Noticed something interesting

[Toecutter]

I haven't been following the greatest spectacle in racing much the last few years, so I'm not sure how long this trend has been established, but I noticed that every car in the starting grid for this year's race was of identical manufacture (Dallara chassis, Honda motor).

Talk about domination....I remember when it used to be Chevy's and Buick's competing with Honda, and three or four chassis builders.

I guess it has pretty much come down to fuel economy, and Honda's claim to have the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the world must be true. I wish they'd make a motorcycle that turned my crank.

On second thought, I'm glad they don't.

 

[madmike2]

Though not an Indy car afficianado, it looks like an engine manufacturer has a contract with the sanctioning body. IIRC, this was the case when they were using the Aurora(?) engines. The chassis is probably the one that is working the best and everyone else is a distant 2nd or 3rd or...? Its rather expensive to be in that specialty business, so I would imagine the competition is a bit slim.

 

[Gary]

IRL and Champcar are both basically spec series now. They buy the chassis and lease the engines from whichever motor company sponsors the series. Champcar is Ford/Cosworth. Both series are significantly diminished from the CART days.

I think it sucks, I still watch both series, but the time commitment to be a race fan that follows more than one series is nuts...(NASCAR Cup/Busch, Formula 1, IRL, Champ)

Indy used to have about 50 viable teams fighting over the 33 starting positions, now almost anyone that can get a license and pass tech can make the show. I know an Indy resident that donated his tickets this year and went camping instead.

Thank God for my DVR.