The man died a few HOURS ago on the very same track.
How about rescheduling?

<jubum19 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

I'm torn on this. First, Rahal-Letterman were right to withdrawl their two
other cars.

Part of me says a lot of people spent a lot of money to be there, and the
race goes on no matter what.

The other part of me wonders if it is a safety issue. Can the drivers keep
their mind on the task at hand, or is their mind going to wander? I wouldn't
be able to concentrate, but that's just me.

Then there's the "what would Paul Dana want." Most will always say the dead
would want the event to go on, but how do we know that?

After putting all that together, I think the IRL should have a meeting with
the crew chiefs and drivers, and they should make the decision.

kimmer45

jubum19 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com wrote:

Bobby Rahal, always the class act of the IRL, pulled his team out of
respect.

The IRL has no class. I expect them to race.

Kimmer45 wrote:

Bobby Rahal is THE class act of the IRL. He acted in a responsible and
dignified manner by pulling his team. Always the consummate
professional, he is focusing on the important things, the things that
matter in life.


The IRL does not draw a crowd. Just check out the empty stands. All 27
paying fans could demand their money back. The rest got their tickets
for free or at such a big discount it wouldn't matter.


Its the IRL. Its not like the drivers have much talent to start with.
ANY distraction can't help. But they already drive like they're asleep
at the wheel.

The IRL doesn't have the class or conscience to make the right decision.

The IRL has no class. They will race.

I think something could be said for doing as much. Paul Dana was a
driver for Rahal-Letterman Racing, and the team's other two drivers --
Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice -- are NOT going to be racing out of
respect for Dana.

Racing is a dangerous sport, nobody will ever dispute that. I think
the race could be postponed for at least a day, again as a respectful
move for the deceased. The IRL is probably more concerned of it's
image with this being their season-opening race.

There is not as much precedence with any death on the same day of the
race (to my knowledge, however brief) causing a race cancellation. I
can recall NASCAR deaths of the recent past, such as when both Adam
Petty and Kenny Irwin died in practice at New Hampshire Speedway, both
in 2000. The race at the track went forward as scheduled. Dale
Earnhardt's death in 2001 was the event that seemed to spur changes in
safety measures in NASCAR that have since prevented deaths, and, to
shame, it took a legend like him for the changes to happen. Even
Earnhardt's death did not change anything in the racing schedule,
although time did pass between his on-track incident at Daytona and the
following race.


JDR

jubum19 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com wrote:

No. The show goes on, as it should.