Was Tony's Pass on Danica "F-bombing Bullshit?"

Cue the dramatic music. If this continues, Tony's not going to get a rose from Danica at the Rose Ceremony! Admission: when Sarah Fisher went high into the wall at Iowa and she thought Alex Lloyd put her up there, she said "That's what you get for pinning someone high going into a corner. I don't know why the F-bomb he did that. Totally unprofessional."

The ladies are busting off! Witness below. Was it "payback" for the alleged chop at Texas? Danistar apparently thinks so. I'd have to agree -- that it was payback, not necessarily that it was f-bombing bullshit. (Props to "spoiler" on TrackForm for making me hip to this video. Join/eyeball that discussion here. I am "homeslice" on TrackForum.) This kind of explains why Danica didn't trot down to say "AWESOME JOB!" to Tony for winning at Iowa.

Recall that Tony did not trot over to Danica to say "AWESOME JOB" when she got P2 in Texas either. In fact, he said "people want to get second and act like it's a win." BAM. We got ourselves some rivals ... on the same TEAM. Breathe into a bag!

For the record, I remain un-aghast that two drivers would war on the track, complete with playing-chicken moves and f-bombing references. This ain't croquet. The heat of the battle is very high. Foul language in racing?  Noooooooooo. THE HORROR. Don't expect drivers to come on their radios saying "I'd like to express grave concern over the unnecessary closeness of that overtaking maneuver." As long as we don't have cars intentionally hitting cars or other life-endangering stuff, let 'em play.

Comments

[Roy Hobbson]

I don't know why, but I like Danica MORE now. And I like TK. And I like this "rivalry," if there is one. What's NOT to like?

(Oh, and in the name of full disclosure, I'm also currently drinking vast quantities of coffee mixed w/ opium. Delightful mix, that.)

[pressdog]

Dear Cousin Roy: I agree! This actually endears Danica to me. Seriously. And I once pumped gas with Tony in Ontario, CA. Seriously again. Pass the flask. Sincerely, pressdog.

[jp]

Sarah wasn"t the only person with an axe to grind with Alex Lloyd Sunday, Sato got high and into the marbles while trying to deal with Alex also. It's not that he is doing illegal stuff, he is simply taking wide enough lines that passing him takes becomes a test of attachments and reults are dependent upon how recently marbles were swept.
For years Hornish was the master at this kind of cagey driving. The difference, Sam was doing this as people were trying to race for position, not pass him as a backmarker, insert reference to Long Beach here as well. I like Alex and I hope that both he and the people who spot for him and coach him from the box start doing a better job recognizing the circumstances of the moment.

[Mike]

I checked out that message board thread and there were some great points made. A big one to me is the fact that TK is the team leader and has always done what is asked of him, especially when it comes to driving every car to get base setups because he has supposedly PROFESSIONAL drivers on his team that can't. And all Danica (and Marco sometimes) does is crap on him. I'd be a little frustrated and sick of it too.

Plus, as you've said pressdog, these are intense, highly competitive people. I mean, in an intense moment in our lives we may say something is "f-bombing bullshit" so why are we surprised when we hear something like that from them?

[Brian McKay]

I might've thought that Whanica was remarking that Ernesto was so close that he surprised her while she was looking far down the track, embarrassed that Tony passed her as if she were idling. But I'm wrong? Seconds after TK passed her, she had to remark that TK had been too close for her comfort for a hundredth of a second?! Princess will be closer to big, scary NAPCAR billboards for much longer this weekend.

[The Speedgeek]

As for the folks in my section (OK, just me and my brother), we were watching that happen real time at the track. I thought Danica turned in a bit early on TK (not cool, if you're doing that to your de facto team leader, you're a lap down, and he's fighting for a win). Everybody else (OK, just my brother) thought TK dive bombed her. Eye of the beholder. Tough call.

Anyway, I like this stuff. Until it gets to the point of slap boxing in pit row (and even sometimes after that), I think it's good for the sport. God forbid we get some extra stuff to talk about.

[Savage Henry]

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that this new testiness is a result of the level of competition improving. For the last few years, I think everyone was happy to play by Marquis de Queensbury rules because it was too hard to pass and everyone knew who was going to win anyway. I think some drivers started to go a little soft. With the new aero package and better drivers in the series (hopefully?) the competition is getting more intense. Thus the f-bombs, the thinly veiled threats, and the more aggressive driving lines. I also think that TK's drive through the field at Indy woke something up in him an he has elevated his game since then.

So we've had years of Olympic boxing, which is technically sound but kind of boring, but may be graduating into MMA, which is much more exciting. That would be very good for the sport.