Pot Luck 2015 - 9-10 Pocono

Another real track of Sandy's choosing for this week at the famous triangle track, Pocono.  Not much complexity in the track layout but setups were hard to perfect through practice.  Scot was back to his old habits of being late, even after a week off.  Along with some good racing, there were some interesting outcomes through rounds 9 and 10.

Race 1:

Things started off promising enough with some close qualy times for our three humans at the front.

No sooner had we started than Zack ran afoul Castroneves while trying to split the middle.

Scot was caught in the mix as well and tripped over Mika Raikkonen while trying to evade.

Meanwhile, Sandy was shuffled back a few spots while avoiding catastrophe with Darrel and myself.  He did not go willingly and threw some elbows.

Scot's demise would come some laps later while wrestling with his damaged car when he sputtered into the outside wall.

He then took a crack on the chin which effectively killed the engine.

But for good measure, he was launched well into the air.

Weeeeeee!  I'm a blimp!

Darrel had been keeping pace with me while we were well ahead from the field and moved to pass at the tunnel.  I made room and there were no altercations as we both kept our eyes on points.

And then disaster as the next lap coming through three I was out towards the wall and hit a bumpy patch in the road that launched my car towards pit road.

I pancaked the wall and just had the crew go to work on tires and fuel for my mandatory stop.

Some laps later, Nigel Mansell was to work ruining someone's day.

The resulting crash was quite large.

It, in fact, ruined several days.  At this point nearly all the field came in for service.

The run of stops was quite bad for humans.  Zack was off pace from early on.  Mad Max was out.  Darrel went from leading to 29th.  I was only just a few spots ahead.  Darrel fell back so far because he was stuck on pit road behind Sandy while trying to break free from his stall.  Both Sandy and Darrel had long stops for tires and it sent them all the way back.  Here, The Bear just avoids Darrel, who, on the restart, threw the brakes claiming video problems.

With just two to go, it was a mad scramble for positions since the yellow was out and the last lap was effectively gone.

Pushing for spots, I hit one of the West sponsored F1 cars.

Sandy made another death defying pass on that wreck.

Coming to take the yellow and white, I was microns ahead of Castroneves at the line.

At this point I'm going to pause and go back a bit.  You might recall Darrel had stopped on track to try and resolve some video issues.

At this point he is seen turning the car around...

...and parking on the middle of the front stretch.

Then just in front of the wall...

...and back.  

Then back some more.

Finally, the car came to rest, dead center of the road.

Where the pack came barreling down on him, turning the pack into a cloud of debris.

My car was also caught in this mix after I was knocked straight into Darrel, who seemed to be able to drive away without much trouble.  Sandy then thought it would be fun to hit me (probably from smoke).

But he wasn't the only one.  Zack made sure to clean things up and ensure all the living humans got a smack in.  Now, I'm not going to point fingers here but what I have done is set the field to the order at which the cars crossed the line to take the white flag as that would have been the likely finishing order had there not been the technical fiasco with the 66.  Let's keep the destructive behavior on the demolition tracks if we can.

Race 2:

Another good start for a trio of humans.  This race, Darrel swapped spots with Zack after a botched Q run.

Scot continued to have problems with turn 3 and breaking loose, spinning without the aid of a yellow.

Up at the front, Zack watched on while Sandy and I cautiously battled for position.

Eventually The Bear made it by coming through three but we continued to vie for the lead.

It was then Scot's second spin that would bring out the caution.

And this time, it was in usual fashion.

Into the air again...

Everyone came in for their splash and rubber.  I even wiped out Sandy's tire changers.

After the pit road shuffle, we were back towards the front again with Zack in second.  However, he started to slip back while working with cold tires and trying to keep from wrecking.

After I moved past the Penske car, Sandy was eager to move by Webster and bravely ran the inside curb at one point.

Coming into the back half of the race, Greg Ray blew up.

He then proved too much of a target for Prost when trying to duck down to the pits.

The resulting crash was massive.

The humans were 1-2-3 under yellow.

What happened next is difficult to understand through images along but this is what happened.  In the shot above, I was starting to swerve outward to start cleaning tires while waiting for the start.  Zack had accelerated about 10 miles an hour more, pulling forward to, I can only assume, start swerving himself.

Not knowing he was doing this, I was cutting left while he was swinging back right and we locked wheels.

We launched into the inside wall.  Zack managed to stay flush with it...

While I bounced at an angle back across the other cars.  Sandy was completely stunned by the events but was instantly gifted first.  Zack continued on back up to second while I got repairs and was in for a slow ride to simply finish the race towards the back.

Eventually the damage caught up with Zack as he was caught and passed where he fell to 18th.

