"Shorty", a/k/a Cristiano DaMatta; Brickyard 400 and other takes
- A rough go for the RUSport driver and 2002 CART Champion...thanks to some great medical work by the Champ Car Safety and Medical teams..."Shorty" is now recovering slowly from the subdural hematoma which proves fatal in 50% of the cases where traumatic injury occurs. He (like all who drive race cars for a living) can use your thoughts and prayers. Your good works could be directed toward the "Hole in the Wall Gang", the designated official Champ Car Charity.
- If you didn't realize it before...then Sunday's Brickyard win for Jimmie Johnson & crew chief Chad Knaus should reveal that the #48 Lowe's team is fast becoming the favorite in this year's Nextel Cup championship chase. When you blow out a front tire at speed...you likely lose more than a lap or two. Not so for that team on Sunday...the victory went a long way to exorcise demons. The next one is a road course win...
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials tell me the F1 negotiations continue...any reported financial help from the city may not materialize--the money will likely (and properly) be spent for cops, jail beds and prosecutors to combat a spate of murders. That stuff is important...it would not do if Flavio or Ron or the other F1 folks got caught in the wrong end of a drive-by..When I chatted with Indiana Governor "My Man" Mitch Daniels at the Brickyard, he reminded me about all the tourism $$$ the Speedway brings..
- A Open Wheel (IRL Indy Car/Champ Car) reunification trial balloon floated again...it would have both series having the Indy 500 and some road races as common events..That reminds one of what floats in a commode when the tank has insufficient pressure. Stranger things have happened, and will likely continue to happen.
- I'm not a movie person--but the "Ricky Bobby-Talledega Nights" promotions--and the clips I've seen--are more than annoying. I believe I am likely one of a few auto racing observers who will never see this "magnum opus"--one can handle only so much hype at one time.
- Just another random thought: What would happen this week if Sarah Fisher was able to win the IRL Indy Car race at Kentucky Speedway? She did win the pole there in 2003. That would kinda deflate the Danica Patrick bubble, wouldn't it? Both women will be in the race there on August 13.
