Three Races in Eight Days
by: PattyKay Lilley
Yes, I probably should have written this yesterday, but instead I watched the race in Michigan. It was a good race as Michigan races have gone of late. Funny about that… I have always loved it when the gang raced at Michigan, a big, wide 2-miler with almost enough banking to make it perfect, but not quite. The only sight I like better than a 5-wide restart at Michigan is an 8-wide restart on the landing strip that poses as the front stretch at Pocono.
Lately though, the cars seem to string out much too fast and let’s face it, no one came to watch a parade. It occurs to me, rather belatedly I’m afraid, that ten years ago, I didn’t know the meaning of “aero push.” Now, it’s become a household word.
The race on Sunday wasn’t like that. Nor was the race on Saturday when the Nationwide bunch invaded Montreal and ran the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course there. As a matter of fact, neither was the previous Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State. (Beautiful in the summertime; to be avoided at all cost in the winter. I speak from long experience)
So what we have then are three races in eight days in which there was a lot of great racing to be seen, whether or not one approved or disapproved of the eventual victor in any given race. Ah yes, and therein lies the rub. During and after each of those races, I’ve closely observed the race fans and their reactions, seeking information for a “Voice For The Fans” column. Fans, I’ve have to tell you, you’ve been for the most part a colossal disappointment these past eight days.
Please, allow me to do some brief recapping… last week’s race at the Glen was a classic, giving us, the fans, more side by side racing, complete with short braking and just plain gutsy, bold and fantastic driving by several different racers than has been seen in I can’t remember when. Road courses tend to be tough on transmissions, rear ends and even engines, especially when in the hands of drivers that aren’t coordinated enough to turn right and shift at the same time.
Then came oilgate! With some three laps to go, a car later identified as the #47 of Bobby Labonte, but incorrectly noted as the #18 of Kyle Busch by the booth crew, began spraying a fine mist of oil while struggling to a 27th place finish. Cars commenced to slipping and sliding at several different track areas, almost in concert. Several minor fender-benders occurred before they reached the end of lap 90, but the only real damage was bruised feelings.
One competitor, Kyle Busch, took personal offense to having been bumped from behind by the sliding Blue Deuce of Brad Keselowski, and Jeff Gordon is still not on speaking terms with NASCAR for not waving the pretty yellow rag. In the end, it came down to what I found to be a rather hilarious game of bump me-bump you between #9 Marcos Ambrose, the pride of Tasmania and Keselowski in the #2. Marcos prevailed by virtue of having been the last NOT to be slid into by the other. C’mon fans; if you didn’t enjoy watching those two cars careen from the grass on one side, back to the grass on the other side for a full lap around Watkins Glen, on oil yet, your heart ain’t in it!
So what was it that we heard about from the fans for a solid week? First, a never ending debate on should they/shouldn’t they have thrown the caution flag. Heck, that one even got me a twitter mention from KP. Guess he didn’t agree with my assessment. We’re still friends though… I think. The other argument, surprisingly to me, does not concern any bumping or slip-sliding between Marcos and Brad.
Oh no, it’s all about Brad versus Kyle. I don’t get it. I love to watch both of those youngsters, and I do mean I love it! Those racers put on a great show every time they are given a chance. But some of you fans get unnecessarily UGLY about it. It’s a race. There can only be one winner, leaving 42 losers. It’s not worth shooting your neighbor over. Those two will be back at it the next week.
Moving to this past weekend, we saw the Nationwide cars at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on another road course. Fantastic! I love ‘em! This one came with a lot of media hype about the Patrick/Villeneuve conflict arising out of the race at Road America, where Patrick was vying for the lead on the last lap until summarily “removed” to a 12th place finish by Villeneuve who finished 6th. Qualifying added fuel to the flames as the two lined up next to each other in row two. And… it was all for naught, as they never touched each other, mostly because Jacques couldn’t catch her.
Patrick ran a good race that might have been great if it hadn’t been for intervention from above. No, not that kind; I’m sure He loves Danica as He loves all of us. No, this came in the form of a shoe, tossed from a walkover bridge I’m told. Patrick hit it square on with no way to avoid the foreign object on the track and something in her rear suspension did not take the blow well. She would eventually lose six laps while replacing an axle part on the left rear of her Go-Daddy #7.
