|
|||||||||||||||
The CASCAR Super SeriesMacDonald-Cadieux at the Molson Indy
The sixth race on the Cascar Super Series was held at one of Canada’s premiere racing venues, The Toronto Molson Indy. The attendance for the two days was recorded to be over 100,000 people. As prestigious as this event is, several additional CASCAR teams were entered for a total of 42 cars with 38 starting positions. My Weather Network Chevy started 26th on the grid and ran as high as 11th place, unfortunately with three laps to go I ended up finishing 21st. Cascar teams received a half-hour practice Friday and a half-hour qualifying Saturday morning. Both sessions were red flagged due to accidents cutting both sessions short of the allotted half-hour segments. In practice, I was 24th fastest. I knew I had more and the Weather Network Monte Carlo also had more. For qualifying, the crew made a few changes and I went two seconds faster, but most of the field did as well, placing me back two positions to 26th. Street courses are notorious for major accidents. If one car gets out of shape, it tends to block the entire track, causing even bigger incidents. Being patient and staying out of trouble can put you towards the front. The race didn’t start as planned. During the warm up laps one car quit and had to be towed back to the pits. The Weather Network car came through corners 8-9-10 onto the front straight with several cars passing by, however I was not concerned about the cars passing me, I knew there would be a big pile up on the front as everyone checked up. We just about piled into each other a few laps prior, when CASCAR didn’t give the green flag. And Cascar did not give the one to go sign.
I worked my way up to the eleventh spot. My eyes were set on the other Rookie competing in the series. Soon I spotted that red car and started to real him in. We were running tenth and eleventh. He had some body damage on his car and was a bit slower through the corners. I tried to pass him several times, staying right on his bumper. Into turn one I went to the inside, but he chopped me and I had to hit the brakes hard, locking up the wheels to avoid slamming into his door. I kept trying to get around him as he drove a very protective line. Going into corner two on the following lap, I tried once again to get around him, he shot to the inside to block again, I was carrying a ton of speed to get around him on the outside and unfortunately got into some loose rubber and around I went. Another car hit me causing some minimal cosmetic damage. By the time I was back on track, several cars passed me. As I came by the start finish line, the flagman indicated only one lap to go. I was disappointed to finish in the 21st spot.
My crew, the officials and many other people felt different. They said I drove a great race and they were proud of me. If I didn’t try to get around him, then they would have been upset. The true racer sacrifices what is easy, for what is a challenge. Always trying to get one more position. Finishing 21st did not hurt my points much, standing 16th at the mid way mark and 2nd for Rookie of the Year. Next race is St. Eusatahe July 28.
|
|||||||||||||||
To
Distant Thunder front page