News for March 2nd 2010
Drivers Deal with Fear Factor at Talladega
- The downside of being a driver at places like Talladega is obvious
Bobby Isaac was leading a race at Talladega in 1973 when suddenly, over the scream of the engines, he heard “strange voices” warning him to get out of the car or he would die.
Isaac immediately pulled off the track, parked his car and got out.
When he explained why – he was obeying voices in his head — people thought he was crazy.
Isaac, one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, eventually ignored the voices and resumed racing. In 1977 during a Late Model race at Hickory Speedway Isaac collapsed and died on pit road. He had suffered a heart attack.
I was reminded of the eerie Bobby Isaac story earlier this week when a Dutch bobsledder dropped out of the Olympics. He said he was too scared to go on.
He is 33 with a wife and daughter. He was spooked by the earlier death of an Olympian luger in a crash. (more…)
Edited: March 2nd, 2010
Who was at Barber and who was not
During the IZOD IndyCar Series Media Day at Barber Motorsports Park Feb. 23, there were as many questions asked about a driver who was not there as there were of the drivers who were in attendance.
Graham Rahal’s absence is a major issue for IndyCar. The son of three-time CART champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal is considered the best young American driver in the series and a star of the future. Rahal does not have a ride after his contract expired at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing at the end of last season and has not reached an agreement to drive for any team this season.
According to sources, he turned down a ride at Dale Coyne Racing recently and is trying to put a deal together that will get him back on the starting grid soon.
Team Penske President Tim Cindric has known Rahal as lon (more…)
Edited: March 2nd, 2010
De Silvestro Learning Quickly at Barber Motorsports
With multiple IZOD IndyCar Series cars on the 2.38-mile Barber Motorsports Park course at the same time, Simona de Silvestro says she has “quite a bit of learning” on the horizon.
De Silvestro participated in the two-day preseason Open Test this week in the No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing car, logging 106 laps with a best time of 1 minute, 11.335 seconds (16th on the combined time sheet). She also tested with the team in January at Sebring International Raceway.
“I had a little bit of a rough start in the beginning, but it was the first time I had been in an IndyCar on a fast track and it is something still very new to me,” she said. “However, at the end of the day, the team and I gained a lot of knowledge and we accomplished our goals and in that respect I think we managed to have a very successful test.
“We used the opportunity to try some new things and I believe collectively as a group we are heading the right way. Overall, I am so happy with everything and the team has helped me learn quite a lot and I look forward to learning more this season.”
The team continues to put together details of its 2010 racing plans with announcements expected before the season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 14.
“It was another good test for Simona and another demonstration of her talent and what lies ahead,” HVM Racing owner Keith Wiggins said. “With her approach and our support, she will continue to improve and be a serious contender.”
Edited: March 2nd, 2010