I had the pleasure of seeing Turbo last weekend, and I was not disappointed. It actually was better than I expected. I laughed out loud numerous times, and I'm an adult! I was afraid the previews had given too much of the movie away, but that wasn't the case. Turbo really is a must-watch for all IndyCar fans, children, and anyone who ever had a dream that someone criticized.
I'm sure everyone knows the storyline by now: a racing-obsessed snail who calls himself Turbo has a freak accident and suddenly gains blistering speed. His snail brother and "co-workers" think he's weird and should spend his days keeping the garden intact rather than dreaming of racing. But he sets on a quest to participate in the Indy 500. The story's message for kids is nothing we haven't heard before: "Follow your dreams, no matter what others tell you." But it bears repeating for today's youth I think. One of my colleagues is currently doing a speaking tour across the nation encouraging people to follow their dreams. She thinks people, particularly young college students, have forgotten how to or don't want to dream anymore. This movie hits on that message, and it also points out how critical people are nowadays, especially of each other. Turbo's brother, voiced by Paul Giamatti, thinks he's showing brotherly love by talking some sense into him, but it comes across as harsh criticism for being different. I think no matter what age you are, you can relate to that experience. So the "follow your dreams" mantra may not be original, but it's still timeless.
As for the racing and depiction of IndyCar, I think this is Turbo's biggest strength. Keep in mind that you have to suspend disbelief when you watch this movie. It's a cartoon but also has elements of realism. I couldn't help but gaze in awe at the accurate and spectacular way DreamWorks has captured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the thrills of racing. They really did a phenomenal job, and I do recommend seeing the movie in 3D to feel the full effects. After I left the theater, I wondered two things: 1) when am I going to get that Snoop Dogg/Lion song out of my head? (seriously, it's catchy) and 2) how long until the Indy 500? It just made me want to watch a real race! And unfortunately IndyCar is off until August 4, darn it!
Will Turbo bring us a new crop of IndyCar fans? Time will tell, but I'm sure there's at least a few kids out there whose interest was piqued. Unfortunately I think the beneficiary of the movie's release will be NASCAR, because they're the ones racing at IMS this weekend. But this movie gives some much-needed exposure to IndyCar and reminds naysayers that IndyCar racing is still some of the most exciting entertainment out there. If I was in marketing, I would release Turbo on DVD for Christmas, but then again in May as an "Indy 500 special edition." I wish Turbo had been released over Memorial Day weekend instead of now, so you could have that sort of mutually beneficial cross-marketing.
Speaking of NASCAR, word broke this week that NBC would begin covering them in 2015 instead of ESPN and TNT. While I think this is great for NASCAR because NBC's motorsports coverage (and their coverage of live sporting events in general) is far superior to ESPN's, I think it signals doom for ESPN. Not only is Fox Sports debuting a new 24-hour sports channel on August 17, ESPN has now lost bids to broadcast the Olympics, NHL, UFC, and NASCAR. (And three of those organizations chose NBC.) Clearly ESPN is not the sports superpower they once were, and I for one could not be happier. My opinion of ESPN has really changed in the last few years, since their coverage turned more sensational and football-dominated. I now turn to other sports channels (MLB Network is my fave) and websites for my sports news. I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment.
NBC's winning bid should mean good things for IndyCar. For one, NBC will be able to advertise upcoming IndyCar races during NASCAR events, and that's a key target audience to reach. NBCSN may even be able to do some racing doubleheaders, with IndyCar followed by NASCAR or vice versa. It should also give NBCSN more visibility. This deal is still a year and a half away, but I'm optimistic that it will have a positive impact on IndyCar.
And now, since we have to wait another week for an IndyCar event, why not go see Turbo? I highly recommend it, and it's a great way to get your IndyCar fix while they're away!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
TOtal Dixon Domination
Happy Turbo Day! Many of us IndyCar fans have waited a long time for this day. I plan to see the movie within the next week, and I'll post a review after I've seen it. So far the reviews are mixed, so we'll see. Already I'm noticing some issues with the release. Entertainment Weekly mistakenly identified the racing in the movie as NASCAR, which ticks me off, along with other IndyCar fans I'm sure. Please, reviewers, get it right--NASCAR was in Cars. Turbo features IndyCars.
