Okey dokey, now it's been a while since I've done one of these but the same thing applies; this contains spoilers for the...oh wait wrong webpage, sorry.
This post contains sarcasm and ranting...probably. I won't know until I finish it really *shrugs*
Not much on last week in terms of motorsport...just the NASCAR circus...so we'll go a week further back and start with Formula 1, the start of the Belgian GP in particular. Fernando Alonso edged his teammate coming out of the first corner hairpin leaving Lewis to take to the tarmac on the outside of the track before going side-by-side through half of Eau Rouge (cue 'heart in mouth' as some people may recall Stefan Bellof attempting something similar in the 1980's...and it was the last thing he ever did). In the end, Lewis gave way and Fernando was able to finish in front of him...so no worries, right?
Wrong.
Lewis then decided to have a nice whinge (proving that he is a stereotypical Brit afterall) and said that Alonso's tactics were unfair...what rubbish. Lewis has no problems cutting everyone else off when launching off the line when the lights go out (standing start remember) which can be just as dangerous as squeezing someone to the outside.
So, Mr Hamilton, think about things before you open that mouth to complain...you're a rookie driver after all, remember that. I know Fernando has come under fire lately, but after hearing Lewis' bleat, I hope he wins the title now just to tick McLaren off.
Sandown had the first endurance race of the V8 Supercar calender and the officials all need to be sacked after putting the safety car out with around 30 laps to go. Why? Simple; they couldn't even pick up the leader of the race.
Instead, the leader was stuck behind the guys in seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth meaning instead of a nice clear track to make hey while the guy in second was negotiating those cars, he was losing ground as someone nicked all the blue flags since none were being waved to let the near lapped cars know they were being lapped.
Um, not much to talk about the Loudon race really except to congratulate Clint Bowyer on a flawless performance and gave me good reason to wear the shirt I got at last years Sonoma race with pride on tuesday...even if I was the only person who knew who Clint Bowyer is down here.
So we'll go to Dover and that incident...no, not the Tony/Paul one or even the Denny/Kyle one (both have been thrashed to death so I'm not bothering to cover those). The incident I'm talking about is Carl's backflip; how many more times do you reckon he'll do that until he snaps an ankle and stuffs all the ligaments in them?
I mean, I can stomach Tony's fenceclimbs...though maybe he should cut that back since he's a bit red-faced when he gets back down...but to risk an injury like that (and I speak from experience with this; landing on your ankle sideways is not a nice feeling) is rather silly, but still, he's in pretty good shape in the overall standings and it would be nice to see a 'new' champion crowned this year.
That's it in terms of racing action so we'll go with a few things regarding rules. Firstly, everyone knows that NASCAR likes to portray themselves as big and brash and have to do things bigger and better over all other series...so what would happen if they tried to do something similar to what they have in F1 to cut down the costs by making teams use the same engine for two consecutive races?
Well, they'd have to go one better and say that all teams have to use the same car for two races in a row without being able to repair them in between...hope they can refuel the pace car 'on the fly' since we'll be having constant yellows for debris.
Now the Chase, where...and I'm doing this for the sole prupose of annoying JJD...it's working brilliantly this year.
Only have one suggestion to improve it; take the 12 cars to the infield before the race and let the other 31 drivers at them for an hour with a sledgehammer...that way, drivers like Denny Hamlin can find out what it's like to be driving in a junk car and constantly being lapped.
Oh, if you're wondering where the TNRC for Dover is, I'll do it tomorrow since I've been just like that lizard at work this week...let's see how long it takes for someone to figure that out! *laughs*
TEZ: Brilliant comments. I think the sledgehammer idea would do well in the chase. No more worries about ride height.
There is a conspiracy theory going on about Edwards car failing the ride height. It passed the pre race inspections. Why did it fail the post race inspections? Nascar acknowledged no alterations were made with the car as to the body and acknowledged the team did noting wrong.
Now here is the kicker. NASCAR provides the teams with the shocks and springs from their own inventory. The teams do not go out and buy just any shock and spring combination.
Why is it that Edwards and Rosch were penalized for a ride height issue on one side and only 25 points for a product or products that NASCAR provides. Simple the products were defective and this is not the first time this has happened. NASCAR knew this happens at no fault from the teams but to save face they call it an infraction.
Thus the conspiracy theory pops up. It was NASCARS way of trying to manipulate the points in the chase and give an advantage to other chase contenders by reducing Edwards points. As a matter of fact, The ABC sports caster stated that Edwards will be leading the chase if he wins the race in the waning laps.
After the race, NASCAR posted Edwards 3rd in the chase. So is there a conspiracy to manipulate the chase? You decide.
