[COTTLE FAN]

good job smoke!!!

[ColoradoFan]

Did you also notice the empty seats in the upper decks in the front stretch. Busch might have won anyway if he hadn't wrecked half of the field trying to block Smoke. Ryan Newman got the lucky dog on the last yellow with about 10 to go and drove from 29 to finish 19. Funny how these open wheel guys do so well in the taxi cabs.

Vern Plotts

Tony Stewart is the definition of what every racecar driver wants to be. He deserves what has happened to him this season and I hope it continues. Tony Loves winning at Daytona. Sucks for Kyle but thats plate racing. Smoke I hope this luck follows you the rest of the year!!!!!!!!!!

[thebus79h]

Originally Posted by Pat O'Connor Fan Let me see.............. Former sprint car, Silver Crown, Midget, and TQ star wins big NASCAR race. How many IRL races have been won recently by any former sprint car, Silver Crown, Midget, and TQ star? None, you say? Maybe, just maybe, the firing of TG was karma for all of us American open wheel fans!!

I disagree unforutnately. The guy that is now in charge is already screwing things up by going to give the naming rights to the greatest race in the world, and putting up ads on the walls. I understood but disagree wth the time change deal they had to do, but this is just rediculous.

The days of open wheelers going to Indy are over... unless it's in a stock car.

[Jim Halpert]

Originally Posted by psullivan How do you think Steve Kinser and Jack Hewitt got a chance to run the 500 - do you think those teams just decided to pick them?

I agree with you wholeheartedly...from '96 through...well now if you count Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher...TG has helped open wheel drivers make it to Indy...and yes I know Ed is there because its family...but he's still there. I, for one...or two I guess...applaud Tony George for his efforts even though they failed...and I still love watching the Indy Cars...there are very few in the series who don't belong there...um, Milka. I would love to see our midget and sprint guys make it to the IRL, but who is to say they could beat the guys and gals that are there now? Just like Dixon and Briscoe couldn't win at Gas City or Bloomington, I don't believe Jones or Darland...and I'm a huge Dave Darland fan...could win at Iowa or Watkins Glen in an IndyCar...I know it's all about money...but you aren't going to convince me that the drivers that are there now don't belong there. The owners have to do what they have to do to field a team, drivers do what they have to do to get a ride...that's just how it is. I would love to have it like it was in the 50's and 60's...but it ain't gonna happen, so can every thread that mentions IndyCars stop ending up in the same dead-horse beating conversation! Get over it already and just enjoy the racing!!!

[miledirt]

Originally Posted by Jim Halpert I agree with you wholeheartedly...from '96 through...well now if you count Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher...TG has helped open wheel drivers make it to Indy...and yes I know Ed is there because its family...but he's still there. I, for one...or two I guess...applaud Tony George for his efforts even though they failed...and I still love watching the Indy Cars...there are very few in the series who don't belong there...um, Milka. I would love to see our midget and sprint guys make it to the IRL, but who is to say they could beat the guys and gals that are there now? Just like Dixon and Briscoe couldn't win at Gas City or Bloomington, I don't believe Jones or Darland...and I'm a huge Dave Darland fan...could win at Iowa or Watkins Glen in an IndyCar...I know it's all about money...but you aren't going to convince me that the drivers that are there now don't belong there. The owners have to do what they have to do to field a team, drivers do what they have to do to get a ride...that's just how it is. I would love to have it like it was in the 50's and 60's...but it ain't gonna happen, so can every thread that mentions IndyCars stop ending up in the same dead-horse beating conversation! Get over it already and just enjoy the racing!!!

Milka Dunno is there because of money

Sarah Fischer - I love her, but Darland would beat her at Iowa blindfolded

the fact that guys like Darland and Stanborough can't get to Indy because of the economics of the sports prohibits any suggestion that they couldn't win there.

Tony Stewart did quite well in the Indy Cars, so would a lot of our current young open wheel talent. just because you are from Brazil and have money doesn't make you a great driver.

