At just 24, Greg Moore was a shining star, both on and off the track. Extremely gifted, mature beyond his years, and well liked and respected by everyone in the paddock… the surface had barely been scratched on his potential.

Just weeks before his tragic death, he had announced that he had signed with Penske Racing for the following season. One can only wistfully imagine what he would have accomplished in the years ahead…

In this day and age where drivers & teams make headlines for cheating, and petulant tantrums, and litigation, and mug shots, it makes looking back on what happened and what might have been an even more bitter pill to swallow.

Always composed, always gracious, always smiling.
Gone in an instant. Remembered forever.

Tony DiZinno wrote a great piece on Greg this week, please take a moment to give it a read: link

For those that are not aware of who Greg was and why he leaves such a lasting legacy for someone who left us at such a young age, the following collection of videos will enlighten you…

*EDIT* sadly someone saw fit to remove the videos from YouTube recently. Heartless bastards.

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 1

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 2

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 3

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 4

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 5

Greg Moore: A Racer’s Story Part 6

The heartbreaking crash and live broadcast announcement

ESPN tribute on the day of the accident

Awesome tribute with tons of race footage

Ok, so we’re 10 laps in. I’ll catch you up. Red car, red car, red car… driving around in circles. There, you’re caught up.

Seems an odd time to be running a race. For some reason I thought this was a night race, so I was off enjoying a lovely fall day at the market in preparation for Thanksgiving (yes, we canucks celebrate it this weekend) Just made it home on time.

Lap 17: ooooh… FROchitti washes up and drops like a stone to 3rd, allowing Briscoe to get by for 2nd. Dixon leads.

LOL… oh Bob… Danica hasn’t run the Blue/black livery since before Indy. Pay attention dude.

Lap 23: much discussion about Danica wasting her overtake button pushes.

commercial (lets see what the radio guys are talking about… oh suprise… Danica…)

Lap 33: back. talking about pit stops, which may or may not be coming up. . L

Lap 44: pit stops have begun.

hmmmm… my feed got all wack and delayed.

Lap 54: Briscoe and Dixon are battling up front, Dario about 4 car lengths behind.

commercial

Field is now lapped up to 8th position. :shakes head:

Lap 62? Parko is sitting on pitlane. Brakes are smoking like mad. oops, strike that, they’re on fire. Thanks for coming out. See you in 2010.

Lap 68: Briscoe is now in the lead, and traversing through traffic. Come on Ryan!!!

oooh! someone is “working the tools” DRINK!

(for those that care, the beer of the race, other than myself, har har, is Ephemere)

oh Bob… so much excitement for Dixon lapping Helio… *snicker* “Oh Bob” is my drinking game today fyi

Lap 84/200: Briscoe is lapping the field left right and centre, and very very high. Probably a little too high for hte captain’s liking.

I’m snacking on prosciutto and figs… too fancy for race day?

Lap 97: Briscoe and Dixon both on pitlane. Briscoe out first.

Dario stays out a couple of more laps then comes in.

Lap 101: Briscoe retains the lead. Ok… must find someone good at stats to break it down for me.

Apparently Versus is putting in as many commercials as they can today. *switches to radio* hey did you know Justin Wilson is in this race?

Lap 108: Dixon back out front. Nice battle up front. Dixon is on rails since the last pitstop.

Lap 112: Dixon pulling away bigtime.

Lap 118: Do, Dixxy and Briscoe will likely have to pit again. Dashley may not have to… hmmm…

Lap 124: Briscoe blows by Dixon! Sweet!! atta boy!

Lap 132: Rooting for Ryan. Come on kiddo! get those bonus points!

Lap 144: Briscoe and Dixon on pitlane. Briscoe out first again!

Lap 147: much talk of Dashley and fuel strategy.

Lap 148: Oh Bob! *drinks* way to jinx the race dude!

*side note* being set up in the kitchen is convenient for refills… just sayin…

OH! LOL! Danica and Wheldon the rematch! Panther crew releases Danny boy into the path of the Princess and spins her around on pitlane.

Danica’s day is probably done.

Holy blinding glare coming down pitlane. Again I reiterate, what a stupid time to have a race.

Lap: 161/200: 39 to go….

