Friday Hit the Olive Garden for lunch, checked in at hotel, changed to race clothes and headed for q'ing. Drove right in, and was in the seat when the first car rolled off. Was it any surprise Ryan won the pole? Grabbed a hot pot roast sandwich for dinner, and back to seat for the IROC race.
Needless to say, Kurt Busch was totally peeved when he was interviewed after the crash --- "I'm tired of this S*** wrecking all the time." Bourdais drove a heck of a race to keep Mark behind him.
Saturday Hit the IHOP for breakfast. Joined by a good friend and his 6 yr old son who is the biggest Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart fan you ever saw. The stuffed crepes were outstanding. LOL
The traffic going into the track was non-exsistent! Drove straight in, parked, and in the seats in no time at all. Good 2-wide racing all day --- the Busch cars don't seem to have trouble running up near the wall. Martin was loose most of the day, which contributed to the wall-smacking late --- he just lost it. Listened to Race Control most of the day. When on caution came out, David Hoots had some serious words for Michel Jourdain. He didn't like the way Jourdain didn't slow quickly enough. Told his spotter that "he'll have more trouble that he thinks he can handle" if he does that again. Finally just told him to stop on the track. Also told Jamie and Reed to stop weaving and starting and stoppping and juking around coming to a restart.
Had no trouble driving out and back to the hotel.
Yes, we went out to dinner --- TGIFriday's for steaks, then to Braum's for ice cream.
On a side note, while we were having dinner, we happened to look out the window. There, in the parking lot of the Home Depot was a huge white stretch limo with 3 formally dressed couples and a driver standing around. Apparently they had trouble. Imagine being dressed up for prom and spending part of your evening in the parking lot of the Home Depot. You'll have to admit, it would be a night to remember.
Sunday Yep, back to IHOP for breakfast.
Almost couldn't believe it was race day --- drove right into the track again ! ! Well, almost, the backup on the interstate was only about 3 miles. Parked and out shopping and cruising the trailers. They've really made some improvements around the track. Cars are now banned from the road closest to the track, and the trailers have been spread out so you can actually walk and shop instead of being a sardine. Kudos to Mr. Gossage and the track.
The race was slow to get started because someone dropped a wedge wrench during the pace laps. The cautions came fast at the beginning. Nothing really major, just screw-ups. There were a few cars that could make the outside work -- Mikey and Biffle and a few others. Junior said that Mikey could work the bump in Turn 1, but his car would just bounce. He called it a motocross over there.
Tony's blown motor was a fireball even from where I was sitting. Sure am glad he's OK.
I mostly listened to David Hoots in Race Control on the scanner. That is one busy man.
Junior was totally peeved early in the race. Told the crew he was going to say it once, and then let it alone. He was not happy with the power of the engine, the way it wouldn't pull up off the corner. He was loose in, tight in the middle and loose off, most of the day. Toward the end, it was tight, tight, tight. He even asked if something had been changed, Pete said "no", the only difference was the tire codes.
Biffle's burnout was something else. There won't be any mosquitos around the track for a while.
Down the steps, stopped for a pit stop(you never know), drove out of the lot, out of the track, on the freeway within 20 minutes. Back in hotel -- 45 miles away in 1 hour. Yep, Olive Garden for supper --- the crab/shrimp stuffed ravioli with cheese sauce with shrimp in it is my new love.
Absolutely the most beautiful, warm weather. It was a bit windy up where I sit, but still nice.
Needless to say, Kurt Busch was totally peeved when he was interviewed after the crash --- "I'm tired of this S*** wrecking all the time." Bourdais drove a heck of a race to keep Mark behind him.
Saturday Hit the IHOP for breakfast. Joined by a good friend and his 6 yr old son who is the biggest Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart fan you ever saw. The stuffed crepes were outstanding. LOL
The traffic going into the track was non-exsistent! Drove straight in, parked, and in the seats in no time at all. Good 2-wide racing all day --- the Busch cars don't seem to have trouble running up near the wall. Martin was loose most of the day, which contributed to the wall-smacking late --- he just lost it. Listened to Race Control most of the day. When on caution came out, David Hoots had some serious words for Michel Jourdain. He didn't like the way Jourdain didn't slow quickly enough. Told his spotter that "he'll have more trouble that he thinks he can handle" if he does that again. Finally just told him to stop on the track. Also told Jamie and Reed to stop weaving and starting and stoppping and juking around coming to a restart.
Had no trouble driving out and back to the hotel.
Yes, we went out to dinner --- TGIFriday's for steaks, then to Braum's for ice cream.
On a side note, while we were having dinner, we happened to look out the window. There, in the parking lot of the Home Depot was a huge white stretch limo with 3 formally dressed couples and a driver standing around. Apparently they had trouble. Imagine being dressed up for prom and spending part of your evening in the parking lot of the Home Depot. You'll have to admit, it would be a night to remember.
Sunday Yep, back to IHOP for breakfast.
Almost couldn't believe it was race day --- drove right into the track again ! ! Well, almost, the backup on the interstate was only about 3 miles. Parked and out shopping and cruising the trailers. They've really made some improvements around the track. Cars are now banned from the road closest to the track, and the trailers have been spread out so you can actually walk and shop instead of being a sardine. Kudos to Mr. Gossage and the track.
The race was slow to get started because someone dropped a wedge wrench during the pace laps. The cautions came fast at the beginning. Nothing really major, just screw-ups. There were a few cars that could make the outside work -- Mikey and Biffle and a few others. Junior said that Mikey could work the bump in Turn 1, but his car would just bounce. He called it a motocross over there.
Tony's blown motor was a fireball even from where I was sitting. Sure am glad he's OK.
I mostly listened to David Hoots in Race Control on the scanner. That is one busy man.
Junior was totally peeved early in the race. Told the crew he was going to say it once, and then let it alone. He was not happy with the power of the engine, the way it wouldn't pull up off the corner. He was loose in, tight in the middle and loose off, most of the day. Toward the end, it was tight, tight, tight. He even asked if something had been changed, Pete said "no", the only difference was the tire codes.
Biffle's burnout was something else. There won't be any mosquitos around the track for a while.
Down the steps, stopped for a pit stop(you never know), drove out of the lot, out of the track, on the freeway within 20 minutes. Back in hotel -- 45 miles away in 1 hour. Yep, Olive Garden for supper --- the crab/shrimp stuffed ravioli with cheese sauce with shrimp in it is my new love.
Absolutely the most beautiful, warm weather. It was a bit windy up where I sit, but still nice.
