This Onboard Of An IndyCar Racer Using Slicks In The Rain Is A Deeply Impressive Clench-Fest
Racing on a drying track is always a fine line - not just because there’s usually just a car width’s worth of track that’s actually dry, requiring ultimate precision, but because of the timing of when to switch to slick tyres. Too soon, and you lose lap time and have a huge risk of putting it in the wall. Too late, and you lose time on wet tyres while everyone else is enjoying the pace of fresh, hot slicks.
Andretti arguably went slightly too soon as he struggled to generate tyre temperature in the slippery conditions (then again, he was running near the back with little to lose anyway). The result is this incredible onboard footage, featuring more steering inputs than a driving scene from a 1960s movie and all sorts of oversteer-y moments.
Not only did he do a great job to keep the thing in a (mostly) straight line, but Andretti and his team would have been rubbing their hands together with glee when a caution came out. Under normal conditions, his early gamble would have paid off with a leap up the order, but officials opened the pit lane earlier than usual, allowing most of those ahead of him to make their own stops for slicks without losing position.
Andretti ended up 16th as Josef Newgarden took the win but - if it’s any consolation - it’s Marco’s incredible car control that’s left the lasting impression.
Comments
Driving on Dallas highways in the rain for me is a clench fest. I can only imagine what this is like 😂
I’ve heard that DFW highways are pretty intense and that people would prefer to die rather than miss their exit (or is it Houston?), so I don’t want to imagine what driving on those highways in bad weather is like
Now, this… This is the man with the most bravery I have ever seen.
My my… what an interesting read
Inspired by 3:10
His palms are sweaty Knees quick, arms are wrestling There are slicks on his Indy already Marco Andretti Car’s nervous Because the surface is still puddle-heavy Is this choice One he’ll end up regretting? There he goes now The whole crowd goes so loud He opens it wide But the grip just runs out He’s sliding now, everybody! Holy f@ck! He caught that, wow! “Tires warm, over”. Now, Snap back to reality, op! There goes everyone, wut? The pits opened sooner Than expected, he curses Too bad, he’s not first By far he’s sixteenth, jokes
On who bet that he would
Have won that easy Though, we must say it was dope With a stagnant track, going Out there with some treadless tires… Bravery! That’s what comes up as the first word to describe his
Efforts, Marco Andretti out here makin’ history
He was getting grip because his enormous balls made Inconell alloy
Slicks in the rain? What are they, Ferrari?
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