OT: Racing 2006 (Spoiler Alert)

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:16 am

With the Championship on the line, Ferrari finishes 1-2, not surprising but only slightly when you see that's Schumacher's teammate Massa in front in early qualifying. Bridgestone is doing their part too. It should be a great race on Sunday. Renault not so lucky, are 5 and 6th.

Watched the qualifying and the Brazilian just took the pole on the last lap from the German.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:07 am

Montoya looked very good in his stock-car debut Friday, finishing third in the ARCA race at Talladega.

JPM was sent to the rear of the line after pitting into a closed pit, restarting in 31st. He steadily moved up, finding drafting partners along the way. Monty climbed all the way to second, bump-drafting Steven Wallace, Rusty's kid, to the front.

Yeah, it's only ARCA, and Montoya has good Ganassi equipment. But he certainly looked at home out there, which isn't surprising because he's a world-class driver. Montoya had a hell of a save yesterday when a careening car slammed into his right door. Plus he was fast as hell on restarts, showing he's still one of the best drivers on cold tires in the world.

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:19 am

10spro wrote:With the Championship on the line, Ferrari finishes 1-2, not surprising but only slightly when you see that's Schumacher's teammate Massa in front in early qualifying. Bridgestone

I doubt that they'll leave Massa in front of Michael for very long. First chance that they get to have Michael pass (on the track or at the pit) they'll make it happen (I'm guessing via a slow pit by Massa).

If the two Ferrari's build up a big lead early, it's lights out for Renault for the Championship. I don't think they'd recover if Schumi/Massa finish 1-2 this week.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:43 pm

jondiehl wrote:If the two Ferrari's build up a big lead early, it's lights out for Renault for the Championship. I don't think they'd recover if Schumi/Massa finish 1-2 this week.

Indeed, especially since Interlagos has been a strong track for Ferrari and Bridgestone in the past.

It's now or never for Renault. Alonso will need to produce a magical drive at Suzuka, mated with some Symonds smarts from the pit wall, to keep his chances alive.

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:10 pm

pk500 wrote:Montoya looked very good in his stock-car debut Friday, finishing third in the ARCA race at Talladega.

Thought he definitely held his own in the little bit I saw. Montoya's move to NASCAR will definitely make me tune into more of their races next year.

Did you see his postrace interview? The guy's a racer, no doubt about it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:11 pm

Yep, saw it, Dave. No doubt.

I also loved how he used a fake Southern drawl when he called into crew chief Brad Parrott about an upcoming stop, "How long do y'all reckon I'll be in the pits for this next stop?"

Classic. Montoya always has been an impish character, one of the reasons I've always liked him and hope he does well.

Like you, I'll watch more NASCAR races next year just to root for JPM.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:53 am

Suzuka is a legendary circuit for most drivers, love the many "S" shape the course offers, beautiful landscape around and it's too bad Japan is moving the race next year near Mt Fuji. The race is about to start...Will Michael retire with his 8th title?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:21 am

At least the F1 drivers have an accurate simulation of Fuji to use prior to next year's race:

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:31 am

Dave wrote:At least the F1 drivers have an accurate simulation of Fuji to use prior to next year's race:

I hope they've moved those billboards further away from the track

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:07 pm

Wow. I guess what goes around, comes around... although, Alonso's car failure at Monza didn't come from P1.

The final race would have been much more exciting with a 2pt gap for the lead, but now it's all but over. I'm sure Renault will put together a conservative package for their engine to make sure it lasts the race, and just finish in the points to take the title.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:03 pm

It's just ironic that with all that was at stake, Ferrari's engine's gives in for the first time this season. This race had a photo finish all over, it's too bad for the red team. And unless Renault has the same bad luck, all Alonso has to do is finish 8th. But the way things have been going for Alonso this year, anything is possible.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:59 pm

Plate racing blows.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:29 pm

I am absolutely gutted. I just can't believe that Dani Pedrosa took out his teammate and my man Nicky Hayden with such a STUPID early move today in the Moto GP race at Estoril.

Nicky's championship hopes are seriously dented, as he's eight points behind Valentino Rossi with one race to go, in two weeks at Valencia. It's the first time Nicky has been out of the lead in forever.

There's absolutely NO way Nicky will return to Repsol Honda after this. First, Pedrosa is their golden boy, and I can't see Nicky wanting to work with him. Second, Repsol Honda refused to issue any team orders today despite Pedrosa being all but out of title contention and Rossi chipping away at Hayden's points lead each of the last four races.

I don't expect team bosses to order Pedrosa to pull over, but I did expect them to tell him to show restraint when racing his teammate.

F*ck Pedrosa. F*ck Repsol Honda. I hope Nicky signs with Team KR -- it's rumored he has an offer -- right after Valencia.

