2000 CART Fontana - Gil de Ferran's Closed Course Record

[AlonsoRules]

That could have been Greg Moore in that car

[lightbulbsun43]

Was it worth it Tony George?

[kartingbeast93]

I've seen this now almost 5 times. and every time i see it I'm shocked by how unbelievably fast he's going.

[Dogman36]

imagine how much faster e would have gone without the hanford wing! meh rules are rules and this is still ridiculously fast!

[mpower950]

This is what Indycars should sound like. Always.

[Grayqboufan]

@praster666 They're racing there next year!

[NazarethNostalgia]

At the end of the video Mark Knopfler's Speedway at Nazareth is playing in the background. :)

[1963BirdDog]

@NazarethNostalgia

We saw Gil win the 100th for Roger at Nazareth - man I miss watching the cars fly around there... If I remember that was also the race that was 'snowed out' from earlier in the year. We drove through the snow thinking it can't be that bad further South.

[intensity74]

Look at the talent level of that top 15 good god

[km10nner]

We were there to see it Happen-broke Big Mo's record--Kool video. Brings back Memories. For 2012 Turbo sixes. Thanks for the video

[Dogman36]

if Penske hadn't jumped ship and gone to IRL, we would still have CART.

IRL would have folded and CART would have regained the Indianapolis 500.

oh, and not going to Texas speedway would have helped too

[Grayqboufan]

@Dogman36 Flirting with the thought of switching to NA V8s and pissing off all the engine manufacturers wasn't a very smart idea either...

[memberFU]

2:35 - 2:44 that sound is incredible !! brings back memories of being there !!

[memberFU]

BADASS

[Villeneuve27]

tobacco in racing = good old days

[AlonsoRules]

Should have been Greg Moore driving that car but sadly never to be :(

[StyrofoamKup]

@AlonsoRules he should have driven Helio's car actually

[AlonsoRules]

Does IRL race with the Handford device? There's virtually no chance that this record will ever be broken in official competition. Maybe if they got this car out again and went for the record they might get it but the cars these days have too much drag + they don't get two warm up laps prior to the attempt

[armorgeddon]

@AlonsoRules: No Handford-device today! Drag isn't the problem, todays have ~400 hp less! BTW they to 4-lap-qualy runs today I think.

[km10nner]

Thanks ChampCar4ver- Turbocharged!



[km10nner]

I witnessed this one, glad to to say , ona Sat- Cal Speedway- Im glad they're putin it bac on the schedule n 12'- "Big Mo"- had the record, was there for it to.

[SlamDuncDrummer]

Awesome combo - Reynard, Firestone and the sweet sound of that 1000hp turbo Honda engine.

[StFidjnr]

WOW

[McLarenMercedes]

@turbdturtle

"That record will never be broken." You do realize how many times in motorracing history they have said that? Here's what's true: You can't stop progress and the ever more advanced technology in racing cars. Sooner or later records are broken, sometimes after 15-20 years.

Took 39 years to beat the all time distance record from the 1971 LeMans 24 hours race.

[Amar7605]

Pause at 0:34. Penske and Unser Jr. Iconic.

[xSoccerxCorex]

@praster666 it's an ISC track, and the IRL are boycotting most, if not all, ISC track. whenever they held a race on their tracks, ISC was responible for promotion. and as the last few years shown, they did fuck all on the promotion side. so the IRL said to hell with them and took them off the schedule unless the ISC would let them do the promotion instead of meeting halfway on it

[stllmn8j]

@xSoccerxCorex It's sad because I loved having Indy at Watkins Glen, went to 3 of the Grand Prix and they were always the best race of the year there

[Mr99mx]

i really miss the CART series... Even this video is from 10 years ago,that cars were better than the IRL nowadays

[MrHelipilot24]

I miss the CART Series... And the drivers.. now its all about women drivers... none of which can drive even with the best cars and Alot of money...

[PeterMayer]

Remember how AJ Foyt said it wasn't legitimate because it wasn't done at Indianapolis. Great driver but an idiot.

[mustardjunkie]

Those were the days! IRL is nothing close to what champ car was. IRL wont produce any F1 drivers from here on out because they only run ovals apart from the every now and then circuit race.

[PeterMayer]

@mustardjunkie got that right mustard. Thanks a lot Tonee for "saving" open wheel.

[Quintinohthree]

@mustardjunkie

"[IRL] only run[s] ovals apart from the every now and then circuit race."

It may surprise you that the current Indycar schedule includes one more road/streetcourse than oval. Most Road/street courses are pretty bad though, so I'm hoping they're improving that.

