Double Clutchin’-The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly After Richmond
September 8, 2008
Well, that race certainly doesn’t leave me with much room to complain.
The NASCAR regular season closed itself out on Sunday with one slobberknocker of an event at Richmond. In one of the better races of the season, Jimmie Johnson held off Tony Stewart to win his second race in a row and set himself up to make a legitimate run at his third straight championship, which is kind of impressive. Kind of impressive in the same way that walking into a frat party with a Playboy Bunny on your arm is impressive. Anyways, the Rock and Roll 400 had a little bit of entertainment for everyone, so let’s get started with the G, B, and U:
The Good:
I’ve already made an argument that we may not really appreciate how good Jimmie Johnson is, so I’m not going to go over that again, but when you’re the best driver on a team that has a four-time champ and the son of Dale Earnhardt, you’re probably going to be a tad bit under the radar.
It doesn’t matter whether or not Dale Junior intentionally crashed Kyle Busch or not, the fact is that the timing of it couldn’t be funnier. The guys in the booth had just finished talking about how if Junior was going to get payback that this would not be the time he would get it, and then the next thing you know, Kyle goes for a teacups ride. For the record, I don’t really think that DE88 did it on purpose, but the Kyle Busch haters in the crowd really could have cared less.
A strong second-place finish by Tony Stewart is going to give Smoke some fabulous momentum going into the Chase. Also, anyone who doubts that Stewart is still focused on bringing a championship home and winning races, needs to wind back the DVR and check out Stewart’s reaction upon finishing second. He wanted to win, thought that he had a good chance at the win, and second place was not a bit satisfying to him.
Clint Bowyer clinched the final spot in the Chase with a exclamation mark by moving up seven spots in the final pecking order. Bowyer and his team are having a great season and he’s really positioned himself as a dark horse/wild card/whatever cliche that you want to use, going into the Chase.
The Bad:
I found out the only thing that can stop Kyle Busch’s winning ways. I predicted a win for him on Sunday and he ended up getting used as a pinball for much of the day. Sorry, Kyle. However; even with those obstacles, Kyle still finished 15th, but that’s not acceptable for K Quick. Kyle either belongs up front or in the rear. He’s not a middle-of-the-pack kind of guy. Read more
Ferrari Benefit From FIA Intervention Again
September 8, 2008
Whoda thunk it. Lewis Hamilton wins the Belgian GP in a wet, sliding, mixed up closing two laps, only to be screwed by the FIA and gets demoted to third place. Massa “wins” and Nick Heidfeld benefits by inheriting second place.
The race at Spa Francorchamp is noted for its unpredictable weather, which can dump rain on all or parts of the course at a moments notice. The opening laps and closing laps were affected by the rain. But there was no greater effect on the outcome than the race steward’s clumsy and obvious effort to hand yet another win to Ferrari.
The stewards claimed that Hamilton gained an unfair racing advantage on the penultimate lap, at the bus stop chicane, by cutting the chicane in a passing attempt on Kimi Raikonnen.
Hamilton did in fact cut the chicane, but he was in effect driven off the road by Raikonnen. After coming through the chicane Hamilton was in front of Raikonnen but gave the position back as he knew he must. He repassed Raikonnen by avoiding Kimi’s obvious block and out braking him into the turn one hairpin.
I have tried to be objective in casting my opinion of the incident and here’s how I see it. Hamilton was on a charge, coming down the straight to the bus stop chicane and attempted an outside pass. That part is incontrovertible. Where differences of opinion may form is whether Kimi drove him off the track or if Hamilton had an opportunity to brake and fall back in behind Kimi without cutting the chicane.
There is some doubt, given the damp and wet conditions that Lewis could have braked and not cut the chicane. The McLaren was well beside the Ferrari entering the corner. Surely Kimi was under no obligation to make room for the McLaren (and he didn’t), so cutting the chicane was the only sensible option. Granted he came out ahead of the Ferrari but allowed Kimi to repass. In any other race between two other cars (none named Ferrari!) this would be an accepted maneuver, without penalty to either driver.
Alan Donnelly, Max Mosley’s hand picked supervisor of the stewards at all races, has a lot to answer to over this travesty of racing injustice. Just like the lack of penalty added to Massa’s time due to his unsafe exit into pit lane at the Valencia race, this too should not have earned a penalty. Why? The driver most impacted by the controversy self destructed (Kimi) and could not benefit from any imposed penalty. So why impose one at all?
Anyone who has watched F1 for any length of time knows the answer to that question. The Ferrari Intervention Association is there specifically to assist and abet the Scuderia whenever required.
McLaren have promised to appeal the decision but we all know the outcome of that effort, don’t we?
Just How Good Is Jimmie Johnson?
September 7, 2008
NASCAR traveled cross-country this week, from Fontana to Richmond, but when the day ended, the same car was in victory lane.
