Does IC even have a drug policy?
Do they ever test and if so who?
Was Shane ever actually legally charged with an offence?
A Taxi Cab ban should not affect other organizations.
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Does IC even have a drug policy?
Do they ever test and if so who?
Was Shane ever actually legally charged with an offence?
A Taxi Cab ban should not affect other organizations.
No not every one gets a second chance - pedophiles, rapists, murderers - they're "one and done" preferably permanently in my book.
In the case of Hmeil, he DID get a second chance, a third and maybe even a fourth chance in Nascar and he blew them all - hence the lifetime ban- it was not for just one offense. No he was never charged in a court of law but that doesn't matter here.
I cannot think of a worse combination- drinking/drugs and auto racing, that might even be worse than drinking/drugs and daily driving and we know how society feels about that !!! Putting a guy like Hmeil in an indycar would send the absolutely opposite wrong message to our fans and sponsors.
If any body disagrees please send your responses to Mothers Againt Drunk Drivers who may have already lost loved ones to losers like Hmeil.
Yeah, I think after Little Al's (many) exploits, any moral high ground, when it comes to drugs, was lost a long time ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by DBell
I don't use drugs (even marijuana). But I'm not one to look at a guy smoking a joint and tell him that I'm better than he is... while I'm holding a glass of Scotch in my hand. And let's face facts, the U.S.'s current policy on marijuana only came about because of that idiotic movie, Reefer Madness, back in the 30's. Yet every year, many more people are killed in auto accidents because of alcohol than pot. But if there was an announcement that Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Miller and Budweiser were all going to be sponsoring cars at Indy this year, people would be jumping for joy like we haven't seen in 15 years. And what if Penske could get Marlboro back, that (make believe) Lotus team could get Camel and Forsythe would show back up with Players?! Oh my gosh, can you imagine??? People would be falling out in the floor with joy. Hard liquor, beer and cancer sticks... give us more, give us
more!!! :bounce:
All that to say, I don't really care. It would matter to some (sponsors and fans). But as long as he could keep himself clean while driving and doing appearances, sure, why not? But at the age of 30, and with no prior formula car experience (that I know of), I really think it's going to be a non-issue... as I don't see anything coming of this. Like they say, people in hell wish for ice water, but they don't often get their wish.
Okay, that makes sense. I believe they can actually see the difference between "under the influence" and "still in your system" in a drug test. But I don't know if Nascar cares about that difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by V12
This guy tested positive for marijuana AND cocaine. I don't care if somebody smokes joints or even snorts cocaine in his spare time. But please stay away from motorvehicles while you are under the influence. Hmiel was tested positive at a raceweekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior
Being under the influence of alcohol while driving is forbidden is it not? I don't understand your argument here.Quote:
Yet every year, many more people are killed in auto accidents because of alcohol than pot.
Cigarettes do not impede your ability to drive a motorvehicle, so I do not understand why you bring this up. Questionable or not, neither cigarettes or alcohol are illigal in the US. Of course you also understand the difference between simple sponsorship and driving under the influence.Quote:
But if there was an announcement that Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Miller and Budweiser were all going to be sponsoring cars at Indy this year, people would be jumping for joy like we haven't seen in 15 years. And what if Penske could get Marlboro back, that (make believe) Lotus team could get Camel and Forsythe would show back up with Players?! Oh my gosh, can you imagine??? People would be falling out in the floor with joy. Hard liquor, beer and cancer sticks... give us more, give us
more!!! :bounce:
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By the way, talking about "unmoral" sponsorship. Anyone remember that AVG car that was supposed to compete in Champcar?? People weren't jumping for joy when that was announced, now THAT was hypocritical :D
I didn't know that one (or more) of his positive tests was on a race weekend. Was he sited by law enforcement for driving under the influence? Honest question... I don't know this guy from Adam. But that has nothing to do with the NASCAR policy. Any test, taken at ANY time, which shows a banned substance in your system can result in a suspension or ban.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lousada
Now that's NASCAR's basic policy. And they have every right to do that. If someone doesn't want to abide by their rules, they don't have to drive in NASCAR. I don't care what people do, but I don't allow drugs at parties on my property... mainly because I don't want to get caught up in an potential legal hassles. Like NASCAR, it's my property... and my rules. I just don't get all moral about it.
I mean that some people get especially loopy when they begin talking about pot. But they would welcome actual sponsorship from companies that sell products that cause more social harm than the one they want to brand as something that Satan himself grew.Quote:
Being under the influence of alcohol while driving is forbidden is it not? I don't understand your argument here.