Last edited by photogr on September 26th at 10:04 PM.
Tez - The V8 thing sounds interesting - and like there should be some firings. Maybe start with the pace car driver!
Photo, I think the ABC commentators had Edwards in 1st before the Kurt Busch fiasco. When that happened it gave both Gordon and Stewart a top 10 finish when they would have been stuck in the 15-25 place finish otherwise. Those points make the difference.
However, Nascar has always penalized Roush more harshly than others - I'm thinking of the Mark Martin penalty that cost him the Championship to Dale Earnhardt.
Tez- good luck running the engines or the cars in two consecutive races...they seem like they tune them to barely make it thru one race! Hello Yellow indeed! BUT it would make for high entertainment value, I bet some of the drivers used to driving "junk" would emerge victorious!
Tez - Nice job mate, On the Edwards on the back flips, the last race he won ? Had a slop and he did his back flip and I thought for sure he was going to spring his back out, let alone his feet.
Photo - are you sure they said he would have the lead after taking the checker flag, cause I heard it too, but I think it was with some laps remaining and they were going by were the other chaser were in order at the time.
Jeff Gordon and Jimmie had past a few more drivers after the last restart to finish. Thats why he was only what less then 10 points.
I hate it when they show it all during the race, IF THE RACE WAS TO END NOW HERE ARE THE STANDINGS.
The race is not over till it gets more then half way an gets rain out or the checker flag drops. Ill check my stuff but I think I deleted the finish cause nothing happen. oopps.
Last edited by Forensic2 on September 27th at 8:42 AM.
PS - If this is a part handed out by NASCAR, why are they giving -25 points to Edwards ? If the part shows no clues to crew resetting it or faul play on their part ? and NASCAR smart #### e s cant tell why it past pre and not post ? That happen at NH. So they knew something was happening with cars being up at pre and down at post.
So Im on the case and I say right now its got todo with the tires. Now I just need to prove it.
tez good rant here. i find myself a bit of a prudish, taditionalist when it comes to vitory celebrations. i can do without the burn out, the fence climb, the snow angle, and even the victory lap. i just like it when the driver stand in front of his/her car with the checkered flag and maybe a trphy queen to have the moment captured for all of history. as if to say, on this night i was the fastest.
I thought the purpose of the pre-race inspection was to ensure that all was legal on the car.
It's not like they can change springs on the car during the race without anyone noticing. There is always an official or three right there trackside.
Post race inspection should look for extra parts, or incorrect fuel, things that are blatant.
A 1/2 inch tolerance? When they bump and #### the way they do? Everyone mentioned the way that concrete track tears up the cars.
When a car finishes half mangled, what are the tolerances there?
It makes NO Sense to me (oh wait it's NASCAR rules---nevermind)
Yes you hit on one of my pet peeves too.
Back flips- Notice how his crew is right there to 'catch' Carl as soon as he hits (and stumbles)
Not sure if they have a thing aginst Jack (granted I have only followed Nazzy since 2004 however)....I think they just want to ensure that a Chevy wins the title this year since they've been the dominant car, lol.
And yes, they need a new pace car driver for the V8's here, Iowa....that was pathetic. Not very unusual though since the car leading was a Ford and they seem to favour Holden in our series so they wanted to do something to give those boys a chance of winning. If there are any other Aussies on here who think I'm wrong....tough, I don't give a toss about either company anyway but as Rick got away with punting Craig off last year with just a wrist slap, it's not very hard to deduce that there is something fishy going on.
Not quite, Lori....the proper saying here is "I've been flat out like a lizard drinking." :P
klvalus; F1 has been using the two race thing with their engines for the last couple of years actually. If you have to change it during the race weekend it's an automatic 10 place drop on the grid, which, in F1, is a huge penalty as it's far more difficult to pass cars, lol. Oh and just between you and me....the worse off Chase car would be either Tony or Jeff G I reckon, lol
Forensic; agree, I hated them giving the updates during the race like that too....since I'm trying to watch the race, not listen to them prattle on about how the points would look at 63/175ths through or whatever *rolls eyes*
In the waning laps at the end of the race Crusty and his gang stated he would take the lead in points. I would say it was a bout maybe 8 to 10 laps left.
Last edited by photogr on September 27th at 3:33 PM.
Photo - then at that time we had the big one and Jeff and Jimmie were sucking fumes at that time and then they moved up. Yeah the DR was going on about how he might be the first to win both championships Busch and Cup.
Forensic, exactly, this is the last year of the "Nextel" Cup and the last year of the "Busch" series - the powers that be do not want Edwards )who would be a first time champion in either series) to go down in history with both of those titles do they???
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
