MARCO ANDRETTI - DANICA PATRICK

I had never heard of Marco before this race, but I was really rooting for him at the end. I really think he would be much better than that Scott Speed guy.

However, Danica I do not like, and I especially didn't like her post-race interview where she down-played Marco's performance.

 

sour grape?

last year danica was 4th. this year she is 8th..what's so special about 8th place? because she is a woman driver? she was never in contention for the win.

 

Unlike Marco, Scott Speed has proven results in real European feeder series. Scott Speed is already in F1, although not exactly lighting up the competition, is doing pretty good in a Minardi.

 

Danica admitted that she had an 8th place car in the post-race interview.. I don't think she downplayed Marco's performance at all, in fact I remember her giving him a lot of credit.

 

I was shouting at the TV that last lap....really rooted for Marco there even though I have heard of him in passing. Though I prefer F1, Indy was a much more exciting race than Monaco was...especially regarding the race leaders. So many positions switched during the race it makes you want to see more of the race. I felt really bad for Michael though, but considering he just came back after a 3 year hiatus, he ought to be happy with 3rd and not to have gone out like Unser.

 

I don't usually follow IRL, and only watched Indy sporatically until the last 20 laps, but it looked like those caution periods are a random scrambling of the running order.

Danica didn't really seem a prime contender, but then neither did the Andrettis until that last safety car period.

Am I missing something? Or is there an element of "musical chairs" to Indy racing?

 

Marco did well in Barber National Series, IPS and it is no fluke he did well today. He is showing a little of the Andretti hubris today in saying "...second is nothing." Hell, second is a ton of money and Rookie of the Year!

Danica did great. She was the quickest Panoz, bar none. That is NOT the chassis to have, this year, and Rahal can;t buy any Dallaras. Her fastest lap in May WAS her qualifying performance, putting Buddy Rice (I remember when he was spoken of in the same hushed tones reserved for Scott Speed...) in the shade in both qualifying AND the race.

If not for her 3-lap early pit cycle due to the right rear Firestones blistering or if the last yellow had not come out, she'd have finished in the top five.

You guys have to realize the race car recognizes no gender or age, just how tightly the "loose nut" is fastened behind the wheel.

-Peter

 

Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Nico came in and did one decent race, and has since shown nothing, Marco comes in and shows one decent race, so let's wait before we proclaim anyone 'the next big thing'. Danica IS a damned good driver, but she's kinda 'stuck' between 5th and 15th at most every race, and that's where she will stay until she bags a win, then the rest (next) will come easier. Where did Sarah Fisher go ?

 

you are mentioning the most often used word in racing: "IF".... yeah if I was michael schumacher, you know what I mean?....At the end of the day, it's the results on the records that counts. started 10th, finish 8th. if that was special, then the standard you set for her is too low.

 

Marco was in a support series for the USGP last year - also did well racing karts. I could see Marco in F1 - he'd be better than Speed and would respresent the US in a more professional manner.

I happened to pass by the tv while an interview with Danica was taking place and I couldn't believe what I heard (well, yes I could) - the comments she made were those that come from our PK & K campus kids. "She was mad because she was 8th" - so much negativity (and always has been in any interview - definitely needs public speaking 101) - kinda like that from a spoiled brat kid. She is at best a mediocure driver and can't win races. Perhaps life as a soccer mom or second rate magazine pin-up is her calling. Meanwhile the successful women in motorsports just keep on winning and setting records. Erica Enders and Melanie Troxtel set records with NHRA in Kansas; Liz Halliday with ALMS (and does very well in her second career of a professional equestrian). Danica grow up.

Carol

 

The 500 was a great race but let's see what happens at Watkins Glen Next week.

IMO the best young driver is Graham Rahal.

 

A bit too soon to tell. His granddad was is a F1-legend, his dad, well, not so much. Perhaps it skips a generation. Like winning the Indy500.

Danica did a very professional job yesterday.

 

I know this is arm chair quaterbacking from a no talent fan, however, I know I have seen extreme blocking on the last lap, and I consider this part of racing. Why didn't Marco bock?

 

Consider this: Marco has already come closer to winning the Indy 500 than his dad ever did!

 

or anyone, without actually winning it.

 

That's cruel man! Michael was leading till the last lap or two far too many times in the past. Poor guy! I think he has led the most laps in Indy history.

As for the race, I watched the last 50 laps or so, it is kind of lottery here with strategy of making the last fuel stop paramount particular in contention with the inevitable yellows as drivers make a last gasp event. Around lap 180 it seemed like Tony Kanaan was a shoo-in for the win.

Danica did a great job but the yellow came out just after she pitted. Otherwise she could have won or come really close.

Great job by Marco in his rookie year. Lets see if he can get a win or two this season.

The only problem with the Indy 500 to me is that the first 175 laps are pointless to watch - all drivers need to do is conserve their cars and stay in the Top 10 and then the fight for the win begins with about 25 laps to go.

