2002 Mid-Ohio Thoughts
RACE: Get rid of traction control and put on Walmart brake pads, and you will have plenty of passing.
TRACK: Like Laguna Seca, a great driving track, a not so great racing track.
CARPENTIER: Don't get us wrong. Patrick deserves all the kudos that comes with such a dominating
weekend. However, how come Carpentier always shines most whenever there is a contract issue? A champion driver
shines all the time.
FITTIPALDI: So, just when everyone is saying losing the "Brazilian Hillbilly" to NASCAR is no great loss,
Christian comes along and puts in an impressive weekend.
ANDRETTI: Did what he had to do for a podium spot -- he's already acting like a team owner...
JUNQUEIRA: Is all his whining an indication that Bruno is feeling pressure to produce or else?
DIXON: Chip, don't be stupid (yes, that's an oxymoron) -- keep Scott in CART.
BRACK: Would hate to see him go, but if Ganassi has to move one of his drivers to the IRL, let it be
Kenny.
TAGLIANI: Feeling a little pressure there?
VASSER: 92 laps! Think Jimmy remembered how to count that high?
JOURDAIN: In the points. Again.
DA MATTA: On the one hand, it is nice to see drivers get aggressive and try to make passes. On the
other hand, for a championship leader, that was really, really dumb Cristiano.
TAKAGI: One obligatory off course excursion.
KANAAN: Poor Tony. The hard luck award once again gets passed from Vasser to Kanaan.
PAPIS: Nice to see him back, but Team Fernandez is still suffering from midseason woes.
DOMINGUEZ: It is mind boggling that Mario cannot take over the rookie points standings with Townsend
Bell in street clothes.
TEAM GREEN: Another one-two. Well, if you held the results sheet upside down.
STEVE STABLER: Before this weekend, no one outside the inner circle of CART heard of Steve Stabler.
Nor, any of the other nameless but faithful behind the scenes team members from mechanics to parts guys to
engineers. Now, sadly, the fans have heard about Steve Stabler for all the wrong reasons. The next time you
are wondering around a racing paddock, take a pause from straining your neck looking for your favorite driver,
and say hello to those other guys under the tents and thank them for being such an important piece in providing
you great entertainment. RIP Steve.
STAT OF THE WEEKEND: Patrick Carpentier has led more laps in this year's Ohio events (155), than
he has in all his other races in his five-year career (113).
HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: This is the sixth time a driver has won both Ohio events in the
same year. It was also done in 1991 (Michael Andretti), 1992 (Emerson Fittipaldi), 1994 (Al Unser, Jr.),
1997 (Alex Zanardi), and 1999 (Juan Montoya).
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Patrick Carpentier's feelings after seeing Cristiano da Matta going off, "I
said to myself, 'Ohhhh, that doesn't look good for him.'"
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Cristiano da Matta for his blunt self assessment on the mistake, "I
f----- up a little bit."
SCHEDULE: From one historical road course to another. Let's hope Road America offers a bit more
passing.
Copyright © 2002 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.
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