Dario Franchitti rounds the Keyhole during practice for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio
I have shot open cockpit cars may times. Most of the P1 and P2 cars in ALMS are open. Formula BMW and Star Mazda are open. Hell, even the IMSA Lites are open cockpit. Why was I having trouble keeping the stupid mirror out of the driver’s face? Its a mystery. Seriously, it, like everything else, its a matter of timing and figuring out the right angle from which to shoot.
It had been raining off and on Saturday morning so I was hoping to shoot some giant rooster tails, but it was not to be. The Speed World Challenge cars dried out the track and during the small bit of rain during IndyCar practice, only a few people ventured out on full wets. I had to be content with intermittent showers and no light.
It was still great fun to shoot them though, the braking and cornering they are capable of is astounding. I’m old though and wish for a return of the days of multiple engine manufacturers, differing chassis marques, turbos and drivers who knew what a right hand turn looked like. For certain, many of the current drivers in IndyCar have roots in karting and other forms of non circular motor entertainment. The problem lies in the disparity in skills. Most all of them are good at planting their right foot and turning left, some of those are also very good at shifting and turning right; not many are good at both. That’s where the skill and entertainment value are lacking. I don’t really want to see Justin Wilson or Robert Dornboos drive 250 miles in a circle, I want to see car control, stalking, overtaking, out breaking, you get the idea. Since great drivers like Paul Tracy and Will Power don’t have rides and lesser mortals do, I don’t suppose those days are coming back.
Marco Andretti exits the Keyhole at Mid Ohio ©2009 Darren Pierson/DPerceptions
My opinion on the series aside, I enjoyed shooting the cars. My entire 2009 Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio gallery is available for your perusal and use.
Thanks for reading and looking!
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