Round 1 - College Station (Mar 20th)

Jason White wrote:

Ludovic Tiengou wrote:

My best time is 37.2 It's 3 seconds slower than the faster and 2s from the slower  what the hell? . On a normal road track I'll understand but there?  And don't see how I could win but a second a lap.
It'll be a very very looooooooooooong race just looking my mirrors to let everyone overtake me.  

You are testing without the benefit of slipstream.

Sure but in qualifications there's none if I'm right? I was aware the Chevy wasn't a match on such track. But as slow? I've surely done something wrong but I can't understand what .

I will be there.

Ludovic, did you try adjusting gear ratios?
What about qualifying boost?

Ok, this is really new to me, I tryed last years Indy500 and left with a lot of questions.

I doubed a lot whether to join or no, so I expect to be there more like a tourist

I would appretiate a lot any kind of advice, regarding tyres (stagg something???), maybe even a whole setup, I would hate myself to ruin somebodys race just becose I dont understand the basics of the car preparation. I think that there are not much similarities with '98 CART we drove, or maybe there is?

so, sign me in and start to prey

How will it works during the qualy and race. The qualy boost i need to choose in basic menu not in garage. When we will choose the race setup and everything will be prepared for race we will need to leave the session, change the boost and join into the race again?

Martin Lacina wrote:

How will it works during the qualy and race. The qualy boost i need to choose in basic menu not in garage. When we will choose the race setup and everything will be prepared for race we will need to leave the session, change the boost and join into the race again?

Yes, everyone leaves to get race boost during the warmup. Then the admin inputs the grid manually once everyone is back in.

Raul Jereb wrote:

Ok, this is really new to me, I tryed last years Indy500 and left with a lot of questions.

I doubed a lot whether to join or no, so I expect to be there more like a tourist

I would appretiate a lot any kind of advice, regarding tyres (stagg something???), maybe even a whole setup, I would hate myself to ruin somebodys race just becose I dont understand the basics of the car preparation. I think that there are not much similarities with '98 CART we drove, or maybe there is?

so, sign me in and start to prey

PM me with your questions. We can meet online too if you like.

Ludovic,

You may qualify towards the back, but on these big tracks, the Draft is BIG, especially for the slower cars. You might be in the rear at the start, but you can run in the mid-pack if not higher during the race. Also remember this series is about consistency. Bobby Unser, probably had the est overall car with his Eagle 73 and Offy engine, the VPJ2's were the fastest and the McLaren M16C's were right up there as well. But when it all matter most in the end the Championship went to Roger McCluskey driving a 3 year old McLaren M16A with a mid-range Offy. All because of consistency.

Jason,

Were you going to be uploading setups for every race?

Michael Drechsler wrote:

Jason White wrote:

Yep. One of only two appearances for the Kenyon-Coyote this year!

The car won't tear up the competition, but its alright. But check that guy in the orange rompers: That flashy hat. His sideburns all the way down! I think, I just fell in love!

(With his style, not what are thinking again! D'oh!)

That's Mel Kenyon.  

Jason Fitch wrote:

Jason,
Were you going to be uploading setups for every race?

I may try to develop some setups offline for different cars if I have time. 
My advice is for the Eagle runners to share and collaborate; see what works and what doesn't

Step 1: drop all wings to minimum.
Step 2: raise or lower front springs until you can make a lap flat out

Pre work: select qual boost and likely biggest front wing flap but maybe not for McLarens.

You will now have 90% of your qual setup at Texas.

I will be in Texas

Dana Schurer wrote:

Love the avatar

Ludovic Tiengou wrote:

My best time is 37.2 It's 3 seconds slower than the faster and 2s from the slower   

Ludovic, I uploaded a setup for you.  It's intended for the race with full fuel.  Before you log on select the full race boost setting and maximum flap stagger.  After a few laps to get the tires warmed up, it will do a 35.8 second lap with no slipstream.  You can use 3rd gear when running alone, but use 4th when following someone so the engine doesn't overrev.  4th can also be used as a fuel saving measure in the race.

The key will be staying in the draft during the race. If you end up on your own, you will need a yellow to get back in touch with the pack.

Jason White wrote:

Ludovic, did you try adjusting gear ratios?
What about qualifying boost?

Was in second race boost in fact in full tank . With the qualy boost and nearly empty tank it's much better . I still lack a full second to be competitive (35.250 as PB....still slower than Mangoose though).


I'll get a try to your set today. Thanks for it Can't be as slow as my nearly default set up (just change front wing, right camber, tyres (1.25) and right tyres pressure) . But I'm not sure the set will change anything. You're doing laptime in race conditions nearly as fast as mine in qualy conditions. As I've suspected, my driving style isn't the way of the oval. I'm surely using too much the steering wheel and not enough the throttle. Old habits die hard. I'm more a Mini Cooper S 1310 on twisty road tracks driver than a beasty nearly 1000 bhp open wheeler on oval one . It's promising to be loooong process to be put out of draft after 10 laps

Well, Ludovic, what I learned in '98 Cart, ovals take as much as practice as any other track. It looks easyer, but it is just incredible where you are able to find more than a second of a time. After all, it comes to practice...

