In the round-up: IndyCar chief executive Mark Miles had conceded this year’s Indianapolis 500 may have to be postponed.
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
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Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Indy 500 top priority as IndyCar eyes revamped season (AFP)
"Our objective is to stay the course, for now, and to see if it's possible to do it as scheduled mid-may. If that's not possible we'll find another date. But that's a decision we'll come to when it's clear what the future looks like"
Horner: Hard to criticise F1 chiefs over Australia cancellation (Autosport)
"I think the problem is, it's a moving target. If the guy that tested positive before, then we wouldn't come and then obviously we'd have all been saved a trip."
The Lockdown Diaries: Pirelli (Racer)
"We’ve halted production for the other races until we know if and when they are taking place, while existing tyres that haven’t yet been put onto rims can be carefully stored and then used later."
A legendary 12 hours (Ferrari)
"Previously a lap down, he now found himself ahead of the white Porsche. But then came another twist of fate. Forghieri had warned Andretti that the Ferrari might be low on fuel, and sure enough the light flickered on."
All-Star esports Battle Round Two (YouTube)
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Comment of the day
Are you watching ESports for the first time due to the lack of motor racing?
It’s funny how only a week after the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled (and its felt like a very long week), we’re almost already at saturation point with ESports!
I get it, but it’s almost turning into a bandwagon that everyone feels they need to join to stay relevant. I’ll probably still check out maybe one race of each flavour, but for me, ESports fall into the category of things I like to ‘play’, but would never watch, like snooker, chess, golf, tennis and cycling.
@Eurobrun
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On this day in F1
- 50 years ago today a late ignition problem robbed Jack Brabham of victory in the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. Jackie Stewart won in his March, leading home Jochen Rindt’s Lotus by 36 seconds.
Neiana (@neiana)
22nd March 2020, 0:37
Please no.
The Indianapolis 500 runs on Memorial Day Weekend. It should not have a flexible day, especially outside of May.
If they can’t run it in May, it should just not be run.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
22nd March 2020, 1:33
No worries, @neiana, it won’t be. It’s the 2021 Indy that will be the concern.
Don
23rd March 2020, 2:03
I say if they can’t race in May, move it to whatever date works. Everyone would understand if the date needs to move, and running in September (or whenever) is much better than no Indy 500 for 2020.
James Coulee
22nd March 2020, 1:13
I looked at the online racing thing as a brilliant outlet for the racing fix, but now that I’ve seen a few I think it’s underwhelming.
First there’s a huge fragmentation: races all over the place, a sprinkle of interesting racers here, another sprinkle over there… some announce they’ll participate and then don’t…
It’s a great effort, but I don’t think it’s being properly executed.
There are established virtual racers and that’s a sport in itself.
For us that follow F1 and not virtual racing, the prospect of swing our heroes racing each other is great! Seeing one or two lost in a field of unknowns, eliminated in the qualifying races and then nothing, it’s a bore fest. To make it worse, now we never even know were the guys will be racing with the dozens of virtual racing series popping up.
For me this would work if we only had real world racers (F1 and ex-F1 drivers only would be great) in ONE virtual racing series of their own (virtual racers are on their own league and I’m afraid I don’t follow them), with a proper simulator, proper commentary, and maybe use a real F1 director for the stream.
PatrickMccarty
23rd March 2020, 11:35
If it is not ran in May, it should not be ran!
Scottie (@scottie)
22nd March 2020, 1:26
Juan Manuel Correa in the all star battle?!
Great to hear he’s getting back into the swing of things bit by bit!
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd March 2020, 7:03
So five current F1-drivers are now into iRacing. I would’ve expected the fifth to also be from the younger generation(s).
I agree with the COTD in that some things I also prefer to do myself rather than watching and virtual-racing is an example. I prefer doing 100% races on F1 2019 as sort of my #NotThe series than watch these ESports-races or others doing them on YT.
jodrell (@jodrell)
22nd March 2020, 8:55
The problem with the eSport racing right now is the ‘TV’ direction is fine for watching replays of yourself at home but it just doesn’t cut it for proper presentation compared with the real thing. The first system that introduces a system where it can be hosted centrally and have what shown controlled by an actual TV director is going to make their product shine.
They should really be able to show the real thing what’s needed as there’s unlimited possibilities for placing camera on track, in car, tracking drone style…just about anything you can imagine
Ronald (@mosquito)
22nd March 2020, 11:52
The allstar race was shown on Dutch television (Ziggosport, the Dutch F1 broadcaster) yesterday and I must say they did a pretty decent job. They did have a guy dedicated to directing and a decent commentator (and a clown, but even that guy was better than he usually is in F1 broadcasts).
Of course it was not perfect and not even close to the real thing, but I enjoyed watching it for a while.
stefano (@alfa145)
22nd March 2020, 16:13
you’re missing a lot not watching top level tennis, COTD