A Tough Call To Make
Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the race that sort of happened this weekend, I will not do the usual “Random Thoughts” where I break down different parts of the weekend’s race and telecast that stood out to me. Instead, I will give my thoughts on the decision made by IndyCar to postpone the remainder of the race at Texas Motor Speedway until Saturday August 27th.
For those that don’t know, the Firestone 600 did not run on Saturday night. Heavy rains during the day and extremely high humidity during the evening combined to make drying the track impossible. I believe it. I live in the south, so I know what those thick humid nights are like.
They tried to get the race in yesterday. After a further delay due to a weeper in Turn Two, the engines finally fired and the cars rolled off the grid about thirty minutes later than scheduled.
For forty-three laps, there was good racing. The expected tire-degradation forced drivers to pit for tires sooner than they needed fuel. Ryan Hunter-Reay soared to the front to chase his pole-winning teammate Carlos Muñoz. His other two Andretti Autosport teammates, were not faring so well. Marco Andretti dropped like a stone, while Alexander Rossi was getting an education to what racing on a high-banked 1.5 mile oval was like.
Rossi actually charged to the front in the early stages, but as his tires went away – things got dicey for the newest Indianapolis 500 winner. Twice as he was coming out of Turn Four, his car got loose and it looked as if it were only a matter of time before the twenty-four year-old rookie would stuff it into the fence.
When I saw a crash beginning coming out of Turn Four on Lap 43, I assumed it was Rossi and he had collected someone else. Then as I watched, the crash went from bad to horrific. One car was upside down and was later slammed again into the outside wall along the front-stretch with the dreaded angle of cockpit-first. As the cars slid to a halt, I recognized that the car catching the worst of it was the bright-green Fuzzy’s car of Josef Newgarden. The other was the car of Conor Daly, who was uninjured.
My mind immediately rushed back to two other cockpit-first crashes that turned out deadly – Greg Moore and Dan Wheldon. This was certainly the worst crash I’ve seen since the crash at Las Vegas in the season finale when we lost Dan Wheldon.
Quite honestly, I feared the worst for Newgarden. I don’t claim to be best friends with Josef Newgarden, but I know him and he knows me. My heart sank for what seemed like an eternity until Paul Tracy announced that he saw both drivers moving around in the cockpit. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the Nashville native climb out of his car and stand, before having to sit on the track pavement as he received medical attention. Miraculously, Newgarden only suffered a fractured clavicle and a fracture in his right hand.
Daly rightfully accepted all blame for the incident and said it was a rookie mistake. I’m no driver, but replays show that Daly violated the oldest rule in oval racing – never turn right. Trying to correct his slide, Daly instinctively jerked the wheel to the right – something even grizzled veterans might do. When he did, the car went to the right and collected Newgarden.
Had this crash occurred twenty years ago without all of the safety advances, this crash probably would have had a more devastating outcome.
The more pleasant outcome of yesterday did nothing to silence the usual cast of characters who never pass up the opportunity of a tragedy or near-tragedy to climb on their predictable soapboxes. Before Newgarden had been strapped to the board and loaded onto a stretcher, there was the usual chirping from those that insist that canopies should have been made standard equipment on IndyCars five years ago.
That argument has grown tiresome. It’s easier said than done, as many have pointed out. I believe that IndyCar officials are looking into what type of protective device for use in the next generation car. But to listen to these loons, you get the idea that racing should be suspended until something can be done for these cars. Fortunately, cooler heads make these decisions.
I was also surprised to see comments from people I have the highest respect for, insisting that IndyCar should abandon the 1.5 mile ovals immediately. To their credit, one later returned to social media to say that his emotions had gotten the best of him.
As they tended to Newgarden and the scattered debris among the front-stretch, the SAFER Barrier was in need of repair. Teams tried to set pit strategy and have cars come in at various times under the extended yellow. It was all wasted energy as the rains came and the race was red-flagged on Lap 71. There was speculation whether the race would resume Sunday night or be carried over until Monday.
At 5:00 local time, IndyCar President of Competition and Operations Jay Frye and TMS President Eddie Gossage held a press conference where it was announced that the remainder of the race would be run on Saturday August 27th. The race will resume at Lap 72 and will be in the same order where the race was red-flagged. Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden would be eligible to rejoin the race, but would be almost thirty laps down.
