In the coming weekend in St. Petersburg (Florida, USA) will start 21 th season has wide popularity in the United States «formulaic» IndyCar Series racing. In contrast to the «pro-European», «Formula 1», the IndyCar calendar is very tight: the race will take place from March to September, often having a break just one week. Limited its geography «Indie», however, is very popular and in the Old World, and for some time now and Russian motorsport fans have the opportunity to fully follow the races in the United States, thanks to the broadcasts in Russian and Russian-speaking Internet resources. All stakeholders, including the press and the audience eagerly awaiting the start of the race, under the impression from last season, which was how interesting and equally tragic.
This fan of the racing circuit, which has seen at least one race of the IndyCar, are unlikely to be able to refuse to follow this series. Even an ardent supporter of «Formula 1» race seeing «Indy», recognize with regret that the «product» Bernie is no longer one: and «chew» with difficulty «and tends to sleep. Pilots „Formula 1“ often find their place in American racing teams, and back them have probably not felt. Juan Pablo Montoya, who spent six years in the „Formula 1“, dreams of the IndyCar champion title, which floated away from him in the last race of the season in the final round. It is difficult to remember when this affair happened in the „Formula 1“ in recent years.
Montoya was leading in the course of the season, won the prestigious race, «500 miles of Indianapolis,» the title he was almost in his hands, but as they say the pilots: «This is — the race is — motor racing», and Juan Pablo for about ten laps goodbye to the title, giving it to Scott Dixon. At the end of the arrival, as soon as Montoya left his car, for him, it seemed with some caution, came commentator. It was impossible to look without emotion and experiences on the pilot. He could abandon the short interview, but still found the strength to say a few words. They were sad and unshakable confidence to continue the fight for the title this season. Montoya «increased», he is no longer the hot-tempered and «rowdy» Latino, known for skiing in the «big prizes» that much on how it behaves on the road, and on how to talk to the press. We can say with confidence: Juan Pablo starting from the first race of the new season will try to make sure that his fate is not decided at the last lap of the last race.
Last year was marred by a large number of heavy racing incidents, one of which ended with the death of the pilot. The oval at Pocono was the last track for Justin Wilson in the helmet which was a piece of the car Sage Karam. The pilot received a head injury and died in hospital. Justin was 37 years old... As commentators write, considering how terrible accidents happened during the season of 2015, the death of someone from the racers seemed imminent. Unfortunately, it happened. The irony, Wilson killed chip car racing «bully» Karam, whose acrobatics criticized just about anything during the season. His manner of piloting even caused the appearance of a special «Code of Conduct», which is a set of rules analysis of various incidents on the track. However, once a series of bosses said they do not intend to intervene in the fighting pilots, and «code» does not serve the «quencher emotions» in the series.
The reason for the large number of accidents, including a rather strange in many ways served as a new aerodynamic body kit. The organizers of the series had already during the season to make changes to the regulations. Flexibility, which may be taken in the IndyCar scale solutions, very happy. Also, positive emotions is the fact that innovation is really useful. The organizers manage to somehow keep the line between the complexity of the technical and sporting regulations and the flexibility and dynamism of the whole series as a whole. This is just something that clearly does not work in the message of the years the organizers of «Formula 1», when every innovation rather complicates the situation in a given area than solves the problem. For example, discussions about the closed-kok pita bread are in the IndyCar, but there is some confidence that this will happen soon, if ever, happens. Nevertheless, it seems that for the moment it remains true to the spirit of IndyCar racing «Formula», which does not interfere with racing letter of the law.
After returning to IndyCar in 2012 engines badged Chevrolet, appeared in a series of competition between minders again. The chassis is still building Dallara, but had a chance to acquire or develop themselves aerodynamic. The IndyCar has clear financial constraints as well as a series of preferential packages that restrains «race budgets» and cuts off the team with the limited means at the same time equating all — and «poor» and «rich» — the right to really compete for the leadership position. In the new season, we made some adjustments to the technical and sporting regulations. In particular it concerns the order of the race, «500 miles of Indianapolis,» the rate of change in the pit lane on oval tracks (50 km / h), as well as some technical adjustments for the car with the aerodynamics of the Honda. Changes have taken place in a series of leadership. At the post race director will be working J. Fry — the former head of the Red Bull Nascar. Derrick Walker resigned of their own accord after two years as head of IndyCar racing.
Gabby Chaves testing the car, behind the wheel was soon sit Mikhail Aleshin.
Russian fans of motorsport in the upcoming season will once again cheer for Mikhail Aleshin, who successfully debuted in the IndyCar in 2014. Last season Michael had to miss due to circumstances beyond his control, and in the paddock «Indy» really sorry that he can not act in 2015. Aleshin missed two series of pre-season testing due to the fact that the US authorities were not able to arrange the appropriate visa to him. But there is confidence that the Russian pilot to quickly enter into the rhythm of competition and again will delight fans of cool and colorful aerobatics. Michael will play for the team Schmidt Peterson Motorsport supported by SMP Racing domestic racing program. At a press conference the head of the SMP Racing Boris Rotenberg did not rule out that the IndyCar can come to Russia. But no specifics on this issue yet.
Calendar IndyCar in 2016 consists of 15 stages. Racing will take place from 13 March to 18 September on the three types of ring road (five stages in each): urban route, the circuit and oval. The main event of the season will be the hundredth race, «500 miles of Indianapolis» (oval), which will be held May 29. Outside the United States — Canada — will take place only one race: IndyCar will stage the city highway in Toronto on July 17. In Russia, the live race it will be possible to look at Viasat Sport channel with commentary in Russian.
Photos: Chris Owns / IndyCar Series, John Cote / IndyCar Series, Chris Jones / IndyCar Series