Lap 167/200: Briscoe now has the laps lead bonus. But Dashley is toiling around 18 seconds behind saving fuel like a bandit. Great. A fuel strategy win/championship coming up. Gross.
I’d rather see drivers go balls to the wall and win it on the track and on merit.

I wonder how Dixon feels to have been sacrificed in favour of Dashley.

Dixon and Dashley both have to pit

Well there ya go. This just sums up the season. Red. Predictable. Fuel saving. Maybe next year the focus will be on racing.

Well howdy do kids! Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Meesh. I used to be a racing blogger. No really…

*sigh* Life happens eh?

Anyway, I’ve been working since 8:30am this morning. Started in the office, then off to shoot a wedding. Just got dropped off back at the office cause it would take to long to get home and I would miss stuff… (ya, I’m that dedicated) (ok, not really, it’s just that the computer is bigger and the signal is better at the office, and if I go home, my tired eyes would have to deal with a 12 inch screen and shitty wireless)

ok… sorry distracted there… nothing says pre-race like watching a Moraes adjust his nut sack… no seriously. Total close up of him crunching his kibbles and bits up before getting in the car. They all do it. I usually turn away and drop my camera down at the track so they don’t think I’m being pervy… LOL!

Engines started… cars on track… moments away from starting…
I wish I was more excited.
No really. I feel so far removed from everything right now.

What the fuck? The stands are empty.

Here we go! Green green Green!!

wow… Dixon shot out of a canon. Moraes couldn’t find the the gas peddle. FROchitti got around for second.

Parko up 7 positions from the start.
Barrett dead fucking last :mocks surprise:

Lap 8. wow… I’m bored already.

ooh… pass for 8th! With a little “weehoo!” from the booth for good measure.

*commercial* I think I’ll nap

back…

Briscoe is pitstoplimiterless apparently, which could come into play during pit stops. (duh)
Carpenter is going the wrong way. (down 7 notches from the start)
Kanaan had a weird bobble.
Wheldon inhales the Princess, on camera no less. My viewing is enhanced! LOL!

*commercial*

30/200 done.
Rahal is now stalking the Princess. Why do these cars look so slow?
Wheldon is moving in on Briscoe. My “Briscoe for 2009 champion” fantasy is not looking good this weekend.

woah! Wheldon gets alongside and NO. Briscoe slams the door! Now he’s dropped like a stone.
Speaking of dropping like a stone… Doornbos 22nd… ick.

BWAHAHAHAHA! The Princess has used 10 of her 20 push to protect blasts. That can’t bode well.

Lap 47, Pit stops starting. Moraes in. Bad stop. Fairytale race going to hell in a handbasket.

Justin Wilson gets some air time!

serious clusterfuckage on pit road. Dixon gets stuck in a slow parade of pitstoppers. Franchitti gets in an extra lap.

ooooh… the Ganasty boys are actually racing each other. Making it interesting. Franchitti has the advantage, but Dixon ain’t gonna make it easy on him.

word just came through that Moraes only got a half load of fuel. Insult to injury there as he also lost 3 spots on that stop.

*commercial* (both tv and radio… gah! I hate when they do that!)

back.. 64/200 (thankfully this is blowing by fast.. which means I’ll be heading home to bed soon…)

wow… ed… not having a good run. Bring back the yellow car!!

Yasukawa is -14laps… “brake issues”. Thanks for coming out.

74/200 complete. I’m fading. This is agonizingly boring.
Moraes back in for more fuel. Lights em up bigtime leaving the pits.

everyone is mentioning “caution free” racing, which means debris (real or imagined) in 3…2…

Sheckter out of the car. thanks for coming out.
Matsuura has a huge “moment”. Manages not turn the car into spare parts. He is however a moving chicane.
Speaking of chicanes, Carpenter is NOT having a good race. Practically stopped on track a minute ago.

96/200…. put me out of my misery. *resists urge to lay head on desk just to rest my eyes…*

102/200… many pit stops happening. So far all good. Oh, and Dixon is back out in the lead.

