IndyCar Indy Japan 300

[DanicaRules]

The IndyCar Series takes to the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan this weekend. The race can be seen live at midnight on Friday or Saturday Morning, depending on how you look at it on ESPN2.;) The taped delay will be on Saturday at 3pm Eastern on ESPN.

Last year's winner was Tony Kanaan. Twin Ring is a fast oval, should be an exciting race!!

Here are the entrants for the race...

Car # Driver / Car Name / Team

#2 AJ Foyt / Vision Racing / Vision Racing
#3 Helio Castroneves / Team Penske / Team Penske
#4 Vitor Meira / Delphi National Guard / Panther Racing
#6 Ryan Briscoe / Team Penske / Team Penske
#7 Danica Patrick / Motorola / Andretti Green Racing
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dan Wheldon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#11 Tony Kanaan / Team 7-Eleven / Andretti Green Racing
#14 Darren Manning / ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing / AJ Foyt Enterprises
#15 Buddy Rice / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / Rahal Letterman Racing -Ethanol / Rahal Letterman Racing
#20 Ed Carpenter / Menards-Vision Racing / Vision Racing
#23 Townsend Bell / Dreyer & Reinbold William Rast / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 Jay Howard / Roth Racing / Roth Racing
#25 Marty Roth / Roth Racing / Roth Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Alpine / Andretti Green Racing
#27 Hideki Mutoh / Formula Dream / Andretti Green Racing
#77 Roger Yasukawa / Interush-Wellman Racing / CURB-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports

[KillerNut]

I will be staying up to watch.:thumbsup:

[DanicaRules]

I will be staying up to watch.:thumbsup:
Oh yeah me too, I will also set my DVR.

[DanicaRules]

Here are the practice groups as well as the qualification order for the race...

Group 1

#9 Scott Dixon
#17 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#14 Darren Manning
#26 Marco Andretti
#25 Marty Roth
#6 Ryan Briscoe
#2 AJ Foyt IV
#24 Jay Howard
#4 Vitor Meira

Group 2

#15 Buddy Rice
#20 Ed Carpenter
#23 Townsend Bell
#3 Helio Castroneves
#27 Hideki Mutoh
#7 Danica Patrick
#77 Roger Yasukawa
#11 Tony Kanaan
#10 Dan Wheldon

[DanicaRules]

Here are the results of Practice Session 1

Rank / Car # Driver / Time / Speed / Best Lap

1. #9 Scott Dixon / 00:27.3348 / 200.184 / 27
2. #10 Dan Wheldon / 00:27.3788 / 199.863 / 13
3. #11 Tony Kanaan / 00:27.4065 / 199.661 / 14
4. #26 Marco Andretti / 00:27.4747 / 199.165 / 20
5. #3 Helio Castroneves / 00:27.5639 / 198.521 / 28
6. #7 Danica Patrick / 00:27.5942 / 198.303 / 21
7. #20 Ed Carpenter / 00:27.6134 / 198.165 / 15
8. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 00:27.6651 / 197.794 / 33
9. #2 AJ Foyt IV / 00:27.6853 / 197.650 / 38
10. #14 Darren Manning / 00:27.6982 / 197.558 / 8
11. #15 Buddy Rice / 00:27.7774 / 196.995 / 32
12. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 00:27.8914 / 196.190 / 33
13. #23 Townsend Bell / 00:27.9018 / 196.116 / 28
14. #4 Vitor Meira / 00:27.9780 / 195.582 / 10
15. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 00:28.0791 / 194.878 / 30
16. #24 Jay Howard / 00:28.1630 / 194.297 / 47
17. #25 Marty Roth / 00:28.5538 / 191.638 / 56
18. #77 Roger Yasukawa / 00:28.7137 / 190.571 / 27

[DanicaRules]

Well, practice session 2 is over. 1 more practice session and then they qualify.

Here are the Practice Session 2 results..

Rank / Car # Driver / Time / Speed / Best Lap

1. #11 Tony Kanaan / 00:27.2453 / 200.842 / 15
2. #9 Scott Dixon / 00:27.3067 / 200.390 / 54
3. #10 Dan Wheldon / 00:27.3259 / 200.250 / 17
4. #3 Helio Castroneves / 00:27.3556 / 200.032 / 15
5. #20 Ed Carpenter / 00:27.3960 / 199.737 / 19
6. #26 Marco Andretti / 00:27.4046 / 199.675 / 58
7. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 00:27.4638 / 199.244 / 18
8. #7 Danica Patrick / 00:27.5155 / 198.870 / 15
9. #23 Townsend Bell / 00:27.6356 / 198.005 / 29
10. #2 AJ Foyt IV / 00:27.6732 / 197.736 / 12
11. #14 Darren Manning / 00:27.6844 / 197.656 / 16
12. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 00:27.7127 / 197.455 / 9
13. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 00:27.7585 / 197.129 / 40
14. #15 Buddy Rice / 00:27.7822 / 196.961 / 47
15. #4 Vitor Meira / 00:27.8480 / 196.495 / 45
16. #25 Marty Roth / 00:27.9084 / 196.070 / 48
17. #24 Jay Howard / 00:28.3758 / 192.840 / 20
18. #77 Roger Yasukawa / 00:28.8688 / 189.547 / 12

