Arute--Helio-Graham Called Out

[NoviVespa]

Here is a very interesting article by Jack Arute. I thought that comment by Helio that he thought Danica was not on the same lap almost laughable.

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=11071

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[Racemind]

Not a great article by Jack. He scolds Helio for diminishing Danica's win -- which Helio didn't, IMO -- and then diminished it himself by saying "yes, luck played a part". Helio never even mentioned luck.

[goldie19]

good for Jack. Are any of us to believe that Penske didn't know who was on the lead lap??? Seriously, I can't imagine ANYTHING more unlike Penske. That man is always prepared (Jack should have mentioned Hornish' lone win at the Brickyard was brought about because a HUGE error in the pits dropped Hornish to last on the lead lap, so before going green, he had Sam pit AGAIN so that he could make the distance without stopping as everyone else did in the closing stages)

I expect more from Helio, too

[Rick Jones]

Here is a very interesting article by Jack Arute. I thought that comment by Helio that he thought Danica was not on the same lap almost laughable.

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=11071

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Jack's a bit overly sensitive. Danica won the race. It wasn't a hard fought thrilling win like Hornish overtaking Marco at Indy, but it was earned and a deserved win. Calling out Graham and Helio for what they said is a bit overkill.

[cheeseczar]

I did a big uh-oh when I saw the article. After reading it, it seemed pretty tame to me.

[athletics68]

Jack's a bit overly sensitive. Danica won the race. It wasn't a hard fought thrilling win like Hornish overtaking Marco at Indy, but it was earned and a deserved win. Calling out Graham and Helio for what they said is a bit overkill.

He was probably just sleep deprived after Motegi and Long Beach.

[Jakester]

Jack's a bit overly sensitive.

Agree....

"It wasn't pretty but a win is a win" Seems a pretty reasonable description...

[Mack Too]

Not a great article by Jack. He scolds Helio for diminishing Danica's win -- which Helio didn't, IMO -- and then diminished it himself by saying "yes, luck played a part". Helio never even mentioned luck.

Jack was and is spot-on, Helio's comment was face-saving, by the time Danica started her run on him from 8-seconds back, he didn't have the fuel or the momentum to stop her. He has what he protected, top spot in the points.

[ZOOOM]

Time after time, after time, I find more reasons to like Jack Arute............

ZOOOM

[Z28]

good for Jack. Are any of us to believe that Penske didn't know who was on the lead lap??? Seriously, I can't imagine ANYTHING more unlike Penske. That man is always prepared (Jack should have mentioned Hornish' lone win at the Brickyard was brought about because a HUGE error in the pits dropped Hornish to last on the lead lap, so before going green, he had Sam pit AGAIN so that he could make the distance without stopping as everyone else did in the closing stages)

I expect more from Helio, too

About 15 years ago in a Busch race Mark Martin driving for Roush took the white flag leading the race, came around and pulled into the pit lane before taking the checkers and lost the race. Flat out made a mistake. I don't know which is more laughable for someone to believe, that Penske and his team can't make a mistake, which you recount how they did with Sam, or that they threw the race which you don't seem to feel strongly enough to out and out say.

[ptistheboss]

I had the opportunity to visit with Mike Hull of Target Chip Ganassi's outfit right after Motegi and he pointed out that Danica maintained a steady speed for 190 mph through the entire race.

"The rest of us see-sawed up and down the speed ladder," was the way he Hull put it. "Her crew saw how to make that work for her."

Is this like saying "The rest of the cars were going really fast, her crew saw she was going slower and they made that work"?

[NoviVespa]

No, she was going fast enough so as to be not lapped. Her speeds during the race were not that far off from the leader. That statement makes it sound like she was going 10 mph slower.

[Canth]

I had the opportunity to visit with Mike Hull of Target Chip Ganassi's outfit right after Motegi and he pointed out that Danica maintained a steady speed for 190 mph through the entire race.

"The rest of us see-sawed up and down the speed ladder," was the way he Hull put it. "Her crew saw how to make that work for her."

Is this like saying "The rest of the cars were going really fast, her crew saw she was going slower and they made that work"?

No, because those speeds only apply to the last stint in the race. In fuel conservation mode she ran very consistent 190's making her target of 3.5 mpg. Earlier in the race, she was running right with the top 5/6 in the same 193/4 range for those runs with a high in the 196 range I believe. I'd have to look at the lap reports to get exact details. But she didn't drop down in speed until that last stint when she totally committed to the fuel saving mode.

[markinsand]

Jack was and is spot-on, Helio's comment was face-saving, by the time Danica started her run on him from 8-seconds back, he didn't have the fuel or the momentum to stop her. He has what he protected, top spot in the points.

agreed

[Brent_the_Lazier_fan]

Arute's just trying to suck up good PR for himself. There is nothing to defend.

Regardless of his ramblings, years from now the books will all list Patrick as the winner of the race with no asterisks. She doesn't need Bandwagon Jack to come to her defense.