Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Brickyard 400

This week, the Crappafoni Pictures crew is in the mecca of American auto racing, Indianapolis, for this week's serving of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, BBQ-style, complete with grilled corn, plenty of Coke to wash it all down, and Cupcakes for dessert. Enjoy!

THE GOOD

Jamie McMurray: as the race winner, he gets first billing. He passed race leader Kevin Harvick on a restart with 10 laps to go, then held off Harvick and Greg Biffle over those last 10 laps. Jamie Mac was strong throughout the race, being in the top 10 more often than not. He benefitted from a gutsy call by crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion in taking two tires on the last caution. History was made in two ways: with the win, McMurray becomes the third driver to win Daytona and the Brickyard in the same season, and car owner Chip Ganassi becomes the first owner to win the Daytona 500, Indy 500, and Brickyard 400 in the same season. Good job Cupcake!

Kevin Harvick: he had a strong car throughout the race and it looked like he was going to win his second Brickyard 400. A late caution bit him in the butt, as he was passed by McMurray on the ensuing restart. He did well to hold off Biffle, who was on four tires. (Harvick took two tires on the last pit stop.) It was a good points day for Harvick, as Jeff Gordon had issues late in the race and finished 23rd.

Greg Biffle: he was stout, especially in the middle part of the race in which he led. He did a good job in rallying late after a four tire pit stop on the final caution.

Clint Bowyer: while he wasn't a factor to win, he stayed in the top 5 for most of the race. He was strong, and did a good job in avoiding trouble.

Tony Stewart: Smoke did a great job in turning a marginal top 20 car into a fifth place car.

Joey Logano: he started in DFLville due to an engine change. He exhibited great patience in moving his way up and finishing in the top 10. (He finished 9th.) The top 10 finish was his first at Indy.

Juan Pablo Montoya: he led the most laps in the race, but an accident on Lap 145 ended his day.

Honorable Mention: Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Landon Cassill (he led a lap, one more than Edwards) and Bill Elliott.

THE BAD

Dave Blaney: he parked his car ON THE FIRST LAP. He would return and run 19 more laps before declaring himself done for the day. He was the first start and parker today.

Hendrick Motorsports: both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon had MAJOR issues. It was one of those kinds of races that tests men's souls to the core. Dale Earnhardt Jr was involved in a crash with Juan Pablo Montoya through no fault of his own; Jr had no room to move and plowed into Montoya. The only bright spot was Mark Martin, who led a couple of laps and finished 11th.

THE UGLY

The race itself: One hundred sixty laps of single file racing. A driver couldn't get into the outside groove without getting loose. Add to that ESPN's coverage and you REALLY get ugly. And the WORST track on the circuit looms next week: Pocono. I HATE THAT TRACK! CAN WE LOSE POCONO FOR GOOD???

Those are my nominees for the race. Feel free to come in with yours.

11 comments:

tezgm99 said...

Marcos gets a thumbs up for that awesome save when Monty and Jr were getting together, lol

ahh yes, next week....long weekend here so I shall not be home, haven't decided whether to tape the race or not yet.

Dwindy1 said...

I think you nailed it jon!

NASCAR might as well go open wheel on Indy... JPM might have still been in the race!

Hang in man!

jon_464 said...

Tez, I'd tape the race and use it as a cure for insomnia. (Do we really HAVE to go to Pocono?) My take on Pocono is this: it WAS a great stop in the 80's and early 90's but in today's NASCAR, no more.

Dwindy, thanks! Jamie definitely had the better car than Happy and earned the win. No shame in losing to a better car. JPM cannot buy a break! First one of his tires comes apart. Then he CUTS a tire late in the race and crashes out.

Gene Haddock said...

Bad goes to the espn announce crew. It's time to bring Ricky Craven up to the Cup team.

Bad goes to JPM's crew chief. Track position was everything at race's end... they blew it with the four tire stop.

jon_464 said...

Gene, I agree on both counts. Promote Craven, demote DJ. Brian Pattie cost JPM a chance at a win with that four tire gamble. On the other side of the coin, Biff also took four fresh ones and worked his way up the field.

Unknown said...

GOOD to Steven Curtis Chapman singing the National Anthem. His faith is still strong after his little girl died tragically when his son accidentally hit her with his car.

UGLY: Did you notice Marty Reid saying: "There are empty seats here but we're not going to get into why."?

WONDERFUL: to Jamie winning!!!

(calm down, Jon.)♥

klvalus said...

Boo to Kyle for taking out my Sammy but then finishing in the top 10! LOL

HMS was struggling which might make for a good race at Pocono for points. Hamlin and Kurt could take advantage and launch upwards. Both can gamble for wins pretty much now.

I'll be gone for Pocono too Tez - but I'll tape it just in case!

tezgm99 said...

oh, Jamie also gets a good for chucking off the tag that says "can only win on plate tracks"....it now says "can only win on super-speedways", LOL

oh wait, he's won at Lowe's, hmm....meh, that was 8 years ago, no one would remember it :P

jon_464 said...

Beverly, SCC did a GREAT job in singing the Anthem! (Did you know he was part of Pure Prairie League in the mid-70's with Vince Gill and another singer?Jamie had the best car and earned the win. Congratulations. No shame in losing to a better car.

Kristen, Hamlin is far enough ahead that he can gamble. If Kurt wins at Pocono, then he can gamble starting at the Glen.

Tez, I remember Jamie's first win--it came in only his SECOND start in Cup. For the longest time, I thought it was a fluke win. It wasn't until he won at Dega last year that I stopped thinking it. I thought he would be this generation's Bobby Hillin--a winner very early in his career but only the one win to show for it. (Hillin won within his fifth career start and that was his lone Cup win.)

jmayer1843 said...

The racing reminded me of the Indycar race more than any other time there. They single file line with a car or two darting to the inside on the straightaways.

jon_464 said...

JM, good point. There wasn't much passing, except on the straightaways.