Random Racing Recap

There’s no rhyme or reason to this post, which doesn’t really differ from the norm around here, but there’s a whole bunch of racing related stuff that I wanted to share. The last two days I was going to give them all their own post but, well, got a little swamped with some work and errands. I had to do my Drive Clean test this year and I’m super-pleased that my Oliver passed with flying colours and had no other issues that need to be immediately addressed. I should rotate the tyres soon… actually, I need to look into some winter ones, and I’ve had the same brake pads since 2009, but there’s surprisingly little wear showing. Looking at the pads you’d think I considered road signs and lights ‘stoptional’. I don’t, honest.

Genius Heads Up Manoeuvre When It’s All Gone Wrong

Not only does Jeroen Bleekemolen lose a wheel, make it through an extremely tight area, and execute the heads of play of American Le Mans history, he takes freakin’ pole position later on! You rarely see drivers running about as is, let alone in full racing kit. Frankly, it’s the skidding stop when he does spot the wheel that makes it for me :)

David Coulthard and Jenson Button on Red or Black

On Monday, September 5th, David Coulthard and Jenson Button appeared on UK’s Red or Black. The shows gives people a million pounds if they make it through all the rounds while correctly picking (or being stuck with) whether red or black will win each event. Thrilling, I’m sure.

On the show’s site they had blurbs about their event:

Cruise Control
Who will be victorious as F1 heroes David Coulthard and Jenson Button try a tricky go-karting challenge?

Two F1 drivers so how bad could it be?.

Burning rubber
Who will be victorious as F1 heroes David Coulthard and Jenson Button drive each other mad in a tricky go-karting challenge? Watch the sensational stunt and find out”

The only sensational part about it all was that they got those drivers in the first place! To see what I mean, and if you’re not in the UK and couldn’t see the link above, some kind soul put it on YouTube. So, yeah, that happened: Go Kart Shuffleboard with a scoring system made up as they went along. Not exactly the best use of their talents, eh?

Baltimore Indy Safety Car WTF

It’s the truck at the bottom you need to keep an eye out for, not the one already safe at the top.

Racer.com reported on the safety car’s driver being suspended following the race, and the article had a great picture of how close things could have been. Autosport.com also covered the driver’s suspension, with quotes from Brian Barnhart.

“The safety of our drivers, track workers, safety team members and all exposed personnel is always of the utmost importance during any event,” said Brian Barnhart, IndyCar’s president of competition and operations.

“Protocol was not followed at the start of the event and we had to take action by issuing a suspension. This safety team member is one of our most experienced, with more than 20 years working with various safety teams, and unfortunately made an error.

My response to this is actually the same as the brilliant Fake Charlie Whiting‘s (the real Charlie Whiting is in charge of starting F1 races, among many other duties).

Exactly. Barnhart should consider paying attention next time instead of just throwing the guy with 20 years experience under the bus. Everyone is lucky he was fast enough to get out of the way!