OT: Racing 2006 (Spoiler Alert)

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:23 pm

I have been kicking around the idea of taking my wife to her first NASCAR race, the October Kansas race. If Montoya gets in a Busch seat the rest of the year with an occasional Cup entry, it'd make it very appealing.

Will the NASCAR crowd go back to calling him Juan Montoya, will they keep Pablo in there, or will they just call him JP Montoya?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:36 pm

Dave wrote:Will the NASCAR crowd go back to calling him Juan Montoya, will they keep Pablo in there, or will they just call him JP Montoya?

John Paul Montgomery. Has a nice Nashville ring to it. That's it -- Monty is the distant, well-tanned cousin of 90s country star John Michael Montgomery.

Take care,
PK

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:39 am

Resurrecting this thread in honor of Paul Tracy's bout with Alex Tagliani at the SJ Champcar race. I watched this one live because of the rain delay in Michigan and my kids moving really slow this afternoon.

PT's on-track manuver was one of his worst in a career chock full of bonehead moves. Both drivers were fortunate to escape injury. As the cameras followed PT and Tags into the pit, the insufferable Derek Daly was really pimping the encounter but for once, it didn't disappoint. Tagliani took his HANS off but kept his helmet on, got in PT's face and dropped a bunch of f-bombs. He then walked away but apparently thought up some new way of describing what an ass Tracy is. At that point, Tracy had enough. He got one punch in and after some grappling (below), body slammed the much smaller Tagliani to the ground.

Tracy came away with a major for instigating, five for fighting, two points for a takedown and a cut forehead from where Tag's helmet hit him.

Oh yeah, Boudais won again.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:09 am

Makes it hard to be a PT fan. He'd fit right in with NASCAR though!

Strange thing is, my friend from work who worked on the crew for PT's car at the 24 Hours of Daytona said he was very nice to the crew, hung out with them instead of hiding in his trailer, and was generally a very nice guy.

If you don't cross him!

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:05 pm

Tracy undoubtedly has driving talent and he can come across in interviews as thoughtful and articulate. He's much more interesting in this regard than 99% of his contemporaries.

But when PT gets behind the wheel, he's a candidate for the temporary insanity ward. He takes too many risks and makes too many mistakes. His career results have suffered for them. Although in an earlier era of racing, he'd probably would have been killed in a crash.

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:00 pm

This is just horrible. Cristiano Da Matta hit a f'n DEER while testing at Road America.

Apparently, it even tore the freaking rollhoop off the car.

He's got a subdural hematoma, that's pretty a pretty bad head injury isn't it?

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News ... p?ID=10691

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:48 am

Update: Da Matta is in critical condition with the head injuries.

That's just the worst luck anyone could ever have. Hang in there man.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:54 am

Just saw that the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis got a one-year extension, with a tentative mid-June date. Great news for US-based F1 fans.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:24 pm

Interesting race weekend to say the least. Hornish and Penske complete their win Indy/win Championship goals. Schumi wins and announces retirement at Monza under increasingly difficult to explain Alonso penalties. MotoGP contiunes to thrill. Sebastien Loeb claims the record for the most wins in WRC history. Lewis Hamilton wins the GP2 championship and could be at McLaren sooner rather than later. RIP - Peter Brock "King of the Mountain", 9 time winner of the Bathurst 1000, killed instantly during a rally in Australia. Oh yeah, and some Chase for the Cup thing.

I loved that both Alonso and Niki Lauda both made comments that "F1 is no longer Sport". The circus has always had these types of questionable calls, but it sure looks pretty fishy over the last several weeks.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:57 am

DChaps wrote: I loved that both Alonso and Niki Lauda both made comments that "F1 is no longer Sport". The circus has always had these types of questionable calls, but it sure looks pretty fishy over the last several weeks.

I'm not a big Schumi fan, but Alonso WAS pretty reckless. More so than the BS that Michael pulled at Monoco and was given a huge penalty for. Seemed pretty reasonable to me. Flavio is just a big whiner.

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:20 am

jondiehl wrote:I'm not a big Schumi fan, but Alonso WAS pretty reckless. More so than the BS that Michael pulled at Monoco and was given a huge penalty for. Seemed pretty reasonable to me. Flavio is just a big whiner.

No way. Alonso was screwed IMO. Doesn't even compare to the Monaco incident. Alonso was pushing to get another hot lap to improve position (in my view) whereas Schumi was protecting position.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:50 am

Yeah, nevermind. I was thinking of the Hungarian GP for whatever reason where Alonso got all pissy at that Red Bull driver.

But, either way, his engine blew up. He could have been on the pole and it wouldn't have mattered.

spooky157 · Post by **spooky157** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:46 am

Alonso had to push pretty hard the whole race. I wonder if that had any effect on his engine. I just can't believe the FIA would come down on Alonso like that yet they didn't lift a finger against Schumi after he cut the chicane TWICE in Hungary.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:45 pm

Anyone watch the F1 race yesterday? I love it when they're in the rain, it makes for some actual racing and passing that way. The last few laps were pretty crazy with the mid-pack guys, and Schumi pulled it out in the end by switching to slicks earlier than Renault and made a nice pass late to get the victory and pull into a tie for the overall lead. Should make the last races interesting.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:55 pm

I watch every F1 race, man!

