I must say I’m very thankful that this race was such a disaster. Will Power flipping off the tower is such a brilliant meme that I’ve used so many times
Before Power had to stop because the security at Indycar are composed of military men. Just like Helio at Edmonton earlier that season. The difference here is that it was SLIGHTLY more justified, 2% more justified because any driver who throws a fit at the marshalls and the officiators who already have a difficult life keeping the race ACTIVE deserves to be folded and beaten senseless by said former soldiers and TA-men.
I wouldn't apologize if I was in Power's position. What he said about the official's decision was completely justified. Jamie Little saying "These are the officials who hand out penalties and fines, are you worried about possible repercussions?" I would've told Jamie "I don't care". But that's just me.
In reality I don't think he cared. It was just a little damage control for his sponsors when he calmed down a little bit. Ended up being a 30K fine for him.
@@Demise90Racing honestly I wouldn’t have paid. I would’ve just said, “I’ll pay when IndyCar pays Penske for damages to my race car from their decision to try that restart.”
@@Demise90Racing Actually, it was either a $50K fine or Randy Bernard told him he could do 5 promotional events for IndyCar like it was "Community Service." He took the community service and the penalty was given to Helio Castroneves when Race Control stole his win at Edmonton because he took the apex instead of giving to the guy behind him and for grabbing the shirt of the head of Indy security.
I live in New Hampshire and was so bummed that this failed to continue. They did a miserable job promoting it. But I remember they chose the same weekend as the Portsmouth Air Show. Most people in the state went to that instead. Then the rain debacle… it was a mess. I wish they would give it another shot with a good promoter. I’d go in a heartbeat.
I was there, it was so poorly organized. The crowd was clearly much smaller than that of a typical cup (or even Busch/xFinity) race, yet the traffic was worse. There were like 2 cops directing traffic. Just a clown show.
Will isn’t afraid to speak his mind, I met him on pit road this year, and he signed my IndyCar from 2018, second closest person to the late Dan Wheldon, such an amazing personality and character
I remember watching this one. Besides the stupid call to go green in the wet I was kinda amazed there was so much carnage in this race. I know they wernt racing at Phoenix at this point either but Phoenix had ran Indy for 30 years. Flat small track kinda like NH. People had their doubts. I guess they were right though cause they havent been back since. Phoenix has been run a few times though since.
The racing was kind of lackluster here. Dario dominated until he got wrecked, and then Ryan Hunter-Reay basically led every lap after that. Seems like there was so much restart carnage because of how difficult it was to pass once they got strung out.
This might seem kind of a dumb question but didn't they have rain tires couldn't they have just switched to those to finish the race. Or Maybe have Firestone come up with a half wet tire/half racing tire in these situations to keep the race going green. You got to hand it to Will Power you will give you actual raw emotion.
CART ran Loudon for several years and I believe the IRL raced at least once there in 1990s In what amounts to the same basic chassis. Eitherway, it was a phenomenal open wheel track and lackluster Nascar track(even though that's what it was built for) until recently.
@@loveracing1988 I did not know that, seems like something Firestone should work on. So the rain tread tires only work and road and street courses not the ovals.
And like Helio, I was waiting for Power to have his arse handed to by security. Again, I don't care about what problems the teams and drivers have, the marshals and officials had a hard job as it stands trying to keep the race from collapsing into chaos, the LAST thing they need is some butthurt chode throwing a massive tantrum because THEIR race didn't go well.
@@DR3ADER1 has nothing to do with the race “not going his way” the point is that the officials new the track was wet and didn’t listen to the drivers, letting them race in dangerous conditions
@@gage2040 Michael Andretti was also bitching about the conditions, yet Hunter-Reay won the race regardless. Bad drivers blame the conditions and the car, good drivers win in bad conditions and in bad cars. Simple as simple gets.
As a New Hampshire native, I would like to see this series come back. Maybe on the road course but I think New Hampshire deserves more than one cup race a year whether imsa, indycar, nascar. Just frustrating that we get left with this.
I don't think you could run the road course at NHMS with the elevation change and abrupt transition back to the oval. And I don't think the track is big enough to run a road configuration within the oval area.
Damn there is only one cup race in Loudon now. That's rough. I didn't realize they got rid of a race. I remember going to the 99 race but I don't remember much of it. I would love to see indy come back. Doubt it will tho.
Yah, that sucks. I remember seeing Nigel Mansell and the Andretti's run Indy there. Many fond memories up there every year for Father's Day and bike week. Sure miss those days.
I have lived in NH my whole 25 years on Earth. Racing has been in my blood since i was born. I HATE seeing the town folk and track owners ruining what could be a great facility. This place used to be packed every event no matter what. Now you see so many open camping spots and seats obviously even after tearing down all of 3&4 seating. Dirt track was a cool addition but it was for AFT more than anything so bigger dirt series wont ever be there. Roadcourse could easily have work. Track could easily be rebuilt to have something more enjoyable. Then have ability to bring more in as time goes on. Lights is the biggest topic. Its nearly always 90+ degrees race weekend its miserable. If we had our September race and not July youd see a huge difference too. September can be hot but rarely as hot as July. Hurts seeing a track i loved so much as a kid and still do falling down a spiral towards the outcome of Kentucky. NHMS will never completly die as local divisions will always race here but just sucks i could go on and on all day and night about things this track use to do, Should do but wont do.
The heat here in the summer always intrigued me. You get Nascar running in Texas and California in late spring/summer and they don't have an issue. Even Pocono and Watkins Glen run around the same time as NH rarely sees any overheating, and that's a similar region. You'd think it'd be a cooler race anyway with how far north it is, yet there's been what, 2-3 races in the last 10 years or so with drivers overheating
@@__boomer2__ New Hampshire is always felt to be that way when you arent from New England. The Humidity in 86-105° weather is so common. Even this week. its supposed to be 88,92,94,97 then drops down to 75 or something. its crazy. We need our September race back or atleast moved into late August cause i cant take many more July Races we lucked out this year it stayed cloudy as can be after the rain.