The press conference was carried live on IndyCar’s Facebook page. The comments I saw flowing at the bottom of the screen were some of the most asinine comments I’ve ever seen. It really made me appreciate the intelligent people that come to this site. Immediately, the Legions of the Miserable came out in full-force. They criticized everything from the decision to run the race more than two months later, to the track and IndyCar management and blamed anyone within five miles of Texas Motor Speedway for all of the ills of the world.
Is this an ideal situation? No, but ideal situations were washed away with yesterdays downpour.
At the risk of sounding like an IndyCar apologist, I’m not sure what else could be done. The forecast for Monday was much like Saturday and Sunday. In fact, it’s been that way for the last several weeks in Texas. This was not just the case of taking time to let the track dry after a brief shower. Texas has had so much rain that it has no where to go. Plus, they are dealing with old asphalt at Texas. Old asphalt becomes more porous and that has been exacerbated by the use of NASCAR’s Air Titan. I don’t claim to be a civil engineer, but it made sense as Eddie Gossage was explaining it in yesterday’s press conference.
In short, this was not an issue that would likely resolve itself within the normal track-drying time frame.
There was also the issue of a few drivers that needed to already be airborne for Le Mans. That’s not really IndyCar’s concern, but there were big-moneyed programs tied to this and to IndyCar’s credit, they took that into consideration.
Then there was the most contentious issue of all – picking up the race at Lap 72. It seems that many fans want to just scrap what happened this weekend and start over in August. Jay Frye was emphatic in saying that the rulebook makes it very clear that the race will be resumed where it left off in this instance. Had the race carried over to Monday, it would have resumed at the same point and no one would say anything. Why would resuming it two and a half months later be any different?
That didn’t seem to matter to fans as they moaned that it wasn’t fair to Daly or Newgarden that they should be left out. If you follow that logic, is it fair to Carlos Muñoz to say his pole didn’t count and he has to re-qualify? That’s what you would have to do if you acted as if this weekend didn’t happen.
As unfortunate as it is that Daly and Newgarden crashed, is it fair to give them a do-over? Alexander Rossi is seventeen points behind Newgarden in the championship hunt. Do you think he wants to let Newgarden back in the race? No and he shouldn’t. This would be his chance to move up to fourth in points, or whatever respective position they are in come late August. It’s bad luck, but no one ever said racing was fair.
Speaking of Rossi, he probably feels his quick hands kept him out of the wall yesterday and he’s probably right. It’s quite an accomplishment on his part that he made it to Lap 71. Would it be fair to say that none of that counted, just because two of the most popular drivers would be thirty laps down if they chose to race in August? For the record, I think both should run the race in August. If Newgarden and Helio are still separated by only twelve points and Helio goes out on Lap 100, while Newgarden goes the distance – Newgarden takes Helio’s place in the standings. Every point counts, so of course they should both run.
Would it be a better show if IndyCar pretended this weekend never took place? Of course, but that would be unfair and a violation of the rulebook. If you don’t follow the rulebook, why even have one? If you don’t like the rule, change it going forward. But it is what was in place when the race was rescheduled, so that’s what you do. In my opinion, it’s a moot point that is not even up for debate.
This was a tough call to make, but I think IndyCar and Eddie Gossage worked together to come up with the best solution under strange set of circumstances.
And one more thing…those that were complaining about IndyCar management being worse today than ever, have no clue what they are talking about. I am not a fan of Mark Miles, but if you’ll notice – this season, Jay Frye has been the face and voice of IndyCar. In my opinion, he is the strongest leader of CART, Champ Car, the IRL or the Verizon IndyCar Series. He has a good head on his shoulders and he gets things done. If fans will give him a chance and Mark Miles allows him to do his job, he can take this series to levels that fans only dreamed of.
So, I am very disappointed that there was very little racing to be discussing today. But there are many bright sides to it. First of all, it gives us a second race in August. Previously, the race at Pocono was the only IndyCar race scheduled for the month of August. That should also add more pressure to the championship fight that late in the season. It will give Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly a chance to improve on their last place finishes at Texas, which is what they would have had the race continued to the halfway point before the rains came.
Best of all, we are bickering and debating what should and shouldn’t happen today rather than mourning the loss of another IndyCar driver. Yesterday’s crash could have been so much worse. Get well soon, Josef!
George Phillips
Oilpressure 
June 13, 2016 at 4:16 am
Thanks for the insight George. Totally agree.
June 13, 2016 at 5:00 am
-very good blogging, as usual, George-
I truly like many things you say and the way that you say them.