[Jim Halpert]

Originally Posted by miledirt Milka Dunno is there because of money Sarah Fischer - I love her, but Darland would beat her at Iowa blindfolded the fact that guys like Darland and Stanborough can't get to Indy because of the economics of the sports prohibits any suggestion that they couldn't win there. Tony Stewart did quite well in the Indy Cars, so would a lot of our current young open wheel talent. just because you are from Brazil and have money doesn't make you a great driver.

Castroneves, de Ferran, Kanaan=great drivers...you may not like them, but they are great drivers. Dixon, Franchitti, Briscoe, Wheldon, Wilson, Hunter Reay, Rahal, Doornbos...these guys have proved their worth..now you have a point with guys like Matos, Moraes, Mutoh, in my opinion Danica, and this weekend Antinucci...but you can't lump all Brazilian, or foreign drivers in the same group. And I'm not an idiot, I know Hunter Reay and Rahal are American, but they are there because of money as well. Not saying Darland, Stanbrough, etc. couldn't win...but they most likely would not for quite a few years if you tossed them right in. Would you expect any of the drivers mentioned above to win a dirt sprint race immediately...even if they were given a Kunz or Stewart car...no. Darland wouldn't beat Sarah at Iowa in an Indycar either...just like Sarah wouldn't beat Dave in a sprint or midget...experience is very important and unfortunately owners want drivers with experience going right and left...it is required nowadays. That's why our guys are going down south...they run two road courses a year...not a major deal if you suck twice out of 36 times. It is a big deal if you suck nine or ten out of 17.

Early in the history of the IRL a person with some inside info told me that one of the miscalculations was that it was believed that some of the top USAC owners would become owners of IRL teams - that didn't happen - and when St Pete went on the IRL schedule - thus abandoning the original business plan - it was over for most short track oval racers. Imagine what would change if NASCAR went to a 50/50 road course-oval schedule. Yet, there are so many things Tony did do. He put Jay Drake in the Pro Series for a full year and gave Davey Hamilton another shot at Indy. Another story, after Brian Tyler got his ride bought out from under him just before the 500 - Tony went to that team and told them that they owed it to Brian to take him through the Rookie test - and that happened. Interestingly, the one championship left of the Tony Stewart resume above was the one he captured in 1997 - the IRL crown. The posts above are also correct - many of the top drivers in the IRL went through a similar ladder system in their country starting with Karts and through various Formula series - they worked hard at it too. Are there exceptions. Sure. Yet, in spite of the hype, guess what - NASCAR doesn't have the all the best stock car drivers in the world either, some are there on the basis of something other than merit be it luck or money. Funny thing, ponder some of your peers and upper management at your jobs and you will find that what happens in racing happens in all facets of life -- it's generally summed up in the cliche 'LIfe isn't fair'. After a race at Pikes Peak - I think around 1999 - a driver with short track driving experience was complaining about what the IRL should do. After a bit I said "Hey, _______ you've raced against Dave Darland haven't you? He said "of course." I then asked "how often do you beat him?" He laughed and said , "he generally kicks my butt." So I said "How many times has Dave ran the Indy 500?" He driver paused and said "I get your point."

[Great Scott]

Originally Posted by ColoradoFan Did you also notice the empty seats in the upper decks in the front stretch. Busch might have won anyway if he hadn't wrecked half of the field trying to block Smoke. Ryan Newman got the lucky dog on the last yellow with about 10 to go and drove from 29 to finish 19. Funny how these open wheel guys do so well in the taxi cabs. Vern Plotts

I was surprised at all of the empty seats on the front stretch. The complete empty section on the back looked terrible for TV.

[Bostonian]

When will NASCAR realize that they can't keep letting everyone beat up on poor Kyle Bush at every race if the want to keep the fans in the stands

Way to go SMOKE I appreciated Smoke trying to apologize in the winners circle BUT I don't think he did anything wrong