Texas

INSIGHT: IndyCar’s new strategy for Texas rubber game

Published

1 year ago

March 30, 2023

$INSIGHT: IndyCar’s new strategy for Texas rubber game$

This weekend’s go to to Texas Motor Speedway will convey just a few adjustments to the NTT IndyCar Collection paddock that can require its groups to work at a better fee of velocity and precision compared to different occasions.

The primary adjustment is discovered with the pacing of Saturday’s periods, which can preserve the sector of 28 drivers busy with 4 distinctive on-track outings from 8am by way of 2:30pm Central with just one break within the motion.

As soon as the lone apply session is completed at 9am, groups will take their automobiles again to the storage and have lower than two hours to organize the machines for qualifying; the grid will probably be set from 11:15am-12:15pm, however with the necessary have to current each automotive for pre-qualifying technical inspection, crews could have restricted time to make chassis and aerodynamic changes earlier than getting in line to undergo tech.

The second merchandise of curiosity is IndyCar’s change in its strategy to qualifying.

The place final 12 months’s qualifying session was adopted by an impound of all automobiles — positioned of their garages the place groups had been barred from making adjustments — as the foundations referred to as for racing in no matter configuration was utilized in qualifying, which led to groups piling on race-day downforce, the collection has rescinded that rule and given permission for groups to make use of qualifying setups and alter again to race setups that provide extra stability and safety over Sunday’s 250-lap contest.

With groups seeking to scale back downforce and make their automobiles extra slippery and aggressive throughout short-burst runs in qualifying, the sector will full their one-by-one qualifying performances and return to their pit containers and enter a brief impound till all 28 drivers have gone by way of the method. At that time, the impound will stop in a single sense, however there are restrictions for the following part of the day.

With qualifying coming to an finish at 12:15, the third merchandise on the schedule follows half-hour later from 12:45-1:15pm for the second-lane rubbering-in session. Throughout that 30-minute hole after qualifying, IndyCar would require its groups to remain on pit lane and make all their setup adjustments — principally aerodynamic — to run in race trim throughout the Firestone rubber software session.

RACER has realized the rubbering-in session, which was tried for the primary time one 12 months in the past at TMS and featured a restricted variety of groups and drivers who volunteered to take part, is primed to have 100-percent buy-in from the paddock. The total 28-car grid has opted in to assist apply rubber to the second lanes in Turns 1-2 and Turns 3-4 to enhance passing alternatives on the massive 1.5-mile oval.

Primarily based on the result of final 12 months’s session, which had a optimistic affect on passing, optimism is excessive for the consequences that ought to come from Saturday’s session.

Firestone will present a brand new set of tires for every driver to make use of throughout the 30-minute session which can break up half the sector right into a Group A run from 12:45-1:00pm after which ship the Group B runners out from 1-1:15pm. The tires have to be returned to Firestone after the rubbering-in is completed, and through their 15-minute outings, IndyCar will enable drivers to pit and have fast setup adjustments made to their automobiles if any small dealing with imperfections come up.

And after one or two drivers largely ignored the aim of final 12 months’s second-lane session, RACER understands the collection will monitor its drivers and guarantee their observe time is concentrated on bettering grip within the second lane.

“That is going to be a enjoyable one to handle,” Arrow McLaren race director Gavin Ward informed RACER. “With how the day is organized, extra time engaged on qualifying will in all probability be used within the first apply. You in all probability gained’t go as far (on chassis setup adjustments) for qualifying with the tight time between then and the particular (rubbering-in) session with the automobiles being restricted to staying on pit lane. If you happen to might return to the storage, it is likely to be a special case. After which for race operating, that might be the heavier emphasis for the final session as an alternative of attempting to cram all of it in throughout the first.”

The unique objective for the rubbering-in session at TMS was to fight the unfavorable remnants of the PJ1 traction compound utilized to the second lane on the behest of NASCAR for its occasions on the observe. As IndyCar drivers discovered, the aged, darkish residue induced an instantaneous lack of traction which invited spins and crashes. Due to the PJ1, the previously spectacular IndyCar racing at TMS become single-lane affairs the place passing was saved to a minimal.

Due to a suggestion by two-time IndyCar champion Will Energy to carry a particular session to use rubber on high of the PJ1 and the motion taken by IndyCar president Jay Frye to offer it a strive, the standard of racing improved final 12 months.

After the rubbering-in session is full, groups will keep on pit lane because the fourth and last outing of the day is scheduled to begin at 1:30pm — simply quarter-hour after the second-lane session–which fits for an hour to 2:30pm.

Two positives have emerged forward of IndyCar’s 2023 TMS occasion as NASCAR’s change from PJ1 to a resin throughout its final look has had favorable outcomes as a current IndyCar rookie take a look at on the observe revealed the resin was nearly totally gone — one thing the PJ1 refused to do — and drivers had been ready to make use of a few of the second lane with out points.

One other encouraging observe is discovered with NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Collection, which runs between IndyCar’s opening apply and qualifying after which races into Saturday night, and the choice by NASCAR to run with out making use of resin to the second lane.

The one draw back to the efforts to work Firestone rubber to the second lane is the timing of the NASCAR race, which can see the Vehicles’ Goodyear rubber put down throughout 147-lap contest. However with out the aforementioned resin to beat, IndyCar expects its automobiles and drivers to unfold enough quantities of Firestone rubber within the corners to make each lanes usable for passing quickly after the race goes inexperienced domestically at 11:15am.

Barring the break between opening apply and qualifying, IndyCar groups will spend most of their Saturdays within the pits, and most ought to be gone from the observe earlier than the tip of the afternoon as NASCAR takes over the present. Once they return Sunday morning, there gained’t be a lot to do till 10:20am when automobiles are towed to grid, and shortly after, the race will probably be run and considered one of IndyCar’s quicker occasions will probably be over.

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Texas

Heat advisory extended into another day for North Texas as dangerous heat continues

Published

2 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Heat advisory extended into another day for North Texas as dangerous heat continues

Heat advisory extended across North Texas

02:09

NORTH TEXAS – Another scorcher is in store across Dallas-Fort Worth on Wednesday.

The heat advisory that was issued earlier this week has been extended until 7 p.m. as feels-like temperatures are expected to reach 109 in the afternoon. The advisory will likely be extended into Thursday.

People are advised to remember heat safety precautions as there won’t be any relief from the heat, even overnight. North Texans are waking up to feels-like temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s.

It will feel like the triple digits by 12 p.m. and continue to get hotter in the afternoon.

A few storms with gusty winds and small hail are possible Wednesday, mainly in northeastern areas.

The ridge of high pressure dominating the weather will shift a bit to the west and allow a disturbance to clip our eastern counties.

Thursday’s forecast will be similar to Wednesday, waking up to feels-like temperatures near 90 degrees with afternoon heat indices near 110 degrees.

Once again, a few afternoon storms are possible Thursday before high pressure firmly sets up over the area. That brings a string of triple-digit days with heat indices between 103 and 110 degrees.

It will get hotter from here, heading into July and August.

Brittany Rainey

Brittany fell in love with weather at a young age watching the sea breeze storms develop every afternoon in Tampa, Florida. She knew her career needed to entail weather and decided becoming a broadcast meteorologist was the path for her.

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Texas

Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford revealed his best weightlifting feat

Published

9 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford revealed his best weightlifting feat

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford appeared on the GBag Nation show on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) to discuss his recent offensive surge, how he’s adjusting to the big leagues, and what kind of weight he can throw around in the weight room.

Here are some of the highlights, edited lightly for clarity.

What has been the biggest difference since you came off the IL? How eye-opening is it to get accustomed to major league pitching?

Wyatt Langford: I think a lot of it was just comfort, getting comfortable playing up here and getting accustomed to the pitching. Everyone throws hard nowadays, and they all know where to put it too.

You’ve been very unlucky dealing with bad calls in the strike zone, how do you deal with that frustration?

Langford: It has been a little frustrating because of how frequently it has happened, but I mean it’s part of the game. I feel like I’ve handled it pretty well.

What are the biggest differences between playing college baseball and playing in the major leagues?

Langford: I’d say the biggest difference is just playing every single day. College, you’re playing three to five days a week at the most. You’re just going about it every single day and getting your body ready to play every day.

How nice is it having veterans like Marcus Semien and Corey Seager and being able to see their example of dedication?

Langford: It’s been great. There’s so many guys on this team that have a lot of experience, a lot of success playing this game. Being able to talk to them and be around them helps a lot.

What’s the best advice you’ve gotten since getting to the big leagues?

Langford: I wouldn’t say there’s really any best advice I’ve gotten. I’d say just in general, just make sure you be yourself and do what you need to do to get ready. You don’t don’t need to copy what other guys do to get ready. [Corey Seager] does his thing, [Marcus Semien] does his thing. You just got to figure out what works for you.

You’re very impressive physically, what’s the most impressive thing you could do in a weight room? Back squat?

Langford: I haven’t back squatted since my freshman year of college, so probably deadlift. The most I’ve ever done is 715 pounds over winter break at Florida. I was back home during my sophomore year.

