Can't Catch a Break
An engine change after Saturday’s final practice forced the No. 83 Red Bull Camry to drop back to the 43rd position at the start of the race, due to NASCAR rules. With nothing to lose starting from the back of the field, Crew Chief Doug Richert carved out a different pit strategy before the green flag even fell, telling Vickers to come into the pits on lap 4 to top off fuel. The change in pit strategy worked in Vickers favor when a caution on lap 10 had cars scrambling into the pits, while Vickers Red Bull Racing crew chose to stay out, gaining 9 positions. On lap 22, the No. 83 started experiencing brake problems and spun out, causing the No. 01 car to hit and damage the left side of Vickers car. The Red Bull Racing crew worked quickly in the pits to install NASCAR’s mandatory impact foam and secure the sheet metal – all while never losing a lap. On lap 60, Vickers came into the pits for a fuel-only stop, but was penalized for speeding down pit road and punished with a pass through down pit road on the following lap. Shortly after the incident, the No.83 transmission started to go out, leaving Vickers with only 4th gear. Richert advised, "Limp her until she blows, then we’ll come into the garage and change the transmission." Unfortunately, the Red Bull Racing crew just couldn’t catch a break. On lap 67 the No. 83 lost the transmission and the clutch, putting an early end to their race. Vickers No. 83 Red Bull Camry finished in the 41st position.
posted by Wise Little Portraits at 10:00 AM
47 Comments:
This race sucked....but next week hopefully they will do better because Brian had an awesome car at michigan until he got wrecked when he was running 6th
GOOD LUCK NEXT WEEK !!!!!
Hopefully Brian has as good of a car as he had last time in Michigan. Can wait to see Team Red Bull on track in person. Does anyone know if Brian will be making any appearances this weekend at Michigan?
I didn't know that he got a speeding penalty too. Good Grief! Yesterday was one to forget. Good job TRB for working hard and never giving up. It's days like that that make you stronger!
At leat we have usable notes for next year. Nice job guys. Keep after it. Were making progress.
Can't wait to watch y'all race in Michigan! Hope luck turns in your favor this time! Don't Ever Give Up! Y'all rock and you'll get this going soon!
WE BELIEVE!!!
Thank goodness for this blog. If we had to rely on ESPN for info we'd be lost. Tough one guys, keep up the good fight!
Better luck next week..
I have to agree with you toro. I know I was probably the only one that said they liked ESPN broadcast in another post but that was ridiculous. I still like ESPN's presentation but they need to start covering everyone in the field better.
I agree. ESPN should do a better job of updating us about the drivers who are not in the top 15.
40 points is better than 0 points.
Too bad AJ can't make more races to help TRB out with more track info.
Keep your heads up, 83 team!
We're behind you 100%
Two words to describe yesterday "BAD LUCK"!!!!!! Better luck next week BV!!! Also good luck to AJ!!!!
Agreed about the star-focused ESPN coverage. They showed P.J. Jones spinning into the gravel, but apparently made no mention that he was blatantly punted by Kurt Busch while running in the top 10, which is something that was completely ignored by everyone in the wake of the JPM-KH feud.
Also, I watched the coverage and had literally no idea that Jamie McMurray had been involved in the JPM-KH wreck, as ESPN sure didn't have any interest in pointing that out.
All the 'yota teams seem to be regressing (they're making the field, but that's more due to the DEI/Ginn thing than anything), which is a little odd considering you'd think they would get stronger as the year went on. Blaney's out of the top35, AJ can't make a race, rumors are going around saying Reutimann is going to DEI, TRB is leaving TRD, and DJ might be leaving for the booth... it's not a great time to be a huge Toyota fan :(
Here's hoping TRB can turn things around in a hurry and finish strong.
ESPN’s Sunday late night post race show “NASCAR Now” said Gibbs will be going to Toyota next year.
There is some kind of meeting Thursday between GM and NASCAR owners excluding Gibbs. So maybe it is a good time to be a Toyota Fan?
Also agree with everyone’s assessment of ESPN’s coverage. Had no idea what was going on with over half the field.
Good luck TRB at MIS this weekend. Hope you both make the race so I will have someone there to cheer for!
ESPN's coverage was so bad we muted the TV and listened to MRN on the radio. ESPN's ex-crew chief who tries to report on the cars inner workings has to be the worst thing to ever happen to TV - he's horrible.
New qualifing format for those drivers outside of the top 35.
From Auto Racing Daily:
Aug 14, 2007
NASCAR will make changes to the Nextel Cup qualifying format sooner rather than later.
Beginning with the first Chase race at New Hampshire, teams inside the top 35 in owner points will qualify separately from teams outside of the Top 35. Teams inside the Top 35 will qualify first with teams outside of the Top 35 qualifying later in the day.
In the event of a rain out after Top 35 qualifying is over, the remaining eight spots will be decided by owner points and past champion’s provisional’s. If qualifying is completely rained out, NASCAR will still revert back to owner points.
