crazy crazy racing

[Erv]

anyone else catch this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brNtbaMadX4

Thoughts?

[Cholewa]

Porsche driver did the right thing, vette driver got too cocky. The vette bumped him a few times and tried to off him in the last corner. It's his own fault for not backing off when he had already lost.

[chuck schultz]

The sanctioning body didn't like it, and gave both drivers a 2-race probation for the start of next season.

There were multiple metal-to-metal contacts in the last 5 minutes, with each driver responsible at different times. It escalated until the checker, with a result that could've been fatal.

From the opposite point of view, these guys get paid to not back off, particularly in the last lap of the last race of the season.

Here are their comments, from Racer.com -

"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen.

"I'm definitely sorry Jan went into the wall," Bergmeister said. "I didn't want that to happen. But it was a banging game. I'm glad he's OK. It was tough racing."

[JohnW8]

Porsche driver did the right thing, vette driver got too cocky. The vette bumped him a few times and tried to off him in the last corner. It's his own fault for not backing off when he had already lost.

I don't see it that way at all. The Porsche slowed at the apex checking up the Corvette to screw up his line and momentum, then ran him into the pit wall! All drivers have a right to racing room. The Porsche was going to lose to the Vette in a drag race to the finish but he chose to block/wreck his competitor instead of racing him.
It's dirty racing and a 2 race probation is pretty light for attempted murder.

What do you think would've been just punishment it the vette driver was seriously inured or killed?

If you watch the very end of the video the vette crossed in front of the porsche. How could he be there if he had already lost?

[Welacey]

The Vette had the faster car no doubt. The Porsche driver was blocking a better car. The Porsche driver left the track to push the Vette into the left wall. Reminds me of Montgomery traffic.

[Erv]

Magnussen didn't know how much room he had, Bergmeister actually tapped the brakes to let him in since he still took the line but the vette moved in front of him without having the clearance.

At least thats what I saw

[JohnW8]

The wall juts out under the bridge slightly. It looks like the vette made solid contact with the wall there and pinged across in front of the Porsche.

[Cholewa]

If you look closely he was not bumped into the wall, he hit it with the drivers rear. And the wall is straight at the point where he hit it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=maps+laguna+seca&ie=UTF8&start=0&hq=Laguna+Seca&hnear=Laguna+Seca,+Monterey,+CA&ll=36.587337,-121.75339&spn=0,359.99213&z=18&layer=c&cbll=36.586747,-121.756345&panoid=4DAOLmfTWRhlatqkq0EBUg&cbp=12,213.92,,0,21.06

[Welacey]

The Porsche was bouncing off the Vette all the way down the wall. Look again.

[chuck schultz]

I've been taught that there are two conflicting requirements for each pass in a race:

1. The overtaking driver is responsible for making a safe pass. (Interacting with scenery = unsafe.)

2. The overtaken driver may defend, but must allow racing room. (Wall, or even grass next to wall = insufficient room.)

Therefore, in the eyes of IMSA, (after they undoubtedly read written reports from witnessing corner workers and other officials, reviewed tapes from multiple sources, listened to the drivers' explanation of what happened, etc.,) they were both wrong.

[Cholewa]

The Porsche was bouncing off the Vette all the way down the wall. Look again.

The way it looks to me is that he was unsure if the vette would hit him so he was swerving a little out of the way. I see no contact made after the last corner.

[zukitek]

what happened was this ...2 guys absolutely gave it all they had to win class and raced as clean as possible and the 2 of em got a little too roudy and one of 'em could of got killed.

Bergmeister didnt have enough car and in the end ...he took Magnuson into the wall..CLEARLY.In the end it was a case of Jorg double dog daring Jan and Jan took the dare and ate the wall .