Briscoe making huge fuel. Ran a bunch of laps more than the leaders.
CAUTION!
Did he just get fubared?? NO, he made it to the line before the caution! Woot!!
NO. What the fuck!? Total brain fade on the exit. Pulled a Will Power (Surfers 08) Threw it away all on his own. Drove almost nose first into the wall at pit out. Picked up the Timing Cone in the process.

Drive through to look for damage. Looks ok despite hard hit. Cone wedged in the suspension however.

oh ya, Conway was the one that stuffed it to bring out the caution. :mocks surprise:
Hope that kid doesn’t pay for crash damage…. just sayin…

*commercial*

Briscoe is back in the pits. now several laps down, watching the crew frantically replace the right front of the car, while the laps tick off, and the championship fades from sight… (I do love how the crew are scrambling, despite the odds)

118/200 GREEN GREEN GREEN!

124/200 – Rahal on the button to get around the Princess for 6th.
Briscoe back on track as the rest of the field blows by…

130/200 – The brats are racing each other. Princess down to 9th now behind Parko.

Briscoe on pitlane … again… Double checking that the car is safe to drive at full song. Off and away again.

Rahal is pushing to pass his way through the field… Moraes is riding his coat tails and coming along for the ride.

144/200 – I’m seriously so tired I could cry….

153/200 – back from commercial. Still tired. Still bored. Still can’t believe Briscoe’s luck. (although on the replay, it does look like something was off on that car. Like something broke or stuck. Not your usual “squiggle” action)

Final pits in action… welllllllllllllll…. the Ganasty boys are in together for the first time this race. This could get interesting! “mano e mano”

YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW!

RHR hard into the wall. Messy but he’s ok. Out under his own steam.

Dixon wins the pitlane battle, continues to lead (and earn bonus points)

Great… VERSUS is now doing Napcar coverage… This is like SPEED and ESPN all over again…

I’m thirty laps from getting to go home and go to bed. (of course the commute will take for fucking ever… )

See… so tired, totally missed the restart. Thankfully for me, they fucked it up, and are having to do it again.

173/200 – GREEN GREEN GREEN!

lots of scrambling.

Servia working the button! Rahal, Servia, & Moraes keeping it interesting behind the leaders who are already at the bar having cocktails. (ok, not really, but they might as well)

181/200 – drive faster! I’m tired damnit!

*commercial*

*bathroom break (can’t hold it any longer)*

back…

6 laps to go… thank god. Of course the Subway shuts down soon, which means all night streetcar to go home…

2 to go… put us out of our misery…

Dixon wins! :mocks surprise:
Franchitti second! :woooo! *yawn*:
Rahal third! *meh*

Briscoe plummets to 3rd in standings. The championship will be decided in Homestead.

Rahal admits that they had no radio for the race, but kept it “hush hush”. Does he think no one of any importance will be watching/listening to his post race interview?

aww bless… poor Briscoe. Good attitude though.

ok… I’m shutting down. I have a brutal commute home on the streetcar with all the drunk Friday night party goers, and I’ve now put in a 17hr day. I’m toast.

more tomorrow… night all

I was going to post a lengthy, stream of consciousness blog about all sorts of topics tonight, that at this moment seem trivial and unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

I learned tonight, as I was winding down for bed, that friend, colleague & fellow racing enthusiast Steve Snoddy had passed. Steve was one of the hard working, longtime IndyCar series staff photographers.

*side note* how odd this world is now that you learn of the death of a friend via someone’s Facebook status…

I guess it’s stretching it to call him a friend, but aquaintance just seems so distant & impersonal, and we were anything but.

Steve was the first of the IndyCar staff to embrace me (literally & figuratively) as I made the transition into “their” world last year.

I was the new kid on the block, and an even newer kid on the block when it came to photography.

Steve took me under his wing right off the bat and is the one who came to my rescue when my CF card spazzed out and my raceday photos disappeared.

While everyone else just shrugged their shoulders with a “you’re screwed” attitude, Steve took the time and set aside what he was doing to calm me down and “find” my files for me, burning them to a disc on the spot. Months later, at another race, he double-checked that the disc had worked before deleting the folder from his computer.

Steve was usually the first of the series photogs I would see, and he would always greet me with kind words, a big grin & a bigger bear hug. Always gracious & a gentleman, but with that devilish glint in his eye. We shared many a story and belly laugh in our journeys.