@@__boomer2__ Id imagine its alot more than 3 if im honost but it still doesnt take away that point. its always hot. We could have Lights but there is Legit a small sliver of the property and Track owned by a town that isnt Loudon. Canterbury is extremly against paying for Lights to be put in as it effect THEIR tax dollars for the tiny sliver. Theyve never switched over even with Nascar and Motorsports inc saying as much as they could to help ease them into it. So Either a full track rework is coming and set in Loudon only with Lights or the tracks going to never have nascar weekends soon. It just is less and less people going into the races. More and more seats being taken out of the stands. If we had a night race or Early Fall or Spring race no doubt in my mind that NHMS would be one of the best crowds on the circuit. Regardless of how the Racing is.
My friend Billy and I were there. We walked back to the car before the willpower middle finger moment but when we both looked over at the screen that you could see from the back stretch parking lot it was will power giving us the finger and I thought that that was hilarious.. While bill and I admitted man that was really cool those cars were fast they sounded cool it was the craziest race we'd ever been to and I have video from our point of view of that Porta-Potty flipping over. We went home totally confused and with me quoting the bill France thing where hey you don't change the race that just happened in front of the people. We didn't know at all cuz they don't talk about it on any radio station like NASCAR so we get home and they had completely changed the results Just confusing and I haven't seen another Indy race since in person. Another notable thing was they were playing the same song they play for those dog shelters, in the hour of the Angels or something and just the absolute most terrible music, the Nascar race immediately after that had them throwing the green flag to Master of puppets so you be the judge no comparison LOL Indy seemed very lightweight, bougie didn't care about the fans and just insisted on itself something that really when you're going home not even knowing who the winner was was hilarious is all I can say because how great can that be how great a race? Imagine if all of this Hocus pocus crap happened at the Indy 500 but instead they took our $75 for a race called the move the block or whatever it was called this everything stupid and did not care a crap about the fans comfort or entertainment or anything And I'm glad I've got to share this manifesto with somebody who at least saw it on tape cuz it was a shitshow from beginning to end. No one to help us even Park we will park in the VIP zone for the for the entire time and realize well we don't even want to be around these bougie asses!, We walked in and walked around the track before they even set up their damn ticket booth which they set up their ticket booth like an hour before the race which leave the door open for the entire day like they did I don't know? Disrespectful people walking around wearing orange not doing their job literally letting people get in for free. They're friends, other teenagers LOL It was a mess is all I can say I could walk through every moment of the 6-hour experience of being at the track that day and every single thing that happened was insanely obvious they didn't care about the fans the racers or anything it seemed.. Again all of this print about it I've held inside since the day it happened LOL thank you for making this video And by God imagine being in that God damn Porta-Potty!
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective of being there in person. I really enjoyed reading your comment. Thanks for checking out the video and I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍
The track seemed pretty cool for a short speedway wish they would have fixed the issue and kept it on the calendar. I think INDYCAR needs more short oval race tracks like this.
There's no reason to wait. Go to the Indy 500. I thought these cars looked like they were trolling around at 160 mph. I like to see them run wide open. Can hear them coming like a herd of thundering horses.
Think you need to visit RA or Mid-Ohio, or Barber on an Indycar race weekend. Those tracks absolutely cater to the fans and it has been an incredible time each time I've been.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Fascinating. (Have heart that not all indycar fans are bougie asses, and I'd buy you a beer just to hear that story! I bet you'd like Road America. )
I love how so many drivers were talking through the radios about the track being unsuitable but dude in the booth said he heard nothing. That’s highly unlikely. More likely he heard it all and gave the go ahead anyway because ending on a rain delay doesn’t make as much money as ending on a green flag. Just another example of how racing has become a business and entertainment first and a SAFE competition second.
Have you thought about a video on The Great Brian Barnhart? This race, the 2003 Indy 500 where Paul Tracy "lost" the race because of his screwup, 2010 Edmonton where Castroneves had his win stolen because he took the apex of a corner ahead of Scott Dixon, and almost the whole commentary from Motegi 2011 where the announcers spend most of the race ragging on Barnhart is a good start.
I haven't thought about doing one on Brian specifically, but I've put together a list of races and events that I want to do. The Edmonton Castroneves race is one at the top of my list.
@@Demise90RacingI remember that race. I have never ever seen helio that mad before. He was absolutely PISSED, and rightfully so. That was a b.s. call.
Such an incredibly stupid bit of officiating. I was indifferent to Will Power before but this was the moment I became a fan for life. His exasperation in that moment summed up so much of what I felt about the whole Brian Barnhart era of indycar racing.
I just don’t understand how they managed to make a track so unpassable. Speaking as a NASCAR fan, they somehow took Martinsville, a fan favourite, and combined it with Dover, a top-half contender, and we got… whatever Loudon is.
I fell out of my chair laughing! Will did what a lot of us fans did at home when The Great Brian Barnhart struck. It was on ABC, and by a Penske driver...there's only a few things that could have also happened to make it better. Mario, Michael or AJ yelling at him and smacking TGBB would have been just as good.
Very well made video and was an excellent watch, I'm an F1 fan but have been watching IndyCar for a few years now so videos such as these are perfect in giving an idea of the recent history of the series
I was there that day, when the caution came out for rain on lap 19 I decided to leave as there was no way they were going to restart with the weather, I had gotten to the tunnel when I heard them go green followed by the crash. The race was decent up to that point.
2 or 3 more ovals on the calendar would be great. I would like to see the season have 2 or 3 more races. I don't want them to lose any races but just add more ovals.
