Was There Contact?

Walt Gifford · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject: Was There Contact?

Lot of guys getting their left side wheels in the grass today. Did Takuma Sato go in too deep or did he get bumped?

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TJ Koyen · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

Probably a little of both. He had to bury it in there pretty good though, since Dario gave him basically half a car-width when Takuma was clearly gonna go for it.

My opinion is that Takuma did the right thing. Had he given up that run, he would've dropped way back, we saw it all race. Guys would let off getting passed or if they checked up, it took a long time to get back up to speed. I would've taken the run too, because had he made it work, Dario would've had to back off and he would've never got back up to speed quick enough to challenge Sato the rest of the lap.

Neither was going to lift and it ended up costing Sato. I give him big props for having the balls to make that move. He actually made that move twice because he did the same thing to Dixon the lap before and made it work and it was epic.

It's the final lap of the Indy 500, clearly no one is going to give each other an inch.
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Walt Gifford · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject:

Sato had the car to win but was blocked off the track. Dario later said there was contact but I was able to keep control. I guess that's all that counts. I think they were a little fast with the review of the incident.

Scott Heavin · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:48 am Post subject:

Going into the turn, Dario did not give him room - which he didn't need to-Sato was still behind him. Then he kind of opened up the door once they got into the turn and Sato went for it. Sato was REALLY late for a pass into 1. When Sato actually spun, Dario was a lane up the track-it was the entry that got Sato.

In my 34 years of going to the race, this was probably one of the best ones I've seen.

Couple of notes:
Will Power probably wants to kick AJ's butt for sending Conway out with a broken wing. We were sitting right across from Conway's pit and it was chaos when he hit the crew. They should have checked everything out.

The crowd wanted Sato (or Kannan or Carpenter) to win. Dario actually got booed.

The 4 wide going down the straight was crazy - every restart was crazy. Can't believe they pulled it off.

Really felt bad for Alesi. Hopefully he'll come back. I think Barrichello had a good time though, which should boost IndyCar around the world.

I need to give Dario a lesson on how to hold the milk bottle so you can read the freakin' logo...
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Mike Arnold · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 7:35 am Post subject: patience!

Sato should have waited for the sling shot move at the finish line! There was more room and no chance to come back.

Also, FYI Honda had brochures with the Honda CR125 shifter kart engine and an actual shifter kart on display at the vendor area near the Museum.

Mike

Greg Wright · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:41 am Post subject:

I'm getting a bit miffed by some of the stuff I'm seeing on some other message boards about Dario having been guilty of "dirty driving" on the Sato incident.
It was the last lap of the Indy 500!! Sato's move was too late and too shallow. Dario gave him more room than I would have, of course that would have probably ended up with both cars in the wall!!

As far as the question "Was there contact?" Dario indicated that Sato's car touched his as he spun. No contact up to that point.

From my viewpoint Sato was a little late on the attempt and made it too early on the last lap. Sato indicated that he thought Dario would give him more room. DUDE!! IT WAS THE LAST LAP OF THE INDY 500!!! Ask Al Jr. and Emmo about how that works.

Nuff said,
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Tim Koyen · Advertiser Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 1556

Sato's move was what he had to do, IMHO, to have a chance to win. Had he lifted and waited, I doubt that he would've been able to recover the draft quickly enough, either way, I've got no problem with his attempt at the pass on the last lap.

Overall, this is the first 500 that I actually found was worth watching. I still think the cars are ugly, but the racing is far better than I recall the last time I sat and watched a race. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Smile

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TJ Koyen · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 11:02 am Post subject:

Peter Zambos · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 12:52 am Post subject:

Rob Kozakowski · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 9:53 am Post subject:

It was racing. Dario didn't give Taku much room. Taku took a chance at winning the race.

To Taku's huge credit, he didn't take Dario out in his attempt to make the move - to me, this speaks volumes about Sato's ability to balance his will to win with the respect he has for his fellow drivers. That was a case where 95% of the other drivers trying that pass would have likely taken Dario out with them with the attitude that if I can't win, then you won't either.

Sato deserves a win - soon. He's a classy driver - really the first Japanese driver yet that I've regularly found myself cheering for. He's fast, he's got a bit of personality, and he really takes everything in stride. I'll never forget his shock pass on my guy, Alonso, in Canada a few years ago. He earned my respect with that move.

Anyways, I think that move was Sato's best chance to win. Sato's strength seemed to be getting into the corners (especially 1 - overall a lot more passes into 1 than into 3 by everyone), rather than being able to draft closely on the exit of the turns. Some say he should have been more patient and taken him out of 4 on the run to the start line - I just don't think he had the downforce to run close enough under Dario out of 4 to get him by the line though, which is why into 1 was his opportunity to win.

The biggest thing that popped into my mind is that they need to bring back the apron. That 1991 Mears-Andretti battle was one of the best ever because of the extra width provided by the apron. It might just have been enough this year to allow Taku to complete the pass and give us a photo finish with Dario trying to take him back at the finish.

Scott Heavin · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 11:01 am Post subject:

Take a look at this angle. Dario is damn lucky he didn't get collected since Sato was actually in front of him when he went around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnXsRffhDXI&feature=related
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charles hunter · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:27 pm Post subject:

Yes Mike, if sato would have waited he would be the winner. Of course there was contact and both drivers were doing their jobs. No at fault for either driver. Can't wait till next year Very Happy

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Curt Smock · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:03 am Post subject:

Good ob TJ on Sato doing it to Dixon on lap 198. Only dizon gave it to him.

Look at Scott's vid :10 then :11 and tell me how Dario got through that corner!!!!!!