President Trump issues executive order to begin preparations for IndyCar race in Washington

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Yahoo Sports

Could an IndyCar Series race in Washington actually happen?

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday to go forward with preparations for an Aug. 23 race. The “Freedom 250 Grand Prix” would take place near the National Mall. IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske was in attendance at the signing ceremony.

The order directs the Interior Department and Transportation Department to "designate a suitable race route that showcases the majesty of Washington D.C. and its iconic national monuments." It also directs the departments "to issue all necessary permits, approvals and authorizations as expeditiously as possible to plan, prepare for, and conduct the race." The race has been rumored for some time after Trump posted an AI video of an IndyCar race in the city to his social-media channels.

“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport and we’re grateful for his trust and support as INDYCAR prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a statement obtained by NBC. “This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation and excellence that powers motorsports across America.”

Read more: https://sports.yahoo.com/indycar/breaking-news/article/president-trump-issues-executive-order-to-begin-preparations-for-indycar-race-in-washington-165507521.html

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What's next, Jello wrestling and a hot dog eating contest?

[Harker]

1. Panem et circensis.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Yep. Just like the wifey's movie. Only maybe actually interesting.

[jls4561]

2. Fat Donnie from Queens must not have gotten all the toys he wanted when he was little.

So now, while the rest of America can only have two dolls for Christmas, he gets to inconvenience as many people as he can in order to make satisfy his unquenchable desires.

[Deuxcents]

3. How much is this gonna cost the taxpayers? How ridiculous

[Lovie777]

4. EO full of shit................

[Ol Janx Spirit]

5. IndyCar isn't Jell-O wrestling or a hot dog eating contest.... While I am disappointed that IndyCar will participate..

...in this spectacle, please do not disparage what is a legitimately great racing series.

Sure, CART was a better series before Tony George (grandson of Tony Hulman, who purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the end of World War II) forced a split and eventual remaking of the series in the early 2000s, but IndyCar is the second-best open-wheel racing series in the world--and it has a history that goes back to 1911. Everyone that drives or rides in a car today has been impacted by the engine and chassis development that automobile racing brought to passenger car design.

Hate it as I do, I can understand why a premiere racing series would want to showcase their product through the streets of Washington, D.C., in a high-profile event.

It will actually likely be a great race. The engineering that goes into the cars and the skill of the drivers are second only to Formula One.

I would encourage everyone to watch it regardless of the Administration's involvement. And when you do, you will se that it is NOT Jell-O wrestling or a hot dog eating contest.

[reACTIONary]

12. I was going to ask you what was first...

... I guess Formula One is too Euro for Donnie / DC / 250.

What is the difference between Indy and Formula One?

[Ol Janx Spirit]

16. The logistics for Formula One--being a truly worldwide series--and the track requirements make it...

...far less agile for adding a calendar event at the last minute. It's also not "American" like IndyCar or NASCAR, so it would not make sense for a celebration of the anniversary of America.

That said, there is a huge difference between the two series: the biggest being that a Formula One team is required to design and build two cars from the ground up with only a few systems being allowed to be bought from other vendors--engines and braking systems being the main things. One of the biggest impacts of that is that each team has to design and build their own chassis and aerodynamics packages.

IndyCar teams can run more than two cars, and they all currently run a Dallara IR-12 chassis (2012-present) with Dallara IR-18 aero kit. They can choose between a Honda HI24E hybrid Indy-V-6 and a Chevy INDYCAR V6 engine.

This--and not having to travel all over the world for races--makes IndyCar a much less expensive series to run. But it obviously does not foster the engineering development of Formula One.

Both series run a single tire manufacturer: Firestone Firehawk for IndyCar; Pirelli for Formula One. Both series have multiple compounds of the tires and require that teams run at least two during a dry race.

Formula One runs exclusively on "road courses"--meaning you have to turn right and left--while IndyCar runs on numerous "oval" tracks like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where drivers only make left-hand turns.

