2011 IZOD IndyCar Series @ Twin Ring Motegi (Full Race)

IZOD IndyCar Series
Indy Japan: The Final
Twin Ring Motegi Road Course
Motegi City, Japan
63 laps on a 2.983 mile road course (187.9 miles)
September 18, 2011
Many thanks to DarcyF1.com for the video

[@TheInkPitOx]

I remember being happy to see them use the road course.

[@scottpeters371]

The commentary is pretty funny for this one. You can tell this race was about 2-3am when Jenkins and Co. were calling this. They clearly did not care towards the end of the race.

[@scottpeters371]

@@Kyleconley59 The only one at the track was Kevin Lee, everyone else was back at the studio in the US

[@vidwatcher3001]

1:15:17

[@scottpeters371]

@@vidwatcher3001 Pretty sure that one was aimed at Chip Ganassi

[@mat2000100]

How come the commentators never mentioned that the earthquake was why they moved the race to the road course?

[@razburry8001]

That was during the beginning of the broadcast, this video only shows from the beginning of the actual race, not pre-race.

[@coca-colatrackhousewarrior9925]

I love to see NASCAR race here again

[@CMH-aviation]

i would like to see them race there again

[@TheInkPitOx]

provided they use the road course

[@Spyker8921]

@@TheInkPitOx Why not the oval?

[@TheInkPitOx]

@@Spyker8921 Not a fan.

[@diethersantos6404]

@@Spyker8921 damaged cause by the earthquake

[@ramblinman4197]

@@diethersantos6404 If I remember correctly, Honda and IndyCar had already decided they were not coming back for 2012 before the quake. Since IndyCar was the only series that used the oval, I am wondering if they might have fixed the oval for future races if IndyCar had been coming back.

[@nathanstroud2223]

I didn't realize until about 2/3 into the race that the reason the commentary was so awkward was that these guys were up way past their bedtimes.

[@bradleythomas6099]

The oval was damaged from the earthqauke.

[@PilotGaming-od8uq]

how bad was the damage? Surely they could have fixed unless there was some extensive damage

[@japotak99]

PilotGaming2248 it must've been really bad because they never spent the money to fix it.

[@TheInkPitOx]

Also, even if they could've spent the money to fix it, they didn't have enough time, and moved the event to the road course on short notice.

[@jonathan_tong93]

@@TheInkPitOx If IndyCar gets the brand extension, the IndyCar World Series would bring back Motegi and Ciudad de Mexico, as well as the Adelaide 85-95 F1 Configuration, Catalunya and Magny-Cours

[@mariagloriadelcarmen]

I really wish this race in Japan is on NBC sports and NBCSN

[@DW98rosy]

1:23:28 - 1:23:44 oh my lord that is beautiful to listen to.

[@andyberridge4209]

Race start 🏁 7:00 Scott Dixon, Ganasis, pole position, Motegi road course brilliant. Dario Franchitti should have had a drive through under green, for taking out Rahal, Kimball on the restart.

[@edreed5571]

Diarea

[@reidcraig3739]

I liked how they raced on the road course for a change. The only thing I would change though is do a standing start instead of a rolling start. Not everyone knew they where going to green and part of the field couldn't see the flag since they were on the other side of the oval.

[@ramblinman4197]

Since this was the last race at Motegi, I was pulling for Sato or Mutoh to win since it was their home event.

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

Therius Oktavario - I guess they wanted to bring the action closer to the fans. Remember, Twin Ring Motegi only has grandstands on the oval except for the backstraight (T10-T11) and one or two more places

[@frphts2415]

Yes, that right.　from japan

[@wolfgamingnetwork3542]

They raced on the roadcourse only because the earthquake damaged the oval

[@andreasgrothe9940]

I really wish IndyCars would have the Suzuka Indy 300 at Suzuka Circuit

[@mariae.zapatav.2721]

Maybe a Oyama Indy 300 at Fuji Speedway

[@andreasgrothe9940]

@@mariae.zapatav.2721 cool

[@TheInkPitOx]

I remember everything. While I would not have asked for the earthquake at all, I was happy they switched to the road course as I have for many years prefered them over ovals. It was too bad that was the final year. I also understand the event was already planned to be canceled before the earthquake.

[@pauloluciomachadodebrito8107]

Damm this track was smooth that day

[@andreasgrothe9940]

The “Honda Indy 300” at Twin Ring Motegi

[@phxmaster9684]

Actually since this was the last race there it was branded as “Indy Japan: The Final”

[@pauloarthuralbuq9004]

Would be nice, if Indycar do a race in fugi

[@TheriusO94]

how about F1 Japanese GP move to Motegi?

[@gakobayashi1449]

+Therius Oktavario because Motegi isn't in FIA's top grade, so it can't make part from F1 calendar.

[@Spyker8921]

MetalMastodon Suzuka is not the case.

[@yoville73]

But it would be interesting to see how an F1 Car races around Twin Ring Motegi

[@jonathan_tong93]

@@yoville73 Unfortunately, Formula 1 has no plans to relocate the Japanese Grand Prix and move to April

[@mr.speed..6368]

I Like that idea but then if that were to happen I'd want F1 to go to Fuji Speedway

[@dancue2017]

38:09

[@TheriusO94]

why IndyCar Motegi use left-side pit lane?

[@sgtepicspeed3033]

+Therius Oktavario Because that's the traditional pit lane used by many American racing series from what I know at least.

[@reidcraig3739]

The pit lane they used is the same one they used on the oval track. Since the cars have raced there for numerous years before hand, they know how much room they have to work with on pit stops. Also if you look from the sky cam at 6:15 of the video, the pit road is smaller on the road course.

[@MsMc111]

Indycar needs a bigger space for pitstops than most european series. The left-one had bigger space.

[@tylerfugate612]

Why did IndyCar quit going to Motegi?

[@jansanten1438]

Oval is in a bad shape after the earthquake

[@DKMediaTV]

I think it was a deal with Honda but it stoped when chevy came back

[@TheInkPitOx]

The event was already planned to be canceled before the earthquake.

[@DW98rosy]

​@@TheInkPitOx "cancelled" is probably not the best way to phrasing it, though i'm guessing what you meant was "2011 was planned to be the last running of the event anyway".

[@TheInkPitOx]

@@DW98rosy Ended

[@billybishop1997]

Why did IndyCar race on the road course version of Twin Ring Motegi in 2011?

[@Julien2395]

Oval was damaged from an earthquake earlier that year. Not enough time to repair it.

[@jonathan_tong93]

@@Julien2395 The possible formation of the IndyCar World Series might bring back the Motegi Road Course and the Oval would not be used anymore

[@haydengault2568]

Why not use pit lane on the right?

[@DW98rosy]

probably too narrow.

[@IMAMPOJMA]

sexy track