IndyCar Series/Walkthrough

1. Introduction --- I had a hard time playing this game at first and since no guides was made, I decided that I should create one for new players that needs some help. Even though I said I had a hard time playing it, there's only two things you really need to become good in this game : Patience and Practice. You'll need to do at least 1000 laps for this. For reference, it took me about a month to finish it completely, that is, to get all the cards in the Trading Card Album.

The game is a simulation of the IndyCar Series, it's a racing game with open-wheel car, better known as Formula 1. It's also a very dangerous game, going over 220 mph on a small track with at least 20 cars can quickly lead to disaster!

The menu in the game has : Quick race      : Choose one of 15 tracks to race. IndyCar Series  : Serie of 15 tracks to race, one after the other. Indianapolis 500 : Only one track to race. Multiplayer     : Play with a network connection. Masterclass     : Tutorial Player Profile  : Load or Edit your saved game. Options         : Change your preferences.

2. General Tips --- For any new players, here's what I suggest : Start with the IndyCar Series with 20 laps at Normal, then try all the Masterclass, doesn't matter if you pass them or not, do the IndyCars series again with 20 laps but at Pro and do the Masterclass again to fully comprehend and master every one of them since they're very important in order to be a virtual professional driver! :-)

I also suggest, in Options / Advanced Game Options, to use these settings : Transmission       : Manual : Just like a professional driver. Automatic AI Adjust : On : This will make the computer go slower if you're not in first position, but if you are in first position, the computer will go at 100% efficiency. Caution Autodrive  : Off : So that you can be in control of your car during a                      yellow flag. Traction Control   : Off : Just like a professional driver. Speed Assist       : Off : Just like a professional driver.

Whatever or wherever you're racing, I found that setting the engine to 7 will always be the best option even for doing a 200 laps.

Just before entering the pit, don't go over 60 mph, in some races, you can see a pole with a 76 on it, which I think means that the maximum speed for entering the pit is 76, but even entering the pit at 70 will get me a black flag after I left it.

For the IndyCar Series menu : - For the first time, tick the 'Go To Garage' option when in the pit and tune your car with the settings below, in section 'IndyCar Series', I found them to be quite good. You only need to do this once for each track, then the game will remember your settings for each of them.

- You weight jacker is very important, some track needs it low, others high, the one that needs it low are Nashville, Michigan, Gateway and Chicagoland.

- In qualifications, you can lower or raise your front wing by .50, use this to your advantage.

- Remember that if you had a bad qualification time, just leave the series and go back in to continue the serie, you'll have another chance for the qualification.

3. IndyCar Series - Note that race 15 is not listed because it's the same as race 6 : Texas.

1. Miami Pressure    FL 33    | FR 42    | RL 42    | RR 48 Springs     FL 65    | FR 65    | RL 85    | RR 85 Dampers     FL 45/55 | FR 45/55 | RL 55/55 | RR 55/55 Ride Height FL 2.2   | FR 2.6   | RL 2.2   | RR 2.6 Gears       1  81    | 2  127   | 3  157   | 4  173   | 5  216   | 6  227 Camber      FL 0.1   | FR -0.5  | RL 0.1   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.1   | FR -0.1 Wings       F  14    | R  12

2. Phoenix Pressure    FL 34    | FR 43    | RL 35    | RR 42 Springs     FL 65    | FR 65    | RL 75    | RR 75 Dampers     FL 45/43 | FR 45/43 | RL 50/48 | RR 50/48 Ride Height FL 2.8   | FR 3.2   | RL 2.8   | RR 3.2 Gears       1  81    | 2  130   | 3  151   | 4  173   | 5  195   | 6  211 Camber      FL 0.2   | FR -0.6  | RL 0.2   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.3   | FR -0.4 Wings       F  24    | R  60

3. California Pressure    FL 31    | FR 39    | RL 43    | RR 49 Springs     FL 75    | FR 75    | RL 85    | RR 85 Dampers     FL 65/60 | FR 65/60 | RL 70/60 | RR 70/60 Ride Height FL 2.0   | FR 2.2   | RL 2.0   | RR 2.2 Gears       1  81    | 2  130   | 3  178   | 4  205   | 5  232   | 6  249 Camber      FL 0.2   | FR -0.4  | RL 0.2   | RR -0.4 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.3 Wings       F  4     | R  6

