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Penguin Car Earns Indy500 Spot
Posted by
kdawson
on Mon May 21, 2007 07:09 AM
from the not-bad-for-a-flightless-bird dept.
from the not-bad-for-a-flightless-bird dept.
strredwolf writes "Despite generating over $12K in funds, well short of the $250K goal, the Tux 500 Project was able to secure a spot in the Indy 500 with driver Roberto Moreno piloting the Linux #77 Indy car. He's back in the pack in 31st place (only 5.5 MPH separates 31st place from 1st) but was able to secure it by re-qualifying with an average speed of 220.299 MPH. Will Moreno be able to pilot the penguin-tipped Indy car to victory next week at the 91st Indianapolis 500?"
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Linux (Car) Crashes At Indy 500 244 comments
thanksforthecrabs writes to let us know that the Linux-sponsored Indy 500 car had a rough day at the track this weekend: it was the first car to crash on the track and finished dead last. Joost sponsored a car that came in a respectable seventh.
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No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://suso.suso.org/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 09 2004, @12:03AM)
Slashdot, you should be ashamed of yourself. Doing nothing to help, but claiming the rights after the fact. This was exactly the kind of grass roots project that you would have announced in the past, but choose to purposefully ignore it this time. You had a chance to announce this a long time ago, but according to Rob Malda himself, who said in full "there are so many reasons that this story doesn't interest me
All it would have taken from you is to accept one measley little story about the Tux500 project a few weeks ago and *bam*, it would have had the proper amount of publicity to energize the Linux community and raise enough money to fully sponsor the car. All it took was $1 from each person in just 1% of the community, so it would have worked even with 80% of the community doing their own thing. But since the project didn't get the good publicity it deserved, it only raised half the amount needed just to put a logo on the car. Fortunately the good will of the tux500 team seems to be allowing the logo to still be on the car. I guess they are better people than you.
You know why so many community projects fail? Because the leaders don't believe in them.
Just so the rest of you know for this discussion, I understand that sites like Slashdot are news sites. But IMHO, only half a news site. There have been hundreds of stories here over the years meant to mobilize the community (ie. Blender). I ask, why not this one?
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:4, Interesting)
(Last Journal: Wednesday June 23 2004, @11:11AM)
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Re:We're not all petrol heads... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:5, Informative)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Second, the Indy 500 is unique in motor sports, like the Kentucky Derby is in horse racing. People who know nothing about the sport and who never give it a thought will sit down and watch the Indy 500. There is also a buzz about the 500 after the last few races, particularly after last year's finish. (You can see the finish at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l5-XKvL28E [youtube.com] if you haven't seen it yet.) Another thing to consider is the target market. The Indy 500 is a very middle-America, middle-class event; NASCAR is for po' folk and F1 is for elite snobs. (I live in Indy; I've seen the crowds; and while there may be exceptions, this is by and large the rule.) These people are the ones who are middle managers and start small businesses. Really, it's not a bad strategy to reach a target market.
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:5, Informative)
(http://slashdot.org/)
1. The Indianapolis is the biggest annual sporting event. Period. More people attend, and more people watch on TV worldwide then any other event. If you wanted to get the message about linux out there, this would be the place to do it.
2. This year all Indy cars run on Ethanol 85. While this isn't solar, it's far better then the traditional Gas of the past (hell I believe NASCAR is just now *thinking* about phasing out leaded gas).
3. The engineering involved in these cars is amazing, not only as far as engine development (Honda had relatively little time to develop these engines to run on Ethanol 85, and have done so admirably). Also, the engines themselves are interesting in that they are normally aspirated (i.e. no Turbo, so SuperCharger just incredibly engineered 8Cyl Engines That can drive none stop at high speeds for ling distances. FWIW Honda wasn't picked to be the only engine supplier for indy cars, they got that way through attrition. The last year there were multiple engine manufacturers Honda so blew away Chevy that it just didn't make sense for them to continue.
4. Engineering! Since the engines these days are identical (as are the tires) there is a great deal of parity initially, however engineers get to figure out best race packages using aerodynamics, gear boxes, Tire Pressure etc, and on top of that figure in fuel mileage (which should be interesting since as mentioned, the fuel is different this year) tire wear, etc.
