Where was his spotter? Or his crew chief ? Or does Dale Jr just do these things on purpose,I mean it seems to happen all the time-just stupid mistakes
2007-03-13 14:45:32 · 22 answers · asked by ? 4 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Lack of focus from everyone.
2007-03-13 18:00:13 · answer #1 · answered by rwhz199 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He admitted that he wasn't paying close attention. He said that when he saw Jeff Burton go into the pits that he just followed him. Steve Hmiel (his spotter) and Tony Eury Jr (his Crew Chief) kept yelling at him not to pit but he wasn't listening.
Another thing about that, is that the sun was making it hard for them to see the red light that tells them that the pit road is closed, when they look at the red light...all they see is the glare from the sun.
Also...Dale Jr does not do these things on purpose. He just makes goofy mistakes and he more than admits that. Unlike some drivers...Dale Jr will admit when he does something wrong.
2007-03-14 09:58:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He said that he was following Jeff Burton and didn't even look at the light. Jeff Burton was a lead lap car ahead of him, and JB is very careful and makes few mistakes. So, Jr just followed him into the pits with out even looking at the light. What Jr DIDN'T know was that JB was having problems. Both his spottor and Tony Jr should have been on it as well. There is no one person to blame, because any of the three should have caught it (actually ALL of them should have caught it). It was a very stupid mistake that was easily preventable. If he misses the chase by a few points, they can look back at Vegas where they lost easy points.
2007-03-13 16:16:36 · answer #3 · answered by jaynarie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Junior and the crew were discussing what changes to make when they pit. It was late in the race and his mind was in race mode. The team as a whole was not paying attention and when Jr. saw Jeff Burton pit, he followed him. His spotter (Steve Hmiel) did tell him to stay out, but it was right as he was at the committment cone. If you watch the replay, Carl Edwards was following them in too, until he saw the pits were closed. He had enough time to pull back onto the track. Dale Jr and Tony Jr did "discuss" paying more attention to deals like this and agreed it was a team mistake. Hmiel and Tony Eury Jr. did discuss lobbying to NASCAR to get the restart before 10 to go, but one of them replied back to the other (I can't remember which one) that they were already going back to green then.
2007-03-14 11:38:28 · answer #4 · answered by Will 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jr said himself that he just screwed up. He didn't blame it on the glare or anything else. For that I respect him. I think that the spotter and Eury Jr should share in the blame as well for not communicating what the situation was but it was ultimately Jr's fault for blindly following Burton and not looking at the light at all.
2007-03-15 04:35:05 · answer #5 · answered by Tregosteevo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jr. was talking to his crew about what he was wanting done when he was going into the pits and did not allow his spotter or Tony, Jr. a chance to let him know that the red light was flashing, meaning "Stay out", he did apologize to his crew.
2007-03-14 04:39:13 · answer #6 · answered by Sherry B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from the in car camera it did not look like he would have had to much trouble seeing the light so the spotter should have made sure he let him know pit row was closed it was a mistake by JR that he or his spotter should have prevented by JR paying attention and better communication by his spotter so blame both in this case
2007-03-13 16:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by Billy S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There may be a lot of excuses voiced, but it really comes down to a bad team effort. From the crew chief to the spotter to the driver, all share the blame for a monumental error. I agree, for what is supposed to be a top team, DEI makes too many mistakes.
2007-03-13 15:15:55 · answer #8 · answered by cottagstan 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well... every time (EVERYTIME) a caution comes out pit road is closed. Sometimes it takes a second, but it gets closed fairly quick. He thought he could beat it. Turns out he didnt (by a long shot).
The penalty was "tail end of the longest line." Dale Jr. is favored heavily by NASCAR (and he knows it) because the caution was very quick and the green flag droped with 11 laps to go. If there are 10 laps or less then everyone lines up single file and poor Jr is at the WAY back.
But as I said earlier NASCAR loves their Jr. So they QUICKLY pulled the pace car offed and dropped the caution and put out the green.
Can I say that with 100% certainty that Nascar did that on purpse, no; However, Dale Jr. does catch a lot of "lucky breaks"
2007-03-13 15:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by fbgav 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I'm tired of people making excuses for Junior. Oh, poor junior, the glare was bad and he couldn't see the red light, or, his spotter should have let him know...blah blah blah. Why then, was he the ONLY car to follow Buton into the pits? Every driver knows that the pits are not open on the first lap by. JUNIOR is the one, and only one to blame.
2007-03-14 13:17:45 · answer #10 · answered by saq428 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Crew chief talks to Jr., Jr. says what needs to be changed, no-one hears spotter (or spotter doesn't see light) Jr. doesn't see red light, Chief see's light, waves Jr off..Jr continues in his own mind what needs to be changed...follows JB into pit lane......whoops!
Thattttt'''''sssssss racing!
2007-03-13 17:37:35 · answer #11 · answered by hey you 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