My eyes were wet when I feared a horrible outcome for Newgarden.
A talking head telling me that he was moving in his cockpit doesn’t tell me that he’s not writhing in agony or desiring to exit a burning car.
Again when Newgarden slumped to the pavement, my eyes were wet. I was so relieved when he waved to spectators and them gave a thumb up before he was pushed into an ambulance.
I was the fifth to ‘vote’ this moring … and the rulebook reads what it reads …
June 13, 2016 at 6:20 am
George, I have a suggestion for you. You spend entirely too much time on “social media.” (God I hate that term) Stay away from that crap and you won’t have to worry about the complainers and constant critics. I don’t read any of that stuff, don’t even have a Facebook account, and I’m happy as a lark. (Well, I really don’t think Newgarden and Daly should be allowed to run in August, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.
Thanks for another great column, George.
June 13, 2016 at 7:10 am
I think I am going to take your advice for myself you directed to George, John..
June 13, 2016 at 7:06 am
Thank God Josef Newgarden is ok and was not taken from us yesterday. He is truly a shining light in IndyCar, and if he was lost….I can’t even think about it. I for see a endlessly bright future for him. I too came across some comments about yesterdays events and they are truly “asinine” as you said George. I don’t to twitter (except for news), I just can’t deal with it). Are IndyCar fans just getting more stupid, or is it all just our new society we now live in ? People who have the inclination to say something and immediately jump on social media to further embarrass themselves by making their thoughts public. The “drive by ” fans that are chiming in with the idiotic comments that inevitably flow in anytime there is a situation like yesterday at TMS is truly depressing. These people are so clearly ignorant with their moronic comments, I could write a couple of pages on this. I struggle to keep it short on the replies here George so I will just leave it at that.
June 13, 2016 at 7:41 am
That may have been a rhetorical question, but it’s not confined to Indycar, it’s the society we live in.
June 13, 2016 at 7:38 am
And a discussion is lacking that I have yet to read with the exception of the article that I have pasted..
With every incident there are usually opportunities to learn, if one cares to.
Until I read the following article I was not aware that the ‘rollhoop’ on Josef’s car failed. Yes, failed……………….
An additional thought based upon Texas Motor Speedway’s perpetual track condition, it is well beyond the time for Indycar to advance into a more modern facility (the Circuit of the Americas – COTA) in Texas and leave the vintage Texas Motor Speedway as a chapter in the history books.
From David Malsher, US Editor
Sunday Yesterday at 11:13pm
Bill Pappas, VP of competition and engineering, has told Motorsport.com that IndyCar intends to introduce extra cockpit protection, and that Josef Newgarden’s rollhoop-tearing shunt “reiterates the importance of that.”
A shunt on lap 42 of the now postponed Firestone 600, saw Newgarden’s Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevy flip onto its side between Conor Daly’s Dale Coyne Racing-Honda and the wall. The top surface of Newgarden’s car then made two impacts with the SAFER barrier, in the course of which his rollhoop broke as it dug into the impact-absorbing SAFER barrier.
Pappas told Motorsport.com: “We’re working flat out on figuring what is the right way to substantially improve cockpit protection.
“We were hoping to get something out before the end of the year and we’re still hoping for that,” he said. “Newgarden’s shunt just reiterates the importance of that.”
Pappas, who was a close friend of Justin Wilson, who died after being struck on the helmet by debris at Pocono Raceway last year, has been an advocate of increased head protection for open-wheel racing.
He says it is likely to take the form of an aeroscreen – as tested recently on the Red Bull Racing RB12 Formula 1 car – rather than the Mercedes- and Ferrari-style halo devices.
“At this point we’re leaning toward a screen,” he said.
Asked if it could be introduced as soon as 2017, Pappas said: “Yes, that’s the idea.”
Pappas also confirmed that in the course of Newgarden’s shunt, the rollhoop on ECR’s Dallara DW12 broke.
“Yeah, the speed and angle was such that the rollhoop dug into the SAFER barrier, and that ended up taking the rollhoop off,” said Pappas. “So when the car tipped over, the track surface ground away at the tub and his shoulder, through the carbon and honeycomb.
“It’s a tribute to the rest of the car that he was able to get out of that.”
