Comments on: Leave The Smackdown Out Of IndyCar

By: Penskefan

Penskefan — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Anyone who views a NASCAR, or any other automobile race for that matter, simply in hopes of a crash or a fight is ignorant. I have always been told that NASCAR is popular due to the fact that it appeals to the “beer and pretzels” segment of our racing society. Well, it sure showed that in Phoenix. NASCAR is the only auto racing I have ever viewed where, if you want the driver in front of you out of the way, you tap that car on the left quarter panel and spin him out with no fear of NASCAR ofiicials retaliating. Example, Jeff Gordon’s token fine instead of suspension for the Phoenix incident. IndyCar, on the other hand, does not require such antics on or off the track to appeal to its fans. While driver altercations do occur in IndyCar drivers voice their opinions and then proceed with the series. I am not attempting to state that retaliation has not occurred in IndyCar in the past but they have been few and far between.

By: billytheskink

billytheskink — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:24:44 +0000

A friend of mine who is not a racing fan at all once told me that he felt that he understood the anger and fisticuffs seen in NASCAR (in all racing, really, but especially NASCAR) that us fans so often deride with labels like “WWE-like”. He said that he could definitely see why drivers would get angry with each other when in an extremely competitive environment where the mistakes and stupid decisions of one can not only take others out of the competition, they can lead to injury or worse for many.

I had never really thought about it like that, but when I did, I agreed with him.
Believing this, I certainly don’t think that Gordon’s actions were justified, nor were the actions of the crews. Their actions were, though, understandable… not as a contrived attempt to manufacture low-ball drama, but as the result of genuine emotion. What may be contrived (and what NASCAR may be guilty of) is a lack of consequences for such actions, which discourages drivers and crews to think before they act on their anger.
Gordon should be suspended, as should any driver who so blatantly intentionally wrecks others. It’s not simply poor sportsmanship and damaging to the spirit of competition, it’s extremely dangerous.

Though it is much rarer than it is in NASCAR, this type of behavior has occurred in Indycar before, and it will occur again. In addition to George’s examples, Oriol Servia spearing Paul Tracy at Surfer’s Paradise in 2000 comes to mind. What I hope, though, is that Indycar continues to punish these kind of actions appropriately. People won’t always think before they act, but they should be encouraged to do so.

By: Carburetor

Carburetor — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:12:50 +0000

It seems I remember Robby Gordon purposely ramming his Indy car into someone immediately after a race a number of years ago ala NASCAR style. I think shortly after that he gave up on his IndyCar career and decided NASCAR is the preferred venue for that sort of thing. I would think purposely wrecking an Indy car the way the clowns in NASCAR prefer, would become prohibitively expensive very quickly.

By: Pete V

Pete V — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:05:25 +0000

This what the marching morons eat up. More rivalry ala Tracy / Bourdais or Danica / Milka. Throw some towels and or punches. Put it in commercials, start a reality show. Maybe a A.J./Mario cage match sponsored by Depends.

Not sure if I’m being sarcastic or not?!?

By: sejarzo

sejarzo — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:35:08 +0000

I was hoping George would use the term “boorish” as that is the perfect word for what happened at Phoenix (and why I don’t watch reality TV.)

No way should Indycar ever begin to stoop to that level. One of the main reasons I love Indycar is seeing first hand that the competitors, in all but rare instances, leave it on the track and remain friendly off-track. That’s a wonderful model of respect for younger folks and counters the ridiculous behavior we see in other forms of popular entertainment and “sport”.

By: DZ (@groundedeffects)

DZ (@groundedeffects) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:47:44 +0000

Indycar definitely needs to stay above the fray on this type of buffoonery. It never was really a part of the open-wheel landscape (despite Tracy’s best efforts).

What was a key part of it’s popularity in the late-60s to late-80s (aside from the dirt-track racing) was the attitude that to win, one must evaluate the rules, build a better machine, and have a better driver pilot the thing. THAT was the drama and intrigue of Championship Open Wheel racing.

Is that type of racing possible in this day and age?

We won’t know until somebody tries.

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:29:22 +0000

Jeff Gordon is a little fellow with the “Big Man Syndrome.” They should have let the two of them go and watch Bowyer clock him. However, I expect that kind of behavior in NASCAR and it didn’t hurt Jimmy Johnson’s chance going into the final race of the year. I don’t think I will be watching, though. The NFL Redzone and F1 will be getting whatever attention I can give this weekend.

By: redcar

redcar — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:17:12 +0000

A Nascar race without a wreck is like a football game without a forward pass. If they never wrecked, their ratings might fall to Indycar levels. Well, maybe not that low…

By: SkipinSC

SkipinSC — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:51:58 +0000

I find it interesting that you omitted the post race lowlight that involved our favorite driver, one A. J. Foyt, bitch slapping Arie Luyendyk. (Just had to bring that one up, didn’t I?) Perhaps that was the first Indycar “WWE moment.”

By: Jack in Virginia

Jack in Virginia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:49:05 +0000

Reality TV always reminds me of H.L. Mencken’s statement: “Nobody ever went broke under-estimating the taste of the American public.” I think such spectacles are best left out of a sport where a mistake can easily lead to injury or death.