Jim Rathmann - 1928
Parnelli Jones - 1933
Bobby Unser - 1934
AJ Foyt 1935
Gordon Johncock - 1937
Johnny Rutherford - 1938
Al Unser Sr. 1939
Mario - 1940
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Jim Rathmann - 1928
Parnelli Jones - 1933
Bobby Unser - 1934
AJ Foyt 1935
Gordon Johncock - 1937
Johnny Rutherford - 1938
Al Unser Sr. 1939
Mario - 1940
No one who's been alive and awake for the past 30 years thinks that Trump decided he shouldn't drive the pace car if he was going to run for President. After last weeks' White House Corresponden't Dinner it's clear he's not going to run for President--he even went back to being fair and even handed to President Obama after the raid that killed bin Laden. If Trump was really running, he'd relish the time in the spotlight driving the pace car would bring, and he would be the LAST person on earth who would worry about any ethical or "equal time" issues. He's got his own reasons for pulling out which, not surprisingly, he didn't give when he made his statement about not driving. Let's just all be glad he's not going to stuff that combed-over mess into a helmet on race day and subject all of us to his neediness.
Can someone explain to me how him driving the pace-car and running for president have any effect on each other? This makes no sense to me, at least come up with a logic excuse.
We now know it will be Foyt. Have you guys seen him lately? He may need assistance getting in and out of the car. I'm sure he can drive however. I would also assume that he would be in the ceremonial start car and another driver/car would be used for the rest of the race. Anyone know for sure? I think it was a great choice.
Sanity prevails - and the egomaniac goes back to whatever he does. I actually think that it came down to a safety issue. At those speeds - a sudden rush of wind could play havoc with that "come over/under/around." If that thing flopped in front of his eyes going into turn 4 at full throttle, who knows what could happen.
That's just it--one has nothing to do with the other. It's Trump's attempt at saving face by saying it does though. Honestly, even if he were actively running (which he won't), it wouldn't preclude him from making appearances like driving the pace car at Indy. Candidate Bill Clinton played the sax on the Arsenio Hall show if I remember correctly.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackmart
In fact, it could be great for a presidential candidate's image to drive the pace car at Indy. There are few things more all-American than the Indy 500. It'd be like a throwing out the first pitch at a World Series game.
Instead, Trump is full of nothing but hot air, and any excuse he comes up with to back out of driving the pace car is pure baloney. A distraction? He's too busy with other business interests? If there is ever a time to shout "Gimme a break!" at the top of your lungs, his lame excuses are it.
I wouldn't consider Trump to be self made, his family is very wealthy, and quite honestly no one has an idea what his net worth is anyway. He's failed at the gambling business a number of times, and like a number of the extremely wealthy, he seems to be able to use bankruptcy as a tool, whereas for the normal person, bankruptcy usually means ruin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki Katz
I'm glad to hear that A. J will be driving instead. He's about 100,000 times a better choice than is Trump. Although many of us remember him mostly for his later career and his somewhat odd antics as a car owner, a strong case could be made for saying he is the greatest Indycar driver ever. Considering the era he started out in, just surviving is an accomplishment. Of the 33 drivers who started in his rookie 500 in 1958, 11 eventually were killed in racing incidents, and to win four 500s in that era is an astounding feat, not to mention wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the Daytona 500. If he's having health problems, that's even more reason to get him in the pace car now.
Glad Trump backed out. Not gonna speculate whether his reason is BS or not. I suspect it is BS but maybe he realizes that he has no business driving a pace car. AJ Foyt should have been asked first, and failing that Mario or Dan Gurney would be great choices as well. The fact AJ will be driving the car is fitting. He won the 50th Indy 500.......
Welcome back Mark!
Gary
Good! Trump's presidential aspirations aside, it could have been a PR disaster and a blackeye for the Indy 500 to have a draft dodger (with no previous connection to motorsports) driving the pace car on Memorial Day weekend... especially for the 100th anniversary.
Whaaaaatttt ??? Bill Clinton was going to drive the pace car ???????????Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior
As far as I know, Clinton has never been asked to drive the Indy pace car on a day meant to honor those who have served this nation in the military. And as far as I know, Clinton isn't a motorsports fan anymore than Trump is. I've never been a fan of Bill Clinton, but it would make a hell of a lot more sense to have a former POTUS/Commander-in-Chief (draft dodger or not) in the pace car, than a guy who claimed to be a "star athlete", but then all of a sudden got himself declared the equivalent of a 4F when it came time to serve... and then lied his butt off about the how's, what's and when's of the situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior
Well in the Case of Trump, it was just a bad idea that was corrected. AS for him being a Draft Dodger, he did what he could to stay out of a dopey idea (the Vietnam War). IN hindsight I suspect there is not many who did serve who don't feel that it was a waste of men and time. That said, Trump is a guy who just is full of crap at least half the time.....
If they wanted to let him drive the pace car around Long Beach, Baltimore or where ever, then so be it. I really wouldn't have an issue with that. I just don't think it's proper, right or respectful to veterans to have a guy, who lied about how his rich daddy helped him weasel out of military service ("star athlete" to 4F in the course of a couple of years... really???), drive the pace car at the Indy 500 on Memorial Day.
Nice spin job though. The last time I saw one that obvious was when my former company escorted the VP of Operations out the door (complete with a security guard escort), and later that day issued a press release that he had "resigned to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately."
Donald, YOU'RE FIRED! Good on IMS.