First we will we start with IndyCar. No, not the Indy 500, but close to it. This is the Firestone Indy Lights race held on May 24th, two days before the Indy 500. It's like the Minor League of IndyCar. But this race had one of the best finishes in history. It must be watched. You will never see four cars outside of NASCAR finish this close to each other in a long time.
Once you're done pissing yourself, it's time to move on to May 26th! Alright, this is the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, the greatest spectacle of motorsports. You win the Indy 500, you are a legend among drivers regardless of your other feats as your name goes on that hefty trophy for all time. Even if you aren't a full-time IndyCar driver, you can still participate for the glory of racing.
This year, the honor goes to a Mr. Tony Kanaan of Brazil. It was arguably one of the best runnings of the Indy 500 of all time because there were a grand total of 64 lead changes (among 14 different leaders), which eclipsed the previous record of 34 set last year. While it was exciting, the race ended under a yellow flag because Dario Franchitti wrecked with three laps to go. Since IndyCar doesn't do Green-White-Checkered finishes like NASCAR (which means you run the 200 laps and no more than that), the race unenthusiastically ends with the cars puttering across the finish line.
There are implications to this. Kanaan and his rivals, primarily Carlos Munoz and Ryan Hunter-Reay, were exchanging the lead every couple of laps so it was basically a crapshoot going into the final 5-10 laps. This is because in IndyCar (and not NASCAR), there are rules against blocking faster cars more than once. If a faster car is about to pass and you can't outrun him, you may only move to block him ONCE, afterwards you give him the right of way or else you're penalized. Since the cars are so close, they were able to draft and pass each other continuously. Therefore, had Franchitti not wrecked with three laps to go, Kanaan might've surrendered the lead to Munoz or Hunter-Reay and lost the race. But no, Franchitti sealed his fate and thus will be receiving a Christmas card by a certain someone this year, I bet.
Vin Diesel's Brazilian cousin.
Now, this finish-under-caution wouldn't be such a downer except for the fact it has happened in the three of the last four Indy 500's with the odd man out actually involving a crash as well but no caution (J.R. Hildebrand's chokejob). So basically it's "Wreckers or Checkers." Can't blame 'em cause winning the Indy 500 is the highlight of your career. But still, I kinda wish they had the GWC finishes like NASCAR does.
Later that day, there was the Coke 600 in Charlotte, the longest race of the NASCAR season. And the commentators were dumping all over IndyCar for not implementing the GWC finish. Okay, fine, they make a valid point. But then they take a text message poll, "Which race is harder to win, the Indy 500 or the Coke 600?" At that point, I think I shit myself. Now, I love my NASCAR and can understand the 600 miles are so taxing, but the Indy 500 is the BIGGEST RACE IN THE WORLD and I think tacking on an extra 100 miles (in slower cars too) isn't enough to make it harder than the Indy 500, I'm sorry guys.
As for Formula 1, Monaco was boring and I was too sleepy to pay attention (it aired at 3 am in Florida). All I remember is Pastor Maldonado being popped like a pimple. Monaco is apparently too tight to be competitive anymore.
Now, back to NASCAR. Because I love NASCAR even if it sucks. A week before the Coke 600, NASCAR holds a mid-season All-Star Race. It's worth zero season points but it has a million dollar prize for the winner. It's a short race (90 laps, 135 miles) with four forced cautions to split up the monotony (why???). It's balls-out racing and there's no teamwork here so cut your opponents off Mario-Kart style for the bookoo bucks!!
Listen to the cool-ass music. Anyway, this year there were 22 drivers with 21 of them being selected by certain merits--having the most points in the season, winning at least one race, or winning the pre-race event beforehand (the pub all-star event against crappy slow cars who don't stand a chance). Also, there's room for one additional driver who wins the "fan vote." Take a wild guess who got into the race this year? Huh? From Jasper, Illinois, it's Danica Patrick. She finished 20th. And Jimmie Johnson finished first. OF COURSE, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT???
Now, to dump on NASCAR some more, let's take a look at Tony Kanaan and Jimmie Johnson who won both their respective races. Jimmie Johnson won $1,000,000. Want to take a guess what Tony Kanaan won? $2,353,355, a 2014 Corvette Pace Car, and 2014 regular Corvette, and the most fabled race trophy in auto racing.
Go home NASCAR, you're drunk.
Oh boy...there's so many more videos left to show you so I'm going to call it a day for now and post the rest later! I promise. Cya tomorrow!
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