June 13, 2016 at 11:37 am
Consider me among the ‘loons’ whose opinion is that it is well past time to extend cockpit protection or even fully enclose the drivers cockpit. I was also one of the ‘loons’ who did call for a cessation of racing after Sonoma following the Wilson death at Pocono, until a better method could be made. Yes, it is an emotional reaction, but also not one to necessarily discount because of that fact. That emotion exists partially because we’ve seen serious injury and death from exposed heads happen all too often before and we’ve failed to progress in any substantive solutions for several years aside from adding an extra reinforcement to the helmet visor, and the latest iteration of the HANS device.
At a minimum, an extended screen would also help retain drivers hands/arms which are now so perilously close to being exposed in a rollover type crash as well, but I fear head impacts 100 times more than I worry about any other potential ingress/egress issues related to further extending the protection of, or fully enclosing the cockpit.
If you have a chance, please review slowly the crash footage from Texas. Not only is it alarming to me that the roll hoop dug into the SAFER barrier and was broken, but also see the initial impact when Daly’s (or Josef’s) tire is directed toward the cockpit, and bringing with it the rear-view mirror/suspension parts.
The driver’s cockpit opening is currently and most significantly the area of least protection for a driver. Extending more protection is needed, vitally and immediately, if not sooner.
I fully support Pappas’ ongoing efforts and hope against hope that we have no more incidents until some extended protection can be implemented, ideally prior to the start of the 2017 season.
June 14, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Here, here!
Sorry but in this day and age there is little tolerance remaining for what may very well be preventable deaths and serious injury. Particularly as a result of the possible inaction of the sanctioning bodies, to address what is widely seen as a vulnerable area regarding driver protection.
It may also be a distinct possibility that regardless of whatever protections are put into place, that the speeds and energies associated with high(er) powered race cars ( open or closed wheel) have simply reached the point where it is no longer possible to confidently predict that a car won’t somehow clear or penetrate the catch fencing.
It’s simply a question of when, not if. Smaller events have already occurred; Michigan, Charlotte, IMS, Houston, Daytona, etc. All where pieces of the cars entered the crowd at high speed, killing and injuring spectators. And Darios incident in Houston, where an improperly installed FENCE itself ended up in the stands. Eventually, fences simply will not be enough to contain a 1500 lb car moving at 200 mph, launched after wheel to wheel contact.
It may very well be time to significantly alter, or perhaps abandon venues like TMS, or even Indianapolis. What is the terminal speed of an Indycar entering turns 1 and 3? 240? Everyone watched Marios end over end crash in testing years ago; the car was higher than the top of the catch fence. Tony Renna’s fatal crash reportedly had a significant part of the car into the grandstands. Fortunately the Speedway was empty.
Comprehisive cockpit protection is the LEAST that Indycar and F1 can do. Those of us that think that way aren’t loons just because you don’t agree.
June 14, 2016 at 2:30 pm
As I originally said…the loons are those that take the opportunity of a tragedy or near-tragedy to climb on their soapbox. The usual suspects were chirping about it long before Newgarden was loaded into the ambulance.
As I also said, IndyCar has been working on a solution. The loons are those that insist that the racing be stopped until a canopy is bolted onto every car on the grid, regardless of the ultimate and unintended consequences.
Knee-jerk reactions rarely give desired results because they are hardly ever thought through properly. That’s my opinion. Those that disagree with my opinions aren’t loons. Those that react irrationally without thinking are loons. – GP
June 13, 2016 at 7:44 am
Good call by Jay Frye and Eddie Gossage. Back in 1986 the Indianapolis 500 had the same situation with the Indiana weather so after seeing their second attempt on that Monday get trained out they ran it the next Saturday with Bobby Rahal winning on live television.
A big thanks went out to Milwaukee for rescheduling their race a week later to accomodate the 500’s situation.
With that, I welcome the new date. However, I did enjoy the interviews and programs on TK and the 100th Running. However, I want to go racing.
June 13, 2016 at 7:47 am
All the safety precautions placed on these cars, the driver and the track worked. This crash could have been a lot worse, thank God it wasn’t. I believe we all get comfortable watching these guys race. They truly make it look easy when it isn’t. They “are” that good. But when things do go wrong, it can go bad very quickly.
I do have one issue George, that is your lack of fondness for Mark Miles. While we can agree to disagree, I believe Miles has slowly built a pretty good team of people. Jay Frye is another one of those selections. Usually by now, the paddock would be squabbling, all issues may have festered, but all have been worked through. I believe the scheduling issues will slowly go away over time and a race schedule is slowly being put in place that satisfies most.