4. Nazareth Pressure    FL 32    | FR 40    | RL 33    | RR 40 Springs     FL 75    | FR 75    | RL 85    | RR 85 Dampers     FL 60/55 | FR 60/55 | RL 70/60 | RR 70/60 Ride Height FL 2.8   | FR 3.0   | RL 2.8   | RR 3.0 Gears       1  76    | 2  127   | 3  145   | 4  170   | 5  189   | 6  200 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.7  | RL 0.2   | RR -0.7 Toe In      FL 0.3   | FR -0.4 Wings       F  24    | R  61

5. Indianapolis Pressure    FL 35    | FR 39    | RL 41    | RR 49 Springs     FL 60    | FR 60    | RL 75    | RR 75 Dampers     FL 45/40 | FR 45/40 | RL 60/45 | RR 60/45 Ride Height FL 2.2   | FR 2.4   | RL 2.2   | RR 2.4 Gears       1  81    | 2  135   | 3  189   | 4  218   | 5  238   | 6  249 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.6  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.6 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  1     | R  -4

6. Texas Pressure    FL 33    | FR 42    | RL 46    | RR 49 Springs     FL 65    | FR 65    | RL 70    | RR 70 Dampers     FL 45/40 | FR 45/40 | RL 50/45 | RR 50/45 Ride Height FL 2.7   | FR 3.0   | RL 2.7   | RR 3.0 Gears       1  81    | 2  135   | 3  178   | 4  205   | 5  234   | 6  243 Camber      FL 0.2   | FR -0.5  | RL 0.2   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  1     | R  6

7. Pikes Peak Pressure    FL 33    | FR 43    | RL 32    | RR 41 Springs     FL 70    | FR 70    | RL 90    | RR 90 Dampers     FL 55/50 | FR 55/50 | RL 65/60 | RR 65/60 Ride Height FL 2.5   | FR 3.0   | RL 2.5   | RR 3.0 Gears       1  76    | 2  114   | 3  141   | 4  173   | 5  200   | 6  211 Camber      FL 0.1   | FR -0.4  | RL 0.1   | RR -0.4 Toe In      FL 0.1   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  20    | R  49

8. Richmond Pressure    FL 36    | FR 42    | RL 33    | RR 38 Springs     FL 75    | FR 75    | RL 85    | RR 85 Dampers     FL 70/60 | FR 70/60 | RL 80/70 | RR 80/70 Ride Height FL 2.2   | FR 2.4   | RL 2.2   | RR 2.4 Gears       1  76    | 2  114   | 3  141   | 4  173   | 5  195   | 6  211 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.4  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.4 Toe In      FL 0.4   | FR -0.5 Wings       F  20    | R  61

9. Kansas Pressure    FL 38    | FR 42    | RL 44    | RR 49 Springs     FL 75    | FR 75    | RL 85    | RR 85 Dampers     FL 45/40 | FR 45/40 | RL 65/60 | RR 65/60 Ride Height FL 2.4   | FR 2.6   | RL 2.4   | RR 2.6 Gears       1  81    | 2  130   | 3  173   | 4  211   | 5  238   | 6  243 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.4  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.4 Toe In      FL 0.3   | FR -0.3 Wings       F  1     | R  6

10. Nashville Pressure    FL 34    | FR 42    | RL 44    | RR 48 Springs     FL 70    | FR 70    | RL 80    | RR 80 Dampers     FL 55/50 | FR 55/50 | RL 60/65 | RR 60/65 Ride Height FL 2.3   | FR 2.5   | RL 2.3   | RR 2.5 Gears       1  81    | 2  119   | 3  157   | 4  189   | 5  222   | 6  232 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.4  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.4 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  10    | R  6

11. Michigan Pressure    FL 34    | FR 42    | RL 44    | RR 49 Springs     FL 65    | FR 65    | RL 80    | RR 80 Dampers     FL 50/45 | FR 50/45 | RL 60/50 | RR 60/50 Ride Height FL 2.4   | FR 2.6   | RL 2.4   | RR 2.6 Gears       1  81    | 2  141   | 3  178   | 4  205   | 5  238   | 6  249 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.5  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  2     | R  6

12. Kentucky Pressure    FL 34    | FR 42    | RL 44    | RR 49 Springs     FL 70    | FR 70    | RL 75    | RR 75 Dampers     FL 50/45 | FR 50/45 | RL 60/55 | RR 60/55 Ride Height FL 2.6   | FR 2.8   | RL 2.6   | RR 2.8 Gears       1  81    | 2  135   | 3  176   | 4  205   | 5  227   | 6  238 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.5  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  2     | R  6