5. Of course given all that, the Drivers and Pit Crews make the difference. Of all the drivers (33) my guess would be that only about half of them have the mental toughness and backing human element to actually have a realistic chance of winning (and of that only a handful would have good vegas odds).
6. Then of course there's a shred of luck and the unexpected that always makes this totally unpredictable. Weather, Freak accidents, mechanical issues, human error, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, all can have a hugh effect on the outcome.
7. Finally... Indy Car racing is by far the most competitive racing series out there today. Lot's of passing, and lot's of skill (a minor mistake in an indy car, and you are in the wall with your car breaking away into pieces).
8. Technological advancement. The Indy Car Series (and the IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)) Have been at the forefront of many automotive advances. The Ethanol thing is one recent, but the technologies devised for driver safety have not only been adopted by almost every other racing series, but have also been instrumental in the development of safety features for all cars built today.
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:5, Insightful)
(https://www.deadhat.com/ | Last Journal: Tuesday May 08 2007, @02:39PM)
>1. The Indianapolis is the biggest annual sporting event. Period. More people attend, and more people watch on TV worldwide then any other event. If you wanted to get the message about linux out there, this would be the place to do it.
I simply do not believe this. For example, the world cup and the olympics are both watched world wide. The Indy is a local USA thing.
>2. This year all Indy cars run on Ethanol 85. While this isn't solar, it's far better then the traditional Gas of the past (hell I believe NASCAR is just now *thinking* about phasing out leaded gas).
Who cares about the fuel? That's a geek detail.
>3. The engineering involved in these cars is amazing, not only as far as engine development (Honda had relatively little time to develop these engines to run on Ethanol 85, and have done so admirably). Also, the engines themselves are interesting in that they are normally aspirated (i.e. no Turbo, so SuperCharger just incredibly engineered 8Cyl Engines That can drive none stop at high speeds for ling distances. FWIW Honda wasn't picked to be the only engine supplier for indy cars, they got that way through attrition. The last year there were multiple engine manufacturers Honda so blew away Chevy that it just didn't make sense for them to continue.
The engineering in other formulas is also amazing compared to normal cars, but not compared to say a IC fab. I happen to have worked both for a F1 team and an IC manufacturer. So I know.
F1 doesn't use Turbo either. They banned it to slow the cars down.
>4. Engineering! Since the engines these days are identical (as are the tires) there is a great deal of parity initially, however engineers get to figure out best race packages using aerodynamics, gear boxes, Tire Pressure etc, and on top of that figure in fuel mileage (which should be interesting since as mentioned, the fuel is different this year) tire wear, etc.
That's what race teams do in many formulas. It doesn't make Indy special.
>5. Of course given all that, the Drivers and Pit Crews make the difference. Of all the drivers (33) my guess would be that only about half of them have the mental toughness and backing human element to actually have a realistic chance of winning (and of that only a handful would have good vegas odds).
Mental toughness? BS. A team wins on testing and competence. Mostly testing. The more money you have, the more testing you can do, the more tweaking you can do and the more bugs you can iron out. That's how the wealthy teams stay wealthy. True for Indy and F1.
>6. Then of course there's a shred of luck and the unexpected that always makes this totally unpredictable. Weather, Freak accidents, mechanical issues, human error, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, all can have a hugh effect on the outcome.
Also, true for other sports/motorsports. It doesn't make Indy special.
>7. Finally... Indy Car racing is by far the most competitive racing series out there today. Lot's of passing, and lot's of skill (a minor mistake in an indy car, and you are in the wall with your car breaking away into pieces).
Get real. It's an oval.
>8. Technological advancement. The Indy Car Series (and the IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)) Have been at the forefront of many automotive advances. The Ethanol thing is one recent, but the technologies devised for driver safety have not only been adopted by almost every other racing series, but have also been instrumental in the development of safety features for all cars built today.
Give us the data. Check the dates on specific safety feature being put in the rules. You will find Indy was first on about 0 of them.
