iRacing News

[Doorman]

As far as I can tell from postings in the iRacing forum this is what it is supposed to do. It does not shift down if it will over rev the engine.

Yeah I know. Like I said, it took a while for me to realise it.

[vobler]

iRacers: Start Your Engines

Americaââ,¬â,,¢s fastest open wheelers, Americaââ,¬â,,¢s most versatile open wheel series . . . and the worldââ,¬â,,¢s most famous race track are all coming to iRacing.com. This fall, iRacing will debut its Dallara in the iRacing IndyCar Series along with the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.

While you wonââ,¬â,,¢t be able to drive an Indy car or race at the virtual Brickyard until later this year, you can get a jump on your iRacing Indy car career by joining iRacing.com today. Take advantage of our special offer of a three month membership for $25.00, a 50% savings on the regular price.

*Limited time offer. Valid for new accounts only.

http://www.iracing.com/indy_promotion.html

Edit: Indy intro ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es1tGHY7R00

[Gnomie]

I know a lot of people speculated that this would happen! Not bad, it could attract a lot of new people potentially.

What's the status on the NASCAR deal by the way? Are they going to run separate NASCAR sanctioned championship inside the iRacing service, or are they only borrowing the name?

[Doorman]

Great song, with lyrics NASCAR fans can remember! :norty:

[vobler]

Great song, with lyrics NASCAR fans can remember! :norty:

Yes, it kind of reminded me of that "turn left " video.

Gnomie: I think they will do the series thing.

Talking about Oval racing; I just did 100 laps at Michigan in the Impala Class B. No cautions, just great racing. Oval really is superb if your "ticker" can take it. ( I fueled up on betablockers before start...:doh:)
Great race!:D

[vobler]

iRacing.com to Put IndyCar Series Fans in the Driverââ,¬â,,¢s Seat: Virtual Indy 500 Next May Highlights Partnership with Indy Racing League, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Dallara

Sonoma, CA (August 22, 2009) ââ,¬â€œ IndyCar Series racing fans wonââ,¬â,,¢t just be able to attend the Indianapolis 500 in person next year, or watch the broadcast at home ââ,¬â€œ on the 2010 Memorial Day weekend anyone in the world who has a PC and a broadband internet connection will be able to drive in a stunningly realistic virtual version of the race.

Under the terms of a multi-year agreement with the Indy Racing League, iRacing.comââ,¬â,,¢s motorsport simulation service will offer fans the opportunity to compete in virtual versions of IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races on a variety of tracks, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beginning this fall. Additionally, iRacing will feature faithful digital reproductions of both seriesââ,¬â,,¢ Dallara chassis.

ââ,¬Å"This November, before the end of the first year of the Speedwayââ,¬â,,¢s 100th anniversary celebration, hundreds of thousands of fans who have attended the Indy 500 in person and millions more around the world who have watched this classic American sporting event on television will have the opportunity to sample for themselves the challenge of driving a Dallara IndyCar Series car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,ââ,¬Â said Dave Kaemmer, CEO & CTO of iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. ââ,¬Å"When our virtual version of Indianapolis Motor Speedway is completed next month, we will have in inventory or under construction 12 of the 17 venues on which the IndyCar Series will compete in 2009.ââ,¬Â

Additionally, iRacing.com sponsors IndyCar Race Control, the section of //www.indycar.com that displays a real-time leaderboard and brings fans multiple live in-car video feeds during IndyCar Series competition.

ââ,¬Å"Our fans are tech-savvy and enjoy being actively involved in our races,ââ,¬Â said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. ââ,¬Å"One of the things that makes IndyCar Series racing unique is the diversity of venues in the series. iRacing puts drivers, team members and fans into their own virtual driverââ,¬â,,¢s seat of an IndyCar Series or Firestone Indy Lights car to enjoy racing one another on demanding short ovals, scenic road courses, high-banked superspeedways, and of course, Indy.ââ,¬Â

Italyââ,¬â,,¢s Dallara Automobili, the company that designs, manufactures and supports both the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights cars, is collaborating with the iRacing tech team in developing the two vehicles.

ââ,¬Å"It was iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s demonstrated ability to work closely with the manufacturers of the cars already in its inventory that persuaded us to grant them permission to build virtual versions of the Dallara I 09 and IP 09,ââ,¬Â said Andrea Toso, Dallara Automobiliââ,¬â,,¢s head of research and development and US racing projects leader. ââ,¬Å"It has been an interesting project, and we continue to enjoy working closely with Dave Kaemmer and his engineers.ââ,¬Â

In April a crew of iRacing laser-scanning technicians captured the dimensional data and graphic information used over the last several months to build a millimeter-accurate version of the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway track that will be correct right down to the detail in the famous Yard of Bricks at the Start/Finish line.