This is a very very enjoyable video. I have watched most Indycar races live and i most certainly remember this absolute shit show. Anyone who ever questions why theres no running in the wet on ovals just needs to watch that restart
@@ryanralph7494 You don't bring wet tires to an oval race because spray makes it absolutely impossible to run a remotely safe race on a wet oval. Cars are simply too closely bunched. It's hard as hard to do on a road course, no chance on a full oval. A roval like the Daytona 24 Hour course still strings cars out like a road course.
Castroneves at Edmonton was also this year when Race Control robbed him for taking an apex of a corner to win and he grabbed Indy Security like he was going to assault him.
I’ve raced F2000 cars on this track. F2000 look like small Indycars but only have 150 hp. This track is so small and tight even we cannot run wide open. We’re sliding all over through the turns on the first lap. I can’t imagine running a big 750 hp Indycar at this place-that’s just crazy. And in the rain? Impossible.
That's awesome and a really cool perspective. Although I haven't raced in real life I've raced and won several USF2000 races in iRacing here so I know what you mean when you say you can't run wide open. It's an absolute blast running New Hampshire as well as the Milwaukee Mile in those cars.
In 2021 same problem with NASCAR. Restart on wet track and some cars came around. Kyle Busch was also very frustrated about this. Back luck for the races on this track. I like NHMS and hope it comes back to IndyCar in at least 2024.
It is important to look at this race in context.. of what came down the road in Los Vegas, the questionable decisions, lack of regard to safety.. how close the cars all ran since everyone had the same stuff... They had their wakeup call, and ignored it.. and someone died.
Vegas's #1 problem was that everyone involved forgot that the track was repaved in 07 with raised banking, and that there would be no issue running that with these crapwagons. The IRL was just filled with so much stupidity from drivers to teams to officials that it's fortunate they only killed 3 drivers between 03 and 11.
I was at that race. At the caution we all walked backed to our car knowing that race would be called. In the parking lot, I was stunned to hear them attempt a restart. Michael was right, it was wetter at the restart than when they threw the caution!
I remember being at this race in person. I was disappointed with now Indy handled this whole ordeal. I'm still sad they didn't give New Hampshire another chance though.
A lot of folks mentioning adding lights for nighttime races, but if I remember right, there's already lots of issues with surrounding neighbors about noise. If that doesn't get resolved I don't see night racing happening. Haven't been to the track in years, but hope it's still functioning (and in good shape) when I get the chance for track days again...
when Bob Bear owned the track it was so much better i have been going to NHMS since 1996 and we had 2 cup weekends, Indy, the trucks, and it was awesome it would sell out both race weekends but when SMI bought it its all gone down hill big time. its sad that we only have a cup weekend now and that will never go away because its the only track in the northeast for cup, the only reason this race was so crazy was because of the rain so they were in a hurry and it was the 1st time they had come back since 98 so they were not used to the track. back when they ran every year it was never like this. it wasn't the tracks fault it was Indy's fault for this
Damn rmember this. Didn't remember Dario's fuckup. It's amazing the guy won so much, he has so many bone head moves in his career. I also wouldn't call Power's reaction a meltdown. Okay, maybe a little. That was the only justifieable reaction to that debacle. racing with rain coming down.
Will Powers flipping off the control tower is one of the funniest thing's I've ever seen at a racetrack, both at the track & on TV! He literally look's like a middle school student throwing a hissy fit, just hilarious! 🤣💨💥
I remember watching this race during the original broadcast. I knew it was a bad idea for the green and was shocked that professionals had zero clue about what would happen with that level of moisture.
I still have a copy of the meme image that followed Will's double birdie -- the red-white-and-blue IndyCar logo of the time, except with Power's tilted silhouette offering his opinion instead of a tilted frontal view of an IndyCar. One of the best joke designs ever, for me.
That final restart looked like the start at this track last year in NASCAR. It was raining pretty bad and the drives said not to start since it was raining. They even had the president of NASCAR go in live TV and explain the reason to start. It seems like all kinds of racing should look at the past of other races and not in their own fields to learn from mistakes of others.
This race happened to be my first, and to this point only Indy car race I attended. It was an absolute show tho and I hope some day they bring it back! Aside from the controversies 12 year old me still had a blast
I just found your channel I'm gonna watch more videos of it but this one I really liked it. Hope your channel grows more and keep doing good videos. Cheers!!
Say what you will, but at least the executive admitted his mistake on camera. Such a direct polar opposite to NASCAR where people like Brian France, and now Jim France refuse to admit their mistakes and instead of learning from them, generally compounding them and making them worse.
My wife and I attended this race and would have attended every year had this race not been screwed up. The sound of these engines is unlike anything I've ever heard.
I was at this race, shortly after the infamous restart, the rain stopped and held off for another 20-30 minutes, could have had a green flag finish if they were just a bit more patient.
There's an argument for racing under wet being the responsibility of the drivers, and that the lower grip levels simply mean that drivers ought to figure out what the 'new' limit is and simply dance around it as well as they can. Of course, that only applies when there's no spray killing visibility, which did not seem to be a thing on this race. Still, you cannot argue with such an abysmal performance. I guess ovals really aren't meant for wet weather racing.
couldn't they just have the whole field come in for a mandatory pit to race slick tires and keep the party going. That way you can still try and finish the race under green.
@@bartsullivan4866 they don't make oval rain tires. Oval tires are totally different compounds on the right and lefts for all the load on the tires going in one direction, they haven't been able to make a rain tire that will get enough grip and withstand the load at the same time yet, basically they havent been able to get a oval rain tire that lasts and doesn't blow out on the ovals, especially the right side tires
Sadly I missed this race, (it's only been within the past couple years that I got back into watching IndyCar), but I can tell you: THIS is why you NEVER race in the rain, especially on a flat track Oval such as NMHS
F1 can still race in the rain, but mostly because it's not always full speed and full throttle; and if the rain is heavy enough they don't race at all It really baffles me that the officials saw these 200 mph screaming beasts rolling on a flat oval and thought "Yeah these are safe conditions"
@iSlapt You're pretty stupid if you think that Indycars don't run on wet road and street courses, or that ANY group of drivers could run a race on a wet oval.
