03-27-2006, 03:17 PM
G.Irish Wrote:Countless others have gotten maimed or killed in the history of open wheeled oval racing in the United States. Its dangerous and it gets the best of even the best of them.
I don't think anyone's saying that, and it's not really related to the article. I don't know thing one about the IRL or this driver, but it didn't sound to me like this Robin Miller guy is way out in left field. He does have some support for his commentary and comments from other drivers. He does make it clear that Dana was by no means the least qualified driver to ever do this, and that he did go through the normal ladder.
At a smaller level, just because someone shows up to a local SCCA race having gone through the requirements to do so (which are almost none), does that mean he's qualified to be out there? Clearly some other drivers didn't think he was qualified from their experience with him on track, and you know what? They're probably the most valid opinion on the subject.
I guess I thought the article made some good points, more about the problem(?) of people buying rides in all forms of motorsport. I have to agree, it was a little harsh to use this incident as a springboard for the issue, especially since it was so fresh, but someone's gotta say it sometime.
His comment that, "That kind of Walter Mitty scenario cannot happen in baseball, basketball, football, hockey or golf. You've got to earn a place on the roster, you just can't walk up and buy your way onto a foursome with Tiger Woods at Augusta" just rang pretty true to me. It's one of the facts about motorsport that's bothered me for years.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a van is a good guy with a van