There not changing the format:
NASCAR Tuesday denied an Internet report that a new qualifying format would be announced this season. According to the report on an Internet fan site, the fan said an ‘inside source’ at NASCAR told them that the sanctioning body would be announcing a new qualifying format as soon as the New Hampshire race in September. While NASCAR has made no secret of the fact that they are exploring possible changes in the qualifying format, NASCAR spokesperson Ramsey Poston denied that an announcement would be made this year.(Cup Scene Daily)(8-14-2007)
Im with you David, ESPN needs to replace Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty. Brewer puts me to sleep listening to him and Brad Daugherty is just a suit that says only what NASCAR wants him to say.
they also need to replace Rusty Wallace he finds a way to turn everything into something about him....and hes weird...ESPN SUCKS!!!!
I guess we will have to wait and see if NASCAR changes how they do qualifying this season. It's funny how NASCAR denies rumors but they seem to transpire anyway.
If AJ didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. Poor guy. AJ we feel your pain. It's just so hard to accept that you only got 8 laps at Watkins Glen, not even a full session due to the red flag for rain, and that is what is supposed to take with you into next year. It's just not fair for you. Such a talented driver. Hang in there. I'm glad to see on your website that you have some Craftsman Truck races coming up. Just what you need.....to drive!!! What doesn't kill you will make you stronger, a cliche, I know. But you will be a stronger racer in the end. Keep diggin!
PLEASE NO SCOTT SPEED!!! NOT UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO 3 CARS NEXT YEAR!!!!! JUST SAY NO TO SCOTT SPEED!
Bring in Jason Leffler not Scott Speed!
wow alot of scott speed fans in here, scotts a good driver but i think AJ should get another shot next year, hes had problems this year that arent his fault, but keep scott on the back burner.
good luck at MIS.
Scott will have the same problems AJ is having if he replaces AJ if not more problems next year. I think AJ has a lot more talent than Scott.
Why would anyone think that Scott Speed or even AJ would shoot right to the top without having the experience of racing at least in the Bush Series? Good to know that AJ will get some more time this year in the Truck Series.
Please dont bring speed to nascar!!!
please a driver who wears a diaper while he drives--- no thanks-- he'll just stink up the place #60
diapers we don't want no stinkin diapers
Once again, words of inspiration for AJ... Scott Speed..... Tape it on your dash or tape it on your right shoe, homie.....
There's a reason Speed got booted out of F1, and it wasn't performance obviously. It was his bad attitude. Speed has been quoted before saying that he's too technical of a driver for NASCAR. Funny how your tune changes isn't it. We need a guy that will work hard, and work all the time to get this team on the up and up. Not a pre-madonna F1 driver. Want to see what they are like....go hang out by JPM and see.
Agreed- we already have an arrogant, whiney F1 driver - do we really need another one! Go AJ!
Juan wins..maing...
Scott Speed would only be the furthest behind of all our drivers. Bad idea.
You have got to be kidding me!! Scott Speed in Nascar?? I heard he thinks of Nascar as a DEMOTION!!! We don't want that kind of person here. Find somewhere else to put him. Maybe serving Red Bull at the bars!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im sure they have some job openings at the red bull energy station....
Im confused - you bring someone like scott speed over who has never been on an oval in his entire life nor driven a car that isnt engineered (can you say traction control)and you put him in Nascar?? So AJ and Brian go thru all the heartbreak of bringing this team thru the learning curve and throw him in- or worse yet, replace someone?
Exactly what does he bring to the table? This whole thing makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Boy, Yall sure have made quite a leap-putting Speed in the 84 next year. He just said he was interested, at least AJ had some oval experiance-Speed has none. I find it hard to believe that a thinking person would make those conclusions. And moderator- where are you? Those comments refering to SS's medical condition are a disgrace.
I agree with toro rosso the comment about him wearing diapers was a little rude...I mean it was a medical condition he was suffering through
Unfortunately there are some media outlets suggesting they are bringing speed in to replace AJ.
I really hope that doesnt happen...that would suck!!!!!
I don't know anything about Scott Speed so I don't have an opinion on him possibly coming to Nascar. However maybe he wouldn't come over to replace AJ. Scott can be put in the Busch or Truck series for a year and then bring him up in 2009 as a third car. That would at least give him some experience in stock cars so he doesn't struggle with the communication aspect like AJ has this year. Whatever happens I don't want to see AJ get replaced.
the never put AJ in a busch car and he only raced in a handful of truck races...why would they put scott speed in a busch car or a truck?
I really hope they dont replace AJ!!!!
That's the point. If AJ would have run an entire year in the trucks, he might have had a little bit of an easier time this year.
Vickers is racing in the #10 car for the Busch race at Michigan instead of Blaney!
I'm so excited about Brian racing the Busch race in the Braun #10!!! I think I getta go to that race too! I can't wait to watch Brian in 2 races this weekend!!!
Go Brian!!!
WE BELIEVE!!!
he will also run it at bristol california and richmond
Im so excited!!!
Brian Vickers will replace Dave Blaney in Braun Racing's #10 Busch Series Toyota for the next four races, a team spokesperson confirmed. Blaney's status with Braun Racing is unknown. Vickers has driven one race for Braun this year, finishing 13th at Daytona in the team's #32 Toyota
AJ and Brian should be awarded medals for what they have had to put up with this year. To even think that Red Bull is thinking of replacing either one of them is just wrong!! Scott Speed is not the answer. Fix the problem with the engines and cars THEN see what these boys can do! Hang in there AJ. You are a great driver and deserve a chance to drive a great car. AJ fan forever!!!!!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home