As how’s that “New & Improved” Marketing
Department working out?
For Mwah, the words Mission accomplished came
to mind following the conclusion of the “Whose Your Daddy” Million Dollar
Sweepstakes event held at the Thermal club.
As I have to agree with Racer’s Marshall Pruett
that Sunday’s Non Championship (points-wise) event was an event that none of
the competitors were truly interested in. And simply was a convenient way for
IndyCar to fill a Humungous six weeks gap in it’s schedule due to Texas Motor
Speedway pulling the Plug upon them.
Being Blind, have I mentioned that Y’all
lately? I had issues with the sound quality during both the Qualifying coverage
on IndyCar Radio and Sunday’s race on Big NBC, with the latter’s being overly
wonky, i.e.; constantly fluctuating up ‘n down the entire 2.5hrs TV Broadcazt.
For the IndyCar Radio “Simocast”, I had to Jack
up my volume 16 levels in order to hear Mark Gravelly’ James and Jake the
Riddler’ Queiry pontificating about everything but the action on-track during
the first five minutes of the ridiculously short eight minute Qualie’ sessions.
With Qualifying being delayed due to Marcus Ericsson’s crash – backing into the
tyre barrier when potentially a Flinstone’ rear tyre went down…
Have to say that Felix-the-Cat’ (Rosenqvist)
has really grown on me. And I’m now a Huge Fan of the Swede’s! And I really
appreciate His Dry Wit! Noting how the $500,000, the winner’s amount for the
Million Dollar challenge. Would help for His upcoming wedding in September and
buy a lot of nice flowers…
Enjoyed sitting on the couch with Snowbyrd MJ’
and explaining various questions about the day’s event. As I found the day’s
first Heat race far more entertaining due to the collision between “Count
Dracula”, aka Rinus VeeKay and Romain Grosjean. Although in both’s defense,
Scott Dixon punted romain, who collided with VeeKay, who “Hip checked”
Christian Lundgaard and left a gaping Hole in the Dane’s sidepod. Whilst
ScottyMac’, nee Scott McLaughlin made Rosenqvist work for His victory…
The second Heat race was a Snoozer with Alex
Palou leading wire-to-wire, with the first four cars following in procession…
This was the first time I’d “watched”, Err
listened to an NBC TV Broadcast in over a year and-a-half! So it was nice
hearing lead announcer Leigh Diffey’s voice again, along with (Townsend)
T-Bell’ and thee Mayor’, nee James Hinchcliffe. Yet the two Pit reporters Kevin
Lee and Marty Snyder were their usial, annoying selfs! As Lee, whom I call the
Werewolf! Was His usual over-the-top, trying to emulate manufactured
excitement! And may be had one too many cups of coffee? WhilstSnidely
Whiplash’, akaMarty Snyder doesn’t need explanation…
I only bring this up since scuttlebutt suggests
that Diffey may be leaving IndyCar for a new NASCAR Gig later this year?
Meaning potentially a new lead announcer would be needed.
Whilst some on Ye Blogosphere have “Championed”
Kevin Lee as the perfect replacement for years. I for one think that Lee makes
a Horrible lead announcer whenever filling in for Diffey! As His Fake
enthusiasm which sounds simply like shrieking is what led to His No Fenders
moniker…
As I’d say that Brian till would be the perfect
replacement if necessary, as Kevin’s a fine Pitlane reporter. But is one of the
main reasons I’ve switched over to listening to All IndyCar races on IndyCar
Radio instead, but I digress…
Fortunately I wasn’t playing any drinking games
for every-time Diffey mentioned the One Million Dollar challenge, which only
paid $500,000 to the winner! As surely El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske with All
of His Business connections could have squeezed $500k from somebody to be the
“title” sponsor, El Correctomundo?
As Kudos to IndyStar’s Nathan Browne Me Thinks?
Or whomever it was who pointed out that IndyCar couldn’t even get their message
straight! Regarding boasting over it being the largest non-Indianapolis 500
purse…
Uhm, Wrong again IndyCar! Since Jimmy Vasser
won an actual $1.0 million at the 1996 U.S. 500 during the first year of The
Split. With the U.S. 500 being contested in front of 110,000+ Fans on the same
Sunday as that year’s inaugural Indy Racing League (IRL) Indianapolis 500.
Which CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) teams were Boycotting due to Tony
George’s infamous 25/8 Rule!
With the U.S. 500 held at Michigan
International Speedway (MIS) paying out some $3.6 million-plus in total purse.
As can Y’all say Oops, Butterfingers?
Now I have no clue over what I’d do to improve
the “All Star” $1 Million Challenge Sweepstakes format, as you have to say that
the first 10-laps segment was a Snoozer! Other than the mild intrigue caused
collectively by Andretti Global’s Colton Herta’s decision to run excrutiatingly
slow in order to conserve His Firestone rubber for the race’s second 10-laps
segment, since tyres weren’t allowed to be changed. Only tyre pressures could
be adjusted.
Have to say I like the addition of the “P2P”,
ergo Push to Pass forty seconds of additional Horsepower, but this also only
allowed effectively for one lap’s duration. But did aadd a nice wrinkle of
“Strategerie” as Marshall Pruett would say…
Unfortunately the three podium finishers All
effectively ran nose-to-tail the entire twenty laps after McLaughlin jumped
Rosenqvist on the first race start, with Alex Palou simply being untouchable
the entire weekend, including the entire race.
Yet Herta did manage to ultimately go from Dead
last in P12 to finish in fourth, being the best part of the “Show”. Finishing
ahead of Marcus Armstrong, who netted a paltry $50,000 for His Team Boss Chip
Ganassi.
Since Nathan
Browne wrote that drivers typically average only 40% of the prize winnings
before taxes, etc.
Along with Alexander Rossi and Josef Newgarden
playing “Argie-Bargie”, allowing rookie Linus Lundqvist to slip past both and
finish P6.
Yet positions 6-27 paid a measly $23,000, which
probably didn’t even pay the corresponding teams Hotel Bills?
Which leads me wondering who actually paid the
Bill for this event? As did IndyCar charge the Thermal Club a sanctioning Fee? And how did those limited, 75% reduced price limited attendance tickets
work out? Since Snowbyrd MJ’ told me that only strategically “shot” television
coverage showed All of the “Beautiful” people dining on members decks. Before
showing a few empty decks but NO Fans attending…
Regardless of how this event is perceived by us
Hardcore Fans, or Ye legions of les Miserables. You have to concede that we’re
All talking about it! And we were treated to having 27 Indy Cars on-track for
our entertainment. Along with filling a sizeable gap in the IndyCar schedule.
So I’d say that the event did it’s “Job” overall…
