Franchitti Didn’t Know . . .
Written by Douglas Brown · August 13, 2007
. . . the race was over? How is that even possible? What was he thinking? Was he thinking?
It was good to hear his comments afterwards because watching him launch up and over Kosuke Matsuura, I was sure one of them had a mechanical problem. Turns out the Indy 500 winner thought they still had laps to run and never lifted off the throttle. Wow! Really!? Amazing.
And why is no one (in the press) talking about it?
I am baffled by this …. you?
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I’m detecting a lot more chatter about this, particularly in the blogosphere. You are right, it’s a very bizarre situation, and I am waiting to see what Brian Barnhart does (if anything). Bear in mind he placed ALL of the drivers ‘on probation’ for the rest of the season at the drivers’ meeting. The Iron Hand of Justice ain’t havin’ it…
Could this be a lapse due to a concussion from last week? To his credit Dario admitted he didn’t realize the race was over. They should test him out THOUROGHLY before letting him race the next event. I can’t believe they’d let him race this week without a medical check, but with a championship on the line, who knows what pressure Dario may have put on the Dr. to let him race?
Did the commentators say that he was racing in lap traffic and that there was no one on the lead lap in his vicinity? I blame his spotter on that. Dario said he got the “checkers” comment just as he hit Kosuke’s tire.
I have to think he wasn’t paying attention (at all) to the flagman or his spotter! I know I would have my spotter telling me at least when there are 5 to go and then when there was only 1 lap left, I would think that would be good information! I would say “TEAM MEETING” is in order! Somebody should have been talking and somebody should have been listening, at the very least! GEEEEEZ!
The guy went from first to last guy on the lead lap because he came in too hot on the pits and was either going to hit Danika or the cone. He hit the cone had to replace his nose and ruined his race. THen he has to come out a deal with lap traffic that he cannot pass because of the damage. He spent about ten laps trying to get around Matsurra in hopes of picking up a few positions before it was over but could not get araound a guy down a lap. I am sure it was very difficult fro him to concentrate considering how mad he must have been with himself for the pitstop snafu. He finally sees a chance to get around this guy but does not know the race is over. The previous wreck had nothing to do with it. He was driving angry and frustrated and it caused a huge wreck. He is damn lucky to walk away from another. Of Course Matsu could have let this guy by 10 laps earlier since he was completely out of the race by that point. I would have had my spotter on that instantly.
It’s easier to miss the checker than you might think at a lot of tracks. Been there, done that, gotten the black flag during the cool-down lap because I was still going 10/10ths.
I’m just glad that Kiwi’s are flightless birds,better than a”Flying Scotsman”on most days.
He made a mistake! We all make mistakes!! He admited it. He will learn from it and move on. We should do the same.
You would think so,but no,still flying.