13. Gateway Pressure    FL 34    | FR 40    | RL 34    | RR 40 Springs     FL 70    | FR 70    | RL 90    | RR 90 Dampers     FL 55/50 | FR 55/50 | RL 60/55 | RR 60/55 Ride Height FL 2.8   | FR 3.1   | RL 2.8   | RR 3.1 Gears       1  81    | 2  113   | 3  141   | 4  168   | 5  191   | 6  207 Camber      FL 0.2   | FR -0.6  | RL 0.2   | RR -0.6 Toe In      FL 0.1   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  24    | R 55

14. Chicagoland Pressure    FL 32    | FR 41    | RL 43    | RR 49 Springs     FL 65    | FR 65    | RL 75    | RR 75 Dampers     FL 45/40 | FR 45/40 | RL 55/50 | RR 55/50 Ride Height FL 2.8   | FR 3.0   | RL 2.8   | RR 3.0 Gears       1  76    | 2  135   | 3  178   | 4  205   | 5  238   | 6  243 Camber      FL 0.3   | FR -0.5  | RL 0.3   | RR -0.5 Toe In      FL 0.2   | FR -0.2 Wings       F  -2    | R  6

4. Masterclass -- This is the tutorial with 8 different parts. It is a must to do them, listen carefully to the instructions, you have to remember everything. In fact, it's so important, it's a good thing to do the tutorial two times.

1. Basic Car Control Do one lap as fast as you can. The trick is to speed up right at the beginning for a maximum top speed as soon as possible, don't worry about the pace car, it will peel off when you pass it.

2. Advanced Car Control Do 3 laps as fast as you can. Raise you weigth jacker to the top, set your engine to 7 and fly!

3. Maximizing Performance Right when you start, break, turn back and enter the pit by the wrong side, doesn't matter, you'll get in the pit faster that way. Tune your car by  selecting the 'Go to garage' and use the setting for the Indianapolis track in the section 'IndyCar Series' with just a few modifications, raise the pressure of your tires by only 1 for each of the four and lower the front wing of 1 so that it show 0, also, set your gear 5 to 231 and your gear 6 to  242. Then reduce your fuel to something about 8 and race a few laps to get your tires red, then set your engine to 7 and set your weigth jacker to the maximum (+). Make sure to always stay in gear 6 and never let go the acceleration. With these settings, I've been able to do 235.36 mph average!

4. Qualifications When you start, head for the pit, then set your fuel to 4, raise your front wing to the maximum. On the race, set your engine to 7 and max your weigth jacker. Go to gear 5 at 230 mph and to gear 6 at 237 mph when racing. With a little practice, you'll get the gold that way.

5. Racing Rechniques Race and overtake at least one car. When you start, you'll be doing about 240 mph, just keep this speed and pass between the two first cars, so just at the start you can overtake 2 cars.

6. The Pits Head to the pit and get back in the race while keeping your position.

7. The Caution Period Right when you start you'll be the witness of a car oversteering and crashing, just follow the next car with the 2 green arrows on top of it and don't overtake it. After about 2 laps, the green arrows will go away and it's now time to race again, overtake at least one car for the last 4 laps.

8. The IndyCar Series You must finish at least in third position, it will take a lot of tries to  get it right. To finish first, hit the acceleration as soon as you can and never take it off, then duplicate exactly the path each cars is taking.

5. Lap Record - If you're like me and wants to know the shortest time for a full distance, then here are some numbers that shows that Phoenix is the one to choose, followed closely with Richmond with only 2 more minutes. But if you want a track to finish 200 laps at Pro, I'd suggest California, it's longer but much more easy than the others.

The speed column show at what speed you should go, in average, for a full lap to get position #1 in the qualifications. Exception for Indianapolis, it's the average of 4 laps that is taken into account.

And, of course, the record holder name Zurd is me! :-)