It’s somehow fitting that the last event I worked with him at was the same one where we first met a year earlier. So brief a time to know someone, and yet I am deeply saddened by his passing.

I’m sad that we never got to have that dinner I owed him. That he never got to show me his home track and that I wasn’t able to welcome him to mine.

I guess they needed someone to capture those photo finishes at the ultimate racetrack in the great beyond. (Oh how richly overcrowded with talent the field is up there…)

Goodbye my friend… You will be missed.

Happy Sunday kids! Time to get up from your nap to have another nap while watching the SNOREnoma Grand Prix. Although Will Power and Nelson Philippe will tell you this weekend has been anything but boring… *more on that later*

I had another post that I uploaded and then forgot to go live… :rolleyes: I guess I’ll go back and edit that and see if there is anything worth even posting.

I’ve reached maximum velocity this summer as far as my time, patience, skillset is concerned. I’ve been working for a month straight now, between my 9-5 day job (or 8:30 – 6…7pm… “depending on the day” job), the wedding photographer gig, (we are in our busy season now) and the waning part of the racing season. I work and sleep, and when I can find the time and opportunity, I eat in there somewhere. I was going to fly to Chicago next weekend, but have opted to cover the junior open wheel formulas arriving in my hometown instead, and watching Chicago via computer.

Just a handful of races to go and a uber tight points battle which will likely go right to the final checkered flag. Our newest writer over at OWW did a little points battle scenario article last week, if you haven’t done so already, give it a look-see…

So… here we are, Snorenoma… The last of the road courses. The last of the opportunities for anyone other than a red car to make some noise. I would have put my money on Will Power but he is sitting in a hospital right now concussed, tooth chipped and back broken, somewhere down the hall from the equally concussed with two busted up legs Nelson Philippe. Frightening looking crash, which believe it or not could have been so much worse had either E.J or Will hit a few inches either way. My heart breaks for both of them. This is not the way for anyone to end the season, but especially for these two who’s future season (2010) is now in jeopardy. I wish them both a speedy recovery. According to IMS radio, Nelson could be released later today, while Will is still undergoing some tests and being fitted with a back brace.

What else is in the news.. ah yes, Danica. Not unlike any other race weekend, it’s been all about the Princess this weekend. Apparently she is staying put. And staying at AGR. (what is it with the AGR drivers using Ganassi as a bargaining tool?) Apparently she thinks just as highly of Kevin Savoree as I do (I just choked a little at the fact that Danica and I share a commonality…) (besides being bitches… ) and with him stepping away from the running of the team, she has decided (allegedly) to stick around.

ok… going to make sure all of my windows are working…

water-bottle filled, coffee hot and sugary, ass cams loaded. (ok, they are only ass-cams when the drivers get in their cars on the grid, but still… it’s a fun viewing moment) Timing and scoring loaded. I’ve got Justin Wilson, Robert Doornbos, Oriol Servia and Dario FROchitti as my incar choices.

START YOUR ENGINES! (nice job Stacy somebody who plays basketball I think)

Viewing enhancements so far, E.J’s snake putting the squeeze on Jack Arute, much to E.J’s amusement.

Installation laps have begun… clean safe race boys and gals! It’s been a weird weekend in my world so far, so I could use some “happy” today.

Wow… lined up nicely. Good job kids!

Green Green Green!!
Yellow Yellow Yellow!!

Holy Clusterfuck batman!

Andretti into Rahal, into Patrick?
Dixon into Kanaan, into Viso

Servia manages to thread the needle and miss everyone, as does Mario Moraes.

commercial for repairs.

*did you hear how dejected Arute sounded when reporting that Danica was in for repairs… LOL!…*

Rahal toast. Thanks for coming out. (not from crash damage, but rather he broke his drive shaft)

EJ behind the wall. (unlucky bastard)
Dixon manages somehow not to go down a lap, despite sitting limp in the middle of the track for an eternity, and is not dead fucking last (lucky bastard)

Restart on Lap 3. Briscoe all over Franchitti like a fat kid on a smartee.

Lap 7, Wilson in for sticker reds, and running his own little off-sequence race. (not like he has anything to lose at this point)

*commercial*

Montagny complaining about the car. replaced the nose cone, but something still not right.

