Indianapolis 500 Evolution

 

Layout or running order?

 

If it's layout, F1 Challenge 99-02 may have done, though it's been so long since I laid eyes on it that I can't recall.  Certainly it should have done, because at least one track changed substantially in those years.  Destruction Derby did it too, but that probably doesn't count.

 

I know that Indy changes, the front straight being paved after 196something (61?).  Does Langhorne change layout like it should do, mate?

First impressions are that as a trip into the wayback machine, it's wonderful.  Running the Johnny Lightning car or Jim Clark's Lotus around Indy is just lovely, the car models and liveries are good enough that I can identify cars before the driver's name is clear on-screen and the general atmosphere, the feel of being back there, is captured well.  It's a desperate pity that the Yearbook missions are so insultingly easy, though.  There's a mission involving defending a lead at Langhorne, and you start off with a 5 second lead that only increases as you go around, with no other cars in sight.  At the end, you're praised for a great display of defensive driving...

I started my career on Pro and it looks like that might keep me alert, though.  In the early laps at Trenton I found myself falling from 1st to 7th, and while I was able to work my way back through, it took me a few laps to find an answer for the pace of the leaders.  They passed me cleanly and gave me room to make my moves if I flagged them up early enough.

I didn't get the same trouble as you with the tyres, Ted - mine would probably have gone the full 100 laps, but in traffic on lap 65 I contrived to collide with both the Rathmann brothers at once and fitted new tyres while I was having the damage repaired.  Around lap 55-ish my lead began to disappear, and there wasn't the same kind of grip as at the start - my laps had gone from 133 mph to 128 or thereabouts - but just before I messed up, it seemed like the gap was stabilising again.

I look forward now to seeing if I can tell which of the AI drivers aren't fond of me.  I'd also tipped Dick Rathmann into a spin in the early running, and he now dislikes me.  Several others already like me after a single race, so it'll be interesting to see how much their conduct around me changes.