Just came back from the race...

[BD]

It was great. Here are my observations:
-The Honda's SCREAM. They are surely the loudest. Very high pitched.
-Takuma Sato is not as good as I thought. I had a great view of T1, T2, T3, and T4. Into T4 he let off very early, turned in too soon, and couldnt carry his speed through the corner. He is very twitchy, constantly correcting. I was a fan of his, but now less so.
-The Ferrari's have amazing grip. (no surprise)
-N. Heidfeld's engine made strange grrrrrrr noises.
-G.Fisichella is very smooth, though he made a few mistakes, screwing up his line.
-Mark Webber is awesome. I was very impressed.
-J. Villeneuve and O. Panis drive almost exactly the same line.(T1-T4 at least)
-Alex Yoong makes numerous silly mistakes. (no suprise)
-Everybody loves Montoya.
-The track is great.
-Indianapolis sucks.

[Liz]

The Ferrari's [sic] have great grip

Well, it was my impression that at least one of the Ferrari pilots LOST his grip this weekend.

[Bibendum]

BD, I too was there -- on a grassy knoll (though without rifle) by the last turn onto the banking, with a view of those absurd S/hairpins and the tiny straight that follows them. It sounds as though you were where I was the last two years -- up in stand J? This time I settled for the $35 general admission ticket.

Anyway, your observation about the Hondas is spot on, and it seemed especially true of the BAR configuration. The McLaren howl seemed less distinctive this year. The Saubers sound, yes, rather restrained. The Jags make a nice roar, appropriately enough. And something about the way the Ferraris looked as they circulated made it feel as though they were putting in less effort for the same result. Remarkable.