IndyCar drones making drivers dizzy, fans dizzier

With all the downforce dialed into the 100% throttle IRL cars Helio Castroneves was told computer readings showed he felt nearly five times his body weight (five Gs) during up to half of his time driving around the small 7/8-mile Iowa track at speed.

"No wonder I'm still kind of feeling dizzy," he said.

Imagine how the fans feel watching 19 cars drone around in circles for two hours. Instead of debris cautions maybe the IRL will have to throw periodic cautions during the race on Sunday to prevent the drivers from passing out or the fans from needing Dramamine.

The drivers are hoping Iowa Speedway warms up today as much as weather forecasters predict for the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250. An increase of about 20 degrees will make the track slippery, the tires greasy and the driving difficult. It beats the alternative, they said.

"Otherwise, we'll all run the same speed (we call it droning) and no one will be able to pass anyone," Tony Kanaan said.

The inability to overtake cars of similar speed dominated discussion after Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions. Amid cooler conditions the past two days, drivers have found their cars having exceptional tire grip, which meant that with similar Honda engines, they became stagnant.

"I've yet to be truly passed, and I haven't passed anyone," Marco Andretti said.

Helio Castroneves said he got stuck following the slower Tomas Scheckter for an extended period in Friday's test.

"When it's cool like this, anyone can hug the bottom (groove)," Castroneves said. "We're all flat out (on the accelerator), and it's almost impossible to pass.

"(Warmer conditions) won't be fun to drive in, but it will be more fun to watch."

To race at this track or a similarly small banked track like Richmond at those speeds using 100% no talent required throttle all race is just silly. Silly Americans. In part from the Indy Star