What is "open wheel" racing?

[Jimplication]

A few months ago, I was getting into NASCAR, watching races, etc. It was enjoyable, but I didn't find it too exciting. I always go back and forth between NASCAR. I like it, then I lose interest, etc.

Today, American Lemans was on CBS. Was neat, because it had different cars; basically exotics tuned out for racing. Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and the new Corvette C6. Was very cool, though I jumped into the broadcast late and only caught the last half hour or so.

Tonight on Speed, they are showing coverage of Champ Car racing at Houston. I honestly couldn't tell you anything about this type of racing, but I'm excited to watch it.

Tomorrow at noon on CBS, they are showing coverage of the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona. I know a little more about Grand Prix racing, but my knowledge is limited. Despite this, I am excited about watching the race.

I am not sure where I am going with this post. The title indicates a question about open wheel racing is. I gather it's racing that involves the cars above, but I'm not exactly sure on the definition.

Furthermore, I'd really like to get "into" a type of racing other than NASCAR. I gather IRL and Formula 1 split at some point and there are now rumblings that they may merge. To me, Indy/Formula 1 racing seems very exciting, as the cars go super fast and the tracks are at various ventures across the world. Having a race at Barcelona is a huge attraction for me, as it's a place I'd like to visit some day.

Television coverage also is key. I get Speed, and they seem to show a lot of racing, which is good, and likely will allow me to truly become excited about a type of racing other than NASCAR. I'd really appreciate some guidance though.

I don't mean to disrespect NASCAR, but of the types of racing available, it does seem to be a bit bland. I think this also might be why I tend to be a bit bored watching/following it. Honestly, I think Formula 1 seems to be the most exciting of the racing leagues/types I have been exposed to, and if anyone has comments, positive or negative, regarding it, as well as others, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Also, I guess it would be fitting to actually request a definition of open wheel racing as well.

Thanks!

EDIT: I am in the process of watching the F1 Barcelona qualifying, and it's really exciting stuff! I gather this qualifying format is reasonably new, and I must admit it certainly adds a lot of excitement to the qualifying stage. I just love watching these cars. They are like jets on wheels.

[mercalnd]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

I gather IRL and Formula 1 split at some point and there are now rumblings that they may merge.

It's not F1, it's Champ Car, which used to be CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams). Before the split it was called Indycar and sanctionned by CART, ecept for the Indy 500 which was sanctionned by USAC (another sanctionning body) but was still part of the Indycar championship. In the early 90s the Indycar Series was growing very fast and expanding outside the US. It used to be almost exclusively oval racing but by the early 90s there were more street and road courses than oval on the schedule. Tony George, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was unhappy about this as well as the growing costs and the decrease of American drivers in the series so he formed his own all-ovals low cost (at least it was back then) and mostly American series. The split has proven disastrous for both series and now North American racing is dominated by NASCAR with open whell racing a shadow of what it once was. Rumors are now circulating that they are trying to patch things up, which would undoubtedly be good.

To me, Indy/Formula 1 racing seems very exciting, as the cars go super fast and the tracks are at various ventures across the world. Having a race at Barcelona is a huge attraction for me, as it's a place I'd like to visit some day.

F1 is great and certainly the pinnacle of racing technology. The cars, even though they look somewhat similarto IRL and Champ Cars are much lighter and thus can take corner at far greater speeds. They are beasts to drive. The downside of this is that sometimes passing is hard so you get to see races that can be more like parades. There are also years when one team runs away with the championship. But generally it's pretty exciting.

Television coverage also is key. I get Speed, and they seem to show a lot of racing, which is good, and likely will allow me to truly become excited about a type of racing other than NASCAR. I'd really appreciate some guidance though.

Moto GP is pretty nice. I'm not into motorcycles but the few Moto GP races I've seen are very exciting. If you're into Formula 1, you might want to try GP2 which runs on Speed the mornings of the European rounds of the f1 season. This is basically the main feeder series for Formula 1 and has good races between youngsters trying to earn a spot in the big show.

Also, I guess it would be fitting to actually request a definition of open wheel racing as well.

Open wheel racing referes to all kinds of racing where there are no fenders and the wheels are exposed. It is very dangerous because when wheels touch there's a very high chance that one of the cars will take off.

EDIT: I am in the process of watching the F1 Barcelona qualifying, and it's really exciting stuff! I gather this qualifying format is reasonably new, and I must admit it certainly adds a lot of excitement to the qualifying stage. I just love watching these cars. They are like jets on wheels.

