Marco's pass on Kanaan

I'd like to hear from everyone else, but I found nothing wrong with Marco Andretti's pass on teammate Tony Kanaan, which led to Kanaan hitting the wall from the marbles. Admittedly Marco was coming into that corner pretty hard, but that's what he's supposed to be doing. The pass was clean and Marco went as low as he could. Kanaan was clearly not going as fast as Marco and it might have been dangerous had Marco slowed or hit the brakes, perhaps causing a pile up since there were many other cars in that group with them. Maybe Kanaan was surprised Marco was there, but that shouldn't have mattered who it was, someone was going to make that pass. Kanaan has been at Indy long enough to expect the unexpected. And while I can understand his disappointment, he shouldn't be crying that much, IMHO. Marco is there to win every bit as much as Kanaan is, and hey, either lead, follow, or get out of the way.

TK isn't normally one to whine, so there must have been some validity is his taking exeception with Marco's move.

Gary

There is a time and place for banzai moves. That wasn't it. They were working through a lot of traffic, and while that may present an opportunity to make a pass, forcing another driver off line is never a smart move, especially if it is your teammate. I am sure the opening was enticing, and Marco took it. Last year a statement was made by someone at AGR (no link) that Marco's driving style was mainly see driver, pass driver. But sometimes you have to see driver, analyze consequences, then pass driver if you can - safely. He did more than ruin Tony's race, the spin wiped out Fisher and perhaps her dream of being an owner driver.

Starter makes the point that it is the overtaking drivers responsibility to avoid contact. The other part of that is that they should never place the overtaken driver at risk by forcing them to take avoiding action or by moving them well off line. You can take their line away, but you have to give them an out. Marco didn't.

if it was the last 10 laps of the race, then the rules change. Tony probably would have shut the door.

It's a shame for Tony, but one could argue that he did not make as good a job of getting through the traffic as Dixon, knew he was slowing and should have expected Marco on the inside. It was just one of those things that happens at Indy. From Marco's point of view he had a really good run on the car ahead of him, so why should he lift? It the other car had been a non team mate would it have been a big deal? As is often the case there are so many ifs and buts after the event. I feel more for Fisher than I do for Kannan - a really tough break after driving a good race and keeping out of trouble.

Having watched all the drivers and owners walk down Gasoline Alley prior to the race Marco was the only one really who did not smile, looked down and was not fan friendly. Not that has anything to do with his driving. Seems he has more of his dad rather than his grandad in him. TK is a team player and has nurtured Marco especially last year when Marco had a very strained relationship with his Dad so for him to say what he did about Marco makes you think TK is correct. However he brought it home whereas Graham Rahal did not. Shades of Marco on the ovals from last year.

TK was mad because the pass was late going into the turn, he went high and got in the grey and lost it. unfortunantly, Sarah had no where to go and wrecked him.

there was plenty of give and take in the first 150 laps and Marco was all take although he did have one heck of a run

TK won't be with AGR next season...you heard it here first

clearly the most talented mature racer on the team and is playing third, arguably fourth fiddle to the other drivers

I suspect we will see him at Penske

My guess is that TK feels this year it's time for him to really cement himself again with strong finishes (like Indy and/or Championship) to solidify sponsorship and team for the next several years. What Marco did would have been questionable, but at worst just hard racing if it wasn't to a teammate. But to make that move on TK was irresponsible. And I do feel particularly bad for Fisher who probably would have had a solid top 15-20 finish. Is her team really in such bad shape though that an 20th place finish is a guaranteed Kentucky run and a 30th place is not? Both Marco and Briscoe's "mistakes" were a result of the slick racing and lack of passing. They had to make the passes in the pits or in whatever extreme situation possible on the track. Marco is still desperate for his Indy win, and clearly will put teammates at risk to do it.

Also i would agree that this move was very similar to what happened last year at Sonoma.

I still don't see it. Marco did, in my view, exactly what Starter said he should do, which was go low and avoid contact. Kanaan was clearly going slower than Marco, so it could be argued that he (at that point) may have been holding Marco and the others up, and Marco made the pass not only to get by, but also avoid a risky cluster of traffic. I do feel very bad for Sarah Fisher who did a great job all day and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Backing off would've been impossible at that point, I think. It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. Making a split-second decision is different. Teammates should be allowed to race, and Marco raced. That's racin'. Kanaan got into the marbles long after Marco was gone.