Damned if Tony Stewart hasn't become just one monster of a driver.
I caught the last half of the Glen race yesterday and he was just skooling everybody, including Pruett, Said and R. Gordon.

At this point he has made himself the complete driver. IRL, Midgets, NASCAR, Grand Am Prototypes... Whatever.
Reminds me of the old days with AJ and Mario. If its got 4 tires and a steering wheel... Lets race.

 

Dude is just in the "zone" right now.. Unstoppable. Didn't have a scratch on the car until JR put a tiremark on it on the cooldown lap.

I can't stand Robby Gordon - hell of a roadracer, but other than that, hate everything about him.

Boris just couldn't get that restart right with 20 to go. Still, hell of a finish to start 41st.

How about that brake rotor explosion by PJ Jones? and they even run forced air cooling.

 

Agreed. Very impressive.

Also agreed on Gordon. I um, just don't like him very much.

 

Jesus Christ.... you just have a problem with everyone and everything..

Your one hell of a grumpy old man!

~William

 

Stewart might be American-born driver around. The road racing fans I know of will argue this, but they can't name a better driver.

I only wish he would've given a bit more focus to his Grand-Am efforts this weekend. He skipped the practice and qual sessions to go watch his car in Knoxville, and never really seemed to discuss it the rest of the weekend. It was almost like he didn't feel like racing it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stewart might be American-born driver around. The road racing fans I know of will argue this, but they can't name a better driver.</TD></TR></TABLE>

American Born? Lets see ...... how did he he finish in the Stewart 500 (or was it tha Rolex race??) couldn't tell because the announcers wouldn't stop talking about him running in the teens ..... if his car didn't break maybe 10th? Alex Gurney finished what 2nd? There are lots of American born drivers that are better than him, but none that are as overhyped as him.

 

the indy race was more interesting /exciting.....for the third strait time, once you filter through all the Danica babble.


Nick, a NASCAR guy....but may be converting. I never thought I would say that.

 

Something about a formula car doing 215mph and still at WOT all the way around the track doesn't apeal to me..

The Champ Car race was apparently good, but, after I saw its a street course, again, I tuned out, they just are not nearly as entertaining as a true roadcourse.

 

i'm a sucker for the streets of long beach... but i think thats where i learned "road racing" as a kid... watching it on tv... and it just look FUN.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nonsense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">American Born? Lets see ...... how did he he finish in the Stewart 500 (or was it tha Rolex race??) couldn't tell because the announcers wouldn't stop talking about him running in the teens ..... if his car didn't break maybe 10th? Alex Gurney finished what 2nd? There are lots of American born drivers that are better than him, but none that are as overhyped as him. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, consider this.

I was told that Stewart was up to 8th when he pit and Andy Wallace took over. In all three practice sessions, Andy Wallace was 9th, 10th, and 11th fastest. That would seem to indicate to me that he was at least on pace wiht Andy, and that is definitely nothing to be ashamed of.

Stewart may not be a "great" road racer when put behind the wheel of a prototype, but he is still a good driver, and can definitely outdrive any road racer on any oval track, in any kind of car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Johnny Tran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the indy race was more interesting /exciting.....for the third strait time, once you filter through all the Danica babble.


Nick, a NASCAR guy....but may be converting. I never thought I would say that. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I only saw the final three laps, but it looks like it went just like every other IRL superspeedway race. Two guys driving the exact same speed (drag and rpm limited), not lifting or braking or even scrubbing off speed in the corners, while the lead guy runs the inside line on the straightaways and blocks like hell. Boring and predictable.

 

Great drive by Tony. Good race overall too. I love watching those guys hustle those pigs through the inner-loop (bus stop).

 

I just want to see them run the whole track for once. Oh, and to flag the race like a road course instead of an oval. I guess it would be too much for the average NASCAR fan to comprehend a local yellow...

 

I didn't see it but I heard he put on a heck of a clinic. And honestly every time I've seen him in a Daytona Prototype, I've been pretty impressed.

BTW, this:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your one hell of a grumpy old man!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Doesn't make any sense.

