That banking isn't as impressive as I had imagined. I expected towering walls of banking like Monza. That's more like running in a drainage ditch. Still looks like fun though (and good practice for earning a Darlington stripe). It looks impossible to pass in the bottom groove with virtually no banking, and you couldn't straddle the line.
Sixty-two degrees of banking must have been awesome! NASCAR only runs about 33-36. I tried to Google the angle at Brooklands and Monza but was unsuccessful. However, I did find a place in Spain called Sitges-Terramar that had about sixty degrees. They had a problem with a lack of passing in the turns because people didn't want to break the draft.
That's a Chevy Laguna S3, an ordinary Chevelle with "race-ified" body panels. A precursor to the Monte Carlo Aero-coupe. I think the #2 is a Monte Carlo, I'm guessing Bobby Allison driving for Roger Penske.
It's true that Indycar has had problems for at least two decades. But through much of it's history it was not owner-controlled. When it was, it did fantastically well, had good races and attracted F1 stars like Emerson Fittipaldi and Nigel Mansell.
It was also too posh for the people who grew up watching open wheel racing. Similar to how NASCAR seems to be abandoning its roots. Eventually the owners became too focused on themselves instead of the sport. When Tony George formed a competitor and took Indianapolis with him, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The Daytona 500 is important, but the Indy 500 is the largest motorsports event in the world.
So I had hopes that they were finally turning things around. The Indycar board swore that they were not going to sell the series to Tony George again, and as recently as Friday said that Randy Bernard had a job today and in the future.
I think most will agree that Brian France is no Big Bill, or Bill Jr. It is difficult to determine how much of NASCAR's rise is due to his leadership and how much derives from the collapse of open wheel in America. The Formula 1 event in New Jersey has been cancelled, which lessens the possibility of them getting a stronghold over here. The uncertainty of Indycar removes a great deal of pressure from Brian. NHRA seems to operate in another plane and has rarely threatened any form of oval racing. Which effectively puts Brian France at the head of a monopoly with little need to cater to fans.
If Formula 1 had been able to pull of two races and Indycar mounted a strong season, NBC Sports may have provided formidable competition and Fox would have had to up their game. NBC may have even tried to capture some of ESPN's NASCAR business. But now with two series that aren't doing well in the US, they're less likely to pick up more racing. It's like politics. Without at least two strong parties, everything begins circling the drain.
Randy Bernard stepped down as CEO of IndyCar on Sunday, bringing an end to a three-year reign that was disrupted this season by several attempts by team owners to have him ousted as head of the series.
I know that this is a NASCAR forum, but I'm a fan of all racing. The Indycar series was gaining momentum with Randy Bernard in charge and I was hoping that their continued success would spur NASCAR into better decisions in an effort to remain in the lead. I can only see this recent news as holding back both Indycar and NASCAR from better management decisions.
Didn't you folks get snow for Halloween last year?
Looking at the latest forecasts, they think it will turn West much earlier than had been indicated earlier today. Looks like it's going to miss NYC and New England and barrel directly into Delmarva. I think they're over-hyping things a bit now, but it likely will be a bad Category 2 storm. I remember when I lived in Connecticut that all of the frightful hurricane forecasts were just bluster to get you to watch the 11 o'clock news. There hasn't been a bad one up there since 1955.
All of those top 50 from 1998 should be in the hall TODAY. There are two or three in the list that seem to be pandering to the then current fans, but I'll let them pass.
It may be too early for the next 50, but it's been fifteen years since that list. We ought to be able to come up with at least seven to add. I would definitely add Stewart, and you have to add Jimmy Johnson. JJ may not be universally loved, and the chase may be a crock, but I don't see anyone else racking up even two in a row.
I'm not ready to pull the trigger on Kenseth although I respect him a great deal and would have liked him to win the championship this year.
I still believe in Kyle, but it's too soon for him as well.
I think Harvick gets by on sentiment as the successor to Dale. He wouldn't make my list. Likewise, I haven't bought into the Kahne hype.
Jeff Burton is very good but I'd take his brother first because I like the way Ward talks.
Keselowski looks like a candidate, as do Hamlin and Cousin Carl. And nobody's mentioned Junior yet? It won't be me.
It surprises me that few names have arisen since 1998. A few I thought to add (Martin, Labonte) are already on the old list.