The iRacing version of Indianapolis Motor Speedway will include both the 2.5-mile oval used for the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 NASCAR race and the 2.621-mile road circuit that is home to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP world championship motorcycle event.

ââ,¬Å"Hundreds of thousands of patrons visit Indianapolis Motor Speedway each year,ââ,¬Â said Chris Schwartz, Indianapolis Motor Speedway vice president, marketing. ââ,¬Å"Now they will have an opportunity to experience the Brickyard at speed from the seat of a simulated race car. Competitors will tell you how dramatic Turn 1 can be in an IndyCar, NASCAR or on a MotoGP bike at speed ââ,¬â€œ for the first time fans will be able to share that experience.ââ,¬Â

For Kaemmer, who is widely acknowledged as a pioneer of realistic racing simulations, Indianapolis represents a return to his roots. It was 20 years almost to the month that Kaemmerââ,¬â,,¢s first motorsport title, ââ,¬Å"Indy 500ââ,¬Â, was published.

ââ,¬Å"Looking back, I guess that ââ,¬ËœIndy 500ââ,¬â,,¢ was groundbreaking, at least given the technology of the time,ââ,¬Â Kaemmer said. ââ,¬Å"What is exciting for all of us on the technical team at iRacing is that we can now build virtual cars that perform in exactly the way as their real-world counterparts. Everything that is adjustable on the physical car is adjustable on its virtual counterpart and the digital car responds to those adjustments just as the carbon fiber and metal car does. Thatââ,¬â,,¢s why Justin Wilson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as many other professional racing drivers, use our service not only for fun, but also to prepare for real-world test sessions and races. And because our motorsport simulation service is internet-based, enthusiasts from all over the world can drive and take part in races. All it requires is a reasonably up-to-date computer, a broadband internet connection and an inexpensive steering-wheel and pedal set.ââ,¬Â

[vobler]

inRacingNews.com, iRacing.comââ,¬â,,¢s Motorsport News Site Now Open

News From the World of Racing Available Free to Fans and Others in the Motorsport Community

BEDFORD, MA (September 2, 2009) ââ,¬â€œ iRacing.com Motorsport Simulation, LLC, today unveiled the latest component of its online virtual racing service, a comprehensive, free online motorsports news Web site that is now available to members of the iRacing community and other members of the larger motorsports community, including racing fans. inRacingNews.com (http://www.inracingnews.com) presents a digest of race results and motorsport news from around the world as well as the latest in competition and other developments from iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s online racing series.

ââ,¬Å"The site is up and running now and we already are experiencing a good deal of traffic,ââ,¬Â said John Henry, co-owner of iRacing.com. ââ,¬Å"This is a very exciting development. Everyone is welcome to use inRacingNews.com; thereââ,¬â,,¢s no registration or anything ââ,¬â€œ just visit the site.ââ,¬Â

Henry noted that iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s membership is both geographically diverse and possessed of a wide range of motorsport interests. ââ,¬Å"More than 40% of our members live outside North America. Most of them are focused on the pure fun of racing online, though a good number of our members also use the service to prepare for real-world races. But one thing they all have in common is a wide-ranging passion for motorsport. And because our members, like everyone else these days, find that timeââ,¬â,,¢s at a premium, the site is designed so they can get a quick overview of everything thatââ,¬â,,¢s happening in the world of motorsport and then get more information on those items that are of greatest interest.ââ,¬Â

Tony Gardner, president of iRacing, noted that with the companyââ,¬â,,¢s growing list of partnerships with sanctioning bodies such as NASCAR, IndyCar and SCCA, plus relationships with manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mazda, Chevrolet, and Ford, in addition to racecar manufacturers including Dallara, Pratt & Miller, Riley, 600 Racing and Radical, iRacing was becoming more integrated into the fabric of motorsport world-wide.

ââ,¬Å"Thereââ,¬â,,¢s no longer a sharp line between the virtual and physical worlds of racing,ââ,¬Â Gardner said. ââ,¬Å"So it makes sense for us to have a news site that covers it all.ââ,¬Â

Veteran motorsports journalist David Phillips, who joined the iRacing.com staff earlier this year, has been named editor of inRacingNews.com. Phillips, a long-time contributor to print and electronic publications in the U.S. and abroad, including Racer, Autosport, AutoWeek, Motor Sport and SPEEDtv.com, will oversee the daily updating of news and feature material in inRacingNews.com.

