Anybody going to the IRL race in St. Pete?

[Kings_Suck]

I'll be there.

[KTJeffries]

only if i get credentials, but i seem to have been fucked out of those already.

[BucketBoy]

FTG!!

[SACK-U]

I was going to go, even have a line on some free tickets. But it is my wife's birthday weekend so i will have to miss it

[Kings_Suck]

I was going to go, even have a line on some free tickets. But it is my wife's birthday weekend so i will have to miss it

I bet you thank your lucky stars that she wasn't born 2 weeks earlier.

I've been sniffing around for tix for months to no avail.  You know the guy in the thong pictures?  The one I bought the Green Park thong for?  He's a buddy of Dan Wheldon; got to watch the Indy 500 from the hot pits last year.  He dissed the Pit Crew this Sebring to go to the race in Phoenix.  You'd think he'd be able to hook us up, but nooooooo......

[Kings_Suck]

FTG!!

I agree with you BB, but they're racing on the streets of my hometown.  I've got to go, but if I see Tony I'll flip him off for you.

[BucketBoy]

Ok, I understand.. you're going to be in the stands with some funny FTG, or '5000-strong' signs to hold up for the cameras..

Btw, here's the schedule for Sunday:

Sunday, April 3

  8:00 a.m.                       Gates Open to Public

  9:00 a.m. -   9:30 a.m.    IndyCar warm-up

  9:45 a.m.                       SCCA Pro Racing SPEED GT World Challenge race (Airs on SPEED Channel on April 10 at 2 p.m.)

11:00 a.m.                       Menards Infiniti Pro Series pre-race ceremonies

11:30 a.m.                       Menards Infiniti Pro Series race

12:45 p.m.                       SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring World Challenge race (Airs on SPEED Channel on April 10 at 1 p.m.)

  2:00 p.m.                       Klein Tools Air Show

  2:45 p.m.                       IndyCar Series pre-race ceremonies

  3:45 p.m.                       2005 HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG (100 laps) live on ESPN 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.

  Post-race Concert:         Good Charlotte presented live by XM Satellite Radio

Not sure what everyone's planning to do in the 1hr45mins between the end of the SWC race and the beginning of the 1hr of IndyCar pre-race activities -- and the concert isn't for another 4 1/2hrs!! That's a perfect day - SWC races, lie on the beach for 4 hours, then head back to the start/finish area for the concert!
 

[Kings_Suck]

Is it true they only had 5000 spectators for the Phoenix race?

I've never been to an IRL race.  I remember during their first season that there were complaints that the cars were not just loud, but very loud with an unpleasant tone.  I haven't heard anything lately about how they sound, but they've got to be louder than the turbocharged CART cars that ran here a couple of years ago.  With the first IRL street race running between high-rise condos and retirement homes the fallout after the race should be interesting.

[EDtheBOATGuy]

I'll be there, Just General admission tickets. I've never been to a IRL race and would like to know if it's a walk around track like Sebring ?? Can you see all the turns on foot It's only 1.8 miles  :?:

[Kings_Suck]

I'll be there, Just General admission tickets. I've never been to a IRL race and would like to know if it's a walk around track like Sebring ?? Can you see all the turns on foot It's only 1.8 miles  :?:

It's walk around, only on the inside of the track.  Buildings and grandstands limit the view to only short sections of track.  I haven't looked at the website to see if it's different than for the CART race.  I only had GA tix, but I seem to remember that there were some GA grandstands.

I met the lovely Mrs. EDtheBOATGuy at Sebring, but never got back over to your camp to meet you.  Are you going to St. Pete Saturday and Sunday?

[EDtheBOATGuy]

Ahoy, Yes, showing up Sun morning. They have been on the Sebring track the last couple of days on the short track, alot of the teams are here now. Team Green looking fastest. I like to go in through the hotel stop at the bar and watch them pool side or do the tail gate thing on the fence at 4&5 they spin out alot at 3. In ST Pete We're thinking of going in at the north gate close as possible to the walk over bridge between turn 6&7. FIRE EM UP, Capt ED & nurse JUDY edjudy@tnni.net

[Kings_Suck]

Ed:

Check out Turn 10 at the exit.  It'll probably be different now, but for the CART race there was sort of a secret viewing spot behind a food truck parked next to the fence.  When the photogs left the corner you could get a clear shot at the oncoming cars through a cut-out in the catch fence.

I went to the site and it said 'no general admission grandstands'.  That sucks; bring comfortable shoes and move around until you find a decent viewing area.  If you're in the mood for a hike there will be free parking to be found, but probably a mile away.  I'd look north of the Vinoy, or maybe around the Dali museum.  I'll be coming in by bicycle.

How loud are the IRL cars?

[EDtheBOATGuy]

There as loud as a swarm of Panoz's  (batmobile's not the GT's), with more RPM's. But I don't think they can run for 12 or 24 hrs. But very fast, faster going through the SaftyPin than any of our sports cars. They dont brake until about 20 ft before the turn. I'v never seen them RACE just practice and testing. I noticed on there website they say rain or shine and was wandering about IRL in the wet, but the chance of rain on Sun so far is 0%. ED

[BucketBoy]

Btw, not that I'm advocating actually going to the race, but FREE TICKETS can be had from 7-11 with the purchase of a sandwhich, 2 FREE TICKETS for donating blood to the Red Cross, or 2 FREE TICKETS with the purchase of 4 Firestone tires.

Desperate shit like this sets a bad precident:
it *might* get people in the stands this weekend, but should the IRL be around next year and come back to St. Pete's, how many 'only-reason-I'm-going-is-because-I-got-given-free-ticket'-fans will be willing to shell out $105 for a seat NEXT year?

[EDtheBOATGuy]

$35.00 USD for general admission. The race is too short to be needing a seat. I'm walking the track!