Besides the "What Next?" thread, we need to decide if you guys want to run the 500 race again this year. The Monaco F1 and Indy 500 are on May 25th, but the following weekend is a travel date for F1 so Sunday, June 1 is open. We would use the latest version of the Champ Car mod for rFactor. Very simply, yes or no to the race.

It would be great to be able to use the new IRL mod for this, although it's got at least one noted problem: it replaces some common files in the Vehicles folder.

By the time Indy rolls around, there may be another version out. An alternative might be to distribute a pre-built JSGME version, with Generic Mod Enabler already included, to allow everyone to get rFactor back to pre-mod condition. But, before I jump on the Open Wheel Racing mod bandwagon, I'd have to see more - it did seem fine in a short test at Indy.
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EDITED out some of the late-night rambling. I wonder if drafting is changed in v1.4.
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The IRL mod is out there, dangling in our faces. I hope it's ready by Indy.

Ramblin' Man... where's the Allman Brothers smiley?

I'd rather do it in the IRL mod as well, with Papa_K's brilliant idea to league only distribute it with JSGME included. That might also be the catalyst in getting non-JSGME adapters on board.

FWIW, I don't have any major complaints with CCWS 1.4. IMO the IRL mod is a bit harder to drive with it's very narrow power delivery. I will assume that we will drive either the way that they should be, that is without traction control. Part of what is so evident this year in F1 is that CCWS not adapting TC was more enjoyable for both fans and drivers alike. Enabling TC really kills the challenge and with it the joy of driving these cars.

Hell yeah, I'm ready to kick some ass again, and see if Colonel Kurtz can avoid the Danica move at the final pitstop.


I too think we should plan to use the IRL mod. Why not? It's an IRL race, after all...

Yes absolutely.... for reasons described above

When they get the IRL mod up to speed so to speak I wouldn't have any problem running it. Champ Cars are good to me.

would like to see alot of drivers for this. once you're out of the draft it's race over. having lots of cars would help.

Dan, Dan, Dan.... Without traction control we immediately lose several potentially interested drivers. Those that don't want to use it, shouldn't.

Now maybe a compromise with setting of 1 or 2 only?

Probably a vote thing once we determine if we're even running it.

In Champcar v1.4: With cold tires, if you just glance down at the throttle pedal, the rear wheels spin.

Maybe TC could increase participation... if it's the Champcar mod rather than the IRL mod. Not that I'd show any preference for the IRL mod yet. I shouldn't do that, since I haven't really used the IRL mod that much yet.

I'll hold off on expressing any preference...

URL?




Unified Racing League!

What, are we all a bunch of Felipe Massas? Well, it won't make much difference at Indy. Road courses are another mater entirely. I'd say using TC in either of these on a road course would just be some sort of motorsports blasphemy, and the may the gods of great racing whack you on the backside with a 30mm box wrench if you turn that on.

BTW, I whipped up a little sound mod for rF Open Wheel Racing (IRL). Use at your own risk.
CCWS sounds for rF OWR

Some interesting insight into forcing setups and training AI in rF Open Wheel Racing.
http://www.champcargame.com/f/viewtopic.php?p=1971

The good news is the vast majority who voted want the race.

The bad news is only nine drivers care enough to vote either way.

I'm in.

There is a new Homestead (first race of the 2008 IndyCar Series season) skin pack out on rfactorcentral.com, but there are some issues with it. I'll clean it up and link a working version so that it will be an easy install for everyone.

I'd love to race this again.
But, like DJ said about the last race, once you were out of the draft you were left way behind. Having more drivers is crucial to the success of this race. I did find that two hours at Indy were not nearly as tiring as two hours on a road course. You could relax a bit on the straights and the race end seemed to come faster than I expected.

This is easily solved with the addition of the Pace (Safety) Car. I will take the blame for the lack of it in the Daytona 500 NASCAR race.

Nah, don't fall on the sword for my error. I was the last one in so I should have caught it.

I really hope some more drivers show up and commit to this. 10-12 just isn't going to do it. What did we have last year, 16?

A full length 500 I probably can't manage.

15.
http://www.gamebrite.com/simhq/champcars/Indianapolis_25112007%20203000/Race.html

Tried the IRL mod again yesterday, at Indy. One thing I haven't done yet is test the drafting effect. More or less than the Champcar mod? Don't know yet.

The 3/1 (F/R) default Indy wing for the IRL mod is comfortable. It would take some real changes to get it to work with a 1/1 wing.

There is wheelspin in the low gears with this mod, which would come into play on pitstops, but it's controllable. But, TC may not detract much from racing, if allowed.

Okay, so this one is DOA? 13 yes, 3 no, the rest "who cares". Better we know now than later.

That sounds like enough cars to have good racing to me... Sure, more would be better, but throw some cautions in there and I bet it would be a good race.

If you ask me SimHQ would do well with more of these "mini-feature" events, so I say go for it.

I say we just do it

However, it may be good to have a 'plan B' race if there are not enough cars on the server, such as a fixed setup 45min champcar/irl race at laguna seca or something.

I'm in regardless of numbers. If you organize it, I'll be there

If there's still space,I'd be interested in this race.

There's room for lots more drivers Envy. Hope we get a really big field

Then Count me in

rF Open Wheel Mod has version 1.10 out now, and a couple fixes for sound and fuel.
http://rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=rF%20Open%20Wheel%20Racing%202007%20Season

Yippee.

I'm actually free to race that day!
I'll join in if anyone else is there.

Just realized I'm out of town for a wedding that weekend... bummer.

I should be home for a change. I really enjoy driving this mod. Can't wait to try the new version.

Very sensitive on wheelspin (and spinning the car) in low gears.
Mid-throttle only and short shifting may give better results...

Interesting, maybe an alternative:
http://www.race2play.com/homepage/show_posts/6608

Oh man. I hadn't driven the rF Open Wheel Racing mod on an oval until this past weekend and what a bummer about the low speed rear grip issue. They work so well on a road course, it's hard to believe how bad the oval configuration is at low speed. At first I thought that it was the track, but I tried them at 2 different versions of Indy, and experienced the same results.

At normal race speed the physics seem fine, but it's a mother getting out of the pits, even for someone with a delicate foot. It's got to be some sort of downforce to drag issue at the rear. Otherwise a really fun mod, especially with the 2008 skins. It would be fantastic to run these at the Brickyard.

On the rF Open Wheel Racing mod: A new version (1.15) has just been released.
http://rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=rF%20Open%20Wheel%20Racing%202007%20Season

A lot more control on wheelspin, and (at the same time) more apparent torque in the lower rpm range. It's much more drivable.