Doornbos chrome horns Hunter-Reay

Notice how humble and calm Rahal becomes when it’s “his” mistake that takes him out of the race?

Mutoh bringing the heat on Helio… Go get him Hideki!!

*commercial – Lap 13*

Mutoh takes a peek. Nope.
Moraes takes a peek on Wheldon. Yes! gets it done for P5 (picked up 7 spots on lap 1)

Back on Lap 15.

nothing really happened… I caught up on twitter….

*commercial Lap 18*

Two by Two battles according to timing and scoring: Mutoh on Helio, RHR on BobbyD, Antinucci on Matos, Conway on Carpenter, Montagny on Dixon

Back from commercial Lap 21

Everytime I see Montagny’s car, I think I’m watching the Lights race… (he is all over Dixon btw)

*another commerical Lap 23* (thankfully I’m watching a nonstop feed so I dont’ see any of them)

Mutoh keeps poking his nose in there, but can’t get it done on Twinkletoes.

Back from commercial Lap 23, Dixon in for pitstop and alternates. That’s one way to get the other drivers off your ass.

Andretti the Least in as well for fuel and alternates.

Ooooh, almost collects Dixon on his outlap! dang. that was close.

Wheldon in Lap 26th.

Rahal getting strapped into his car again on lap 27 to get back in the race. (oh btw… EJ’s car is unrepairable, so he will not be back in the race today)

eeek… lots of close calls on pitlane.

RHR sticks his nose in where it doesn’t belong, and gets it taken off by Oriol Servia. Comes in for a new nose and back out.

I’m so confused by all of these pit stops! Ahhhh!!

Holy battle between Wilson and Dixon on Wilson’s outlap. Antinucci got him as well.

I’ll wait until T&S cycles through to see where everyone is…

The Princess is getting inhaled by everyone, ON camera! woot! Thanks for coming out.

back from commercial Lap 34…

This has actually been an interesting race. These kids are feeling racy out there today. (lots of button bushing me thinks)

Kanaan just got around Doornbos for 10th. (on camera no less!)

Dixon takes a look on BobbyD, but can’t get it done!

LOL! Ganassi “not paying attention to the 9″ nice.

Castroneves is all over Briscoe. Apparently there are no team orders to help push his teammate closer to the championship….

*commercial Lap 38* (halfway point)

I’ve decided, definitively, that I don’t like Castroneves.

oops… we came back a while ago… playing on twitter again.

Montagny and Antinucci made contact on lap 41, Montagny into the pits on lap 44. (left suspension damage)

*commercial Lap 45*
Franchitti still out front, with Briscoe and Castroneves but a whisper behind.

Mutoh & Moraes still holding their own battling 4th & 5th

Twinkletoes is going to take Briscoe out. I can feel it in my gut…

We are on lap 49 now… much off roading and locking up throughout the field.

Moraes locks it up through the runoff, Kanaan locks it up, goes off roading in turn 9 and loses several positions.

Wilson bringing the heat on Matos. Matos hit’s the button too funny.

Final pit stops happening.

Nice! Wilson gets around Castroneves, clean. Kanaan on the other hand does not make the clean pass and gets into Twinkletoes, who now has damage… or not… hard to tell.

*commercial Lap 56*

Franchitti got in and out very quickly. Pulled off a 6 second lead but now Briscoe is reeling him back in very quickly.

Mutoh reeling in Castroneves again.

Back from commercial lap 59…

Franchitti out front with 17 to go. Briscoe only a second and a bit back, Twinkletoes not a factor 9 secs back, but Mutoh just made mincemeat of him! Sweet pass!

So, there is a huge chunk of debris on track… no yellow… someone hints at debris at other races, and we have 10 laps of yellow… Race control is weird!

Moraes around Twinkletoes now! Woot!
so glad I have two feeds going! I’m seeing all the passes that Versus is missing until later… LOL!

*commercial lap 64, with 13 to go*

Conway now on the hunt on the ass end of the injured Castroneves

back with 10 to go.
Wilson is stalking Servia now for 7th. (great drive by him today after starting dead fucking last)

Twinkletoes is beached in the middle of nowhere land and Hunter-Reay is dead stick on the track.