Now gentle readers, I am usually the last person to put down a driver, but like every one of you I’ve heard from, I am about out of patience with the unpunished antics of one Jacques Villeneuve. I can well remember his Father, the one for whom the track in Montreal was named, Giles Villeneuve, and in all honesty I don’t recall him being a mean man at all. Jacques, on the other hand, seems to go out of his way to “eliminate” the competition, using his front bumper as a weapon of mass destruction.
On Saturday, Fate, or maybe it was NASCAR, took a hand in the matter. Cautions on that track, for a variety of reasons, seemed endless in duration, and the final caution was no exception. In fact, it was the Granddaddy of all cautions because it was in reality three of them strung together from lap 72 to lap 79. (Green/White/Checker) Interesting, as several cars, including that of Villeneuve, were running a two-stop race, which meant those cars were low on fuel and might not survive a G/W/C finish.
When the green finally came out and stayed out, Villeneuve led the race until his #22 stuttered and stumbled on the final lap. He was passed by Justin Allgaier and Sam Hornish and limped to a third-place finish when his engine apparently refired for a bit. It was a great race and fun to watch, save maybe for that shoe and the fact that we never heard that anyone had been detained for having pitched it off the bridge…Jerk! The best was yet to come though, when Allgaier turned a couple of doughnuts around the out of gas #22, with Villeneuve sitting inside watching the show. Yes, it was his country and the track was named for his Father, but sometimes you just have to smile when what goes around finally does come around.
And the fans here on the Internet were talking about what? It wasn’t Allgaier taking home the win, or Hornish finishing second. I did see a lot of comments about Villeneuve; one of them was complimentary and sympathetic; all the rest were not. The fans, for the most part, were talking about Danica, and while a few expressed sympathy, most found it hilarious that she was done in by a shoe. Shoe jokes were already blooming all over the Web by the time the checkers fell in Montreal.
The irony is that the reason she hit the shoe in the first place was because that was where she was… in first place… having led 20 laps to that point and looking for all the world as if she could sail away to the win. More irony is that despite how well she raced on both road course events, the fans seem never to want to cut the lady a break. Fans, I’d ask you to discount the obvious over-hype fed to you by some of my brethren and measure her success or failure on merit. No, she’s not the best driver on the track, but she’s far from the worst either. Her record against female drivers is stellar. A couple of months back, Jeff Gilder and I did a Tireside Chat together, discussing Danica. He lost of course, and despite promising to do another, has hidden from me ever since.
Regarding the race in Montreal, the guy I feel worst for is probably Justin Allgaier because even though he won the race, all you folks care to talk about is Jacques Villeneuve and Danica Patrick. Sorry, but I can’t help seeing something way out of balance there. Congratulations Justin! Someone out here thinks you did a great job in Montreal. It’s all about being in a “position to win”, and you were there. Nicely done!
And then there was Michigan! I know a lot of folks don’t much care for races at Michigan, but most are younger fans that have only seen it done with the COT. (Comical On Track) Once upon a time, cars could pass each other at Michigan. With several distinct racing grooves, I’ve watched some stellar racing at that old track, and it didn’t hurt that back in 1998, the Michigan race put me at a total for three races that put $2500 in my purse. Fantasy auto racing wasn’t always free, but I played anyway and always came out ahead. That year, I came out a lot farther ahead… and I didn’t play anymore.
For whatever reason… maybe the new pavement contributed… the Michigan races this year have both been pretty fine in my book, even though the cars still resemble pregnant roller skates. Maybe it has to do with the infinitesimal changes to the fender skirts that NASCAR so grudgingly allowed. (Kick ‘em up 4 or 5 inches, do the same to the front end and lose the splitter. Now we’re racing) Sunday’s race saw several cars enjoy the lead and were able to hold it for several laps, then be passed by a new leader. Did you hear that? Passed the leader? For you youngsters that don’t remember, that’s how races are won. It doesn’t have to be done in the pits.
This is one that NASCAR can truly brag about. Now, please figure out what it was Mr. Helton, and do it again.
