what did you think of the begining of the IRL season in 06?

Question

Do you think it was a good idea that Bobby Rahal pulled Danica PAtrick and Buddy Rice out of the race?

Answer 1

Bad idea. I know Rahal meant well, but that decision was way too sentimental. I forget the name of the young driver who died, but I do remember he died while perfecting the car and putting it up front. To pull out after that work and effort was a tremendous waste. I'm sure the young driver would have agonized had he known he indirectly took his teammates out of the race as well, by trying so hard, perhaps too hard, to put the team up front.

Sentiment on Rahal's part and niceness on Letterman's part does not make a winning combination. They probably thought it would be easier on their drivers, both being young and one being a girl. In truth, their drivers needed to race to overcome this tradgedy, and the team needed it also. A tremendous letdown, first to lose a teammate, and then to forfeit the race and start the season from behind. They let the situation stew even more until the next race where they would start in even worse shape. I mean that is okay if you are there for fun and games, but it was their job to overcome this. Racing is a serious sport and business, in which the participants devote and risk their lives and life fortunes.

As team leader, Rahal should have thought more of their sponsors, their drivers, of the team, and of the great effort that had already been made. He should have rallied the team to victory. Instead the team was pulled out to lick its wounds. To me that shows the team was broken from that point on. Unforgivable. Understandable and respectable, but nonetheless unforgivable.

http://www.hoedlshaven.com/JPEGREFLECT/StrengthUndefeated.jpg

Answer 2

It was a great idea, and kudos to the team and the sponsors for doing it. Rahal said in an interview that there was no doubt in his mind that it was the right decision and when the main sponsor insisted on it, it was a done deal.

Simtek did a similar move at the 1993 San Marino Grand prix, after Roland Ratzenberger was killed during qualifying, they pulled David Brabham from the race in the memory of Ratzenberger

Answer 3

Pulling Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice from that race was the honourable thing to do after the tragic accident in the warm-up that killed Paul Dana.
There is a precedent for withdrawing from a race when a team mate is killed; when Francois Cevert was killed during practice for the 1978 U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, N.Y., his Tyrrell team mate, Jackie Stewart, withdrew from the race, and then retired from Formula One racing.Chris Amon also withdrew from that race.

Answer 4

yes it was for the respect of the death of one of their fallen teammates,, killed at the track,,,, during practice,,

it would be like saying if your uncle died in your house,, would you still go bowling on sunday rather than to his funeral