Helio gets his penalty

[MillsLayne]

First of all, I'm not mad at the fine and probation. He had that coming after the race was over and his emotions got the best of him. What I AM mad about, however, is the fact that he never "blocked" anybody! He took a low line into the corner, which made him slide up a little bit through the middle to turn 2, which honestly, what's wrong with that!? Is the sanctioning body going to tell these guys which lines to take on the tracks now!? That's not racing anymore, that's slot car racing, and it's crap, no matter how it's worded.

 

[Frigus5]

First of all, I'm not mad at the fine and probation. He had that coming after the race was over and his emotions got the best of him. What I AM mad about, however, is the fact that he never "blocked" anybody! He took a low line into the corner, which made him slide up a little bit through the middle to turn 2, which honestly, what's wrong with that!? Is the sanctioning body going to tell these guys which lines to take on the tracks now!? That's not racing anymore, that's slot car racing, and it's crap, no matter how it's worded.

Please read my quote again. No one is listening.

It sorta WAS blocking.

 

[MillsLayne]

I did read your quote, Frig, and I understand exactly what you are saying. What I was asking (angrily, I know), is the sanctioning body going to outline exactly which line these are supposed to take now? It doesn't make any sense. At all.

 

[Frigus5]

I did read your quote, Frig, and I understand exactly what you are saying. What I was asking (angrily, I know), is the sanctioning body going to outline exactly which line these are supposed to take now? It doesn't make any sense. At all.

There is a curvy groove on the straight there. I believe that's where the IRL wants single file racing to take place one. That groove. I think that if Helio had taken that groove instead of going to the inside, and had Power went further to the outside it would have been fair, but since he was lower and out of the designated groove, he moved up to get into the corner, cutting off some of Power's run and effectively cost him the race.

Hopefully that clears some stuff up.

 

[dalejrgamer]

No matter what you say, Frigus, that rule is completely retarded.

 

[Fisha695]

Here is the thing, in the drivers meeting the Racing Surface was defined... He went outside the racing surface. No different the straight lining the bus-stop at the Glen or using the Legends oval to enter/exit pit-road at a track that has them.

He was off the racing surface and he should be held responsible for it.

Hell at least the IRL did something that NASCAR can't do... and that is actually enforce their rules.

 

[brt3]

If you have the faster car, race them and keep the position. If they have a run coming, don't risk an accident by trying to keep the lead. It is very dangerous to block in open wheel.

But that's the job they signed up for. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but the name of the game is RACING, not time trials. The fastest car doesn't always win.

The difference between a good driver and a great driver is usually how far they push the edge.

 

[MillsLayne]

Here is the thing, in the drivers meeting the Racing Surface was defined... He went outside the racing surface. No different the straight lining the bus-stop at the Glen or using the Legends oval to enter/exit pit-road at a track that has them.

He was off the racing surface and he should be held responsible for it.

Hell at least the IRL did something that NASCAR can't do... and that is actually enforce their rules.

If that's considered off the racing surface, then they need to put some cones up or a temporary wall or tire barrier or something so it's absolutely clearly defined. I saw a groove on the track, but what I didn't see was anything CLEARLY ruling where Helio was OUT OF BOUNDS, thus the ruling and the rule overall is crap and Helio got robbed. Just too bad a driver like Vitor Meira wasn't behind Helio instead of Scott Dixon (my Jimmie Johnson of Indy).

 

[curtis_doucette]

If that's considered off the racing surface, then they need to put some cones up or a temporary wall or tire barrier or something so it's absolutely clearly defined. I saw a groove on the track, but what I didn't see was anything CLEARLY ruling where Helio was OUT OF BOUNDS, thus the ruling and the rule overall is crap and Helio got robbed.

total agreement that if they said he was out of bounds there should've been a temporary barrier there to show the line

 

[Fisha695]

If that's considered off the racing surface, then they need to put some cones up or a temporary wall or tire barrier or something so it's absolutely clearly defined. I saw a groove on the track, but what I didn't see was anything CLEARLY ruling where Helio was OUT OF BOUNDS

It is clearly defined, it's the center of the runway which is marked with big white lines.

