Comments on TRADING PAINT!: A Tick Too Fast, Montoya Goes From The Right To Th...

So, here's an idea... Why doesn't NASCAR give ES...

2009-07-28T07:28:33.482-05:00

So, here's an idea...

Why doesn't NASCAR give ESPN/FOX/TNT the rights to have a camera trained on the computer screen that shows the time between points and the corresponding speeds?

Make that data available to EVERYONE, ALL THE TIME... just to make sure something doesn't get overlooked. Wouldn't want that to happen accidentally, would we?

From what I understand Nascar uses time from point...

2009-07-27T17:03:50.980-05:00

From what I understand Nascar uses time from point A to point B to get the speed of each car. Each car has a transponder on it so they can tell exactly when that specific car passes the pickups on pit road and then it is just simple math to convert time over a known distance to speed. As I said before this is my understanding of the way they get pit road speed for everyone. It is all done by computer not a radar gun, also from what I understand Nascar does allow a 5mph cushion just as the police do. I feel for the team but they had a 5sec. lead and did not need to push it to the limit at that point in the race. If J.P.H. was 5.11 mph over pit road speed then it is what it is. I wish them great luck for the rest of the season but they took themselves out this weekend not Nascar. Again if I am incorrect about the way pit road speed is calculated or the 5mph cushion, someone please correct me.

I am going to play Devil's Advocate here.. It's h...

2009-07-27T11:57:06.841-05:00

I am going to play Devil's Advocate here..
It's heartbreaking to see anyone who has tried as hard as Juan Pablo has to win a race, come up short because of a technicality. However, while the "proof" is allegedly indisputable, I have to say this:
If they are using the same radar guns that police use, then the variables are endless.
The reason that police allow for a 5 mph difference is because unless the gun is pointed directly at the vehcile in question is is not an accurate read and everyone knows that Radar guns are used from the side of the road, that is why law enforcement allows for a 5mph fudge factor.. Radar guns at the track aren't strung up over the pit road so they must be at an angle and therefore totally unreliable for use at a time when there is so much at stake. With 43 cars in the field, how can they possibly say who's car they are pointing at, if they are "pointing" at anyone. Then if they are pointing it at someone, then are there 43 radar guns in use or is it something that is totally random?? Then if it isnt random, then it must be on purpose and that leads to specualtion that the wrong person was leading the race and they needed to find a way to stop that..
So even if they use some kind of barcode system and keep track of it electronically, was this car targeted??
Now I am in really scary territory. I couldn't help wondering about conspiracy theories while I watched this travesty take place.. and it's not the first time that has happened - my thought process OR watch while someone gets pushed out of a race.
As much as I support the Hendrix teams - I make no apologies for being a JG fan - I can't help but wonder now, if there isn't something going on behind the scenes that we really should be aware of.. are some of the teams in the pocket of NASCAR or even vice versa.. This surely made a lot of folks very rich..

Jeff: You are 100 percent. I inadvertently combine...

2009-07-27T00:39:26.230-05:00

Jeff: You are 100 percent. I inadvertently combined the oil episode from earlier in the race with what happened when Montoya came onto pit road during a green flag pit stop, just before Junior's motor blew. There were reports that Earnhardt's engine may have been dropping oil for a few laps prior to it blowing up, and I accidentally mixed them up. It was an honest mistake, and I'm man enough to admit I made a mistake. I have since corrected it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. ..... Jerry

Jerry, I may disagree with your opinion from time ...

2009-07-26T22:15:29.626-05:00

Jerry, I may disagree with your opinion from time to time, but I don't ever recall having to dispute your reporting. Montoya didn't claim that the oil caused him to speed. Earnhardt's engine blew two laps AFTER Montoya was caught speeding. JPM's mention of running through oil was during his rant under caution.

JPM got hosed! I know, the speed is done electron...

2009-07-26T21:52:04.307-05:00

JPM got hosed! I know, the speed is done electronically, and if your too fast, your too fast, but Juan was just a few tenths to fast in a car without a speedometer. I find it hard to believe the drivers can ever get the pit speed correct at all. I feel terrible for JPM and EGR. JPM’s car was the class of the field all day, and to lose it in the way he did is just heart breaking.

My hat is off to GoodYear! They sunk a lot of money, and time into making sure the tire would work and it pay off. Nice work!

And finally, let’s all say a prayer for Felipe Massa. If you have not seen the video of his accident, it is truly scary. A piece of debris comes off the track and hits him in the head while he is at full speed. Scary!

Nice to get to chat with you today Jerry. Have a great week everyone!

Couldn't help but feel bad for Montoya, glad Marti...

2009-07-26T21:09:58.664-05:00

Couldn't help but feel bad for Montoya, glad Martin did well. The race seemed kind of lackluster to me. (But much improved over last years disaster!)