I worked with Will when he was in champ car. Probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met in racing, while I was shocked to see him do that I completely understand why and don't blame him for being angry. Brian Barnhart didn't make a lot of friends during his time as race director and I still think it's funny that even though Andretti disliked him so much he still works for Andretti now.
@@Demise90Racing besides Will I also worked with Simon Pagenaud, Little Al, Alex Tagliani and a few other one off drivers. Great videos, keep up the great work.
@@rjmidwest6911 that's amazing man. I'm glad someone who worked so closely with many IndyCar greats appreciates my videos. Thank you very much for checking out my channel.
I was there for this race. Saw the portapoty flip. I remember the crowd booing when they had the red flag then called the race then and there. Was barely a drizzle there. Sucks it has not returned since.
I've had the opportunity to chauffeur Will Power along with other drivers around whenever they came to my city and I got to say, they are pretty funny people.
Idk...what is your take on the racing here verses running at Milwaukee??? To me the racing at Milwaukee was better with less incidents than this at New Hampshire...your take???
I figured Danica would have been the one that caused the wreck. It was a bad call to go back green but Danica was the only one who lost it. It doesn't take much for her to loose a car wet or dry lol.
oh, come on lol. this is just blind danica hate, she wasn’t the only person who spun out on the restart. she was a perfectly capable indycar driver at this point in her career and this was just unraceable conditions for everyone, not just danica.
@@diigdugg Everyone else spun trying to miss her lol. She has 0 fill for a car. Those cars basically handle so perfect they just need some rich pretty face behind the wheel. Aka a steering wheel holder. One thing the rain did was take away that perfect handling car and put it into the driver's hands. She stabbed the throttle way to hard. Her spotter should have been telling her "easy, easy, on this restart the track is slick!" Every car that wrecked after that had nowhere to go.
I must say I’m very thankful that this race was such a disaster. Will Power flipping off the tower is such a brilliant meme that I’ve used so many times
Someone needs to use that clip and Vettel's "Here's a message to Charlie" audio and make it into a video.
@@User-wh4xi Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin use it as a negative rating, A single bird flip is a little less bad than the double Will.
I liked the photoshop someone did with Will’s two series trophies in place of the middle fingers.
Always wondered if someone was in the portable toilet slammed by Kanaan. Can you imagine being in that and having that happen.
That double birdflip isn't a meltdown, it's a traditional Australian greeting. It's how we say hello to our friends and family
as seen on TV, in america, it's how we say hello to dumb@ss race officials
Like how ya going mate
🤣🤣🤣
Before Power had to stop because the security at Indycar are composed of military men. Just like Helio at Edmonton earlier that season. The difference here is that it was SLIGHTLY more justified, 2% more justified because any driver who throws a fit at the marshalls and the officiators who already have a difficult life keeping the race ACTIVE deserves to be folded and beaten senseless by said former soldiers and TA-men.
Daniel ricciardo during every ride along pre race smiling his big smile flipping the bird to his mates track side.
Will Power's double bird will live on forever in IndyCar history.
There are many great moments in motorsports history...one of them surely will be Will Power's double-barreled bird flip.
I wouldn't apologize if I was in Power's position. What he said about the official's decision was completely justified. Jamie Little saying "These are the officials who hand out penalties and fines, are you worried about possible repercussions?" I would've told Jamie "I don't care". But that's just me.
In reality I don't think he cared. It was just a little damage control for his sponsors when he calmed down a little bit. Ended up being a 30K fine for him.
@@Demise90Racing honestly I wouldn’t have paid. I would’ve just said, “I’ll pay when IndyCar pays Penske for damages to my race car from their decision to try that restart.”
@@mattsisoler6125 Didn't one of the radio stations dp a fundraiser to pay for Will Power's fine?
@@shinystarmiestudios4179 I’m not sure honestly. I didn’t see anything about it but I could’ve easily missed it back then.
@@Demise90Racing Actually, it was either a $50K fine or Randy Bernard told him he could do 5 promotional events for IndyCar like it was "Community Service." He took the community service and the penalty was given to Helio Castroneves when Race Control stole his win at Edmonton because he took the apex instead of giving to the guy behind him and for grabbing the shirt of the head of Indy security.
a silhouette of will power's iconic double bird pose should be the indycar series logo.
That double bird was my first introduction to Will Power. Been my dude in Indycar ever since.
I live in New Hampshire and was so bummed that this failed to continue. They did a miserable job promoting it. But I remember they chose the same weekend as the Portsmouth Air Show. Most people in the state went to that instead. Then the rain debacle… it was a mess. I wish they would give it another shot with a good promoter. I’d go in a heartbeat.
Me too. I live in Atlantic Canada and I’d LOVE to see IndyCar back at NHMS.
I was there, it was so poorly organized. The crowd was clearly much smaller than that of a typical cup (or even Busch/xFinity) race, yet the traffic was worse. There were like 2 cops directing traffic. Just a clown show.
Signed
It was only 12 years later that Will Power would pull off the epic double bird at Road America
At least Will Power learned you can flip off drivers and be fine, but flip off race control and be fined... 😅
Will isn’t afraid to speak his mind, I met him on pit road this year, and he signed my IndyCar from 2018, second closest person to the late Dan Wheldon, such an amazing personality and character
The rare "Double Bird", often reported but seldom seen!
And often faked
I remember watching this one. Besides the stupid call to go green in the wet I was kinda amazed there was so much carnage in this race. I know they wernt racing at Phoenix at this point either but Phoenix had ran Indy for 30 years. Flat small track kinda like NH. People had their doubts. I guess they were right though cause they havent been back since. Phoenix has been run a few times though since.
The racing was kind of lackluster here. Dario dominated until he got wrecked, and then Ryan Hunter-Reay basically led every lap after that. Seems like there was so much restart carnage because of how difficult it was to pass once they got strung out.
