‘In Your Face’

Let me first and foremost say congrats to Danica Patrick for her first IRL win. I and all other Danica fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Way to go!
As for the cracks that have been made about Danica being called the “Anna Kournikova of the IRL,” in your face!
Maybe now you will call her the “Maria Sharapova of the IRL.” Let’s face it, people, the girl can drive and looks damn good doing it. I look forward to seeing Danica win many more races, and I never doubted her for a second. Good win, Danica!

What’s Up With Jeff?

This season it seems that the cars provided for Jeff Gordon are not, in some cases, on par with the other Hendrick Motorsports team cars. We hope this is not done purposefully.
I’ve been a Gordon follower since his high school days at IRP. He probably has become a more serious thinker since becoming a parent. But, as we all know, with mechanical devices, stuff happens.

Weight Not Taken Lightly

Your April 2 article, “IndyCar Series Rule Change, Lightweight Danica Miffed,” does not explain how the rule change would equalize variations in drivers’ weights, but I agree with Danica that the rule is unfortunate and unfair.
Auto racing is the only physical sport I know of where women and men compete in the same events. This is very much to the sport’s credit and something the sport should do everything it can to encourage. Clearly, it should not go out of its way to deprive women of whatever natural advantages they might bring to the track.
Is this a subject on which National Speed Sport News might take an editorial stand?

‘Special’ Times

Remember when race cars were called, “Special?” Why? Because they really were.
We had the Agajanian Special, the Dean Van Lines, Bardahl, Belond Exhaust,  Wynn’s Fricton Proofing and the Novi specials — just to name a few. Race cars were special because they were different and unique, not all out of the same cookie-cutter mold. The only difference today seems to be in the paint scheme and decals. Each year, we eagerly looked forward to the latest creative designs, but, of course, that was before innovation was considered to be cheating.
They say variety is the spice of life and creates interest, but evidently that isn’t true for racing. One only needs to look back at IROC to see where things are headed. In addition to the identical cars, other factors that have contributed to the demise of  true racing include: the flat-out superspeedways, aerodynamics and wind tunnels, two-way radios and spotters, big business, buy-a-ride, too many rules and over-regulated series, leaving very little emphasis on creativity or driver skills.
Unfortunately, racing will have to hit rock-bottom before it changes and goes “back to the future.” At least I have memories of the glory days.

What Happens In Mexico...

Well, the yellow flag reared its ugly head again in Mexico. With about 17 laps to go, something was on the track, not in the groove, that looked like a Kozee. The No. 40-car had quite a lead, and I’m not sure NASCAR wanted to close the gap.
They could have had a yellow just for the location of the debris, or a person could have used a scooter-chair to pick it up before the cars went around the 2.5-mile course.
There was a local driver running in the top three at the time. NASCAR may not fix the races, but the way they use the yellow really controls the race.

Done With Indy

To Tony George: Your grandfather would be broken-hearted if he could see what you and your phony friends did to our beloved open-wheel racing.
Big deal. You merged little by little. Penske and the rest of them will make sure that street and airport racing will push ovals to the back of the bus.  Thank God for the USAC sprints, midgets and Silver Crown.
I’ve been coming to the 500 since you started the IRL, but I won’t be back — all Honda engines and 98 percent foreign drivers. It used to be called the “greatest spectacle in racing.” Now, it’s the biggest joke. I’ve had enough.

Items To Ponder

Regarding the debate over Indy and U.S. speedway drivers, I think the drivers are a consequence of the cars allowed and — to a lesser degree — the engines (remember Porsche’s fast “push-rod?”). Even a high-tech, front-engined Panoz would be better, though I prefer the simplicity of tube frames.
As for “spec” cars, the best racing I recall there was with similar cars and engines such as the 1960 duel between Ward and Rathman. However, the greater variety (like Thompson’s and Foyt’s “layovers” and two Novis), limited as it was, elevated the race interest.
As for politics in our racing, it does seem a little curious that the only sport (Vice President Dick) Cheney and (President George W.) Bush can appear at without getting booed is auto racing.
When letter writers castigate the New York Times — outed 33 years ago as a CIA asset (and given Judith Miller’s recent work, probably still is) as liberal, along with the media, whose more liberal print sector supported Bush, too, in 2000, it’s evident that we’re paying too much attention to racing or to “Fox Noise” for information.
Try the Internet, so when they ask, “Why are you going to believe, us or your lying eyes?” You’ll say, “my eyes.’ But for refuge from “news talk” disinformation, there’s always NSSN.

Blizzard Proves Points

After attending the April 11 Blizzard Super Late Model event at Pensacola, Fla.’s Five Flags Speedway, I think it’s safe to proclaim:
1. Ashphalt short-track late-model racing is alive and well in the U.S., and, 2. Joe Gibbs’s developmental program is in full swing.
April 11 found two youngsters with ties to JGR in the lineup — Joey Logano, Gibbs’s highly publicized development shoe reportedly in line for a shot soon in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in a JGR car, and Chelsea, Ala.’s Josh Hamner, who was at the wheel of the Hamner-family super late model with associate sponsorship from Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil. The two were decked out in identical driver uniforms prominently emblazoned with references to the Joe Gibbs organization.
Hamner conducted a clinic in “old-school” clean racing as he muscled his way to the front where he and Logano engaged in some good, clean racing before Hamner took over and drove out to a comfortable lead and the victory.

It’s Only Fair!

I guess it’s only fair!  I’ve been somewhat critical of USAC and in fact recently I asked the question in NSSN whether USAC’s office was still open.  I just read an article in Sprint Car and Midget magazine that has convinced me to give USAC some slack, at least for a while.
 The reason being, Mr. Kevin Miller, the new president and CEO, sounds very much like he knows what to do with the organization.  He is quoted saying things that make a lot of sense, stuff that is unlike what USAC has done for a long time.  Miller even seems to understand that a sport looking for a family fan base has to wrap up a show well before the kids turn into pumpkins. 
The article goes on to say, “There are many elements in USAC that are long overdue for a good shaking.”  Well, shake it good Kevin, and let the dead wood fly.  For now you have lots of us holding our breath for change.