And by the way there's no IRL anymore, It's IndyCar. A hidious name but and it doesn't change much but they're at least trying to do right what has been done wrong.

[Woberer]

it´s a shame that this series doesn´t exist anymore, but the indycar series is still the best open wheel series today. they have way more overtakings than f1. and hopefully 2012 will bring the series back to where it deserves to be :)

[Orangetree547]

Listen to that Honda humm! I always liked Gil a truly good man and a deserving champ!

[gustavozanfra]

Greetings from Brazil, Gil. Good luck to you and Kanaan going into 2011 Indycar Season.

[aristogatox]

On practice that weekend Montoya did 242, I remember very well

[acenace24]

He had the coolest name ever

[TheCarlsonsRaiders]

Funny, I remember watching another race from I believe 2000, and back on the sixth row, a typo claimed that Tony Kanaan had done a lap at 266 mph.

[armorgeddon]

@TheCarlsonsRaiders:Yes, I remember that, too. Thanks to my e-mail-archieve I can tell you that it must have happend during the 2002 Motegi-coverage, at least on the TV-feed they sent to Europe, where topspeeds above 260 mph were shown during the race. Those figures were obviously wrong :-)

[SmeurkeDeKat]

388.541 kmh.. Holy shit :p Love the sound

[Mopar21277]

Those cars are so stupid fast, way too fast for a closed course with concrete walls.

[pedro7g5]

@Mopar21277

I think that with those SAFER barriers it would be fine to race at California and Michigan. Hell... It might be safe for Indycars to race at Daytona if the track wasn´t as faulty as it is now!

[armorgeddon]

@pedro7g5: Daytona will get repaved now!

[Quintinohthree]

@armorgeddon

It was unsafe in the sixties or so when USAC tried racing at Daytona. SAFER bariers won't change that fact.

[mustang6172]

@Quintinohthree Cars are a lot less dangerous than they were in the 1960's.

[Quintinohthree]

@mustang6172

They're also a lot faster. Have you noticed that even though the cars are safer the tracks have also been made safer? The cars alone aren't safe enough.

[khristian49]

I want to go 248.89 MPH

[nascarsignore]

but this track was VERY dangerous for Cart and Indy Drivers. So is Michigan. And it doesnt perform with NASCARS

[Cash2112]

Is that 241.428 mph still the closed course record?

[TheCarlsonsRaiders]

@Cash2112 Yessir, when CART died, IndyCar didn't have machines that could touch these speeds. Amazing that a car could average over 240 mph though.

[burtonfan2]

I wonder what his top speed was.

[VampireYoshi]

de Ferran is now partnered with Roger Penske's son, as co-owners of an IndyCar team. They seem to be getting better each week, but we'll see.

[xobrentox]

This is something I miss, seeing cars break records at tracks that are flat out. Having open wheel cars push 250 mph at big tracks like MIS and Fontana again would be a dream come true.

[GEARHEADCT]

I agree with what most people are saying about open wheel these days but I still love it. I think it can be good again if in the next 2 years they make the right moves. I really hope people haven't given up on it just yet. If you check Dallaras new chassis concepts and they get the turbos back soon the future could be bright again. The Delta wing concept should be shown next Wed. Heres to hoping.

[Sandbag00]

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG

I didn't know there were hockey games in which the road team won 9-0 in 2000!!!

[v10mclaren]

WOW look at al unser jr!!!! the last 10 years havent been kind to him hahaha

[tmwnat]

Booze !!

[dalebshelton]

@v10mclaren He likes to drink and get really fucked up

[SAMMYJS991]

what do you mean by that???

[AutoRockinRacing94]

Wow Michael Vick left the game with a sprained ankle, check below at 2:57.

[hawkswin49]

I really miss that beautiful sound and those cars...its depressing following american open wheel racing now.

[myusernamealex]

I totally agree!

[AtomicMutant]

You know what else is really amazing about that video, besides the sheer power and speed, as well as the amazing engine note of the CART era?, there are actually FANS in the grandstands during qualifying ... When was the last time you saw that at a current "Indycar" event ... They really were the good old days.

[minonkracer]

I wonder if this will ever be beat.

[fordfocusonme]

Not with today's cars and not with all the concerns on HP on ovals.

[MrXMGS]

nah, I don't think so... I miss old CART.. :(

[FooAtari]

Where did it all go wrong?

CART was easily one of the best open wheel racing series in the world back.

To be blunt, in comparison IRL sucks. Very depressing

[hdz33]

Awesome! Man how I miss those days of cart, some of the best events I've ever attended :)

[lucram1]

I remember it this record, an average of 241,4 .. miles per hour , more 250,.. miles /hour in the straight line

[encinobalboa]

de Ferran must have touched 250 mph on the straights. Still incredible to watch 10 years later.