This might seem kind of a dumb question but didn't they have rain tires couldn't they have just switched to those to finish the race. Or Maybe have Firestone come up with a half wet tire/half racing tire in these situations to keep the race going green. You got to hand it to Will Power you will give you actual raw emotion.
@@bartsullivan4866 rain tires don't work on ovals
CART ran Loudon for several years and I believe the IRL raced at least once there in 1990s In what amounts to the same basic chassis. Eitherway, it was a phenomenal open wheel track and lackluster Nascar track(even though that's what it was built for) until recently.
@@loveracing1988 I did not know that, seems like something Firestone should work on. So the rain tread tires only work and road and street courses not the ovals.
I enjoyed this 19 minute video of context explaining Will Power's double bird that I've seen in some motorsport compilations xD
Hahaha I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍
And like Helio, I was waiting for Power to have his arse handed to by security. Again, I don't care about what problems the teams and drivers have, the marshals and officials had a hard job as it stands trying to keep the race from collapsing into chaos, the LAST thing they need is some butthurt chode throwing a massive tantrum because THEIR race didn't go well.
@@DR3ADER1 has nothing to do with the race “not going his way” the point is that the officials new the track was wet and didn’t listen to the drivers, letting them race in dangerous conditions
@@gage2040 Michael Andretti was also bitching about the conditions, yet Hunter-Reay won the race regardless. Bad drivers blame the conditions and the car, good drivers win in bad conditions and in bad cars. Simple as simple gets.
@@DR3ADER1 what are you even talking about? RHR won only because they reset the order, not because there was some noble finish in the wet.
Knowing Will Power for many years, it took a lot to get him this pissed. Dude has seen a lot and rarely overreacts.
Knowing will powers on TV you mean? You don't actually know the guy other then what you see on a camera. Stfu
As a New Hampshire native, I would like to see this series come back. Maybe on the road course but I think New Hampshire deserves more than one cup race a year whether imsa, indycar, nascar. Just frustrating that we get left with this.
A street circuit in Portsmouth would be awesome.
I don't think you could run the road course at NHMS with the elevation change and abrupt transition back to the oval. And I don't think the track is big enough to run a road configuration within the oval area.
Maybe they could use the Club Motorsports track in Tamworth. Not far from Loudon.
Damn there is only one cup race in Loudon now. That's rough. I didn't realize they got rid of a race. I remember going to the 99 race but I don't remember much of it. I would love to see indy come back. Doubt it will tho.
Yah, that sucks. I remember seeing Nigel Mansell and the Andretti's run Indy there. Many fond memories up there every year for Father's Day and bike week. Sure miss those days.
I have lived in NH my whole 25 years on Earth. Racing has been in my blood since i was born. I HATE seeing the town folk and track owners ruining what could be a great facility. This place used to be packed every event no matter what. Now you see so many open camping spots and seats obviously even after tearing down all of 3&4 seating. Dirt track was a cool addition but it was for AFT more than anything so bigger dirt series wont ever be there. Roadcourse could easily have work. Track could easily be rebuilt to have something more enjoyable. Then have ability to bring more in as time goes on. Lights is the biggest topic. Its nearly always 90+ degrees race weekend its miserable. If we had our September race and not July youd see a huge difference too. September can be hot but rarely as hot as July. Hurts seeing a track i loved so much as a kid and still do falling down a spiral towards the outcome of Kentucky. NHMS will never completly die as local divisions will always race here but just sucks i could go on and on all day and night about things this track use to do, Should do but wont do.
The heat here in the summer always intrigued me. You get Nascar running in Texas and California in late spring/summer and they don't have an issue. Even Pocono and Watkins Glen run around the same time as NH rarely sees any overheating, and that's a similar region. You'd think it'd be a cooler race anyway with how far north it is, yet there's been what, 2-3 races in the last 10 years or so with drivers overheating
@@__boomer2__ New Hampshire is always felt to be that way when you arent from New England. The Humidity in 86-105° weather is so common. Even this week. its supposed to be 88,92,94,97 then drops down to 75 or something. its crazy. We need our September race back or atleast moved into late August cause i cant take many more July Races we lucked out this year it stayed cloudy as can be after the rain.
@@__boomer2__ Id imagine its alot more than 3 if im honost but it still doesnt take away that point. its always hot. We could have Lights but there is Legit a small sliver of the property and Track owned by a town that isnt Loudon. Canterbury is extremly against paying for Lights to be put in as it effect THEIR tax dollars for the tiny sliver. Theyve never switched over even with Nascar and Motorsports inc saying as much as they could to help ease them into it. So Either a full track rework is coming and set in Loudon only with Lights or the tracks going to never have nascar weekends soon. It just is less and less people going into the races. More and more seats being taken out of the stands. If we had a night race or Early Fall or Spring race no doubt in my mind that NHMS would be one of the best crowds on the circuit. Regardless of how the Racing is.
My friend Billy and I were there. We walked back to the car before the willpower middle finger moment but when we both looked over at the screen that you could see from the back stretch parking lot it was will power giving us the finger and I thought that that was hilarious..
While bill and I admitted man that was really cool those cars were fast they sounded cool it was the craziest race we'd ever been to and I have video from our point of view of that Porta-Potty flipping over.
We went home totally confused and with me quoting the bill France thing where hey you don't change the race that just happened in front of the people. We didn't know at all cuz they don't talk about it on any radio station like NASCAR so we get home and they had completely changed the results
Just confusing and I haven't seen another Indy race since in person. Another notable thing was they were playing the same song they play for those dog shelters, in the hour of the Angels or something and just the absolute most terrible music, the Nascar race immediately after that had them throwing the green flag to Master of puppets so you be the judge no comparison LOL Indy seemed very lightweight, bougie didn't care about the fans and just insisted on itself something that really when you're going home not even knowing who the winner was was hilarious is all I can say because how great can that be how great a race?
