Damn it, I wasn't going to continue this discussion in this newsgroup,
but...
: Ok, my 2 cents worth:
: about 2 laps before Earnhardt's crash (2-5 laps, OK?) the announcer
: reported that DE was complaining that his car was loose.
<snip>
: As I watched the replays, I did notice J.Gordon never touched
: Earnhardt's car (he did get damn close, tho!), so I'll speculate the
: following:
: (1). DE made the mistake of complaining of being loose.
: (2). "someone" from the #24 crew overheard the complaint and
: informed Gordon's spotter.
: (3). Gordon's spotter informed JG that, and JG took advantage
: of the situation by 'taking the air off the 3 car spoiler' which put
: DE into the wall in the first place.
All week long it was known to everybody and anybody that Dale's car got
loose whenever a car was under him or directly behind him. This was how
his car was set up. I think he even mentioned it during the twin 125's.
: (4). the 88 car, saw the 3 car getting loose, so 'helped' the
: spin by giving a little nudge. What DJ didn't expect, is that he'd
: get involved as much as he did. (He may be a good driver, he isn't
: that good!) Yes, I feel DJ could have avoided touching DE...ever hear
: of "brakes" -- I didn't say to lock them up, he could have slowed and
: allowed DE to correct his fishtailing.
No WAY. Jarrett was too close & too boxed in to do anything but what he
did, let off the gas. This caused Ernie to push him into Ironhead.
Same goes for Ernie.
: (5). The 28 car may have been able to avoid losing his hood
: the same way. I don't think I would have lifted in his case, either
: tho...
By then it was too late, the only way Ernie could have avoided touching
Earnhardt was to have Scotty "beam his car up" immediately!
: Which only goes to re-affirm my belief that DE is a true sportsman
: after listening to his post-race interview as to why he got back into
: his car to finish the race.
Everything everybody and anybody has been saying about this is pure
speculation (mine included). However, it's usually been heavily clouded
by each posters' "favorite" driver (or hated driver).
It was just one of those racing deals! It was just too frightening to
see, for me. We came close to having some severe injuries or even a
death out of this one. Thanks to NASCAR, they build some mighty safe
cars out there. I wonder if Earnhardt sat more upright, like most
drivers, if he would have been injuried.
Gordon did what he felt he had to do, I am pretty sure that he knew he
would loosen up Earnhardt's car. But, I really doubt that he knew his
own car would drift up as much as it did. I am sure he had no desire to
see Earnhardt wreck. Just as I am sure that Earnhardt has never wanted
to "wreck" anybody that he has pulled the same stunt on many times in
the past. (I'm serious here, this isn't a tongue-in-cheek statement.)
This is NASCAR racing we are talking about, not some Sunday afternoon
quilting party.
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
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