I'm stunned, and I'm PISSED.

EDIT: Hayden re-signed two weeks ago -- doh! I missed it.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Sep/060922c.htm

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:36 am

Wow. Nicky got hosed, just completely t-boned by his fricking teammate! If he just stays in 3rd, or hell even 5th, he's got the championship in the bag. All he would need in the final race would be something in the midpack. Unbelievable.

What would Flavio do if Fisichella took out Alonso with a wreckless move like that in the 2nd to last race of a championship season? Giancarlo would get his ass reamed, but I'm sure REpsol will downplay this.

Pedrosa better have the ride of his life at Valencia, finish 2nd while keeping everyone else back behind Nicky. That's going to be the only way to win the title if Rossi is having a good day, just hope for him to finish 3rd (16pts) and Nicky take 1st (25pts).

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:03 am

I thought it was even more telling when Moto GP analyst Mark Bracks asked late in the race to anyone, "Now that Colin Edwards is running second, do you think he'll have a go at Rossi?"

To which play-by-play announcer Nick Harris said immediately, "No way."

Of course not.

I DESPISE team orders in racing, but when one of the teammates leads the championship with two races remaining, the other teammate shouldn't need to be told that his main job is to protect the leading teammate, not take him out.

The other bummer about this incident is that it overshadowed yet another incredible finish of a Moto GP race. Will anyone even remember that Toni Elias rode the race of his life to beat Rossi for the victory in a photo finish after a final lap that had at least three lead changes?

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:52 am

The Crash, for those who missed it:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... cky+Hayden

UGH!

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:38 pm

pk500 wrote: The other bummer about this incident is that it overshadowed yet another incredible finish of a Moto GP race. Will anyone even remember that Toni Elias rode the race of his life to beat Rossi for the victory in a photo finish after a final lap that had at least three lead changes?

No doubt. Best last half-lap of MotoGP racing from my recent memory. You just knew that Rossi was going to close the gap and make his move, and he did, and almost made it stick... but the drag race to the finish was just awesome. 0.002 seconds apart, it really can't get any closer than that.. you're talking a nut hair apart at the finish.

I loved Rossi in the interview room afterwards, he's such a likeable guy. You could see Elias was nervous and Rossi was teasing him a bit trying to loosen him up.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:10 pm

jondiehl wrote:No doubt. Best last half-lap of MotoGP racing from my recent memory. You just knew that Rossi was going to close the gap and make his move, and he did, and almost made it stick... but the drag race to the finish was just awesome. 0.002 seconds apart, it really can't get any closer than that.. you're talking a nut hair apart at the finish.

The amazing thing was that it arguably was only the third-best final lap of the season. I still put Mugello -- what an amazing complete race, one for my hard drive for the ages -- and Assen, where Edwards and Hayden both wiped out, but Hayden recovered for the win, right there with yesterday's final lap.

jondiehl wrote:I loved Rossi in the interview room afterwards, he's such a likeable guy. You could see Elias was nervous and Rossi was teasing him a bit trying to loosen him up.

Rossi is a very likable dominator. I'm sort of glad that he didn't go to F1 because I think that sport eventually would have sucked the life out of him. Moto GP seems to celebrate free spirits and characters, something that definitely doesn't happen in F1.

Jon, here's an interview with Nicky after the race in case you didn't see it. The guy was practically crying near the end of the interview, and how can you blame him? I think he handled the entire situation with exceptional class in the interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QirRto6RbM

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:58 pm

Great video, thanks for that.

You're right about Assen, totally forgot about that one. What a great season of MotoGP, to say the least.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:40 pm

Was the Valencia Moto GP race live or tape delay for you lot? I'll refrain from doing anything spoilerish until I know I'm not the only person here who's already watched it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:55 pm

Saw it. Loved it. 'Nuff said.

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:27 pm

pk500 wrote:Saw it. Loved it. 'Nuff said.

Yeah, that NASCAR Chase is something else! It really livened up the end of the...

Oh, you weren't talking about NASCAR?

Just saw the headline as well, very cool.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:09 am

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:10 am

That was awesome. It's not like Rossi to choke like that. I couldn't believe it when he went down so early.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:14 am

Yep. It's not like Rossi was touched or hit oil. He just flat lost it, which was astonishing.

By the way, did you see Nicky and Rossi rub elbows at 150 mph on the front straightaway at the start? That was a near calamity right there.

Great shot of Nicky after the race. This title means just a bit to him, don't you think?

Damn, the MotoGP season has been over less than a day, and I miss it like hell already.

Jon: What are your races of the year? Off the top of my head, I have to say Mugello, Assen, Sachsenring, Estoril. I know I'm missing one or two ...

Take care,
PK