-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Airborne Cars Halt Opening Baltimore Practice
After Simon Pagenaud got almost two feet in the air over the railroad tracks on Baltimore's front straight, the series called a halt to opening practice.
The IZOD IndyCar Series tried an experiment Friday morning that forced the opening practice session to be halted after most drivers turned just a handful of laps.
Based on driver input, the series eliminated the temporary chicane on the front straight from 2011 that slowed cars over the rise created by a set of railroad tracks, but it didn't take long for the tracks to turn into a springboard.
Looking like a WRC stage with Indy cars, Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports' Simon Pagenaud got almost two feet in the air with his front tires after 'yumping' over the tracks, crashing down hard and injuring his spine.
"I saw sky," he told SPEED.com, "then I crashed down and all of the force went through my back, my spine. I'm in some pain."
Speaking with Pagenaud approximately 30 minutes later, the pain had migrated to his neck. "I feel it in my neck and head, "he said. "I'll need to get it all worked out tonight, for sure."
"Some are saying that the railroad tracks are OK, but some are complaining about it pretty badly," said Sonoma winner Ryan Briscoe. "If you get it just right, it's OK, but if not, it's pretty dangerous."
Briscoe's Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves had similar thoughts about the track.
"They did a good job elsewhere around the track, but unfortunately, the change that we asked for (on the front straight) isn't there. It's a shame," he said. "The way the conditions are, something bad is going to happen."
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Baltimore 2012
Based on feedback from the drivers, INDYCAR Race Director Beaux Barfield said the series will persevere without the chicane for this afternoon's practice session, but overnight, a cement chicane will be poured on the front straight to prevent more airborne adventures.
“Last year, I know there were some unofficial tests performed (on the front straight)," said Barfield. "When drivers had some clear laps, they sent them straight through the (Pratt Street) chicane. The feedback from the few drivers who tried that was we should come back without the chicane. That’s what happened, and immediately after letting cars on track (today), we saw that it wasn’t doable. I know from events we’ve had in the past with railroad tracks in play that railroad tracks can change overnight. I know the (light) rail hasn’t been active, but my point is from last year to this year, it could have changed a lot with the way those tracks settle.
"So based on driver input and looking at the video, I thought it was appropriate to end the session early, talk to some drivers directly, get some input and come up with a plan. My original plan did include not running for the rest of the day, but I think we have come up with a plan that we can put out cars this afternoon. Bottom line is, with that happening, this evening there will be a big project out there to either lay some pavement down or rebuild the chicane."
Based on driver input, the series eliminated the temporary chicane on the front straight from 2011 that slowed cars over the rise created by a set of railroad tracks, but it didn't take long for the tracks to turn into a springboard.
Looking like a WRC stage with Indy cars, Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports' Simon Pagenaud got almost two feet in the air with his front tires after 'yumping' over the tracks, crashing down hard and injuring his spine.
"I saw sky," he told SPEED.com, "then I crashed down and all of the force went through my back, my spine. I'm in some pain."
Speaking with Pagenaud approximately 30 minutes later, the pain had migrated to his neck. "I feel it in my neck and head, "he said. "I'll need to get it all worked out tonight, for sure."
"Some are saying that the railroad tracks are OK, but some are complaining about it pretty badly," said Sonoma winner Ryan Briscoe. "If you get it just right, it's OK, but if not, it's pretty dangerous."
Briscoe's Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves had similar thoughts about the track.
"They did a good job elsewhere around the track, but unfortunately, the change that we asked for (on the front straight) isn't there. It's a shame," he said. "The way the conditions are, something bad is going to happen."
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Baltimore 2012
Based on feedback from the drivers, INDYCAR Race Director Beaux Barfield said the series will persevere without the chicane for this afternoon's practice session, but overnight, a cement chicane will be poured on the front straight to prevent more airborne adventures.
“Last year, I know there were some unofficial tests performed (on the front straight)," said Barfield. "When drivers had some clear laps, they sent them straight through the (Pratt Street) chicane. The feedback from the few drivers who tried that was we should come back without the chicane. That’s what happened, and immediately after letting cars on track (today), we saw that it wasn’t doable. I know from events we’ve had in the past with railroad tracks in play that railroad tracks can change overnight. I know the (light) rail hasn’t been active, but my point is from last year to this year, it could have changed a lot with the way those tracks settle.
"So based on driver input and looking at the video, I thought it was appropriate to end the session early, talk to some drivers directly, get some input and come up with a plan. My original plan did include not running for the rest of the day, but I think we have come up with a plan that we can put out cars this afternoon. Bottom line is, with that happening, this evening there will be a big project out there to either lay some pavement down or rebuild the chicane."
INDYCAR BRAZIL
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh To Pace The Indy 500
Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, will drive the… -
MILLER: Dinner With Legends
It’s become an annual event and, as my pal and longtime Indy… -
VIDEO: Dyson Tech Talk - Tires 101
The art of going fast: what kind of feedback does a driver want from… -
VIDEO: SPEEDing Through Hinchtown, Episode 2
Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe utilizes the… -
LE MANS: Driver Lineups For LM24 Finalized
Seats at Delta-ADR, Morand Racing, JMW Motorsport and others confirmed… -
PHOTOS: V8 Supercars COTA Gallery
UPDATED: View more than 150 photos from Austin as V8 Supercars Austin… -
GT: Black Falcon Mercedes Wins Rain-Soaked Nurburgring 24
Sean Edwards, Bernd Schneider, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Nicki Thiim… - More News
