Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

Andretti defends NASCAR's decision

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John Andretti defended NASCAR's decision not to throw a caution when he couldn't move his disabled car from the finish line at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Andretti crashed on the frontstretch during the next to lap of the race, and NASCAR apparently believed he could move his car out of the way in time for the field to race its way across the finish line. Because he couldn't, the caution wasn't called until the cars were coming out of the final turn and quickly closing in on Andretti. "It wasn't a bad call," Andretti said in a statement on Monday. "To me, I wasn't in a great position, but I wasn't in an overly dangerous position. NASCAR focuses on the race itself, and they want to see the winner come across the finish line. "It's probably the call I would've made. I would've gotten out of the way if I could've. But I had a couple of issues. The car was too damaged."

Associated Press

John Andretti, AP John Andretti, AP
October 27, 2009  07:14 AM ET

Isn't this the second time this year they have done this. I remember this happening to the 44 car just a few races ago. Nascar always talks safety, this didn't look to safe to me.

October 27, 2009  07:16 AM ET

The correct quote was "I would've gotten out of the way if I could've. But I had a couple of issues. I'm a cr.appy driver."

NASCAR didn't throw the flag because they thought Johnson was going to catch up to Hamlin and they didn't want to hurt Jimmie's chance of winning. Again.

October 27, 2009  08:28 AM ET

NASCAR Was Waiting On Jimmie To Pass Denny!

October 27, 2009  08:32 AM ET

It is almost like Nascar makes these split second decisions and thinks the fans won't catch it.

To Nascar, you did that, no I didn't, yes you did, no I didn't, yes you did, no I didn't.

October 27, 2009  09:15 AM ET

What is he wiping off his shoe ?

October 27, 2009  09:17 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

What is he wiping off his shoe ?

Squashed Green M & Ms'.

October 27, 2009  09:41 AM ET

Possibly someone spilled a little Amp as they bounced off the wall.

October 27, 2009  09:47 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

NASCAR Was Waiting On Jimmie To Pass Denny!

so true

October 27, 2009  09:55 AM ET

Squashed Green M & M, POO! LOL

October 27, 2009  09:56 AM ET

NASCAR, I have a word I want you to look up in the dictionary....

Consistency

Learn it and try to apply it to your rules. Amazing how cars can spin and keep going and you throw a yellow, but a car can spin and stop on the track, or be upside down like in Daytona a couple of years ago, and you keep it green.

October 27, 2009  10:14 AM ET

NASCAR is losing fans because of all this stupid stuff going on. Might as well field 43 Hendrick cars, then all will be OK in NASCAR world.

October 27, 2009  10:24 AM ET

Nascar is damned if the race dosnt finish under green - and damned if they call a caution.....they cant win and we would **** with either result.

October 27, 2009  10:52 AM ET

If they're gonna do crap like that, and forget about that "safety stuff", they may as well go back to the unsafe cars and have some "racin"!

October 27, 2009  11:02 AM ET

Problem is, we can set here and get real upset with their decision but nothing will become of it.
What driver, drivers will come forward and chastise Nascar for their actions this time?

October 27, 2009  01:10 PM ET

Here is a simple solution to handle these type of problems. Two rule changes.

Get rid of the idiotic rule they have that the race will finish under cuation if the cuation flag comes out after the leaders takes the white flag. If the caution comes out at any time after the white flag, but prior to the leader taking the checkered flag the races will finish under a green white checkered finish.

Also, get rid of the rule limiting the green white checkered finishes to one attempt.

The only way the race should end under caution is if the indicent has occurred after the leaders finish the race, but prior to the rest of the field finishing. At that point the caution only affects those who finishes behind the leader and doesn't affect the race winner.

October 27, 2009  01:12 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

NASCAR, I have a word I want you to look up in the dictionary....ConsistencyLearn it and try to apply it to your rules. Amazing how cars can spin and keep going and you throw a yellow, but a car can spin and stop on the track, or be upside down like in Daytona a couple of years ago, and you keep it green.

Do you mean what should be a caution flag on the first lap, should also be a caution flag on the last lap. What an idea.

October 27, 2009  01:24 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Here is a simple solution to handle these type of problems. Two rule changes. Get rid of the idiotic rule they have that the race will finish under cuation if the cuation flag comes out after the leaders takes the white flag. If the caution comes out at any time after the white flag, but prior to the leader taking the checkered flag the races will finish under a green white checkered finish. Also, get rid of the rule limiting the green white checkered finishes to one attempt. The only way the race should end under caution is if the indicent has occurred after the leaders finish the race, but prior to the rest of the field finishing. At that point the caution only affects those who finishes behind the leader and doesn't affect the race winner.

Last lap, car spins, and is setting on the track and vulnerable to be slammed by any of 43 drivers, caution goes out, saving a life or really bad wreck.
NO BRAINIER!

October 27, 2009  01:47 PM ET

Not a Smoke fan but a year or 2 ago he said Nascar was like WWE, and u know what? He was right. They preach and preach about safety then turn their back on it in the name of having a great finish. I honestly think Nascar thought Jimmy had a chance win and didnt want mess it up. Bullsh*t if u ask me.

October 27, 2009  04:41 PM ET
QUOTE(#18):

Not a Smoke fan but a year or 2 ago he said Nascar was like WWE, and u know what? He was right. They preach and preach about safety then turn their back on it in the name of having a great finish. I honestly think Nascar thought Jimmy had a chance win and didnt want mess it up. Bullsh*t if u ask me.

I guessing they will say that, "The car wrecked and setting on the track in the front stretch was in the only blind spot on the track and no one knew it was setting there" therefore we deny any responsibility as to who won or would have won the race had us known it was there.
In adding, Jimmy finished 2nd, we did what we could to arrange the win.

Nascar, You are ****.

 
October 27, 2009  04:55 PM ET
QUOTE(#18):

Not a Smoke fan but a year or 2 ago he said Nascar was like WWE, and u know what? He was right. They preach and preach about safety then turn their back on it in the name of having a great finish. I honestly think Nascar thought Jimmy had a chance win and didnt want mess it up. Bullsh*t if u ask me.

Smoke was spot on.. it IS a travelling (pardon the pun) Road Show/circus. think about it.. set up in one town, entertain the crowd, tear down, set up in new town, repeat. The management sets all the rules for better competition (read: Entertainment value) and tweeks these rules to attempt to maximize the entertainment value, at will.

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