Monday Morning Crew Chief
Written by Jonathan Ingram · July 9, 2007
Gentlemen, Start Your Fisticuffs And Legal Procedings
It’s difficult to determine what sells more race tickets: controversy between drivers — which in the modern era is generally reduced to angry exchanges once they climb out of the cars — or the European-style duels played out in the form of legal minuets between teams.
Personally, I like them both. No matter how the passion rises to the surface, for motor racing to work as spectacle, from time to time there has to be more than a demonstration of commitment behind the wheel.
Stateside this weekend, there was Tony Stewart dressing down teammate Denny Hamlin at Daytona. Although “Smoke” can be acused of having only one gear (high dander), in effect Hamlin was stuck in one gear (lead-the-race-at-all-costs). Hamlin used more ego than discretion with an ill-handling car in the opening laps and got hit by “Big Orange” after slowing precipitously in the groove. Then Tony let his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate have it with the hot air gun as well.
At Watkins Glen, Tony Kanaan got blasted by Sam Hornish for cutting him off in the pit road at the end of the cool-down lap after the two got out, another good call. What happens on the track, as far as the cars go, should stay on the track.
When Hornish’s father jumped in and shoved Kanaan on the pit road, things got out of hand much like fights at the high school dance. (Everybody grabs a partner and they all go down in a heap.)
These guys never fight as well as they drive, it seems. I happened to be in victory lane at Texas when Arie Luyendyk went down after one sucker punch from A.J. Foyt. The Dutchman never got in a single lick, unless you count telling Foyt and his driver Billy Boat that the trophy they were receiving belonged to him.
(Luyendyk turned out to be right a day later when totally confused scoring handled by USAC was double-checked; he got the win and USAC got the boot.)
Given Danica Patrick’s outburst versus Dan Wheldon in Milwaukee and now the Kanaan vs. Hornish duel, the blood is less than placid between the teams of Andretti Green, Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing.
Back in the Old World this weekend, a torrid donnybrook broke out as Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes and Honda all hurled legal klag around on issues ranging from sabotage to the passing of proprietary secrets.
At the center of the storm, Ferrari’s Jean Todt played the role of Wimpy. “I will gladly give you an answer on Tuesday,” he replied to all questions. That’s the day the High Court in Britain goes public with the accusations of industrial espionage-type thievery by Ferrari against McLaren’s designer.
Did this load the emotional docket at the British Grand Prix, where the two dominant teams faced off on the track? Was Ferrari’s victory on the British team’s home turf with former McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen that much sweeter, given the post-race court precedings? More than likely. Will the crack in the McLaren armor be further breeched by Tuesday’s procedings? Stay tuned, says Todt.
So there you have it. Grudge matches in all directions on both sides of the pond, within teams and between teams. Tune in Tuesday and at racing rings everywhere in the coming weekends.
Jonathan Ingram can be reached at jingrambooks.com.
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I just watch the video & while I should be disapproving all I can do is laugh.
My God! What is it about the IRL, road courses & that track. Last year it was our perennial “favourite” Eddie “I’m a 500 winner” Cheever punting young Marco off the road, this year it’s the grumpy old fathers of drivers.
Did you notice that Marco had the good sense to stop his own Dad from getting involved? Glad too see the kid has inherited Grandpa’s brains.
If it were another series I would be calling for sanctions. As it’s these monkeys I say throw Tony George & Gene “I’ Mindy” Simmons in to the melee & let them all have it out. Maybe it will knock some sense into their collective thick heads. If nothing else they need the publicity & it’s a damn sight more entertaining than Danica having a go at Weldon.
On a serious note, I can’t imagine Roger Penske putting up with a family member behaving this way, Roger will have Sam’s Dad watching from the stands in future methinks.
These little battles whether on or off track can be good as long as it doesn’t become the story. You missed another controversy after the 400 at Daytona. Kyle said regarding his teammates: “I hadn’t been getting much help,” … “They went their way and I went my way.” Also, he says: “Walking down pit road and saying” ‘Congratulations’ to (teammate) Jeff Gordon, I got blown off,” Of course this shouldn’t be a big revelation since he’s leaving at years end. As far as Penske, he seems to be softer in his old age. And Sam, who used to be the coolest guy out there has definitely gotten chippy lately.
I do believe that it’s Denny Hamlin…….not Kevin!!!
Good call. And thanks for the update. Kevin Hamlin was Earnhardt’s crew chief at Childress. I must have had a late-night flashback. I changed it to Denny. (And to think last week’s column was all about Denny… )
It’s too bad the controversy wasn’t between Danica and Sam. We could have seen a “My dad can beat up your dad” confrontation. Or better yet how about Dario’s lovely wife kicking Danica’s ass? She has been fortunate so far that no driver is yet willing to retaliate against a woman driver, but I bet Ashly would clock her given a chance, and that would be a fair fight. Get Vince McMahon on the phone and fire that Iamindy Gene Simmons twit.
Time to keep all immediate family members off of pit road and the entire paddock area for that matter.