2000 Long Beach Thoughts
TRACK: The changes were a slight improvement, but it's Long Beach. It can be whatever
it wants to be.
RACE: For the first 59 laps, it was a typical street race. Then came the final 23 laps.
And what 23 laps they were -- enough to make any Saturday night feature event proud. Did you ever
think you would see three abreast heading into a turn on a street circuit?
TRACY: Who is this guy, and what did he do with the real Paul?
CASTRO-NEVES: Just when he was getting overshadowed by his teammate.
VASSER: Jimmy doesn't break cars.
DE FERRAN: Once again, got the pole and led the most laps (and the fastest race lap
this time), but did not get the win.
HERTA: Driving like a man possessed. And why not? He's faster than three quarters of
the field running out there.
PLAYERS: Who's the best driver on this team? Hint, it's not a Canadian.
GIDLEY: Who are the dorkbrain owners who insist there is no good young American talent
out there?
TAGLIANI: Carpentier better get real worried. Alex is one top talent, with an attitude
to go along with it.
MORENO: This guy didn't have a permanent ride for so long ... why?
HONDA: While everyone raved about the new Ford and wowed over the improved Toyota, Honda
simply went out and won their 15th consecutive street race.
KUROSAWA: He led what?! For how long?! Are the days of Hiro and Shiggy finally over?
SERVIA: This could be an all out fight for rookie-of-the-year after all.
PITS: Like matter and anti-matter, Andretti and Tracy always seem to (nearly) cancel
each other out.
GUGELMIN: Big Mo must have felt like he was in a video game where you always have to
dodge those spinning cars.
PAPIS: Like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in NASCAR earlier today, Mad Max learned how fickle
racing fortune can be.
BRACK: Welcome to CART, Kenny. It's a bit harder to pass guys in the big leagues...
FONTANA: Ummm, Norberto, next time trying passing one car at a time.
GARCIA: Seven laps behind and the slowest car out there, yet he got a point. Gotta
love attrition...
SALLES: Let's let Gualter say it in his own words, "Every session something happens.
I am really pissed off right now." It's a lot more fun when drivers don't attend NASCAR's
public relations school.
NEWMAN/HAAS: These guys almost look lost this year. Well, this can't go on all year.
I mean it can't, right...?
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Paul Tracy, feeling brave after his victory, took a jab at some
owners, "Man, I'll tell you, these old boys, me and Jimmy right here, these fat cat owners were
writing us off, and look where these hot shots are right now."
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Jimmy Vasser responds to Tracy's line in a slightly
more politically correct manner, "I'm not as bold as Paul. I'm not going to call Chip a fat cat."
SCHEDULE: Here we go again. Rio. Sure, the track is neat. But if nobody shows up, why
do they keep bothering?
Copyright © 2000 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.
Read what others said.
|