F1 Slammed By Nascar Drivers

[Fed up 0]

Formula One's presence in the United States may have barely registered on NASCAR's radar prior to last weekend's Indianapolis fiasco, but the bizarre events at the Brickyard appear to have even opened eyes in America's most popular motor racing series.

Unfortunately, although Grand Prix racing would previously have clamoured for any attention it could get from NASCAR, the kind of comments coming from the sport's biggest stars do not portray the image that Formula One's teams, sponsors and especially Michelin will want to hear.

The message coming from the NASCAR field, which recently overcame its own tyre safety problem at Pocono, was that Formula One did itself a disservice with what happened at Indianapolis.

"It's unbelievable when only a few cars start the race after travelling that far," Jimmie Johnson told the Marin Independent Journal. "It's a shame to see their teams didn't race and there wasn't some sort of happy medium between the sanctioning body and the race teams so the guys could put on a show for all the fans."

Boris Said added: "I think those F1 guys are a bunch of (wimps). I mean, that's a joke they didn't give the fans a race. I was shocked. Bridgestone had a tyre that could make it, and I think the Michelin guys should have raced and they just should have slowed down."

Tony Stewart, who is never afraid to let his feelings be known, added: "I thought it was absurd. If I was Bernie Ecclestone, I'd ban Michelin from Formula One racing over that incident. Being a premier series in the world, that was, in my eyes, totally unacceptable."

And in the wake of the Pocono tyre dramas, where the field was hit with an astonishing 22 tyre failures, Stewart claims that there was no excuse for a solution not being found that would have allowed the Michelin teams to start the race.

"We have tyre issues off and on all year, but we find a way to comprise and never let our fans down. In Michigan (last week), for example, we had cars coming in with tyres down to the cords every run, but not one driver said, 'I'm not going to run because I don't feel safe,' he explained.

"I promise you I'll never ever let anybody in my family ever have a set of Michelin tyres on their car. It's the dumbest thing I've seen in racing."

[bajo39 0]

Surprinsingly well informed comments. Especially these:

Boris Said added: "I think those F1 guys are a bunch of (wimps). I think the Michelin guys should have raced and they just should have slowed down."

Tony Stewart: "If I was Bernie Ecclestone, I'd ban Michelin from Formula One racing over that incident."

"Not one driver said, 'I'm not going to run because I don't feel safe".

[Fed up 0]

Surprinsingly well informed comments. Especially these:

Boris Said added: "I think those F1 guys are a bunch of (wimps). I think the Michelin guys should have raced and they just should have slowed down."

Tony Stewart: "If I was Bernie Ecclestone, I'd ban Michelin from Formula One racing over that incident."

"Not one driver said, 'I'm not going to run because I don't feel safe".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree

[Kaciaj 0]

How can crap NASCAR drivers slam their F.1 colleagues?

Why Tony Stewart don't try his hands at F.1 so he'll show us how good he is?Would a NASCAR driver get into F.1 he'd be just the slowest on the grid.

[Senna 0]

Surprinsingly well informed comments. Especially these:

Boris Said added: "I think those F1 guys are a bunch of (wimps). I think the Michelin guys should have raced and they just should have slowed down."

Tony Stewart: "If I was Bernie Ecclestone, I'd ban Michelin from Formula One racing over that incident."

"Not one driver said, 'I'm not going to run because I don't feel safe".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Clearly F1 drivers are not,

[Senna 0]

How can crap NASCAR drivers slam their F.1 colleagues?

Why Tony Stewart don't try his hands at F.1 so he'll show us how good he is?Would a NASCAR driver get into F.1 he'd be just the slowest on the grid.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NASCAR is nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous reasons.

[monza gorilla 1]

NASCAR is nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous reasons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One could substitute "obvious" for "numerous", I think.

[Senna 0]

One could substitute "obvious" for "numerous", I think. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Indeed, or one could use both words, observe:

NASCAR is nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous obvious reasons

[bajo39 0]

Clearly F1 drivers are not,

[bajo39 0]

Indeed, or one could use both words, observe:

NASCAR is nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous obvious reasons

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or even, NASCAR is obviously nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous obvious reasons.

