As the Roth turns

Posted by Iannucci | 7/10/2008 | 9 comments »
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You know, there are more positive stories out there. Ryan Hunter-Reay became the third American driver to record his/her first win this year, lending to an increase of xenophobic vs patriotic racing discussions. Darren Manning gave Foyt Racing it's first podium since AJ began trusting laptop computers. And in a certain sign of the impending apocalypse Dale Coyne Racing had two (two!) drivers finish in the Top 7 (SEVEN!). Somewhere former Coyne driver Katherine Legge silently weeps.

And yet these accomplishments just aren't as interesting as the rolling disaster that is Roth Racing. Let's catch up, shall we?

Journeyman engineer Larry Curry, who recently departed the ever-stable Roth Racing, has landed with Dreyer & Reinbold, his third team of the year. This is the one man in the universe who's ever managed to get Marty Roth up to speed on ovals, so just imagine what he's going to do with a supreme talent like Milka Duno.

Speaking of Roth, he was at the bottom of the chart at the conclusion of the rookie practice session at Nashville today. On the plus side, his car still has four wheels.

Conspicuously off the charts (in the literal sense) was Jay Howard, as it appears the #24 has been withdrawn this week. Maybe Marty's checks to the Dallara Parts 'R Us are starting to bounce, or maybe as Jim Morrison so succinctly said, "This is the end, beautiful friend."

As for John Andretti, well, the search party hasn't yet returned. Stay tuned!

9 comments

  1. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 5:09 AM  

    Hello,

    Love the blog, just a couple of things... I believe Hunter-Reay earned his first career "Indycar" win this past weekend. If I recall correctly he had two career Champ Car victories. Regardless, looks like all the ingredients are in place for the long rebuilding process to get underway (but for multiple chassis and engine manufacturers playing to low downforce, high power rules.) Second, why should Katherine Legge weep? Admittedly, she didn't have the greatest time in Champ Car but she has moved on. Not to mention, she did more than just land on her feet, she is a factory Audi driver in the DTM!! Keep the good stuff coming!

  2. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 5:57 AM  

    Marty Roth(The Sloth), worst Indycar driver all time.

  3. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 6:15 AM  

    Journeyman engineer Larry Curry, who recently departed the ever-stable Roth Racing, has landed with Dreyer & Reinbold, his third team of the year.

    If I'm Robbie Buhl, I'm going to count every nut, bolt, and wrench in the garage area.

    Just sayin'

    And as for Marty Roth, yes, we do find him an easy and convenient target for snark, but at least he's gotten cars in races. When Roth Racing hits the level of Andrea Moda Formula, widely recognized as THE WORST team in the HISTORY of Formula One, nay, in open wheel racing perhaps, then he deserves the scorn people want to dump on him.

    Hey, if Marty can top these stunts from Andrea Moda:

    and the operation missed the French Grand Prix because its truck was stuck in one of the blockades by striking French truck drivers.

    . . .

    At the Belgian Grand Prix, Sassetti (The team owner) was arrested in the paddock for allegedly forging invoices

    Then we'll talk.

  4. Fred Hurley // July 11, 2008 6:17 AM  

    Yeah, Kat Legge is now actually drawing a (Get this!) paycheck in exchange for driving a race car! Holy Forsythe, Batman!

    As for Roth, umm, well, yeah. I've defended Marty all season, saying that if he's only gonna field one car not driven by a member of the Roth family, then he can put whoever he wants in it. But now we've reached the point where I wonder if it's time to take that great infrastructure Roth's put together (a nice shop, some good mechanics, Jay Howard), and quiety arrange a tranfer to someone interested in running a racing team. It's just ... sad.

  5. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 7:52 AM  

    Roth related:

    - Roth was driving the #24 (white) car at Nashville.

    - Read a rumor the other day that Marty was selling one of his cars (with backup presumably) to TG so that Paul Tracy would have something to drive at Edmonton.

    - Maybe now Roth Racing is a one car team with Marty "driving" the ovals and Jay doing the road courses. Be interesting to see if Marty lets him drive in Edmonton, what with Marty being Canadian and all.

  6. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 9:46 AM  

    So John Andretti, who has been Roth's best driver all season, gets kicked to the curb? Marty must be related to Kyle Petty.

  7. Anonymous // July 11, 2008 4:00 PM  

    Roth Racing = Disasterpiece.

  8. Anonymous // July 12, 2008 7:18 AM  

    If everyone who reads this blog donated some money, $5, $20, $50, $100 each we could probably throw together a team with drivers John Andretti and Paul Tracy for a round or two no? We'd easily be one of the top teams on shear talent. Larry Curry could leave D&R and make us his forth team...

  9. Iannucci // July 12, 2008 8:23 AM  

    I don't know what would be more difficult - raising the money or agreeing on a single driver.

    We got the Sarah Fisher crowd here, the Paul Tracy crowd, the Buddy Lazier crowd, the "bring back Tony Stewart" crowd...I fear we could spend a lot of our money and end up bitter at each other. Not unlike many other race teams.