Both series make pit stops, but Formula One teams do not currently refuel during a pit stop--only change tires and wing settings--while IndyCars refuel with a rapid, gravity-fed and pressurized refueling system, allowing teams to fill the 22-gallon tank with Shell's 100% renewable racing fuel in less than 10 seconds. That's fast, but a Formula One pit stop takes about 2 seconds.

The other huge difference is that Formula One does a "standing start," while IndyCar does a "rolling start." The standing start is one of the most exciting things in all of sport IMO: 20+ of the fastest and best engineered machines in all of motorsport waiting on the lights to go out for an all-out zero-to-whatever sprint to the first turn.

HTH!

[reACTIONary]

18. Very informative! I can't help but make comparisons to regeta sailing...

..... Formula One seems like America's Cup match racing, where the boats conform to a box rule and the competition is as much about design and engineering as it is about skill on the course. The IndyCar seems to be more of a one design, where the boats are almost identical and it comes down almost entirely to skill and execution.

Of course the boats are not anywhere near to being fast and furious!

[Ol Janx Spirit]

23. I'm into sailboat racing as well, and have done some of it myself. And yes, that's a great comparison!

The thing I absolutely love about sailing is that you are working with what nature gives you. And the modern America's Cup high-performance, foiling monohull yachts are absolutely insane. I bet if you were on one it would be plenty fast and furious!

[reACTIONary]

24. Always up wind! The world record boats....

... Are always sailing upwind... because they sail faster than the wind. That is fast and furious!

[reACTIONary]

19. Re Formula One pit stop takes about 2 seconds....

.... I was a bit skeptical about this, so I googled it and watched a few Utubes. Wow! Unbelievable, but true!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. Auto racing has never interested me

Sorry

[Ol Janx Spirit]

15. I get that. I'm sure there are things that interest you that don't interest me....

I won't demean them. We all have our things.

I've always been fascinated as an auto racing fan that so many people that have both benefitted from the engineering that has been developed by it--better, more efficient engines; braking systems; aerodynamics; safety systems--and actually put their lives in the hands of other drivers on the road every day are not more interested in it.

What has the development of a football or a baseball brought us? How many people throw one at the risk of their very life every day?

Yet, we strap ourselves into 5000-pound automobiles every day without thinking of it as a skill that can be honed.

That's why we have 40,000 needless automobile deaths every year, but we don't have a lot of baseball or football deaths.

I truly wish everyone on the road was an auto racing fan and took driving seriously.

[IcyPeas]

6. Working on all the urgent matters facing the country.

[Marie Marie]

7. Yawn. Call me when he lines up The Street Outlaws from the 405.

[reACTIONary]

13. I looked into Street Outlaws 405...

..... and watched a video. It looks like drag racing to me. They even have drag chutes to slow the cars down. I guess in real illegal street racing they do a sprint like a drag race.

[Marie Marie]

20. They started out as a real bunch of illegal street racers but once they became a TV show,

most of them gained the fame and income to cross over into real drag racing - with sponsors and 1/4-1/2 million dollar cars. I just like watching them and cheering on my fav drivers.

[chicoescuela]

8. Roger Penske can now F off

[reACTIONary]

9. Well, it beats a forced march birthday militarily parade...

... and maybe it will take his mind off of the Arc d'Trump.

[littlemissmartypants]

11. Since ETTD, I imagine that the wrecks will be spectacular.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. The Jello wrestling is being saved for "Melania II".

Maybe also the hot dog eating, but with a twist.

We all know what she is.

[BidenRocks]

21. Our seat of government is reduced to a carny.

Chump is P.T. Barnham in this circus.

I demand he shows respect for our Nations Capital.

Just tell him NO!

[NBachers]

22. Next: Chariot races and everyone has to wear togas

[QueerDuck]

25. Chariot races... exactly! Togas and no more "age of consent" at White House orgies.