Entry Count for 2018 Indy 500

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It keeps looking more and more like there will be Bump Day action, ok maybe only 1 or 2 guys getting bumped but still how many years since we've seen a real bump day?

"IndyCar expects 'bumping' to return at the 2018 Indianapolis 500 as a 35-car entry list looks likely."

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/134813

[PhoenixSuns]

I hope Foyt runs a third car. And, I'm sure Saavedra is planning something too. The problem is the engine manufactures only can handle 17 each...

[Quintin03]

Originally Posted by PhoenixSuns

I hope Foyt runs a third car. And, I'm sure Saavedra is planning something too. The problem is the engine manufactures only can handle 17 each...

Yet there are already 19 Honda-powered entries confirmed. If Chevrolet can supply 17, that gives us up to 36 entries.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Pippa Mann will race with Dale Coyne Racing making her sixth appearance in the 500 and making this Dale Coyne Racing's fourth entry.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/134924

[bjohnsonsmith]

This is the one we have all been waiting for, the Danica Patrick GoDaddy liveried car.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

This is the one we have all been waiting for, the Danica Patrick GoDaddy liveried car.

How original!

Good for her going out on her terms in the "car" where she made her name.

[NaBUru38]

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/14...102nd-indy-500

o- There are 33 drivers confirmed, comprising 19 Hondas and 14 Chevys.
o- Hildebrand is expected to be announced at Dreyer & Reinbold.
o- Foyt, Harding and Lazier may add entries, such as James Davison, Sebastián Saavedra, Juan Piedrahita and Buddy Lazier.

[Formulahistory]

I really doubt Lazier will do a serious attempt. Unfortunately.

[keithcollantine]

I'm kind of torn about this. Of course it's great there's such a healthy entry list and it will make qualifying more exciting. On the other hand I'd rather have more full-season entries than so many Indy 500 one-offs.

[NaBUru38]

In 2017, most races had 21 entries.

St Pete just had 24 entries, and Phoenix will have 23.

IndyCar isn't yet at 2012 levels, but it's not terrible either.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

In 2017, most races had 21 entries.

St Pete just had 24 entries, and Phoenix will have 23.

IndyCar isn't yet at 2012 levels, but it's not terrible either.

F1 only has 20.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by keithcollantine

I'm kind of torn about this. Of course it's great there's such a healthy entry list and it will make qualifying more exciting. On the other hand I'd rather have more full-season entries than so many Indy 500 one-offs.

First of all! Welcome!

I kind of like any and all possibilities of elimination, including any full season entrants. If they're not up to speed, then that's their problem.

What will be interesting is some of the bigger teams with full season entrants and one-offs under the same roof... they should be fine, but could be some drama!

[keithcollantine]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

First of all! Welcome!

Thank you!

One name I was hoping to see on the entry list this year we Montoya but it looks like that's not happening now. Pity.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by keithcollantine

Thank you!

One name I was hoping to see on the entry list this year we Montoya but it looks like that's not happening now. Pity.

Hi and welcome.

Montoya has ruled out participating in this year's 500.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/135148

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

F1 only has 20.

It's pointless to compare artificially restricted grid to one where you can field whatever you wish wherever you want. Same exact thing as when Mario Andretti complained about the amount of F1 overtaking versus Indycar, as if you could compare overtaking capabilities of non-spec cars to fully spec cars, it's never ever going to be achieved whatever you try.

If F1 opened the doors and said "anyone can attempt to race" like in the pre-qualifying era, AND also kill off the mandated 2 car per team rule, you would not have 20 cars each race.

IndyCar on the other hand HAS "free for all" policy, yet have had trouble attracting 33 relatively cheap spec cars for what they describe as the biggest race in the world.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's pointless to compare artificially restricted grid to one where you can field whatever you wish wherever you want. Same exact thing as when Mario Andretti complained about the amount of F1 overtaking versus Indycar, as if you could compare overtaking capabilities of non-spec cars to fully spec cars, it's never ever going to be achieved whatever you try.

If F1 opened the doors and said "anyone can attempt to race" like in the pre-qualifying era, AND also kill off the mandated 2 car per team rule, you would not have 20 cars each race.

IndyCar on the other hand HAS "free for all" policy, yet have had trouble attracting 33 relatively cheap spec cars for what they describe as the biggest race in the world.

The current agreement between F1 and the FIA allows for up to to 12 teams and 24 cars. However, it's set to remain at 10. Back in 2014 F1 had a 22 car field, so my comment was more of an observation than a comparison.

Mario Andretti's complaint was about F1's direction and heavy reliance on aero and how it is adversely affecting racing, particularly overtaking; something F1 fans and there are plenty here at Ten Tenths, are constantly complaining about. IndyCar may be a spec series at the moment but tried out Chevy's and Honda's aero-kits and found they were going to face the same issues F1 is, if they continued with heavy downforce aero-kits and decided to go for a ground effect car instead. The rules are so rigid regarding F1 car design, they might as well be spec cars. The big difference is, F1 happens to have three of the world's biggest road car manufacturers involved, who have vastly bigger budgets than any IndyCar could dream of and yet the racing is poor in comparison.

Indeed, IndyCar has had trouble attracting a 33 car field for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". It was only 10 years ago the series unified with Champ Car, after the near disastrous split back in '96 and it has taken a very long time to rebuild. Plus there isn't all that Philip Morris tobacco money sloshing around anymore and the majority of the big multinational sponsors, decided to go to NASCAR. Anyway, they have a 33+ field this year so fair play too them.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The current agreement between F1 and the FIA allows for up to to 12 teams and 24 cars. However, it's set to remain at 10. Back in 2014 F1 had a 22 car field, so my comment was more of an observation than a comparison.