Imagine if all of this Hocus pocus crap happened at the Indy 500 but instead they took our $75 for a race called the move the block or whatever it was called this everything stupid and did not care a crap about the fans comfort or entertainment or anything
And I'm glad I've got to share this manifesto with somebody who at least saw it on tape cuz it was a shitshow from beginning to end. No one to help us even Park we will park in the VIP zone for the for the entire time and realize well we don't even want to be around these bougie asses!, We walked in and walked around the track before they even set up their damn ticket booth which they set up their ticket booth like an hour before the race which leave the door open for the entire day like they did I don't know?
Disrespectful people walking around wearing orange not doing their job literally letting people get in for free. They're friends, other teenagers LOL
It was a mess is all I can say I could walk through every moment of the 6-hour experience of being at the track that day and every single thing that happened was insanely obvious they didn't care about the fans the racers or anything it seemed..
Again all of this print about it I've held inside since the day it happened LOL thank you for making this video
And by God imagine being in that God damn Porta-Potty!
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective of being there in person. I really enjoyed reading your comment. Thanks for checking out the video and I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍
The track seemed pretty cool for a short speedway wish they would have fixed the issue and kept it on the calendar. I think INDYCAR needs more short oval race tracks like this.
There's no reason to wait. Go to the Indy 500. I thought these cars looked like they were trolling around at 160 mph. I like to see them run wide open. Can hear them coming like a herd of thundering horses.
Think you need to visit RA or Mid-Ohio, or Barber on an Indycar race weekend. Those tracks absolutely cater to the fans and it has been an incredible time each time I've been.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Fascinating.
(Have heart that not all indycar fans are bougie asses, and I'd buy you a beer just to hear that story! I bet you'd like Road America. )
I love how so many drivers were talking through the radios about the track being unsuitable but dude in the booth said he heard nothing. That’s highly unlikely. More likely he heard it all and gave the go ahead anyway because ending on a rain delay doesn’t make as much money as ending on a green flag. Just another example of how racing has become a business and entertainment first and a SAFE competition second.
Have you thought about a video on The Great Brian Barnhart? This race, the 2003 Indy 500 where Paul Tracy "lost" the race because of his screwup, 2010 Edmonton where Castroneves had his win stolen because he took the apex of a corner ahead of Scott Dixon, and almost the whole commentary from Motegi 2011 where the announcers spend most of the race ragging on Barnhart is a good start.
I haven't thought about doing one on Brian specifically, but I've put together a list of races and events that I want to do. The Edmonton Castroneves race is one at the top of my list.
I’d like to see that also!
@@Demise90RacingI remember that race. I have never ever seen helio that mad before. He was absolutely PISSED, and rightfully so. That was a b.s. call.
This channel is a hidden gem!! I’ve learned a lot about Indy car from your channel keep up the good work
Thank you Connor I really appreciate that. The channel is slowly growing. Glad you enjoy the videos 👍
Such an incredibly stupid bit of officiating. I was indifferent to Will Power before but this was the moment I became a fan for life. His exasperation in that moment summed up so much of what I felt about the whole Brian Barnhart era of indycar racing.
Loudon is one of those tracks where the racing absolutely blows but the atmosphere with the fans is absolutely amazing.
I just don’t understand how they managed to make a track so unpassable. Speaking as a NASCAR fan, they somehow took Martinsville, a fan favourite, and combined it with Dover, a top-half contender, and we got… whatever Loudon is.
“Danica Patrick spins”
NASCAR fans have heard that a lot
Once I saw who actually caused that last major wreck, I had to chuckle.
Do you remember Will Power's double middle finger to Bryan Barnhart?
Yes I watched the race live when this happened
That’s what made me a fan of Will Power
I fell out of my chair laughing! Will did what a lot of us fans did at home when The Great Brian Barnhart struck. It was on ABC, and by a Penske driver...there's only a few things that could have also happened to make it better. Mario, Michael or AJ yelling at him and smacking TGBB would have been just as good.
Very well made video and was an excellent watch, I'm an F1 fan but have been watching IndyCar for a few years now so videos such as these are perfect in giving an idea of the recent history of the series
That's awesome. I appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed it and started following IndyCar.
I’ll never forget Power doing the double bird as long as I live 😂😂😂
I was there that day, when the caution came out for rain on lap 19 I decided to leave as there was no way they were going to restart with the weather, I had gotten to the tunnel when I heard them go green followed by the crash. The race was decent up to that point.
Loudon and Milwaukee Mile were always great races packed with action before they screwed everything ..
2 or 3 more ovals on the calendar would be great. I would like to see the season have 2 or 3 more races. I don't want them to lose any races but just add more ovals.
This is a very very enjoyable video. I have watched most Indycar races live and i most certainly remember this absolute shit show. Anyone who ever questions why theres no running in the wet on ovals just needs to watch that restart
Wouldn't be an issue If they get some better tires for the Wet
@@ryanralph7494 You don't bring wet tires to an oval race because spray makes it absolutely impossible to run a remotely safe race on a wet oval. Cars are simply too closely bunched. It's hard as hard to do on a road course, no chance on a full oval. A roval like the Daytona 24 Hour course still strings cars out like a road course.
Also, to think this would only be the second dumbest officiating decision of this season.
what was first?
@@justinallday4981 Las Vegas
Castroneves at Edmonton was also this year when Race Control robbed him for taking an apex of a corner to win and he grabbed Indy Security like he was going to assault him.
@@ritchie9601 I know why that is
I’ve raced F2000 cars on this track. F2000 look like small Indycars but only have 150 hp. This track is so small and tight even we cannot run wide open. We’re sliding all over through the turns on the first lap. I can’t imagine running a big 750 hp Indycar at this place-that’s just crazy. And in the rain? Impossible.