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Texas

Mom of Texas teen murdered in 2001 says killer’s execution will be ‘joyful occasion’

Published

17 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Mom of Texas teen murdered in 2001 says killer’s execution will be ‘joyful occasion’

Bridget Townsend was just getting her start in life as a young woman in the small Texas town of Bandera when Ramiro Gonzales raped and killed her. Her mom says she was ‘a beautiful person.’

Bridget Townsend was planning for the future. The Texas 18-year-old was working full-time at a resort and eagerly waiting to hear back about an application to get into nursing school.

But on Jan. 14, 2001, a man named Ramiro Gonzales stole all that away and all the other moments and milestones that make up a life when he kidnapped, raped and murdered Bridget.

“She was a beautiful person who loved life and loved people,” her mother, Patricia Townsend, told USA TODAY on Saturday. “Every time she was with somebody she hadn’t seen in a while, she had to hug ’em … She didn’t deserve what she got.”

Now more than 23 years later, Gonzales is set to be executed for the crime in Texas on Wednesday, which would have been Bridget’s 41st birthday. Patricia Townsend said the execution will be a “joyful occasion” for her and her family, who have been waiting so long for justice.

As Gonzales’ execution approaches, USA TODAY is looking back at the tragic crime, who Bridget was what her family lost.

A terrible night

Bridget was at her boyfriend Joe Leal’s house that terrible night.

Leal dealt drugs and Gonzales went to his house to steal cocaine, finding Bridget there alone.

After Gonzales came in and stole some cash, Bridget started to call Leal. That’s when Gonzales overpowered her, tied her up and drove her to his grandfather’s ranch, where he raped and shot her before dumping her body in a field, according to court records.

When Leal arrived home later that night, Bridget’s truck, purse and keys were their usual spots but he couldn’t find her anywhere and called police.

For nearly two years, no one but Gonzales knew what happened to Bridget. One day while he was serving a life sentence for the rape and kidnapping of another woman, Gonzales decided to confess to killing Bridget, leading authorities to her remains in a field in Bandera, a small town 40 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Gonzales was convicted of Bridget’s murder in September 2006.

‘Thank God I got to see her’

Patricia Townsend last saw her daughter the same day she was killed. Townsend was working at a video store and had asked Bridget to drop by and return a video.

“Thank God I got to see her. And I told her I loved her. And I hugged her,” Townsend said.

Bridget left soon after, saying she was going to bed because she had to drive to work in the morning. Townsend told her daughter goodbye, reminding her that she loved her.

After Townsend closed the video store and went home for the night, she said she couldn’t shake the feeling that she heard Bridget call out to her: “Mom.” She tried to call Bridget but there was no answer.

“And I said, ‘Well don’t fret, Pat.’ She said she had to get up early and go to work so she’s probably sleeping,” Townsend said. “But I should have known better because always slept with her phone right next to her in case somebody called her.”

She thought about going to check on Bridget but talked herself out of it.

“And to this day I regret not going out there,” she said. “Maybe I would have been there in time to stop him.”

Patricia Townsend gets worst news of her life

For nearly two years, Townsend spent most of her time putting up flyers about her daughter and chasing leads.

Until one night a Bandera County sheriff asked her to come to the station. Although she had been holding out hope that her daughter was alive despite the odds, she instead got the worst news of her life.

The sheriff told Townsend that Gonzales had confessed to Bridget’s murder, had led police to her body and that he had some things he was hoping she might be able to identify.

“And I walked on down the street. I couldn’t hear it anymore,” she said.

Towsend says she didn’t even have a body to bury on Oct. 16, 2002 because Gonzales “wanted to see her body decay.”

Townsend rejected arguments from Gonzales that a childhood filled with trauma and neglect helped lead him down a path that ended in her daughter’s murder.

“He doesn’t deserve mercy,” she said. “And his childhood should not have anything to do with it. I know a lot of people that had a hard childhood … He made his choice.”

It’s Gonzales’ own fault that he no longer has a life.

“He could be going to school or have a wife and kids,” she said. “I don’t feel sorry for him at all and I don’t want other people to feel sorry for him. Some people I feel sorry for are his grandma and grandpa that raised him.”

What has also brought comfort to Townsend amid the grief is that Gonzales is set to leave the world the same day Bridget came into it.

“When they told me June 26, I started crying, crying and crying,” she said. “That’s her birthday.”

Instead of celebrating her daughter’s 41st birthday, she’ll drive four hours from her home in San Antonio to the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville and watch Gonzales die.

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