A.J. Foyt continues to recover from his triple bypass surgery and subsequent
complications at home in Houston. Foyt has been more active since his first
return to his IndyCar Series race shop in mid-January.
“I’m doing a lot better; every day I’m
doing a little bit more,” Foyt said. “I’m getting more of my strength back and
I’m eating a better than I was when this first happened. I feel with all of the
problems I had I’m looking pretty good.
"I’ve been on my bulldozer a couple
times. Nothing to brag about, I was very weak and very tired but I have done
some stuff with it. I probably should keep that quiet because I’m not sure the
doctor would enjoy hearing that.”
Foyt, who has lost 50 pounds over the winter,
does not expect to make it to a race before May as his current treatment keeps
him tied to Houston, but he hasn’t ruled out a day trip.
“I may sneak out to a
test where I can come and go in the same day. But that’s a call I’ll make based
on how I feel that day. I think the new cars look pretty nice," he said. "The engineers are
going to have their hands full with all of the trick stuff they came up with on
the new aero kit. I’m anxious to hear the feedback from testing.”
Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Patricia Driscoll disagrees with Kurt Busch Chase waiver; intent on "seeking full justice"
Statement from Patricia Driscoll regarding NASCAR's lifting of indefinite suspension of Kurt Busch:
"Even though Kurt remains on indefinite probation under this decision, I’m deeply concerned about the message NASCAR is sending by letting him compete for the championship after he was found by a judge to have committed an act of domestic violence. But I am gratified, at least, that NASCAR’s decision comes with the mandatory condition that he follow through on the treatment he so clearly needs. My work with the Armed Forces Foundation on veteran treatment courts has made me a strong believer in the rehabilitation process. But it has also taught me that rehabilitation takes time and can only come after you’ve taken full responsibility for your actions. Though this continues to be a difficult time for me, I remain committed to standing up for my integrity and seeking full justice."
"Even though Kurt remains on indefinite probation under this decision, I’m deeply concerned about the message NASCAR is sending by letting him compete for the championship after he was found by a judge to have committed an act of domestic violence. But I am gratified, at least, that NASCAR’s decision comes with the mandatory condition that he follow through on the treatment he so clearly needs. My work with the Armed Forces Foundation on veteran treatment courts has made me a strong believer in the rehabilitation process. But it has also taught me that rehabilitation takes time and can only come after you’ve taken full responsibility for your actions. Though this continues to be a difficult time for me, I remain committed to standing up for my integrity and seeking full justice."
Chevrolet statement regarding NASCAR driver Kurt Busch
JIM CAMPBELL, Chevrolet vice president of
Performance Vehicles and Motorsports
“Now that Kurt Busch has
been reinstated by NASCAR and is able to fulfill his obligations associated with
our agreement, we have lifted our suspension and will continue to monitor the
situation.”
Monday, March 9, 2015
Joey Logano: 'I did a good job of screwing up anytime I could'
Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano had one of the few cars that could keep up with race winner Kevin Harvick early-on during Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but by the end of the race he and his No. 22 Team Penske team had fallen out of contention, in part due to a pair of pit road speeding penalties.
Logano finished 10th and led 47 laps - the second-most of any driver. But he was none-too-easy on himself for Sunday's result.
Logano finished 10th and led 47 laps - the second-most of any driver. But he was none-too-easy on himself for Sunday's result.
"That
was a poorly executed race on my behalf. I didn’t do a good job. I did a good
job of screwing up anytime I could," Logano said after the race. "The speeding on pit road – I found that. I
put us in a hole. Not that we were going to win the race either way because we
weren’t fast enough but I maybe cost us two or three positions with what I did.
"I don’t know. We have some work to do. I have work to do with myself first and
then we have work to do with the car, too.”
Saturday, March 7, 2015
What Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney said about their on-track incident Saturday
On a restart on Lap 172 of 200 in Saturday's Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones were racing in the top-five for position when Blaney appeared to get loose and got into Jones' No. 18 Toyota.
Jones then got loose and looked like he would save the car before it took an abrupt right and into the wall, which was not protected by SAFER barriers.
Here is what Jones told Fox Sports 1 after emerging from the infield care center:
“The 22 (Blaney) just lost it. Obviously not a lot of car control on his end today. Really unfortunate to be taken out that late. Had a strong car, one that I thought could have contended with the 33 (Austin Dillon) for the win," Jones said. "Wish we could have brought them home a better finish. It doesn't take away from our day. We ran up front. Led laps. Had a fast car. The finishes will come. It's a shame that it had to end the way it did.”
Jones then got loose and looked like he would save the car before it took an abrupt right and into the wall, which was not protected by SAFER barriers.
Here is what Jones told Fox Sports 1 after emerging from the infield care center:
“The 22 (Blaney) just lost it. Obviously not a lot of car control on his end today. Really unfortunate to be taken out that late. Had a strong car, one that I thought could have contended with the 33 (Austin Dillon) for the win," Jones said. "Wish we could have brought them home a better finish. It doesn't take away from our day. We ran up front. Led laps. Had a fast car. The finishes will come. It's a shame that it had to end the way it did.”
After the race, Blaney - who finished second to Dillon - immediately apologized to his crew and expressed regret for the incident.
“Yeah, I mean it is a racing incident but you never want to see a wrecked race car and you be a part of it. I know it is a racing deal and you just hate to be in that position," he said. "That is the worst spot to be in, pinned down on the bottom and have someone right on your door. It happens but I don’t like getting into things with people and I hate to see a race car torn up. I hate to see it. I hope he knows I feel bad about it. We have to move on eventually. We will try to do that before tomorrow.”
Friday, March 6, 2015
Brad Keselowski's crew chief on why the No. 2 team got pulled from the qualifying grid
Right before the start of Round 1 of Friday's Sprint Cup Series group qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR officials removed Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford from the starting grid and sent it back through inspection.
An inspector noticed a team member pulling out the fender around the right-rear tire on Keselowski's car. NASCAR announced in the offseason teams would not be allowed to alter side skirts or fenders once cars cleared inspection and reported to the grid.
"They just wanted to see it pushed in a little bit. I'm not sure (if it was changed)," said Keselowski's crew chief, Paul Wolfe. "The officials were out on the grid after the guys got through inspection to make sure guys don't have their skirts out too far.
"They didn't like how wide ours was and we had to come back (through inspection) and push it in and then get on our way."
Asked if he was expecting any penalties, Wolfe said, "No, I'm not expecting any."
Keselowski was able to re-pass inspection and still had time to participate in qualifying. He will start 11th Sunday.
An inspector noticed a team member pulling out the fender around the right-rear tire on Keselowski's car. NASCAR announced in the offseason teams would not be allowed to alter side skirts or fenders once cars cleared inspection and reported to the grid.
"They just wanted to see it pushed in a little bit. I'm not sure (if it was changed)," said Keselowski's crew chief, Paul Wolfe. "The officials were out on the grid after the guys got through inspection to make sure guys don't have their skirts out too far.
"They didn't like how wide ours was and we had to come back (through inspection) and push it in and then get on our way."
Asked if he was expecting any penalties, Wolfe said, "No, I'm not expecting any."
Keselowski was able to re-pass inspection and still had time to participate in qualifying. He will start 11th Sunday.
Gordon to meet next week with NASCAR over track safety
Four-time Sprint Cup series champion Jeff Gordon said he has a planned
meeting with NASCAR officials next week in Charlotte to discuss the sport’s safety
measures, including the progress on expanding the use of energy-absorbing SAFER
barriers at tracks.
“I just reached out to them to discuss some things, that being
one of them,” Gordon said. “They have been sharing a lot of information with
drivers, a lot more than in the past.”
Gordon's meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the research and development center in Concord, N.C.
Gordon's meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the research and development center in Concord, N.C.
Gordon, an outspoken advocate for the use of SAFER barriers at
all tracks, was involved in a wreck in last Sunday’s race at Atlanta
Motor Speedway and slammed into a wall not
covered by protective barriers.
Cup driver Kyle Busch remains sidelined this season after
suffering a broken leg and foot in the season-opening Xfinity Series race at Daytona after hitting an
unprotected interior track wall.
After that race, NASCAR officials vowed to review each track to determine whether additional safety measures can be undertaken. Atlanta brought in additional tire barriers last weekend and Phoenix plans to do the same next weekend.
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