[Tony Barhorst]

This is from Mario's Twitter feed.

RT@MarioAndretti Mario Andretti

Spoke to @JimmieJohnson. He cares about IndyCar & his racing brothers. No tension between us, despite what you read. It's sensationalized

Russell Creason keeps up with everything and I repost this from his Facebook page.

Mario and AJ comment.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...hnson/50819204

In my opinion..JJ's comments were ill timed...he didn't mean it to seem like this...but coming from him..it is viewed as an attack on Indy Car from NASCAR when the Indy Car Series is down and in mourning.

Tony Barhorst

[Dez1013]

Originally Posted by Hotshoe65s In the months and years following NASCAR did make major safety improvements. There is no denying that. I'd have to agree with Johnson. He was just thinking out loud and voicing his opinion on the safety of indycars. (1st amendment, look it up). Honestly I have never thought they were safe. First off when the drivers head is not protected by at least a few bars, then your asking for head injuries. Secondly, there is no frame to absorb the blow, just a frame right around the driver. Third, they are open wheel vehicles with wings. If you jump another car's tires at 220+mph you will go for a ugly ride. And for all of you saying they are safe and they should continue running at 225+ with the cars they currently have, then maybe you should climb inside one and put your life on the line. The drivers in Indycar are very brave and very talented, but the cars need major improvements if they want to continue racing on high banked ovals. No race is worth a drivers life. Posted via Mobile Device

They won't be running 225+ with the cars they currently have as that was the last race for them. The new car is supposed to address everything you saw in that wreck.

Maybe he forgets that any car going fast is dangerous on any track, he of all people should remember the wreck he had at Watkins Glen in 2000.

[captrat]

InSummary: 1. JJ and all of us would be better served with "no comment, as I have no experience in these cars" 2. The role of aerodynamics and ground effects have done great damage to both safety and competition in Indy Cars 3. Until a driver has to back off the throttle these types of accidents in packs will continue to be an issue 4. Indy Car still needs a viable feeder system for drivers, not checkbooks and sponsor deals 5. Ovals are fine if the car is matched to the circuit 6. Even though the attendance has been spotty, if you really want tosee the end of Indy Car racing then completely do away with ovals and let the Mimosa and Brie people completely take over!

[LocalYokel]

I dunno, maybe poorly timed, but Jimmy Johnson isn't the face of Indycar racing. It's not any concern of his as to how his comments will help or hurt Indycar racing. Why should he care as to how his comments will effect the opinions of potential sponsors?

[Rapid Rick]

"I don't think Jimmie Johnson knows what he's talking about. He's never drove one, and he's pretty stupid to make a statement like that".
A.J. Foyt
If A.J. says you're stupid. You're stupid!

[flatout]

And now we have this idiot calling for the end of all autoracing even though she has seen nothing more than highlights on SportsCenter:

http://www.good.is/post/why-dan-whel...f-auto-racing/

[Danny Burton]

Rich, did you read the comments?

I didn't read them all, but every one I read took this so-called writer to the woodshed.

[JordanBlanton]

Originally Posted by LocalYokel I dunno, maybe poorly timed, but Jimmy Johnson isn't the face of Indycar racing. It's not any concern of his as to how his comments will help or hurt Indycar racing. Why should he care as to how his comments will effect the opinions of potential sponsors?

The problem is, whether Jimmy Johnson (or the rest of the racing world for that matter) likes it or not, he is one of the major faces and voices of American racing. Charles Barkley tried to convince us years ago that he wasn't a role model, but he was wrong.
Given who he is and his popularity, Johnson's statements (opinion or otherwise) need to be more thought out than those of Orial Servia or Buddy Rice, based simply upon the weight they will carry with the general public. The knee-jerk reactions (such as those from the article flatout posted) were already beginning to pour in, and a 5-time champ of America's most popular motorsport calling for an end to Indy racing on ovals was, whether he meant to or not, just adding fuel to a vastly uninformed fire.

[Vukie]

RT@jimmyvasser
Here it is... You want saftey... Tear down the high banks that NASCAR built... Make the cars faster not the tracks making the cars faster.

I have never seen drivers so on edge as they were this morning (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway)..." - Adrian Fernandez