Simona

[jimispeed]

I know she was out of it, but she was very racy(no pun intended)! Fastest lap as well! Nice job Simona!

[jimispeed]

Nobody thinks Simona deserves discussion?

[chuck34]

Simona is my new favorite driver. I'm hoping that the Captain asks Helio to "step aside" next year (could happen?) and gives Simona the ride. I would love to see her, Will, and Ryan rack up the wins. :)

[FIAT1]

She is not just a race car driver she is a real racer and fun to watch. Good job.

[Jag_Warrior]

I thought it was impressive that she laid down the fast lap of the race. My concern for Simona was that without Michael Cannon, she'd drift backwards. Instead, it looks like she's gotten faster!

As a side note, I first became aware of Simona because she had a connection to the Stargate franchise. Since it appears that the franchise is pretty much going to die next week (with the series finale of Stargate Universe), I guess it's only fitting that she has moved on as well. In any case, go Simona! And I hope that she can get with a better team too. Or maybe the introduction of the new car will level out the playing field a tad bit. Either way...

[garyshell]

There is a new Indycar show on Versus starting today at 4:00PM (I think) and rebroadcast at 2:00 AM. Apparently Simona is to be one of the featured guests.

Gary

[Leo Krupe]

I despise "me too" posts, on any forum, but I really can't add anything but me too to those who say she's a real racer, she's fun to watch, and I wish she'd get a ride with a front running team. And she's my new favorite too, at least since last season.

[ykiki]

Me too!

(sorry Leo, couldn't help myself)

[Leo Krupe]

Me too!

(sorry Leo, couldn't help myself)
'Sokay, it hadda be done! :)

[garyshell]

There is a new Indycar show on Versus starting today at 4:00PM (I think) and rebroadcast at 2:00 AM. Apparently Simona is to be one of the featured guests.

Gary

2:00 AM and it was freakin' hockey replay. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh. Even the Versus website showed a relay of Indycar Weekly. Sigh.

Gary

[dataman1]

There is a new Indycar show on Versus starting today at 4:00PM (I think) and rebroadcast at 2:00 AM. Apparently Simona is to be one of the featured guests.

Gary

I got to see it at 4PM and I really liked it. Simona did a good job as did everyone else. Good show.

[call_me_andrew]

She's a very talented driver, but if womens' sports has taugh us anything, it's that talent doesn't matter unless she looks good in a bikini.

[garyshell]

She's a very talented driver, but if womens' sports has taugh us anything, it's that talent doesn't matter unless she looks good in a bikini.

Really? Doesn't matter to who?

Gary

[beachgirl]

Really? Doesn't matter to who?

Gary

Obviously it doesn't matter to call_me_andrew. But to most of the rest of us, it's talent that matters, first, last, and foremost. If I'd be so inclined to seek out "hot" semi-naked bods (and I certainly am not), it wouldn't be in the sports world. Hollywood and Playboy come to mind...

[Chris R]

Looks may not matter to hard core racing fans - but to the larger "mainstream" audience they do..... I don't like it - but that is the way it is....

[Junqueira fan]

Simona is better looking than Danica IMO. Better smile, better skin, blonder and more feminine figure.

[Marbles]

Fast, good looks, humility, a smile that could light up a night race. If you think that's trumped by a snarly, yes I said snarly, woman who can only turn left and has a body that's a bit to close to that of a boy for my liking than I'll move on. I'm moving on anyways.

With hope, that's my last "MAN" post for a while.

Any women around here want to start a JAMES, CHARLES or PAUL thread, I'll gladly join in.

[banshee74]

No spinning coming out of the pits, no running over your pit crew,, no foot stomping, no blame game, no swimsuit photos.....just bangs out fast lap in the wet!!!! GO 78.....looking forward to Indy for Simona.

[call_me_andrew]

Really? Doesn't matter to who?

Gary


Sponsors! Have you not seen Danica's GoDaddy commercials?

[beachbum]

Sponsors! Have you not seen Danica's GoDaddy commercials?So what?

