Max can't believe he missed the 500 - Why?

[crispy]

Keep in mind, I'm a Papis & Priestly fan. I was pulling for Rubicon but...

Why are they shocked? Did I miss an earlier qualifying attempt? Why would you put all of your eggs in one 5:30 P.M. basket?

I would have expected them to get at least one run in by 3:00 PM or so. Waiting for the last minute is just asking for it. One glitch and you're hosed.

[t-o-double-d]

Do you know what type of practice times Max was getting around 3pm? I didn't catch it on the display boards. I would have thought that they would have gone out earlier in the day too to have more than 1 attempt.

[morris4903]

I don't think it would have mattered, that car was so slow. Their primary was fast enough to get in, but they crashed it at the worst possible time. Old qualifying format they are in, but thats the way it goes.

[jkg]

Do you know what type of practice times Max was getting around 3pm? .

Around 214 MPH. They weren't going to get in after the crash. They were farther off the pace than PDM/Kite were in 2007.

[Brantoc]

The days of showing up last minute and running an ill-equipped car getting 33rd are over.

[Hardscrabble]

I don't think it would have mattered, that car was so slow. Their primary was fast enough to get in, but they crashed it at the worst possible time. Old qualifying format they are in, but thats the way it goes.

I believe Rubicon only had one car, so that was their "primary" topping out at 214...

[AlJRFAN]

Pre crash this was looking like a top 22 car, at the very least away from the back three rows, but after the rebuild the car lost all speed

[cheeseczar]

I would have expected them to get at least one run in by 3:00 PM or so. Waiting for the last minute is just asking for it. One glitch and you're hosed.

Let's just put it this way. The symptoms encountered led the team in the wrong direction. By the time they figured out WHERE the problem was, it was too late.

Sucks for those guys...especially after the thrash to get the car on track. It happens.

Still sucks.

[skcoop80]

The crash damaged the so badly they did not have all the parts to fix it, so they bought Milkas car from samax from last year. They used nearly everything from milkas old car except for the new drivers tub thing and the motor. This may explain why he was so slow. (being sarcastic...sort of). However the info about samax's car is true.

[t-o-double-d]

I hope that they will be back in 09 or maybe even some other races on the ICS schedule this year (fingers crossed).

[Samantha]

Maybe they were really hurt by the rain and lack of practice time??

[crispy]

Maybe they were really hurt by the rain and lack of practice time??

or possibly the qualifying format...?

[indyguy2]

They were hurt by smashing the car into the fence.

[Racechic317]

I feel bad for the ones that go home but they're not prepared what do they expect?

[Brantoc]

They were hurt by smashing the car into the fence.

I was just thinking the same thing. (cept wall)