Was the incident on pit road Tony Stewart or Paul Menard's fault?

Question

I was reading this article talking about how upset Stewart's team was at Menards for the crash on pit road Saturday. I saw it different and was curious what everyone else saw.
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/10/15/tstewart.gzipadelli.upset.lowes/index.html

Not interested in bashing either driver just your perspective please :)

I uagree the spotters are to blame. Stewart's or Menard's?

Stewart's totally blaming Menard's team.

I agree the spotters are to blame. Stewart's or Menard's?

Stewart's totally blaming Menard's team.

Steve,
You are right. What was I thinking??

Answer 1

I didn't think you were new to watching NASCAR Patty. Everybody knows it's NEVER Smoke's fault when anything that he's involved with happens LOL

Answer 2

This is the 2nd time they have gotten together on pit road in the last few weekends. This past Saturday night @ Charlotte seemed a lot like Stewarts spotters fault, but that #20 team never takes blame for anything that they do so...

I guess it was Menards fault, because Stewart said so!

Answer 3

Its the crew chief's responsibility to tell let their driver know of the other cars around them on pit road. With the headrest on the seats drivers cant see out the side. The 20 team should have been aware of the cars pitting around them, and either Zippy or the spotter should have said the 15 was coming. And Menard's crew chief should have kept an eye on the 20 to let Paul know that Stewart was about to exit his pit stall.

Answer 4

http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2007/10/13/cup.low.three.nascar/frameset.exclude.html?MostPopular

...There is one thing for sure that when someone is on the inside looking out they don't always see everything. Also in the heat of the moment people tend to try and pass blame on someone else. (Talking about them)

...What they are not seeing is the timing of the whole situation. When Paul came in the timing made the conditions favorable for disaster. That is what happened.

...Not only did Tony and Paul make contact but also Tony and Kasey Kahne made contact immediately afterward. So did both of them conspire to take out Tony? I think not.

...Now someone said that the spotter should have maybe warned Stewart but I don't think he had time because all Tony was pitting for was a gas and go. In fact I think that as far as the contact with Kasey - Stewart should have been able to see Kasey because Kasey was actually in front of Stewart at maybe a 30% or 45% angle of window view. But reviewing the in car video shows that it happened too fast.

...To sum it up in my opinion it was just a timing thing. Three cars were pitting at the wrong times. Nobody's fault and no reason for anybody to be mad at anyone else.

Racing Deal !

Answer 5

I would lay most of the blame on the 20 team. They took only gas no tires so they were in and out quick. It is reasonable to assume that the 15 was surprised to see him pulling out so quickly. The collision did occur in the 15's pit box as the 20 went forward.

It would have been difficult to for the 15 to anticipate that Tony would be leaving so quickly, however the 20 team should know under caution where the team in the pit box in front of them is and when they will be getting to pit road. If they did not have the room which they obviously didn't it is the 20 teams responsibility to hold their driver for the extra second it takes to get him out safely.

Should the fact that Tony is in the Chase entitle him to leave first? Maybe but they took a big chance by assuming that the 15 would give them room.

The 20 team made a mistake.

Answer 6

With all the room in the pits at Lowes, this type of accident should not happen, I think both pit crew/spotters are at fault..But I do think menard could have easily let Smoke out..I can not see Menard doing this deliberately, last thing anyone needs is Smoke holding a grudge..Can't wait till Smokes radio show on Sirus radio I'm sure this will come up..

Answer 7

Actually, it was Zippy's fault. The crew chief is talking to the driver during pit stops, not the spotter(s). When the jack drops (or in this case, gas and go) the crew chief is the one yelling "Go" in the driver's ear. So this one is on Zippy.

Now, as for Kasey Kahne, that's a different story. He saw the whole thing and slammed into Tony anyway. He's a hazard on the track and should be permanently parked. He was just waiting for a chance to ruin Tony's season. With the bad blood between them in the past and the fact that he's about worthless as a driver, that's the only contribution he can make to a race now.

Answer 8

I also believe it is the spotters job to let them know who's in and who's out and where they are located. I also believe in being a good sport and obviously Menard's team was not as they looked over at Stewart's crew and applauded after this incident occurred, and I think "Zip" had it right, "What goes around, comes around"

Answer 9

Neither Paul or Tony are to blame.

NO... I don't think any of the other drivers should be cautious or give a break to the top 12 Chase drivers. They are out there trying to win and make some money too. It's all just racing.

Answer 10

On oit road it is the responsibility of the CREW CHIEF alone,

not the spotter, to advise the driver

Answer 11

the spotter sucked....tony couldint do anything about it and neither could menard....but im tierd of tony getting horrible pit boxes and getting screwed over at the end of every race