About Freakin' time NBC! Especially since Virtual
Sports is Sweeping thou Nation right now...
Otay, I'll admit I was playfully accused of
acting like a Kid on Christmas Morning after learning that NBC Sports had
wisely changed its mind upon not wishing to Air the IndyCar's i Racing Series
originally. But it's pretty sad that's All I could think about the 48hrs before
the actual event. Hmm? Ain't that Jimmy Johnson's number? Oh Never Mind!
And I suppose I need to heed Leigh Diffey's
words during the TV Broadcast 'bout it being a work in progress, but. I sat
Thar listening to Thy Telie, after having tuned-in to the 30mins Proving
Grounds vignette from Mother Speedway and was Bemused to note that the 1912
Indy 500 racecar that TK' follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan and IMSA's Ryan Eversley?
Co-drove round the Obstacle Course made more noise than the pack 'O 29 i Racing
Virtual IndyCar racecars filling my television did!
As I mused to myself that it was a virtual
Formula E race; CRIKEYS! Although I did hear someone scrubbing copious amounts
'O rubber off Thar Flinstone tyres and an audible WHUMP! When somebody smacked the wall! Perhaps Thee
Great Santini? Or may be Felipe Nasr?
As typically the real life On-track Indy Cars
action usually Drowns Out the Talking Headz' Booth Boys! Yet this race was the
complete opposite, sounding virtually Silent for more than Half the race! So it
would be nice if NBC Sports could find a happy medium beginning next week and
ultimately whenever we return to real Honest-to-Goodness Motor Racing.
As I think I enjoyed the winner's Post-race
interview more than the actual race itself, since being Blind, obviously sound
is a huge component of what I "See" on my virtual monitor!
As Scott McLaughlin who I've never heard
speak before, was a total Breath 'O Fresh Air! And sounded very grounded for
somebody who Leigh Diffey pointed out more than once had to get up at 2AM
Australian time to compete in the event. With Scott noting it was 5:50AM local
Brisbane time Me Thinks - When doing his winner's interview.
But what I enjoyed most from the 26yr old
Kiwi' was how smoothly he wouldn't answer PT's Questione on what type of specific
Sym Rig equipment he was utilizing.
Giving "Ol Sugar Ray Tracy the typical racer's non-answer answer.
As Diffey Dryly chimed in may be he's Not
gonna answer you Paul; Hya! While Paul Tracy tried a second time and McLaughlin
just casually noted he's running a Touring Car set-up a bit like his V-8
Supercars Gig', unlike the fancy IndyCar Rigs you Yanks' are Deploying.!
But he didn't seem to make too much out of
his winning his first IndyCar race after Diffey noted he's the winner of 44
Supercars races. So Good On You Mate!
While the
Driver He'd most likely replace at Team Penske, DJ WillyP', aka Will
Power, for which I'm just totally speculatin' here, but believe Power's the Elder
Statesman at Penske, Righto? Nipped at the Kiwi's Heels chasing him home to the
Chequered Flag in P2.
Whilst the Announce Booth Crew took great
glee in making Quips 'bout Power having his radio turned off for making too
many mouthy comments 'bout lapped traffic, for which I think PT' sardonically
chimed was just like real life; Hya!
As apparently the
IndyCar Driver who topped the virtual Time Sheets on Twitter, nee Conor Daly
revealed that Will had called him A Wanker! Which led to his radio
transmissions being cut...
While Conor also
pointed out the differences between virtual racing and the real world by noting
that Scott Dixon would never Spin Off-track in a Real Race!
And (Townsend) T-Bell' spent quite a Bitamyte
'O Time Belabouring how difficult it was to drive these virtual IndyCars while conceding
he'd have qualified near the end of the field if racing, after having taken
part in the open practice session.
With Scotty The Goose! Speed substituting for
Marco Andretti bringing home his virtual No. 98 Andretti Autosport machine home
in third place all-the-while on a massive Fuel Saving strategy.
And I also enjoyed Sage Dangerboy' Karam's
forthrightness when queried over whether or not he liked the Competition
Caution? Saying quickly and emphatically NO! As Sage apparently got a bit 'O Red
Mist Fever this weekend, first tanglin' with Felix Rosenqvist. Then a penalty
for Speeding in the Pits and finally parking his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Dallara.
Meanwhile how 'bout Dale Coyne Racing with
Team Goh's Alex Palou who reportedly was competing from a Coffee shop in Brazil
alongside his girlfriend, as the IndyCar Rookie Spaniard finished fourth
overall I believe! Whilst DCR Alphabets Soup Brigade team-mate Santino Ferrucci
didn't have such a "Hot" Day...
But obviously the Feel-good story of the
event was the return of Thee Young Wicky', aka Robert Wickens making his competition return after nearly two year's
hiatus while still recovering from his multiple injuries suffered in his
Horrendous Accident at Pocono in August, 2018!
As much has been made 'bout Wickens utilizing
a Hand Controls set-up, albeit he didn't get to use his "Mad Max" Massimiliano (Max)
Papis set-up, which reportedly is similar to what El Zorro', nee Alex Zanardi
used to compete in the 2019 Rolex 24. And instead used another Sym Rig provided
by McLaren.
But it was great to hear Leigh Diffey
interviewing Wickens briefly at the end of the TV Broadcast, with Robert noting
he'd just gone for a Fuel Saving Strategy which helped him stay On-track en
route to an eighth place finish.
With Diffey announcing at the end of the broadcast that
next week's I-Race will be held on Michigan International speedway...
