Auto Racing 2025

[Yespage]

Detroit and the street "course".

Saturday IMSA. Last half hour was some good racing on the narrow course in Detroit. Penske appeared destined to win... again... when Taylor passed him. The pass rattled Nasr so much, he was then passed by Van Der Linde and Nasr's teammate Jaminet. It appeared Cadillac would get a big win, but Van Der Linde then made a pass for first and won. Jaminet would finally finish ahead of Nasr, and get the podium. Meanwhile a Corvette and Porsche were banging each other like it was Days of Thunder.

Sunday, Rinus Veekay killing it in qualifying, making the third row in qualifications, starting next to Palou. Then Veekay's engine broke on the 7th lap sending me into deep bouts of depression. Once the tears dried up by the 40th lap, there were two strategies on the course. Making the outcome unknown. The alternate tires were crap, so the two stop strategy was finally given up on by most. Then Foster had a catastrophic suspension failure which slid his car into Rosenquist, hard to the tire barrier. Both drivers were okay. Everyone would pit with about 25 laps left and it was a race to the finish, with Armstrong, Ferucci, *insert third driver* ahead of the rest of the pack, Herta, Kirkwood, Palou, Power, Malukas. The three up top weren't much of a match, and Kirkwood was on a mission. Ferucci was the only one to really put up a fight and he fell back to second, then third. But he fought back against Power and retook second place. Malukas was just done with Palou always winning, so he bumped him into the tire barrier to end that. Kirkwood would win and Ferucci would take second, Herta wanted more, but was willing to have a strong finish at third.

The 500 is next in Illinois in two weeks... at 8 PM on Sunday night. OI! But that helps not overlap Le Mans.

Meanwhile, Thursday and Friday is looking wet-ish at Mid-Ohio. A potentially strong front might be pushing through, bringing storms in the afternoons. Saturday morning could rain, but then it is expected to dry out. Looking forward to some comfortable weather for a change at the track.

 

[Yespage]

Soggy start to Sunday. USF Jr struggled, VP did much better. Mazda MX-5 is a mix. Stopped raining raining during the VP race. But we still have light sprinkles.

 

[Yespage]

It was wet! I was prepared. I wasn't able to do photography at Indy because it was wet and all I was willing to risk was my phone. I got a nice cover for the camera which allowed me to take shots in the rain. Not torrential, but, as you can see, it was wet. Definitely a shower. This is up at my new fav spot to shoot from. For whatever reason, the exit of Turn 8 is blind, but sound helps and I can hit the 1/160 shots here up to half the shots. Now the other consideration is I have a tiny tarp on my camera. So while I am able to adjust controls and frame the photos, I have no freaking clue whether the photos are coming out well or just as garbage as the eye viewer is obstructed and I can't make details out... only if the image was properly set.

This is entry into 7 about 15 minutes later. The nice thing about shooting in the rain is you can shoot from wherever you please. I was possibly the only person (but more like 1 in 5 across the track) who didn't have an IMSA photo vest taking photos of this race.

Entry into 4, the Essess. The USF Jr crew were struggling with the wet road. The heavier VP series did not have as much of a hard time. Only a few spins, if I recall correctly.

I don't remember if the exit from Turn One was open last year. Usually this is a place you need to be invited to go. Not this year, and this is a great place to watch the cars head up to the Keyhole, and a decent view of them working on down to the Essess on the other side.

This took me several shots to finally land the car between the two flaggers (during a Green flag). This is the same spot as above.

First time inside the Carousel. In general, the location you watch the butt side of the cars drive down the front stretch, but it is a nice place to try some shots. It is south facing, so sunlighting issues aren't optimal.

I saw on the screen this guy had hit an advertisement. I knew I had to get a shot of him. Apparently I'm feeling more confident in myself as I should have max'd out the light and got the easy shot, but I went 1/160 and got it.

This is my other new fav place. Again like exit out of 8, this exit out of 6 is quick, so I apparently have less time to get shaky hands.

Back to the Carousel, transitioning to turn 13. Pit entrance is the pavement up above. This is going to be the winner... hippo and all. Tacos!

 

[harshness]

I got a nice cover for the camera which allowed me to take shots in the rain.

I appreciate your efforts. Another bunch of great photos.

 

[Yespage]

Thanks. A few other highlights.

I struggled badly with USF Jr with motion. Almost the entire morning session on Saturday was a bomb. Started thinking something was wrong with the camera, but then the VP Series, which was next, were much better. I really like the image here.

This looks like the colors have been modified, but that is just luck (well that and I used a polarizer for the first time in racing photography).

Thank goodness we got the USF Jrs and not the Mustang Challenge, where apparently the challenge was staying on the course.

Road America is next.

 

[Yespage]

F1 apparently challenging the Indy 500 next year with Montreal Grand Prix on same day as Indy 500. Monaco is in Europe, so timing isn't an issue with the Indy 500. But if F1 puts Montreal up against Indy.... it'll lose. No one cares who wins in Montreal. It is just another race. Indy is Indy.

