Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Two Top Racing Teams Implode!

Or should the number have been three?

 

Alright, it wasn’t quite that bad, but I had to come up with some clever title, Eh?

 

As sorry if you’re still looking for some riveting IndyCar recap of our latest Oval race, as I’ve got Zip, Nada Nothing! Since I’ve still got the weekend of Toronto and the Hungaroring on my mind…

 

It was Uber funny how Mark Gravelly’ James, IndyCar Radio’s lead announcer jumped All over how Kyle Moyer, Scott McLaughlin’s strategist had been saying during the red flag period at Toronto. How the team All works together, and All of the drivers get on with each other. As it’s All for one, i.e.; Team Penske, Blah-Blah-Blah…

 

As that was before Wilbur’ “Mr. Ed” Power made a Boneheaded decision to attempt passing teammate ScottyMac’ in Turn-5 where nobody had been able to pass!

 

As I absolutely loved how McLaughlin sarcastically clapped as Power went by before climbing into the AMR safety vehicle! Not to mention McLaughlin rightly being still Hot under the collar when interviewed after the race’s end!

 

With Davey Hamilton belabouring the point repeatedly how Power went from being 33-points behind points leader Alex Palou, to now being 49-points adrift. (Following Toronto) Not to mention All three Penske’s being inside the Top-10 before resuming racing after the red flag….

 

Oh yeah, almost forgot about the G-R-R-reat Josef Newgarden  self inflicting another wound upon His wilting championship hopes! As Schlick’ ran wide or off track at race’s end and finished P11, the highest finishing Penske. As Power was P12 and McLaughlin thru NO fault of His own, was scored one lap down in P16.

 

Whilst how ‘bout that “Davey” Malukas in the Oh Kanaduh’ Tragically Hip mobile, aboard the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing entry. As Malukas finished sixth, His first Top-10 of His truncated season…

 

While I still marvel over Theo Pourschair’s Madcap scramble across thoust Gory Puddle from France to the Toronto paddock with 62mins to spare! Before being the highest finishing McLaren in 14th.

 

Meanwhile, Colton Herta serenely led 81 of the 85-laps, effectively leading wire-to-wire! His first win in 41 races, since the spring Indy GP of 2022, Yikes!

 

Dixon went from P15 to third and Palou went from P18 to fourth! With three Ganassi cars in the Top-5, with Marcus Armstrong fifth. While All three Penske’s summarily imploded due to self-annihilation…

 

Meanwhile you could definitely say that the Unga-Boring’, ergo Hungarian Grand Prix was anything but boring this year!

 

Although I must confess I fell asleep midway thru the race’s encore presentation on le Deusch’, nee ESPN2 Sunday evening. And thus missed the whole McLaren pitstop shenanigans. Which basically boiled down to the team not firmly explaining to Lando Norris their intent of Him resuming second after this final pitstop!

 

As Racer’s Chris Medalin’s pointed out. The Delta between pitstops at Budapest is 20 seconds. And Lewis Hamilton who was coming like a freight train had carved the gap down to 22.5 seconds when McLaren told Lando to Box-box-box! Thus leaving Norris out any longer would have conceivably saw Sir Lewis jump the Mclaren for second place…

 

I was rootin’ for Oscar Piastri to win His maiden Grand Prix. But with Norris’s indignant self preservation over the final twenty laps reaching a crescendo. I have to say that Piastri’s win felt overly anti-climatic to Mwah!

 

And then there was vintage Maximus’ Hothead on display thru the entire race. Beginning with Max wingeing over His in-car radio about having to give second place bact to Lando after advancing with an off-track pass. As Verstappen got more ‘n more cranked up All race long, boiling over with His poorly judged pass upon Hamilton for third place! Seeing Max’s Red Bull getting airbourne; No Red Bull gives you wings Jokes here! Before Verstappen was forced to settle for fifth place. Ooh, poor Max. And no, I’m not gonna F-Off Max!

 

As understandably, but not deserved. Piastri was subdued over the radio and during the podium interviews following His first win. As McLaren really made a mess of this! But I enjoyed hearing the Australian National Anthem being played for the first time in several years. Since I didn’t bother to “watch”, Err listen to DannyRic’s (Ricciardo) Monaco victory in 2021…