11 replies to this topic

[DE38]

Anybody watching the Texas race? Some great racing. A lot of people talk about F1 and I am a fan, but this series kicks butt, 220+ mph

[MattD]

I turned it on just a minute ago.  I'm really surprised at the lack of fans at the track.   I saw a few minutes of the truck race last nite.  At least I tried to watch the last 7 laps, but the cautions and Michael Waltrip wore me out and I turned it off.  I'm not sure they had even 300-500 fans there last nite.    Indy cars has close racing and still not a great live fan base.   

 

Maybe auto racing is destined to become some kind of second tier sport.   I guess we have seen racing at it's peak.

 

I do hate the looks of the cars the last 40 years!

 

[MG Brown]

I felt very bad for Robert Wickens after his tangle with Ed Carpenter on lap 173. Terrible ending for a great drive.

[MattD]

Carpenter did own up to it and said it was his fault.   No dodging the question or blaming the car, he said he just did not leave room and that he should have.

In the other wreck the driver at fault also took the blame and admitted he made a mistake.   Refreshing!

[A. J. Hoyt]

I actually like the way they look this year. The lines are very swoopy and balanced looking. Just when I was getting used to the "fendered" cars of last year.

[DE38]

Carpenter did own up to it and said it was his fault.   No dodging the question or blaming the car, he said he just did not leave room and that he should have.

In the other wreck the driver at fault also took the blame and admitted he made a mistake.   Refreshing!

 

I agree, it is very refreshing.

Wickens is some driver, I can see a championship in his future.

[Uncle Fred]

They actually give away tickets for this race.

[A. J. Hoyt]

Did anyone else see the GM executive, Mark Ruess, stuff that uber Corvette pace car in the first turn out of the pits at the Belle Isle, MI race? He still had the rear tires spinning forward while pile-driving it into the inside wall head first! I saw lots of replays but didn't see an air bag deploy! Good thing they had another Corvette ready for just such a circumstance!

 

The TV commentary guys first announced that Oriol Servia was driving the pace car as it happened. When a very tall person got out of the car, the announcers correctly outed who the driver was as well as their surprise. I figured he was a GM executive who pulled rank on the more experienced driver thinking his background of test driving production cars made him more than qualified for the job of driving a (version that is, in most ways, race car level) Corvette at 1/3 racing speed on a street circuit.

 

Until I hear differently (like something broke on the car when he punched it), I will (cynically) continue to assume that is the case. Just to be fair, I'm not saying I or anyone I personally know could have done any better! I just think he was trying to impress the other guy in the passenger seat!

 

Interesting to note that the TV announcers got all politically correct and, thereafter, identified him as a special guest driver.

[MattD]

I read on a Indy car forum that the guy driving was a VP  or other top level GM guy and that he had been thru the training to drive the pace car, evidently anybody driving it has to go to some sort of drivers school before they can get in one of these cars.      Guys familiar with the track said where he spun there is some type of bump in the road and even Indy drivers sometime hit the gas at the wrong time and have wrecked at this spot.    At least that is what I read.   

 

If I was the driver, I would not have gone to work for a week or so.

[bbr]

I remember a day at streets of willow spring, an employee appreciation day for the Nissan 300zx imsa team, and some Nissan executive stuff a street version of the car into the wall.

Never under appreciate how difficult it is to drive a car at speed.

[Uncle Fred]

How true.  

 

I remember a day at streets of willow spring, an employee appreciation day for the Nissan 300zx imsa team, and some Nissan executive stuff a street version of the car into the wall.

Never under appreciate how difficult it is to drive a car at speed.

 

I am sure Mr. Reuss got a little over excited and over confident anticipating the start underestimating the horsepower on tap.  That being said, I am sure he is far enough up the ladder at GM to minimize the "Crash Ruess" catcalls on Monday morning.

 

In the mid 90's I worked for a Porsche dealer.  Our top salesman told me that the 930 Turbos were referred to as "Doctor Slayers"!  

[NSwanberg]

In the mid 90's I worked for a Porsche dealer.  Our top salesman told me that the 930 Turbos were referred to as "Doctor Slayers"!  

 

OUCH!