The worst race in the history of racing..

by MattHaggard on Jul 26, 2009 8:40 PM EDT Comment 7 comments

Congratulations NASCAR. You solved the tire problem! Cars went more than 10 laps in between pit stops and delivered lengthy green flag periods of racing. Instead of tire problems, we the fans, had to suffer through "tired" problems..

The 2009 Brickyard 400 was the worst race I have ever seen in my life -- a life that has spanned last season's Brickyard, the restrictor plate race at New Hampshire and the infamous fuel gate at Talladega. I've seen infinite amounts of suck potrude out of NASCAR but this takes the cake.

At one point during the race, I decided I was going to take a nap. After waking up, I came to the realization that I had been awake the entire time and was actually watching the bore of a race. In correcting the tire issues from last season, Goodyear created a compound that wore thin way too quickly giving drivers a four-lap window to pass. Is it any coincidence that the only real passes for the lead were Juan Pablo Montoya and Jimmie Johnson on restarts?

Speaking of Johnny Montoya. I have never seen a more blatant crime committed against one driver than I did today. Fearing the PR repercussions of the unpopular Montoya winning the most yawntastic race in NASCAR history, NASCAR penalized the latin-born driver for a 1/10th of a second penalty on pit-road. Yes one-tenth...

NASCAR tried to script a storybook ending by allowing Mark Martin to win at Indy, hoping to all but erase the memories of the worst event of recent history. Unfortunately for the suits upstairs, Jimmie Johnson passed Martin on the last restart to win his second consecutive Brickyard.

But let's be honest for a moment. Winning these two Brickyards shouldn't even count on Johnson's already Hall of Fame career. In fact, if I were Johnson, I would try to give these wins back to NASCAR as I would not want my name attached to the utter garbage that comes attached to the trophies.

But regardless of the circumstances, Johnson is a three-time consecutive Indy 400 Champion. It's just a shame that no one was awake to see it.

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cool conspiracy theory

I even admit that Montoya was semi-screwed, but he did it to himself. He was speeding he already admitted it…

O yea and Jimmie Johnson is a three-time consecutive Indy 400 Champion, Smoke won it in ’07.

by pas493 on Jul 27, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

I know he did.

That’s what I meant. Three time winner but consecutive wins. I’m not saying he’s won three consecutive.

by MattHaggard on Jul 27, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I was really hoping Montoya would win

But I doubt he was cheated.

As far as the race goes: it wasn’t the best race ever, but at least it was an improvement over last year—I’m sure their desire to avoid what happened last year overshadowed other concerns. Presumably they continue to work on it.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Jul 27, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

JPM wasnt cheated at all he speed. He got called for speeding its that simple. The fact you think he shouldnt have been given a black flag because it was “just” going over the speed limit is insane. Im guessing your just your standerad guy who hates HMS and because it ended up helping them its a crime.

I also chanllange this idea that Nascar helps Mark in any way. Last time I checked they dint go by their own rules and throw a yellow the last lap of the 500 and it cost Mark a Victory.

"There are no next times when you're competing for big things." - Tom Izzo
Go Spartans

by msufan23 on Jul 27, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

That’s the joy of being NASCAR, you can write your rulebook in pencil and change your rules to fit your agenda as it changes.

I’ll admit to being a bit brash when I wrote this. And FWIW, NASCAR came out and said JPM is was ten over the limit and they’ll usually give you five — a far cry from the 1/10th originally cited.

And for the record, I’m a diehard Jeff Gordon fan and I love HMS.

At the time it seemed a little fishy. And be honest with yourself for a moment.

Doesn’t NASCAR always have an agenda to peddle that makes them bend rules for certain names on occasions? Just saying.

In any case. Thanks for reading even if we’re off the same page.

(I was so rooting for Mark during that 500, BTW — I cried ^^)

by MattHaggard on Jul 27, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

He was .11 over the 5 mph they give. He clocked in at 60.08 mph at one interval and 60.11 mph at the next.

"There are no next times when you're competing for big things." - Tom Izzo
Go Spartans

by msufan23 on Jul 28, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Did y’all hear the cries of outrage coming from Brooklyn? There were quite a few JPM fans in my house. It was such a boring race that we played Cyanide and ran the blender for drinks during it—we usually save that stuff for rain delays and red flags—but it would’ve been worth it if Montoya won. I consoled myself by remembering that my beloved Tony Stewart won the autumn Talladega race on a technicality last year (Regan Smith passed below the yellow line), and I didn’t mind it then. Still. Jimmie Freakin’ Johnson. Montoya is so due. I understand why he talked about wanting to kill the NASCAR officials.

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

by GreenEyedLilo on Jul 27, 2009 9:24 PM EDT reply actions