JR INDY

[jim morgan]

What a good drive. Has to be tough to have your best day as an Indy Driver and your biggest disapointment at the same time.

[Brad Ellingson]

Isn't the field frozen when the yellow comes out??? Pretty sure the yellow was out before Weldon passed JR. Weldon also passed Kimball under yellow...or aren't their rules about that as strict....

[Brands]

This photo has already popped up which shows the green light on. Would be very harsh to take the win away from Wheldon - he was competitive all day. Still feel sick for JR though.

[jim morgan]

Scoring reverts to the last completed lap leader with yellow on last lap,EXCEPT when the leader is the yellow.

Team already said no protest.
Thought he handled the interviws fairly well.

[KevinFirlein]

on the speedtv site Barnes said there is no protest because he was told since his car was the one wrecked it could have been passed anyways. Weldon was thru before the yellow light anyways only trouble was that the rules refer to when the yellow is called for not shown. Kinda dumb really, but thats the way they do it

posted same time as Jim

[Mark_Silverberg]

since the leader caused the yellow and could not proceed at race speed it was allowed to pass them. This is exactly the correct decision as otherwise you could end the race one lap early by causing a caution while in the lead.

[Pop Chevy]

I feel sorry for him cause that's gonna haunt him the rest of his life. He may never get a chance like that again. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Scott Gesford]

I really wanted to see a rookie and an American win. I was screaming for the car to keep running but screamed louder when I saw him going outside of Kimball. I didn't think that would work. I still was thinking he won at first as I had no clue who was running second. Horrible coverage by ABC again. Brett Mussberger sucks. No interviews with drivers out of the race. Commercials every 5 laps.

[jim morgan]

The great thing about Mussberger is he sucks at every sport.

[captaineddie1975]

I really wanted to see a rookie and an American win. I was screaming for the car to keep running but screamed louder when I saw him going outside of Kimball. I didn't think that would work. I still was thinking he won at first as I had no clue who was running second. Horrible coverage by ABC again. Brett Mussberger sucks. No interviews with drivers out of the race. Commercials every 5 laps.

I agree although I counted every 3 laps towards the end. They were about to run another side by side when someone who is actually smart about racing abruptly pulled the plug on the commercial and didn't allow any more interruptions. I can just imagine the outcry if they were doing a side by side in the last two laps! I hope the rookie gets another chance at Indy.

[Michael Edick]

The great thing about Mussberger is he sucks at every sport.

And here I thought it was just me that thought that Mussberger stunk...whew! that's a relief!!

JR had the race in the bag, even if he had back peddled for a moment and to follow Kimball thru...what a shame.

And I wonder how Kimball feels.

JR hung in there all day and did great! It was a rookie mistake, but he handled himself tremendously in the post race interviews...this kid has got a good future ahead of him!

EJ Viso? Not so much...he needs to be parked...Milka Duno was squid slow, but she never caused the kind of carnage that EJ has.

And one last thing, thank gawd for my DVR!!!

I've never had to hump thru so many commercials in my life! ABC and Mussberger...a combo I hope we won't have to deal with again!

[Matt M.]

Although he wasn't really at fault - I'd say ol' Charlie got his revenge for Cleveland 2005.....

[Dan Andersen]

Great Indy 500, and great performances by F2000 alumni. J.R. was champion in 2006, Wheldon in 1999. I hope J.R. gets the recognition he deserves for his 2nd place finish and Rookie honors at the 500, but I agree, it (the crash) will be a rough memory for many years. He drove a season for my team in Indy Lights a few years back and he is an excellent driver, I hope he has another chance at a 500 victory sooner rather than later. Ex-F2000 driver Anders Krohn put on a real show in the Freedom 100 and had a couple of problems, the last of which was not his fault (he got moved down the track to the apron and lost it down there). All in all, a fun and exciting weekend, and it is clear the Indy 500 is back, huge crowds, fans everywhere all week long.