The race had its share and more of cautions, of which only one was for debris. By far the most bizarre and scary of the bunch occurred at lap 65 when a bit of braking caused a couple of cars behind to come together at the bumpers. The result was that Mark Martin’s #55 spun wildly out of control, stopping only when the driver’s door slapped the blunt end of the pit wall…hard! Hearts of spectators either leapt or stopped, waiting for Martin to emerge from the car, and he did so, somehow unscathed.
Excuse me Mr. Helton, Mr. France, Mr. Pemberton or whoever… when a horrific accident such as that occurred at Pocono, Doc Joe fixed the problem before the next race. I hope we shall see that same sense of responsibility exercised at the Michigan track by ISC. Fix the wall or tear it down… and why is it not a SAFER barrier? Please repeat after me… every wall at every track HAS TO BE a SAFER barrier.
Along with cautions, another order of the day seemed to be blown engines, and predominantly Hendrick engines at that. The valve spring flu struck early in the #14 camp, relegating Smoke to a 32nd place finish. Next came Jeff Gordon, finishing a disappointing 28th, directly behind teammate Jimmie Johnson in 27th. Ah, but therein lies a tale. Jimmie’s engine held out until there were only five laps to go, and he was leading what proved to be his 23rd and last lap when it blew, oiling down the track in its wake.
That of course, brought about the final caution of the day and necessitated the always expected green/white/checker final two laps. After a spirited battle between Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski, the win went to Biffle, whose name I swear I never heard all afternoon, despite his having led 26 laps. Maybe in that light, I shouldn’t be surprised that the fans weren’t talking about Da Biff either. So, who were you talking about? There were two distinct conversations that predominated after the race…
The first was a slew of derisive comments about Jimmie Johnson. Huh? Shouldn’t we be a bit sympathetic toward a guy that had the car to win and appeared to be doing so, only to find himself benched five laps short of the finish? Apparently not. You see, Jimmie refused to be interviewed by whichever paparazzi member approached him with a mic. With only the words “No thanks” he quietly locked himself in his motor home and was not seen again. No interview was required of him, as he didn’t finish in the top five, something of which I’m sure he was quite award.
So who would be throwing rocks at Five-time for that? Kyle Busch fans, that’s who… demanding that the media “bash” Jimmie the way they feel that Kyle has been “bashed” for refusing to be interviewed. My only opinion there is “no comment”, so I guess you can speak ill of me as well. Jimmie did nothing wrong at all, and I have more love and respect for Kyle than any of you realize. Where’s the love for Greg Biffle? He won the race, remember?
The other conversation I have even less understanding of, as it wasn’t a conversation as much as it was an all-out flame war between fans of Brad Keselowski and fans of Kyle Busch. To all of you, I have to assume that you are still living at the Glen and fighting over that. I don’t recall those two getting into it Sunday with the exception of predictions made on RaceDay by still more of the dang media. My suggestion to you would be to put down your weapons. Next week we’ll be a Bristol Baby!
My bet is that media conversation will be divided between the latest soap opera about the Bristol pavement, which has been “levigated” to eliminate the upper groove… thereby spoiling a perfectly good race track (Hey, I get to have an opinion too, and I’ve got a column), and what they now see as the lingering “feud” between Kyle and Brad. In reality, those two will be just fine. They race together all year long, which makes them closer than most families. There is no feud there. No, the feud, complete with every nasty and derisive word I’ve ever heard, is between the fans of two racers. Guys and gals, that’s a shame.
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
Email: nas3car@etcmail.com
Twitter: @MamaPKL
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I can’t speak for every Kyle Busch fan, only for myself & those I interact with on Twitter. For us, it wasn’t a matter of hating on Johnson, the anger was directed at the so-called “professional” media members who show total bias while preaching fairness. I for one was taught long ago by my Grandma to “not talk out of both sides of my ass” & wish everyone was so blessed to have a Grandma just like her! In my opinion, if a media member is going to bash Kyle Busch for not talking, the same treatment should be shown to Johnson. Instead, every lame excuse was offered in defense of their coddling his huge ego. Sorry but that doesn’t fly with me.
PLEASE don’t interpret this as a call for mandating that every driver always be made to speak. In my opinion, if a driver feels he or she is best served by calming themselves, perhaps watching a replay &/or speaking with whoever might be at the root of their disdain before talkin, he or she should be allowed to do so.