Full course caution

Castroneves right front suspension problems, went for a hard bumpy right. Day’s done. Thanks for coming out.
Hunter-Reay’s engine just died. Caput. Day done. Thanks for coming out.

*back from commercial, still yellow*
6 to go…

Gonna be a 5 lap shoot out.
Green next time by
The 5 cars behind the leaders have nothing to lose, so look for insanity on the restart!! (Mutoh, Moraes, Conway, Servia, Wilson)

Franchitti shot from a cannon, Briscoe had no chance. Everyone else on the button, and dicing.

Dixon has decided to get racy all of a sudden.

Conway around Moraes, around Mutoh! Moraes around Mutoh! Wilson does some drifting, stalling, burnouts! sweet!

who cares about the leaders! There is some racing going on behind them!

Conway no more juice in his button! This could be bad news for him!
Maybe not, Moraes isn’t anywhere close!

Wow, Conway on the podium!

Dixon runs out of talent and drops to 14th on the last lap! ooooh… strike that… Andretti the Least ran out of talent and spun Dixon. Suckage there.

Boy Howdy! That was a fun race! Glad I watched.

Ok… off to write this puppy up.

Hello kids! It’s race day! While the skies opened here in Toronto, dropping hail, water, thunder and lightening in biblical proportions, the weather is much more pleasant in Mid-Ohio. Light winds but 20 degrees warmer than yesterday, sunny and good crowd.

It is pre-race time, so the radio folk are making the rounds. I’m finishing up some other stuff and making sure I’m all set for race day… be back in a bit.

I must say, nothing puts a smile on my face quicker than hearing a PT pre-race interview!

Alright… let’s start these cars and get some racing done!

Cars fired! Installation laps in progress. Have Versus on one screen and the leader cam on another. Great overhead shot! Crowd looks amazing.

Ugh… Jack is back on Versus. Trying way too hard as usual.

Here we go…. lining up for the start.

that is not a good start at all!! WTF! Dixon was all voer the ass of the leaders, not even remotely lined up .

Briscoe out front, Wilson holds off

TK goes for a drive through the country on the tail end of lap one in the key hole. Oops. Dropping him to the back of the field. Not the start he was hoping for.

Wilson all over the ass of Briscoe on Lap 2. Used the button but couldn’t get it done.

Wilson gets around Briscoe for the lead on lap 6 in Turn 11 and pulls the fuck away baby! Holy crap! Look at him go!

Lap 7: Conway, Antinucci andKanaan all pit for tires and fuel. Conway and Antinucci go for the reds

Lap 8 – Wilson is already 3 seconds ahead! Zoinks! Could we see a second Dale Coyne Victory in one season?!?!

Dixon smells blood in the water and is on the hunt for Briscoe, followed closely by Franchitti.

They are pretty spread out at this point. Though Franchitti is all over Dixon, PT is gaining on Viso, Matos is all over Patrick.

Lap 13: Wilson is about to Lap Milka Duno for the first time of many this afternoon I’m sure.

Lap 15: It’s a parade past Duno. See ya, See ya, See ya, See ya!

I love that the leader cam is actually following Briscoe…

Lap 18: commercial (love that I don’t actually see them!! nothing but action baby) *unmutes radio feed* Damn, they’re on commercial too…

Wilson is now 5.2 seconds ahead of the next pack with 8 complete.

Wilson around Duno again as we come back from commercial… LOL

Briscoe and Dixon get around the Milka-hazard, followed by the rest of that lead pack.

They are predicting pit stops to start in about 2/3 laps.

Reports from the track say that Carpenter is all over the back of Doornbos… ?!!?

Pit stops have begun.
Servia in and out on lap 23

The princess looks to be next. Reds off, blacks on, in and out clean.

LOL! the princess hits the button to hold off TK whah whah whah… that backfired.

Lap 27. Wilson now 7.4 seconds ahead as the pit window opens.

*stomach in knots…* PT all over the back of E.J. Good thing they changed the camera shot as the pass happened

Lap 28, Wilson in and out clean.

Lap 30, Briscoe and Franchitti in together. This oughta be good!

