Yahoo Autos Revved Up! Readers React to Week's Biggest Racing News, March. 16 Edition
It’s that time again, folks, for another episode of REVVED UP!! Are you ready?
Today, we cover the Rolex 24 penalty/fines/suspensions for Meyer Shank Racing, IMSA driver Jordan Taylor to fill in for Chase Elliott in the NASCAR race at COTA, former F1 champ Jenson Button to also make his NASCAR debut at COTA (as well as his thoughts about how the 2023 F1 season may play out), Chevrolet’s success in NASCAR thus far in 2023 and much more.
So without further adieu, let’s get REVVED UP!!
Rolex 24 Winners Meyer Shank Racing Hit With 200-Point Penalty, Stiff Fine, Suspension
Readers Say:
• mrw5001: Oh no not another deflategate!
• eskothomson: For all who think the punishment is lacking 'cuz they get to keep the win, what do you think will be more important to the team at the end of the season, the 200 points they lost, or the trophy they got to keep? 'Cuz everybody knows the season championship is awarded by the total combined weight of the trophies accumulated, and that Rolex 24 trophy is so big and heavy. Throw in the watches, and...
• Formaldehyde: Do you know the difference between intentionally cheating or not? It doesn’t matter how much of an advantage they received, which in this particular case is quite substantial. They also endangered all the drivers, corner workers, and even fans by running the pressures too low. HPD knew they cheated because they were monitoring the very same telemetry as the race team was. What you need to ask is why IMSA was trusting the teams to provide them critical information instead of collecting the data themselves.
• Lxsusrcks: Are you talking about the same Honda that backed Red Bull F1 during and after their 2021 F1 Championship cheating ($7 million fine).
• NREsq: If IMSA didn't want to award the win to a car that didn't cross the line first, then declare no winner this year. At least their reputation would be intact. Also, I love how M-S hangs it all on a low-level lackey. Either they're the worst managed team in the history of racing, or they simply looked the other way. NO CHANCE a low-level engineer gets oversight-free control of critical systems!
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: I totally agree with Eskothomson, that what happens at the beginning of the season means very little—in most cases—at the end of the season. Sure, Meyer Shank Racing gets to keep the trophy and the watches, but losing as many points as it did, I’d say its chances of rebounding to win the title are just about moot. Will the cheating then be worth it? No, not at all. I also agree with NREsq’s statement that IMSA should just declare no winner for this year (but definitely keep all the penalties in place!). To be honest, I know a lot of folks at M-S and I’m shocked, absolutely shocked that something like this happened to them. Maybe some other teams, yes, but I can’t believe M-S stooped this low. They’ve lost a lot of respect not just in IMSA, but IndyCar and other series, as well. And what’s more, was winning all that important that they threw away respect from fans and fellow competitors, and also placed a huge target on their backs each time any of their teams take to a race track? They are going to be under so much scrutiny and will be watched like a hawk. Was it all worth it? I say with an emphatic NO!
IMSA Star Jordan Taylor to get NASCAR Cup Start with Hendrick Motorsports
Readers say:
• new5990: Might have to break down and watch NASCAR with Jordan driving.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: Honestly, I’m looking forward to Jordan Taylor driving for Chase Elliott at COTA. I’ve always considered him one of the top talents in sports car racing, and now he’s getting an opportunity to show what he can do in a different type of race car on a road course. In fact, if he does well, I wouldn’t be surprised if some other teams keep their eyes on him and potentially offer him a ride in NASCAR going forward. If he gets a chance to jump full-time to NASCAR, he should take it.
F1 Champion Jenson Button to Make NASCAR Cup Debut at COTA
Readers Say:
• skaterjake: I seriously think he will give RWR their first Cup win.
• rth5023: Not so sure...
• danam0228: I look forward to seeing both of them (Button and Kimi Raikkonen) racing again. Both great talents. Loved watching Button as part of the Brawn team win the championship. Will be a lot of fun to see him race at LeMans in a Cup car.
