Date: Sunday, July 29th
Time: 12 PM eastern daylight time

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Format

Practice: 12:00-12:15
Qualifying (5 laps): 12:15-12:25
Warmup: 5 minutes
Race: 12:30

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Details

100 lap race
Simulation: rFactor
Flags: Full flags with safety car + "no penalty" blue
Mechanical damage: normal
Damage multiplier setting: 50%
Fuel: 2x
Tires: 4x (changed July 25th)
Time compression: 5x
On-track start time: 6 PM
Start: track default (flying start with safety car)
Restarts: 1 (any driver can call for the restart, but it must be called before the leader completes the first lap)
Driving Aids: Clutch + Shift, traction control 1, stability control 1
Setups: open (share please!)
Free settings: not applicable
Drivers View: Open
Virtual Mirrors Available
Parc Ferme not in effect
Car selection: No duplication of cars
Private qualifying
Teamspeak: listening mode is mandatory!

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Rules for the Race

1) At the start of the race, after you hear the spotter yell "green, green, green" you can pass on the right and before you get to the S/F bricks. Reason: to give drivers as much straightaway as possible to get settled before Turn 1.

2) On a restart, single file and no passing till after your complete Turn 2. We tried that tonight and it seems to help (as in "fewer yellow flags").

3) Penalty flags will need to be served from now on unless its that goofy longest line penalty, then alert the zebra and it will be cleared. All other penalties will be in effect.

4) If there is a crash with one lap to go, the race will be a run to the checkered flag before the Safety Car picks up the field. If there is a crash with two laps to go, there will be laps added so the race does not finish under yellow and the Safety Car will pick up the field. You will always get a lap at the end of the race.

5) Reference: Joe Keefe's Tech Notes from 2009

Optimum Tire Temp: 94C
Optimum Engine Oil Temp: 105.6C
Safe Oil Temp Range (before effect on engine life): 0C - 137C
Minimum Engine Lifetime @ 10,500 RPM and lower: 8 hours, 5 minutes

Do Not Exceed Oil Temp: 137C
Do Not Exceed Engine RPM: 10500 RPM

Boost is BACKWARDS in this mod:
Boost 1 gives you max torque and highest fuel burn
Boost 7 gives you lowest torque and minimum fuel burn
Torque Reduction per boost change: 3.2%
Fuel Burn Reduction per boost change: 8%
Boost has no effect on engine wear; it is purely a fuel mapping control

Pit Timing
Time to change 4 tires: 6.5s +/- 2.5s
Time to adjust front wing: 2s
Time to replace front wing: 16s
Time to adjust rear wing: 4s
Time to replace rear wing: 60s

Driver's Aid Weight Penalties
Traction Control: 0% (low), 2% (medium), 4% (high)
Auto Shifting: none
Auto Clutch: none
Auto blip: 3%
Auto lift: 3%

6) Pitting Procedures



Rejoining the race after a pit stop.




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Server

Server: SimHQ Motorsports 1 - Available Now!
Password: TXnite

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Downloads

Track
Sorry guys - can't host/mirror this one due to terms at TheUSPits.
TPSCC Tracks
Ft. Worth - v2.0
Link: http://www.thepits.us/?page_id=6

Mod
Includes mod, tweaked track, and all custom cars from 2011 SimHQ event.
http://SimHQ.net/downloads/motorsports/rfactor/SimHQ_2012_IndyCars100/IndyCarSeries2009_v1.4.zip

You will also need this Supplemental Car Skins set (~9 MB)
http://SimHQ.net/downloads/motorsports/r...ustom_skins.zip

Templates
for new custom skins
http://SimHQ.net/downloads/motorsports/rfactor/SimHQ_2012_IndyCars100/templates.zip

Baseline Setup
Open setups. Please exchange with others.
Anyone want to contribute to a baseline setup?

Alternate IndyCar Sounds
Optional engine sounds by Darren_Blythe
http://www.simhq.net/downloads/motorsports/rfactor/SimHQ_2012_IndyCars100/IndySFX.rar

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Practice Races

Wednesday, July 18th - 8 PM eastern daylight time
Saturday, July 21st - 12 PM eastern daylight time 2 PM eastern daylight time
Wednesday, July 25th - 8 PM eastern daylight time
Saturday, July 28th - 12 PM eastern daylight time

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Custom Skins

All the previous custom skins are included.
If you would like a new car skin, ask for help in this thread.
It needs to be sent to guod by no later than Thursday, 26 July, 0600GMT

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Entry List Sign-up

Your SimHQ Nickname / Car Number / Description

David Kennard / 4 / Panther Racing Dan Wheldon (Camo)

Weasy / 4 / Weasy Wracing

MrDaniels / 7 / Motorola

Coutie / 10 / Alex Coutie Racing

LugnutUSA / 11 / Andretti

Staniol / 12 / TBD

DaBirdski / 16 / Panther Racing Patron

Darren / 18 / Dallara / FairplayRacing

henny / 20 / Vision Racing

Steve Gee / 33 / Vodafone (tentative entry)

Stewart Forgie / 35 / Castrol Racing

Arthur Pilavoine / 40 / Team Vaillante (out - controller problem)

guod / 43 / Windows World (zebra - camera car)

K_Cybulski / 98 / Team 3G-Novicomm

Stewart Forgie/35/Castrol Racing.

Cool, looking forward to this

Darren / #18 Dallara / FairplayRacing

I'm going to stick with the same car as last time - I believe it was the #11 Andretti entry.

Coutie / #10 / Alex Coutie Racing

Is there anyway you could limit downforce like they did this year? They had to lift I believe, could make things more interesting.

I'm gonna try something with skinning

Arthur Pilavoine / #40 / Team Vaillante

We could remove traction control and stability control. Not really downforce but should have the similar effect. Or just do a gentleman's agreement in setup on splitter and wing settings. Anyone else have an idea?

Until I have time to try it for myself, all I can offer is uninformed opinion.

Not like that's ever stopped anyone on the internet before...

Well the .hdv - or whatever the right file is - can be modified so it is locked at 1 - 1...

I ran some practice laps with a setup from Indy. Adjusted the gearing, had to nearly max out the ride height just to keep it from dragging (stiff springs as well). Wings were at minimum, tires aren't properly tuned yet...but I was able to drive flat through the corner.

It's entirely possible that as more speed is found that'll change. I dunno.

You will also need this supplemental car skins set (~9 MB):
http://SimHQ.net/downloads/motorsports/r...ustom_skins.zip

David Kennard / #4 Panther Racing Dan Wheldon (Camo) / with Custom Skin (U.S. Army / Auto Driveaway / SimHQ)



note: looks like the only change on the chassis config from Indy is the rear wing (?) so it looks like I will need to paint up the wing
(if I can find the TX wing on my skin template, I may have painted over it with solid black lol).

If you can't find it David, let me know...I've got them all ID'd.

No love for this one?

Only 6 entries so far.

Sorry, this really isn't the kind of car that I enjoy driving.

I am willing to try, so let me do a tentative sign up.
(You know how is it with summer and family, I do not yet if I'll be available at the time of the race.)
If there is a #12 car on the field, I would take it, and will race if I am at home.
Thanks!

PS: If someone can make my day easier with a not too hard to drive setup... that would be great.

Steve Gee / 33 / Vodafone

Stewart found a really nice baseline setup that most of us used the other night; I'm at work right now but I'll post it later on (unless someone else puts it up first).

For me there's nothing wrong with the car, it's more the oval track lol...

I'll have to wait and see how next week pans out before entering this...

You should give it a try. Race won't be too long if it goes caution free, and it's very close racing.

Well that's such different racing, I always learn a lot from these events. And the winner doesn't always come from the first 2 rows (Stew, if you read me )

I am going to try very hard to make this race. Not sure what car I will run...I will post it when I get it all installed and am good to go....

I double booked the rF2 race and this event's practice races for Saturday.

The rFactor 2 race at the Brianza high banks will start as scheduled - 12 PM EDT

The Indycars practice races will start at 2 PM EDT immediately after rF2 event.

K_Cybulski/# 98/ Team 3G-Novicomm

Yeah that's true, which is why I try and make them, even if I don't find the tracks that enjoyable... There's a lot to learn in 2-4 corners...

Here's the setup that Stewart sent the other night.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15151298/texas-base.zip

Weasy/ #4 /Weasy Wracing

Can't make it tonight, sorry guys

OK, looks like I can make it. Sign me up in the #12 car, whatever it is.

I will run the #7 Motorola.

Since I am not too experienced in oval racing and all of those are coming from nascar2003 offline, please help me.
Are there any unwritten rules/gentlemen agreements I should be aware of?

Well I'm far from knowing enough of oval racing to advice you but I know the #1 fact : every single move of the wheel makes you loose speed. The less you move the wheel, the faster you are.

With this track, you should be able to go around the track with the throttle floored, all the way around. You shouldn't have to lift if the setup is right.

That means you're going to be in heavy traffic. Don't be afraid to lift in order to keep from running over the guy in front of you. Patience is going to be key to surviving this race.

On restarts, DON'T pass on the inside BEFORE the start/finish line or you'll get a penalty. You can pass on the high side, though...so if your car is damaged/slow you can move low to let people by.

I've been starting in 2nd gear on restarts...you don't have a lot of revs in 1st before you have to shift anyway, and it's safer than starting in 1st and spinning the tires.

PRACTICE PIT STOPS. You can either "play it safe" and pull low on the backstretch, slowing down enough to take the apron all the way through 3 & 4...or you can do it the "fast" way and slow down in the middle of 3 & 4, pulling off the track only after bleeding off enough speed.

If you do that, BE SURE to hop on teamspeak and CALL YOUR STOP before you get to turn three. Let everyone know you're pitting this lap, and to pass you on the high side. Try to do it on teamspeak rather than using the text chat because not everyone has time to read that.

As always, if you are battling with someone and for any reason you move up out of the bottom groove, HOLD YOUR LINE. Do NOT attempt to swerve back down and slam the door...always assume that if you've moved up high, the car behind you is now underneath you and any attempt to move back down will result in tears and flying parts.

Thank you. I will practise and keep all these in mind.

still not sure if I will be home, but if I am

henny / 20 / Vision Racing

What speeds are being ran out of the draft here. The AI was an alien last night when I was testing the texas base that was posted here. The base setup posted was very stable and was a hoot to drive but it would take me half a tire run to get fast and the AI was doing 5 lap runs and whooopin my butt right out of the box on cold tires...lol

Yeah, the AI is alien so no worries. Somebody who has been running these will advise on solo car speeds.

With my slightly-adjusted version of the base setup, I'm running laptimes of 24.3 on the first full lap, then 24.1's going down to 23.9 as the fuel burns off. It settles in around the 24.0 / 24.1 range as the tires wear down for the rest of the run.

Ok...that is what I was getting...Thanks Lug. I kinda figured the AI was alien...but I wanted to make sure...

Not sure I'll make the practice tonight...won't be available until after 9pm so it'll depend on how long people are around.

DaBirdski / 16 / Panther Racing Patron

Any chance to see it in livestream? A friend of mine would be interested to see my struggle.
I remember we had live video on one of our races, maybe the F1 1986.

Maybe. My laptop does the streaming for Livestream, and I couldn't get the module to work correctly last time I tried. I'll see if I can get it going.

No need to invest too much of your time into it Doug, its far from being important. Thanks anyway!

Slowly getting better in this, practising pitting and such.
2 questions:
- Boost. Are you changing it? I assume I should decrease it during drafting, yep?
- Tire wear. Starting post states 2x, but on the server its 4x. Which one should I prepare for?
thanks in advance!

Yes, it is now 4x tire wear. Sorry, forgot to update the first post... which I'll do now.

I have to cancel my registration. Way too dangerous to race with that tape wheel

The Indycar and Charade races are sharing the same server. Soon as Charade practice is completed, Indycar Texas will be started. Join Teamspeak.

12 entries. Anyone else?

They're skeered.

Ah well, just disco stu'ed after a restart good luck everyone.

I brought out the first caution when I felt the tires start to go and went one lap further, biiiiig mistake.
Tires totally lost it and into the wall I went, after repairs came back out in hopes of inching my way back up the standings but a disco did me in but it did look like the next car was far enough back not to get thrown by the disappearing act.

Thanks Lug for the great setup and of course Doug & SimHQ for another fun event.

I did the same thing David...went one lap too many on my tires. If you hadn't gone around, I'm pretty sure I would have...because I did right when the caution came out...lol.

Fun, but terrorizing race. That pesky pit entrance is killer.

Relatively smooth race for me.
Had my personal struggle with the setup (couldn't load the base one, I learned how to do it just 5 minutes before the race, wasn't brave enough to switch before the race).
My setup was a bit slower, so I stayed out of the furball in front.
Always went for pits before the turn, managed to bring home the car in one piece.
Really enjoyed it, but I still need some learning about oval racing.
Thanks to everyone involved and especially Doug for organising it.