Sweeet! Wilson blows by Briscoe on his out lap!! (Briscoe got out before Dario btw)

Dixon in the pits Lap 32…. Get’s back out, again Wilson blows by, but manages to come out in second ahead of Briscoe & Franchitti.

Lap 33, everyone on commercial.

Replay of the pit stops of PT and Viso: nice burnouts and drag race off pit road.

Lap 35: Wilson unable to pull out the same lead on Dixon as he did on Briscoe. In fact Dixon is all over Wilson’s ass as they approach the Milka-hazard.

Lap 36: Dixon takes advantage of the traffic and gets around Wilson, but still gets stuck behind Duno for a bit.

Lap 40: Castroneves loses his ass end and spins off into the kitty litter in Turn 9 bringing out the FCY (why??) even though he keeps it going and gets back on track quickly and unassisted.

Well I guess this will set up for some potential passing on the restart.

Lap 41: pits are open… Castroneves, Andretti, Carpenter and Wheldon pit.

Lap 42: Green Green Green!

Status quo at the front. Franchitti tries to get by Briscoe, can’t make it stick, then Rahal gets the better of him.

FYI, PT is up to 7th.

Oooopsie….Yellows bread Yellow theory tested yet again…. Conway comes in way too hot down the inside and punts the Princess into the kitty litter. She, unlike her teammate is unable to keep it fired and moving and requires the assistance of the safety crew to get back in action.

Lap 45: Pits are open, but no one in so far.

Geesh, I’m getting motion sickness from the incar cameras as the drivers warm their tires… :vomit:

Lap 48: Green Green Green!

No overtaking, but Conway gets a drive thru for avoidable contact.

Bobby D bringin da heat on TK for 12th.

Marco gets a lot wiiiiiiiiiiide but keeps it pointed in the right direction.

Lap 52: commercial.

Lap 55: 30 to go, Dixon, Wilson, Briscoe, Rahal, Franchitti top five.

Lap 56: Matos in, Castroneves in, and I think Servia is in.

Lap 59: PT in and out clean on reds.

Lap 60: Rahal in for final stop and scuffed reds. Followed by Wheldon (who is not exactly setting the world on fire this season)

Lap 63: Wilson on fumes coming into the pits. OH man!! stalled in the pits!! 30 second stop. Burn… That was not good. Threw away at least a podium, possibly the win. Plummets to 15th.

Dixon in and out cleanly and back in the lead by over 8 seconds over second place Andretti… (?!!?!?)

Lap 65: 20 laps to go, Dixon out front by a bazillion seconds.

Barring an airstrike (™pressdog) a red cars will win, place and show. Thanks for coming out.

*sidenote* apparently PT and team decided that today wasn’t the time or place for him to battle with “PT like” fervor, considering the circumstances of his ride…

Lap 71: Rahal goes off in T2 but manages to get back on track, but is inhaled by Tracy. Drops from 5th to 8th.

and YET AGAIN, we are robbed of an on camera pass by PT. oh, but we get a minute and a half of the princess’ feet… Come ON VERSUS! gimme a fucking break…

Lap 75: 10 to go, Dixon by almost 10 seconds (ya, lets just say he’s gonna win this thing)

There is a battle for second between Briscoe & Franchitti who are within a second of each other, and Hunter-Reay & Mutoh who are also in a battle for 4th. From the T&S it looks like there may be a battle for 7th with Tracy & Rahal.

5 to go, status quo… now, if Briscoe & Franchitti and RHR & Mutoh take each other out, PT on the podium!! (LOL! stranger things have happened…. )

Dixon wins. Goes for a shower and a smoke while we wait for the rest of the podium to finish.

PT comes across a clean and honourable 7th in honour of Mario.

ok… off to write this up. back to chat in a bit.

I picked the wrong $^%#! weekend to NOT be in attendance this season.

Bobby D is back with HVM, with a new attitude and probably an “I’ll show them” fire in his belly!

Cookie Boy is back in the driver’s seat at NHL. He’ll play “nice” with the boy wonder until they get on track then will be all, “see ya sucker, I’m auditioning for a seat, all bets are off!”

PT is en route as we speak from Cleveland to fill in for the absent Mario Moraes.