That brings me to my final vent for the time being (bet y’all were wondering when I’d get off the soapbox as I’m commenting not writing an article of my own here LOL) which is really a rhetorical question. Why do so many “objective professionals” act like they’re paid PR (or anti-PR) agents?
When Kyle Busch talks, they bash him for his comments & say he should go the “no comment” route (also suggested for brother Kurt). Then when he does, he gets criticized for THAT. Either Busch brother answers a question sarcastically & some media act like they’ve been mortally wounded yet when Stewart does the same or worse, we’re treated to a round of “that’s just Tony being Tony.”
Likewise, Keselowski is praised for being so outspoken regardless of his rough language but heaven forbid if a less popular driver does the same.
Kurt Busch yells at his crew chief & he’s portrayed as some sort of monster yet Harvick gets crew chiefs fired at a pace reminiscent of Billy Martin (hopefully y’all have a working knowledge of baseball or that reference will make zero sense) & it’s barely a blip on the radar.
If the media members who are guilty of this behavior would remind themselves they are reporters not creators maybe a better relationship between the media & the drivers could be forged. We can only hope!
And good morning to you Judy. Thanks for taking the time to comment on my diatribe. Let me begin by saying that at no time, ever, do I state or imply that “all” of any designated group are guilty of whatever my topic might be. In referring to Kyle Busch fans, or Brad Keselowski fans, or even the media (which is a plural noun) I allude to a percentage of same, usually those that happen to cross my path or interrupt my nap. LOL Thank God there are exceptions in every case.
As far as my more vaunted and better paid brethren of motorsports journalism, yes, they can be as annoying as hell, and if warranted, I never hesitate to call one of them out. If you haven’t heard me say that I don’t care to be called a member of said media, but rather a “writer”, then you have now. However, you will probably find me and my offerings to be far more “objective and professional” than a large percentage of said media.
My understanding of my job is that I am here to offer opinions on all things race-related. it’s called commentary. CNN, FOX and all the rest can deal with the news… but they couldn’t handle what I do, and the FOX crew is a living example of that. Creating news is unacceptable in either field, news or commentary. The difference is that I TELL you all that it is only my opinion. Others tend to state things as though they are Biblical in origin and handed down to them on stone tablets. Phooey!
Follow racing for any time at all and you will see the “villain” change face quite often. I had to giggle at using Tony Stewart as an example of one that seems to get a pass for things he says and does. Hon, the media took Tony apart and served him up on toast for lunch not so very long ago.
Folks think I’m kidding when I say that I love them all. I’m not and I do. Every now and again, one of them might need a spanking, and I reserve the right to hand it out. It’s called tough love and does not mean I’ve stopped loving him; only that he was errant in something… in my opinion.
Still, I think my point was missed here. My complaint is that we watched what in my opinion were three races well above average in all categories, and no one mentions that. I’d so much rather hear folks saying what a good race it was, especially compared to the hundreds of stinkers we’ve seen in recent years. Last week, we got three in a row that were “stand up and yell” good… and the fans fight among themselves. Gotta make the drivers wonder why they’re out there doing it for us.
“every wall at every track HAS TO BE a SAFER barrier”
As he hit the end of the wall, I doubt a SAFER barrier would have helped. And it’s the pit wall! You can’t make that a SAFER barrier, guys would never be able to climb over it to change tires. I see it as one of those freak things like that lightning strike. You can’t account for every possibility, and racing will always be inherently more dangerous than baseball.
If you must, build a (higher) perpendicular wall that runs down the access road so that a spinning car can’t get behind or over the pit wall, and a broadside hit on that will likely hurt less than what Martin experienced.
As for the perceived feuds and fan’s mis-direction to what matters, I think that the media fuels that to some degree. It’s a lazy way to attract viewers and web hits. In addition, we have 24/7 access to the world through blogs, cellphones, twitter, texts etc. We’d all be better off if there were a one-hour time delay imposed on all communications. It would allow
our adrenaline to ramp down before asking us if we really want to send.
My long-winded comments help me in this regard. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve responded to an article and changed my mind before hitting ‘Send’.
Andy, you won the first thing in the morning lottery. I’m answering your question first. The location of that blunt-ended wall is ON pit road as was Mark’s spinning car. I’ve never been to the Michigan track, but others have explained that it is at a gateway from pit pow to the garage area. Maybe not the most likely place to be hit, but dang it, we hear that every time a driver is darn near killed by finding yet another unprotected place to smack.