The biggest question is "why?!". Why would you pick a fight with the Indy 500? Last ones to do that, CART... well... even an anemic field out did the US 500 in Michigan, and the less we talk about that race, the better. Shouldn't F1 be thinking about going back to Indy, not picking a fight with it?

Start time is not announced yet, so time will tell. But there is no safe time unlike the Coca Cola 600, which is generally going to be after the Indy 500. But with people in Europe that would maybe want to watch the Montreal race, though they probably will watch Indy, you can't start the event at 5 or 6 PM.

 

[Foxbat]

They could start Montreal at 9:30 in the morning which would be mid-afternoon in Europe. Plenty of time to fit the F1 race in and still catch the Indy 500 at 12:30.

 

[harshness]

F1 apparently challenging the Indy 500 next year with Montreal Grand Prix on same day as Indy 500.

This, in addition to NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600?

 

[Yespage]

I think Foxbat is on to something. 9:30 is a bit early, but it could work for Europe and not interfere with Indy 500. That simply isn't an overlap you want to contend with.

Meanwhile... nearing 24 hrs from the 24 hrs of LeMans. Last year watching the whole thing was complicated by poor weather a good stretch of yellow. No Indycar drivers this year as they'll be in Illinois for the 500 on Sunday Night. Penske caught again, this time underweight and they'll be pushed to the back of the Hypercar field... though an argument should be made behind the entire field.

I'm still uncertain about the Iron Dames. It sounded like they were out, but they were in qualifying. So don't know if they are or aren't racing. Cadillac (Hertz Jota) own the front row for the start for the Hypercars (I like "Prototype" better). Ferrari had been owning the WEC, but only one car managed to get to the Hyperpole (OI!) qualifying final. Of course, this is a 24 hour race and having the engine surviving matters as much as good driving (or for last year... having the door latching closed).

I just wish LeMans was filmed HDR 4K for the night time racing. It would manage (presumably) the headlights so much better! This race (any 24 hour race) screams for HDR.

 

[Foxbat]

I saw the news blast about Penske getting caught during Tech Inspection. Tsk, tsk…

 

[Foxbat]

I was checking to see what the 24 Hours of Le Mans viewing options were, and in the U.S. & Canada, it's on MAX and MotorTrend. Otherwise the WEC has a streaming feed available for ~20€. VPN to the rescue? Under two hours to the start…

edit: A preview of this weekend's Le Mans:

​

 

[Yespage]

Get Max with AT&T, so Max it is. 24 hrs, commercial free!

 

[Yespage]

10+ hrs in, maybe 8 hrs since last yellow? Ferrari are killing as per the norm this year. One Penske Porsche up in the mix.

 

[Yespage]

Ferrari's dominance ran into a pause between Midnight and 4 AM, but after waking up, right now they are top three again. Porsche Penske in site in fourth and Cadillac in fifth. Donut Car is leading LMP2.

 

[Yespage]

Rexy isn't racing at LeMans, however he is in France to cheer on and help coach his buddy Spike. But had some time to visit some of the sites.

AO Motorsport really the target with Rexy, Roxy, and Spike.

 

[Foxbat]

Even though Cadillac isn't a contender for the race win, the Hertz team still has both their cars running. The #38 even holds the fastest lap of the race, too! The other two Cadillacs had mechanical failures with the #101 car losing its engine on Lap 189.

Here's the #12 Cadillac before it recovered to 5th:

It's a sharp looking car!

Just now there's a Full Course Yellow. Looks like it was quickly cleared and they're back to racing.

Following along at the Live Race status page here:

FIAWEC.TV

​

 

[Yespage]

Apparently the 50 car's team attempt to get the Goodyear blimp to crash on the course causing a Safety Car to finish in first without pitting were unsuccessful.

Ferrari just incredible power. And Peugeot not able to finish without and splash and sah. That'll probably drop them a few spots.

Porsche manages 2nd after what was almost certainly going to be a hard try for third. The 50/51 had issues and fell back. BMW had an odd calamity as both cars in the garage at the same time late (22 hrs or so) into the race. Alpine with a top ten likely.

VDS Panis were looking to take the LMP2, but are now losing 10 to 15 seconds a lap! But Spike is a lap behind them, so they'll hold onto 2nd as long as they finish.

A very uneverntful LeMans (if you aren't an insect), but I prefer cars winning instead of circumstances.

 

[Foxbat]

And no rain, right?

 

[Foxbat]

Glad to see Robert Kubica bring home the #83 Ferrari in first place. It was eighteen years ago when he escaped with his life after his BMW went off-track in Montreal.

View: https://youtu.be/1hW5MpdA5Cg

(YouTube restricts this to viewing in YouTube, so you'll need to click on the link)​

 

[Yespage]

Amazing it was the first time someone paid to drive a Ferrari to win.