No Danica Conspiracy

Would someone please tell Danica that not every racing incident that happens on the track is a direct, personal attack against her person?
We all realize that she is a tough competitor, capable of winning. She also needs to learn that sometimes accidents happen in racing, and stomping off down the pit lane to shove another driver is both silly and dangerous.
We can all understand her disappointment and anger, but, frankly, there have been many other drivers in a much better position to win than her that were taken out through no fault of their own.
Danica, the hissy-fit act has gotten old.

Tone Down Danica

I realize that Danica-mania is good for the IRL, but it’s time for someone to call her on her cocky swagger and her confrontation of other drivers. Rather than giving her kudos for her attitude following the unfortunate brush with Ryan Briscoe, let’s remember that no male driver can respond to her in kind.
She knows that, so she is completely safe in taking on a brash, cocky persona. Had Dan Wheldon pushed her as she did him, he would have been (rightfully) clobbered by the media and fans — to say nothing of the IRL.
Congratulations on your win in Japan, Danica — now grow up.

Reflections From Weekend

Some observations after the 500 and 600:
Even with all the cautions, the 500 was great. The 600 was just another long, boring race — watch the first and last 50, and you’ve seen the race.
Danica needs to become more professional when dealing with her crew instead of the constant whining. It takes away from her otherwise good driving performance and exciting personality. People don’t respond well to constant criticism and whining. She should read the nursery rhyme about the child who cried wolf too many times.
Indy car racing seems to be coming back with a vengeance. The only hope for NASCAR is to switch from heats/consi/shorter feature Cup format — and ban the top 20 Cup drivers from the Nationwide Series.
Still enjoying NSSN after 50 years — especially Chris’s column and the historical articles.

Better Racing Needed

For the most part, TV and the news media are dominated by everything but motorsports.
We need better racing. NASCAR’s All-Star Race was a dud, the sprint cars from Lowe’s were pathetic. I don’t think they had one pass for the lead the whole night.

Gauntlet Down, Anderson

In Bryan Gapinski’s recent NSSN race story about Californian Bradley Galeridge’s USAC midget victory at Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin, he tells that Tracy Hines’s qualifying lap of 10.485 seconds set a new world’s record for a quarter-mile oval.
The old record, according to Gapinski, was 11.406 seconds and was established at Anderson Speedway in Indiana by Jason Leffler. My question for Anderson Speedway is: Are you going to take this laying down?

Where’s The Poll?

Well, Indy is over. How about that fan poll to see if we want front-engine cars or rear-engine cars? I still got that Iowa steak dinner offer open if front-engine cars do not win. What do you say?

Tough Day For Danica

(Danica) has come a long way in a short time. A bad day for her at “Nap Town” this time. I wonder just how good she would have done in a sprint car or midget like little Sarah Fisher. I guess we’ll never know.
The women have done great things for motorsports. It keeps ya coming back.

More on Danica

It is amazing to me that one 5-foot-3, 100-pound girl can be such a threat to all these sports writers. I picked up the hometown newspaper this morning, and the first story I saw was about how people shouldn’t let Danica’s walk down pit road overshadow the event itself???
Excuse me? If that was the writer’s concern, why was dedicating his entire column to her little stroll not adding to the distraction? The only conclusion one can come to is that she actually put fear into the lad.
Having been a race fan for 50 years, I have seen about all types of temper tantrums from big, strong men. My favorite is still one angry racer beating on another’s helmet with his fist…
Even the big stars of NASCAR feel the need to blow off some steam from time to time. Jeff, Tony, Matt, Kevin and Michael are some names that come to mind for shoving matches. Of course, you also have some of the less intelligent who use their cars for weapons — Kurt and Denny are good examples of that.

Marco Gets A Pass

The only thing that seems to be a constant with AGR is that if your daddy owns the team, you can do any stupid thing you want. It’s only a matter of time before one of Marco’s stupid moves kills someone.

Marco’s Move

Why is everyone so critical of Marco Andretti’s move on Tony Kanaan during the Indy 500? Aren’t these guys race-car drivers? Aren’t they paid the big bucks to actually race?
Is the Indy track so bad that a car can’t even pass another car without the guy on the outside spinning out? Give me a break. The fans don’t want a 200-mph game of follow the leader. Marco did nothing wrong.

Stuff Happens

Yes, everyone should know by now that it’s always someone else’s fault when Danica loses a race.
The stormy little temper tantrum always occurs to make certain that blame is affixed elsewhere. I’ve had it with her attitude. Someone needs to punch her right in the nose and bring her back to reality.
That’s racin’, sister. Stuff happens.

Too Much Mouth

Well, once again, the “Mouth” (Darrell Waltrip is back) in action. When Kyle Busch’s engine blew up during the All-Star Race, I thought Darrell was going to have a heart attack.
I thought it was great — all those Toyotas going down in flames. I thought the announcers were not supposed to be bias about the drivers. Bob, Ned and Benny never were. Waltrip sure makes it obvious.
But I’ve noticed that you don’t hear him talking about wall-banging Mikey (Waltrip) very much. Mike has just become a field filler.
It appears to me that the Toyotas have about 50 horsepower on the rest of the field. I thought NASCAR wanted a level playing field? The so-called level playing field is what is ruining the races. Boxed in by thousands of rules, no wonder cars can’t pass in the race.
Kyle Busch is the most dangerous driver on the track and Mikey is one of the worst.

Poor WoO Production

I’m sure the two guys working for Speed try their best, but what a poor production (from the Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway). First, it was 40 minutes before time trials began. They must have been short of cameras as they missed most of the action — and so did Doty and Gerald, the announcers. Maybe someone from the World of Outlaws should have coached them before the race.
Was any of the race taped? They got back from commercials and the first heat was under way.
I don’t believe it would cost much more to get professional announcers to do the race. And what a waste of promoting the Goodyear Blimp that was hanging over the track. Heck, all the fast cars used Hoosier tires.