Bear went on to take the well deserved win, his first for the series, and launched up the points to tie with Darrel.  As a comment towards the yellow flag accident, it certainly ended up being exactly that.  However, moving forward, we will not be cleaning tires or running side by side (unless asked for damage check) while under the caution.

To that end, we are now going back to the weird tracks, running on a course that would only come up here:  Invisible.  This track has no textures or lighting sources.  All you see is pink.  Because of the slight jump on the backstretch, we will treat this course like a demolition track with no yellows or pits required.  Good luck.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	80	T Nadz	48.444
2	66	T Bear	48.826
3	55	D HAMILTON	48.894
4	38	Z Webster	48.971
5	20	P Friesacher	49.644
6	15	B Rice	49.832
7	02	J Brabham	49.941
8	91	M Hakkinen	49.955
9	4	T Scheckter	49.992
10	87	G Campbell	49.999
11	21	C Albers	50.026
12	6	S Hornish	50.051
13	26	D Wheldon	50.054
14	13	G Ray	50.061
15	06	K Raikkonen	50.080
16	16	R Arnoux	50.119
17	17	R Schumacher	50.128
18	1	M Schumacher	50.135
19	5	A Fernandez	50.146
20	020	G Berger	50.172
21	96	K Rosberg	50.202
22	82	A Prost	50.203
23	65	J Stewart	50.229
24	012	G Villeneuve	50.256
25	27	D Franchitti	50.281
26	11	T Kanaan	50.282
27	7	J Surtees	50.322
28	34	A Ascari	50.396
29	18	T Monteiro	50.438
30	08	F Alonso	50.487
31	14	A Foyt IV	50.536
32	85	N Piquet	50.557
33	027	M Alboreto	50.569
34	01	A Senna	50.572
35	75	N Mansell	50.575
36	93	J Villeneuve	50.618
37	95	D Hill	50.774
38	3	H Castroneves	51.869
39	19	N Karthikeyan	58.121
40	10	J Montoya	1:03.178

Weather: Clear, 88 °F, East 11 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	80	T Nadz	48.247
2	66	T Bear	48.502
3	55	D HAMILTON	48.618
4	3	H Castroneves	48.839
5	27	D Franchitti	48.968
6	012	G Villeneuve	48.969
7	15	B Rice	49.015
8	91	M Hakkinen	49.017
9	16	R Arnoux	49.030
10	21	C Albers	49.074
11	1	M Schumacher	49.075
12	87	G Campbell	49.099
13	12	N Lauda	49.140
14	34	A Ascari	49.152
15	82	A Prost	49.154
16	02	J Brabham	49.156
17	20	P Friesacher	49.177
18	6	S Hornish	49.177
19	65	J Stewart	49.177
20	96	K Rosberg	49.187
21	95	D Hill	49.193
22	10	J Montoya	49.218
23	85	N Piquet	49.229
24	26	D Wheldon	49.240
25	75	N Mansell	49.247
26	020	G Berger	49.255
27	11	T Kanaan	49.275
28	027	M Alboreto	49.278
29	7	J Surtees	49.287
30	19	N Karthikeyan	49.309
31	01	A Senna	49.311
32	4	T Scheckter	49.333
33	93	J Villeneuve	49.337
34	18	T Monteiro	49.399
35	8	S Sharp	49.409
36	5	A Fernandez	49.418
37	08	F Alonso	49.430
38	38	Z Webster	49.431
39	17	R Schumacher	49.442
40	14	A Foyt IV	49.533
41	13	G Ray	49.681
42	06	K Raikkonen	49.898
43	81	M Max	53.951

Weather: Clear, 88 °F, Southeast 14 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	55	D HAMILTON	48.610
2	38	Z Webster	49.135
3	66	T Bear	49.722
4	18	T Monteiro	49.793
5	14	A Foyt IV	49.949
6	15	B Rice	49.979
7	75	N Mansell	50.005
8	87	G Campbell	50.022
9	34	A Ascari	50.025
10	20	P Friesacher	50.034
11	65	J Stewart	50.034
12	82	A Prost	50.040
13	17	R Schumacher	50.047
14	12	N Lauda	50.051
15	21	C Albers	50.052
16	27	D Franchitti	50.055
17	012	G Villeneuve	50.082
18	4	T Scheckter	50.091
19	96	K Rosberg	50.120
20	01	A Senna	50.135
21	1	M Schumacher	50.162
22	08	F Alonso	50.189
23	85	N Piquet	50.199
24	19	N Karthikeyan	50.219
25	93	J Villeneuve	50.236
26	6	S Hornish	50.242
27	80	T Nadz	50.271
28	027	M Alboreto	50.319
29	8	S Sharp	50.342
30	3	H Castroneves	50.399
31	11	T Kanaan	50.418
32	020	G Berger	50.430
33	16	R Arnoux	50.435
34	5	A Fernandez	50.582
35	26	D Wheldon	50.661
36	7	J Surtees	50.688
37	02	J Brabham	50.747
38	10	J Montoya	50.794
39	91	M Hakkinen	50.831
40	95	D Hill	52.053
41	81	M Max	53.485
42	06	K Raikkonen	1:03.366
43	13	G Ray	1:03.529