[Peter Olivola]

JR's 2005 Cleveland contact was with his Bobby Oergel team mate, Mike Forest.

Although he wasn't really at fault - I'd say ol' Charlie got his revenge for Cleveland 2005.....

[Michael Rand]

Hey RW, you win, not long at all !
Musberger might be the worst racing announcer since Rick DuBruhl was doing F! a few years back......

[jim morgan]

Mike,
He is the worst announcer at every sport. I know a lot of racers don't watch other sports but Golf,Football, basketball everything inane comments with endless name dropping he is a worthless POS at his job don't know how he keeps a job when the mention of his name has real fans hit the mute switch.

[Matt M.]

JR's 2005 Cleveland contact was with his Bobby Oergel team mate, Mike Forest.

It seems like the second thing to go is the memory...... I think you are correct Peter!

[Jim Garry]

Just sent input to ABC regarding Mussberger. Maybe if they get a few more thousand complaints about him they'll put him out to pasture.

https://r.espn.go.com/members/contact/index

[Matt Conrad]

I'm definitely going to chime in on this one as I was high in T4 and saw the whole thing...

I believe with the information JR had at his disposal at that instant in time....he did what most every one of us would have done...pass. Factor in these points:

1. Final Lap
2. Indy
3. Spotter screaming "Go Go Go...they're coming fast"
4. Kimball going about 120 and out of fuel
5. It was Indy
5. He's a freakin' RACE CAR DRIVER!
6. Many a car went 2-wide in T4 all day long
7. It was the Indy 500

Sooooooooooooooo.....

What if JR had slammed on the brakes (which he would have had to do) and go 120 through T4 while Wheldon and others were running at 220 just a few seconds behind and then got passed? I know what would happen....everyone would be saying how stupid he was for not passing Kimball.

Having had discussions with JR about driving for the Indy Pro Series team I worked for in 2008, and watching him drive in the Formula Russell Series, I know that JR is going to have great success in life.....not just racing.

Matt Conrad

[Will Velkoff]

That was hard to watch, my heart stopped when I saw him try to go around Kimball in T4 and my jaw hit the floor when he stuffed it into the wall...sad ending, would have liked to see him win for sure.

That's gonna be a hard one to get over, I don't think he ever will.

[Peter Olivola]

My experience with JR (I was Chief Steward of the Cooper Tires FF 2000 Series in 2006 the year he won the championship,) is that he will learn from this and become an even better driver/racer. He is an unusual talent. I don't know that I'd put him in the transcendent category, yet, but he is one of those with the gift of learning from his experiences/mistakes at a rate well above most successful drivers.

That was hard to watch, my heart stopped when I saw him try to go around Kimball in T4 and my jaw hit the floor when he stuffed it into the wall...sad ending, would have liked to see him win for sure.

That's gonna be a hard one to get over, I don't think he ever will.

[Will Velkoff]

My experience with JR (I was Chief Steward of the Cooper Tires FF 2000 Series in 2006 the year he won the championship,) is that he will learn from this and become an even better driver/racer. He is an unusual talent. I don't know that I'd put him in the transcendent category, yet, but he is one of those with the gift of learning from his experiences/mistakes at a rate well above most successful drivers.

Hope so! I know if I was in his shoes, I'd be beating myself up for it for a very long time. His post race interview seemed to prove your point though.

[jim morgan]

Peter,

I agree, my initial point was he achieved more than he could have hoped for, Rookie of the Year and P2 but lost a prize he only could of dreamed of. His response and the teams response promises progression rather than regression. I was particularly happy to see him stand up and say he made the pass because he thought he could without any complaint about the slower car that was low and only trying to finish. Unlike other to be unamed INDY drivers who have never made a mistake.

[Frank C]

When I saw JR's crash, I remembered that Emmo had done almost the same thing. I had to look it up. It was '94 sometime in the last 15 laps or so. Not the last lap, but he too must have felt really bad and he did it with a lot more racing experience. I thought that JR and Barnes were very professional in the interviews I saw.
- Frank C

[ghoneycutt]

I'm definitely going to chime in on this one as I was high in T4 and saw the whole thing...

