UKGPL Season 44 (Spring 2024) 1955 GP (Privateers) - Indianapolis - Mar 17

[Phil Thornton]

Season 44 - 1955GP (Privateers) - Round 5 – Indianapolis
The fifth race in the 1955 Grand Prix series takes us to Indianapolis in the USA. Constructed in 1909, Indianapolis was the second purpose built banked oval racing circuit after Brooklands and the first to be called a 'speedway'. It has a permanent seating capacity of 257,325 with infield seating raising the grand total capacity to an approximate 400,000. It is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world. An estimated 80,000 spectators attended the first 500-mile (800 km) race on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911. Forty cars competed with Ray Harroun winning at an average speed of 74.602 miles per hour (120.060 km/h). The 500 mile race remained a regular event at the "brickyard" during the 20s, 30s and 40s. Eventually it became part of the Formula One World Championship between 1950 and 1960. None of the Indy drivers of that era raced in Formula One and only Ferrari's F1 driver, Alberto Ascari, raced in the 500 in 1952. The 1955 Indy 500 was won by Bob Sweikert in a Kurtis Kraft powered by an Offenhauser engine. However, the race is notable to many as the race in which Bill Vukovich was killed in a crash while seemingly on his way to winning an unprecedented third consecutive Indy 500. Five-time world champion Juan Fangio practiced at the speedway in 1958, but ultimately decided against racing there.

Please Note:  Brake fade is not usually a problem here, overheating tyres are normally the biggest difficulty. There is no need to get too close to the car in front unless you are overtaking , the slipstream is very strong. Being a little further back might give you the opportunity to avoid a spinning car.

Race list	=	iGOR
Server	=	UKGPL04_60fps
IP address	=	80.189.126.203:32766
Password	=	see above
GPL Mod	=	55GP
Damage model	=	PRO
60fps Patch	=	60fpsV2newmod
Track download	=	Indianapolis 1999
Track directory	=	ims
Qualifying starts	=	20:45 UK time - 45 minutes
Race starts	=	~ 21:30 UK time
Race length	=	43 laps
Replay	=	HERE

Please do NOT post chat messages during qualifying or racing until ALL drivers still qualifying or racing have crossed the line.

Driver lists and division specific rules can be found on the championship standings page.

[CubbieRoo]

Engine blew up on lap8, annoying since it never once dipped above 8.5k   lol  oh well them's the breaks I guess.

[francesco]

Made the pole but the virtual mirror hid from me the flag man,so i was started when i have seen movement behind.Was a good race until lap 27 when Silva have decided to enter on my left in a curve.Sorry but your car was not visible by me and in any case is not the best move.

[bernie]

Pleased to finish 4th after a few spins early on , down to I think cold tyres plus the mass retirements by almost all runners for whatever reason  

Grats to the podium boys


Just watched the replay,  sorry to see Dave R's run of misfortune continue when he caught my spinning car on Lap2 and crashed out , and I never felt a thing !

[PaulV]

Cant say I really enjoy the racing at ovals, but tonight went OK.

took the Gordini as I knew Im no good here. so it saved some tokens for later. target achieved as far as im concerned. strangely I enjoyed it more that usual.

I concentrated a bit harder than usual tonight and gave it my best shot. sorry so many seemed to fall by the wayside. Not due to accidents I dont think as I didnt see much from the back. but the position I got was far more than i expected.

I guess even I deserve a bit of luck sometimes..   Me n Gordini the Gopha  did OK tonight.  

[Ricardo Valim da Silva]

Francesco, have you seen the replay, when you're running on an oval, you always have to keep your line, that is, if you're on top you have to make the turn on top, you can't block, several times I've been behind I haven't changed once my trajectory, when you hit me I had already passed you,But anything asks the commissioners to analyze the incident to see.

[Moises Pereira]

Good Race, could bring the Super Squalo to a win.
Had a good start for the first laps until Ricardos Merc closed that gap. We had a battle, changing some positions until I was very close to him and suddenly his car jumped in front of me (netcode), I lifted abruptely from the pedal and that caused my car to spin. I had a very fast setup for the 555 but very tricky, had to care to not spin and dont burn the right front tire.
After the spin I was third, behind Ricardo and Molteni, 10s behind. As I got my tires on a good temp I started to push closing the gap slowly. Then the  Merc and Lancia started to change positions and the gap closed quickly.
I ovetook Ricardo while he got wide and closed on the Lancia to get the Tow overtaking it at the end of straight.
As I got first I decided to do some "indy manouvers" to let then both without the benefit of slipstreaming. As I had a small margin I kept an eye on the mirror to see what was happening, suddenly both Merc and Lancia crashed.
Then I just cruised to the chequered flag.
Congratz to the finishers.

[phspok]

I lucked into 3rd with other people's misfortunes
Was pleased with the result, as I missed the start! and had to start from the pitlane after one minute....
I don't remember being passed by anybody, but I had to unlap mayself, then catch and pass all except Albert
and Moises who was on another dimension  

[francesco]

Francesco, have you seen the replay, when you're running on an oval, you always have to keep your line, that is, if you're on top you have to make the turn on top, you can't block, several times I've been behind I haven't changed once my trajectory, when you hit me I had already passed you,But anything asks the commissioners to analyze the incident to see.

If you see the replay you can verify that I have always kept that line and was not the first time you was behind me.With "not the best move"i meant to say that on this track is dangerous to overtaking in curve,your car was not visible in my mirror from the start of the curve.
On the straight the pilot in front have visibility and time to see the car behind and understand the intentions.In lap 24,for example, i have clearly seen your car arriving and i have gived you space but in lap 29 was not so .If I had time and visibility to guess your intentions I would have given you way without throw away the race.

[Bully]

I was expecting to do ok here. However I was thoroughly out qualified, starting from 6th.

Come the race I just did not have the pace of the top guys. Fair play to them! In another league

I was in 4th during the race, probably about the best I could have hoped for all things considered. Luiz is catching me with the slipstream in his Ferrari. We swap positions and tussle a little. Eventually we are side by side in one of the turns, and I am up high. I keep my line but Luiz understeers up in to me, causing quite the spectacular crash. Sparks were flying! Glad we are sim racing.....

Anyhooo, that was that, on to Roy Hesketh now. A circuit I have not turned a single lap on just yet. That is going to have to change for me to have any chance at the next one!

See you all on track soon!

Cheers,

Bully.