Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Racing Nirvana: 12 Announcers, Four Series, 24 Hours and Six Days...



Although it's Not the Album cover I was looking for. Nevertheless, Chicago's third album cover should hopefully Peak Ye Curiosity? (Image source: albumcovergallery.blogspot.com
Talk 'bout your Ultimate Motor Racing GorgeAthon, Aye Karumba!

Suppose the Only Way it could be Better, would have been Trackside, Eh? As this veritable RaceAthon began Sunday, March 10th approximately round 8:33AM, (Pacific) when turning  on Thy Telie' to NBC Sports Network's IndyCar hour long Preamble for some riveting Chatter during Breakfast; Err, 9:33AM since it was the morning of that lame Arse Spring Forward clock thingy'.

As I just casually Dropped-in to hear the Boyz', nee Leigh Diffey, Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell Talkin' Smart about the upcoming IndyCar Season and impending race, which we all know how that worked out. Ho Hum, another Team Penske W'.

Nah, I thought up My Oh, So clever Story title prior to it causing Mwah to Flashback to an 'Ol Chicago song I used to listen to on vinyl. Y'all know that Classic Hit 25 or 6 to 4, Righto?


Which chased Mwah down another long, dark Wabbit' Hole, trying to learn that the Chicago record, which I still remember it's vivid album cover is Chicago IX, actually Thar first Greatest Hits collection I've got was released in 1975; Aye Karumba!

Thus began the Fruitless Search for your Blind Word Hack' to find said image of this long forgotten vinyl record boxed-up in Tomaso's Bungalow by-the-Sea, as almost every Chicago Album cover's out Thar, 'cept the Chicago IX record's in Questione!

 
Although I suppose Pink Floyd's Time song or Chicago's Does Anybody Know What Time It is? Would also have been Apropos for this story's title too...

Then appropriately, when Y'all were celebrating St Patty's Day, Drinkin' Green Beer or perhaps, a la this riveting No Fenders Story. Kissing thou Blarney?

Thar was some 22hrs 'O Motor Racing remaining, which I believe is Simon Pagenaud's number? As too bad for the Frenchie', although may be this CoInky-dense' will be a good Omen for Indy Cars inaugural  outing at COTA, Wee-Wee?

As pretty certain that "Symone" Doesn't need me reminding Him he hasn't won an IndyCar race for El Capitano' (Roger Penske) in nearly two years; YOWCH!

Nope, instead I'm referring to what was dubbed as Sebring's Super Sports Car Weekend. Whale' Otay, think actually it was just Super Sebring, but still quite the Nirvana for Sports Car Fans! Featuring the first ever 1,000 Miles plus 12 Hours Endurance races Back-to-Back March 15-16.

Which Scott Atherton, (President of IMSA claimed that the Sebring Raceway Staff began planning this Monster Sports Car outing in the Fall of 2017...

First up was the FIA's inaugural 1,000 miles or 8hrs, whichever came first World Endurance SportsCar Championship outing, which was shown live in its ENTIRITY! Did Yuhs Catch that NBC Sports? On the Velocity Channel...

As apparently I missed another "Memo," whilst too busy Ridin' shotgun in a Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT to GrandMaMa's House for Turkey Dinner...


And I've got to admit that I find the lead announcer Martin Haven to be a most knowledgeable, amiable and soothing voice calling thou action. With Thee Scottish Terrier, aka Allan McNish, who was the weekend's Grand Marshall, and a past 12 Hours of Sebring Four-times Winner as Driver Analyst always enjoyable.

While Graham Goodwin, who comes across as a Jeremy Shaw, or more notably 'Ol R', aka Robin Miller. Since I'm fairly certain I've read Graham's contributions to Racer Magazine's Online Le Mans/WEC News, did his usual Yeoman-like job.

Yet as I'd hear Johnny O' correctly lament the following day. He already knew who was gonna win before the race even began. Eluding to how the two Space-based Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 Prototypes are light years ahead of everybody else!

As IndyCar Rookie Ben Hanley was behind the wheel of his DragonSpeed No. 10 BR Engineering/Gibson 4.5-litre Normally Aspirated V-8 in the LMP1 Class, albeit in the lesser "Privateer" category. Which are Heavily Handicapped vs. the Factory Toyota LMP1 Hybrid's.

As it's too bad Hanley won't be racing at Circuit Of The Americas this weekend, who'll return to Indy Cars Duty at the Oh, so Bootyful' Barber's, moved forward to make way for the Easter Wabbit'. And probably needs a little recovery time, Eh?


As the Newbie' IndyCar Team DragonSpeed had two cars in the race. It's second entry running in the "lower" LMP2 Prototype category, with its #31 Oreca/Gibson V-8 being Spearheaded by Pastor Maldonado.

And some Smarmy Spaniard who's constantly Crowing 'bout winning the Mythical Triple Crown. Y'all know that Dude Fredrico Suave, aka Fred Alonso, Ci? Who'll be contesting his second Indy 500 this May for McLaren Racing was behind thou keyboard of his No. 8 Toy-Yoter'.

Whilst impending 2019 Indianapolis 500 Rookie Jordan King, who'll make his Debut at Mother Speedway this May aboard a third Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry, helped the No. 37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca/Gibson V-8 lead the LMP2 Class extensively wire-to-Wire for the Class victory.

As I heard Jordan's name mentioned multiple times during the TV Broadcast that I watched over 50% of Friday evening. Noting how King was handing over to ANT', nee Anthony Davidson, another ex-Formula 1 Driver during the race, which finished at Midnight eastern Time, with the last half hour being under worsening precipitation!

Finishing under a Full-course Caution after somebody had slithered mightily into the "Armco" with less than 10mins remaining. Requiring a Flatbed Tow-truck to remove said vehicle...

As another former F1 Pilote' was back in SportsCarsland' over the weekend, pulling "Double Duty,' like a Handful 'O Drivers did. Seeing Kiwi' Brendon Hartley racing both events.


And I also know that Renger van der Zande, along with MAGS', nee Jan Magnussen and Antonio "the King" Garcia All pulled Double Duty, with reportedly the Corvette C7.R chassis doing this also? Since I know that Shea Adam alluded to the No. 63 Corvette's number panel falling off during the WEC race to reveal the Number 3 on its Door-panel!

As think that's what I heard her mention? Although they also talked briefly during Saturday's 12 Hours Enduro' race 'bout how the Seester' No. 4 Vette' had seen multiple action round the globe, a la contesting le 24 Heurs du Mans.

As apparently the Corvette Racing Squad rotates its inventory, as they were one of the Gran Torismo Le Mans (GT LM) teams running multiple entries...