Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Just got home,great 20 minute air show at lunch!

Pantano penalized, WTF is wrong with the IRL!!!!!! not only did they put on a pitiful show, but the one guy making passes and makes an aggressive but clean pass on Bourdais and gets notched for his troubles.

pitiful

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Originally Posted by harvick#1

Pantano penalized, WTF is wrong with the IRL!!!!!! not only did they put on a pitiful show, but the one guy making passes and makes an aggressive but clean pass on Bourdais and gets notched for his troubles.

pitiful

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Agree. Perfect example of why BB has to go, but with Randy a 100% behind him, fat chance. I'd give my rant on Randy Bernard's stance on BB and race control, but I can't say it any better than Jag did. Apparently, Barnhardt has blackmail material on Randy now. He's like J. Edger Hoover. :dozey:

watched about 10 laps and gave up on it- great track- not for racing though. even the Sky team seemed bored with it.

I didn't get to watch the race(Thank you IRENE). Never been a big fan of Sears Point myself. With a very short turn around to get back to the East coast for the Baltimore race, maybe everyone was phoning it in a little. . IIRC they are scheduled to be in Baltimore by 6:00 Wednesday.

At least if a hurricane has to stop m from watching a race, it was this one - sounds like I would have been more stressed and agitated than I already was if I watched it - just what I need from my sports entertainment!!

Logging in from a Panera to see the results. Glad to hear Hinch finished top 10 again. Sorry to hear the race itself wasn't very interesting.... I'm not a fan of teams finishing 1-2-3. I witnessed a Penske sweep at New Hampshire back in the 90s. Something about it just rubs me the wrong way.

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Originally Posted by SoCalPVguy

Agreed.

In the pre race discussion between Miller and Bernard, Robin was really giving it to RB and laying into TGBB. But did you notice the studio host giving Miller hand signals - cut it - cut it- stop - to try and get him to lay off RB and TGGB, and then abruptly cut off the discussion, Robin looked pissed. Check a replay if there is one ...

I get it now that this is RB's last year, although prematurely IMHO. The final nail in his coffin will be when the big 5-million dollar las vegas challenge fizzles.

Race itself ....... BORRRRRRING, were there any pasess in the top 5 for position,ummmmmmmm... No. The only halfway exciting moment was the two abreast restart w/ 6 laps to go if only to see if Briscoe could hold off Dario to preserve the Penske sweep and Will Power's maximum points cut into Dario's lead. Well there's two hours out of my life I won't get back.

As for the princess, 'phoning it in' is generous.. well maybe if your phone is two tin cans and a string...

They said it was a great crowd but man those stands sure looked empty to me on TV.

Ending with the Brad Keselowski "tweet" re. Patrick’s “branding techniques only serves to undermine the future credibility of female races who wish to make it based on skill, mental toughness and a never give up attitude.”

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This post says it all...why the Indy car series is going downhill both in racing quality and attendance (money!!) They've focused on a ridiculous level of racing rules and interpretation (Pantano penalty)...if Princess had done the same thing the announcers would have (in the past) been falling all over themselves praising her "Moving up", and BB wouldn't even think of penalizing one of the few bright spots of revenue draw (albeit for the wrong reasons). So much for even handed race direction. Reminds me of a track I used to run where the Dad of one of the racers ran the track! DUH!!!

Which brings me to my question...from the green flag to the end....I don't think they mentioned Princess's name ONCE....maybe I missed it, but....even in the "through the field" segment, they quit before they got to the last couple spots (Princess). I never caught any of her pit stops, no normal "moving up" comments (even though she doesn't pass anyone ...all due to others pitting and attrition).....could it be that Indy car has purposely taken the attitude of "she's leaving, no more favored status". This series has to make some tough decisions......top positions change, adoption of racing rules that ENABLE competition, and ensuring RACING is the draw and not the hyping of untalented drivers.

Just disgusted with RB. Cudos to Robin Miller for getting right in his mug and asking him the questions that needed to be asked. But what is wrong with HIM?? and insult to injury Dept. that call on Pantano was horsepucky. It seems as if BB is rubbing RB's and our faces in it. Strange and unnacceptable off with him.

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Originally Posted by banshee74

...adoption of racing rules that ENABLE competition, and ensuring RACING is the draw and not the hyping of untalented drivers.

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Dude, the the Indy RACING League, IRL, is dead.. now all we have is the I.P.L. Indy "Parade" League or Indy "Penalty" League.