I suspect most of the people who see the commercials know Danica as a GoDaddy Girl and smaller percentage know she is a race car driver. Since Indy Car is only mentioned in passing, I suspect a much smaller percentage know what she races or cares. They watch to see her, not what she does with her clothes on. Ever see a race car in a GoDaddy commercial?

GoDaddy caters to the geek's of the world, and while I may work in that world (technically a geek my self) , I know very few care about racing or even cars in general. Many are into adolescent fantasies fed by the almost soft-porn of the GoDaddy ads and SI photo shoots. Look in their "caves" and you probably won't find any car magazines, although you may find "other" magazines typically found behind the counter.

Now, back to the topic of the thread. Simona is showing she is a real racer, not just a "show" (to quote Milka). Through most of the race, she had the fastest laps. When she passed Marco (controversial to some) she showed how it should be done as Marco's lap time didn't change on that lap. Her pass didn't affect him at all.

[call_me_andrew]

To Hell with the topic. Female athletes who aren't sexy are often ignored. Anna Kournikova searches dominated the early Internet, but she never won a singles game. Lauren Jackson won her 3rd WNBA MVP award last year, and I had never heard of her until I looked up WNBA MVP 5 minutes ago when I was looking for an example of a important female athlete no one has heard of.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

[jackmart]

I LOVE Simona. She is a class act. I have no doubt that IF she had make up and hair team she would look just as good as Danica is a swim suit. But this girl has class and realizes that she is an athlete not a super model. She is always so humble in her interviews and always mentions her team. I was so impressed to see her have the fastest lap and I'm excited to watch her continue. However, a seat for Penske next year I think is a little much, but I would love it to happen.

[Mark in Oshawa]

If I want to watch cheesecake, I don't go looking for a race driver. Simona is doing it the right way. Driving fast, earning respect and is doing it on ovals and road courses. Danica, for all her publicity is not doing as well this year as Simona. She is on a way better team, has more resources, and yet really isn't in the conversation at all.

Yet Danicamania continues. Simona is like most female drivers. She is hustling and doing her best, trying to beat the odds and not using her looks to get ahead.

Where Danica gained my unyielding dislike is when she showed up at Toronto in Atlantics years ago, doing her diva act, giving interviews to the press and peddling her cheesecake photo shoot from Maxim. That is alright in a sense, but then she demands the boys treat her as any other driver. Ya Right Danica, you cant handle it when they treat you as anyone else.

Stompin down pit lane, slapping other drivers, never admitting fault. Ah yes, the woman is never wrong. Meanwhile, along comes a young lady who has looks, but refuses to sell them, who drives fast and does what we would want any rookie driver to do, to work hard and respect the sport. Not hard to be a Simona fan......and then she puts down a fast lap in the wet at Sao Paolo. Ya..the girl's got something....

[anthonyvop]

There's no such thing as bad publicity.


One of the biggest myths there is.

[anthonyvop]

Simona is not only a class act but her enthusiasm is contagious and real. She is really psyched for Indy this year as she now knows what it is all about from her experience last year.

[beachgirl]

One of the biggest myths there is.

You and I don't often agree about things, but on this, you are absolutely 100% totally accurate.

[anthonyvop]

An interview with Simona before the start of practice at Indy


http://www.youtube.com/user/OversteerTVonline?feature=mhum

[anthonyvop]

http://youtu.be/4AgS2kRIJKA

[Jag_Warrior]

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

Tell that to Dominique Strauss-Kahn. He's a lot more famous this week than he was last week... but I bet he wishes he wasn't! :p :

[dataman1]

She showed how strong she is by walking away from a bad looking shunt. Wow, that was some rough ride.

[TheCountessZ]

Simona is the coolest driver I've seen in a long time and I really respect her. She's driving so much more confidently. She's brave, cool headed, and genuinely friendly. I'm so glad she's in this series.

[tillyvick14]

Let's hope she dominates the absurdly overrated Danica at every track this season!