Tired after Indy...

I told myself I wouldn’t use that stupid cliché in my header, but I couldn’t help myself. I had no self control and for that, I apologize.

Gee, that wasn’t so bad. Apologizing, it wasn’t difficult at all really and I managed to do it and keep my dignity.

That’s the deal here folks. NASCAR had a little, snafu yesterday at the 15th running of the Brickyard 400 (I know, it’s the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, but to me it’s always the BY400). Personally I’ve never seen a mess like I did yesterday, but hell, I’ll watch about anything. Just ask those who watch TV with me. I digress.

If you don’t really follow I’ll give you the cliff notes version. Friday during practice the folks of Goodyear, NASCAR and IMS (the speedway) noticed the track wasn’t taking rubber. Now, a track usually gets a film of rubber on it after cars travel and it creates grip which makes the car run better. (It’s much more technical, but I’ll spare you.) The track at IMS is made for Indy cars and they run a little differently. They grind it to make small grooves. The problem was that these Goodyear tires paired with a new, heavier COT on said grooves made tire dust and no rubber stuck. They thought it would get better with time, however, it didn’t. That meant every 10 laps cords would start to show on the tires resulting in blowouts or in Matt Kenseth’s case, explosions.

The officials decided to combat the issue they’d throw competition cautions to keep an eye on the tires. Well, they kept doing it…for all 160 laps. The result was yesterday turned into the Indiana version of the Chili Bowl. There were heat races, ten laps each, and the end was the ten lap shootout for the win. I don’t mind it, I like dirt racing. However, some fans were pissed. To put it nicely, they felt they got cheated, wronged and that NASCAR owes them something.

I’ll be honest, NASCAR doesn’t owe me anything for yesterday and I’ll tell you why. It was fun to bet on whose tires would explode before the next caution, it was entertaining radio banter as champions were baffled and, most importantly nobody airlifted a driver to Methodist and nobody is prepping for any funerals today. That’s what I call a successful race day. When we put safety over everything else, that’s just fine by me.

These fans that are upset get over it and more importantly get over yourself. You’re being completely selfish for thinking that you are owed a free ticket or reimbursement. Shit happens. Rainouts happen and you don’t see those fans complaining.

Yes, it was unfortunate that one of the biggest races of the year was run mostly under caution, but at the same time did you see the car on the track? I’d rather watch caution laps then nothing or worse yet peeling my driver off the safer barrier. In all honesty I’d just be a ok with a ‘sorry folks, we messed up’ that would satisfy me and if I don’t get it, I don’t. I’ll still tune in on Sunday and I’ll still read the news and still be a fan.

Isn’t that what being a fan is all about…supporting your driver/sport unconditionally?

-MO-
sarah