[bluemoon95]

I missed the scream of the turbocharged engine car flying around michigan or fontana. When you hear engine on tv it's sound so unbelievable. Pure brute power!!!

[Tacococunomuro]

Thanks!!! For Help

[Tacococunomuro]

Please, help: 241,428mph converter for kmh????

[DougVF1]

Use Google.

[jazzmonkey87]

alot

[gretzkysyotes]

LMFAO Best answer

[FRANKFROMBOGOTA]

HELLO Tacococunomuro...

241.428 miles per hour ARE: 388.540 kilometers per hour...

[AtomicMutant]

Amazing how a 9 year old chassis looks so much faster and so much more impressive than the current "Indycar". Those were amazing times. Good racing, good series. Such a smae that it's all gone away. The IRL is so underwhelming in comparison.

[racer11483]

241Plus, and that's WITH the Handford Device! I'm guessing close to 250mph without it.

[Tactical300]

At least 250... Remember, aero effects are exponential ;)

[18PacWest]

Gugelmin's speed record was close to 241 Mph.

It's completely INSAAAAAAAAAAANE.

[jazzmonkey87]

For the NASCAR folk - that one lap was 50mph faster than Daytona, and 45 mph faster than Atlanta

[mjj237]

Not to mention 54 mph faster than the NASCAR record for Fontana! Or to put it another way, if Gil De Ferran in this Penske-prepared Reynard ran head to head in qualifying trim with Ryan Newman and his Penske Ford from the following year for about an hour, he'd be 27 laps ahead. That's the difference between RACING and watching traffic.

[alexrossete]

fukin ignorant!! the NASCAR drivers are good but not so good like a cart/champcar/indy or f1 drivers

[Tactical300]

You idiot.

There is a lot more to open wheel than what you see on TV. It's not easy holding your foot flat to the floor when you're pulling 5 G's around the corner. You don't see that as often in NASCAR.

And back when this record was put up, the drivers were playing with vertical and lateral forces that were messing with the limits of human abilities without the aid of G-Suits.

[nezy37]

Um no, THese guys for the most part in another class. Not to say some guys in NASCAR aren't very tallented, but this is just another level.

P.S. these guys had to turn right more than twice a year.

[nezy37]

I think it is pretty safe to say that that record will stand. I don't see the IRL ever letting the cars go that fast.

[moye41]

without a doubt man i wish they would

[alexrossete]

youre right!!!!

[Nxtl68]

there not gonna go that fast ever again because IRL crashes tend to be more... spectacular these days.

[escusadovolador]

I was there when it happened, that thing was seriously FAST.

[champcarf1]

Sorry, you uneducated fool. I'm an educated American, and by reading your run on sentence you can't even read or write english. Go back to school you bum.

[laletemanolete]

is that the finale where Fernandez was also going for the World Championship?

[StyrofoamKup]

yeah but he didn't get a good car, and all in all l think Penske deserved his championships.

[rodan70]

What ever happened to Gil de Ferran?

[champcar4ever]

He is now racing in ALMS with De Ferran Motorsports using an LMP2 class Acura.

[fueldragster]

And next year he is moving up to LMP1

[champcarf1]

Got to love it when NASCAR idiots like Jimmy Spencer always complain about this track. This track made for awesome racing for open wheel racing. Maybe there is something wrong with the low performance NASCAR racers and not the track, you think?

[sefoi]

Top speed: 411 Km/h or 255.43 mph!!!! Amazing!!!

That's a lot for open-wheel cars. F1 cars doesn't get even closer to this!!

[chucktaggart]

That chassis just looks awesome, I hope Indycar can create a new chassis that looks as cool if not better than the old Lola/Reynards.

[Cheywall]

no doubt that thing looks wicked

[hoyadestroya85]

especially with the low downforce setting..

[NialoF1]

shame the cars nowadays are like boats compared

[sefoi]

388,457 Km/h!!!! WOW!!!

[chucktaggart]

Well, now they are together and our only hope lies with one league so get over it.

[cuts68]

Paul Tracy at Michigan recorded a trap speed at 256.824...not sure exactly of the year but it was around 1997-2000

[amjan]

Yup, the video of the 250mph oldsmobile is here:

watch?v=6mQvE5lykic

[redriverman2006]

The year open-wheel racing suffered its stroke, the comma it would never recover from.

[LolaJudd]

but who knows the future?

[BillydieKidd]

This is not the record.

in 1988 AJ Foyt ran 250mph in an Oldsmobile prototype.

[dalejrgamer]

That was unofficial, as he tested it at Talladega...of all places.