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:4, Insightful)
If it'd been a linux.com logo, then... (Score:4, Interesting)
Then
That'll teach you. Next time, learn how to play the
Re:No thanks to you, Slashdot. (Score:4, Informative)
(http://suso.suso.org/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 09 2004, @12:03AM)
I actually emailed him personally and asked him if there was a reason why they weren't running a story on this. What I quoted him saying is exactly and all that he sent back.
Well done (Score:5, Funny)
I just wonder how the pitstop will go
apt-get new-tyres
Re:Gentoo (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Well done (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Well done (Score:5, Funny)
*rimshot*
Only 5.5MPH behind! (Score:5, Funny)
(http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/ | Last Journal: Sunday February 06 2005, @10:56PM)
Re:Only 5.5MPH behind! (Score:5, Informative)
(Last Journal: Monday September 25 2006, @07:02PM)
Just a hunch, but... (Score:1)
I'm going to go with my gut instinct as a casual Indy fan and answer "no."
Obviously Microsoft... (Score:3, Funny)
(http://www.infiltrated.net/)
I think this would garner more attention (Score:5, Insightful)
If it crashes... (Score:5, Funny)
Finally (Score:3, Funny)
(http://slashdot.org???? | Last Journal: Saturday August 12 2006, @03:06AM)
Linux is doing great, and doesn't need marketing (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://www.billrocks.org/)
I love making predictions, and here's my prediction for the future of Linux: Linux will never beat Windows in the market place. Instead, a new market will emerge for ultra-cheap computers (as in OLPC). Super-cheap computers with lots of RAM and non-volatile storage will one day cost $100 (in 2007 dollars). When this happens, Microsoft will not be able to compete against free Linux as the dominant OS on these machines. There just isn't enough profit per device to support Microsoft-like company. Instead Linux, or a derivative of GNU/Linux software, will power our new ultra-cheap devices. I think Microsoft understands this low-end disruption threat, and that's why they're so desperate to push Windows CE derivatives. However, the bean counters at Microsoft will always try to kill off unprofitable efforts like Windows CE, as the market, margins, and profit just aren't there compared to selling high-end software for high-end machines.
If you think this idea is crazy, have you heard about the iPhone? It may not run Linux proper, but it's clearly in the GNU/open-source camp. Operating systems are mature technology, no longer worth much money. Apple showed great insight in dumping their own, and running with the free stuff. This gives them a huge advantage over Microsoft in the future battle for smart consumer devices. Others will follow Apple's lead, and dump Windows for GNU/Linux as the super low-cost PC/personal-computing-device market emerges. In the end, GNU/Linux will prevail, but never on the traditional high-end desktop that Joe Sixpack buys for web surfing, games, and porn.
Maybe I'm missing something but..... (Score:1)
(http://timcol6.freehostia.com/)
Is this a joke? (Score:1)
Despite? (Score:3, Insightful)
Hang on. Despite generating over $12K in funds
Do you mean that despite not getting anywhere near the $250k goal they still managed to secure a spot? If so, why not say something along those lines rather than the confusing babble presented?
I'm not being a grammar Nazi here - the grammar looks fine to me (and mine isn't the best) - but it's just that it makes no sense and you have read the line 5 times to work out what it is trying to say. Could we have some, y'know, editor type stuff going on here?
5 mph is a big difference (Score:3, Insightful)
In general, the cars are much slower now than they used to be. The 225.817MPH of the 1st place car would have been very far back in the grid compared with the 240 MPH+ of 10 or 15 years ago. I wish him luck.
Re:5 mph is a big difference (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Since then, the league's emphasis has been on safety. (In fact, the first innovation at the track was in the first race, when Ray Herroun put a rearview mirror on the car since he didn't have a riding mechanic to look back.) They changed the specs, which resulted in reduced speeds, and started requiring more safety features in the chassis. Speeds have gone back up, since the engineers are clever and can figure out how to get more out of less as time goes on. (A couple years ago, someone figured out how to reshape the rear-view mirrors to allow for more downforce, to use but one example.) Tony George also spent his own money on the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers that are now common on tracks; they certainly saved Rolf Schumacher's life at the 2005 USGP. One of the benefits touted about the new ethanol engines is that they get better mileage, so they can reduced fuel load which makes for safer cars. And so on. It's still a dangerous sport, but having seen the wrecks that Davey Hamilton and Kenny Brack, I'm amazed that both of them not only survived but came back to race later.