In the article I referred to a wreck at Pocono. That occurred when Elliott Sadler found one of those new and different spots, and plunging full speed ahead into a solid bank of Pennsylvania dirt. The hit was so violent it literally ripped the engine OUT of his car. The dirt bank became history immediately and is now protected by the SAFER barriers.
Without physically studying the area myself, I cannot definitely offer a method for fixing, but I do know that ANYTHING at ANY track can and should be SAFER protected. If they have to move or alter the configuration of the way the wall meets the pavement, so be it. There are architects and engineers that make an enviable living doing that.
There is no such thing a “can’t. There is only “won’t because it costs too much.” My point is that the cost of one life is far more than the tiny dent that would be made in the ISC budget just to make sure it’s safe.
I have made those barriers what seems like a life-long study, though it truth it only goes back to the ’90s. They are hands down the greatest lifesaving device ever to come to auto racing, and I say that with no discredit to the HANS device, which came to NASCAR for the same lamentable reason as did the SAFER system, the death of Dale Earnhardt.
Every time I see something like Mark’s accident, or Elliott’s or any of the others that have defied the logic of man and gotten around, over, or through something to arrive at a spot thought inaccessible, I die a little inside, thinking what might have been. In short… which I never am… I won’t accept the idea that it is impossible to protect a spot with the SAFER system. It can, and should be done. One cannot put a price on life. Thanks for taking the time to comment.:)
I’ll say we need SAFER Barriers at Short Tracks, Dirt Tracks and Dragstrips,too and I don’t understand why Short Track USA is so reticinecent to hold out on SAFER. I know this is not 100 Percent Related to the Topic, but, in time, we will have all walls SAFER.
Tony, I wish that I could live long enough to see that happen. I don’t know how long you have followed my writings, but I have been a fan and strong proponent of the SAFER system for many years, beginning long before it appeared at Indy in 2002. I guess we have to understand that small local tracks in most cases simply don’t have the funds to erect those walls, but that in itself is a shame.
Every time we lose a driver, it hurts my heart knowing that in all probability, SAFER would have given us a different outcome. It is always about money. I’d love to see NASCAR, maybe in concert with IndyCar, ARCA and/or Grand-Am create some sort of matching funds deal with smaller tracks. That could save lives and broaden the talent base of up-coming drivers all at once. I doubt that will happen in our lifetime, but it’s a nice thought, isn’t it?
I have two comments.
Ricky Craven must be deeply in love with Danicant. Even Jarrett doesn’t fawn over her that much.
Busch got screwed, plain and simple at the Glen. Now Keselowski is trying to make nice. If Kyle isn’t in the Chase and accidently bumps Kes into a wall in a Chase race I will laugh my butt off. Kes has been making alot of speeches lately and now I believe that he is completely full of himself.
Ah, Steven my luv, where have you been so long? You must be terribly upset with me today. You didn’t even take time to call me “KattyPay.”
From the tone of you comment, you must be the person to whom I wrote. So… allow me to take you apart, bit by bit. I promise to be gentle. LOL
First, Ricky Craven is one of, if not THE best commentator on the air these days when it comes to racing. He has been there, done that and speaks from experience without ever bragging or boasting. In the case of the race in Montreal, it would be difficult for a commentator NOT to praise the leader of the race, and she led for 20 long laps. Would you somehow advocate that he ignore that because she is a “she?” Does not compute…
Second, there was no screwing at the Glen except possibly by the #47 car. Have you ever driven a race car? Ever tried to do it on oil? Ever driven on black ice? The effect is the same. Brad SLID into Kyle in the same manner that Marcos SLID into Brad. Behind all that, someone SLID into Jeff Gordon. Oil can and will do that for you.
I would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kyle making it a three-way slide job through that last lap or more, but it wasn’t to be on that given Sunday. The fantastic display of on the edge of control racing put on by both Ambrose and Keselowski was the best racing we have seen in YEARS, not weeks or months but years!
Again, my point is that THAT should be the water-cooler conversation, not how much some fans hate the other driver. Speaking for myself, I could not enjoy racing or be a fan or it if my heart were full of hate and venom. Do yourself a favor. Learn to love the race, and you’ll automatically find yourself loving the drivers that run it for you. God bless you Sunshine.