Weather: Clear, 92 °F, East 7 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	17	20	P Friesacher	139.148	20	2	180	Retired
2	5	27	D Franchitti	-0.74	20	0	170	Retired
3	34	18	T Monteiro	-10.12	20	0	142	Running
4	4	3	H Castroneves	-1L	19	0	91	Running
5	11	1	M Schumacher	-2.31	20	2	170	Retired
6	32	4	T Scheckter	-12.21	20	0	124	Running
7	29	7	J Surtees	-4.34	20	0	160	Retired
8	13	12	N Lauda	-4.88	20	0	155	Retired
9	10	21	C Albers	-1L	19	0	88	Accident
10	28	027	M Alboreto	-7.70	20	0	150	Retired
11	1	80	T Nadz	-1L	19	8*	95	Accident
12	36	5	A Fernandez	-9.65	20	0	146	Running
13	6	012	G Villeneuve	-10.26	20	0	138	Running
14	27	11	T Kanaan	-10.83	20	0	134	Running
15	20	96	K Rosberg	-11.45	20	0	130	Running
16	35	8	S Sharp	-12.02	20	0	127	Running
17	23	85	N Piquet	-12.63	20	0	121	Running
18	25	75	N Mansell	-13.20	20	1	123	Retired
19	14	34	A Ascari	-16.79	20	0	115	Running
20	24	26	D Wheldon	-18.36	20	0	112	Retired
21	2	66	T Bear	-27.35	20	0	109	Running
22	26	020	G Berger	-34.86	20	0	106	Retired
23	42	06	K Raikkonen	-35.26	20	0	103	Running
24	30	19	N Karthikeyan	-36.73	20	0	100	Retired
25	21	95	D Hill	-37.29	20	0	97	Retired
26	38	38	Z Webster	-53.09	20	1	99	Running
27	22	10	J Montoya	-1L	19	0	82	Running
28	15	82	A Prost	-1L	19	0	79	Running
29	31	01	A Senna	-1L	19	0	76	Clutch
30	18	6	S Hornish	-1L	19	0	73	Running
31	3	55	D HAMILTON	-3L	17	6	75	Accident
32	19	65	J Stewart	-4L	16	0	67	Accident
33	16	02	J Brabham	-6L	14	0	64	Retired
34	33	93	J Villeneuve	-7L	13	0	61	Oil Pump
35	40	14	A Foyt IV	-7L	13	0	58	Retired
36	12	87	G Campbell	-7L	13	0	55	Accident
37	7	15	B Rice	-7L	13	0	52	Accident
38	9	16	R Arnoux	-7L	13	0	49	Accident
39	41	13	G Ray	-17L	3	0	46	Retired
40	8	91	M Hakkinen	-17L	3	0	43	Accident
41	43	81	M Max	-18L	2	0	40	Accident
42	37	08	F Alonso	-20L	0	0	37	Accident
43	39	17	R Schumacher	-20L	0	0	34	Piston

Caution Flags: 3 (10 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (6 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, East 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
11	80	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
18	55	Passing on the inside	Stop and go
19	55	Passing on the inside	Stop and go

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	80	T Nadz	47.983
2	66	T Bear	48.326
3	38	Z Webster	48.430
4	8	E Fittipaldi	48.571
5	5	A Fernandez	48.841
6	13	G Ray	48.881
7	24	F Giaffone	48.901
8	4	T Scheckter	48.904
9	3	H Castroneves	48.918
10	12	N Lauda	48.934
11	87	G Campbell	48.944
12	027	M Alboreto	49.002
13	95	D Hill	49.008
14	82	A Prost	49.009
15	15	B Rice	49.011
16	10	G Hill	49.036
17	65	J Stewart	49.040
18	02	J Brabham	49.045
19	71	J Fangio	49.052
20	26	D Wheldon	49.052
21	2	R Barrichello	49.059
22	21	C Albers	49.066
23	18	T Monteiro	49.070
24	17	R Schumacher	49.070
25	1	M Schumacher	49.071
26	6	S Hornish	49.088
27	20	A Unser	49.102
28	16	R Arnoux	49.107
29	11	T Kanaan	49.109
30	01	A Senna	49.148
31	91	M Hakkinen	49.159
32	19	N Karthikeyan	49.161
33	96	K Rosberg	49.186
34	012	G Villeneuve	49.192
35	06	K Raikkonen	49.211
36	7	B Herta	49.217
37	75	N Mansell	49.230
38	020	G Berger	49.266
39	93	J Villeneuve	49.284
40	14	A Foyt IV	49.304
41	34	A Ascari	49.373
42	81	M Max	53.739
43	55	D HAMILTON	1:03.158