That's awesome and a really cool perspective. Although I haven't raced in real life I've raced and won several USF2000 races in iRacing here so I know what you mean when you say you can't run wide open. It's an absolute blast running New Hampshire as well as the Milwaukee Mile in those cars.
dont change up the format, loving the last three Indy vids
Both an utterly superb and unbelievably tragic season of Indycar! Wheldon winning the Indy 500 and then losing his life in Las Vegas.
Same year the insane choice to race on the Vegas track. RIP Dan Weldon.
Ironic, nascar in 2021 had the same problem at NH when they started a race in similar conditions. History does repeat itself.
Crazy how things work like that.
In 2021 same problem with NASCAR. Restart on wet track and some cars came around. Kyle Busch was also very frustrated about this. Back luck for the races on this track. I like NHMS and hope it comes back to IndyCar in at least 2024.
You sound young but you make some good videos! Great to see more people take a interest in motor sport. Good work man keep it up!
It is important to look at this race in context.. of what came down the road in Los Vegas, the questionable decisions, lack of regard to safety.. how close the cars all ran since everyone had the same stuff... They had their wakeup call, and ignored it.. and someone died.
They had lots of close calls that they ignored before this. All you need to do is look at IndyCar wrecks at Texas to realize that.
Vegas's #1 problem was that everyone involved forgot that the track was repaved in 07 with raised banking, and that there would be no issue running that with these crapwagons. The IRL was just filled with so much stupidity from drivers to teams to officials that it's fortunate they only killed 3 drivers between 03 and 11.
Regardless that it was wet, of course it was Danica who got on the power while still turning.
That's exactly what I was thinking watching this. I was waiting for someone to call out the obvious and ask wtf was she doing lol
I was gonna make the 'woman driver ' comment but you know. 😂😂
No safer barrier but great use of the tire/porta-potty barrier...
The Porta poty when Tony hit the wall and flipped
I was at that race. At the caution we all walked backed to our car knowing that race would be called. In the parking lot, I was stunned to hear them attempt a restart. Michael was right, it was wetter at the restart than when they threw the caution!
I remember being at this race in person. I was disappointed with now Indy handled this whole ordeal. I'm still sad they didn't give New Hampshire another chance though.
Great Video I remember watching this race and laughing my ass off when Will Power flipped off the officials. One of the worst Indycar Races ever
Thank you, I appreciate it 👍 One of Wills finest moments.
A lot of folks mentioning adding lights for nighttime races, but if I remember right, there's already lots of issues with surrounding neighbors about noise. If that doesn't get resolved I don't see night racing happening.
Haven't been to the track in years, but hope it's still functioning (and in good shape) when I get the chance for track days again...
That makes sense. It's 100% still functioning and in good shape. The Nascar Cup Series visits New Hampshire next weekend.
Greet video as ever, keep them coming. Been a massive Indy car fan since about 14 so seeing earlier videos are always fascinating 👍🏼
Thank you very much David. I'm working away on the next one as we speak 👍
when Bob Bear owned the track it was so much better i have been going to NHMS since 1996 and we had 2 cup weekends, Indy, the trucks, and it was awesome it would sell out both race weekends but when SMI bought it its all gone down hill big time. its sad that we only have a cup weekend now and that will never go away because its the only track in the northeast for cup, the only reason this race was so crazy was because of the rain so they were in a hurry and it was the 1st time they had come back since 98 so they were not used to the track. back when they ran every year it was never like this. it wasn't the tracks fault it was Indy's fault for this
forgot the race, but have never forgot Will Powers friendly gesture to the officials!
great video man. 👍👍👍👍✌️
We have got to get you into broadcasting school and get you onto TV as a commentator ASAP!!! 🏁
Brain Barnhardt is the Micheal Masi of Indycar
Didn't think Indy raced at my home state track. Kinda interesting to see this now. Great content
Thanks Jay. I appreciate it. Maybe IndyCar will return to New Hampshire one day.
Damn rmember this. Didn't remember Dario's fuckup. It's amazing the guy won so much, he has so many bone head moves in his career. I also wouldn't call Power's reaction a meltdown. Okay, maybe a little. That was the only justifieable reaction to that debacle. racing with rain coming down.
New drinking game. Drink every time someone says "Will Power"
Dead.
I was at the track that day.. that last restart their was tire tracks from the tires and almost every one was on the rev limiter when they went green
Will Powers flipping off the control tower is one of the funniest thing's I've ever seen at a racetrack, both at the track & on TV! He literally look's like a middle school student throwing a hissy fit, just hilarious!
🤣💨💥
Bruh Danica be looking like me on iracing
I was there for that race. Never knew going into this how much of a weird day it was going to be.
Tomas Schekter at 0:44 and 1:20
Passed over 5 cars in turn 1 both times
Weirdly I've only ever seen the gif of Power's double salute and not really known the full story. Great video.
LMAO. Well there you go. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you 👍
I remember watching this race during the original broadcast. I knew it was a bad idea for the green and was shocked that professionals had zero clue about what would happen with that level of moisture.
I still have a copy of the meme image that followed Will's double birdie -- the red-white-and-blue IndyCar logo of the time, except with Power's tilted silhouette offering his opinion instead of a tilted frontal view of an IndyCar. One of the best joke designs ever, for me.
That final restart looked like the start at this track last year in NASCAR. It was raining pretty bad and the drives said not to start since it was raining. They even had the president of NASCAR go in live TV and explain the reason to start. It seems like all kinds of racing should look at the past of other races and not in their own fields to learn from mistakes of others.
IndyCar needs comeback to New Hampshire
This race happened to be my first, and to this point only Indy car race I attended. It was an absolute show tho and I hope some day they bring it back! Aside from the controversies 12 year old me still had a blast
This was my first race too! Also a 12 year old having a blast just listening to the cars go by. Still my favorite year for indy for pure nostalgia
I just found your channel I'm gonna watch more videos of it but this one I really liked it.
Hope your channel grows more and keep doing good videos.
Cheers!!