I’m not one to put a lot of faith into omens but if I were Mark Martin I would consider hanging up my driving suit for good this week. That has to be the scariest wreck I have ever seen. Another six to ten inches to the front and Mark would be gone.
Good morning Jerry. Thanks for stopping by to comment, and you are correct. That could have been yet another costly wake-up call for racing in general. I spoke at length about it with Andy earlier this morning. Please refer to my thoughts and feelings there. Not up to doing all that again. LOL
I’d prefer to think that was not God’s way of warning Mark, but rather His way of saying, “This is how much I love you.” Mark is of an age when he will be leaving us soon enough, darn it, but even past 50, he is still racing with the best, and well might have won that race, had it not been for that unfortunate incident, which was not of his doing.
Aside from that Mrs.Lincoln, how did you like the play?
There was great racing all weekend at Michigan, Montreal and the weekend before at The Glen. I will never understand why grown people who call themselves journalists or reporters insist on trying to stir up the drivers and fans. Seems like a lot of them thrive on that sort of thing. When the bias or inaccuracy comes out most of the time, I try to say to say to myself, ‘consider the source’. Unfortunately, most people can be swayed by what they hear others say and few people stop and think before stating their own opinion which is usually a variation of someone elses.
Danica did a great job as did Justin and then Marcos. Yet, becasue of either over reporting or under reporting, most people watching never really grasp the real story of the actual race and racing by a lot of the drivers. I just wish people could put their hatred and/or love of certain drivers aside and really appreciate the skill of some of the drivers. Even if I don’t like someone (Kyle for instance), that boy can drive and handle a race car!
Thanks, PK for allowing us to add our ’2 cents worth’.
Thanks for taking the time to post that Vivian. You, dear lady, are one of the few that “gets it.” “It” is all about the race! How many times over how many years have you heard me rail on about the difference between the race and the show? If someone wants a “show”, go to a dang theater and watch one. Conversely, change the channel to TCM or such, and watch a show there.
When you want to watch a race, do so. It’s not so much about who wins. As I said, there can only be one per race. Try watching the race as a whole. Once one learns to do that, you will find there is all manner of interaction happening. Sadly, trusting your TV to show you any of it is another problem. MRN does a far better job of relating what is happening at all parts of the track, and Barney’s boys don’t tend to talk much about themselves. They talk about the race.
If we could all view a race with as much excitement and anticipation as some of us “old” folks do, there would be a whole new appreciation of the sport born. Lord knows, I keep trying to share it because I dearly do want to pass on my love of racing to the younger ones. If we can’t do that, then racing will die a slow death as our generation fades into the sunset.
Watching Mark’s wreck there were so many things that could have happened and it makes no sense that either the track or NASCAR using simple common sense couldn’t have anticipated. If after hitting that blunt end of the wall the car had spun any other way than it did, how many crew members would have been hurt or worse? How could someone not see that the crews on either side of that opening could at any time become targets? Why couldn’t someone see that adding 10-15-20 feet to the wall into the garage area would be a simple fix to prevent any possible harm? It doesn’t require another safer barrier, just a Jersey barrier firmly affixed in place. Hasn’t it been proven to NASCAR and the tracks that if something can happen, at some point it will? But NASCAR continues on it’s merry reactive instead of proactive way. What has been the cost of that method? Insert the list of lost lives here! We were very fortunate that Mark walked away from that Sunday.
As for the Glen, who is to say that Bobby Labonte even knew he was putting down a FINE SPRAY of oil on the track? He is certainly not the caliber of driver that would do that if he knew it. As for the KB/BK conversation; they and Marcos had the same conditions to work with. The track was oily, so what? It was the same for everyone, kind of makes it all fair doesn’t it? Ever seen a caution thrown for ruts and potholes on a dirt track? These drivers are supposed to be the best and yet seem to be the worst at any unplanned adversity. Brad and Marcos made a hell of a race even with the adversity, they were thrilled, we were thrilled, ain’t that what racin should be?
A shoe messed up a hundred thousand dollar race car, a road course car that is built super tough? At best that’s a major stretch for anyone. Thank goodness it wasn’t a Dutch shoe, would have wiped out half the field for sure!!!