Weather: Clear, 77 °F, Northwest 3 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	66	T Bear	48.519
2	55	D HAMILTON	48.882
3	80	T Nadz	49.108
4	38	Z Webster	49.248
5	5	A Fernandez	49.640
6	96	K Rosberg	49.648
7	71	J Fangio	49.724
8	19	N Karthikeyan	49.787
9	012	G Villeneuve	49.910
10	15	B Rice	49.923
11	02	J Brabham	49.929
12	82	A Prost	49.952
13	1	M Schumacher	49.968
14	10	G Hill	49.980
15	95	D Hill	49.984
16	13	G Ray	50.025
17	34	A Ascari	50.033
18	93	J Villeneuve	50.084
19	020	G Berger	50.117
20	3	H Castroneves	50.151
21	01	A Senna	50.170
22	14	A Foyt IV	50.175
23	12	N Lauda	50.204
24	91	M Hakkinen	50.220
25	06	K Raikkonen	50.227
26	87	G Campbell	50.264
27	26	D Wheldon	50.284
28	17	R Schumacher	50.290
29	7	B Herta	50.325
30	75	N Mansell	50.360
31	027	M Alboreto	50.410
32	6	S Hornish	50.440
33	16	R Arnoux	50.448
34	81	M Max	50.453
35	11	T Kanaan	50.459
36	21	C Albers	50.490
37	18	T Monteiro	50.506
38	20	A Unser	50.578
39	8	E Fittipaldi	50.620
40	24	F Giaffone	50.654
41	65	J Stewart	50.698
42	4	T Scheckter	50.797
43	2	R Barrichello	50.870

Weather: Clear, 87 °F, Southwest 12 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	66	T Bear	144.443	20	8*	185	Running
2	21	2	R Barrichello	-3.18	20	0	170	Running
3	23	18	T Monteiro	-3.26	20	0	165	Running
4	8	4	T Scheckter	-3.45	20	0	160	Running
5	37	75	N Mansell	-3.61	20	0	155	Running
6	5	5	A Fernandez	-3.90	20	0	150	Running
7	22	21	C Albers	-4.33	20	0	146	Running
8	35	06	K Raikkonen	-4.43	20	0	142	Running
9	12	027	M Alboreto	-4.70	20	0	138	Running
10	6	13	G Ray	-4.99	20	0	134	Running
11	24	17	R Schumacher	-5.18	20	0	130	Running
12	41	34	A Ascari	-5.19	20	0	127	Running
13	40	14	A Foyt IV	-5.30	20	0	124	Running
14	7	24	F Giaffone	-5.33	20	0	121	Running
15	38	020	G Berger	-5.57	20	0	118	Running
16	28	16	R Arnoux	-5.65	20	0	115	Running
17	30	01	A Senna	-5.70	20	0	112	Running
18	26	6	S Hornish	-5.88	20	0	109	Running
19	3	38	Z Webster	-6.64	20	3	111	Running
20	32	19	N Karthikeyan	-7.35	20	0	103	Running
21	33	96	K Rosberg	-7.84	20	0	100	Running
22	16	10	G Hill	-8.17	20	0	97	Running
23	39	93	J Villeneuve	-9.05	20	0	94	Running
24	43	55	D HAMILTON	-9.31	20	0	91	Running
25	34	012	G Villeneuve	-10.37	20	0	88	Running
26	31	91	M Hakkinen	-20.04	20	0	85	Running
27	10	12	N Lauda	-20.62	20	0	82	Running
28	1	80	T Nadz	-23.23	20	7	84	Running
29	25	1	M Schumacher	-28.25	20	0	76	Running
30	36	7	B Herta	-45.16	20	0	73	Running
31	17	65	J Stewart	-4L	16	0	70	Running
32	18	02	J Brabham	-5L	15	0	67	No Fuel
33	9	3	H Castroneves	-6L	14	2	69	Retired
34	14	82	A Prost	-7L	13	0	61	Retired
35	4	8	E Fittipaldi	-7L	13	0	58	Retired
36	20	26	D Wheldon	-7L	13	0	55	Retired
37	13	95	D Hill	-7L	13	0	52	Retired
38	11	87	G Campbell	-8L	12	0	49	Retired
39	29	11	T Kanaan	-8L	12	0	46	Retired
40	15	15	B Rice	-8L	12	0	43	Accident
41	19	71	J Fangio	-12L	8	0	40	Retired
42	27	20	A Unser	-13L	7	0	37	Retired
43	42	81	M Max	-16L	4	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (7 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 86 °F, Southwest 11 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
8	55	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
8	55	Passing under yellow	Held for 23 seconds