ââ,¬Å"inRacingNews is designed to provide race fans with the important news from both real world racing and sim-racing in an easy-to-navigate, easy-to-read format,ââ,¬Â Phillips said. ââ,¬Å"Weââ,¬â,,¢ll be getting most of our real-world racing news and commentary from some of the worldââ,¬â,,¢s leading motorsports news-gathering organizations. At the same time, weââ,¬â,,¢re fortunate that a number of the most knowledgeable members of the iRacing community have agreed to contribute our simracing content. I think readers will find inRacingNews as enjoyable as it is informative. Of course, theyââ,¬â,,¢ll be able to focus on their favorite facets of the sport, but the siteââ,¬â,,¢s format will provide them with quick and easy access to all aspects of 21st-century motorsports including, we think, some new favorites.ââ,¬Â


About iRacing.com
The company was founded in September of 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends. Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group ââ,¬â€œ the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing ââ,¬â€œ as well as an avid simracer. The iRacing team combines more than 100 years of real-world racing experience with more than 50 years of successful racing simulation development. The company has developed numerous corporate relationships in the motorsport industry, including agreements to develop track simulations with International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, and Panoz Motor Sports Group and vehicles with General Motors, Riley Technologies, Radical Sportscars, and 600 Racing. iRacing is the official simulation partner of the Sports Car Club of America, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, Star Mazda Championship, Skip Barber Racing School and Australiaââ,¬â,,¢s V8 Super School. In April, 2009 iRacing and NASCAR announced a partnership to develop NASCAR-sanctioned online racing series. A similar program with the Indy Racing League, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Dallara Automobili was announced in August, 2009. The iRacing service is open to racers and fans of all skill levels from top-level pros to complete beginners. To join in the fun, go to //www.iRacing.com.

[vobler]

New subscribers only!

Check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=128241125479&ref=mf

Basics:
1 month free + SB2000 + VIR + basic content

OR

1 month free + Late Model + Martinsville + basic content

Now, why not head out to those GPL and N2003 forums and let people know about it, hm?

[vobler]

Ford V8 Supercar and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit to Join iRacing.com Service
Australian Car and Track to Be Available to iRacing Members Around the World

BEDFORD, MA (September 10, 2009) ââ,¬â€œ The L & H 500 at Phillip Island, ninth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series ââ,¬â€œ top auto-racing attraction in motorsport-mad Australia ââ,¬â€œ kicks off this Friday at the eponymous race track on the popular Australian island tourist destination. In celebration of the event, iRacing.com has announced agreements to include both the historic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the 2009 Ford Falcon ââ,¬Å"FG01ââ,¬Â V8 Supercar in iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s internet-based motorsport simulation service.

ââ,¬Å"One of our initiatives this year has been to expand our list of tracks and cars to reflect the international nature of our membership,ââ,¬Â said Steve Myers, iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s executive producer, noting that earlier this year the company had begun work on Englandââ,¬â,,¢s Brands Hatch and Oulton Park and Circuit Club Zandvoort in the Netherlands. ââ,¬Å"Approximately 40% of our membership lives outside North America, and a significant portion of those members are in Australia and New Zealand. Weââ,¬â,,¢re pleased to be adding Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the Ford V8 Supercar to our growing list of international tracks and cars.ââ,¬Â

Myers thanked Ford Performance Racingââ,¬â,,¢s Mark Roworth for assistance with the Ford V8 Supercar and Australiaââ,¬â,,¢s former V8 Supercar champion and budding NASCAR star, Marcos Ambrose, for his help in expanding iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s membership in Australia and New Zealand. Myers also noted that while the addition of these two items of Australian content ââ,¬â€œ which are expected to become available to iRacing members in 2010 ââ,¬â€œ might generate a degree of home-town pride for Kiwis and Aussies, the appeal of the Ford Falcon V8 Supercar and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit would not be limited to iRacers in those two countries.

ââ,¬Å"The Aussie V8 Supercar races have been broadcast internationally, and fans across the globe have recognized the appeal of the tight competition the series offers,ââ,¬Â Myers said. ââ,¬Å"And one of the great things about our internet-based service is that it permits motorsport fans from all over the world to enjoy the fun of competing in online races at venues across the globe.ââ,¬Â

Ford Falcon V8 Supercar

The Falcon FG01 was developed to comply with a strict set of technical regulations developed by V8 Supercars Australia (the body that markets, manages and promotes the series) to ensure close competition between Ford and the other seriesââ,¬â,,¢ other major manufacturer, GMââ,¬â,,¢s Australian arm, Holden.