If anything good came from the Boston cancellation, it is that an old cronie like myself will attend my 1st road race at Watkins Glen. Looking forward to it. Thanks George for this blog, keep up the good work.
June 13, 2016 at 7:51 am
Great post, George. I do think Indycar may have outgrown the 1.5 mile ovals. I have thought this for a couple years now. Even though the roll hoop broke, it stayed in place long enough to prevent a more tragic outcome.
June 13, 2016 at 7:59 am
Debating aside, I am just thankful we aren’t writing condolence pieces for another driver lost. The lump I had in my throat was very reminiscent to 10-16-11 when I saw that car sliding to the wall. I do wish we could just restart the race but that’s not the rules so it is what it is. Glad Josef will be able to race again and is alive quite honestly, Safer barriers saved his life no doubt, but I am sure NASCAR will take credit for that.
June 13, 2016 at 8:24 am
Grim weapers. A green car. I was really looking forward to Newgarden racing at Road America, but it is doubtful he can heal that quickly. Like everyone in the racing community I am happy that his injuries were not worse. I imagine it was frightening for Sarah to pass that wreck in the pace car. I don’t follow social media. I will simply say this about the decision to runoff the race in August: I am grateful for any promoter willing to host a IndyCar race and to all the people involved in putting on a race right down to the parking lot attendents. Can you imagine the stress on Eddie Gossage, Jay Frye, the teams, and everyone involved in having to decide what to do? Those folks whining or othewise running off at the keypad on social media had little or nothing at stake.
There is one thing I don’t get and perhaps someone here can enlighten me. I don’t understand why the series would want Firestone to bring a tire that degrades before the cars run out of fuel. According to Daly he lost grip in his rear tires.
June 13, 2016 at 8:29 am
That is an excellent point. When the fact that tire degradation was by design was mentioned in the telecast, it sounded like another case of manufactured drama – this time in the name of safety. – GP
June 13, 2016 at 11:00 am
The only way the powers that be have found acceptable for “putting the race back in the hands of the drivers”, so to speak, on the 1.5D’s is to introduce a tire that degrades. Think back to the objections of Dario et al regarding LVMS in 2011, including Dixon’s statement that any crew chief could drive the old car around that track at over 220 mph (as long as he didn’t freak out.) There is so much downforce available with the DW12 and current oval kits such that without a tire that is subject to fairly easy degradation, running flat out until the fuel runs out would not be a problem–and likely result in a real pack race. RHR mentioned that with the current package for TMS, both the setup and the driving technique cannot be over-reliant on the right rear tire because once it goes off, nothing the driver does can bring it back (Marco seemed to prove that yesterday.) It’s why, IMHO, there’s a fundamental technology mismatch between the DW12 and the high banked tracks, if the only way to make for a “good race” is to use a tire that doesn’t perform as well as possible on long runs.
June 14, 2016 at 6:41 am
Somewhere in those hours of coverage I’m sure I heard (or read?) someone say that the degrading tire was put in eliminate pack racing. All I could think of was a one groove track covered in marbles
June 13, 2016 at 8:42 am
At this venue, is it the combination of the quality of the track surface, high banked corners, down force, speed, lateral forces, driving style, etc. which together create a challenge for any tire manufacture to mediate?
I question if any compound or combination of compounds are capable of being designed into a durable tire to counter all these stresses. Some stresses may be overcome but not all in one tire.
June 13, 2016 at 10:30 am
Thank you Bruce. I only brought it up because I thought I had read somewhere that Firestone had been asked to bring a tire that degraded quickly.
June 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm
You have expanded well on why I think the DW12 has outgrown 1.5 mile tracks. I am not very mechanically savvy, so can’t explain things in detail. It has just seemed to me that these cars don’t work well on these tracks. Thanks for the details on what i was trying to say.
June 13, 2016 at 9:47 am
Thank you, George, for a fair and measured look at a race weekend that mostly wasn’t. My mood was damp enough after being pelted with rain during a mad dash to the car on Sunday, then I too made the mistake of looking at social media, message boards, and comments sections, which did nothing to improve it. I understand that no one is happy about this weekend, there is no reason to be. It wasn’t good for Indycar, it wasn’t good for TMS, and it wasn’t good for the fans. Unfortunately, there are times when mother nature will not allow us to race. There is reason for criticism and there is reason to vent, but efforts to be fair in the process are most appreciated.
I will applaud three things about this otherwise miserable weekend, though:
First, the decision to reschedule the balance of the race in August is far-and-away the best one that could be made for the fans, allowing many more to attend than attempting to finish today or tomorrow would. I expect to be back in August while I would not have been able to make it today and I’m sure there are many others like me.
Second, having several drivers come into the grandstands on Saturday night to meet fans, sign autographs, and pose for pictures was a tremendous gesture by the series and the drivers themselves. Few racing series would have done this, and it hopefully won over some fans on a night when the weather and the weepers conspired to take them away.
Third, the safety developments made in this sport over the past decades that went a long way toward lessening Josef Newgarden’s injuries. Yes, there is more work to do in the name of safety, but we can also be glad that what we have now did prevent the worst in a situation where it likely would not have years ago.
June 13, 2016 at 10:33 am
Thanks for mentioning that the drivers went into the stands to meet fans. An outstanding gesture that will likely be long remembered by those fans lucky enough to be able to interact.
June 13, 2016 at 10:33 am
hey George. I belive the decision they made was the correct one. who would there to watch them run. im thankful for the way dallara builds such strong cars . if it wasn’t designed and built so well we could be in mouring. are pt and rm still so sure they are crap wagons.
as far as the fans go as long the old line followers of a former seris have large numbers they will do nothing but complain and taer down wat ever they do.say the old irl fans in that group but most could care less any more.
as far as jay frye goes I agree hes doing a great job so far.
June 13, 2016 at 11:45 am
I have zero problem with the decision to postpone the race to August and the corresponding ruling on laps, participants, etc. Seems the best solution for the most people involved.
I only hope Indycar resolves the leader/2nd place car issue ASAP and don’t let it drag until August 26th to solve.
This whole weekend reminded me a bit of Indy 1973. Thankfully no fatalities this time around.
June 13, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I think it was the right call, especially given the forecast. At least I prefer it from a spectator standpoint. I’d rather just try again in August and watch at scheduled time than try to catch it at 3 a.m. or whatever.
June 13, 2016 at 2:20 pm
I was able to watch some of the TV coverage Saturday and thought it was quite entertaining and provided a great look at a number of the drivers and their personalities. For some people who might have been watching, but are new to This sport, what they saw might have done more to create interest int he series and watching a race might have. Hopefully all will watch the conclusion of the race.
George, I disagree with the decision to allow Daly and Josef to race when the contest resumes. Without the long delay, there is no way either would have been able to get back in the race. They crashed, were knocked out of the race. Period.
As much as I like both of them, and would like to see them race, I don’t believe that is fair to the other competitors.
June 13, 2016 at 5:25 pm
IndyCar at Texas used to be 2nd most attended race behind the 500 from late 90s to mid 2000s
June 13, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I thought the decision to postpone the race to August was excellent. And as it turned out, we got drenched most of Monday anyway (which was the forecast), so they would not have been able to run today, or even likely on Tuesday. I think Eddie Gossage does his best to promote this race–often giving it a lot of attention on radio and television leading up to the race, so I felt bad for him yesterday when mother nature would not cooperate.
It also gives me another opportunity to go to the race–hopefully I’ll get to stay dry this time!
June 13, 2016 at 6:11 pm
I like your comments about Jay Frye, he is a go getter, has respect of most of the paddock and does “get things done” i.e. Phoenix, Road America and Watkings Glen!
Miles, turn him loose! We have needed a “leader” for a long time, not just a baby sitter.
June 13, 2016 at 11:40 pm
I was pretty nervous when they showed the crash over and over on how lucky our young lad Newgarden is still with us.
Let’s be honest with ourselves racing is racing and regardless how safe you make these cars wrecks are going to happen. That’s the nature of the beast and why racing is not cut out for most of us.
Driving on our Highways is just as dangerous if not more so. How many people lose their lives each and every day and not much is said. Yet when a race car driver does we scream this must end.
Social Media is where every nut case can come on and blubber away and not make much sense because he is hiding behind a screen name.
Social Media has it’s place but like everything else now a days, you have to consider the guy on the other end.
I have found the Verizon Indy Car Site to be enjoyable to watch the cars track position, but I sure wish I could just block out the blog on the side of it. One silly comment after another.
I’m looking forward to a race back in Texas at the end of August and I’m fine with picking up the the race where we left off.
The pole shows that to be be an overwhelming consensus.
Get well soon Josef, hope to see you at Road America. At least as a fan
Indy Car needs Jay Frye, best thing to happen to Indy Car in a long time.