Goodyear Blows at the Brickyard

Better late than never....

Even while Jimmie Johnson was celebrating with his team after winning the Brickyard 400, Goodyear once again was under fire from media, fans and drivers. Who could blame them?
With the longest stretch of green flag racing lasting 13 laps (about 30 miles) , one of the most prestigious races on the Cup schedule looked like your local short track on a Saturday night. Ten minutes of racing, then on to the next heat.

I have to ask the obvious question, why does NASCAR insist on dealing with flawed products from Goodyear? Why not switch to Hoosier or Pirelli? The Rolex Series seems to have no problem with Pirelli tires at their races.

Maybe I'm just spitting in the wind, but when will NASCAR wake up and move on from Goodyear? This week, the Daytona offices should be vacant as NASCAR officials fly to the next IndyCar, Rolex Series, ARCA, F1 race to see how those series handle tire issues. Maybe then, NASCAR can find a better company to produce their racing tires.

• 1 Comment
• GoodYear, Brickyard 400, tires

Posted some new photos

Just a couple of photos from Mid-Ohio a few weeks back. Sorry for the bad quality, will definitely get that fixed by the time I go to Daytona in January.

• 0 Comments
• Mid-Ohio, Rolex Series, Daytona

Anyone else going to Mid-Ohio this weekend?

Just throwing it out there since the Cup teams are at Infenion. The Rolex Series is racing this weekend at Mid-Ohio and I think the ALMS/IndyCar follows in the next few weeks. I know I'm in the minority being a road racing series fan more than a Nascar fan. This weekend will absolutley rock with Grand-Am at Mid-Ohio and Infenion on Sunday. The Rolex Series coverage on SPEED starts at 5pm Saturday.

By the way, it's been a while since I've been in here, can I say Rolex or is Tissot still the brand of choice for Rowdy fans?

Later,

Derrick aka RowdyColumbus

• 2 Comments
• Rolex Series, Infenion, Sprint Cup, Mid-Ohio, alms, Indycar

Dan Wheldon likes the number 10

Dan Wheldon has a nice choice of number to choose while training with FC Dallas. The number 10 is usually picked by the best player on the team, sort of how #23 has become in basketball. Greats like Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Columbus Crew vet Alejandro Moreno all are #10 on the field.

Another interesting fact, when I was at Daytona in January, I saw Wheldon walking around the Rolex Series garage area with a Target logo "WHELDON 10"
soccer jersey. It's official Wheldon's my favorite driver in all series.

If I'm annoying anyone at Rowdy with my IndyCar stories lately, I apologize. I just find the new IndyCar more enjoyable now that both series are back together. I still love Nascar, but I'm slowly going back to my roots as a open wheel, road racing fan.

Cheers,

Derrick

• 1 Comment
• Dan Wheldon, FC Dallas, Soccer, MLS, Indy 500, Indycar

Gov't to ban Nascar??......

That's what Patrick Long wants. No, not the Rolex Series driver, but the enviornmental activist that is gathering signatures to petition the government to ban Nascar for 2 years until the cars can become more fuel efficient.

I heard this interview on a Cincy radio show. Follow the link here---> http://www.700wlw.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=ed_tracy_.xml <---- interview search paste and in the bar your this 4 for address copy />t think this will happen, but just something to stimulize the mind. And if you really want to set this guy straight, Long gives out his email towards the end of the interview.

• 17 Comments
• enviromentalists, Patrick Long, Cincy radio, government

Gov

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Dan Wheldon to Train with FC Dallas

That's right. Many of you know that I am also a huge soccer(football) supporter and I stumbled across this gem last night. According to mls-rumors.net , Wheldon is expected to participate in a training or practice session with MLS side FC Dallas on Wednesday, April 30th.

When asked about his soccer skills he said, "I have some soccer playing skills, but they aren't on par with my driving skills."

I wonder if Dan will sport a mane like FC Dallas star Juan Toja.

Let's hope not.

• 2 Comments
• Juan Toja, FC Dallas, Indycar, Dan Wheldon, MLS

Free hat at Napa

Hey Rowdy Nation,

I don't know if this was is a nationwide giveaway or just in Ohio, but Napa is giving away free Michael Waltrip Racing hats if you make a purchase and trade in an old hat. But beware if you are blessed with a big cranium, because the hat could be a bit too snug.

Enjoy your week Rowdy,

Derrick

• 2 Comments
• NAPA, Michael Waltrip Racing

IRL/ CHAMP CAR Merger

Hey Rowdy,

Isn't it great? This would be great for racing in general. I miss the good days of Indy Racing and it would be nice to flip over to an exciting series when Nascar gets boring aka Chicago, Kansas, California, Michigan, etc. What's your take?

• 0 Comments
• IRL, Champ car, Boring Tracks

Daytona 500: Picking up the pieces

Daytona 500--Picking up the pieces
Random thoughts from the 500:

Penske 1-2....who would have bet that this time yesterday.

Tony Stewart was a mile away from winning his first Daytona 500. Will he be the new Dale Earnhardt, multiple winner of the Daytona 498 and 499? Let's hope Smoke will eventually get his time in victory lane like Dale Earnhardt.

My bold prediction for Furniture Row Racing to finish in the top 20 went to hell in a handbasket, finishing 41st and 43rd respectively.

I'm usually not that guy that whines about TV coverage, but FOX was shocking with their coverage of the race. It seemed that every yellow flag occurred during a commercial. After the break, I heard no mention of what caused the caution. To top it off, with under 20 laps to go, FOX breaks off right as the action on the track was hitting a crescendo. You just felt that someone was gonna cause a wreck. Sure enough, as soon as FOX was back on the air, the first image I see is Jimmy Johnson skidding down the backstretch. The producers of the FOX broadcast have no concept of how to capture racing momentum. They'd rather show a bumper cam instead of a pass for the lead. Anyone pissed off about that?

What do Casey Mears, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth have in common? They all finished 35th or worse.

Here's what I don't understand: Kyle Petty ended up 34th in the same equipment that teammate Bobby Labonte finished 11th. The CoT sure does tell you how teammates stack up to each other in regards to talent.

Finally, did anyone catch Ryan Newman's press conference? Newman described the feeling he got when he crossed the finish line as, "...I got that tingly feeling, I mean, you only get that with certain things." After a few chuckles from the media, Newman blurted out, "I didn't get it there! Just down my back." Never heard the feeling of winning the Daytona 500 described like that. Good one Newman.

• 0 Comments
• Daytona 500, FOX, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty