It was an unlucky day for National Guard sponsored cars, a day before honoring the men and women who have given their lives in the name of freedom.
It is appropriate to steal the line that Jim McKay would start each week on?ABC?s ?Wide World of Sports? to describe the biggest day of the auto racing category.
Both the Indianapolis 500 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway had finishes that people will remember for a long time.? In both races, the leader of the final lap, was not the winner of the race.
First in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, fuel strategy got rookie J.R. Hildebrand the lead.? He was just a straight-a-way from winning the biggest race of his career.
However, a rookie mistake, going high around slower traffic, caused the #4 Panther Racing team?s National Guard car to slam the wall.? For a moment it looked like Hildebrand could still manage to win.? Dan Wheldon, who finished 2nd in the Indianapolis 500?with Panther?Racing last year,?passed Hildebrand to win the centennial running of the famed race.
Fast forward to Charlotte, where once again, the race would come down to fuel mileage.? A late race caution, when 5-time consecutive defending champion Jimmie Johnson?s engine expired (and yes, Chad Knaus did say what you think he said), would extend the race.
Greg Biffle?was leading, but could not resist a splash of gas under the Coca-Cola 600?s final caution.? The final restart would have Kasey Kahne and fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. battling for the win.
After the green was displayed, Kahne?ran out of fuel, and it appeared Earnhardt Jr. would end his winless streak.? Earnhardt Jr. took the white flag.
But once again, it was turn 4.? Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel.? Kevin Harvick passed him to take the victory at Charlotte.
Wheldon?and Harvick?combined to lead 3 laps in their victories today (Wheldon?1, Harvick 2).? Hildebrand and Earnhardt Jr. are left to wonder what could have been.
While Earnhardt Jr. has won races in the past and appears to be close to returning to victory lane, it is much different for Hildebrand.
It is the biggest race in auto racing, the Indianapolis 500.? Drivers, no matter what series they run, dream of winning at Indianapolis.? The final turn of that race will stick with?and haunt Hildebrand for a long time.? How many times will anyone come that close to winning the sport?s biggest race.
At the end of the day, for Earnhardt Jr. and Hildebrand, they were given a chance to win on auto racing?s most exciting day.? That?s all any racecar driver can ever ask: a chance.
armenia msft bethenny ever after k2 aaliyah backpage burlington coat factory
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.