That was a fascinating show, on and off the track. The changing weather and ballsy overtaking was really cool on track, and the various strategic options mulled by the teams off the track also were fascinating. Schuey and Alonso, the two best drivers in the world, dead even at top with two races to go.

Meanwhile, Tony Stewart runs out of gas in Kansas with half a lap to go and still coasts to a victory, and the crowd goes wild. The artificial Chase already sees a sizable gap between leader Burton and second-place Hamlin after just three of 10 races, yet the NASCAR fans and American media eat it up.

I just don't get it.

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:33 pm

I don't get it either. Johnson and Kenseth were by far the class of the field through the first 26 races and now both are staring up at guys they smoked all year.

In fairness to NASCAR and fuel economy races, I had to watch Bryan Herta lap Kansas at about 180mph a few years back as he cruised to a victory.

Great F1 race this weekend. My interest was fading but I have to take these last chances to watch Schumacher race. He was fired up after the race, always nice to see those guys show emotion.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:42 pm

Jon, Dave:

Did either of you watch after the podium ceremony when the Renault mechanic dropped the champagne magnum that Alonso dropped from the podium, while the Ferrari chief mechanic caught the magnum dropped by Schumacher?

Hopefully that's not a metaphor for the last two races, as I want Alonso and Renault to win the Drivers and Constructors titles, respectively!

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:03 pm

That was a funny moment.

For the first time since his first title, I'm cheering for Schumacher and his team. This title chase has the potential to provide some of the best F1 moments of recent memory.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:06 pm

Dave wrote:That was a funny moment.

For the first time since his first title, I'm cheering for Schumacher and his team.

HISSSSSSSS ...

P.S.: You cats definitely should check out The Chequered Flag podcast from the BBC. It features post-race analysis after every F1 race from Maurice Hamilton of The Observer, Jonathan Noble of autosport.com and others, with interviews from drivers and team officials spliced in. A real insider's look at what happened at each race, and the best podcast I listen to, by far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sport/for ... cast.shtml

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:17 pm

Finally a F1 season worth watching. Any predictions? With 2 races to go my heart goes to F. Alonso although the experience of the German driver and Ferrari team will probably prevail.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:52 pm

10spro wrote:Finally a F1 season worth watching. Any predictions? With 2 races to go my heart goes to F. Alonso although the experience of the German driver and Ferrari team will probably prevail.

Tough call. As for remaining circuits, Suzuka has favored Michelin in recent years, while Ferrari has reigned at Interlagos.

Schumacher's Achilles heel has been performance under extreme pressure during his career. Look at the Adelaide '94, Jerez '97, road rage at Spa '98, Suzuka start stall in '98, Silverstone chop on Alonso in '05 and parking his car on track to block Alonso this year at Monaco. The guy is not mega-clutch when under extreme pressure from a direct rival.

But Alonso's title last year came much more easily than this year, so who knows how he'll perform under pressure? Plus Schumacher might be more serene this season because he knows it's his last.

I think the title chase will come down to two factors: tires and teammates. If Michelin or Bridgestone can develop a better tire than the other for the last two races, it's lights out for the driver on the inferior tire. Plus the performance of Massa for Ferrari and Fisichella for Renault is crucial. If either can wedge themselves between the two title protagonists, it could have a huge effect.

The final wild card is weather. If either Suzuka or Interlagos are full wet, Schumacher holds a decided advantage even though Michelin's wet tires are arguably equal to the Bridgestone wets, which wasn't the case in past seasons. But Schumacher is the regenmeister -- the rain master. He's almost unbeatable in the wet when the team doesn't f*ck up its strategy, as it did when it double-pitted at the Hungoraring, with Schuey forced to line up behind Massa in the pits.

I say Schumacher because Ferrari has so much momentum right now, and its chassis is working so well with the Bridgestones. Plus Fernando has been rattled since the whole mass damper affair started, and the forced removal of the mass dampers has hurt Renault's development, regardless of what Pat Symonds and the rest of the team officials say.

Still, Renault sure looked like it had the faster car last weekend at Shanghai, so maybe the team has sorted the chassis without the mass damper. And if you're looking for an edge between the teams' two strategists, Ross Brawn of Ferrari and Symonds of Renault, there is none. They're both the two smartest guys on the pit wall, by far.

This is the first good title fight since 2003, which isn't that long ago. Schumacher, Raikkonen and Montoya each entered the final race of that season, Suzuka, with a chance at the title. That was a cracking season.

I can't wait for Suzuka this weekend and Interlagos Oct. 22. Roll on, F1, baby!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:35 pm

PK, Montoya's 2003 title shot ended when the stewards and the elements worked against him at some place in the USA that holds a 500 mile race every May, not Suzuka, and now you mention it I am a d*ck for bringing that up

Where this title battle ought to trump 2003 is that Michael went to Suzuka in '03 needing only to finish 8th to secure the title, with Raikkonen needing to win and have Schumacher fail to score, whereas this year it looks for all the world like he and Fernando will go to Interlagos with a genuine shot at the big prize. While we're considering Michael's performances under pressure, it might also be worth considering that his title-winning Suzuka '03 effort was memorable only because of how inept he looked throughout the race even as his teammate was guaranteeing Michael the title at the front.

