Read this quick. This thread will self destruct in 24 hours!

[Jag_Warrior]

After watching my Tivo of the Monaco Grand Prix, I caught the last few laps of Indy. I was amazed to see Danica running up front and actually in (legitimate) contention for the win. I don't know what she did the rest of the day, but she was doing well when I tuned in.

So, to my least favorite driver... in any racing series in the solar system (yes, even including that cheating Martian that runs in the All Terrain Buggy Series on Saturn), props to Danica for a job well done today.

And once 25 hours passes, I'll deny that I ever posted his.

[Hoop-98]

Utoh, someone's Hijacked the Jagster's account!

[Gluaistean]

She did well. Equipment and good crew. She had really nothing to do. How many difficult situations was she in? Nada. Now, as for Meira, whew, and Kanaan...double whew.

[F1boat]

Yes, well done for Danica!

[TURN3]

I think I've made my opinions of her clear. While I don't think 1 race determines the legitimacy of her career, by far and a way this has to be her best performance. Good crew good equipment or not, she stuck in there. I feel if I'm going to be critical then to give credit when it is due is necessary also. She deserves plenty for her performance.

[Mark in Oshawa]

She did well, but lets point out something Jag. Duno didn't hit nothing and Fisher stayed on the lead lap to the end. In short, the only people in trouble were the ones actually trying to RACE. The cars just were not really able to pass easily and most of the field did the follow the leader thing. The only guys moving up and were NOT shown (ABC cant figure out how to cover anyone but the top 4) were Bell and Tagliani, and they didn't even show Tags much less any pass he may have made going from 33rd to 11th.

Of course, on the network that is all Danica all the time, we wouldn't see that.

Danica drove a steady race, duelled with Paul Tracy for a good part of it and they would swap positions back and forth every restart until his evil twitchy car would eventually cause him to give up ground. She did well, and didn't whine too much. It seems Mikey on the pit box really did steady her, and apprently she took Al Unser Jr's advice to heart on how to just keep calm. Damn that Jr. guy.....Danica is more fun when she is wrecking and spitting mad over something..lol

[garyshell]

I always think...what would Keith Richards do?

Excuse the interruption, Mark, I just noticed your new(?) signature! The RS, the greatest rock and roll band EVER. We now take you back to your regularly scheduled racing forum.

Gary

[Jag_Warrior]

Excuse the interruption, Mark, I just noticed your new(?) signature! The RS, the greatest rock and roll band EVER. We now take you back to your regularly scheduled racing forum.

Gary

In case there are more hardcore Stones fans on here, BBC America is running a documentary style special on the Stones this month. It's called The Rolling Stones: Truth and Lies.

And yeah, junkie or not, Keith Richards is one of the few remaining real rockers out there. Unlike Sir Mick :rolleyes: , they know better than to invite Keith to the palace... he'd feel the queen up and wouldn't apologize for doing it!

Better days...
http://www.morethings.com/music/rolling_stones/images/rolling_stones_with_brian_jones.jpg

[Dr. Krogshöj]

"Sorry guys. It was all my fault."

Have you ever heard something like that from Danica? She's never been my favourite driver but I am rooting for her this year. It takes a lot to recognise one's own shortcomings and actually correct them. The difference between the Danica yelling at the corner workers at Surfers Paradise and the Danica we see this year is enermous. She's humble, calm and competitive.

[Easy Drifter]

I do not like Danica but she drove a good race and her attitude seems to have changed for the better.
Now where the heck is Danica Fan?
She does well and he is quiet!

[Jag_Warrior]

I heard a rumor that he had to go to the hospital with heart palpitations. What with her "winning" 3rd place and all, his heart couldn't take it.

BTW, the 24 hours is up! Back in the saddle again. :devil:

[call_me_andrew]

Relax guys. It's only rock & roll (but I like it).

[Jag_Warrior]

Eh, even I've been known to have a little... Sympathy For The Danica every now & again. But this could be The Last Time, cause you know, you'll never make a Saint of Me. So, Let Me Go, before I go Out of Control and need some Emotional Rescue and start saying that Danica does her best work Undercover of the Night. Don't look at me with those Far Away Eyes. Can't You Hear Me Knocking? So just Get Off My Cloud if you can't accept that It's All Over Now.

[PA Rick]

waaaaa he passed me under yellow. Waaaaa he pulled over too fast

[beachbum]

Since I can't stand the ABC coverage, I decided to "watch" the race mostly on line with the TV in the background. I don't care for Danica, but for some reason decided to watch from her in-car camera (mainly because it was the only one with sound). A number of things stood out that certainly were not part of the ABC coverage (what were they watching?)

She had a very good car that was almost perfect for the conditions. She didn't have much straight line speed, but was quick in the turns (check the timing and scoring), which suggests a lot of downforce. Another clue was that she didn't even get a huge push in dirty air like some cars (I switched to other cars from time to time). The car was also very consistent over a run, and her lap times (not particularly stellar) didn't drop off like most cars.

Most of the time, she ran alone. Sure there were short sections where she passed cars (PT and Vitor a couple times), and a couple sections where she was passed, but most of the time she was basically by herself and able to run her lines. I can't recall even one lap where she got off line much or had a big moment. She did have a couple nice saves coming out of the turns a couple times when the car took off, but I am sure even ABC's Danica love fest missed that.

She was very consistent in the car, drove hard, and developed a very nice pattern. Big lift going into Turns 1 & 3 (like most), early on the gas, sometimes a little lift coming out of the turns to keep the car down out of the gray. She showed experience as she almost never went high, which kept her out of trouble, unlike a few others who just had to race hard out of 4. The one time when she got pushed high when she tried to pass Wheldon on the last restart, she backed off - big time - rather than go in high. I may have missed a couple passes, but all that I saw were made by going under another car, which, considering track conditions was smart.

Her team made most of the passes for her in the pits. The only mistake (sliding through the pit box), hurt some, but put her behind cars that were slower and she was able to pass without much trouble. Track position was one of the keys to her success.

PT took her to school on how to keep a faster car behind by changing his arc into the turns to move across her nose taking the air off her wing causing her to wash out. But her car was so much better, she eventuality got a run and pushed him high and got by.

She really never put a foot wrong all day and, dare I say it, drove smart and hard and deserved 3rd. IHMO, it was one of her best drives ever. In some ways, her driving style is perfect for INDY, where consistency is almost more important that the ability to pass. If you can run fast by yourself and don't get stuck in the pack, and don't make any silly mistakes, you are going to finish very well.