Zachary GirsbergerA Bitter Taste
May 30th 2011 03:47
Category: No Category
I feel like the Roman spectators in the movie Gladiator after Russell Crowe leads the ‘Carthaginians’ to victory over the Romans, especially when given his quote “Are you not entertained?” Today’s races were like that for me, sure the main event was good, but the end result was just not what I expected, even with a few laps to go.
Indy 500
This was the first year where I watched the Indy 500 from beginning to end, partially because the Yankees weren’t on until later, and partially because of the potential for a great story. I am a fan of individual drivers and teams, but more than anything I root for the best story. Sure, I would love if the Yanks won the next five World Series or Clint Bowyer went on a Jimmie Johnson type run, but then you just get the same story of dominance. Today’s result was just that, someone who has won it all before and taking away from a much better potential result.
Hildebrand, a rookie, takes the lead into turn four and wrecks, ending his shot at history and giving Dan Wheldon the win. But look back further and you have some other great stories. In third, you have Graham Rahal, who could finally live up to his family name. Finishing fourth, Tony Kanaan who has never won it and even promised (and later rescinded) his son retirement if he won. You have Servia and Baguette in sixth and seventh respectively, who led laps for the first time and could have been the first winners from their country. You have Andretti and Patrick ninth and tenth, living up to his family name and being the first woman to win the Indy 500. Many stories great could have been written, but instead we were given a two-time winner in Wheldon, a finish that did not satiate after the great race before.
Coca-Cola 600
One turn-four-final-lap incident in a day is rare, but two must be a first. I am not the biggest Earnhardt fan in the world, but even I know that a win for Dale Jr. would have been good for the sport. He had the lead in turn four then ran out of gas. How does this happen? Gambling, and for the potential risk/reward, seventh is not a bad hedge. Still, instead of the redemption of the prince of NASCAR, you instead have Harvick winning his third race of the year (after leading a total of nine whole laps in those wins) taking away from another great story. Just like in the Indy race, there were better stories that could have been written. In second finished David Ragan, who has never won a race before. In third, you have Logano, who is a rising star in the sport that has yet to win since his rookie year. In fifth and sixth, you have two additional potential first time winners in AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose— both of whom have done very well this season. In eighth, you have Regan Smith who just won his first race back at Darlington and with a few good runs could be the biggest underdog to ever make the Chase. Instead, we have another finish that did not live up to the product.
Hedging Back to the Middle
Harvick has a chance at the Sprint Cup, and with three victories, he is all but a lock to make the Chase so he and his team can tinker with setups and develop the best cars to win when it matters. Wheldon could be developing into a racer that will rank among the best Indy has ever seen. Both drivers deserve the credit for good runs, perhaps with not the best cars either, and so I tip my hat to them out of respect for their accomplishments.
But that bitter taste of disappointment, that’s what I take from today.
Indy 500
This was the first year where I watched the Indy 500 from beginning to end, partially because the Yankees weren’t on until later, and partially because of the potential for a great story. I am a fan of individual drivers and teams, but more than anything I root for the best story. Sure, I would love if the Yanks won the next five World Series or Clint Bowyer went on a Jimmie Johnson type run, but then you just get the same story of dominance. Today’s result was just that, someone who has won it all before and taking away from a much better potential result.
Coca-Cola 600
One turn-four-final-lap incident in a day is rare, but two must be a first. I am not the biggest Earnhardt fan in the world, but even I know that a win for Dale Jr. would have been good for the sport. He had the lead in turn four then ran out of gas. How does this happen? Gambling, and for the potential risk/reward, seventh is not a bad hedge. Still, instead of the redemption of the prince of NASCAR, you instead have Harvick winning his third race of the year (after leading a total of nine whole laps in those wins) taking away from another great story. Just like in the Indy race, there were better stories that could have been written. In second finished David Ragan, who has never won a race before. In third, you have Logano, who is a rising star in the sport that has yet to win since his rookie year. In fifth and sixth, you have two additional potential first time winners in AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose— both of whom have done very well this season. In eighth, you have Regan Smith who just won his first race back at Darlington and with a few good runs could be the biggest underdog to ever make the Chase. Instead, we have another finish that did not live up to the product.
Hedging Back to the Middle
Harvick has a chance at the Sprint Cup, and with three victories, he is all but a lock to make the Chase so he and his team can tinker with setups and develop the best cars to win when it matters. Wheldon could be developing into a racer that will rank among the best Indy has ever seen. Both drivers deserve the credit for good runs, perhaps with not the best cars either, and so I tip my hat to them out of respect for their accomplishments.
But that bitter taste of disappointment, that’s what I take from today.
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