Mario Andretti's complaint was about F1's direction and heavy reliance on aero and how it is adversely affecting racing, particularly overtaking; something F1 fans and there are plenty here at Ten Tenths, are constantly complaining about. IndyCar may be a spec series at the moment but tried out Chevy's and Honda's aero-kits and found they were going to face the same issues F1 is, if they continued with heavy downforce aero-kits and decided to go for a ground effect car instead. The rules are so rigid regarding F1 car design, they might as well be spec cars. The big difference is, F1 happens to have three of the world's biggest road car manufacturers involved, who have vastly bigger budgets than any IndyCar could dream of and yet the racing is poor in comparison.

Indeed, IndyCar has had trouble attracting a 33 car field for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". It was only 10 years ago the series unified with Champ Car, after the near disastrous split back in '96 and it has taken a very long time to rebuild. Plus there isn't all that Philip Morris tobacco money sloshing around anymore and the majority of the big multinational sponsors, decided to go to NASCAR. Anyway, they have a 33+ field this year so fair play too them.

It theoretically agrees more cars than the current 20, but a new team can't just walk in, they have to go through long and tedious entry submit process and ratification that not only takes forever but which the FIA can outright deny if they wish. Also added in to what I already said that unless you have a situation where chassis is flat out destroyed or something in force majeure situation, you have to enter each race with mandated strict 2 cars, and you can't cherry pick events or start the season from wherever (like the (admittedly joke of a project) USF1 requested and was rejected)). I wish it wasn't like that, and there was flexibility like in the prequalifying era, but what can you do

For the second paragraph, I refer to what Nick Daman said on the subject on Midweek Motorsport episode 12.

I think having trouble attracting 33 cars would have been less of an embarrasment if there really was more of an open formula and acquiring cars wasn't easy peacy as it is with Dallara's endless supply. However as you said, kudos to them for having some bumping this year at least...

[fieldodreams79]

Regardless of car counts, who builds the cars and who enters them, the last few years of this race have been absolutely spectacular and awe inspiring to watch. If you don't like the on track product because of some aspects of the off track leading up to the event, then don't watch.

[Deleted]

It's a good event and I watch it every year, but that doesn't automatically mean I should blindly love and/or accept as face value every aspect of it. Just I don't like every aspect of Le Mans either (LMGTE, track sanitation, cowarding out of wet weather, spec rules etc) even though it's my favorite race in the world bar none and missing it would be a catastrophe. The "don't like it, don't watch it" argument is old and tired, as if watching & accepting and not watching & not accepting are the only two options imaginable

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's a good event and I watch it every year, but that doesn't automatically mean I should blindly love and/or accept as face value every aspect of it. Just I don't like every aspect of Le Mans either (LMGTE, track sanitation, cowarding out of wet weather, spec rules etc) even though it's my favorite race in the world bar none and missing it would be a catastrophe. The "don't like it, don't watch it" argument is old and tired, as if watching & accepting and not watching & not accepting are the only two options imaginable

Nope, but at the risk of getting banned or points, your pedantic useless and often ill informed opinions are even worse and getting insanely old. And a reason why, almost single handedly, I rarely read the sportscar thread any longer. Sorry, but YOUR only personal options are too watch or not watch. Your opinions are immaterial to the owners and teams of Indy outside of turning the TV off. By watching the racing are implicitly accepting everything about Indy including the rules, cars, teams and tracks. Hate to be the one to tell you, but your forum opinion has all the value of cow dung to them.

And as far as quoting a VERY misinformed Mr. Damon above, sorry there as multiple teams who would tell you that Indy is not a buy a car and enter the series deal. There are limits on the engines and without an engine that's the point?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's a good event and I watch it every year, but that doesn't automatically mean I should blindly love and/or accept as face value every aspect of it. Just I don't like every aspect of Le Mans either (LMGTE, track sanitation, cowarding out of wet weather, spec rules etc) even though it's my favorite race in the world bar none and missing it would be a catastrophe. The "don't like it, don't watch it" argument is old and tired, as if watching & accepting and not watching & not accepting are the only two options imaginable

Pining on about the minutiae of every form of motor racing is old and tiring, too, don't you think?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Chiana

For the second paragraph, I refer to what Nick Daman said on the subject on Midweek Motorsport episode 12.

I think having trouble attracting 33 cars would have been less of an embarrasment if there really was more of an open formula and acquiring cars wasn't easy peacy as it is with Dallara's endless supply. However as you said, kudos to them for having some bumping this year at least...

Is that what Nick Daman said? If so he's either failing to appreciate, or he doesn't understand how difficult the last 10 years have been, since unification.

Everyone would like to see a return to an open formula, with multiple chassis and engines, like in the CART era. However, there just isn't the money at this stage for an open formula. Hopefully, the new aero-kit will produce the close, competitive racing IndyCar needs, in order to attract the money needed to eventually create a more open series but it won't happen over night.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Pining on about the minutiae of every form of motor racing is old and tiring, too, don't you think?

100% correct.

And broadrun96 isn't alone with his most recent post. I stopped reading sportscar thread over a year ago and show up there only occasionally. There were too many motorsport-SJW's whining about the 'metaphysics' of GT racing and how everything used to be better.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hildebrand gets the second DRR seat.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/135361

[bjohnsonsmith]

The entry list is up to 35.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/135386