Now, let's look back on last weekend's doubleheader in Toronto, an event that certainly did not lack drama...at least on Saturday. Sunday could've used some more drama in my opinion. To recap...
All the hype and publicity over the standing start quickly evaporated into a collaborative public outcry when the start was aborted due to Josef Newgarden's car issues. Wow, were fans in a tizzy when this happened. Fans in attendance booed Newgarden, as if it was his fault there was no standing start. And fans on Twitter erupted in anger, demanding (and ultimately getting) a re-do on Sunday. To me, it was no big deal. We had been warned ahead of time that if the standing start was not successful on the first try, it would be aborted. After witnessing the lackluster beginning to Sunday's race, I have to say rolling starts are much more interesting. But kudos to IndyCar for trying something different.
Kudos also to Sebastien Bourdais for finally earning a spot on the podium--twice. He nearly won Race 1 , too, but after using up all his Push-to-Passes and finishing on reds, it was only a matter of time before Dixon passed him for the lead. Unfortunately, Bourdais' good weekend was overshadowed by his podium oops--dropping and shattering the crystal trophy he'd just earned. Really, I can't fault him for that blooper. I would've thought the trophy was attached to the base, as most trophies are. But he gave us a humorous moment on a day that needed some by the end of it.
Will Power made an aggressive move on Dario Franchitti late in the race, in Turn 3 once again, and Power met doom once again, ending up in the tires. I think we all know what happened next. After reviewing the move, race control decided Dario was blocking Will, and they took away his podium finish--after he had posed for pictures and just as he was getting ready to participate in the champagne toast. Later, Dario's finish was reinstated after Derrick Walker reviewed the move on different monitors, with apparently more advanced technology than they have in race control. Most fans attributed this embarrassing turn of events to Brian Barnhart, who was subbing for Beaux Barfield, and it doesn't seem to be concidence that controversy followed Barnhart's return to officiating. I'll say this about the move: I'm no fan of Dario's but he didn't deserve to be penalized. Sato's moves in Sao Paulo were much more egregious and nothing was called on him. So while IndyCar ended up with egg on their faces, they eventually took the correct action. All this drama was an unfortunate conclusion to a race that featured a lot of action and passing. However, NASCAR fans love this kind of drama, right? So maybe IndyCar needs more of this?
More drama emerged on Sunday when Dario was allowed to run only one lap on red tires, even though the rules stipulate you must run at least two laps. Again, this turned out in Dario's favor because of a new "doubleheader rule" that allows for exceptions just in case a team runs out of tires. I think IndyCar needs to rethink that one. If you can't run a mere two laps on reds you don't deserve to finish in fourth place. Part of me wonders if they just let it slide because they felt bad about interrupting his podium celebration on Saturday.
What a weekend to forget for Andretti Autosport. Ryan Hunter-Reay had pit problems on Saturday, and crashed late in the race on Sunday to take a big hit in the points. James Hinchcliffe couldn't even get on the starting grid on Sunday, which was hugely disappointing to the home crowd. These complications, coupled with their underwhelming qualifying effort, shifted the IndyCar tides. Ganassi and Penske appear to be coming on strong again, while Andretti appears headed in the opposite direction.
I'll be honest, Sunday's race bored me. Perhaps I was doubleheadered out. Perhaps I had higher expectations because Saturday's race had been so exciting, and perhaps I was less than thrilled to see Dixon win again, but I think that race ranks up there with Texas as the worst one of the year. I attribute the lack of excitement to two things: one, Ganassi and Honda finally figuring things out (hence, Dixon's runaway win), and two, the standing start. The standing start seemed to immediately spread out the field, leading to little passing and a Formula-One-style race. But if I'm to believe fans' comments on Twitter and elsewhere, the standing start was amazing and should be retained. I have to respectfully disagree. It was an experiment, great. But the rolling starts allow for much more excitement. It's like the old adage says: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Overall, the weekend belonged to Scott Dixon and he deserves major congratulations for his accomplishments in IndyCar. With his victory in race 1 and his dominating performance in race 2, he has now won three races in a row and really shaken up the championship standings. As the schedule gets a long three-week layoff now, it's difficult to say anyone has momentum, but the pendulum definitely seems to be swinging Dixon's way.