Yes, whoever tossed it was a jerk, a major jerk. But to blame that for Danica’s demise? Only with Danica could that be a story! 
As for the villageidiot (JV), NASCAR couldn’t see or hear what he did to move Tagliani? We saw the hit, we heard him throttle through to complete the push, and NASCAR did nothing? Chalk another one up in the inconsistency that is NASCAR’s MO! The only credibility NASCAR has anymore is in it’s inconsistency!
Good afternoon Mr. Clause. You’re late today, and upset to boot. I am happy to report that NASCAR and the track manager at Michigan, whose name I’m too dang lazy to look up right now, are already studying possible and feasible “fixes” to the area in question. Walt, thank you for knowing that it was NOT the pit wall that he hit, but the garage access wall. I cannot tell you how many folks I have heard saying that a pit crew can’t jump over a SAFER barrier. And your point would be?
Actually, it would have been safer (No caps) all around if it HAD been the pit wall. No one is working just the other side of it. There were workers just the other side of the one he did hit, and I’ve heard reports that one worker, I believe from the #5 team, was dinged by a tire as he spun into the wall and bounced off. Far too close for comfort, for far too many people, not the least of which was Mark, who could easily have been impaled by that jutting wall. Even if the wall had been wider, it would have been better. He still would have hit it, but it wouldn’t have hopped on board through a door that did not exist.
Back to the Glen, I never said Bobby knew it was spraying oil. In fact, I’m quite sure he did not know. Bobby, bless his heart, is the sort that would have pulled off had he known. No one was sure where it was coming from, least of all the ESPN booth crew, who told the world it was Kyle Busch leaking oil. That alone probably helped to give birth to some of the belly aching heard after the race.
Walt, I’m betting you will agree with me on this one. I’d have rather seen Kyle not bumped and put back a few places, and had it play out as a bump and run free-for-all between all THREE of them. Brad and Marcos put on a wonderful display of talent but Kyle is their equal and it would have been the race of the century had he been there with them all the way.
I’m not even going to comment on your words about shoegate except to tell folks that I know you are joking. She was the fastest car in the race until her car was quite literally kicked in the arse by a shoe. It was a connecting part in the left rear axle that her team said they replaced. It wasn’t broken before the shoe, but that car was obviously dragging tail right after the shoe. Hey, if it walks like a shoe and it smells like a shoe, by gosh, it probably IS a shoe. LOL
I’m not sure what the fascination that NASCAR seems to have for JV is all about. I’d wager that if his name were Robby Gordon, things in at least the last three races he’s run would have been done differently. Still, they did allow for a record-length trio of rapid cautions at the end, knowing that he would probably run out. And he did… I try never to sound vindictive regarding a driver, but I did in this case stoop to, “What goes around, comes around.” There is a whole lot of that saying showing up around the Internet today.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. You do know that I encourage comments because I like to answer, don’t you? I don’t think I’m fooling anyone. ~LOL
Patty Kay, I didn’t mean to imply that you stated that Bobby knew he was spraying oil. Not at all. It was just a comment aimed at all those that seem to be dumping so hard on Bobby.
I will argue with you on the KB thing.I’m not at all sure had Kyle been part of that finish that it would have been near as good. My opinion is that we saw two racers having an extreme amount of fun with neither having the mentality, at that moment, of knocking the other out. There were opportunities for both to do that and both chose not to do so. I just can’t believe that kyle would have been of that mindset. What we ended up with was a racing finish between two racers that chose to race and not at all costs. Had Kyle been in close at the end I have no doubt that either of the two would have been dumped if the opportunity presented itself. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen that much respect at the finish of a race and an even longer time since we’ve seen the second place finisher so eager and happy to congratulate the winner. Kyle could not have improved that finish.
Oh, you are probably right, but it sounded good when I wrote it. The point was that I really like them all and hate to see the infighting among the fans. Still think the Glen was the best race in about forever, and not just at the finish, which was stellar, but all the way through. Lots of good racing went on that day. Lord, I love the road courses; especially that one!
Patty Kay, OMG, I made a right? You didn’t win a bet? OMG! This is a red letter day for old clausie! I will cherish this day cause it might be my only win!!!! I’m almost as happy as Brad and Marcos!!!!