The new qualifying system was introduced this year after 2 or 3 years of single car qualifying. Basically, each guy would get to do one lap alone on the track. It had the advantage of allowing the viewer to know exactly what every driver did right or wrong but it was extremely boring for the people that paid the big bucks to be at the track and was not all that exciting. Before that, guys were allowed a max of 12 laps in a 60 minute period which was exciting but often no one but the slowest drivers would go on the track before the first 20 or 30 minutes were over which made for poor TV. THe new system is great IMO. It's exciting and there's action on the track for the whole hour, except for the 2 5 minute breaks.

Anyways, hope this helps answer some of your questions.

[Jimplication]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Anyways, hope this helps answer some of your questions.

Many thanks! That was great info!

I am going to try and follow IRL (and GP2) closely, as I do find it to be very exciting. Like I said in my initial post, I watched the Qualifying for the Barcelona race today and it was really impressive, and very exciting.

I also watched the Champ Series race in Houston tonight, but I suspect it may not have been a good showcase race for the league. The track seemed to be low quality, and pretty bumpy, but it was enjoyable. Their method of having limited boost is interesting, though I haven't seen enough races to form an opinion of it yet.

I'm looking forward to catching the F1 Barca race tomorrow, and ideally also the GP2 race, if I am able to wake up in time.

Alonso is a driver I may follow, as he seems young and also very promising. I heard mention of him moving to Mercedes/McLaren next year from Renault, and while I'm not sure how that will affect him, if at all, it should be interesting nonetheless.

I just can't get over how fast the cars go. They really are like jets on wheels. It's really an awesome thing to behold.

[Chaos81]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

It's really an awesome thing to behold.

Wait until, if you ever have the chance, you see an F1 car in person. You think they're awesome now, they are a million times cooler in person.

[pk500]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Wait until, if you ever have the chance, you see an F1 car in person. You think their awesome now, they are a million times cooler in person.

Indeed. The banshee wail of an F1 engine is the coolest sensory experience in motorsport, rivaled only by a Top Fuel dragster or Funny Car.

Glad you're enjoying other forms of racing, Jimp! There are so many people in America who call themselves racing fans who actually are just NASCAR fans. There's a lot more to racing than just NASCAR.

Take care,
PK

[Jimplication]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Indeed. The banshee wail of an F1 engine is the coolest sensory experience in motorsport, rivaled only by a Top Fuel dragster or Funny Car.

Glad you're enjoying other forms of racing, Jimp! There are so many people in America who call themselves racing fans who actually are just NASCAR fans. There's a lot more to racing than just NASCAR.

Take care,
PK

I am really enjoying F1 a lot. I taped the Barca GP2 race over night and just finished watching it now. It was an awesome race! As mentioned by spectralfan, it is neat because the racers are younger, with less experience, and thus result in putting themselves in some dicey situations. Today's race definitely had instances of such inexperience; especially in the closing laps. I also really enjoyed the commentary.

The guys in the booth do a nice job covering the race, but also have a sense of humor, and their comments regarding the one racer pitting very late had me laughing out loud. They also react to accidents and near misses in a way that helps get the viewer into the race more. The one commentator just said that Hamilton should give his partner a clip in the back of the head with the bottle (instead of pouring it down his back in celebration) as a result of his final lap antics, haha. Great stuff.

[mercalnd]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Wait until, if you ever have the chance, you see an F1 car in person. You think their awesome now, they are a million times cooler in person.

That's very true. The sound, and even the smell of rubber and oil mixed on the track, the atmosphere, everything is amazing.

Plus on TV the sense of speed is greatly reduced because of the camera movement. Standing still next to the track on a straightaway you really get to "feel" the speed, cause all you see is a blur, lol.

Can't wait for the Canada GP. I'm going back this year after a 4 year hiatus. Before that, I went every year from 1989 to 2001.

[pk500]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Jimp:

The Speed F1-GP booth of Bob Varsha, Steve Matchett and David Hobbs is the best in American motorsports TV, hands down.

Take care,
PK

[forensicd]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?

Dont forget to check out the greatest form of open wheel racing, and the one that started it all: Sprint Cars. If you think you have seen exciting, wait till you go to a sprintcar race, you will be floored.

[agte]

Re: What is "open wheel" racing?



AMEN! wings or no wings, they are sweet

weighing around 1200/1300# and 800+ horsepower, them things are amazing!