Based on the Falcon XR8 road car, the 2009 Ford V8 Supercar is the result of collaboration among leading Ford teams Ford Performance Racing, Triple 8 and Stone Brothers Racing, according to Ford Australia motorsport manager Ray Price.

"Aside from the obvious lines and aesthetics that we've inherited from the FG Falcon XR8 road car, the adjustments to create a unique and functional V8 Supercar have come together into one extremely well-rounded vehicle, Price said at the race carââ,¬â,,¢s public introduction last year. "We're absolutely ecstatic with our new FG01 ââ,¬â€œ overall the car just looks a tougher package."

The rulebook controls virtually all vehicle specifications, including those of body dimensions, wheelbase, track, suspension configuration and pick-up points, as well as front and rear aero devices.

ââ,¬Å"The rules even specify the maximum amount of downforce the car can generate,ââ,¬Â Price said, ââ,¬Å"so we have concentrated instead on things like safety, damageability and repairability.ââ,¬Â

Those are three factors that iRacingââ,¬â,,¢s members donââ,¬â,,¢t have to concern themselves with; they can just focus on enjoying the close competition for which the V8 Supercar Series is famous.

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Tracing its roots back to a very dusty 10.6-kilometer course made up of dirt roads on an island 90 miles from Melbourne in the state of Victoria, the facility struggled financially and twice closed before finding sporting and economic stability in the 1980s. Todayââ,¬â,,¢s modern 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) 12-turn, asphalt-paved Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is one of Australiaââ,¬â,,¢s premier motorsport facilities and a favorite of Australian motorcycle and car racing fans.

In addition to the 500-kilometer L & H 500 endurance round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, the track hosts the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Phillip Island Round of the Superbike World Championship, and numerous motorcycle and auto club events.

Forgot:

Indianapolis track released

[Gnomie]

Yay, V8 supercars!! :yahoo: Fantastic stuff.

Next autumn is gonna get expensive..!

[vobler]

Steve Meyers of iRacing has posted a new blog:

http://www.iracingworld.com/_A-day-in-the-life-of-a-cat-herder11/blog/795586/57752.html

What they are working on in short:
(It is not sure that everything gets in the next build)

Indycar
Ability to adjust brake bias, weight jacker and sway bars from in cockpit
Corvette C6.R, they have got the data they needed.
The next new car in the development pipeline will be the Ford Falcon
Opponent tire smoke and skids will be in.
Testing new tire model on Star Mazda
Star Mazda updated model to match current car
Private racing
iRacing show/sim at NASCAR Hall of fame
Share setups online
Next tracks to be completed are Mosport, Brands Hatch and Zandvoort
Night racing, but not in the next build

[Gnomie]

Nice list.

But there's something strange with how iRacing is built up. For instance,

• Tracks apparently have to be "converted" somehow to support night racing. Can't they just introduce dynamic lighting?
• Aero models are independent of the physical body of the cars. Remember the issue where the aero model of the truck was pointing the wrong way??
• Tire models for each car appear to be quite different. There's no universal tire model for all cars.

On the opposite extreme you have LFS, where "everything affects everything else". To me this appears to be a much more logical and intuitive way of doing things, and probably less time consuming as well. With iRacing's approach there seems to be a lot of tweaking and adjustments of each car/track etc to get things "right".

Not saying it's wrong, but it just strikes me as being horribly inefficient and leave a lot of room for error. :g:

[vobler]

Not saying it's wrong, but it just strikes me as being horribly inefficient and leave a lot of room for error. :g:

I'm not sure I agree on that conclusion. Why don't you look at NKP where everything is also connected. It seems impossible to change/fix anything without destroying something else. Now that seems inefficient to me!

That said, I for one is not qualified to judge how a sim is or should be constructed.

[Gnomie]

True, that.. I guess it can work both ways. Besides the approach chosen by LFS/nKP probably works best for small development teams. iRacing has a lot more programmers, so it makes sense to make stuff modular.

Bah, I don't know what I'm getting at with this.. just an observation.

[Mille Sabords]

I made the same observation and think that the base concept for these sims is different:
LFS seems to be about simulating a car behaviour using your computer (what leads me to think this is the tyre model, fiction cars, infinite setup options...)

Iracing seems to be about simulating how driving the same car feels using your computer (what leads me to think this is the implication of RL racers, modifications annouced that change the behaviour of 1 single car in the game, strong research of actual data...)

When both are closer to being done I think the LFS approach will pay back. I may be proven wrong