Actually I read a study that smoking while driving does contribute to an increased vehicle accident rate. Nothing to do with the smoke, but the attention taken from the road while you're lighting up or flicking the ashes. But again, the point is simply that some people go off the reservation when they hear that someone has been using drugs (*shudder*). But when Dale, Jr. said that he was going to get looped on Budweiser after a race win, people cheered. I'm sure none of his young fans were influenced by that, eh? It's not like binge drinking is a major issue among young people in the U.S. or anything - to say nothing of alcoholism and drunk driving accidents. The legends of NASCAR were people who transported a "banned substance" to make money to race and live. They're heroes. Junior Johnson now sells a (legal) knock-off of the moonshine he used to run. It's crap to drink but it's very popular. A friend of mine is in law enforcement. When we're at lake parties, guess who the guy is who brings the clear liquid in the mason jar that burns blue? ;) But that same guy will bust your ass if he catches you with that same jar, or if he sees you hitting a joint. I just don't get wound up about this stuff like some people do. Moral Majority types have their way of looking at things and wanting to regulate personal behavior as they see fit... and I have mine.Quote:
Cigarettes do not impede your ability to drive a motorvehicle, so I do not understand why you bring this up. Questionable or not, neither cigarettes or alcohol are illigal in the US. Of course you also understand the difference between simple sponsorship and driving under the influence.
I didn't see the big deal with that either. Especially since I was on a board at the time where many of the same people were hoping and fantasizing about Pacific Coast getting Playboy sponsorship. I did understand that other sponsors (what few there were) might have a problem with it. But in my opinion, there's too much (hypocritical) political correctness in society and sports these days.Quote:
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By the way, talking about "unmoral" sponsorship. Anyone remember that AVG car that was supposed to compete in Champcar?? People weren't jumping for joy when that was announced, now THAT was hypocritical :D
But I see Danica Patrick winning the IRL championship before this guy even gets a test in an IRL car. Storm in a tea cup, IMO.
He was never charged. I don't think law enforcement can do anything as long as he doesn't make an accident?? A drugtest takes a few weeks to do, so the result will be known some time after the facts. Is a third party drug test even allowed as evidence? Would be hard to get proper criminal evidence weeks after the fact.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior
According to WADA cocaine is only a banned substance if taken during a race. Since he was caught during a raceweekend, I take it Nascars policy is the same?
I agree with you there. I don't see much difference between a joint and alcohol. Cocaine is a bit more serious though.Quote:
I mean that some people get especially loopy when they begin talking about pot. But they would welcome actual sponsorship from companies that sell products that cause more social harm than the one they want to brand as something that Satan himself grew.
Yes, you are right. My point is that Hmiel got busted during a raceweekend. It's not really clear to me if he was actually high or not, but I assume he was, since they busted him. If he takes a Bud or smokes a joint after the race... I really couldn't care less about that.Quote:
Actually I read a study that smoking while driving does contribute to an increased vehicle accident rate. Nothing to do with the smoke, but the attention taken from the road while you're lighting up or flicking the ashes. But again, the point is simply that some people go off the reservation when they hear that someone has been using drugs (*shudder*). But when Dale, Jr. said that he was going to get looped on Budweiser after a race win, people cheered. I'm sure none of his young fans were influenced by that, eh? It's not like binge drinking is a major issue among young people in the U.S. or anything - to say nothing of alcoholism and drunk driving accidents. The legends of NASCAR were people who transported a "banned substance" to make money to race and live. They're heroes. Junior Johnson now sells a (legal) knock-off of the moonshine he used to run. It's crap to drink but it's very popular. A friend of mine is in law enforcement. When we're at lake parties, guess who the guy is who brings the clear liquid in the mason jar that burns blue? ;) But that same guy will bust your ass if he catches you with that same jar, or if he sees you hitting a joint. I just don't get wound up about this stuff like some people do. Moral Majority types have their way of looking at things and wanting to regulate personal behavior as they see fit... and I have mine.
And that's the biggest truth in this thread ;)Quote:
But I see Danica Patrick winning the IRL championship before this guy even gets a test in an IRL car. Storm in a tea cup, IMO.
I agree with all of it....except the sponsors mean little. What we are talking about is Shane Hmiel someone want in the sport because of his past? YES, because if someone is willing to take the chance to sponsor him and employ them, he hasn't done anything IN THE IRL to ban him for. Yes, he was a loser in NASCAR. Yes, I get all that, but the second they allowed Al Jr. back behind the wheel at Indy, all credibility to keep Shane out is lost. The IRL is no position to get all high and mighty about it. As you Said Jag, who are we right? You and I think are on the same song page on this one, but there a few who would ban this guy forever no matter what. The "second chance" this guy blew in NASCAR land he is still paying a high price for.....at some point, most act's of stupidity are forgiven....Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior
I know this is the IRL forum. But while we're on the topic, what has become of the Geico Caveman, J.C. France? Now, his case I see differently. He was busted with coke in his car (Lamorghini?) and/or on his person, and he was drunk and high as a kite apparently... all while street racing. So if NASCAR/Grand Am chooses to ban him for 1000 years, so be it. But I think it's pretty interesting how that story has quietly gone away. Not that he could drive anything more than a nail into a soft piece of pine, if that, but still...
But ol' Shane wants to race a formula car like I want a one night stand with Ivanka Trump. I doubt either of us gets our wish. Although if she ever got drunk enough and I was wearing some of that High Karate cologne, ya shouldn't count me completely out! :bounce:
:rotflmao: :up:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior