Montoya to shine?

[Valve Bounce]

Now that Pablo is on pole, I think he is going to go out with a bang - albeit not the same bang that Johnny Herbert will go out with next week. I think that if Montoya's car holds together, he will win decisively today.
I missed quals yesterday because the severe winds which followed the rain caused a power outage down where I am staying (Byron Bay) for the weekend. The power came back on just before dawn, so I will be able to watch Montoya in his CART Swan Song later. I think he will try to impress the world today to justify his position in the BMW Williams team next year.

[Liz]

Well, he has certainly gone out with a bang. Who it was that banged him I have not yet decided, but I have the feeling it was Paul ...

[Crash Test]

What a fantastic qualifying session...with 3 minutes to go after a red flag, everyone had two laps each...and both Montoya and Gil went qicker on each lap...I was down at the first chicane for the end of the session...and boy was Max trying!

[KC]

It looked as if Montoya was practicing his Michael Schumacher manuver from the starting line. maybe he is ready for F1.

[Crash Test]

Pure genius...and did you notice he left his stricken car in the middle of the track?

[Jay]

Maybe Gil was trying to knock Juan into Paul?

[Liz]

I don't think Gil was thinking at all. I blame the Red Mist.

[Crash Test]

I still think Juan moved over on him...

But the idiot move of the whole thing was Vasser into Franchitti...I watched the video again a few times and I have absolutely no idea what race he was watching...he full on rammed him, just as bad as Tracy got Papis...

[Liz]

Payback for Road America, was it? I wonder if he apologized?

I'd like to think Gil was not at fault in that pratfall. And of course all will be forgiven if he wins in Fontana!

[Nuvolari]

You may not believe this, Liz, but among my first thoughts after the shunt was how you must have been reacting! Did you heave a brick through the screen? Wail and fall to the floor in the fetal position? Down a shot of strong drink? Kick the dog?

A maddening, maddening incident -- for Gil-lovers and all of us who hoped to see some first-class dicing.

[Jared]

Without trying to sound like the "Me, too!" kid, what Liz's reaction was my second thought after the shunt. My first was "Oh my God, I was right!"

Just before the start, I said "I kinda hope that Montoya and de Ferran take each other out at the first corner." (so the title would be decided at Fontana) After the accident, my mum said "Quick, say "I hope Mom wins the lottery!'"

I'm really glad the race is going to Fontana for the decider. (I'm sure that Liz isn't too happy about it.)

[Liz]

I was here by myself and it was midnight, and I had just settled down to a wonderful race - and BLAMMMMMM! And I sat up and shrieked at the television, "GIL YOU IDIOT WHAT IN GOD'S NAME WAS THAT FOR?" and scared the cats out of a year's growth, no doubt... As he limped back to the pits and seemed to have the idea that the car could be fixed and he could somehow drag it back into the points, I just kept shaking my head...

By the time I finished downing the requisite medicinal dose of scotch and water, I was able to take consolation in the Andretti Comet coasting to a flaming stop.

But I knew, I have to say that I knew, that Gil could not win that race. He has a long, sad history of making sudden, stupid, bonehead lunges at crucial moments ... who is the only CART pilote ever to spin out of pole on a Parade Lap? Who is the one with half a lap to go at Vancouver to go flying down the escape road and into a tire wall, unprompted by anyone? Who went into the wall on a safety car lap? Who was the first retirement ever at the Texas Motor Speedway...having suddenly steered into the wall on about Lap 3?

Well at least if he doesn't win the Championship, Gil is going to go down in history as the answer to a shedload of Trivial Pursuit questions.

[Crash Test]

He has a long, sad history of making sudden, stupid, bonehead lunges at crucial moments ...

Liz: stop ragging the man, he'll read this and get depressed! IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT! Juan moved over on him, Gil held his line! Gil only had half a foot of track to work with, he had no chance! That is exactly what all of the local drivers told me during the week!

[Liz]

You know I adore Gil and desperately want him to win the championship ... but I am afraid to praise him too highly or he will have a hoodoo on him and stall on the grid.

And I'm glad everyone said it was not his fault. I really wanted to believe that.

[Crash Test]

If he stalls on the rolling start, you know that he is never ever going to win the championship....

[Liz]

Oh, I forgot one: Who was trying to adjust his fuel mixture and accidentally switched his car off during the race?

Stalling on the rolling start is about the only thing he has not done yet. That I remember.

[Valve Bounce]

I left hte room to gte a coffee thinking they were on some parade lap and would take a little longer to start when all the cars come to a halt, and Murray starts counting up the number of red lights, etc, etc. I was 12 seconds late in coming back, and there was this mess across the track. The carnage in this race was unbelievable. Let's hope Johnny Herbert doesn't go out with the same bang as this. AND poor Jason Bright - his Dad was saying how well he was going and bang!!! he's out.

[Crash Test]

All I need to do is quote you:

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

Let's hope Johnny Herbert doesn't go out with the same bang as this.

[Airhead]

Oh, I forgot one: Who was trying to adjust his fuel mixture and accidentally switched his car off during the race?

The same guy who had pulled out around 10 seconds on Andretti in 7 laps. The same guy who was then 21st after a pit stop who charged through the field to 5th before the next pit stop. The same guy who was shafted by another car at the chicane while fighting for a podium position.

Yes, not the complete package. But when he is on form, brilliant to watch.

[Liz]

I agree with all of the above. The fact that when he is on song he can be so blindingly fast and he can even get the pole and then crash upside down in the gravel and be calmer than all the people trying to get him out - or tell his crew after he spins on the parade lap, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," - is what makes it so hard to believe when something shorts out ... or when he spends an entire race running in eighth ...

Nevertheless he remains my favourite and I believe that he will bring it home.

[Airhead]

Um Liz, I think we are talking about different people. I'm still ranting into the wilderness about Paul Tracey. An appropriate thing to do. Not to worry I believe if there was a nice guy award that Gil would win every time out.

[Valve Bounce]

All I need to do is quote you:

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

Let's hope Johnny Herbert doesn't go out with the same bang as this.

Me and my big mouth. When Johnny's car broke, I felt really bad. That accident looked a lot worse and it was lucky Johnny only had a bruise.
Let's hope he does really well in his next race - when is it, Guys??nullHeck, I don't know how to use all these gizmos. Well, at least that works