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Seems like a lot of bandwidth is being chewed up these days talking about former IRL drivers that can't get rides, ex-CART teams with fat wallets, engine manufacturers throwing their weight around and so on. Some posters here have given up on the IRL, claiming that the product is far from its original ideals and appeal.
After another good weekend, I thought it appropriate to point out the team that is exactly what many think the IRL should represent. Yep, it's good ol' Access Motorsports.
Some will argue the Honda engine is the reason. Sure, if the team was running a Chevy, the results would be different. But every team out there had the opportunity to get that engine. I see it as just another good decision that the team owners have made.
These guys are getting better results with less money than anyone else in the IRL. Yesterday's eighth place finish was the fifth top ten in nine races, and they were on the lead lap. It's easy to go down a lap at that track. They outqualified five teams that had tested at Gateway. The crew guys have worked their butts off to give the driver a good car.
Like all short tracks, doing well at Gateway is very dependent on a good setup. These guys showed up, put the car on the track and got it fairly good in practice on Saturday. When Greg pulled off the track after the last practice was over, the right front brake was on fire, a pad had failed. The guys took the car back to the garage, did a four wheel rotor and pad change, and had to duplicate the last practice chassis setup when it was reassembled. All Greg did was go out and run a qualifying lap four tenths of a second better than his best practice speed. These guys know what they are doing.
Greg is doing a remarkable job of taking care of the car while still racing hard. Because of the team's financial condition, he can't go all out, and the other drivers know it. Yesterday on a late race restart he got a good run on Takagi for seventh place, and Tora just turned down on him, knowing he would have to back off. Sharp did it twice at Michigan. It's frustrating as heck for Greg but give him props for exhibiting the skill and discipline that many of you said was nonexistent.
So next time you are at the races, don't just stop by to ogle the models. Tell the crew and the driver they are doing a good job.
After another good weekend, I thought it appropriate to point out the team that is exactly what many think the IRL should represent. Yep, it's good ol' Access Motorsports.
Some will argue the Honda engine is the reason. Sure, if the team was running a Chevy, the results would be different. But every team out there had the opportunity to get that engine. I see it as just another good decision that the team owners have made.
These guys are getting better results with less money than anyone else in the IRL. Yesterday's eighth place finish was the fifth top ten in nine races, and they were on the lead lap. It's easy to go down a lap at that track. They outqualified five teams that had tested at Gateway. The crew guys have worked their butts off to give the driver a good car.
Like all short tracks, doing well at Gateway is very dependent on a good setup. These guys showed up, put the car on the track and got it fairly good in practice on Saturday. When Greg pulled off the track after the last practice was over, the right front brake was on fire, a pad had failed. The guys took the car back to the garage, did a four wheel rotor and pad change, and had to duplicate the last practice chassis setup when it was reassembled. All Greg did was go out and run a qualifying lap four tenths of a second better than his best practice speed. These guys know what they are doing.
Greg is doing a remarkable job of taking care of the car while still racing hard. Because of the team's financial condition, he can't go all out, and the other drivers know it. Yesterday on a late race restart he got a good run on Takagi for seventh place, and Tora just turned down on him, knowing he would have to back off. Sharp did it twice at Michigan. It's frustrating as heck for Greg but give him props for exhibiting the skill and discipline that many of you said was nonexistent.
So next time you are at the races, don't just stop by to ogle the models. Tell the crew and the driver they are doing a good job.
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