And no, I'm still not supporting the idea of IndyCars at Talladega.

[cuts68]

it was not an open wheel car. It was an aerodynamic car and the wheels had fenders

[ed200007]

241.428 mph and now this great track is wasted with NASCAR

[redcoasterman]

well now that safety is such a huge factor of course they'll never let the speeds go this high again

[racermac1988]

These speeds will not be seen again in an IndyCar

[dhfiuejfdhjfoiewdjmn]

very sad, i think they should go back to these chasies. lola, and raynard. also think that it would be nice to try and get more types tires and powerplants in the irl

[cornstar43]

I agree...there is more to racing than parity or "fairness." Bring back the technology and innovation (i.e. honda's development engines as mentioned in this broadcast).

bring back paul page too.

[alebangalter]

I remember that on friday practice, Montoya set 242 something... is a shame he didn't make it on qualifying because, he would've had the fastest lap on closed course and the practice sessions times are considered as unofficial.

[khrisinfo]

It call champcars now back then call cart.

[khrisinfo]

It can champcar now.

[lordTKD1985]

Who cares?

[Westonci]

Japanese technology, what do you expect?

[Speedworx]

Champ Cars suck these days.

I miss the proper cars and racing.

This is a great lap.

[champcar4ever]

Well Roger Penske said in 18 months there will be only one series and this was in 2005. I guess next year you'll be adding 2009, after that 2010, ect. A trolling we will go...

[RealRacer2442]

And now it's all over. RIP CART.

[champcar4ever]

Yup. Sad day 2-22-2008.

[fantasyexctasy]

That's my 21st bday don't be hating lol. But yeah Im glad they merged it's going to keep some interest in the sport. I hope they keep coming to Long Beach. Very exciting that I can keep watching racing every year

[MattA1GP]

It's a game. Therefore, it doesn't mean shit.

[lukeCART1]

i would have liked to see an onboard with that lap

[theortsch]

GOD do i miss turbo chargers and the good old days of cart

[champcarf1]

If Penske had stayed in CART after 2001, the Reynard would've been on par with the Lola. Penske had the resources and the manpower to develop the chassis.

[hoyadestroya85]

I think that a 2000 Lola Honda would be faster than a 2000 Reynard Honda...

[mcbeaulieu]

Oh no ! The Montréal Canadiens lost to the New York Islanders :(

[vuetube]

You can really see how loose (light) the rear end is when it hits bumps in closeups, but Gil barely lets it wiggle. He also doesn't dart on the straights like a lot of drivers do, he's super smooth coming off the turns sliding to the middle of the straights and gliding back out to set up for the turns.

[champcarf1]

Would've like to see a race between the 2000 Honda Reynard vs the 1994 Penske PC23 w/Mercedes 500i engine. That would've been a sight to see. A race between 2 1000hp 240mph beasts.

[dario272]

That was the year TOYOTA destroyed CART! BASTARDS, they paid most of them teams to use their engines and it was a monopoly, and then just to leave it destroyed! to go to the joke (Easy as ABC Racing League "IRL")

I hope Bernie Ecclestone puts this series on the top where it belongs again!!

can you please upload surfer's paradise 2000, i remember Paul Tracy, that was the best race ever!!

[vuetube]

241...Take that IRL! Check out how low Penske had the back end lowered. Looks like Gil's going uphill! Remember: That's 241mph average, which means he was probably going 245 or 250 in the straights.(Tracy said they hit 250 drafting sometimes)

[Troggle84]

Anybody want to guess how many RPM's de Ferran was turning during that lap? I'd be willing to guess 17000-17500.

[whompus02]

I hear ya. It makes me sick to see what Tony George has done to open wheel racing.

[whompus02]

I was there watching that at the track. After they announced the average speed everyone was just silent. NO one could believe what they just saw

[senninha1]

they would have been way faster if they weren't using the handford device

[AlonsoRules]

241mph (nearly 390km/h) average speed. What a lap.

[HomeDepot20TS]

I love the sound of the engine. I watch the video just to listen to the car moreso than see the historic lap.

[penske13]

exellent lap and thrilling to watch. if we get a merger i hope we see those speeds again.

[NDarinzo]

I'd love it also, but I seriously doubt it :/

[penske13]

me too, but i can always dream.

[jonnyspa27]

What I love is how much that Honda SCREAMED! Man Gil was winding that tight. This era of CC still sends chills up my spine...EXCELLENT!

[gofastandwynn]

Get a life loser...

[ScuderiaFan]

FTG!

[OWfan]

So fast that it didn't even look that fast...if that makes sense, lol.

[pburland]

On hell of a lap!