 

Re Tony's finish in the prototype, I understand he got hit rather hard by someone doing something stupid. I did not see it at the time so I'm not sure of the details. I assume this did not help his finishing position. I too want to see Nascar run the full course. I understand the IRL will! What are the odds they will have issues with rain at the Glen in late Sept? Do they have rain tires?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mohudsolo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Re Tony's finish in the prototype, I understand he got hit rather hard by someone doing something stupid. I did not see it at the time so I'm not sure of the details. I assume this did not help his finishing position. I too want to see Nascar run the full course. I understand the IRL will! What are the odds they will have issues with rain at the Glen in late Sept? Do they have rain tires?</TD></TR></TABLE>

He avoided getting killed by another prototype, but he didn't get hit. He went off into the grass and that is what most likely weakened the suspension that ended up breaking on Wallace. He was back in the pack all day tho, so no it didn't have anything to do with why he was there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stewart may not be a "great" road racer when put behind the wheel of a prototype, but he is still a good driver, and can definitely outdrive any road racer on any oval track, in any kind of car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not saying that he's not a good driver, just that he's far from being a "great roadracer" like the NASCAR guys think he is .....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nonsense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm not saying that he's not a good driver, just that he's far from being a "great roadracer" like the NASCAR guys think he is ..... </TD></TR></TABLE>

He handed a couple of former Trans Am Champions their asses yesterday. Both were in good cars with good teams (Hell, Boris' crew chief has a NASCAR Championship under his belt IIRC).

I'd call somebody that can do that a pretty damned great road racer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Jesus Christ.... you just have a problem with everyone and everything..

Your one hell of a grumpy old man!

~William</TD></TR></TABLE>

Who the hell are you talking to?

Jason-
who finds this funny because he's one of the youngest folks in here

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">He handed a couple of former Trans Am Champions their asses </TD></TR></TABLE>

Said, Pruet, who else? Ron Fellows is another road course ace (ALMS Corvettes). Robby Gordan is too.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just that he's far from being a "great roadracer" like the NASCAR guys think he is .....
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Every time, a road course master or two (or four) strap into a Cup car for the road course races. When was the last time one of them won?

You see, what a few drivers have realized is that the Glen and Infineon count *exactly* as much as Daytona and Charlotte. If they are going to win the championship, they HAVE GOT to put themselves in a position to win every race. There's probably a dozen guys who are serious about the road courses, and you'll find those guys at the Daytona 24 and any off weekend piloting an ALMS car, perhaps. Jeff Gordan started it, and Tony Stewart has perfected it. Put the guy in a Trans-Am car and I bet he wins a few races.

 

What happened with qualifying? Was it rained out? Wondering why he was gridded so far back?

 

The rain came just a few cars from the end, after Stewart had put in a time that pretty much would have held, regardless. Because they couldn't get it all in, they started based on points, leaving the hired gun circuit guys at the back.

BTW, I think that they do use local yellows on the road courses - I know they did at Infinityanbeon - but they still go FCY if there is a real mess to clean up.

I'm with Scott on the Smoke thing: He's my current favorite all-around driver. Robby G. might actually have a more varied set of experiences, and he IS talented, but he's just enough of a dick that he tires me out. I'd like to see Stewart in a WRC car...

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm with Scott on the Smoke thing: He's my current favorite all-around driver. I'd like to see Stewart in a WRC car...

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

No reason to suspect he wouldn't do well. His car control is phenominal and he has plenty of experience sliding around on dirt.
The challenge of being read pace notes while driving might throw him, but that would likely just **** him off enough to try harder.

He's a true throwback. Not since the days of AJ and Mario have we had such a true "Anything, Anywhere, Any Time" driver.
And he has AJs personality to go with it.

R Gordon is just a whiney little bitch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Every time, a road course master or two (or four) strap into a Cup car for the road course races. When was the last time one of them won?</TD></TR></TABLE>
They mentioned in the broadcast that the last time an outsider road race specialist came in and won a NASCAR road race was Mark Donahue (my childhood racer hero) in 1974 in an AMC Javelin. Boris had his first NASCAR pole at Sears Point (last year I think) but never lead. I was happy to see Tony Stewart run so well and my 5 year old son is a big fan of his too. I am even happier to see that his driving is improving as well as his temper. Here is his chance to break the AJ Foyt talented racer/******* hot head mode.

I was happy to see Robby Gordon move up from the back and drive the wheels off the car but of course his one interview comment was an unnecessary ******* remark about Stewart. Another in the AJ mold. He'd carry more fan and sponsorship support if he could keep his mouth shut. I wish him success in his Paris-Dakar events and he even seemed to gain a little bit of humility near the end and begin to be a team player for Kleinschmidt. I was around him several times when he was driving Indycars for Valvoline and it was the same old story...respect behind the wheel but then his mouth opened up and took him two steps backwards.

Nearing the end of each NASCAR race, I usually think "It would be cool/I'd be happy if XXXX won the race" and normally it is only one or two of the top running people because there are some NASCAR front runners that I don't care for. At the Glen, that number of acceptable front runners was quite high as Stewart, R. Gordon, Said, Pruett and Martin were all runnning well. I'm tired of seeing Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt, Busch, etc. getting all the success.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I am even happier to see that his driving is improving as well as his temper. Here is his chance to break the AJ Foyt talented racer/******* hot head mode.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You missed the Busch series race cooldown lap antics? He ran a guy off the track!