The race went better than I expected. I spent most of it just trying to manage my tires, not locking it down on the bottom line and giving people room to run.

For the most part I was just waiting for the last ten laps to make something happen...I stopped with about 26 remaining knowing I could make it on fuel and would just have to manage my tires...didn't get the chance to go for it though. By the time I got up to 2nd behind Birdski, Stewart was in between us and waiting for everyone else to stop, and I couldn't get around him. Then when we had that last yellow with a single green lap to finish the race I didn't nail the restart and that was it. Dunno what brought out that last caution.

Good race overall though.

Congratulations to Birdski for winning that difficult race!
...to Chad for second place
...to Alex for third place

Thanks to everyone who entered!

What about Mid-Ohio next time for the Indycars?

That would be fun. I've never done a road course with these.

That sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

Oh yes, I'd be in !

Interesting race, dangerous to be sure from start to finish. Q'd relatively well, so I'd at least I'd be in the lead pack. My hope was to maintain car life and not get too damaged too soon. Did ok for awhile but did get bumped out of 3 into the wall incurring some minor damage but was able to keep pace luckily albeit now in seventh. Lot's of back and forth and I eventually found my way back to the front. Towards the end my pit strategy was coming together where I was going to be able to do that last stint without another stop for fuel but tires were well into the red zone, it was going to be touchy those last few laps. Stew pulled in early for fuel and came out just as the leaders were coming around. The timing couldn't have been worse. I was able to get around finally with Alex and Chad not far behind at all. Unfortunately Stewart misinterpreted the rest of the fields fuel status and was racing the lead lap cars and got called out on it, a bit less than diplomatically to be sure, but tensions were high at the time for everyone. The zebra also disco'd just about that time so there was no mediator between competitors for those last few laps. There was the inevitable smashup somewhere behind me and it came down to one green flag lap, all I had to do was hold off Lugnut and not lose control. Fortunately we both got pretty much an identical start and I was able to maintain the bottom feeder position taking the checkers.

I just hope everyone can brush this verbal kurfuffel off as an unfortunate racing incident and move on. We all learn a little bit, sometimes the hard way, every time we get behind the wheel.

I would have been the mediator but with my engine noise and trying to hang on for dear life I missed some of what was going on. Sorry about that.

One rule of thumb in the SimHQ Motorsports is to NOT call out a driver on track. Leave whatever happens on the track and file a protest or talk to Doug, me, or Darren afterwards and let us sort it out. We need no hard feelings anywhere in our friendly league so the sooner we can work these out the better...then press on and have fun. We're not NASCAR where we need feuds for TV ratings.

Awh crap well i better retire now :P

Heck, I can't even get Livesteam to work lately.

Just to Clarify Bird, I didnt so much misinterpret the rest of the fields fuel status as their tyre strategy. I knew the best anyone could hope for was to be marginal on tyres. On a lap time of less than 24 seconds (which was much less than the total time lost to a pit stop),it seemed reasonable for me to try and hold position and make the rest of the field work their much older tyres as hard as possible trying to get past my car with fresh tyres. Had the yellow not come out when it did I am confident the field would have been forced to pit and I would have had the win. Unfortunately my strategy was lost on some and I was called on it. Then it stopped being fun and I pulled off. Tomorrow is another day.

Yeah sorry Stewart, I didn't want to put words in your mouth. Just my take on things from where I sat at the time. All 3 of us were good to the end regardless of the yellow but tires were definitely on the marginal side, at least for me to be sure. The thing with those Indy cars was our lap times didn't really go down as tire wear became apparent but the chance of a spin increased dramatically.

When that caution came out with about 30 to go, and I ducked into the pits with ~26 remaining, I felt like going the rest of the way was going to be the winning strategy as long as it stayed green. I knew that by running a little more conservatively (taking a 'normal' line rather than only holding the bottom, and using the draft to pull me along so I could lift a bit entering the corner) that I could make the tires go the distance.

When that last yellow came out I had about 2 bars left on the RR tire, I would've made it to the end fine if it hadn't. Now if the yellow had come out maybe 5 laps earlier, I'd have had serious thoughts about pitting again...but with it coming that late and then only having one lap on the restart, there wasn't much to be done.