Other Random Race Notes:
Takuma Sato finished in last place on Saturday. Hmm, karma after Pocono's debacle?...Loved having Steve Matchett in the NBCSN booth. He added humor, insight, and intelligence to the commentary. The trio of Matchett, Leigh Diffey, and Townsend Bell is a winning combination...Carlos Munoz impressed again, stepping in for an injured Ryan Briscoe at the last minute. And lastly, extra special get-well wishes for daddy-to-be Briscoe!
Now, let's look back on last weekend's doubleheader in Toronto, an event that certainly did not lack drama...at least on Saturday. Sunday could've used some more drama in my opinion. To recap...
All the hype and publicity over the standing start quickly evaporated into a collaborative public outcry when the start was aborted due to Josef Newgarden's car issues. Wow, were fans in a tizzy when this happened. Fans in attendance booed Newgarden, as if it was his fault there was no standing start. And fans on Twitter erupted in anger, demanding (and ultimately getting) a re-do on Sunday. To me, it was no big deal. We had been warned ahead of time that if the standing start was not successful on the first try, it would be aborted. After witnessing the lackluster beginning to Sunday's race, I have to say rolling starts are much more interesting. But kudos to IndyCar for trying something different.
Kudos also to Sebastien Bourdais for finally earning a spot on the podium--twice. He nearly won Race 1 , too, but after using up all his Push-to-Passes and finishing on reds, it was only a matter of time before Dixon passed him for the lead. Unfortunately, Bourdais' good weekend was overshadowed by his podium oops--dropping and shattering the crystal trophy he'd just earned. Really, I can't fault him for that blooper. I would've thought the trophy was attached to the base, as most trophies are. But he gave us a humorous moment on a day that needed some by the end of it.
Will Power made an aggressive move on Dario Franchitti late in the race, in Turn 3 once again, and Power met doom once again, ending up in the tires. I think we all know what happened next. After reviewing the move, race control decided Dario was blocking Will, and they took away his podium finish--after he had posed for pictures and just as he was getting ready to participate in the champagne toast. Later, Dario's finish was reinstated after Derrick Walker reviewed the move on different monitors, with apparently more advanced technology than they have in race control. Most fans attributed this embarrassing turn of events to Brian Barnhart, who was subbing for Beaux Barfield, and it doesn't seem to be concidence that controversy followed Barnhart's return to officiating. I'll say this about the move: I'm no fan of Dario's but he didn't deserve to be penalized. Sato's moves in Sao Paulo were much more egregious and nothing was called on him. So while IndyCar ended up with egg on their faces, they eventually took the correct action. All this drama was an unfortunate conclusion to a race that featured a lot of action and passing. However, NASCAR fans love this kind of drama, right? So maybe IndyCar needs more of this?
More drama emerged on Sunday when Dario was allowed to run only one lap on red tires, even though the rules stipulate you must run at least two laps. Again, this turned out in Dario's favor because of a new "doubleheader rule" that allows for exceptions just in case a team runs out of tires. I think IndyCar needs to rethink that one. If you can't run a mere two laps on reds you don't deserve to finish in fourth place. Part of me wonders if they just let it slide because they felt bad about interrupting his podium celebration on Saturday.
What a weekend to forget for Andretti Autosport. Ryan Hunter-Reay had pit problems on Saturday, and crashed late in the race on Sunday to take a big hit in the points. James Hinchcliffe couldn't even get on the starting grid on Sunday, which was hugely disappointing to the home crowd. These complications, coupled with their underwhelming qualifying effort, shifted the IndyCar tides. Ganassi and Penske appear to be coming on strong again, while Andretti appears headed in the opposite direction.
