Double-file restarts: there’s no turning back
IndyCar commentary — By Steph Wallcraft on April 12, 2011 8:23 amRobin Miller reported on Wind Tunnel on Sunday night that the drivers of the IZOD IndyCar Series plan to appeal en masse to return to single-file restarts for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this coming weekend.
Here’s one vote in favor of INDYCAR standing its ground.
The most obvious argument for keeping the restarts as they are is this: regardless of how the restarts are done, the initial start is going to be double-file anyway. If the drivers can do it once, why on Earth can’t they do it again?
But perhaps more importantly, reneging on double-file restarts now looks really, really terrible. It doesn’t matter to the occasional observer that these cars accelerate differently or can’t handle light damage as well as stock cars. All a casual fan will see is that the so-called fastest, most versatile drivers in the world can’t handle something that NASCAR drivers can.
The tweaks that were made to the acceleration point, the distance between the rows, and the starting speed at Barber weren’t perfect, but they were an improvement. If these attributes need to be adjusted for each track to make double-file work, that’s fine — very few people will notice.
But if INDYCAR takes double-file restarts away, even once, everyone will notice — INDYCAR’s detractors will make sure of that.
If the Series makes the drivers keep at it, it may take a few more tries, but they’ll figure it out. They’ll have no choice. And the ones who can’t get it figured out may prove to be more expensive to their car owners than the sponsorships they bring in. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. A system that requires car owners to hire drivers who can hack it on-track may be exactly what INDYCAR needs.
And if some of the more experienced drivers are becoming too frustrated to want to continue under the current system, there are plenty of unemployed racers who would be happy to fill their seats.
This change should never have been implemented in the first place if there were serious concerns from any side that it wasn’t going to work. There can be no going back now without a great deal of embarrassment — not even temporarily.
Sorry, boys and girls. On this, there should be no takebacks. Suck it up, strap it in, and get out there and race.
Tags: Verizon IndyCar Series - Administration
I would agree. TK said it best after winning Iowa last year about the ‘bump’ in turn 2. “We are professional race car drivers. We all know the bump is there. Its not like one lap its there and the next its not.”
They are professional race car drivers. They all know there will be double wide restarts. Deal with it or get out of the driver suit.
Their arguments:
“This is too hard.” “I can’t do it.” “I’m scared.” “He’s being mean to me.” “I don’t want to.” “Stupidheads.” “You can’t make me.” “It’s not my fault.” “I didn’t do it.”
These three-year-olds need to man up (or woman up as the case may be) and use their common sense and racing skills to negotiate a corner with another car in close proximity.
Spot on as usual, Steph. RB wants the best drivers, and this is one way to meet that goal. Figure it out. A track-by- track tweak of speed and starting point may be needed, but don’t back down.
I agree with you 100% Steph!
This has nothing to do with “safety” from the drivers. It is all about trying to push the new boss (Randy Bernard) and put themselves in charge more or less.
But they underestimate the power of a cowboy. I suspect Sheriff Bernard will show them who is in charge soon enough.
The most laughable thing is TK is still against double file, DUDE YOU’RE THIRD IN POINTS BECAUSE OF IT!!! IN A KV CAR!! EMBRACE IT!
When Simona was asked about it post race in St. Pete she had nothing but good things to say.
Steph, I didn’t agree with you before, but I certainly agree with you now. Personally, I like the double file restarts. It certainly has created a lot of drama in the first two races! I do understand the reluctance to do DFRS-I didn’t want to write double file restarts over and over again-at the hairpin at Long Beach this weekend, but you are supposed to be professional drivers. Deal with it.