TWS is about the worst track for the chevy Eagle, but it will only get better from now  

Also, when you come back here late in the season with the new rules, you will have a power that is much closer to the rest

I think what's the most difficult to understand in oval racing when you are used to road courses, is that your position really doesn't matter during the first 3/4 of the race, you just need to stay in the lead lap and pit during all cautions (unless there are cautions every 5 laps...). So there is really absolutely no need for risky overtaking moves during 3/4 of the race.

But what is also fantastic about oval racing is that 75% of the drivers don't know that or (worse) don't understand that after several races. Meaning they will race like maniacs from the start to the finish, eventually taking others and/or themselves out of the race. And all you need is to stay calm, stay out of troubles for most of the race and collect a good result in the end. The first thing oval racing teaches you is patience.

The second most important thing to learn is how to go fast without stressing the tires. When I first started oval racing, I was quick over one lap but that really doesn't matter over a race distance. After 10 laps my tires were cooked and I was dropping like a stone in the order.

Count me, please
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Guillaume Siebert wrote:

I think what's the most difficult to understand in oval racing when you are used to road courses, is that your position really doesn't matter during the first 3/4 of the race, you just need to stay in the lead lap and pit during all cautions (unless there are cautions every 5 laps...). So there is really absolutely no need for risky overtaking moves during 3/4 of the race.

But what is also fantastic about oval racing is that 75% of the drivers don't know that or (worse) don't understand that after several races. Meaning they will race like maniacs from the start to the finish, eventually taking others and/or themselves out of the race. And all you need is to stay calm, stay out of troubles for most of the race and collect a good result in the end. The first thing oval racing teaches you is patience.

The second most important thing to learn is how to go fast without stressing the tires. When I first started oval racing, I was quick over one lap but that really doesn't matter over a race distance. After 10 laps my tires were cooked and I was dropping like a stone in the order.

EVERYONE needs to read this, and think hard about it! Very important sentiments, thanks Guillaume. 

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EVERYONE needs to read this, and think hard about it! Very important sentiments, thanks Guillaume.

+1

Best example of that style of driving was Al Unser Sr., the guy that always popped up at the last quarter of the races coming out of nowhere to take victory  

And the opposite of his brother Bobby, who stormed in the lead and broke down early

Jacob Fredriksson wrote:

EVERYONE needs to read this, and think hard about it! Very important sentiments, thanks Guillaume. 

Thanks Jacob
The funny thing is, lots of people will read this, but I'm sure a good part of them will think "lol he sounds like a granny, I want to race and I want to overtake people". And these drivers will be out of the race by mid distance. Just look at the results of the 1998 CART season last year.

Stay out of the close battles during 3/4 of the race and you have a top 8 finish garanteed. Oval racing is really that easy when racing with people not used to ovals. It really is another thing when racing with experimented people, even the slightly slower guy can become a serious threat.

Yes overtaking and battling with people is fun, and it's easier on ovals. But it is also risky. Even more risky at 200mph, and even more risky with people not used to this. So unless you feel a lot faster than the guy in front of you and feel the leaders are too far away and you could catch them, you don't need to risk everything to gain one position. Stay behind the guy, save some fuel, save your tires, save your car. And give everything in the last quarter of the race.

Just read your stats is enough to understand that your advices are helpful.

Raul Jereb wrote:

Well, Ludovic, what I learned in '98 Cart, ovals take as much as practice as any other track. It looks easyer, but it is just incredible where you are able to find more than a second of a time. After all, it comes to practice...

I already know. Texas will not be my first oval race ever I've already done one during the first HSO 500 Indy with the gazoline mod. I finished it if I'm correct but was out paced even by the very same racer I compete in road race (the Barby boy and Jieffe Meuh for example...but I'm speaking of a time the less than 20 can't know )

In fact the real problem in this serie will be the interface wheel-PC. I'm not sure my driving style will be efficient on ovals.  
As I've read in this thread you need:

1. to be smooth. I'm very aggressive on the wheel. I try to correct it but's it rather difficult.
2. patient. I've never be patient. As Guillaume said it seems quite strange not to try overtake the man in front of me...well with luck I won't have any as I'll be left behind and alone very quicky:geek: .
3. focus. I've been diagnosed as Asperger autist three years ago. So much for focus as I can be distracted by every and any sound or chat ingame but also offgame
4. tyre management.  I'm rather hard on them. I wear them very quickly and I've never find a way to correct this.
5. know how to set as precisely a car as it can be. Alas the more complicated a car is the less I'm capable of finding a technical solutions to it. I'm really not a race engineer . And assymetrical sets are one of the most difficult thing to understand.
5. Being capable of racing at 100% minima. I'm not a confident driver. I'll always drive at 75-80% of my capacity. On the upside I'll rarely blow out my engine. On the downside I'm not capable to keep pace.

Do I have some strongpoints for the serie? perhaps my love for odd strategy. It's sometime work quite well during some race in HSO with the CART open event.

But well I've race full season in open wheel, touring car and Endurance. An oval serie is missing at my credit. So I'll have to try the shot even if I'm not competitive at all.

Quote :

Just read your stats is enough to understand that your advices are helpful.

Just having race with him does it

If anyone requires setup help, send me a PM and I'll see if I can come up with a good base set.