| Lap Record | Record Holder | Laps | Seconds | Minutes | Speed Miami       |    26.02   | Zurd          | 200  | 5232    | 87      | 203.31 Phoenix     |    19.22   | Zurd          | 200  | 3868    | 65      | 179.01 California  |    31.78   | Zurd          | 200  | 6356    | 106     | 220.57 Nazareth    |    19.45   | Gil De Ferran | 225  | 4376    | 73      | 173.52 Indianapolis |   37.90   | Arie Luyendyk | 200  | 7580    | 126     | 230.60 Texas       |    23.48   | Zurd          | 200  | 4696    | 78      | 224.63 Pikes Peak  |    19.32   | Zurd          | 225  | 4347    | 73      | 177.56 Richmond    |    16.00   | Gil De Ferran | 250  | 4000    | 67      | 167.15 Kansas      |    24.54   | Zurd          | 200  | 4928    | 82      | 219.76 Nashville   |    22.94   | Billy Boat    | 200  | 4588    | 77      | 202.99 Michigan    |    31.66   | Zurd          | 200  | 6332    | 106     | 222.22 Kentucky    |    23.54   | Zurd          | 200  | 4708    | 79      | 221.28 Gateway     |    22.70   | Gil De Ferran | 200  | 4540    | 76      | 174.25 Chicagoland |    24.30   | Zurd          | 200  | 4860    | 81      | 222.38

6. Additional Information - These are found in the Quick Race menu.

1. Miami Homestead, FL - 1.5 mile - www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com Front Straightaway 1760 feet - Back Straightaway 1760 feet Banking 6 degrees - Seating 65 000 - Opened 1995 First IndyCar Series April 8, 2001

2. Phoenix Phoenix, AZ - 1 mile oval - www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com Front Straightaway 1179 feet - Back Straightaway 1551 feet Banking 11 degrees - Seating 76 812 - Opened 1964 First IndyCar Series March 24, 1996

3. California Fontana, CA - 2 mile D-shaped oval - www.californiaspeedway.com Front Straightaway 3100 feet - Back Straightaway 2500 feet Banking 14 degrees - Seating 92 109 - Opened 1997 First IndyCar Series March 24, 2002

4. Nazareth Nazareth, PA - 1 mile oval - www.nazarethspeedway.com Front Straightaway 800 feet - Back Straightaway 1200 feet Banking 6 degrees - Seating 44 044 - Opened 1966 First IndyCar Series April 4, 2002

5. Indianapolis Speedway, IN - 2.5 mile oval - www.indy500.com Front Straightaway 33 000 feet - Back Straightaway 33 000 feet Banking 9 degrees - Seating 250 000+ - Opened 1909 First IndyCar Series May 26, 1996

6. Texas Fort Worth, TX - 1.5 mile oval - www.texasmotorspeedway.com Front Straightaway 2250 feet - Back Straightaway 1330 feet Banking 24 degrees - Seating 154 861 - Opened 1997 First IndyCar Series June 7, 1996

7. Pikes Peak Fountain, CO - 1 mile tri-oval - www.ppir.com Front Straightaway 1510 feet - Back Straightaway 1350 feet Banking 10 degrees - Seating 42 787 - Opened 1997 First IndyCar Series June 29, 1997

8. Richmond Richmond, VA - 0.75 mile D-shaped oval - www.rir.com Front Straightaway 1290 feet - Back Straightaway 860 feet Banking 14 degrees - Seating 105 000 - Opened 1946 First IndyCar Series June 30, 2001

9. Kansas Kansas City, KS - 1.5 mile tri-oval - www.kansasspeedway.com Front Straightaway 2685 feet - Back Straightaway 2207 feet Banking 15 degrees - Seating 78 000 - Opened 2001 First IndyCar Series July 8, 2001

10. Nashville Lebanon, TN - 1.33 mile oval - www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com Front Straightaway 2494 feet - Back Straightaway 2203 feet Banking 14 degrees - Seating 50 000 - Opened 2001 First IndyCar Series July 21, 2001

11. Michigan Brooklyn, MI - 2 mile D-shaped oval - www.mispeedway.com Front Straightaway 3600 feet - Back Straightaway 2242 feet Banking 18 degrees - Seating 136 373 - Opened 1968 First IndyCar Series July 28, 2002

12. Kentucky Sparta, KY - 1.5 mile tri-oval - www.kentuckyspeedway.com Front Straightaway 1662 feet - Back Straightaway 1600 feet Banking 14 degrees - Seating 66 089 - Opened 2000 First IndyCar Series August 27, 2002

13. Gateway St Louis, IL - 1.25 mile oval - www.gatewayraceway.com Front Straightaway 1992 feet - Back Straightaway 1976 feet Banking 11 degrees - Seating 60 000 - Opened 1997 First IndyCar Series August 26, 2001

14. Chicagoland Joliet, IL - 1.5 mile D-shaped tri-oval - www.chicagolandspeedway.com Front Straightaway 2400 feet - Back Straightaway 1700 feet Banking 18 degrees - Seating 75 000 - Opened 2001 First IndyCar Series September 2, 2001