By A.C. Guillermo
The Daytona round of the Rolex Ganassi-Am Series (Editor’s note – apparently a Freudian slip by AC) was spectacular. The Most Interesting Man in the World won yet another race in dominating fashion, again proving he is our generation’s Juan Manuel Fangio. And all this despite the fact NASCAR forced them to race with a stock BMW engine from a spectator’s car, installed just hours before the race by the 10th grade shop class from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach. The win by Scott Pruett and the other guy should quiet the disillusioned Grand-Am fans that complain the series is boring and predictable. I think.
Many racing fans are puzzled by NASCAR’s announcement that the Ganassi team had been penalized after the most recent race for engine irregularities. Don’t be. Its just that SunTrust was threatening to leave the series unless #10 could be allowed to win a race. NASCAR did its part to help #10 win, but they couldn’t get it done. Don’t be a Ganassi hater. Its exactly like the Audi-Peugeot situation, only completely different.
The GT class was very exciting. The Mazdas, now required to tow a U-Haul cargo trailer filled with unsold programs from the Rolex 24, were not competitive. That left the TRG Start and Park Porsche to easily win.
A.C.’s Notes from Daytona
Jean Todt was seen in the pits, for some reason laughing at a Daytona Prototype. I wonder what was so funny? … Another VIP seen in the pits was Henri Zogaib, in deep conversation with John Paul Sr. A new team in the works? … Insiders in the marketing department tell me the Church of Scientology may replace Rolex as series sponsor next year. They expect John Travolta and Tom Crews to enter the Rolex 24 … Mark R. corrected me about my last column and the rumored plans to eliminate timing and scoring next year. He has clarified that only timing will be eliminated, not scoring …
Rumors were flying in the Nationwide pits that NASCAR will put the Rolex Series on hiatus in 2011 or 2012. Meanwhile, rumors were flying in the Grand-Am pits that the Nationwide series will fold by 2012 …. There were no rumors in the Cup pits, because rumors are not allowed in that series … The Daytona News-Journal estimated the Grand-Am race attracted a crowd of 243,549 … Daytona’s infield media center will embark on an expansion program over the summer, adding the “Godwin Kelly” wing … Kevin Buckler confirmed at a press conference Friday afternoon that he is indeed a genius.
Two sports writers told me Friday evening that the Nationwide race “was the most contrived race and finish in NASCAR history.” Their bodies were found floating in Lake Lloyd Sunday morning. Volusia County’s new coroner J.C. France reported they died of natural causes … The Daytona International Speedway Security Department was at their best this weekend. Rude, obnoxious, and uninformed, they are simply the best damn security department in racing. Just one minor glitch during the weekend: nobody told them there was a Grand-Am race Saturday morning, so the gates didn’t open on time …
Brazilian soccer star Kaka is scheduled to be Grand Marshal at the upcoming Jimmy Hoffa Memorial 500k Rolex Series race in New Jersey. The first 500 fans will be given vuvuzela horns … Although the attendance for the Nationwide and Cup races were the lowest seen at Daytona in nearly 20 years, Brian France commented “Yeah, but we didn’t have any delays due to potholes.” … This year’s season-ending Grand-Am Awards banquet will be the first in racing history to go virtual, held entirely via the internet. This “web-banquet” is one of many cost-saving initiatives planned for the remainder of the season. The series plans to have at lest one virtual race next season (probably Iowa), once the NASCAR IT department figures out how to prevent a Mazda from winning GT.
The Bear decided to delay Paddock Poop 170 for this important and extremely timely A. C. column.-Murphy-
Tags: BMW, Brian France, Grand Am, Henri Zogaib, J.C. France, Jean Todt, Jimmy Hoffa, John Paul Sr., John Trivolta, Kaka, Kevin Buckler, Mazda, NASCAR, Porsche, Scott Pruett, Seabreeze High School, SunTrust, Tom Cruise, TRG, vuvuzelas
A.C.
Excellent account on your recent field trip to Daytona.
Question: Are you able to report on any possible sightings of spectators?
A.C. comes thru once again. He is so observant and perceptive….to bad he doesn’t contribute more regularly. Hopefully, the visiting ‘frog’ had a life preserver with him just in case he inadvertenly wound up in Lake Lloyd also…..something about ‘I don’t got to show you no stinkin’ badges….’ I am sure that Volusia County’s new Coroner will do a commendable job investigating those unfortunate suicides.