Jimmie Johnson turned in another strong performance at Sunday’s, one-day late, Chevy Rock-and-Roll 400, as he held off Tony Stewart for another win, and there is no doubt that Johnson made a serious statement in the last two races of the pre-Chase season. That statement?
In case you’ve forgot I’m pretty good.
Johnson is more than pretty good, and with his recent accomplishments, I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to put him in a very short list of drivers that have a shot at winning the Chase this season.
That would be three in a row.
Put that into perspective. There are several very good drivers that have two championships. One of those drivers, Tony Stewart, is also in the final 12, and this discussion could also be applied to him. There are only seven drivers that have won more than two championships, and should they win Johnson and Stewart would find themselves in truly elite company. We know about Richard’s seven, and Dale’s seven, and Jeff’s four, but the fact that Johnson could win three in a row is pretty special.
How special? Well, here are the drivers that have won three championships in a row:
Cale Yarborough.
Discussion over.
Jimmie Johnson has often been over-shadowed on his own team. Hell, being Jeff Gordon’s teammate is kind of like being Peyton Manning’s little brother. No matter how good you are, you’re always going to be compared to big brother. Now, there’s no doubt that Johnson has cemented himself as a great driver. He’s accomplished that feat whether he wins this season or not.
But if he does win the Cup this season, his place in the record books will be locked down, and Jimmie Johnson will have to be listed as one of the most successful drivers ever.
Rocky Kitts can be reached at wwwthreestrikesandout@yahoo.com or by visiting the website of the same name. He thinks that Johnson is an even better driver than he was a coach of the Dallas Cowboys (what do you mean that was a different guy?)
FastMachines.com Radio Episode #9
September 7, 2008
We’re back with the Pressdog this week to discuss two very big moves in the IRL… Show notes below the fold…
Let us know what you think by commenting on this posting, or shoot Chris and I an email by sending to radio@fastmachines.com.
Click below to listen to us right now in your browser…
Click here to download the MP3 of this week’s podcast and load it on your iPod or whatever you listen to your tunes on.
The FastMachines.com Radio Podcast is brought to you by:
Michelin - Race to Learn, Race to Win
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Hamilton and Massa take the fight to Belgium
September 6, 2008
The F1 driver’s championship took up right where it left off, with Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa going head-to-head and qualifying one-two respectively for tomorrow’s Belgium Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen was outpaced by his teammate and both McLarens again, qualifying in P4.
Massa seemed poised to take the pole position after posting the fastest time in Friday practice, but the McLaren team had something to say about it.
Field set for Chicagoland, final points race
September 6, 2008
The Indy Car Series moves to Joliet, Illinois this weekend for the final points race of the season. Scott Dixon is poised to win a Championship with a solid 30 point lead, which means that he only has to finish eight to lock the title.
MotoGP countdown to Indy
September 6, 2008
History is to be made in less than five days as the MotoGP Championship comes back to the United States for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IMS actually began it’s history as the site of motorcycle racing, so it is fitting that the two-wheelers are returning to some of the most hallowed ground in motor racing.
The spot-on favorite to win is Valentino Rossi who has won the last three races including the most recent San Marino Grand Prix at Misano. Rossi’s heaviest contender, Casey Stoner, has been fast but inconsistent in the last handful of races, and has faltered when up against the super-quick Italian with ice-water in his veins.
The local American favorite, Nicky Hayden, will come to Indy a little banged up. The Kentucky Kid sat out of the San Marino GP with a bruised heel, but is scheduled to compete for the full schedule at Indy. Hayden, who has struggled all year with his Repsol Honda, is reported to be moving to Ducati next year as a teammate to Casey Stoner.
Video - Corsa Zytek hybrid LMP1 testing
September 6, 2008
Corsa Motorsports is breaking new ground in motor racing heading into one of the biggest events on the American Le Mans Series calendar. Corsa will be racing their new hybrid designed Zytek that features a kinetic engery recover system (KERS). Johnny Mowlem and Gunnar Jeannette will pilot the new machine at the Petit Le Mans and the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Corsa has released a video of some early testing footage which is available below.
Richmond Rain Benefits Top 14 Chasers!
September 5, 2008
With qualifying rained out NASCAR starts the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 according to points. That guarantees the cars involved in the race for the Chase will all start up front. As long as Jr., or somebody else, doesn’t try passing on the outside coming down for the green flag, nobody should have to fight for track position. That means these guys will have their futures largely left in their own hands. Barring one of the higher ups going out of the race early, the three way battle between Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne will decide who starts the Chase in the final position. It’s going to be a tight finish, with two teams Read more
Notes On Cali, Notes On Richmond
September 4, 2008
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so
(Lyrics property of one LL Cool J)
Ok, I’m over California. First, we’re treated to a race that was about as exciting as watching what new types of bacteria are developing inside my refrigerator, and then on Monday night I got to watch my Vols go out to Cali and completely Michael Waltrip all over the place in Pasadena. Read more