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June 25, 2007
The Snorer in Sonoma
By Keith Ott
That was it? This was your event where going left and right turns boy drivers into men? Tell me y’all were just kidding and that the real race is tonight. Please, please, please, please, please, tell me that. I won’t be mad. I promise. Because, whatever it was that I watched on TV yesterday, it had nothing to do with racing. I can, however, now define the term “strategy” as it relates to RC racing.
Strat-e-gy (n) – used to describe a racing event characterized by an extreme lack of competition predictably culminating in a fuel mileage finish; see boring, dull, lame.
Race Notes:
The COT seems to have equalized the RC racing skills. No-one, including the ringers, seemed to be able to do anything with it. Of the few lead changes I saw, most were the result of pit work and timing.
Hamlin’s shifter mysteriously breaks off. Team officials question Almirola.
Has Montoya worn out his welcome yet? For a perfect score he should have hit the pace truck. He hit everything else on the track.
How about that TV coverage during the last 40 laps? Let’s just follow 3 cars to see if they run out of fuel. I guess the other 40 cars weren’t racing hard enough to put on TV. And, did anyone ever actually see the 55 car on TV?
So, in no way shape or form did this change my opinion of RC racing. Maybe, you’ll have better luck at Watkins Glen.
June 25, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Nice to know the type of racing we can expect of the 'new and improved' COT. I anticipate lots of Sunday naps during the crapshoot.
Posted by: Sal | Jun 25, 2007 2:06:22 PM
Fair enough, Keith. You don't like road courses and didn't like the race. I do like them and thought it was a terrific race. To each his own.
I was stunned to see Montoya win. I figured he'd run out of gas, but he showed patience! When he told his crew chief "It's not time to start racing those guys yet," I hear Ganassi and Wingo looked at each other in astonishment! This was a big step in Montoya's evolution as a NASCAR driver.
Big tip of the hat as well to NASCAR's great road racers, Stewart and Gordon, who did their thing again. And, of course, to RCR for a 2-3-4 finish.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Jun 25, 2007 2:12:11 PM
Sal,
Naps are a good thing!
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 2:14:25 PM
Doug in CA,
Yes, RC races will never make my "must see" list. However, you'll be happy to know Sonoma now has a half pillow edge over Fontana on my nap-o-meter.
I will credit the Hendricks teams for some good pit calls. But still, they're just renting the points they earned until NASCAR collects them back this week.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 2:19:48 PM
Keith, "Hamlin’s shifter mysteriously breaks off. Team officials question Almirola." LOVE IT!
For once I have to agree with you about the race I watched at Infineon yesterday.
Was it due to the smaller fuel cell and teams trying to figure out that strategy?
Was it the COT with a front suspension that drivers say "won't turn?"
I even heard someone mention unleaded fuel was an issue.
What was it that made that race one of the most boring road course races I've ever watched?
Normally I listen to the drivers channels on Sirius, but I learned yesterday that drivers, spotters and crew chiefs do not talk during green flag racing on a road course. Even that was boring!
If TNT can spend so much money on a rotating stage, I would think they could figure out how to post the results of the race without having to sit and watch it scroll across the top. They've got the "points as of now" figured out. It would be nice if they'd let us know where teams finished in the race we just "watched."
I don't think Montoya has worn out his welcome yet. He was just pretending that was a McLaren-Mercedes he was driving, and forgot it had fenders.
I congratulate JPM and his team on a well deserved win. It's been a while since Ganassi and Sabates have been in Victory Lane.
One thing I didn't think of until a caller mentioned it on The Driver's Seat.....
How did Jamie McMurray feel watching the car he used to drive pass him and get a win for Ganassi.
I totally forgot it wasn't that long ago that McMurray was driving the 42 Havoline Dodge.
I hope the "racing" at Watkins Glen is better, because I will be watching. From your statement, Keith, I take it you won't. Hopefully it will be so exciting that you'll have to catch the replay on Thursday.
Good post. Too bad it wasn't a good race.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 25, 2007 2:37:07 PM
Keith,
I give the race a 8 out of 10, JPM's win is
huge, and glad they did recognize a Canadian named Earl Ross won a Nascar race back in the history of the sport.
Did anyone notice, in pre-race a reporter told us how Caterpilar was sponsoring 2
cars in the race ??
But never once did we see the two Toyotas
any where in a shot.
Maybe one was a bogus. lol
Great Post,
time for me to take a nap
Posted by: Trucker | Jun 25, 2007 2:50:22 PM
Trucker,
I assume you mean 8 out of ten pillows...LOL.
One of the Toyotas must have been the Pace Truck.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 3:00:06 PM
Shirley,
I always watch just on the off chance something might happen.
I think McMurry was more intent on watching the fuel pressure than Montoya.
LOL, with your 7 TV's and Sirius radio, you have access to more sports info than ESPN.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 3:07:25 PM
Geez, Keith, I thought it was a pretty good race. The battle between Montoya and McMurray was great. I'd rather these things didn't turn on fuel mileage, but oh well. Still thought it was a pretty good one.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jun 25, 2007 3:09:43 PM
Keith, it's only five TVs.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 25, 2007 3:17:07 PM
Ya know, maybe it wouldn't have been so boring if we didn't have to watch constant commercials, and the same cars for 30+ laps.
Maybe the replay on SPEED will be better. ;-)
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 25, 2007 3:18:36 PM
The only way some of the road race haters on these blogs would admit to liking a road race was if the cars were all on fire (jeff green) and they had dukes of hazard jumps in the middle of the tracks. You don't want to like it, so you'll never find much enjoyment in it. But that's fine, it's your perogative. Lots of people hate to admit they could be wrong after shouting from the top of the hill otherwise.