• apexnut: Two accomplished, authentic and likeable racers enjoying their retirement American style...Should be fun to watch.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: Seeing Button and Raikkonen in this race is going to be one of the top storylines of the day, not to mention how each driver fares. Could one of them win, as skaterjake suggests? Honestly, if there’s ANY race track that evens out all the talent in NASCAR Cup, it’s a road course such as COTA. So, don’t be surprised if one or both of those drivers emerges with a top-10 finish … or potentially even a top-5. A win is really asking for a lot, but given their experience and talent, I wouldn’t be surprised, either. In fact, I’d love to see Kimi and Jenson battling it out for the win on the final lap, having a fender-banging fight to the checkered flag. That could go down in history as one of the top finishes ever in a NASCAR race – and neither driver will have been a NASCAR regular!
Chevrolet's Dominant Start to NASCAR Season Is Best Since 2001
Readers Say:
• dav1471: Congratulate the U.S. taxpayer, it was their money!
• jam6709: Don't worry NASCAR will fix it, like making the Chevrolet drivers run with one leg hanging out the passenger side window.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: jam6709, I’ll take your deal and raise you one: NASCAR should not just have one leg hanging out the passenger side window, but the driver’s body should be backward in the seat, so that he’s looking at all the traffic behind him, rather than what’s in front of him. Now THAT would be a way to even things up, for sure!
Jenson Button: Why 2023 F1 Championship ‘Won't Be Walk in the Park’ for Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Readers Say:
• FranklinCain: The cars and teams of today are much more alike, and spending caps have made F1 much harder to dominate-like when Mercedes dominated F1 for 7 straight years and could use their unlimited amounts of cash and production capabilities, R&D, engineering, 1,500 team members, superior pit crews, public relations to obliterate the competition. Today drivers are the key factors when everyone can be fast.
• Mydaddy: Many people are forgetting that Ferrari was so dominant in the opening rounds of the 2022 season, that everyone was predicting Leclerc and Ferrari running away with it. Ferrari could do no wrong as Max was dealing with DNFs and various gremlins on his RB. Ferrari was cruising until (Ferrari team principal) Binotto decided to outsmarted himself with repeated questionable strategy. It boiled over in Silverstone and Ferrari never recovered while RB just ran away with it.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: I couldn’t agree more with both Mydaddy and FranklinCain. As much as I respect his talent, not to mention the two straight championships he’s earned, I think 2023 is going to be a very difficult season for Mad Max, both overall as well as his attempt to three-peat. There’s just too many other talented drivers in the 20-driver field to essentially all but give Max the title this early in the season. And without sounding like a fanboy, I’m not totally sold on the belief some have that Lewis Hamilton is over and done with in his career. I think Hammy still has one, maybe two championships left in his wallet, with 2023 being one of those years. Reach out to me in December and let’s compare notes!
Move Over Las Vegas! Consultants Propose F1-Suitable Street Track in London
Readers Say:
• gro1231: The cars weren't designed for tight 90 degree turns. It’s 'Urban F1' now.
• RevDrRon: Just what we need. Another reason and place to waste natural resources to watch people go by you fast for a second as they travel in a circular path. What fun!
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: On the contrary, RevDrRon, I think this has the potential to be a really great race. I always like when different things are thrown into a race track layout, and this one shows great promise to me. The big thing, however, is whether F1, its team owners and drivers will all get onboard with this layout. Frankly, I think Las Vegas (and London, in this case, if it happens) and other street course races are going to be the next phase of F1’s future. Sure, there’s nothing like watching a race on a legendary race track, but there’s also a lot to be said about a street course race. That’s why events such as IndyCar’s events at places like Long Beach, Toronto and St. Petersburg are among the most popular races on the schedule. And also why NASCAR will host its first-ever street race in Chicago this July. I hope F1 gives this idea a great deal of consideration, because it will help “modernize” F1’s staid, old-fashioned philosophies of same old, same old.
Follow Autoweek contributor Jerry Bonkowski on Twitter @JerryBonkowski