6ft wide (not counting arrowhead width)
95ft long (including arrowhead)
100ft spacing between them (not really that much)
Yellow line between the 2nd & Third arrows.

Is that not clearly defined enough? You have to be on the left side of those huge white arrows till the end of the 3rd arrow where you turn in for the turn.

It's not like it was one little painted dash on the track, it's a series of three huge white lines that you have to be on the other side of.

 

[curtis_doucette]

If you look at that area of the track though, it is marked with cones as a straightaway, but they are saying that you are suppose to drive it like an S-turn. If that is the case then why mark it with cones as a straight instead of how they want them to take it. That would make alot more sense so that everyone knows where he went would be out of bounds.

That's how I see it when watching the replays of it.

 

[Fisha695]

If you look at that area of the track though, it is marked with cones as a straightaway, but they are saying that you are suppose to drive it like an S-turn. If that is the case then why mark it with cones as a straight instead of how they want them to take it. That would make alot more sense so that everyone knows where he went would be out of bounds.

That's how I see it when watching the replays of it.

In road racing when placed in groups like that the universal meaning of cones is to indicate the braking/turning zone. 4, 3, 2, 1... A lot of times Cones are used & sometimes number boards are used, when number boards are used sometimes they do a regular countdown & sometimes they count down the distance in feet or meters. Most roadies have them for almost every turn and a lot of ovals are adding them as well.

 

[MillsLayne]

I see what you're saying Fisha, but it's still pretty nitpicky and the call made was very subjective. Plus, this is why having courses that use things like runways for parts of the track and street courses in general can be problematic. At an actual racetrack, these things don't need to be defined as specifically because the tracks are usually the same width throughout the course with out of bounds defined by grass, sandtraps, cones, temp walls, tire barriers, etc. Not white arrows on the course that might not be that easy to see when sitting that low in an Indy car.

 

[Scar7752]

The cameras went to him and ESPN/ABC decided to put it on air, not an interview. He shouldnt be penalized for it.

 

[taz1458]

The cameras went to him and ESPN/ABC decided to put it on air, not an interview. He shouldnt be penalized for it.

I'm about 95% sure he is getting the fine & probation from grabbing the official and not obeying the black flag. Has nothing to do with the f bombs he dropped.

 

[Fisha695]

The cameras went to him and ESPN/ABC decided to put it on air, not an interview. He shouldnt be penalized for it.

These guys aren't idiots they are well aware of the fact that there may always be a live mic/camera on you during race weekend and you should behave as if there is.

 

[dalejrgamer]

On top of that, it was Versus. Because it's on Versus, nobody cares.

Much of the fine is for not serving the drive-through and confronting an IRL official, anyway.

 

[taz1458]

On top of that, it was Versus. Because it's on Versus, nobody cares.

Much of the fine is for not serving the drive-through and confronting an IRL official, anyway.

Exactly. Versus is cable, and I'm pretty sure the FCC don't care about that.

 

[John Gregorio]

Exactly. Versus is cable, and I'm pretty sure the FCC don't care about that.

Well if it means anything, I've seen uncensored boobs on Comedy Central.

 

[Fisha695]

On top of that, it was Versus. Because it's on Versus, nobody cares.

Much of the fine is for not serving the drive-through and confronting an IRL official, anyway.

Exactly. Versus is cable, and I'm pretty sure the FCC don't care about that.

Well if it means anything, I've seen uncensored boobs on Comedy Central.

As I stated on the first page the 8th post...

Versus is Cable they can curse as much as they want with no fines what so ever.

The only channels you get in trouble for cursing on are...

ABC
CBS
NBC
FOX
CW
MyNetwork

Everything else is cable and the FCC can't fine/regulate cursing/nudity.