Spa-Francorchamps IndyCar

Gained some places off the start, and started to catch the pack. But after a major miscalculation at T1 i lost it in epic style at T2 and finished my race.

Darn, forgot to set my alarm; 6 am is a bit early for me. Bummer, ran some 01-02's last night.

I lost my bet and Billy was right. The mess was at T1 and not Eau Rouge. I don't know about you guys but I experienced *heavy* internet lag on the first few moments of the race with cars popping in and out of my sight.

My race was pretty much one of keeping my gap to Len. He went to pits with 10s and once I came out it was on 6s - I clearly did something wrong. I kept it though, and Simon got past Len and came put some pressure.

I think I held well while Simon was within 1s from me for a few laps. Eventually I started to pull away again and had a 3s gap. Then the same thing happened again, I "relaxed". One wrong downshift at the bus stop and the car snapped on me.

I came back right behind Simon and then a battle of experience vs. inexperience started. He was quite slower but could hold me for a while. As the clock was near 5 to go I started to push more and... spun getting out of T1. I wanted to stick behind him to have a go at the end of the long straight but got a bit too cocky on the gas. Then on the urge to get back quickly I made more mistakes and went nose-first into the wall, losing my nose. Damn.

So had to drive two laps without a nose, which let Len pass by easily.

Unfortunately a podium finish thrown away. It would have been nice, two podiums in one day. But well... for the first time with the car it wasn't so bad.

Special thanks to Ken who helped me prepare (and actually helped me realize I had wasted hours of preparation running with boost on 7/7 lol).

Thanks a lot for the race, and special thanks to Len. Great car and nice track for it.

Didn't match my prerace practice time in Qual but was happy enough with 2nd behind Zak.

Made a pigs-ear of the start with too few revs which let Simon by and I then messed up at T1 leaving room on the inside but turning too tight and half spinning. This resulted in me restarting last and screwed my race as I then came through Eau Rouge looking for a good run up on the guys ahead to Les Combes only to find Nico broadside across the track with no chance to avoid a head-on collision, taking off my front wing.

Pushed as hard as I could after the pitstop for repairs, but was about 5mph off top speed with the damage. With few errors from Simon, Len & Luiz ahead it was a lonely race. Might have nicked a place or two if it had run a couple more laps, but not to be this time.

Grats to Zak once again, and many thanks to Len for choosing a nice combo of car & track.

I cocked the start up bigtime. Damaged my front left wishbone at turn 1 after the start left with wonky steering going down into Eau Rouge. Car was terrible so i thought it would be best to pit and get that fixed. 22 second pitstop fixed that and odd i went again.

After about 10 laps my tyres were knackered and all my pace just fell away. Now in hindsight (such a wonderful thing) should of planned to do a 2 stop race pitting every 10 laps, i wouldnt have been as quick as Zak but i think maybe P2 could of been a possibility even after the first unsheduled stop.

Finished the race with the last 2 laps slowing down so much just to save the front left from popping. I didnt manage it even losing 36 seconds within those 2 laps. After the tyre burst i could see len coming aswell so it was a big hurry up to get to the line with the puncture.

Was a lucky 3rd place :D

Thanks to Len again for hosting, was a good race and it a shame more didnt show up.

Spent most of practice and qualifying wondering how the brakes were going to last the distance as they seemed to be losing about 10% wear every time I braked. Consequently, didn't go too far with my setup as I didn't believe I'd finish the race.

Started from pole and made a rocket start, quickly opening a gap and pleased to find that the brakes weren't wearing at all in the race. Had a nice gap to Patrice when I spun at the left corner on the run down to Pouhon, removing the front wing of the car. Patrice passed me before I got back to the pits for repairs. Didn't take fuel but had new tyres, deciding I would make another stop later.

This left me in 4th place so set about closing down the people in front. Eventually worked my way up to 3rd when Patrice pitted earlier than I thought he would so knew he would have to make another stop. Got by for 1st soon after and opened a gap.

Once I pitted again, I wasn't far behind Patrice and closed the gap but he was much quicker down the straights and it was a struggle to try and pass so didn't force the issue, knowing he had a pit stop coming up and after a couple of laps, he dived into the pits leaving me in the lead. Had another spin late on out of Les Fagnes but kept it off the wall and brought it home.

Congrats to the podium and thanks to Len for hosting.