First IROC race on Daytona's infield road course in 32 years:
The IROC series took to the DIS on late thursday, I didn't know what to think going in to this race, I was looking at these IROC cars on pace lap which were outfited with head/taillights, bigger brakes and etc,
but once the race went green and the field went down into turn 1, this race started to get interesting with 12 drivers trying for the same piece of real estate These IROC drivers took road course racing and bumping to a hole new level, no one was afraid at all to make a move or two even going three-four wide on restarts going into the trouble spot of turn 1 and for a road course race, there was lots of side-by-side racing and passing. Once Tony Stewart took the lead in the early part of the race, there was really no stopping him even with a couple of cautions and despite Mad Max Papis's hanging with him, this race was all Tony Stewart's as he cruised to victory. I would call this IROC road course race a successfull one, hopefully they will do this again next year.Is this Smoke's Summer? The Pepsi 400?:
After watching last night's Pepsi 400 with Tony Stewart grabbing the lead away from Boris Said in the closing laps for final time as he went on to victory once again, the second time this weekend as he domanated the IROC race, I began to think about the headline on NASCAR.com "Summer of Smoke?" and how smoke won five races last year at this time, could we see another year like last and could smoke repeat as champion, this could happen, I have to say, Tony Stewart has been a smarter driver since this time last year, don't be surprised if there is a 3rd championship for smoke soon to come.
As for the Pepsi 400, the race itself was just like anyother Daytona restrictor plate race, not bad to watch, handling was a huge factor and so were a couple of crashes that claimed some points contenders including Jeff Gordon in the closing laps. This race as well as the Busch race on friday night was the final send of FOX/FX, they had a good run this year and atleast for the Cup Series, they will be back at next years Daytona 500 and 7 more after that. Welcome NBC and TNT broadcasts for both series, see you in Chicagoland next week. One send off, hats off to Boris Said who finished 4th in last nights Pepsi 400, great showing.
What about Sunday's USGP? Will there be a USGP in 2007?:
I just finished watching the USGP and the qualifying & race were both entertaining to watch, but the moment of this race was all 22 cars going though turn 1 into turn 2 as the "big one" happened with a 7-8 car wreck involving the two Mercedes getting tagged as well as a BMW flipping through the sand and american driver Scott Speed getting hit from behind. From the start, this race was all Ferrari's as Masa took the lead at the start, but the headline would be Michael Schumacher victories once again at Indy with a Ferrari one-two finish. Renault got out muscled finishing 3rd and Alonso 5th.
As for a USGP in 2007, IMS and Formula 1 decision delayed until after this race, but in my opinion, I would like to see a USGP next year, whether its at IMS or not is up to them, but were other than Indianapolis could they have it? Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Sebring? it belongs in Indianapolis. One note, this was not a sellout race from what I saw, but a big crowd none the less. See Yeah next year Formula 1...with an all Bridgestone field...
Credit for image: Tony Stewart winning the IROC race 3 from DIS website.