I'll be honest, Sunday's race bored me. Perhaps I was doubleheadered out. Perhaps I had higher expectations because Saturday's race had been so exciting, and perhaps I was less than thrilled to see Dixon win again, but I think that race ranks up there with Texas as the worst one of the year. I attribute the lack of excitement to two things: one, Ganassi and Honda finally figuring things out (hence, Dixon's runaway win), and two, the standing start. The standing start seemed to immediately spread out the field, leading to little passing and a Formula-One-style race. But if I'm to believe fans' comments on Twitter and elsewhere, the standing start was amazing and should be retained. I have to respectfully disagree. It was an experiment, great. But the rolling starts allow for much more excitement. It's like the old adage says: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Overall, the weekend belonged to Scott Dixon and he deserves major congratulations for his accomplishments in IndyCar. With his victory in race 1 and his dominating performance in race 2, he has now won three races in a row and really shaken up the championship standings. As the schedule gets a long three-week layoff now, it's difficult to say anyone has momentum, but the pendulum definitely seems to be swinging Dixon's way.
Other Random Race Notes:
Takuma Sato finished in last place on Saturday. Hmm, karma after Pocono's debacle?...Loved having Steve Matchett in the NBCSN booth. He added humor, insight, and intelligence to the commentary. The trio of Matchett, Leigh Diffey, and Townsend Bell is a winning combination...Carlos Munoz impressed again, stepping in for an injured Ryan Briscoe at the last minute. And lastly, extra special get-well wishes for daddy-to-be Briscoe!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
A Pocono Family Affair
Well after numerous flight delays leading to missed connections and late-arriving luggage, I have finally returned from a visit to the Poconos and Pocono Raceway. I attended the race with my parents (I'm 37 years old so this was quite an accomplishment), so this race recap is divided into two parts: the race itself and the family experience.
First, the race itself was quite enjoyable. The event began auspiciously with Hinch crashing on the first lap, much to my boyfriend's dismay as he had just bought a hat to support his favorite driver (jinxing him, perhaps??). Hinch's year has been feast or famine: he has the most wins of any driver in the series, but he has also finished last or next to last three times. Championships in motorsports tend to reward consistency, which is why Helio continues to lead and why Hinch has now dropped to fifth in the standings. We'll see which James Hinchcliffe shows up in Toronto this weekend, but we know he'll have the full support of the crowd.
After that initial crash, Marco Andretti settled in. He led the most laps and appeared to have the edge early in the race, but once again, he could not sustain the lead. That seems to be the story of Marco's season: He starts well but cannot finish strong. This time, he lost the lead because of poor pit strategy. Grandpa Mario Andretti even admitted that his crew played it "too conservatively," pitting earlier than anyone else in the lead group and ultimately leading to Marco running out of gas immediately after crossing the finish line. Marco was definitely the crowd favorite, and we would have heard a TK-winning-Indy-like roar if he would have held on and won, but Honda and Ganassi had other ideas.
Speaking of TK, depending on your point of view, it was either bad luck or bad driving that cost him this win and a shot at the Triple Crown. He made a bold, aggressive move on Scott Dixon but clipped Dixon's wheel and had to change his front wing. That move cost him a shot at the win or at least a top-five finish, but we'll never know for sure how much his car would have held on because the Chevys were not as strong as the Hondas this time. You can't blame TK for going for it; $1 million was on the line! Now, however, we have two drivers going for $250,000 at Fontana, which adds even more intrigue.
That other driver who will be going for $250K is Scott Dixon, who really came out of nowhere to win this race. Even he acknowledged the win was a surprise. I was watching the race and I still can't explain how he got to the front. He did it steadily and quietly. (I was also pleasantly surprised to see Josef Newgarden cross the finish line in fifth place; he is really showing nice growth and improvement in his sophomore season.) Team Ganassi waited a long time to get their first win of the season, and they announced their arrival with a bang. Sweeping the podium? Extremely impressive. All of the Ganassi cars pitted at the same time, so it was evident they strategized and worked together effectively. This was truly a team effort, and even more surprising given Andretti's dominance in qualifying and the woeful season Ganassi has had so far.
The week off between races definitely seemed to benefit Honda. The Hondas got better fuel mileage and performance at Pocono than they've had all year, so whatever changes they made during the week really paid off. Will Power's fourth-place finish was the only Chevy in the top seven. Now, as we move on to the road and street courses once again, where Honda has already had some success this year, you have to wonder if Chevy will be the one lagging behind.
The most memorable image from Pocono for me, though, will be Takuma Sato running over Ryan Hunter-Reay in pit lane. I watched it unfold as it happened, and Sato was just way too fast entering the pits, as RHR was trying to get to his pit stall. I was angry with Sato, I can only imagine RHR's frustration. RHR was running second at the time, and he looked to be in contention for the win and perhaps even first place in the points standings. But Sato quickly ruined his day. Just when you think Sato has it all figured out, he makes a boneheaded move and reminds us that he's still "Captain Crash." It's one of the most unfortunate, frustrating things about racing that your good day can be completely wiped out by someone else's mistake. RHR had this happen to him last year, too, when Alex Tagliani ran into him at Sonoma, and he still won the championship, so his year is not over yet. If anyone has shown he has the ability to overcome bad starts and poor results, it's Hunter-Reay. But boy it will be a shame if he loses the championship by just a few points.
All in all, I would say IndyCar's return to Pocono was a success. It was not the best race of the year, but it also wasn't the worst. I would like to see more cars on the track, since it is so big and wide, and I would also like to see this race go 500 miles in the future. But I was impressed that the drivers handled a new, tricky track with few incidents, and I liked how strategy played a role in the results. I've been reading fans' comments on social media and in local news articles, and it seems that the overwhelming majority were pleased with the race. I actually can't remember seeing and hearing so much positive rhetoric following an IndyCar race. Brandon Igdalsky did a terrific job promoting the race, and IndyCar at Pocono Raceway seems to be a mutually beneficial partnership, so hopefully they will stay there for many more years to come.
Now, on to my family. I can tell you honestly that my parents, even though they live close to the track, will not be back next year, and it has nothing to do with IndyCar. It was very hot and sunny, and the traffic was not as well-managed as it could have been (Igdalsky addressed this in a statement following the race). I'm used to those conditions at races and sporting events, but this was my parents' first professional race of any kind so I think they would have preferred to sit at home in the air-conditioning, away from the crowds and the traffic. I think they enjoyed the race for the most part, and I know they liked the displays and activities in the fan village, but that is not enough for them to return. My dad is rather high-strung, and he couldn't wait to leave as soon as Dixon crossed the finish line. That disappointed me greatly. I am not nor will ever be the type of fan who leaves a sporting event early, or even immediately following its conclusion. I like to stay and watch the celebration, mingle, and take my time leaving, especially when I know I'm just going to sit in traffic anyway. If I do attend this race again, and I hope I do, I doubt my parents will be in attendance with me, and even if they are, I will make sure to drive separately!
I had hoped to make some new IndyCar fans, though, and I think I mildly succeeded at that. My dad was impressed with the speed, and my mom appreciated hearing about some of the drivers and the storylines. At the very least, I exposed IndyCar to people who would not be aware of it otherwise, and they got a glimpse into one of my greatest passions. I would not have attended this race if my parents didn't live so close to the track. Thank you, IndyCar, for coming back to the Poconos.
First, the race itself was quite enjoyable. The event began auspiciously with Hinch crashing on the first lap, much to my boyfriend's dismay as he had just bought a hat to support his favorite driver (jinxing him, perhaps??). Hinch's year has been feast or famine: he has the most wins of any driver in the series, but he has also finished last or next to last three times. Championships in motorsports tend to reward consistency, which is why Helio continues to lead and why Hinch has now dropped to fifth in the standings. We'll see which James Hinchcliffe shows up in Toronto this weekend, but we know he'll have the full support of the crowd.
After that initial crash, Marco Andretti settled in. He led the most laps and appeared to have the edge early in the race, but once again, he could not sustain the lead. That seems to be the story of Marco's season: He starts well but cannot finish strong. This time, he lost the lead because of poor pit strategy. Grandpa Mario Andretti even admitted that his crew played it "too conservatively," pitting earlier than anyone else in the lead group and ultimately leading to Marco running out of gas immediately after crossing the finish line. Marco was definitely the crowd favorite, and we would have heard a TK-winning-Indy-like roar if he would have held on and won, but Honda and Ganassi had other ideas.
Speaking of TK, depending on your point of view, it was either bad luck or bad driving that cost him this win and a shot at the Triple Crown. He made a bold, aggressive move on Scott Dixon but clipped Dixon's wheel and had to change his front wing. That move cost him a shot at the win or at least a top-five finish, but we'll never know for sure how much his car would have held on because the Chevys were not as strong as the Hondas this time. You can't blame TK for going for it; $1 million was on the line! Now, however, we have two drivers going for $250,000 at Fontana, which adds even more intrigue.