:):) Walt
Don’t let it go to your head. I’m not always a witch. Sometimes I am wrong, but those times are seldom… and I don’t take losing lightly. Be thankful there was no bet. LOLOLOL
I don’t wish to be impolite, but I think that some are offering knee-jerk solutions and we need to review the possibilities in depth. I believe that NASCAR will do that, and do so without dragging their feet as they have in the past. Their safety record has been criticized, but many things like HANS, closed helmets and improved seats had been available to the drivers for more than a decade before 2001. They share the blame.
I had prepared a longer response, but this site is generally a pleasant place to visit and I don’t want to start dirtying it up. Few of us here have any power to implement our proposals, so it’s just potentially inflammatory talk that’s best directed at someone who can do something.
However, I will add this point. SAFER barriers cost a million dollars per mile to install. For a Saturday night bullring, installing them inside, outside and various other ares would be a huge cost. I don’t disagree that it would be much safer, but tracks are struggling to pay the bills as it is. That’s just installation, you’ve got to pay to fix them also. Cup tracks have fewer races and thus fewer occasions to need to repair. Although nobody wants to admit it, the spectators are in much more danger than the drivers at a short track these days.
Andy, I would say that you are anything BUT impolite. Your responses are well through out and offered respectfully. What more could one ask for? I tend to agree with the “knee-jerk” reactions which always occur when a near-death experience, or worse, occurs. I really have not seen that this time, save for a few fans that want to blame NASCAR for the accident in some way. Face it; they exist and they call themselves “fans.”
You and I are not well acquainted that I know of, so I will tell you that I was an avid fan of the late Dale Earnhardt and remain heartbroken to this day over his loss. However, and this might differentiate me from many you know, I have always willingly acknowledged his faux pas in refusing to wear a full-faced helmet OR HANS device. I’ve always found it ironic that the two drivers in that fatal wreck in 2001 not wearing full-faced helmets were Dale and Ken Schrader.
Add to that the fact that it is highly suspected though not proven, that he himself may have altered the 5-point harness to render it more comfortable for his driving position. Dale very well might have contributed to his own demise… but that in no way exonerates NASCAR for attempting to pin the entire blame on Bill Simpson… another topic for another day perhaps.
I am more aware than you know of the cost of SAFER barriers which is why I opined to another reader that though I would love to see them at the smaller tracks, that would probably not occur in my lifetime. I don’t believe that you and I are in disagreement at all.
What I would like to thank you for is your respect and positive comments regarding this board. I sincerely hope it will always remain a place where quiet and intelligent conversation can take place between all of us without disintegrating into the mess we see in so many places. I have warned off a few, explaining that it is within my power to refuse any poster and/or erase any post that does not observe the unspoken guidelines here.
Like you, folks come and they like what they see and behave accordingly. That sort of open exchange with readers and race fans has been my dream for many years and RacersReunion has given me the opportunity to see that dream come true. Thanks for being a part of my dream. You are welcome anytime.
Dear Mom thanks for posting and sorry I am so slow but while I agree with you I also suggested in the early 70′s that the forward walls at these tracks needed a barrier at the entrance of the garage and pit entrances. This would cost no more than $2000.00 per entrance and could save a life or two. This same instance nearly got T. Taylor Warren killed at Daytona a few years back. Back when I suggested this idea it would not have cost more than $500.00 each and Billy Jr thought I was nuts. It will take a crewman or spectator or a writer to be injured or killed before they act on this. Just my opinion.
And a most respected opinion it is Mike. The thought didn’t escape me that some sort of barrier… sand bags or water barriers even… should be in place at the end of any such abruptly ending wall. In fact, it was my ASSumption that they were. I see them at other tracks. Yes, they tend to make a mess when struck, but the can and do prevent something of the magnitude we saw on Monday. I would say the mess is worth it.
Since repaving, Michigan has become one of our high-speed tracks, along with Texas and Atlanta… the ones that I keep praying will NOT see restrictor plates in my lifetime. What we saw cannot be allowed to happen again. It took the death of Mike Ritch to get a speed limit on pit road, and the death of Dale Earnhardt to get the soft walls erected and the already existing HANS device and full-face helmet made mandatory for all.
Do they learn quickly. No, not at all, but I keep hoping Mike. I keep hoping.