IRL to Marco and Cheever: Cool It!
Written by Allan Brewer · June 9, 2006
Indy Racing League’s Brian Barnhart has some advice for the rookie and the rogue: stow it guys.
Indy Racing League president Brian Barnhart has ordered feuding drivers Marco Andretti and Eddie Cheever to call off the verbal volleys to and fro over the incident involving them last Sunday at Watkins Glen.
IndyStar.com: Barnhart Asserts Both Sides Accountable
Barnhart met with Cheever and Andretti-Green Racing co-owners Thursday evening at Texas Motor Speedway where the league is racing Saturday night. He also planned to meet with the 19-year-old rookie.
Barnhart said Cheever “absolutely, positively” did not collide with Andretti on purpose, but he added Cheever made a mistake in failing to identify and yield to the faster Andretti, who was going to pass him on the road course. The contact sent Andretti into the retaining wall and the tire barrier.
Marco, on the other hand, has something to consider from the incident too. “The next time such a situation presents itself, Marco probably won’t put the car in the same position. That just gets chalked up to experience,” Barnhart said.
Meanwhile, the youngest Andretti continued to insist that veteran Cheever be held accountable. “All I can say is it’s one of two things,” he said. “One, he did it on purpose, or two, he didn’t see me. Which is worse? If he doesn’t see me here (at TMS), what happens?”
Barnhart did not comment on a second incident involving Cheever earlier in the race at Watkins Glen. Danica Patrick was recorded on in-car audio as calling Cheever “an idiot” after her can spun and stalled on the track during a restart with Cheever immediately behind her.
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Sad to say that IRL has really diminished. In days past you would see cars come to Indy for the start of the Indy season that had many individual inovations…..not anymore…it’s more like a boring IROC race….also because of the class IRL used to have you would never see a teenager racing in Indy nor should you. I am not a Cheever fan by any means but the sport reeks of punk crybabies.
No class…..Sad
From the wire:
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage had a special greeting for IndyCar Series driver Eddie Cheever Jr. as the two passed near the Dallas Morning News Media Center earlier today.
Gossage told Cheever, who was involved in a controversy with rookie Marco Andretti, “Eddie, I could kiss you right now!”
Gossage had complained publicly earlier this year about his race being moved later in the schedule to accomodate the infamous event at Watkins Glen immediately following the prestigious Indy 500.