Say what you will, but at least the executive admitted his mistake on camera. Such a direct polar opposite to NASCAR where people like Brian France, and now Jim France refuse to admit their mistakes and instead of learning from them, generally compounding them and making them worse.
This incident got nothing on the 2022 All Star Race
My wife and I attended this race and would have attended every year had this race not been screwed up. The sound of these engines is unlike anything I've ever heard.
Never knew where that Will Power clip came from, TIL. Totally justified too.
While my home truck seen a lot of races there unfortunately didn't see this race but did get to see Danica run in the NASCAR series
My home track
I was at this race, shortly after the infamous restart, the rain stopped and held off for another 20-30 minutes, could have had a green flag finish if they were just a bit more patient.
one of many classic danika patrick crashes lol
Good to see Danika taking everyone out as usual
Seems like the same issue with NASCAR’s call in 2021. A unfortunate rain call to continue the drivers to race until they crashed lol
Rest in Peace to the portapotty that got knocked over Tony's car.
Well like you said I forgot all about that one but yeah I'm glad you brought it back up
Thanks Keith. Glad you enjoyed it 👍
I remember watching this and thinking I don't envy the person that might have been in that Porta potty. He had a pretty shitty day.
Who knew that 10 years later, NASCAR would do the same thing at the start
Broach was like F this I’m gone. Lol
2011 was a crazy year for indycar
lmao i was there, unfortunately not looking in the direction when Will flipped everyone off 😆
The double bird is Will asking for 2 beers from the tower
Of course Danica patrick set that crash in motion, of course.
There's an argument for racing under wet being the responsibility of the drivers, and that the lower grip levels simply mean that drivers ought to figure out what the 'new' limit is and simply dance around it as well as they can. Of course, that only applies when there's no spray killing visibility, which did not seem to be a thing on this race.
Still, you cannot argue with such an abysmal performance. I guess ovals really aren't meant for wet weather racing.
couldn't they just have the whole field come in for a mandatory pit to race slick tires and keep the party going. That way you can still try and finish the race under green.
@@bartsullivan4866 they don't make oval rain tires. Oval tires are totally different compounds on the right and lefts for all the load on the tires going in one direction, they haven't been able to make a rain tire that will get enough grip and withstand the load at the same time yet, basically they havent been able to get a oval rain tire that lasts and doesn't blow out on the ovals, especially the right side tires
In Australia it’s a greeting, in America it means a “talk” will take place in the near future.
Sadly I missed this race, (it's only been within the past couple years that I got back into watching IndyCar), but I can tell you: THIS is why you NEVER race in the rain, especially on a flat track Oval such as NMHS
@iSlapt you mean like the Belgian grand prix? Man those 4 laps were full of action.
F1 can still race in the rain, but mostly because it's not always full speed and full throttle; and if the rain is heavy enough they don't race at all
It really baffles me that the officials saw these 200 mph screaming beasts rolling on a flat oval and thought "Yeah these are safe conditions"
@@loveracing1988 I love F1 but holy fucking shit that GP was a farse
I just wanted the race to be postponed or even skipped entirely
Honestly some tracks that were built for NASCAR, common sense-wise are just not built and made for IndyCar... honestly...
@iSlapt You're pretty stupid if you think that Indycars don't run on wet road and street courses, or that ANY group of drivers could run a race on a wet oval.
I worked with Will when he was in champ car. Probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met in racing, while I was shocked to see him do that I completely understand why and don't blame him for being angry. Brian Barnhart didn't make a lot of friends during his time as race director and I still think it's funny that even though Andretti disliked him so much he still works for Andretti now.
That's really cool that you worked with Will. Appreciate this comment. I love hearing people's perspectives of things 👍
@@Demise90Racing besides Will I also worked with Simon Pagenaud, Little Al, Alex Tagliani and a few other one off drivers. Great videos, keep up the great work.
@@rjmidwest6911 that's amazing man. I'm glad someone who worked so closely with many IndyCar greats appreciates my videos. Thank you very much for checking out my channel.
We we told in SCCA driving School ... There is absolutely no single digit communication allowed! Fines will be mandatory!
I thought NASCAR officials were bad this dude takes the cake man
I so miiiiisssss this type of close racing.
5:13
I hope no one was in that Porta Potty
I was never really for or against will power before this race but ive been a big fan ever since lol
I was there thoroughly enjoyed it, wish they’d come back
I was there for this race. Saw the portapoty flip. I remember the crowd booing when they had the red flag then called the race then and there. Was barely a drizzle there. Sucks it has not returned since.
The Will Power double bird recently reappeared at Road America 2023 practice directed at Scott Dixon.
I've had the opportunity to chauffeur Will Power along with other drivers around whenever they came to my city and I got to say, they are pretty funny people.
Idk...what is your take on the racing here verses running at Milwaukee??? To me the racing at Milwaukee was better with less incidents than this at New Hampshire...your take???
I figured Danica would have been the one that caused the wreck. It was a bad call to go back green but Danica was the only one who lost it. It doesn't take much for her to loose a car wet or dry lol.
oh, come on lol. this is just blind danica hate, she wasn’t the only person who spun out on the restart. she was a perfectly capable indycar driver at this point in her career and this was just unraceable conditions for everyone, not just danica.
@@diigdugg Everyone else spun trying to miss her lol. She has 0 fill for a car. Those cars basically handle so perfect they just need some rich pretty face behind the wheel. Aka a steering wheel holder.
One thing the rain did was take away that perfect handling car and put it into the driver's hands. She stabbed the throttle way to hard. Her spotter should have been telling her "easy, easy, on this restart the track is slick!" Every car that wrecked after that had nowhere to go.
Haven't watched indy in years but there are still so many familiar names.
Sheesh, those photographers @ 0:56 ! No fencing or anything.
I remember going to this race as a kid!
Wow, this was 10 years ago. Thought it was recent, figured it out when i seen Danica.. Please put a date or year in your title