I believe there were six engine penalties, including drivers with fast times like Wilson, Dixon and Power, so it will be interesting to see if they can charge through the field, and if Dario can handle the tire wear drop off this week after a less than successful go of it last week.

Also, how about Rubens, qualifying in the top six on a oval? How cool would it be to see him win?

I'm really excited for this race.

Broadcast starts at 1ET. I guess no one thought to submit a thread before now. I guess I may be talking to myself during this race.

Looks like some rain will delay the start of IndyFest.

I don't think this thing is going to go off for a while from that radar view

It's going to be pretty damn hard to judge how successful Andretti's efforts to save the race have been because of this rain.

per @curtcavin - ABC hasn't made any coverage decisions but will likely have to cut to Michigan when the green drops there and move Indy to ESPNNews. At least I can watch both in full and then back to LeMans.

2 hours?

mikaloyd: 2 hours?

Just in time for the start of the NNS race

So now that China is off the schedule, where do you guys think they should race to fill the slot?

Rumor has Michigan, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Laguna Seca as different possibilities.

/unless they've already made a decision

Jensaarai: So now that China is off the schedule, where do you guys think they should race to fill the slot?

Rumor has Michigan, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Laguna Seca as different possibilities.

/unless they've already made a decision

I'm praying for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (I have to mention our sponsors) seeing how I work there. It can piggy back on the Rolex race.

Jensaarai: So now that China is off the schedule, where do you guys think they should race to fill the slot?

Rumor has Michigan, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Laguna Seca as different possibilities.

/unless they've already made a decision


Michigan and Pocono are out. Road America most likely because it fits with the ALMS weekend. Another rumor is Chicagoland is in play. Laguna would be great.

Jensaarai: So now that China is off the schedule, where do you guys think they should race to fill the slot?

Rumor has Michigan, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Laguna Seca as different possibilities.

/unless they've already made a decision

As long as it's not the IMS road course, I'm fine with it. That aid, I'd prefer an oval, just because we have plenty of road courses already.

WhoIsWillo: Jensaarai: So now that China is off the schedule, where do you guys think they should race to fill the slot?

Rumor has Michigan, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Laguna Seca as different possibilities.

/unless they've already made a decision

As long as it's not the IMS road course, I'm fine with it. That aid, I'd prefer an oval, just because we have plenty of road courses already.

Speculation earlier in the week was Texas, and than rumors of Michigan the last few days. An oval is probably easier to schedule on short notice.

NH to see if Power is entertained?

Ed_Severson: Ha! It's IndyCar ... Decision paralysis is what they do best. It will take weeks to make a decision, and when it happens it will be the result of throwing a dart at a dartboard.

Heheh. Speaking of, it sounds like Texas is pushing for a decision on Indycar's return next year within the next week or two. I assume in that case they'll just flip a coin.

WhoIsWillo: As long as it's not the IMS road course, I'm fine with it. That aid, I'd prefer an oval, just because we have plenty of road courses already.

clear_prop: Speculation earlier in the week was Texas, and than rumors of Michigan the last few days. An oval is probably easier to schedule on short notice.

IMS flat out said no early on, and Michigan is out because of Penske's contract conditions with Belle Isle. Gossage already said no to Texas. Vegas offered and Indycar said no.

I think Road America most likely followed by Laguna.

Outtaphase: IMS flat out said no early on, and Michigan is out because of Penske's contract conditions with Belle Isle. Gossage already said no to Texas. Vegas offered and Indycar said no.

Yeah, I imagine they figured it was hard enough to get the drivers to Texas, was going to be impossible to get them to Vegas. I know that Pocono is talking with IndyCar, but I imagine that's about next year.

9beers: How does Indy car stay in business? With the exception of a few races, the stands are 3/4 empty.

Using hamsters to power the cars is cheap.

9beers: How does Indy car stay in business? With the exception of a few races, the stands are 3/4 empty.

Heh, it doesn't.

See: CART, Champ Car

WhoIsWillo: Yeah, I imagine they figured it was hard enough to get the drivers to Texas, was going to be impossible to get them to Vegas. I know that Pocono is talking with IndyCar, but I imagine that's about next year.

The best analysis I've heard is that the drivers can complain, and Indycar nods and listens, but with X seats and Y drivers wanting a ride, they will show up and drive where they're told at the end of the day. But saying no to Vegas seems obvious to me.

Outtaphase: The best analysis I've heard is that the drivers can complain, and Indycar nods and listens, but with X seats and Y drivers wanting a ride, they will show up and drive where they're told at the end of the day. But saying no to Vegas seems obvious to me.

Running an IndyCar race without Will Power, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon would be exceedingly silly.

I know we just saw it a couple weeks ago, but that segment on Kanaan and Rubens is really, really awesome.

WhoIsWillo: Running an IndyCar race without Will Power, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon would be exceedingly silly.

Because these contenders would give up points, and Ganassi and Penske would leave those seats empty for the weekend? I doubt it.

Damn, Jamie Little is getting FAT

and yeah, Road America would be a hell of a track for Indy.

Michael Andretti just announced that IndyFest will return in 2013. Good news for IndyCar.

Dumb-Ass-Monkey: Damn, Jamie Little is getting FAT

If by fat you mean extremely pregnant, then yes, yes she is.

Standings actually filled in pretty well. Kind of surprised.

and now that the green is dropping, they need to decide what to do with this race and the NNS race

/i was about to say that Arie looked really good for his age. Then I saw it was Arie, Jr.

WhoIsWillo: Standings actually filled in pretty well. Kind of surprised.

Andretti's been super accommodating to fans. Cheap ticket prices, loose restrictions on coolers, community outreach. I almost considered road tripping out there to show my support, and I live halfway across the country. Fans seem willing to reward that sort of behavior, even after the rain.

/boogity

"Power is trying to get under her"

/useless without pics

Scott Dixon looking racey.

Marco you suck

Not even having daddy promote the race can save Marco from his own inconsistency.

Will Power's turbo seems to be set to whine.

Passing the Hamster gal

More Indycar pit road antics.

retard pits again

Jensaarai: Not even having daddy promote the race can save Marco from his own inconsistency.

FTFY

He and Rahal should just stick to WWE.

And suddenly, the Hamsterlander isn't in last place!

/Won't last

Jensaarai: Will Power's turbo seems to be set to whine.

9beers: Anybody happen to know the how much money the winner gets? How does the prize money compare to a NASCAR race?

I know the Indy 500 winner pulls about 2.5 million. The rest of the races are designed to help keep lower tier teams operational for now, so they can pull in about that much if they run the whole year. As a result, I think the winner of a race like this doesn't get very much at all. They changed the structure this year, so I'll try to look up more up to date info.

Holy cow, Justin Wilson!

My Google fu on updated purse info is weak for the moment. Perhaps Ed_Severson could clue us in after the face.

Either way, the TL;DR is that other than the Indy 500, purses in the series are pretty bad compared to NASCAR. Hopefully if Indycar continues to rebuild, that will improve.

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WHOA WILSON!

HP car needs to update its BIOS