[monza gorilla 1]

Or even, NASCAR is obviously nowhere near as good as F1 for numerous obvious reasons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Obviously.

[Jenson_Rules 0]

what the **** are you on about bajo, ****ing F1 drivers risk their lives as their job! Im again deeply disgusted by your attitude. F1 drivers are not whimps, theres a big ****ing difference between nascar and ****ing F1!

[bajo39 0]

what the **** are you on about bajo, ****ing F1 drivers risk their lives as their job! Im again deeply disgusted by your attitude. F1 drivers are not whimps, theres a big ****ing difference between nascar and ****ing F1!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They are certainly not wimps in absolute terms but the level of danger in modern F1 is a fraction of that in the IRL, Champ Cars, NASCAR and other American series which have far lower standards of safety... Hence my noting that they (F1 drivers) are wimps in comparison to their colleagues in the US. I stand by this Jenson, whatever your disgust or anger.

[Jenson_Rules 0]

well whatever, you need skill in most single seating racing, wheres the skill in nascar, a loada rubbish! the whole lot of the US is rubbish!

[bajo39 0]

well whatever, you need skill in most single seating racing, wheres the skill in nascar, a loada rubbish! the whole lot of the US is rubbish!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What has skill to do with our discussion? Concentrate young man.

[monza gorilla 1]

They are certainly not wimps in absolute terms but the level of danger in modern F1 is a fraction of that in the IRL, Champ Cars, NASCAR and other American series which have far lower standards of safety... Hence my noting that they (F1 drivers) are wimps in comparison to their colleagues in the US. I stand by this Jenson, whatever your disgust or anger.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wimps? Or simply more aware of their own mortality?

[Jenson_Rules 0]

Wimps? Or simply more aware of their own mortality?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Simply more aware full stop! Nascar drivers are morons, and skill has a lot to do with it, NASCAR drivers wouldnt be competative in anything else, so how can they call f drivers wimps and comment on a sport that is far beyond their leaguee!

[bajo39 0]

Wimps? Or simply more aware of their own mortality?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The last death in F1 occurred eleven years ago. The last death in NASCAR was only four years ago. In F1, there is at most one serious crash per race and usually none. In NASCAR every race has at least one serious crash. I don't buy your argument that NASCAR drivers feel safer - why would they?

[Jenson_Rules 0]

nascar drives a re morons who dont give a **** if they die, if they did, they wouldnt be racing in such dangerous conditions!

[bajo39 0]

nascar drives a re morons who dont give a **** if they die, if they did, they wouldnt be racing in such dangerous conditions!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Okay, well that would make them very brave... in fact, soooo brave that they make F1 drivers (who are brave in absolute terms) look like wimps. Now you see the light young man, very good.

[Jenson_Rules 0]

Yes but F1 drivers are not morons and have bags of talent and are not stupid enough to risk their lives like NASCAR drivers do! they are not wimps, but just a damn sight more sensible and intelligent!

[Max Mosley 2]

They are certainly not wimps in absolute terms but the level of danger in modern F1 is a fraction of that in the IRL, Champ Cars, NASCAR and other American series which have far lower standards of safety... Hence my noting that they (F1 drivers) are wimps in comparison to their colleagues in the US. I stand by this Jenson, whatever your disgust or anger.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They may well be braver but skill/fitness/dedication levels are what I'm interested in - and here they fall off the radar. Also I don't think your argument is watertight because many F1 drivers would still race if it were much more dangerous.

[bajo39 0]

They may well be braver but skill/fitness/dedication levels are what I'm interested in

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you for sharing your interests Murray. Most helpful.

Also I don't think your argument is watertight

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How dare you!?!

[Max Mosley 2]

Sorry Bajo! Perhaps you are still right though.

[bajo39 0]

Sorry Bajo!  Perhaps you are still right though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I think so. I do not think that either of the Schumachers or Giancarlo Fisichella would be willing to tolerate such a level of danger as exists in IRL, for example. Certainly Jacques Villeneuve would though.