The Frontstretch: Making the Grade : Indianapolis (Kiss This) by Dennis Michelsen -- Monday August 7, 2006

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Making the Grade : Indianapolis (Kiss This)

Dennis Michelsen · Monday August 7, 2006

 

Pace Laps

Fans throwing stuff on the track has to stop…period!

Hey, NASCAR and NBC…show us the debris, please!

How long will Bill Weber continue to beat the Hendrick plane crash story to death?

Race Grade: A
Races at Indy have sometimes been like the Super Bowl is for football…a lot of hype for what turns out to be a boring event. But this year's Brickyard 400 was very entertaining, and deserves a top grade for drama and excitement. This event will never be as thrilling as a short track race, but it was very enjoyable!

F for Boris Said's Luck
Boris never got a chance to settle into the race before Reed Sorenson booted him. This guy is one of the true characters in the sport…drink SoBe No Fear so we can get this guy in a ride every race, please!

D for Robby Gordon
Trying to get every position you can on that last lap is usually commendable. But when you are racing guys that need to finish strong to make it to the playoffs and you are way out of contention yourself, you shouldn't take such huge risks.

C for Jeff Gordon
Counting on getting one of your laps back thanks to a mystery debris caution just isn't indicative of the kind of performance it will take to stay in the Chase. Then again, NASCAR might be able to take good care of this team the rest of the year with some creative timing on yellow flags!

B for Matt Kenseth
It’s fitting for Kenseth that he ran second to J.J. in the biggest race of the year. These two guys have been the top two teams in NASCAR Nextel Cup by far this season. Too bad they won't get a chance to wage a classic points duel to the finish thanks to the Chase format.

A for Jimmie Johnson
This team should add Meow Mix as a sponsor cause they have nine lives every race! Rallying back from a flat tire to win the second biggest race of the year is amazing. But when you already won the biggest race of the year, it is astonishing!

Extra Credit
The creative geniuses behind the new Burger King Chicken Fries advertisement should take a bow. Not since the Bud Lizards have we had such an entertaining commercial!

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©2000 - 2008 Dennis Michelsen and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!

 

M. B. Voelker
08/08/2006 07:38 AM
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Even though I’m a Biffle fan I can’t bring myself to fault Robby for racing hard to gain a position.

As a matter of principle I believe that everyone on the track has an equal right to try to get as good a finish as he possibly can and that points position should have no effect on that.

rick
08/08/2006 03:28 PM
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c for gordon your an idiot , he drove 4 hard laps with a broken sway bar that as gutsy of a run as you will see, as far as this artical goes its a D+ because as you said it was a good race.

Mark Byers
08/09/2006 01:12 PM
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I have to disagree with you on Robby Gordon, this poor guy sure does seem to catch a lot of crap for some reason. So what if he’s not in the Chase, big deal, he still deserves a chance to finish well as much as anyone else.

As for your grade on Jeff Gordon, you show some good judgement with your details on why, but you are fair too generous with your grade, I say no higher than a D when the big man in the control booth is having to help you get back into the race, wouldn’t you agree?

 

Dennis no longer contributes to the Frontstretch, but you can Dennis's commentary at his website bio and archive page.