Latest Hollywood Hottest Wallpapers: iRacing Thoughts

I have NEVER played iRacing, so this is NOT a review of it. It would be pointless to review a game I've never played. However, this is a digest of thoughts on iRacing. My thoughts are only on what I've taken in from reading and seeing videos on iRacing. This is mostly an impression-based look at iRacing. For the uninitiated, iRacing is a pure racing simulator where you race real cars on real tracks with realistic handling. Certain racing series are even using iRacing to screen future drivers. You pay for a subscription, set up an account, install the software, and go racing. Just make sure you have a decent Windows PC, a racing wheel assembly, and a broadband assembly before trying this deal out. I greatly respect iRacing because what you get for just a download and a subscription is truly amazing. This blog is NOT a review of iRacing. Instead, this is more a digest on certain ideas of mine involving iRacing.

--- iRacing at a Glance ---

iRacing is not just another racing game. It is a serious sim racing title featuring real cars and real racing. The attention to detail and realism in handling and in racing is second to none. Its value is predicated on taking on other human racers. Therefore, you won't have to worry about bogus AI or anything. If you are thinking that this is another game where you can just drive like an idiot and race super-fast with unrealistic handling, think again. If you are thinking that you will be racing on fantasy courses on completely unrealistic tracks, think again. This is NO racing game for the casual gamer. So those of you into games like the Gran Turismo series or Need for Speed series will probably want to forego trying this deal out. This is a racing game for the sim racing fan who wants to be challenged in every possible way.

For someone who has never played iRacing, I think this game is a greatly formidable challenge. I'm actually even scared to play this game for two reasons- (1) though I consider myself a sim racer, this is WAY out of my league, and (2) it seems too intense for me to try to race this title. I'd probably stick to rFactor, and even sometimes, I'm not really a pro with rFactor. The fun factor is certainly there. Various leagues are set up to feature various styles of racing. And if you think you can go around wrecking other cars and not get away with it- two things. First off, the game DOES have realistic damage, so your car will suffer from any damage taken. iRacing is a fully-sanctioned deal as well. Since it's fully-sanctioned, you may likely face some penalties for rough driving and avoidable contact. This is NOT the game to go wreck cars. Save that for the Burnout and Forza Motorsport games.

--- iRacing: Cars and Tracks ---

The people at iRacing continually try to provide as many varieties of car and track. The one thing about iRacing is that it is not exclusively about road racing. For example, you can race machines like sprint cars and stock cars. The tracks are very meticulous in their detail. Many kinds of courses are offered to iRacing players ranging from ovals to road courses. Let's take a look at cars and tracks. All of the cars and tracks are items featured as of the date and time of this blog post.

I believe you can actually tune your car settings in iRacing. Just don't expect things like purchasing upgrades or dropping in a Stage 2 Turbo or Weight Reduction 3, though. I also believe you can change the paintscheme of your cars in iRacing. So you don't have to go with the iRacing red/white/blue liveries.

Cars.

Every car you can choose from is real. The various cars all help to expose players to multiple styles of cars and racing featured in iRacing. All cars have been meticulously-detailed based on actual specifications and features of cars featured in the game. Here is a look at some of the cars featured in iRacing:

* Chevrolet Impala SS (NASCAR Cup) stock car
* Chevrolet Impala SS (NASCAR Nationwide) stock car
* Chevrolet Silverado (NASCAR Trucks) stock truck)
* Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS NASCAR stock car
* Tour Modified car
* SK Modified car
* Ford '34 Coupe U.S. Legends Cars International
* Riley MKXX Daytona Prototype
* Ford Falcon Australian V8 Supercar
* Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
* Ford Mustang FR 500S
* Radical SR8 V8
* Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup car
* Mazda MX-5 Cup car
* Mazda MX-5 Roadster
* Pontiac Solstice race car
* Williams-Toyota FW31 F1 race car
* Dallara Indycar
* Lotus 79
* Star Mazda formula race car
* Skip Barber Formula 2000 race car
* C and R Racing Silver Crown Car
* Spec Racer Ford car

As of the date of this initial post (Dec. 16, 2010), a Sprint Car and Street Stock car are in the works to be added to the lineup of cars for iRacing.

Tracks.

Upon my visit to iracing.com in preparing this blog post, iRacing has over 44 tracks with 110 variations. These include oval courses and road courses. There are many tracks from around the world featured in this game. Each track has been faithfully re-created using laser cutting technology. So if a track is very bumpy at certain parts of the track, you will feel all those bumps as you race around the track. The majority of the courses (since iRacing is American) are either American or Canadian. There are no fictional tracks, no tracks with fictional names to avoid copyright issues- just real-world licensed tracks for you to race. Most of these are tracks that I have blogged about in my "Race Tracks" series of blog posts. Here are all the available tracks for iRacing users as of this blog post:

* Daytona International Speedway
* Indianapolis Motor Speedway
* Silverstone
* Watkins Glen
* Dover International Speedway
* Brands Hatch
* Mosport International Raceway
* Phillip Island Circuit
* Pocono Raceway
* Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
* Thompson International Speedway
* Circuit Park Zandvoort
* Bristol Motor Speedway
* Sebring International Raceway
* Charlotte Motor Speedway
* Road America
* Talladega Superspeedway
* Darlington Raceway
* Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* South Boston
* Texas Motor Speedway
* Phoenix International Raceway
* Michigan International Speedway
* Richmond International Raceway
* Atlanta Motor Speedway
* Martinsville Speedway
* The Milwaukee Mile
* Las Vegas Motor Speedway
* New Hampshire Motor Speedway
* Chicagoland Speedway
* Concord Speedway
* Homestead-Miami Speedway
* Stafford Motor Speedway
* Lanier National Speedway
* Oxford Plains Speedway
* Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
* USA International Speedway
* Road Atlanta
* Infineon Raceway
* Virginia International Raceway
* Lime Rock Park
* Barber Motorsports Park
* Summit Point Raceway
* Centripetal Circuit

Think that's a great assortment of tracks for iRacing? Check out what tracks are coming soon to iRacing: Oulton Park, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Oran Park (rest in peace...), Okayama International Circuit, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamp, Circuit Zolder, and Suzuka Circuit.

--- iRacing: Videos ---

Prepare to see iRacing in action. I have found videos on YouTube to help you to see what iRacing has to offer.

iRacing Explained by Leigh Diffey.

Leigh Diffey is one of my personal favorite announcers on the Speed Channel. Allow the Australian to tell you all about iRacing in this video:

Fast Lane Daily's Shakedown segment with Leo Parente as he Talks iRacing.

Leo Parente of Fast Lane Daily (and former racer) talks about iRacing in this video. This was the very first video where I've gotten great insight on iRacing. Check out his piece here:

Dale Earnhardt Jr talks about iRacing.

Wow. Imagine being able to go against actual pro drivers in a gaming environment. Let me give you an analogy- that would be like saying you slam dunked a basketball over LeBron James or Shaq.

Full iRacing Preview.

Have a lot of time on your hands (like 17 minutes)? If so, here is a video from Shaun Cole of the critically-acclaimed "Inside Sim Racing" giving you a full preview of iRacing: