Q. Why have some NASCAR teams had wheels, and, or lugnuts coming loose in the last few races?
A. I'm no metallurgist, or engineer of any kind, but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Seriously, I will be the first to blame the offset body setups that a lot of teams have been using with the COT. I'm concluding that the crab walking the cars do, puts undue strain on the weaker parts of the drive line. All the way down to the wheels and lugnuts. I also will say that the special sway bar that Jack Roush got his knickers twisted over was developed especially for the crab walk setup.
Q. Why didn't F--TV show any of the replays that NASCAR supposedly used as evidence to overturn it's original penalty of DaleEarnhardt Jr?
A. I don't know. It's like when the Pro Wrestling 'commissioner' says he's overturning a referee's decision for no apparent reason. I really am glad that it was the #88 car, and not the #18. I couldn't handle all the whining.
Q. What will the penalty be for Danica Patrick leaving her car and walking down pit road, during the race, to confront another team?
A. Penalty? Danica Patrick? HaaaaHaaaaaHaaaa! You are kidding,right? She has laid her hands on at least three other drivers during her 3+ years in the IRL. Penalties to date...ZERO.
Q. OK, smartass, how would you handle Danica if she approached you like some batshit crazy, soap-opera princess?
A. Hopefully I would have a supply of plastic drink bottles at hand. Then spray her in the face with them when she tried to get in my face. She might as well share in the embarrassment that she usually tries to give to the other drivers with her temper tantrums.
Q. How did Petty Enterprises have one driver finsh 11th, on the lead lap, and have their other driver finish 11 laps down?
A. The other driver was Kyle Petty.
Q. Did you know that the 50 caution laps at LMS were the least in the last six races there?
A. Uh, no I didn't.
Q. I bet you heard an interesting story about Wlliam Grover, the first Monaco Grand Prix winner?
A. OK, since you asked. Grover was a spy for the Allies in WWII. He was captured behind enemy lines, and executed by the ####s. He was one of millions, we remembered on this Memorial Day weekend, who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Hanny,
Great stuff as always. I was just telling some friends yesterday that Danica is going to drive up the costs of IRL racing. Every driver is going to have to hire a female to duke it out with her since she knows she can pull her childish stunts with impunity now. No male driver can hit back but if they all have a female on staff just to fight her, maybe she'll just stomp off in the other direction in the future. Her hijinks go back a long ways. My sons were racing at a facility near South Bend, Indiana when she was about 13. She got bumped on the final lap and ended up second. She chased the winner down and spun his kart on the cool down lap and then jumped off and tried to pummel him. Funny stuff since she was about 4'6" and all of 85 pounds maximum then. The poor surprised kid who beat her in the race just stood there with his helmet still on and let her pound on him. It was hilarious.
Response to Danica? Start rolling around on the ground laughing???
No? Well, under these circumstances I think she or anyone else would have the right to be POed... Then there is the walk down pit lane. That was pure and simple grandstanding and you know what? It will probably get her more ad money and as we see right here, keep her name in the forefront of not only the sporting news, but all the news.
Hanahan, she is doing one hell of a sell job, isn't she?
Great blog, hanahan. As a woman, I was embarrassed seeing Danica Patrick's behavior on pit road. She comes off as such a witch. While I was reading previous blogs by you, I came across your Mother's Day letter. What a great letter and a great thing to do for your mom.
HoosierRacer13: That is an interesting story about Danica when your kids were racing. You have been around racing forever, haven't you?
24fan,
Yeah, they've given me the nickname The Earl of Dirt on these pages and I think it's because I'm as old as dirt - lol. I was at Eldora the day it opened, I was 5. My older son, the one who was killed in a racing accident, raced against Sam Hornish, Sarah Fisher, and Ryan Hunter-Reay as well as at venues with Danica who was younger and ran a different class. I was thrilled to see Ryan pick up the Indy 500 Rookie of The Year Award last night. I thought he was the best of the four named above when they were all in karting. I'm just happy to see him make the transition to the IRL with such a solid organization.
Last edited by HoosierRacer13 on May 27th at 7:39 AM.
HR...Since you have more experience and knowledge of race cars than anyone else here, what do you think of my theory on the wheels and lugnuts coming off? is it plausible that the sidetracking setups are responsible, or am I way out to lunch on this one?
D-Man...sure she's grandstanding. She knows there will be no repercusions. Hoosier's idea is great. All teams should hire a female bodyguard to handle Princess Dani.
It is all about selling, and the IRL is banking on her to sell their product. Thanks, D.
Hanny,
Even as the self-proclaimed World's Foremost Authority on Everything, I haven't a clue but see your theory as plausible. It may also just be a product of the Car of Today, the tires, the resurfacing of tracks, lots of things that increase the forces on the wheels as they go through the corner. In Vicker's case, it was the left rear wheel which is the one I would expect to be the problem. As the car goes through the corner, obviously, there are extreme sideways forces on the outside of the right side tires and wheels and on the inside of the inside tires and wheels. Since the right sides are being pushed against the hub assembly and lug bolts while the left sides are being pulled away from that assembly and lug bolts, it makes the most sense that the left rear would be the weak link. My cousin's husband works for a lab company that analyzes metal fatigue cracks and complete failures for a few of the Cup teams so I'll see what their theory may be and report back. As you know, racing tests every part at maximum performance level so when one part fails and is then improved, something else becomes the weak link. This is a problem that will be solved and then another part will be the weak link and so it goes. I still remember Tony Bettenhausen being killed testing another driver's car for him at Indianapolis when a 5 cent part broke. Let's hope this issue is resolved before serious injury or death occurs.
Hanny- I personally would give her a big ole smooch and see what she does with that! LOL
I find it amazing that the crews rely on $2 window treatment adhesive to keep those all important lugs on...you would think they would be consulting with NASA to get something that works!
Hanny, is that true about William Grover? I left Dwindy1 a comment about the Jr., speeding incident. Honestly, the explanation only confused me more though.LOL
volfan...that's the story I heard. He won the first Monaco Grand Prix, driving a Bugatti in 1929. He was a British citizen who won that first race under the name 'Williams'.
Thought provoking.
We had a problem at work once where the wheels were comming off city busses. Upon examination and comparing the old studs vs. a new one the old ones were 1/4 inch longer. Seems the mechanics were hammering the lug nuts on tight enough to stretch the lug stud. No matter how much pressure you used after that they wouldn't stay tight because the threads were stretched. Had to change all of the lug studs and then use torque wrench. Vickers said they were having trouble keeping the lug nuts tight as they would loosen during a run. Possibly the same problem.
Wheels come of when you dont tighten the lug nuts. Thes guy are looking for a super fast pit stop and dont always get them all tight and the Nascar officials cant see every stop, If I am not mistaken there are more cars than pit road officials.
Hanahan-Great stuff. As far as Danica. I feel that if she wants to come into a man's world and act like one. Then she should be open game just like the rest. If it was me? I would knock her on her butt. Maybe then she would realize that she cant go around thinking that she is invinceable.
I agree with Hoosier. The best thing to do would be to hire some 6'5" 800 pound woman body guard to take care of her. But on a more serious note. The IRL needs to sit her down and tell her that that kind of behavior needs to stop.
What about da lugz fallin off? Wheels breaking? Does anyone see a problem or a trend here that is more unsafe than Jr.?
I like the idea of a spritz in Danica's face when her testosterone levels reach critical. As with any spoiled brat, she needs a spanking sometimes too.
Well MS Danica gets away with it no doubt cause she's a chick. If Danica wants to play with the big boys then go all the way Danica. If you got out of a car, confronted and pushed me I would pop you right in the face. Either that or just start "makin out"
Man, would she go nuts or what?
It was more the crew chiefs fault for not telling the driver to hold up and not take out Danica. Sorry Danica, "sweetie" ( Barack Obamas term of endearment)") it's just one of those racin' deals. If you want to get out of your car and sport some balls you better have them.
Last edited by dawgdad007 on May 27th at 10:19 AM.
I usually stay at a Motel 6...so the light is always on.
Danica is a bit of a brat, but really, if she was walking to confront me, I would be laughing my #### off.
I thought Bobby was going to get a top-five but as usual he got too tight on the last green-flag run. Kyle managed to drive the entire race and don't think the cameras ever showed him running on the track. The question should be - was he really there?
H, who are we going to make fun of for the next seven races?
Any guy that would dare hit Danica back would be booed and hated More than Kyle. I think spray her with Coke, Pepsi, Bud or whatever sponsor you want to suck up to. She probably stays at the Hilton.
HEY MOSE- I agree...she should be picking on the Gnomes of IRL, not the big ones. There are several who tower over her...and Briscoe is one. Maybe she should be tested for testosterone ... Doesn't she have a little moustache?
BN - I don't really have a problem with her being upset. It is the biggest race of the year and she had a 8th to 10th place car. With fuel strategy, who knows? Don't really see where she was being any different than say Tony Stewart or Kevin Harvick or Kurt Busch. She got wrecked and was PO'd and Briscoe was still in the race after punting her. But no one is going to punch her, so maybe they could have thrown fire shoes at each other.
I hear that. BTW - I guess now that you were on the hit list you are now one of the Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatcha gonna do when they come for you. That list is not a bad one to be on at all. Means you speak your mind and not worried about the out come.
Now back to the tires falling off. This is the first for Brian Vickers team - Toyota. Roush's has had many - Ford and someone else ? Has any Chevys come loose ?
