Rookie orientation program

[marcus]

May 9 see's this years Indy Rookies taking to the track to complete there orientation program.

as far as I can see there are 5 of them for this years event.

Darren Manning , Ed Carpenter , Kosuke Matsuura and two IRL debutants Marty Roth and Luiz Diaz (but apparently Diaz will not run the 500 , Chip Ganassi has offered luiz some track time in the car through his links with team as one of their grand Am sportscar drivers)

Marty Roth is an interesting one , Ive only seen a handfull of his infinity races but he apparently is entering his own team in the 500 this year and should be a steep learning curve for him.

I dont see any problems with any of these guys passing their upcoming tests and wish them luck at the brickyard

[rustyfan]

May 9th is the opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice - rookie orientation, as far as I know, is to be staged today, April 26th.

At least if I've understood this article correctly.

[marcus]

ahh yes you could be right Rustyfan , seems little confusing thast one

[BootsOntheSide]

I wouldn't've thought Manning will have to do rookie orientation due to his oval experience in CART and ASCAR.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
I wouldn't've thought Manning will have to do rookie orientation due to his oval experience in CART and ASCAR.

He only had three oval races while in Champ Car though (remember that Fontana was cancelled), with Lausitzring, at 2 miles, being the biggest.

[marcus]

It doesnt matter he is a rookie and has to do the program , Nigel mansell also had to do the test as well even though he was reigning F1 world champion.

if your new to the IRL then you have to do the test.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by marcus
if your new to the IRL then you have to do the test.

Scott Dixon nor Tora Takagi had to go through the rookie orientation last year though. In their case, however, they had a chance to do quite a few more oval races (including Michigan and Fontana) during their Champ Car years, which explains it why they didn't have to go through the rookie orientation.

[climb]

Right rustyfan

[BootsOntheSide]

Being new to ovals is the critereon, not being new the the IRL. As a moderator you should know these things marcus.

[rush1]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Being new to ovals is the critereon, not being new the the IRL. As a moderator you should know these things marcus.

relax smart guy

[B/Mark]

Carpenter and Taylor have passed all phases before lunch.
Matsuura and Diaz not yet finished.
Just started light rain!

[B/Mark]

Correction, Matsuura and Diaz snuck through when the lunch break was delayed a few minutes to allow them to finish their 210+mph run to pass stage 4. Roth yet to turn a fast lap!
Simmonds is going to get a run this afternoon - good luck Jeff.

[Testure]

When's the last time someone failed this test?

[Tim Northcutt]

A Few Things To Sort Out Here:

One of two types of "tests" MUST be taken by a driver who has never raced in a major racing series or on a high speed oval, depending upon that driver's experience:

1. "Rookie Orientation Test" -- This is for drivers who have racing experience, but have never competed in a "Major Racing Series" on on a high speed oval in a car capable of relatively comparable speeds to what wil be traveled at Indy....this is a four-phase est where a driver has to perform the first three phases within certain speed "windows" or ranges...and that driver is evaluated by vateran drivers as well as "retired veterans" such as Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt, and Gary Bettenhausen....

the final session is at speeds above 210 where they run at a full pace or competitive pace....

2. "Test Session" -- for drivers such as a Nigel Mansell, or for today's session today, a driver like Larry Foyt....these drivers, who have major racing experience or have cometed at speed on a "SuperSpeedway" oval in a major series....go out and take laps at speed...without the three phases within the speed ranges or windows...while being observed by a "veteran driver"...

But make no mistake about it....anyone who has not competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Indy 500 before MUST take one of these two tests....no exceptions.....

Obviously an F-1 series champ shuld not have to necessarily go through all four phases, but they MUST go through the other part and be observed by a "veteran driver" assigned by the IMS and approved before being allowed to practice and qualify once the track formally opens...

There may have been changes her and thee to this practice over the years, but the no exceptions rule has not changed...

A.J. Foyt will "observe" and score Larry's session today....even though Larry has raced at Indy in the Birckyard 400 with NASCAR and has been a NASCAR regular for a couple of seasons now....

[Tim Northcutt]

But make no mistake about it....anyone who has not competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Indy 500 before MUST take one of these two tests....no exceptions.....


let me clarify this....you have to pass one of these two tests (and your experience determines which one you must take)....

But if you pass a "Rookie Test" in one year, but do not make the race, you may not have to re-take the test the next year....in some cases, drivers have had to take "refresher courses" in subsequent years after passing the "Rookie Test"....

But every driver has had to take one ofthese two in order to compete here in May....

[marcus]

Geez sorry Boots

[racefanatic]

Originally posted by Testure
When's the last time someone failed this test?

Scott Mayer failed it last year.

[Tim Northcutt]

One other note:

As an example, a guy like Darren Manning did not have to do this today, either, even though he is technically a "Rookie"....someone can observe him on Wednesday or Thursday this week as well....or even on the first day of practice on May 9th...if I understand it correctly...

But what was once a "Test" is really more of an "orientation"....

The four-phase sessions also include guys like Al Unser Sr. and Johnny Rutherford taking these drivers around the track in a Pace car to show them nuances of the track, tell them various "marks" they should pick up on to hit to give them a good racing line, and even "these are some things to expect...like the car coming out of Turn Four wants to "jump toward the wall" as you reach the transition between the end of the turn itself and the beginning of the front straight"....

The place is very unique...and all four corners drive differently....

There are many "ways" that one can go around the Brickyard, but one a few "fast" ways around it....

Even for an experienced driver, knowing those nuances and some tips from guys who have raced here and won here can help their learning curve become less difficult...

[rustyfan]

The IndyStar has two articles about the rookie orientation and Larry Foyt's first taste of IndyCars. Both of them are good reads, for those who haven't read them.

Rookies get on track

Foyt Takes Part in Indy Rookie Program

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by Tim Northcutt

A.J. Foyt will "observe" and score Larry's session today

No conflict of interest there, then!

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
No conflict of interest there, then!

Keep in mind that Larry Foyt doing his runs was solely for him to get a feel for what an IndyCar feels like - because of his NASCAR experience Larry didn't have to do the rookie orientation.

What you quoted was more in the sense that AJ Foyt wanted to see whether or not Larry should get a ride for the Indy 500.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally posted by rustyfan
Keep in mind that Larry Foyt doing his runs was solely for him to get a feel for what an IndyCar feels like - because of his NASCAR experience Larry didn't have to do the rookie orientation.

What you quoted was more in the sense that AJ Foyt wanted to see whether or not Larry should get a ride for the Indy 500.

Exactly right....Larry didn't have to take the "Test" as such....