That other driver who will be going for $250K is Scott Dixon, who really came out of nowhere to win this race. Even he acknowledged the win was a surprise. I was watching the race and I still can't explain how he got to the front. He did it steadily and quietly. (I was also pleasantly surprised to see Josef Newgarden cross the finish line in fifth place; he is really showing nice growth and improvement in his sophomore season.) Team Ganassi waited a long time to get their first win of the season, and they announced their arrival with a bang. Sweeping the podium? Extremely impressive. All of the Ganassi cars pitted at the same time, so it was evident they strategized and worked together effectively. This was truly a team effort, and even more surprising given Andretti's dominance in qualifying and the woeful season Ganassi has had so far.
The week off between races definitely seemed to benefit Honda. The Hondas got better fuel mileage and performance at Pocono than they've had all year, so whatever changes they made during the week really paid off. Will Power's fourth-place finish was the only Chevy in the top seven. Now, as we move on to the road and street courses once again, where Honda has already had some success this year, you have to wonder if Chevy will be the one lagging behind.
The most memorable image from Pocono for me, though, will be Takuma Sato running over Ryan Hunter-Reay in pit lane. I watched it unfold as it happened, and Sato was just way too fast entering the pits, as RHR was trying to get to his pit stall. I was angry with Sato, I can only imagine RHR's frustration. RHR was running second at the time, and he looked to be in contention for the win and perhaps even first place in the points standings. But Sato quickly ruined his day. Just when you think Sato has it all figured out, he makes a boneheaded move and reminds us that he's still "Captain Crash." It's one of the most unfortunate, frustrating things about racing that your good day can be completely wiped out by someone else's mistake. RHR had this happen to him last year, too, when Alex Tagliani ran into him at Sonoma, and he still won the championship, so his year is not over yet. If anyone has shown he has the ability to overcome bad starts and poor results, it's Hunter-Reay. But boy it will be a shame if he loses the championship by just a few points.
All in all, I would say IndyCar's return to Pocono was a success. It was not the best race of the year, but it also wasn't the worst. I would like to see more cars on the track, since it is so big and wide, and I would also like to see this race go 500 miles in the future. But I was impressed that the drivers handled a new, tricky track with few incidents, and I liked how strategy played a role in the results. I've been reading fans' comments on social media and in local news articles, and it seems that the overwhelming majority were pleased with the race. I actually can't remember seeing and hearing so much positive rhetoric following an IndyCar race. Brandon Igdalsky did a terrific job promoting the race, and IndyCar at Pocono Raceway seems to be a mutually beneficial partnership, so hopefully they will stay there for many more years to come.
Now, on to my family. I can tell you honestly that my parents, even though they live close to the track, will not be back next year, and it has nothing to do with IndyCar. It was very hot and sunny, and the traffic was not as well-managed as it could have been (Igdalsky addressed this in a statement following the race). I'm used to those conditions at races and sporting events, but this was my parents' first professional race of any kind so I think they would have preferred to sit at home in the air-conditioning, away from the crowds and the traffic. I think they enjoyed the race for the most part, and I know they liked the displays and activities in the fan village, but that is not enough for them to return. My dad is rather high-strung, and he couldn't wait to leave as soon as Dixon crossed the finish line. That disappointed me greatly. I am not nor will ever be the type of fan who leaves a sporting event early, or even immediately following its conclusion. I like to stay and watch the celebration, mingle, and take my time leaving, especially when I know I'm just going to sit in traffic anyway. If I do attend this race again, and I hope I do, I doubt my parents will be in attendance with me, and even if they are, I will make sure to drive separately!
I had hoped to make some new IndyCar fans, though, and I think I mildly succeeded at that. My dad was impressed with the speed, and my mom appreciated hearing about some of the drivers and the storylines. At the very least, I exposed IndyCar to people who would not be aware of it otherwise, and they got a glimpse into one of my greatest passions. I would not have attended this race if my parents didn't live so close to the track. Thank you, IndyCar, for coming back to the Poconos.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)