 

Well... Danica "mediocre" Patrick was better than these guys yesterday:

9. (8) Scott Sharp, Dallara, 200.
10. (6) Vitor Meira, Dallara, 200.
11. (12) Ed Carpenter, Dallara, 199.
12. (25) Buddy Lazier, Dallara, 199.
13. (19) Eddie Cheever, Dallara, 198.
14. (18) Max Papis, Dallara, 197.
15. (7) Kosuke Matsuura, Dallara, 196.
16. (28) Roger Yasukawa, Panoz, 194.
17. (24) Jaques Lazier, Panoz, 193.
18. (29) Airton Dare, Panoz, 193.
19. (32) PJ Jones, Panoz, 189.
20. (16) Bryan Herta, Dallara, 188.
21. (21) Felipe Giaffone, Dallara, 177.
22. (15) Townsend Bell, Dallara, 161, suspension.
23. (26) Jeff Simmons, Panoz, 152, crash.
24. (27) Al Unser Jr., Dallara, 145, crash.
25. (2) Helio Castroneves, Dallara, 109, crash.
26. (14) Buddy Rice, Panoz, 108, crash.
27. (11) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara, 65, crash.
28. (31) Arie Luyendyk Jr., Panoz, 54, handling.
29. (30) Stephan Gregoire, Panoz, 49, handling.
30. (23) Larry Foyt, Dallara, 43, handling.
31. (33) Thiago Medeiros, Panoz, 24, electrical.
32. (22) Jeff Bucknum, Dallara, 1, crash.
33. (20) P.J. Chesson, Dallara, 1, crash.

So, according to your criteria, if you're not #1 or setting records, then you shouldn't be racing or should "grow up?"

This was Danica's 20th IRL race. Those who have won, on average, have raced 33 times before taking that first win.

Keep on watching... You're going to eat your words, IMO.

The "soccer mom" and "pin-up" comments are not worthy of a response.

Mike

 

Great race, the best in a while.

I think Marco showed talent and Danica ran strong and steady usual.

The post race comments by both started a "good sportsman" discussion with my 12-year-old daughter. She watched the end of the race and interviews with me and commented, "Why are they (Marco & Danica) so angry?"

In the interviews immediately after the race:
Marco - "Nobody remembers second" - did not thank his crew, owner, engineers, anyone. Never mentioned his sponsor, or congratulate the winner on a great race for the fans.

Danica - "I had a eight place car today" - obviously a shot at the chassis or crew, no mention of owner, engineers, etc......

You cannot fault such great drivers for their competitive spirit, it is necessary to compete. But when you run well, are competitive, give it your all, and do not win, your work is done, and it is time to take care of your team and sponsor.

4th place Dan Wheldon - "The Target Ganassi Racing car ran well.... I had a very good car. It was very good in traffic. It was good all day long and we didn't win."

I am not a Wheldon fan but this guy showed more class than the 2nd and 3rd podium finishers.

That being said, both Marco and Danica are fun to watch on the track and I think they both have great futures in racing.

 

So, you don't pay any attention to anyone not in contention for a win ? That's short-sighted.

I think she has a lot of talent, but I also don't think she is the most talented woman in racing. That said, the only thing I don't care for as far as Danica is concerned is something that is not her fault - THE PRESS. All we heard about last year at the 500 - or most of the season - was Danica. Hell, most folks don't even know who won the 500 last year, but they sure as hell know Danica was there. That's not her fault - it's the press's fault. I did find it interesting that I read on CNN/SI, or Fox, or somewhere, a recap of this year's 500, and I was expecting to see a blurb about Danica finishing 8th, but they didn't even mention her name ANYWHERE in the article. To me that was interesting. It kinda tells me the press is dying down on her a bit, and will continue to until she actually wins something... Just like they did with Sarah Fisher 5 years ago.

 

If you look closely at the last two turns, Marco did block and caused Sam to back-off, then as Sam was taking another run at Marco he attempted to block again but Sams aggressive manouvering like a coiled up spring, launched him past Marco for the win. Fact is Sams car had a little more snort and left the bewildered Marco wondering what the heck happened.
The after race interview had Marco saying somewhat sarcastically "I don't know where that extra speed came from" as if to insinuate that Sam did something fishy, in fact he said it twice. The kid is young and the worst thing that could have happened to him was to win. He also said "second place is nothing" so at face it seems that a cocky and arrogant attitude is in need of maturing and taking a more humble approach.
The kid is a talent and showed very well his first time at Indy and time and more experiance will determine if he has the metal or will self destruct.

 

The only comment that I remember from Marco was something along the lines of
'Second place is nothing'.

A comment that Senna made on more than one occasion. Ron Dennis is also credited with 'second place is simply the first of the losers'.

I think its too early to tell if Marco has the stellar future that his bloodline may suggest, Michael was horrible in F1, not helped by a terrible McLaren and an insistance on commuting to Europe on Concord on a regular basis.

Marco has the attitude, he lead the 500, he came very, very close, time will tell.