Last weekend in Detroit street circuit located on the island of Belle Ile (Bell Island), was a double stage of IndyCar. On Saturday and Sunday the audience could watch the exciting races on the very bumpy track championship, more like a washboard. To withstand the shaking at a speed exceeding 200 km / h and it was not easy for the drivers and for the cars. Qualifications both times Simon Pagenaud won, but the victory went to Sebastian Bourdais (Saturday) and Will Power (Sunday).
Racing through the park in Detroit are among the most complex in the IndyCar modern calendar. If the route is flat, it can be compared with similar routes in Canada and Australia. But even after the repair of the road at Belle Ile remained in a terrible state. Concrete floor seats uniform, crumble or a wave, and, despite this, the repair been only part of the track. The official IndyCar schedule, there is no dual-stage in Detroit, and two different stages on one track with an interval of 24 hours. Each stage is preceded by a skilled and well points are awarded for each race, both separate. Even on the website of the series, these steps are listed as separate, which could mislead the fans who do not see the schedule of the weekend completely on the same page.
The first race. In general check-in can be described as reasonably cautious. Break the car on the curb, holding risky overtaking was not interested. If the car and went, the reason was not initially in a dangerous piloting, and in the car to malfunction. However, the human factor played a role. His losing holder of pole position and championship leader Simon Pagenaud owe more to his staff, who chose the wrong strategy of pit stops. And, on the other hand, Sébastien Bourdais won, thanks in part to the competent scheduled stops.
The competition started with the fact that Jack Hoksuorta (A.J. Foyt Enterprises) have problems with the car, and it almost immediately eliminated from the race. No sooner had the race start, both through three rounds of the back of the field went to change the soft slicks on hard. But leaders headed by Simon Pagenaud continued to move around the track. The first victim of «washboard» was Max Chilton (Chip Ganassi Racing): It seems, on his car broke down suspension. Again, the first three of the pilots did not go to the pit stop, while a significant part of the back of the field took advantage of yellow flags and was visited by his mechanics. At the 15th round took place on the restart, and after 10 laps the leaders went to «change one's shoes.» In general, the race in the pit-stop on lap 25–26 after launch — the standard of the race strategy in Detroit. Probably, some teams have not considered the first stop of the riders through three rounds and not take into account the work of rivals with the appearance of yellow flags.
On the 42-lap James Hinchcliffe (Schmidt Peterson Motorsport) moored to the enclosure of waste tires. He was very annoyed by the accident and vented their anger on the steering wheel. Scenes from «emotional yield» Hinchcliffe was repeated several times. Under yellow flags maneuvers in the pit lane again began, and Will Power (Team Penske) parked his car in a dangerous impasse. The cause of the accident began to unscrew the nut fastening of a wheel. And before that he almost sent his team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya in the fence. It is worth noting that no team orders in the IndyCar no. On the track, each driver for itself, at everyone — the team of engineers, a strategist and its race. 56th round was the last battle for Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing). Problems with the car forced him to return slowly to the pits.
Sebastien Bourdais (KVSH Racing) celebrated the victory. The second to finish came Conor Daly (Chip Ganassi Racing), third — Juan Pablo Montoya (Team Penske).
Bad luck for the Russian pilot IndyCar Mikhail Aleshin (Schmidt Peterson Motorsport —SMP Racing), seem to be continuing. Reasons for optimism before each race has —Mikhail shows good results in practice and qualifying. But the race did not go. Almost the entire race Russian driver teetered on the edge of the top ten, there was even one time in the fifth position and was able to finish about 8–10 place. But in the sixties circles Aleshin suddenly disappeared out of sight of the cameras, and timing revealed that he went to see a mechanic. It later emerged that Tony Kanaan, nicknamed «Long Nose» drove into the back of the car and the Russian pilot broke his wheel. As a result, Michael finished only 15th.
The second race looked a little livelier first. If on Saturday the riders were not inclined to risk much, then on Sunday the situation has changed. In the current «Formula 1» every overtaking becomes almost a reason to news and understands thoroughly. If IndyCar analyze each pass, then it will take a lot of time. Even on such a difficult track in Detroit, in the second race there was no shortage of poignant moments.
Pilots use every reasonable opportunity very actively attacked by someone successful, someone not very.
Yellow flags appeared on the track immediately after the start. From the race immediately dropped Max Chilton and James Hinchcliffe by a serious blockage. Takuma Sato and Marco Andretti have damaged their cars. Simon Pagenaud, again won the qualifications, could keep the lead, but could not, as on Saturday to win the race. However, it it was not very necessary. Pagenaud finished second, and ahead of all its major competitors in the fight for the lead in the championship.
Fatal bad luck, in addition to Mikhail Aleshin, seems to pursue and Juan Pablo Montoya. In the area of the 24th lap he collided with Scott Dixon and damaged the car, but on the 35th lap made a mistake and crashed the car completely.
Sebastien Bourdais in the second race, probably planning to repeat his Saturday strategy, and make a double victory. But his plans for the 50-lap safety car intervened. After the restart, Bourdais was in the lead, but he still had to call a time in the pit lane. Simon Pagenaud, this time with stops guessing and could have won, but lost the position after the restart and Will Power finished second.
Mikhail Aleshin perfectly qualified in fifth position and held it for about 15 laps. Then he lost the battle to Scott Dixon and Juan Pablo Montoya, and gradually began to «fall» deeper into the back of the field. Yellow flag on the 40th lap knocked Aleshin schedule, and on the 56th the Russian pilot had to call in to the mechanics of a problem with the safety belts.
After the race, Aleshin wrote in the social network: «It is not easy to go to the race with straps undone, I tell you...» The comments people in the know have confirmed that flying in such conditions, similar to a feat, especially considering the unevenness of the track. But it is clear that this is a very safe, and the problem needed to be solved somehow in the pit lane. As a result, Michael finished in 17 th position.
In the coming weekend at Texas Motor Speedway oval will be the next stage of IndyCar. The pilots will spend the night race.
Photos Chris Owens, Chris Jones, Bert Kelly, broadcast
