With the exodus of an IndyCar Announcer, and
another lawsuit in NASCAR…
For Mwah, the best news of the weekend was
Friday morning’s carefully timed PR announcement that the Civil War between
McLaren, Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing was finally over! Making me
instantly think a Come to Jesus, Err Roger meeting had occurred somewhere along
the line? As its fantastic that this lawsuit is over, and we can simply get
back to racing.
And its funny how life
goes, since you’d have thought I’d been ecstatic over it finally being the
kickoff weekend for Indy Cars, Chirp-Chirp, Bueller?
Yet I thought it was odd that Friday’s first
practice session wasn’t airing on Fox Sports One (FS1) until 3:30PM Pacific.
And if I’d thought about it, would realize that would have been 6:30PM eastern,
before No fenders Offical’ Photographer Carpets’ email made me realize I’d
missed the live airing…
Yet sitting on the couch listening to the
comatose, sleep inducing voice of Wee willie Buxom’, (Will Buxton) as where are
Yuhs Scott Somonex Goodyear, Eh?
Yep, you guessed it. Your haggard No Fenders
scribe Tomaso was soon doing the falling asleep Head-bob during much of the
riveting first practice replay! Although I did learn later that both Josef
Schlick’ Newgarden and Scotty thee Iceman 2.0 Dixon had suffered crashes, say
what?
Whilst I woke up Justin-time’ to hear thee
Mayor ‘O Hinchtown talking about racing with Dario REO Speedwagon in the
Craftsman PickEmUp’ Trucks race Saturday morning, saying I’ll tune into that…
Thus Saturday was a purdy G-Damn good day, as I did manage to stay awake for both the
entire RASSCAR PickEmUp’ Trucks race and IndyCar Qualie’ session.
I
always enjoy hearing Jamie Little, whose become the Trucks lead Play-by-Play
announcer. While I’m definitely not a fan of Mikey “I’m Not a cheater!”
Waltrip. With IndyCar’s (Townsend) T-Bell rounding out the cross pollination
weekend’s activities.
Nice
interview with Kevin Lee the father, saying He didn’t know what to do with
empty hands just spectating. Arse-sumedly referring to having a microphone in
His “Mitts”.
Thus
I was surprised that Kevin’s son Jackson Lee was making His Trucks debut at St
Pete, who I think usually races Lamborghini Super Trofeo instead?
With
Kevin saying that Dario was Jackson’s Idol, who last I’d heard was racing
Karts. With Jackson purposely dropping to the rear of the 36 “Car” field before
having worked His way up to P25. Before finishing 29th, five laps behind.
Driving the No. 22 Team Reaune Ford.
Dario
and thee Mayor, who the booth tried changing to Jimmy Hinch’ got together early
during the race. (Lap 8) Since Y’all know Racins’ Rubbin, Yeehaw! With
Franchitti using Hinch’s truck to arrest His spin, with Hinch getting the worst
of it! But Hinchcliffe had the last laugh after dropping to 22nd. Finishing in
tenth place. While Franchitti, who’d been in the Top 10, made an extra pitstop
before coming home P27.
As
I know T-Bell spoke to Dario repeatedly about the bag of ice for His shoulder,
His nifty left foot shifting, and a squeegee thrown into the cockpit. Whilst
Dario also mentioned that the “Air Con” wasn’t working! (Air Conditioning)
Whilst
another High profile name from the Tricon Garage’s stable of Toyota Tundra’s
was Adam Andretti. Although the SCCA Trans am racer went fairly unnoticed in
P17. With the highest finishing Tricon entry being the No. 11 of Kaden
Honeycutt finishing fifth.
Winner
Layne riggs drove an uber impressive race. Starting 28th, saying not bad for a
Short Track Boy! Along with noting His Ford had started sputtering with eight
laps to go, making Him worry about His petrol supply! Along with noting how
eventual third place finisher Ben Rhodes, who ran second awhile, could have
given Him the Chrome Horn treatment…
While
Shout Out to Colin Brown, the highest finishing RAM, driving for Kaulig Racing.
And finishing a respectful ninth in the brand’s NASCAR Trucks debut season.
As
I’d thought Brown, the prodigious IMSA road racing champion had finished
eighth. But learned He lost one place with two laps remaining.
Colin Brown returns to Trucks 15 years
later with Top 10 finish
Awaiting
IndyCar Qualie’, I tuned into IndyCar Radio for the last half of Indy NXT
qualifying, and was disappointed hearing Michael Schreech’ Young in the lead
Play-by-Play chair. As where’s my boy Nicky Salt’ Yeoman?
Knew
it was gonna happen eventually. And while I’m happy for Him, I’m not happy
losing Nick to the Performance Racing Network, (PRN) where Yeoman made His
NASCAR Cup debut at Atlanta…
Lafayette’s Nick Yeoman makes NASCAR
Anchor debut after years with IndyCar
Most
impressive duo of IndyCar’s Fast six shootout was both Coyne entries, with
rookie Dennis Hauger finishing third! Whilst ScottyMac’, ergo Scott McLaughlin drew
first blood with His 12th pole. And seemed a good bet to win Sunday, eh?
No
Fenders Offical’ Photographer Carpets latest nickname goes to Marcus Ericsson,
who He’s named “Harvey”, as in Harvey Wallbanger, claimed second and was only
Andretti entry in Fast Six.
And
don’t look over here, but Alex Palou was fourth, David Malukas 5th and Romain Grosjean
sixth.
And
speaking ‘O Andretti, it was SuperMario’s 86th birthday Saturday…
Sure
would like to know where Todd Ault gets All of His money from? As the Dude’s
everywhere! With His Only bulls company sponsor of PickEmUp’ Trucks race and
IndyCar Radio. Not to mention both Coyne and Meyer Shank Racing Cars. As
somebody’s getting Duped…
Sunday
morning, got up early to tune into Indy NXT race via Zed Intrawoods’ – even if
Nicky Salt’ Yeoman’s no longer anchoring broadcast, Boo!
As
it just took one wrong move on the opening lap for second place Nikita Johnson
to pounce upon Max Taylor, with the Hometown Boy leading the rest of the way.
Regardless of the countless cautions and restarts…
While
I didn’t think DJ WillyP’, aka Will Power would be celebrating His 45th
birthday with a W’ prior to the race. Before learning He’d crashed during one
of the practice sessions, and then again during the race, Youch!
As
Alex Palou put another Beatdown upon the entire field, winning by 12,49:48 –
the largest ever winning margin at St Pete! Although He’d been up to 15 seconds
at one point!
As
the race was for second place, with Scott McLaughlin prevailing over Christian
Lundgaard. With Kyle Kirkwood dropping from second to fourth, and Pato O’ward a
very quiet fifth place finish.
As
the Coyne duo continued impressing, with Grosjean eighth, and Hauger tent on
His IndyCar debut.
David Malukas flat spotted a front tyre, shredding its carcass – for a 13th place finish. With Rinus VeeKay having another solid finish in ninth, starting P19. Whilst the MSR Boyz’ seemed off the boil, albeit Marcus Armstrong got rubbed wrong by Harvey! As that’s all that stands out for Mwah. And will Phoenix upset the proverbial Apple cart?
