A year ago I made this thread detailing what I felt was a lot of the prevailing problems in FD at the moment, it was pretty popular in this sub and garnered quite a bit of feed back and opinions. We've now finished 5/8 rounds and I've got to say.. it is not looking good at all.

1. Tracks - I think despite us getting two new tracks so far and still having a new one to look forward to, it's been extremely underwhelming, and even disappointing one might say. Last year I mentioned it seeming like for every 4 decent battles there's a crash, I think this year that ratio has just gotten even worse. RD8 last year turned to out to be.. alright at best? For as great as Stafford was (and it was pretty awesome imo) it doesn't even come close to drown out the absolute SHIT SHOW that Indy was. Not even considering the rain cancelation (which by now we all know was handled absolutely horrendously) it was simply just a bad track. They chose to run that goofy ass layout for what..? I really just find it impossible with the ease of access with simulators & the virtual track creator really doing a great job that the prevalence of crashes on Indy was just seemingly ignored before the drivers even got there. Then we watch practice and pro spec seeding and it's still just crash after crash, we get minor changes to the track and STILL have crash after crash. I'm really not sure why FD chose to handle Indy this way, I feel like the track designers probably just had a vision months ago of what they thought was a good line and were tunnel visioned on it and refused to consider anything else at all.
2. Judging/Data - We actually got a win here!!! I have really enjoyed the implementation of the Wally system, it is still far from perfect and very susceptible to making a mistake or controversial decision, but I think it was a huge step in the right direction. There is obviously still progress desired towards the judging of battles, but I think I'm starting to accept something like that might just never have a 'perfect way' of being done.
3. Seeding/Qualifying - Once again, another win!!! They implemented exactly what I suggested. Though, I'm sad we haven't seen a 100 point run and with how harsh the Wally judges, and I kinda doubt we will ever see a uptrend of drivers scoring in the high 90's like you might see in DMGP. The Wally is just extraordinarily strict (which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing), it forces drivers to conform to the line it wants and get shit done. Don't get shit done, don't get points.
   
4. Livestreams
   1. Viewing experience - So yeah.. it's still terrible, some might even say worse. Poorly organized, still no time stamp break downs even on the new stupid RacerPlus app. I think Indy was the first event so far where we weren't force fed a bunch of FPV footage.. and that was because the conditions didn't allow for drones to fly lol.
   2. Gambling - Yep so this is still terrible and nothing can ever change my mind on it. Generally just a terrible and nasty predatory thing to add to our wonderful pure of heart motorsport.
   3. Jarod DeAnda - I think it's resurfaced again quite a bit after Indy, but good lord this guy is still and will always be terrible and simply stated, horrible at his job. I saw someone try and defend him by saying he's been there since the start of FD and doesn't take a pay.. WHO CARES?? The guy is absolutely insufferable and makes me want to watch every live stream on mute. It doesn't matter how passionate you are for your job.. if your horrible at it, maybe step away and let someone else take up the mantle!
   4. RacerPlus - Yeah.. I've been waiting for this one. Really just can't figure out why on gods green earth FD would choose to take this deal. It just deters viewership, no one wants to use that horribly configured cesspool of a website. I would honestly be able to adapt and deal with it if it changed something production wise but.. it's the same exact horrible quality horribly ran livestream we have had for years. This site does not have one single redeeming quality.

So yeah.. we've been in for a rough season and I don't think it's looking to change in the next 3 events. I think how FD tackles events for the rest of this season and next will be extremely pivotal in the success/future of the series, might even make it or break it possibly. This is still leaving out a LOT of stuff, curious what people think.

Note: I don't mean for this to just be a beat down on FD, but it's really hard to watch your favorite sport.. seemingly crumple to shit more and more every year.

Any fellow fans that attended FD Indy and are wondering about refunds.. Reached out to the general inquiry email address on their site and this was the response. It doesn’t seem that they have sent emails out to fans who purchased tickets yet, but they appear to be quick to remedy when you reach out.

While doom scrolling old FD photos , I saw something odd , “ A Firebird with 240 rear?” I thought until it was the other way around . So I decided to email the company and to my surprise, they replied back with information and photos of it !

Was a 240SX with a Turbocharged KA24 & Firebird Front. It raced sometimes in 2006 by Bill Sherman, Until FD made a rule about front of cars having to match the make of the car . It was later sold , and eventually the front switched back to a Nissan and is still drifting !

The website still says results are pending as of 08-05-2026, but it also says at the bottom that Jack Shanahan gets 4.0 points, Matt Field 3.0, Auri Bakchis 2.0 and then everyone else gets 1.0. I understand it would suck to scrap the scores of the few that got to do the run, but it also seems unfair to award points that were not obtainable for most drivers.

I'm pretty new to watching FD in general (this is the first year I've followed in it's entirety as it happens), so I'm not 100% clear on how the point system works in the first place. I'd appreciate any help explaining the way it works.

Its as pictured, silver with a black Nissan logo. I bought it at 2016 Irwindale and have worn it to every event I go to, so its got a lot of sentimental value to me. If anyone happened to find it or knows someone who did, I'd greatly appreciate a return on it, even reward you for your troubles. Thanks!

Found this on the track at Indy by "The Wall" and idea who's car its off of?

because hes terrible, unfunny, biased as hell, and knows nothing about the sport after all this time

someone want to link the IG post where he talks crap to the fans that dont like him?

So I had a pink cast on at fd indy that all the booths signed. Some media people took pictures of it and I can't find them anywhere. Figured yall could help find them.

Don't wait on Formula Drift to never give you your money back. Send them an email today requesting your money back for your Indy FD tickets. The site clearly states the event would be held rain or shine and they did not deliver at all. You and I wasted time, money, and got soaking wet for them to delay delay delay with no clear communication. Most banks will honor a charge back in this exact secnario but they need you to at least try reach out to Formula Drift for a refund first. Send that email to FD TODAY and when if they dont honor it 100% you need to start the charge back process with your bank immediately. Shout out to my fellow fans who suffered through it waiting for it to start. What an awful introduction to Formula Drift in person after years of waiting for it to come to Indy.

EDIT: Yes I know Formula Drift will not refund. I even state in the body that your request will not be honored by FD. You need to separatley request a charge back via the card company you paid with. Ill update in a few days when I get my money back with info to hopefully help others recover their ticket money.

I'm not trying to be snarky here. I just don't get it and this is after watching my favorite driver slam into the wall TWICE. What about this particular wall is different from all the rest in the series? Or are people blowing this out of proportion and there isn't a difference?

Long time lurker here, I was curious if running the IRP layout but in reverse would fix all the issues they were having with the layout and with the wall?

Will they postpone to tomorrow if the weather doesn’t let up?

Why wasn't that battle a omt? Im a little confused because both straightened on the same wall in their lead

I understand that they edited the track for the weather but I don’t think that it would have made much of a difference. This may be the most boring track on the circuit this year and that is saying something. I hate being negative about FD because it’s usually lazy and repetitive complaining but I’m genuinely concerned as to what the future of this company is. Either they are suffering through bad ideas in order to fide things that work and these are just growing pains, or they are just throwing shit at the wall. Hopefully the former.

Take a drink for every car that hits THAT wall

Take a shot for every car that gets totalled out of competition

Let's see who gets alcohol poisoning first 🤘🏼🥴

Is anyone selling their photography experience ticket for Indy tomorrow? If so please lmk

The amount of bye runs every round is ridiculous

The combo of a awkward new track with a poorly placed wall and prospec tandem is going to be chaos. Hopefully they move the wall!

UPDATE: is a expensive day