Reading all these tribute posts on Roy’s behalf aren’t just fantastic, but they also affirm just how damn good of a community the IndyCar blogosphere is. I’ve never met any of you – and in fact I’m sure plenty of us have never actually met each other (or am I just an outsider?) – but that doesn’t matter. Each and every one of the bloggers I read, I feel like I know personally.

I felt like I knew Roy best of all. I try not to write like it, usually, but the sense of humor that came through in the Pagoda posts matches up with mine very well. (I have a Scott Dixon mood finder on my fridge, no joke.) But those occasional serious posts stood out even more because of the crazy ones. It was a move of genius. Write a half-dozen BATSH*T INSANE diatribes on things like the contents of E.J. Viso’s car, and then BAM – we get a post about how home repairs inspired him to get over the stupid IndyCar trophy debate. Classic. You’re right, George – the man’s a writer.

And seeing as I’m in college, I should have no problem living vicariously with the inspiration of the Pagoda posts. (It’ll also make me the life of every party I attend.)

I know I’ve said it before, but thanks for everything, Roy. And thanks for this piece, George – this was one of the best tributes I’ve read to anyone in a long time. Hopefully I’ll meet you both this May. Can’t buy either of you a beer, though. Too young. You’ll have to take the cash from me.

The only news worst than this is if a bunch of Republicans got elected. Oh, wait.

George I would like to suggest that when the snow finally melts off the Pagoda this spring you and some of your fellow bloggers and bloggerettes travel to Indy armed with spatulas and a case of Ritalin and drag the Hobbster back to his keyboard.

In the meantime, perhaps one of you could see to it that his body of work gets published (no cell phone pictures please) and marketed to raise money for his favorite charity. (And/or a six-pack of turpentine)

Thanks for the link to the 10 Worst Drivers post. I hadn’t seen that before. I actually have a piece of carbon fiber from Dominic Dobson or Mike Groff’s car in my wallet from their crash in the 1994 race. I was sitting in the bottom row on the outside of Turn 1 that day. They hit the wall literally at my feet and my whole section got showered with pieces of carbon fiber, rubber, etc. I picked up some of the “souveniers” that were scattered everywhere.

So I’ll just say this: this post means a great deal to me and I am very, very appreciative. I’ll talk to George about the rest; no need to bore you all with the details.

Although ONE detail may need expanded on here — and that’s the one where George portrays me as some kind of jittery Tyrone Biggums-like CRACKHEAD LOOKING AROUND FRANTICALLY FOR COPS AND POTENTIAL CARJACK VICTIMS!! This is a blatant falsehood, and maybe even libelous as well. I am perfectly calm on most days, although Media Centers do in fact make me uncomfortable & jittery. Still, pay that business no mind. George is a southern landowner not unlike Foghorn Leghorn, and so he just moves slowly. All. The. Time. He moves at the speed of Congressional filibusters … so anything moving even SLIGHTLY faster than that is considered “hyperactive.”

Glad we cleared that up.

Oh wait, yes I do – the IZOD party the night before the race and stumbling back to my downtown hotel at 3 AM rendered all on race day a bit hazy. That and massive consumption of free Red Bulls had me firing around Gasoline Alley like Cornholio.,,

Seriously Roy is a great guy, and I’m sick of everyone pulling this Brett Favre thing

(no I wasn’t referring to the cell phone pictures…)

In all seriousness, great piece, George, and thanks for writing this on behalf of such a solid dude. I’m proud to say that Roy’s among my small but ever growing group of online/in-real-life racing/blogging/catching a beverage when rarely possible buddies. Here’s to bigger and even better things for The Crazy One, and here’s hoping that he’s not out of our lives for too long.