The Starting Grid for the 91st Indianapolis 500

[Knowlesy]

Well, it is surely best not to rise to that kind of thing if you feel it is unfair?

Doesn't bother me personally mind you.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

It is very sad, but it doesn't pay to have it rammed down your throat all the time.

Not sure if anyone was ramming it down anyones throat. The figures were only provided, not much else.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by FIRE

A shame the race ended already at lap 166 because of the rain but with Franchitti they have a good winner. Congrats to him.

BTW In Holland they showed the full race.

Of course the race would have gone the full distance - or at least nearer, had not the last ten on the grid been such stiffs - perhaps some over the hill, some inexperienced, but stiffs none-the-less.

This was one of the best fields in a long time through the top half of the grid, and they generally succeeded in giving us a very good race - when the tail-end-ten weren't running into walls.

http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?op...=125&Itemid=71

[JohnSSC]

I would put forward that if you looked at the back ten in the early CART years you would find even bigger stiffs than the last ten this year. Further, while Moreno and Al Jr might be past it, they are not now and never were stiffs.

Can you say: "Pat Bedard?"

[ensign14]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Can you say: "Pat Bedard?"

Yes, I think Emmo learnt his name as well as one of the drivers who outqualified him in 1984.

[deejay]

It's always disheartening to me how American open-wheel discussion boards always center around the relative politics/popularity of the "other guys" rather than the actual racing. Ten-Tenths is one of the few "neutral" respites from that. Let's keep it that way eh?

</high horse>

[JohnSSC]

There will always be moments when the stiffs do better than expected...

[ensign14]

I know...and I suppose hanging it together for 4 laps on your tod is different to 200 laps with 32 others...but I still find it quite amusing that on one weekend at least Bedard was faster than Emmo.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by deejay

It's always disheartening to me how American open-wheel discussion boards always center around the relative politics/popularity of the "other guys" rather than the actual racing. Ten-Tenths is one of the few "neutral" respites from that. Let's keep it that way eh?

</high horse>

I have no such perspective. Mine is NOT that the "other guys" are better as a group. They aren't. Simply that when you split a group of drivers into two, you dilute each of those groups and the bottom of the grid on one side is less capable. If you add the two together, you push this year's last ten off the grid - most of them anyway. Who you replace them with is the likes of Bourdais, for instance. That perspective doesn't take sides at all, nor does it "fault" anyone. It is what it is. If you have one series in North America (take your pick), you have a better race at Indianapolis. Period.

It's as valid an editorial point of view, AFAIK, to comment on the weakness of a part of the entry as it is to comment on the strength of another. I said that the front of this grid - through a dozen or more - was as competitive as ever, or more so. This point of view is no different than saying a football league is strong at the top, but very weak at the bottom - for whatever reason - as apposed to one that is pretty competitive throughout. Here is what was written...in full.

If you can "draft" the best ten from the "other guys" to Indy, then you have a better race. Less cautions. Period. If you read "relative politics/popularity of the other guys into that, you're trying way too hard.