I took the family to Pole Day qualifications, and there really isn't much difference you can see, sitting in the front row or high up, between 220MPH and 230MPH. I don't know if there will ever be a new track record at the 500, but I can live with that; the drivers are more likely to, as well.
Somewhere in Redmond... (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Friday April 06 2007, @12:32PM)
"Please please please, somone film the crash."
One Word (Score:2)
(http://www.thegallos.com/)
Backmarker
Nuff said
i wrote about it in my /. journal (Score:3, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Thursday May 31, @06:32PM)
Dark Horse - I mean real Dark Horse (Score:1)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roberto Moreno (born Roberto Pupo Moreno, February 11, 1959 in Rio de Janeiro) is a former Formula One driver from Brazil. He participated in 75 grands prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion (in 1988) before joining Formula 1 full-time in 1989. He returned to CART in 1996 and raced full-time until 2003. He currently drives as a temporary substitute and test driver in both Champ Car and IndyCar.
Indy 500 results
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1986 Lola Cosworth 32nd 19th
1994 Lola Ford-Cosworth Failed to Qualify
1999 G-Force Oldsmobile 23rd 20th
2007 Panoz Honda 31st
#77? (Score:1)
Nothing compares to MotoGP (Score:3, Interesting)
I think it's pretty cool (Score:1)
Why advertise something that isn't ready? (Score:1, Offtopic)
(http://www.tolldog.com/ | Last Journal: Saturday November 01 2003, @10:53PM)
I have been using linux since slack on floppies and it has come a long way. But for the average consumer, it still needs work. Instead of 12k going to a bumper sticker on a car moving way too fast to read, why not put that money in projects that helps mature parts of linux. Lets get some working wifi broadcom drivers, being able to only connect at 11 mbs to an unencrypted network, its not fully finished. The people on those projects need funding. If you want people to switch, how about throwing that 12k towards the wine project? People won't give up old applications just like that. When ever you have to say "It's just like X, but..." then the project still needs work to replace the alternative.
That 12k could have gone a long way to several projects. The proposed 250k could have gone even further. When I can install linux on any of my laptops or desktops and be able to work and play like I do under Windows and Mac OSX, then it is time to advertise to the masses.
Did you donate? 5 bux for tux! (Score:1)
I throw money at my waiter for serving me my food. I throw money at a blog that has good tutorials on it. I throw money at far fetched projects like SeaLand.
I have never heard of the Tux500 project. I see it posted. I deemed it worthy of throwing money at it.
"5 Bux for Tux!"
--ElGatoLoco
So a NASCAR story is on Shashdot because... (Score:1, Redundant)
(Last Journal: Tuesday April 19 2005, @12:29AM)
Give me a break!
F the penguin check out Milka Duno (Score:1)
Hah! (Score:2)
In all honestly, securing a starting spot wasn't that difficult. Indy traditionally starts 33 cars, but there are only 20-22 cars who regularly compete in the series. The remainder of the field is what we in the business called "field-filler". Basically, it's people who show up with a car (often times a year or two old), and then manage to run 4 qualifying laps without crashing. Sure, they have to have an IRL license to compete, but many of them are former drivers well past their prime (Al Unser Jr and Roberto Moreno, for example) or drivers that weren't good enough to land a full season ride from a team (but could come up with a couple hundred thousand dollars in sponsorship money to just run Indy).
To say that he's only 5.5 MPH slower than the fastest car is a minimizing statement. That's over 1 second per lap slower than the fastest car. The faster cars are turning laps in the 39-40 second range, so over 200 laps you can expect him to finish 5 laps down. Assuming that he doesn't get caught up in traffic or have handling problems, which is usually not the case. Then factor in that his team probably will be 2-3 seconds slower per pit stop than the top teams and I could see him easily finishing 7 or 8 laps behind.
So will he be able to pilot his car to an Indy 500 victory? Only if he's incredibly lucky and 30 other cars crash out of the race.
Unfortunately, (Score:1)
Tried to pass slower traffic on the outside of turn 1, got wide and smacked into the wall. At least the nose cone was intact.
Re:Tux Car (Score:1, Informative)