I've stuck with Fernando for the championship all through this season, and I'm too proud to change horses now. Shanghai was the first time in a long time that the Renault has looked quicker than the Ferrari in all conditions, and Alonso ought to have been 30 seconds ahead of Schumacher at the flag rather than 3 behind, not that ought to have beens are of any use to him. Fisi was doing fine until the slicks went on too - that said, if teammates were to play any sort of deciding role in the championship, could you see Giancarlo doing Fernando any good unless Renault had a sizeable car advantage to start with?

How about the Moto GP season? To the untrained eye, it looks like Repsol Honda and Hayden are doing their level best to let somebody else win the world title - any predictions there?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:06 pm

GB_Simo wrote:PK, Montoya's 2003 title shot ended when the stewards and the elements worked against him at some place in the USA that holds a 500 mile race every May, not Suzuka, and now you mention it I am a d*ck for bringing that up

Correct you are, Adam. That was when Montoya and Rubens collided early, and Monty was given a drive-through, which f*cked his race. Terrible call by the stewards at Indy.

Good catch!

GB_Simo wrote:Fisi was doing fine until the slicks went on too - that said, if teammates were to play any sort of deciding role in the championship, could you see Giancarlo doing Fernando any good unless Renault had a sizeable car advantage to start with?

Yes, because Fisi is a steadier, more experienced set of hands than Massa. Fisi is rarely very quick over a race distance, but I think he's pretty consistent. Massa can be blindingly fast, as he was all weekend at Turkey, or he can be completely out to lunch as he was last weekend.

With Massa, you have to worry whether he's going to throw the car off track. With Fisi, you have to worry if he's going to have the concentration or balls to push hard enough. How many times do we ever hear Alonso's engineer, Rod Nelson, beg Fernando to push harder? Never. But we hear it from Alan Permane all the time over the radio to Fisi.

GB_Simo wrote:How about the Moto GP season? To the untrained eye, it looks like Repsol Honda and Hayden are doing their level best to let somebody else win the world title - any predictions there?

I worry about Nicky and Repsol Honda. There have been rumblings the entire second half of the season whether he will even return to the team next year, even when his lead was nearly 30 points! Pedrosa clearly is the team's golden boy, but Dani hasn't been the same since he put a hole into his knee in an accident at Malaysia.

Plus the Repsol Honda has suffered from serious clutch problems the last few races, at least Hayden's Honda has.

I love Nicky, and I want him to win the title so badly. But with two races remaining, I can't see him holding off Rossi. There are two guys in worldwide motorsport that I wouldn't want to have chasing me right now: Sebastien Loeb and Valentino Rossi. Both are natural born killers.

Rossi has that ability to sit behind a rival and pressure him enough to make a small mistake with 10 laps or so remaining, take the lead and then just rip off two or three laps at least a second or so quicker than anyone else and win.

The Yamaha didn't seem to be working as well as the Honda earlier this season, but that tide has turned.

The only X factor in the Moto GP battle is that I don't think either Rossi or Hayden is the fastest rider right now in the series. That has to be Capirossi on the Ducati, who has been blistering lately. But the last three races have taken place at Sepang, Philip Island and Motegi, tracks with some pretty long straights or fast corners where the Ducati can really stretch its legs.

Estoril is quite tight, and Valencia has a long front straight but is tight elsewhere. That could neuter Capirossi's advantage now, and the multiple gear shifts required by those tight tracks also could hurt Hayden if his clutch still is balky.

Ah, what a glorious month to be a racing fan. Two cracking world championships to be decided. I'm stoked for both, although the wheel-to-wheel racing and pure balls in Moto GP are unmatched anywhere in the world.

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:13 am

pk500 wrote:Jon, Dave:

Did either of you watch after the podium ceremony when the Renault mechanic dropped the champagne magnum that Alonso dropped from the podium, while the Ferrari chief mechanic caught the magnum dropped by Schumacher?

Hopefully that's not a metaphor for the last two races, as I want Alonso and Renault to win the Drivers and Constructors titles, respectively!

Take care,
PK

Yeah, I saw that, and thought the same thing!

BTW, Go Ferrari!

I've always been a Schumi fan, and will cherish these final memories of him doing what he does best. After Michael is gone in '07, I'm not sure who I'll pull for. Speed isn't going to be on a team that can compete for a title, and out of the top tier teams the only driver I like (in a field mostly filled with punk kids) is Webber.

As for MotoGP, I've liked pulling for Hayden of course, kicking ass and taking names from all of these European riders, but I just love to watch Rossi stalk an opponent in the final stages of a close race. I really hope the last race will come down to the two of them tied for the overall points lead, heading into the final laps neck and neck and battling it out.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:13 pm

Colin McRae in for the injured Sebastien Loeb next weekend at Rally Turkey.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/54899

Good news, as this will add some spice to what has been a pretty dull WRC season.

Take care,
PK