John Andretti In, Jay Howard Out

Lots of Trackforum teeth-gnashing at Marty Roth for putting John Andretti in Jay Howard's car for the Indy 500 time trials next weekend, with the assumption that Marty sat Howard in favor of Andretti and a fat check. However, the fact is the team was struggling to find speed, and neither driver was able to post a time that was anywhere near good enough to get in the show -- and in just 3 laps John Andretti topped 220mph, faster than both Jay Howard and team boss Marty Roth.

Forum Reacts to Danica Running Into Crewman

For those who haven't seen the video yet because you've been trapped under something heavy and this is apparently where you ended up after googling Danica and Pit Accident, here you go:


Horrible accident, and I believe it's no one's fault. But as the TrackForum board lit up with page after page of support for Danica, anyone notice the double standard? We were ready to give Marty Roth a boot to the butt for his *much less* serious accident in pit lane during a race.

Luczo-Dragon Crew Member Should Be Banned

The story coming out of yesterday's Kansas Indy 300 was not Danica Patrick -- who retired early with a wheel mount problem -- but rather an ugly incident involving a member of Tomas Scheckter's pit crew, resulting in a helmet-smacking incident by a member of Scheckter's crew on another driver during competition.

Trackforum has lit up about this one, with some indignant anger at Scheckter's crew, but oddly there's some saying the ol' bitchslap was "justified" (posts #2, #4). Did Roth have it coming? Let's take a look.

As Marty Roth approached his pit stall, he lost the back end of his car and slid into Scheckter's right front tire changer, Simon Morley, in the pit box behind Roth's. An unfortunate racing incident, but it happens to many drivers. Morley appears unhurt.


Pit workers roll Roth back, and Scheckter's right-rear tire changer steps in front of Roth to ensure that Tomas can exit the pit stall. Morley is standing to the left, apparently ok.


With Tomas gone, the right-rear changer remains in front of Roth to jaw at him, as Brickyard1911 pointed out -- and in the video he appears to give Roth a hand gesture. Warm guy. Note his right foot in front of the tire while Roth's crew is pushing the stalled car.


The car rolls over his foot, sparking his "I've had it!" outburst. For those thinking this was a little tap to the head, notice that he winds up here with his right...


... and connects with Roth's helmet. Notice the angle of Roth's head now, tilted noticeably to the right from the blow. Morley, right, watches the incident.


Look, I like Luczo Dragon and Tomas Scheckter, but I know a hothead when I see one and this guy looks like the type that goes home and kicks the dog. The folks that defend him seem to be Scheckter fans, so their loyalty is understandable; but I can't help but wonder how they would feel about Tomas getting punched the next time he makes a mistake?

Yep, this is what the kids are into now -- headshots to a driver strapped into his car during competition. This thusfar-unnamed crew member *should* be fired immediately and banned from Indycar pits.

Brian Barnhart, the ball's in your court.