Wow! Allmendinger charged with drink driving!!

[Giuseppe F1]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79830


Allmendinger caught drink driving
By Diego Mejia
Thursday, October 29th 2009, 16:19 GMT


AJ AllmendingerNASCAR Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being arrested by police in North Carolina.

Allmendinger, 27, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, was pulled over in the early hours of Thursday morning and failed a sobriety test according to the Associated Press.

It is unclear how the issue will affect Allmendinger, who remains, for the moment, listed as the driver of the number 44 car for this weekend's race at Talladega.

He is expected to take over the iconic number 43 car for next year, when RPM merges with Yates Racing and becomes a Ford.

Richard Petty's squad has traditionally refused to be involved with any kind of marketing or sponsorship activities involving alcohol.

This year however, one of his cars is sponsored by Budweiser in a deal carried over through the team's purchase of Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

[harvick#1]

wonder if they have to put the brethalizer in his race car :p :

another "what were they thinking" to these athletes who have it all

[domaza]

wonder if they have to put the brethalizer in his race car :p :

another "what were they thinking" to these athletes who have it all

You mean his move from Champ Car to Nascar? :)

[Jonesi]

You mean his move from Champ Car to Nascar? :)

It can't be that, he's probably make more money this year in Nascar than his entire OW career.

[UltimateDanGTR]

of all people AJ is someone id expect this least from. just shows how people can surprise you. Silly, but i hope this doesnt effect his career too much....

[Langdale Forest]

Drink driving is discraceful.

[Jonesi]

(On Jayski) Nascar has done the expected wrist slap, putting him on probation until the end of the year.

[RaceFanStan]

(rumor has it that his drink(s) of choice is red bull & vodka ...) :eek:

[harvick#1]

Kimi is the vodka ice cream man :D whats AJ thinking :laugh:

[Lee Roy]

You mean his move from Champ Car to Nascar? :)

What is a "Champ Car"?

[Mark in Oshawa]

Well....AJ...you just proved that having money and a dream job still doesn't buy ya brains.

He is LUCKY they didn't suspend him a race or two and he better kiss the King's you know what because Richard is pretty serious about his image and alcohol.

[call_me_andrew]

He is LUCKY they didn't suspend him a race or two and he better kiss the King's you know what because Richard is pretty serious about his image and alcohol.

Yup, that's why he owns a car sponsored by Budweiser.

[F1boat]

Well....AJ...you just proved that having money and a dream job still doesn't buy ya brains.

He is LUCKY they didn't suspend him a race or two and he better kiss the King's you know what because Richard is pretty serious about his image and alcohol.

Was he driving his racecar drunk? If not, I don't think that there should be a penalty in the champinship IMO.

[Jonesi]

Yup, that's why he owns a car sponsored by Budweiser.

It's really not by choice the Bud sponsored car came with the GEM deal. I also wonder if he's more of a figurehead now, with all the recent deals can he own more than 15-25%?

[Mark in Oshawa]

Was he driving his racecar drunk? If not, I don't think that there should be a penalty in the champinship IMO.

PR wise it looks bad and NASCAR doesn't like seeing one of their drivers getting nailed with a DUI. NASCAR can punish drivers under something in the rule book called "Actions detrimental to Stock Car racing". Getting busted for a DUI I think qualify's.

I don't want to see AJ banned. Don't want to see him get off scot free either. A one race suspension I think would send a message.

[Easy Drifter]

How times change.
In the early days of NASCAR a good percentage of the drivers had been, and many still were, involved in the 'shine' trade.
Again probably half or better in every race were hung over and some still legally drunk.
With todays rules probably half would be suspended and another quarter on probabtion.
I am not codoning the old days, nor do I think DUI should go unpunished, although AJ has just been charged not found guilty.
I just find it kind of ironic knowing the roots of the taxi cab racing.

[Mark in Oshawa]

How times change.
In the early days of NASCAR a good percentage of the drivers had been, and many still were, involved in the 'shine' trade.
Again probably half or better in every race were hung over and some still legally drunk.
With todays rules probably half would be suspended and another quarter on probabtion.
I am not codoning the old days, nor do I think DUI should go unpunished, although AJ has just been charged not found guilty.
I just find it kind of ironic knowing the roots of the taxi cab racing.

Curtis Turner used to fly around the country with a mason jar of his refreshments. When the jar ran dry, he used to fly his plane to a town, find a road to land on and taxi up to the local establishment or someone who might sell him some shine. Then fly off again. Turner used to race hungover andlikely drunk. THat however was a day that has come and gone....