHR qualified third. With nine laps remaining, Hunter-Reay set up a nice pass on Manning going into turn 1 to take the lead. He milked out the advantage to win.
It was great to see Rahal Letterman back in the winner's circle again. The series has been so dominated by Ganassi, Penske, and Andretti Green that any win outside that group is more than welcomed.
Of the seventeen races this season, these five are the ones that struck me as the most intriguing and exciting. I will not be taking historical significance into account, so don't expect to see Danica's win at Motegi here - the shock of the last three laps is all the was interesting there.
5. Richmond
Was this race a crashfest? A war of attrition? Absolutely. Every once and a while I like seeing these kinds of races to shake things up. The ultimate shakeup though came when Jaime Camara, pitiful at every other start of the season, pushed to the front and took the lead with during a caution. But then, he kept it. Despite having Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti on his tail, he held onto the lead and battled up front in a Conquest. When Camara crashed on lap 217, it was a devastating blow. I only felt so bad when seeing a car all crashed up at Indy when it happened to Sarah Fisher. It's rather unfortunate for Jaime that he was unable to show this kind of form at any other race that season, but it made for some interesting racing.
4. Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Mile was the first race when the gap seemed to close between IRL teams and ex-Champ Car ones. The low banked nature of the Mile gave us the first really great run by an ex-Champ Car guy - Graham Rahal, starting second. While a second year AOWR driver, he acted like a rookie in meeting his race's end by not being patient enough while lapping Darren Manning battling for position.
The day began with the next-gen front row of Marco and Graham, but it was a guy starting 11th who took the cake. Ryan Briscoe's job looked to be in jeopardy, being 18th after Indy in a Penske. This race probably saved his career, and his drive was a strong one. His car looked good coming through the field all the way to the front. He even got a little bit of luck from the racing gods, narrowly avoiding the Marco-Ed-Vitor crash.
3. Texas
While what passed for coverage from the "Worldwide Leader" was horrendous, it failed to diminish what was a good Texas race. There was a lot of nice side-by-side action (and not just because Briscoe was holding up the high line) that I've come to expect at Texas Motor Speedway. The finish was unfortunately muted due to the Marco-RHR crash near the end that cost them each a wonderful finish, causing the race to end under yellow. Still, being under the lights at Texas is one of the best things IndyCars have to offer.
2. Chicagoland
The last two races at Chicagoland have produced classic finishes. Both times, Scott Dixon failed to win, although this time he had just enough to win the war for the championship. It had all the elements of a great IRL race: tight packs, side by side racing (even if the result of team blocking), and a guy coming from the back of the pack. Helio drove a hell of a race, and pulled out a great pass right at the finish. I knew from first glance he had one, no matter what the transponder said.
1. Watkins Glen
It may have looked like this countdown would be without a right turner, but the fact is that IndyCar doesn't go to that many of great quality. While the Glen may be passed its prime as much as Mid-Ohio is, it still managed to put on a show. This is a rare race of the season that is defined by an accident. Maybe you could say that about Homestead (TK would have won if not for Viso's crash), but certainly Scott Dixon plowing into the rear end of Ryan Briscoe's car altered this race. It took out the big timers, leaving two guys looking for win #1: In one car, Darren Manning, many years in IndyCar and driving for a drought ridden AJ Foyt team. The other, Ryan Hunter-Reay, twice a winner in Champ Cars but has not gotten there in the IRL. Manning got to the front thanks to going off sequence (which they did at just about every road/street race they didn't qualify well for), while RHR qualified third. With nine laps remaining, Hunter-Reay set up a nice pass on Manning going into turn 1 to take the lead. He milked out the advantage to win.
It was great to see Rahal Letterman back in the winner's circle again. The series has been so dominated by Ganassi, Penske, and Andretti Green that any win outside that group is more than welcomed.
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