I believe with the information JR had at his disposal at that instant in time....he did what most every one of us would have done...pass. Factor in these points:

1. Final Lap
2. Indy
3. Spotter screaming "Go Go Go...they're coming fast"
4. Kimball going about 120 and out of fuel
5. It was Indy
5. He's a freakin' RACE CAR DRIVER!
6. Many a car went 2-wide in T4 all day long
7. It was the Indy 500

Sooooooooooooooo.....

What if JR had slammed on the brakes (which he would have had to do) and go 120 through T4 while Wheldon and others were running at 220 just a few seconds behind and then got passed? I know what would happen....everyone would be saying how stupid he was for not passing Kimball.

Matt Conrad

Matt, I agree 100%

[ASRF1000]

JR and the Panther team did a great job. Its a shame that JR got just a little too high on the pass that got him in the marbles, but he had the checkered flag in his sights and was going for it. Panther always puts together a good car for the 500 and coming is 2nd for the past several years shows that. They're great on ovals, it's just too bad that they never can seem to put together a decent car on road courses.

A big congrats to Dan Weldon. A lot of racing has to do with being at the right place at the right time. It has to be even more satisfying having been let go from Panther last year.

[James Michael]

I think it was quite impressive of Dan Weldon to win. Here he is without a full time ride coming to Indy for a one off deal and he wins it! Congratulations.

He deserves a full time ride. I'm heading to TMS for the twin race in a few weeks and the winner of the Indy 500 won't be there - what's with that?

Great race and exciting to watch. With that kind of talent JR will win it one day.

[Dennis Valet]

I found these pretty nice photos on a local photography site....

[Mike Foschi]

Hey RW, you win, not long at all !
Musberger might be the worst racing announcer since Rick DuBruhl was doing F! a few years back......

Hey DA! How transparent is that!!! You owe me $20.00. Musberger was a good guy at Vegas when we opened that track.

[jim morgan]

Foschi,

You are once again banned for life. Musberger might be a good guy but he is one lousy sports announcer. Kind of like if you were a diet guru or I gave seminars on people skills or Finelli ran AA meetings..

[dc]

Was the yellow out when Wheldon passed Kimball?

[ric baribeault]

Jim.......now that's funny

Doug.....no

[Mike Foschi]

Foschi,

You are once again banned for life. Musberger might be a good guy but he is one lousy sports announcer. Kind of like if you were a diet guru or I gave seminars on people skills or Finelli ran AA meetings..

Jim,

I agree with you about the telecast. Most of it was the same old crappy story lines but the last 20 laps was without question the worst stuff I have ever sat though. The timing banner sucked, they had to keep the camera on Danika who they knew had to pit and then Baggett (?) who they knew had to pit then I think they lost track of where the Target cars were and where Weldon was. I do not know whos fault that is, it could be Mustidburger's but ????

For my money give me Bob Jenkins, Derick Daly, Calvin Fish and Brian Till.

Can I stay now Jim?

PS. I don't see anything wrong with your people skills.

[jim morgan]

Mike right on, can we now be new best friends

[Mike Foschi]

I've already been telling everyone that you are my best friend. I thought you knew. And Cole was going to be our love child that we adopted from the family on Deliverance.

[provamo]

The WORST thing that could happen to JR would be to finish second next year!

[Michael Edick]

I guess there's no need for having a caption contest for that photo of JR kneeling on the ground with his hands to his head and the Holmatro guy hovering over him...pretty much says it all.

Poor kid.

[ghoneycutt]

The WORST thing that could happen to JR would be to finish second next year!

There's got to be something worse than a podium finish at Indy.

[provamo]

There's got to be something worse than a podium finish at Indy.

YES......................being fired for doing it twice!

[Offcamber1]

YES......................being fired for doing it twice!

Bingo!