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Posted by
Iannucci |
6/08/2007
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Four days after their pit-road confrontation at Milwaukee, Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon were asked Thursday to make up and play nice.
The half-hour meeting at Texas Motor Speedway was called by Brian Barnhart, the chief steward of the IndyCar Series. The session apparently went a long way toward resolving the spat that was growing uglier by the day.
"I still don't think I was being raced fairly, and if he would have stood there and talked to me (on pit road), it would have looked a little more diplomatic," Patrick said after Thursday's meeting with Wheldon and Barnhart. "But I like Dan; I always have. I don't want things to be weird between us." (MORE from IndyStar)
Irony is that their "fight" should have been more private ... and their makeup should have been less public.
I can't wait until people tune in Saturday night and they get to see Jack Arute lead Dan/Danica in Kumbaya. At that point they're going to wonder why they should keep watching.
But what do I know?
Look for ABC/ESPN to totally play it up from the get-go on their coverage. Opening montage: replay of Dan/Danica at Milwaukee. Dramatic voice over: STAY TUNED TO SEE THE TUSSLE IN TEXAS. It's perfect for ABC. It involves DANICA, which makes them pee themselves, and Gossage has totally led them by the nose on this, hype-wise. So look for ABC/ESPN to go over the top. Again, it's an excuse to fixate on Danica, so that's just a no brainer. If it had been Sarah Fisher and Wheldon, ABC would be looking for a way to drag Danica into it.
"It went well," Wheldon said.
"We're cool," Patrick said.
This seems the equivalent of, “You shake hands and tell him/her you’re sorry.”
Am I the only one pissed off at Gossage for hyping this absurdity? Yeah, publicity is needed for the league, etc etc....but as a fan, I must say the whole thing became quite embarassing.
On another note, I always get excited when the IHJ lays the smack down and puts everything back in working order. Barnhart is MY BOY.
i'm with ya, money cj. i think it's all a bit embarrassing. i'm so glad the ihj stepped in and gave them both a talking to. i am looking forward to the dramatic spin that abc/espn will surely put on it! it's going to be a great race (and hopefully a complete lack of dan/danica drama)
Dan and Danica are lock step
who will it be...
I'm buyin' the hype I can't wait !
To quote the Money: IHJ's pimp hand is hard.
The 10 p.m. starting time is going to make for great ratings...
I guess the Deuce had to move it back so it would not interfere with one of those PokerDomeMobileHome challenges or something.
And Boo to IHJ for telling the Dan/ica to clam up. This was the most hype since AJ put the smackdown on Arie Sr.
Behold, someone who agrees with me. Choice cuts:
In a reported "private conversation" Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League president Brian Barnhart moved swiftly to end the Danica Patrick-Dan Wheldon dispute.
And this is why NASCAR's Nextel Cup circuit remains the blue-ribbon pit bull of American auto racing.
Is Barnhart nuts?
....
It was classic.
It was the perfect dose of chili pepper for IndyCar's regular menu of goose pate.
But Barnhart wanted none of it.
"We had a good conversation," Wheldon said after Friday's qualifying. "She apologized. And we'll move on from there."
Right. They'll move on to the "afterthoughts" portion of SportsCenter.