This is yesterday's news, but recently VERSUS got Graham Rahal to take the extraordinary step of answering questions FROM BLOGGERS. And it was all, caught on tape.
Pressdog, Indy Racing Revolution, is it May yet?, 16th and Georgetown, No Fenders and IRL Blog all presented questions to the Son of 'Stache, who appears in the videos to be standing beside a busy street next to a VERSUS branded 2-seater. I can only imagine how many times he had to explain "No, that's not my car - I drive solo." Hopefully a lot.
As much as it's entertaining to listen to Graham attempt to answer questions about things like his not-ready-for-primetime facial hair and "meats and cheeses", the thing I caught was when Graham dropped a note of confidence about a technical change that came under the radar for most of us.
For the 2009 season the IRL locked the wheelbase of the cars at 120 inches, meaning you can't get out your cutting torch and go all Monster Garage on your Dallara. I'm not sure of all the technical reasons for doing this (presumably reducing vibration and increasing stability), but young Rahal seems pumped that it will allow N/H/L and others to be "a lot more competitive" on the ovals.
So if you heard it here first, thank the bloggers. Seriously, go leave some comments and thank them personally - it's not like they get paid to do this stuff. Oh, and thank Graham Rahal if you see him. Maybe you could even buy something in Graham's new online store, like say a lovely shirt for your lady friend.
And thank VERSUS too. Hopefully they can continue to facilitate this kind of Q&A thing in the future, because goodness knows these guys have got plenty more questions to help showcase the league's personalities.
Barber Preview
-
As you read this, Susan and I are headed to Barber Motorsports Park, for
our first in-person race of the season. By the way…there is still a race
this week...
1 hour ago
Hey, you forgot me man!
http://mvn.com/indyracingrevolution/2009/04/graham-rahal-newmanhaaslanigan-ready-to-roll.html
Cool gear from Graham's website store... too bad his helmet livery looks like a nightmare!!!
It got KILLED on the "16&G" helmet brackets voting ... so its more than just my personal opinion! (idea)
Young Rahal: If you read some of these blogs... Simple & clean worked for your personal logo & it will also work with your helmet!!!
Ya, Jeff. In any of these types of cars (IRL, CCWS/CART)...we'd always change suspensions for superspeedways and intermediate ovals to a long-wheelbase. Road courses were run with a shorter wheelbase and slightly wider track (distance between the left side & right side wheels/tires). Longer wheelbase gives more stability, while the narrower track (tucking the wheels/tires in a little) gives less aero drag. A shorter wheelbase and wider track makes the car a little more nimble and stable in the varying radius turns of a road/street course. Just tryin' to help clarify...
VERSUS shows they have clues when it comes to the ultra-inexpensive, grassroots type of stuff like this. How cheap was it for them to get questions from the word butchers, stand Graham up for 20 minutes to answer them, cut it up, email it to us all? Compared to other marketing, very cheap. The result is BAM: IRL/VERSUS/Rahal is all over five-ish blogs. True, it doesn't fill the stands, but it does get the "base" fired up. VERSUS has already shown more clues about working the bloggosphere in three months than the mighty ESPN did in three years.
Sorry for the omission Chris. You've been added as well.
And Mike, HUGE thanks for the clarification. I feel smarter already and I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee today.