IndyCar, we've got a Problema!
Or should that be Have I-T your way IndyCar! As
why does running NOT one, but two IndyCar races in Houston at the end of June
make me think of that well worn Burger King jingle...
While although I didn't see it via the
Telie', when I think of Formula 1's first foray into Texas in the midst of
summer, I immediately flashback to when
we first learned of 'Ol Bloody Nige's most excellante Thespian skills! Yuhs
know, when Il Lione, nee Nigel Mansell collapsed whilst attempting to push his
stricken black JPS Lotus-Renault Turbocar he'd run out of fuel over the finish
line in the sauna-like conditions of Dallas's one 'N only temporary street
course Formula 1 race thirty years ago ironically...
Y'all do recall when the USGP raced in Dallas
on July 8th, 1984, right? When the sun and corresponding HEAT were so intense
that the city streets literally crumbled apart! As it was over 100-degrees Fahrenheit
during qualifying, where the track's Ash-fault' had begun bubbling prior to the
Qualie' session, where Mansell scored his debutant F1 Pole position with Lotus
team-mate, the late Elio de Angelis alongside him.
Reportedly the track surface registered an
unfathomable 150deg-f, which Goodyear tyre engineers had never witnessed before
during their 20yrs involvement in the
sport! While track workers hurriedly repaired portions of the track with
quick drying cement all the way up to 30mins prior to the race's start - while
an estimated 90,000 spectators cooked in the 100-degree heat!
Sadly, it was here at Dallas where Martin
"BillyBob" Brundle shattered both of his feet in a nasty shunt aboard
his Tyrrell-Cosworth, which effectively ruined his promising F1 career; while
Brundle's excellant runner-up finish at Detroit, the late Stefan Bellof's amazing
third place finish in Monaco and other point scoring results of "Stevie
Johnson" (Stefan Johansson) and Mike Thackwell were nullified from the
history books upon the FIA convicting "Uncle Chopper" (Ken Tyrrell)
and his 'lil racing team of cheating due to their utilization of "Buckshot"
to lighten the cars ballast!
Meanwhile, Keke Rosberg, driving his Team
Willy' (Williams FW09-Honda "Turbocar") with an unusual skull-cap
cool suit device won Honda's first race back as an engine supplier since 1967!
Ironically in the No. 6 which has since been chosen by his son Nico for the
current F1 points leader in this year's standings...
and thus, while I applaud the organizers of
Houston's Double Broiler IndyCar races for fixing that 'Mega Yump' that 'HULIO
(Castroneves) rammed at full chat, effectively destroying his championship
aspirations last year... Nevertheless, why did this take so long to do? And why
is it such a B-I-G story?
As for Mwah, the real Questione should be why
in thee HELL are there NO lights! Uhm, we couldn't get any; WTF? As I thought
this was a Roger Penske run show? As seriously? We're gonna race not once, but
twice in the scorching summer HEAT 'N HUMIDITY of Houston...
Yo Marco Polo; Err Marcus "I've Got A
Plan!" Miles... Apparently Yuhs didn't get the Memo that Formula 1 decided
NOT to "Twin" its Grand Prix Circuses North American jaunt to
Montreal in June with racing at Austin, Texas... Why? Oh, I dunno, something to
do with what the Mercury is each 'N every day beginning in June. Can Y'all say
H-O-T! Which is why F1 races at Circuit Of The Americas in November; Oh Never
Mind!
As I truly feel sorry for A-L-L of the
Pitlane Mechanics 'N Media Folks, as Oh Joy! We get to wear our Nomex Firesuits in Houston... And
NO Thanks Mr. Miles, DO NOT wanna hear one silly single word 'bout poor
attendance...
As although I can't seem to find any substantive
stories 'bout how the track broke up that fine summer day in Dallas,
nevertheless the following story link below has some pretty entertaining
pictures from that long forgotten show 'Wayback in 1984...