[zerO]

^^^ And why would ANYONE give a damn about the Motegi race when FTG had said the other day that the first "Indycar" race happenned in 2003 ????? = THAT IS A LIE !!!!!!!!!!! => CART "Indycars" have raced there prior to 2003 !!!!!!!... ... so, whom you are you going to believe ?????????????... ;) :D

zerO

btw, 12 hours later is a REAL race at Long Beach !!!!!!!!! -> why waste time on POS Motegi ?!?!?!?! :rolleyes: ;) :D

zerO

[EIR Loe.307]

....why waste time on POS Motegi ?!?!?!?! :rolleyes: ;) :D

zerO

Perhaps since they are all running HONDA ENGINES!!!!!! Are you like 6?

[KillerNut]

btw, 12 hours later is a REAL race at Long Beach !!!!!!!!! -> why waste time on POS Motegi ?!?!?!?! :rolleyes: ;) :D

zerO

:banghead:

-That is all I have to say about that.

[brendonhartleyfan]

btw, 12 hours later is a REAL race at Long Beach !!!!!!!!! -> why waste time on POS Motegi ?!?!?!?! :rolleyes: ;) :D

If that is your opinion fine but don't come on here and waste our time when we want to actually talk about the race.

Friday practice and quali rained out. The grid will now be based on championship points so here is how it looks:

Pos Driver Team
1. Helio Castroneves / Penske
2. Scott Dixon / Ganassi
3. Tony Kanaan / Andretti-Green
4. Marco Andretti / Andretti-Green
5. Dan Wheldon / Ganassi
6. Danica Patrick / Andretti-Green
7. Ed Carpenter / Vision
8. AJ Foyt IV / Vision
9. Hideki Mutoh / Andretti-Green
10. Ryan Hunter-Reay / Rahal-Letterman
11. Buddy Rice / Dreyer & Reinbold
12. Darren Manning / Foyt
13. Vitor Meira / Panther
14. Jay Howard / Roth
15. Ryan Briscoe / Penske
16. Marty Roth / Roth
17. Townsend Bell / Dreyer & Reinbold
18. Roger Yasukawa / Beck

I just hope Kanan and Dixon don't do what they did in 2003 at Motegi seen as they look like the ones to beat from practice.

[DanicaRules]

You beat me to it. I was just going to post this.:p

Kanaan, Dixon, and Wheldon are the fastest this week there. They ae the ones to watch.
But I still have faith that Danica will come thru for the win.;)

[brendonhartleyfan]

:lol: Sorry i no the IRL is sort of your thing but i noticed it wasn't up so thought i had better do it.

One day your wish will come true and she will win. who knows it could be this weekend starting 6th isn't the worst place to be.

[KillerNut]

I guess I think it is going to be those three too.

I have been concerned about rain, but what I saw on the radar looked like it was going to go away.

I hope we are looking at a good clean race with no scared champ car drivers getting in the way.

Then we have to go through hopefully only one more race of inequity at Kansas. After that I hope that the transitions teams will catch up at Indy, (at least to be competitive).

[DanicaRules]

Im watching it now. The race should start pretty soon. They are drying the "weepers" out of turns 2 & 4.

[DanicaRules]

Not good. The race has officially been postponed due to the wet track at turn 4.
The race will be run tomorrow night. Coverage is at 10pm Eastern on ESPN Classic.

[zerO]

Perhaps since they are all running HONDA ENGINES!!!!!! Are you like 6?

And what moronic reply is that ??? = explain yourself... if you're capable... ;) :D

zerO

[EIR Loe.307]

And what moronic reply is that ??? = explain yourself... if you're capable... ;) :D

zerO

Uhm, let me see if I can fit this simple concept in the small space between your ears.

Honda owns Motegi, Honda is Japanese, Honda provides the engines for the IRL, hence YOU RUN THE DAMN MOTEGI JAPAN RACE!!!

[DanicaRules]

Dont worry about him EIR, you are right, Honda IS the reason they run at the Twin Ring Motegi, Japan.:)

[Ryan]

The Long Beach race is tomorrow afternoon as well.

When asked about the differences in the cars between the IRL Dallara and the Panoz DP01, Oriol Servia spoke very favourably of the Panoz: "It's a lot more downforce and more power and lighter, so a faster car," Servia said. "All drivers want more power and more downforce. It's just different rules and a lot more fun."

I think IRL made a mistake not adopting this car. What a waste to see this great car cast aside like this.:thumbsdown:

[brendonhartleyfan]

Well DR i said it might be this weekend that Danica gets her win and i was right.

Dixon must hate the size of these gas tanks having to pit with just a few laps ago but atleast he didn't run out this time.

[saltysurprise]

Well DR i said it might be this weekend that Danica gets her win and i was right.

Dixon must hate the size of these gas tanks having to pit with just a few laps ago but atleast he didn't run out this time.

Say what!?!?! :huh:

I actually tried to find it on the TV but it wasn't anywhere to be found.. Don't tell anyone:whistling:

Did she actually win???

*Holy crap! I just checked.... :eek:

That'll silence some folks now won't it?!?!:rolleyes: Me being one of them:banghead::lol:

Ok, ok... Gloat all you want DR..:o

He's not here so he must have exploded!!:eek::lol:

[DanicaRules]

danica Wins ! Danica Wins ! Danica Wins!

danica Wins! Danica Wins! Danica Wins !

danica Wins ! Danica Wins ! Danica Wins !

danica Wins ! Danica Wins ! Danica Wins !

danica Wins ! Danica Wins ! Danica Wins !

[saltysurprise]

OH! There he is!

Clean up on Isle 6. :lol:

Good for her. It was a long time coming;)

[DanicaRules]

I am so excited. I honestly cried for awhile. In shock, amazement, and oh so excited!

My girl wins at Twin Ring Motegi!!!!

Way to go Danica !!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Here are your final results...

1. #7 Danica Patrick
2. #3 Helio Castroneves
3. #9 Scott Dixon
4. #10 Dan Wheldon
5. #11 Tony Kanaan
6. #20 Ed Carpenter
7. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay
8. #14 Darren Manning
9. #6 Ryan Briscoe
10. #23 Townsend Bell
11. #27 Hideki Mutoh
12. #15 Buddy Rice
13. #24 Jay Howard
14. #77 Roger Yasukawa
15. #2 AJ Foyt IV
16. #4 Vitor Meira
17. #25 Marty Roth
18. #26 Marco Andretti

[Ryan]

Well I'll be a son of a witch....:eek:

[MSommer]

AWESOME!! Way to go Danica!!! :finishfirst::thumbsup:

[KillerNut]

The Long Beach race is tomorrow afternoon as well.

When asked about the differences in the cars between the IRL Dallara and the Panoz DP01, Oriol Servia spoke very favourably of the Panoz: "It's a lot more downforce and more power and lighter, so a faster car," Servia said. "All drivers want more power and more downforce. It's just different rules and a lot more fun."

I think IRL made a mistake not adopting this car. What a waste to see this great car cast aside like this.:thumbsdown:


First I wanted to respond to this. From my understanding the reason they didn't is because it would be unsafe at ovals. The speeds and wrecks are much more violent on ovals due the higher speeds, and walls instead of run off areas. The Panoz chasis is not built to with stand those types of violent collisions.

I believe the next generation of car is now about a year and a half away, so hopefully they will find a comprimise of safety, and the power/downforce.

As far as Danica goes, I guess it's fine. It was bound to happen, although I can not understand how Helio let her go by that easily. It really looked like it was staged. (No I am not a conspiracy theorist, or believe that he let her win).

In truth I feel good for her, even though I still don't like her. I appreciate the feeling when you feel like a huge weight has been taken off of your shoulders, and I could see that in her face. Good for her.

[Whahah]

i stayed up till 4am, i just couldnt watch anymore than halfway, i was exausted :/

[EIR Loe.307]

I'm so PO'd right now. 1st the race result was ruined for me THEN apparently it either wasn't on or didn't record so now I've missed it. If DR has t on DVR (which he damn well better) some of us may need copies. I still gotta get a copy of Quatar to Salty for MotoGP.:p

[DanicaRules]

Ive got this Twin Ring Motegi on DVR. :thumbsup:

[EIR Loe.307]

I'm shocked she won so soon this season. I'm happy that I don't have to hear the whole "she'll win, she'll never win, when will she win" argument anymore. :rolleyes: I was fairly sure she'd win at some point and now I'm glad that it's done. Now I can get back to my TK support. :lol::lol:

[EIR Loe.307]

Well, straight from Helio..."My pit told me to let her pass. I didn't know it was for the lead, but she won fair because we didn't have enough fuel to make it to the end in the lead"

[KillerNut]

The fact that he did make it to the end, and didn't fight makes me go hmmm...:huh:

The fact that his pit told him to let her pass, and he didn't know it was for the lead make me go hmmm...:wonder:

The fact that they are making such a big deal about how this is helping promote the sport makes me go hmmm...;)

The fact that it happened at 12 Midnight, on the other side of the world, where there wouldn't be as much media scrutinty makes me go hmmm...:confused:

I am not saying, but I am saying hmmm....:whistling:

[NetOz]

Well Done Danica!!! the day has finnaly come, she deserves this victory, for me she is not one of the best drivers in Indy, but she is a good driver thats true.

I think she can win again this year, but i think that she only has real chances of victory in ovals

[CWBeattie]

Congratulations Danica!