Lori...Bootie says he knows who ratted them out. If someone gets busted for cheating this week, and they're right around 35th in points, that would be my guess as to who did it.
Rick...Well that is true, but what makes the lugnuts come loose after they're tightened? There is at least one official per car. They have one at each end of the car.
Moseby...I heard them mention Bobby one time. Guess he wasn't in their script this week. Dover is a great track for Bobby too. You were right on about K Petty being at least 10 laps off the pace.
No Kyle for 7 races? Who do we bust on? Mikey, again? Scott Riggs? Dario?
If you have seen it H - her butt is really tight...and I bet after her 360, it was puckered too. I would do what I have to do, it would hurt me more than it would hurt her though..hahaha...hehehehehe...HR13- --L10%MAO!
BN,
Your obsession with female rear ends has been well expressed way too many times but your bubble gum comment on Nickie's blog crossed a line I didn't think even you would cross. I know you say you are a seasoned citizen but you come across like a 5th grader with such comments.
Last edited by HoosierRacer13 on May 27th at 4:52 PM.
The difference between her throwing a fit, and Smoke throwing a fit (people love comparing the two) is that Smoke wins races, Danica doesn't Tony earned the right to get in people's faces and DAnica didn't
So, boys you want to castigate Danica? She, cannot show her anger with words? She is to sit in her car, and become a mute? Her ostentation is applauded by strong non-threatened females. We have put up with the lewd male population since God, punished Eve for Adams weakness. So, in reference to the whole "period" thing I might add we do not have to live our whole lives based upon the "short comings of man." BeaverNut is a prime example of male humor that is so excepted by you. But, let a woman say anything in jest......
Woman are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attention which men think is manly to pay the opposite sex, when in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority.
You did not add she stopped to put on her high heels and grater belt before she made her intrepid walk. I can put up with Beavernuts chimerical, but am highly disappointed in some of these comments by men I respected.
24x2,
Danica is a spoiled brat and always has been. She knew when she started her walk she would be stopped but put on that show of machismo because she wants others to see her as tough as nails while her in car radio proved what a whining little b she is. If tiny little Marco Andretti was pulling the same B.S. she pulls, he would have been disciplined by now. Sorry you no longer respect men who disagree with you over anything. Sounds like you are developing the Nique complex.
There is no worse double standard than the women's libbers who want to be treated as equals in a man's world but then use their sex appeal to market themselves and pout like little children when things don't go their way.
Last edited by HoosierRacer13 on May 27th at 4:08 PM.
NJV5...thanks for stopping by. Tony also knows that if he lays his hand on a man he has a chance of getting knocked on his ####. Danica doesn't have to worry about that.
Carry on the fight Hanny, for presenting intelligent and accurate statements about the world of racing. I'm burned out again. Time for a break for me. May be back later this season.
24x2...she can show her anger with WORDS all she wants. She should start showing her anger with WORDS. She has physically assaulted three other drivers, at least. She knows they can't do anything about it. You think that is right?
What you and the other Danica appologists don't understand is that this has nothing to do with her being a woman. If Dan Wheldon stomped around acting like a spoiled brat, do you think that I would say OK, just because he's a man? Yet, that is the only reason you're supporting Danica, because she's a female.
One last question for you to answer honestly. If a male driver assaulted other drivers, threw the tantrums, and grandstanded like Danica, would you defend him?
Hanny,
That is exactly why I am leaving things in your capable hands. I get carried away with emotions when my ire is raised while you just state things very factually and eloquently. Perfect response to 24x2. Rock on, my man - lol.
maybe they didnt want to waste the time during the race to show the replays neccessary to satisfiy everyone. Instead, thought just maybe not too many of the Jr. haters would make a big deal out of it, since after all, it was called right.
Han - I thought it was great the Bobby Labonte had a really decent finish for Petty Racing. Although that does seem rather odd that he would do so well, and Kyle still struggling at the back of the pack.
As for Danica...way too much press for this incident if you ask me. I was glad to see the safety patrol deter her from confronting Briscoe. yeah she was frustrated by not being able to get a decent finish in the race...but so were many other drivers, Kanaan included, whom we didnt see grandstanding on pit road!
Wish I had the "holier than thou" market like you HR13. I was being flippant, but sarcasm is wasted on minds that can only be linear. It was me answering H, but I am glad you chimed in from the morals police. I think H got it, as did 24x2...but you Mr. Sensitive? Right...oh loudmouth one...Earl of Dirt...legend in your own mind!
Why wasn't the 24 car credited with a lap lead when he got the lucky dog and was in the front when the lead lap cars pitted? I know the lucky dog comes in with the lapped cars and starts at the end of the line, but why don't they get the credit for a lap lead?