Yes, you heard me… PT, in the #5 car, on a track he knows like the back of his hand… with Push to Pass!!!

WHY OH WHY DO I HAVE TO WORK ON SATURDAY?!?!

*where are those fucking paper bags…*

for real life.

I want to take a moment before the rush of the race weekend takes hold, to send my heartfelt condolences to Mario Moraes tonight as there are whispers swirling that his father has lost his hard fought battle with cancer.

Though nothing has been officially confirmed, I’ve babelfished enough articles and tweets to piece together that if it hasn’t as yet happened, it is very close to happening. There are also unconfirmed rumors that Paul will be called in to drive for the weekend.

That is neither here nor there.
This post isn’t about racing.

Strip away the Jonas Brothers hair, big sunglasses and piss and vinegar fiery Latino attitude, and you will find a young boy, who when not at the track doing what he loves most in this world, has been spending every spare moment this year holding vigil at his father’s bedside, saying goodbye to what he loves even more in this world.

I had a quiet moment with Mario in Toronto to talk with him about it, and give him a hug and empathize with his journey.

See when I was a little younger than he, I spent half a year at the beside of my mother while she fought the good fight against the evil “big C”

Like Mario & his dad, I spent every minute I could in the hospital with her, and joked and took pictures and talked and cherished every moment, knowing the endgame was just around the corner, but making every minute count.

Unlike Mario my “day job” was high school. I wasn’t participating in the high stakes, higher pressure, grown up world of professional auto racing.

I commend Mario for having the… the… cajones to take all of this on, so maturely and with so much courage.

I plead with those closest to him, in particular his fellow countrymen drivers, to be there for him in whatever capacity he needs when he gets back in the game.

Most importantly I ask them, and everyone, to be there for him in the capacity he doesn’t think or know he needs.

He is young, he is cocky, and he will be hurting, and lost, and terrified of a world without the guidance and companionship of his father. But he will put on a brave face, and say he is ok.

Let him, for that is what we who experience loss at such a young age do.
If he want’s to talk, let him talk. If he just wants to leave it be, respect his wishes.

But be there for him when he stumbles and make sure he has a safe place to grieve when the time comes.

I’m not a religious person, but I know Mario is, so in his and his father’s honour, I will say a little prayer for them before I go to sleep tonight.

Perhaps you all could do the same for our young friend.

Edit: official confirmation just landed in my inbox. My heart just broke a little more…

So, there could be a bit of a fork in the road leading to Mid-O and the inheritance of #6 seat.
That’s right! The chase is apparently on baby!

Option 1: (most popularly speculated) Cookie Boy (Servia) is apparently under contract to AGR (remember that whole “driver consultant” thingy??). Many believe this is a precursor to a fulltime seat in 2010, so him jumping over to a “competitor” might not be prudent at this juncture.

Option 2: PT is out riding motorcycles in the desert somewhere (dayum! Someone get a smoke signal to him stat!!)

Option 3: Speedy Dan is headed this way from England, helmet in hand, could we see the debut of Dastardly Dan!?! (damn, why am I NOT going this weekend??)

Option 4: Someone throws a bag of money at Seabass and flies him over.

Will definitely be an interesting couple of days for sure!

So… Nelson “I drive Green” Philippe has been officially confirmed at Conquest for a couple of races this season.

I can tell you now that Nelson was already penciled in for the end of the season at Conquest in a second car. No surprise at all considering the history. Not to mention, Nelson spent a lot of time hanging out with the Conquest gang in Indianapolis. And well, who doesn’t like Nelson?! He is awesome with a capital A.

Here’s the line that stood out the most to me from the quotes though:

“We are looking forward to working with Nelson to go racing fulltime in 2010.”

Remember those burning bridges I spoke of earlier? This one appears to be nothing but embers now…

Alex who?

Oh, and completely unrelated, but funny as hell, twitter conversation from earlier:

@grahamrahal: Just want everyone to know that all GR merchandise will be for sale at mid-ohio this weekend so make sure and grab some!

@IndyTrackside: @GrahamRahal Do you know where I can get any Doornbos stuff?

Me whilst reading along… *spittake* then snorted rootbeer thru my nose!!! Ouch! (but totally worth it)