But, it was a good race. By my accounts it had a more exciting outcome than atleast 5 of the races already in the books this year.
P.S. There is strategy in every race that's run. We see race after race that the guy turning the fastest lap times or the guy who led the most laps doesn't win. Just the way it is. Road racing is just a different type of strategy.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 25, 2007 4:05:39 PM
Michael makes a good point: what is it that makes a race a "good race" for you? If you want to see two cars race to the finish line, fine. Others like to watch several cars as they progress; others may like watching and discussing fuel and tire strategies; some like plate racing, road racing, or banging on the short tracks. This can be a pretty complex sport, and the more you embrace that complexity, the more you can enjoy it. I'm sorry for folks who think a good race is merely one with a close finish, because they're not going to see more than 3 or 4 of those a year. Plate fans see four "good races" a year. I watch lots of races, and enjoy 75% of the ones I watch for one reason or another. There's almost always something to find interesting in a race - it's just a matter of looking for it and embracing it. The great part of a race might not even involve the finish - it might be two cars battling for third or fourth midway through the race for 30 laps or so.
Having said all of that, now we go to Loudon. Even though my sister lives in the next town over, Loudon is one track that should lose a date. Pretty country, though.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Jun 25, 2007 4:33:41 PM
I love the road courses - up until this snoozer on Sunday. Why did nascar change the fuel cell? So the race can be determined by how much someone can squeak by on gas- not by who the best driver and car. Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart - one of those two, or even Jamie McMurray should have won that race but it all came down to a squeak of gas - boring - a race should not be determined by fuel mileage; it makes for a boring race.
Posted by: Carolyn | Jun 25, 2007 4:50:28 PM
Michael,
Oh, I don't care if you like it. I can only call it from my point of view. In fact, had this been on an oval with 40 laps of let's see who gets better mileage, I would have called it the same way.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 5:08:34 PM
OK, you all heard me bitch about RC races last week, here is my two cent's worth.
Good for Montoya, his patience was good and though Keith doesn't agree I thought he passed like most passes there happen....with a fender and a bumper.
The COT didn't make a difference to me. The good cars stretched it out and the bad cars were still bad.
TNT did a very poor job at the end. I only watched half of the race, the first quarter which wasn't covered badly, and the last quarter which was horrible. There was more than three cars out there with 15 laps to go.
If I were at the race yesterday I probably would have walked away happy to have spent the money. Still not a fan but you fans showed up in droves, good for you.
Posted by: Mark | Jun 25, 2007 5:09:48 PM
Carolyn,
I'm with you. NASCAR should have made it a one stop race or made the tires wear before the fuel window. If I wanted to watch a fuel mileage event, I'd got to a VW rally.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 5:12:31 PM
Oh Keith, and I could car less if you like it. But, nobody gave me a blog to write my opionion and all of the people who do, chose to bash the race and JPM. I disagree and I'm voicing my opinion. An opinion shared by others. You guys who write these topics often times seem to think, just because you write it, it makes it right. You guys have what I call the "Dan Rather" syndrom.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 25, 2007 5:18:53 PM
Umm,
Keith and Carolyn did Nascar just announce the 18 gallon fuel cell and the advertised mileage for the Infineon race last Monday? Because otherwise, everybody new how to figure out the math on that one. Not real tricky. Those guys didn't wake up on Sunday morning and decide to give 2 pit stops a try. It was one of the scenarios planned and they figured out how to make it work.
Just like every week on those oval tracks, they don't just stop and fill the tank to the top on every stop. They figure out what they need to make it to the end and plan accordingly.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 25, 2007 5:27:52 PM
Michael,
Let me rephrase my comment. I'm perfectly happy that you and the other RC fans enjoyed the event. Although, I do see a large number of the RC fans giving it less than stellar grades. If people didn't have different opinions it wouldn't be a blog. That's called a chat room. So, voice away, my friend. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 5:38:11 PM
Michael,
Don't care if they did figure it out for 2 stops. I just didn't like how their "Figurin'" worked out.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 25, 2007 5:40:00 PM
Keith, it seems you're catching on to what has been manifest with the COT since that first test at Atlanta at the end of 2005 - the car impedes ability to race.
This is why, for all of Brian "Chuck Sullivan" France's posturing about how "the COT is here to stay" etc., the car will eventually transmute back to the "old" style - because the COT is utterly unworkable as a racecar. (Of course we're kind of assuming Brian won't have resigned from the sanctioning body and bought out the Oakland Raiders for LA first)
There's another road race on the docket for August - and the only one looking forward to it is Juan Montoya.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Jun 25, 2007 6:15:11 PM
I thought it was a GREAT race because I took a longshot with JPM on my fantasy team!
CONGRATS JPM!!!
Posted by: JWSmoke | Jun 25, 2007 6:24:29 PM
I normally love road racing, but that was one of the most boring. I don't know how much of an impact the new size of the fuel cell had, or how much was the COT, but it just seemed as though no one wanted to or could pass, unless through pit stops. I don't recall past RC races being as fuel mileage driven as this one.
Trucker,
They did show both CAT cars on screen when the 23 spun out. When it was off the track, you could see the 22 drive by.
Posted by: CH | Jun 25, 2007 6:44:06 PM
Actually Mike Daly, I think quite a few drivers will be looking forward to Watkins Glen...the Glen is a better Road Course, Sonoma sucks since they took out the "Carousel"...If Nascar wants to claim having the best drivers, there needs to be RC's on the circuit...I'll even go as far as saying put one in the "Chase"
Posted by: Fan #5 | Jun 25, 2007 6:52:34 PM
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