By now, race fans are well aware of the start-and-park teams who show up every week with no intention of running the entire race but who are simply there to collect money for running a few laps and quitting.
NASCAR requires teams to declare a reason why they are out of the race, which can vary from "Engine" to "Overheating" to "Vibration" to "Handling."
Quite often, the drivers are pretty up front about their situations. But when a representative from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway public relations department asked the drivers for quotes following their exits, not all of them may have told the entire truth.
Which, if any, were honest? Decide for yourself:
TODD BODINE, finished 37th. Official reason: Rear gear. "We had a vibration in the gearbox, and it got to rattling so bad, I had to park it." Total laps: 52; total money: $134,675.
DAVE BLANEY, finished 41st. Official reason: Electrical. "We had a transmission problem in practice and it just kept getting worse. So we pulled it out." Total laps: 20; total money: $134,225.
JOE NEMECHEK, finished 40th. Official reason: Vibration. "In that first-lap accident, we got into the grass. We broke the splitter and knocked the bottom end out of the radiator. We fixed those, but we picked up a vibration we couldn't get rid of." Total laps: 33; total money: $134,375.
MICHAEL MCDOWELL, finished 42nd. Official reason: Overheating. "I got caught up in that first-lap accident. We must have stuffed some dirt into the carburetor. We tried to clean the carburetor, but it didn't work." Total laps: 19; total money: $134,125.
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Start-And-Park Drivers Explain Why They Parked At Indy
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HA
Bunch of little liars they are.
by jr88freak on Jul 25, 2010 6:02 PM EDT reply actions
Is there some way NASCAR can stop these guys from starting and parking? I wouldn’t pay them if they don’t have a legitimate excuse why they have to park.
"Dodger fans aren’t happy when foul balls get into their section, because it interferes with their playing with the beachball"- Mike Krukow
by 49er16 on Jul 25, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
No reason to S&P at Indy. Everyone gets paid enough to run the entire race there. If I had to choose one, I’d tend to believe Nemechek on this one over the other guys. I’d like to see Landon Cassil’s reason for parking. @NASCARbusinessX
by JAYMEDINC on Jul 25, 2010 6:55 PM EDT reply actions
If NASCAR really wants to end or limit start and park, they could. It’s simple; put a NASCAR official in the garage to verify reason for leaving race. If reason can’t be verified, or if explanation seems fishy, the official files a report and the offending team sits for a race or two. If a team fails to co-operate, they don’t get their money. Alternatively, NASCAR could just choose to limit a team to, say 5 or 10 S&P’s per season.
But the real problem is that there are some teams that apparently have decided that Start and Park is a viable, ongoing business strategy for an entire season (for example, the teams that show up on race day with no pit crew, as has happened a few times this year). That’s wrong. NASCAR should communicate with the chronic S&P teams to see that they are actively seeking sponsorship, rather than showing up just to pocket the easy money.
by Ron Frankl on Jul 25, 2010 7:01 PM EDT reply actions
Papis
What I want to know is why does Max Papis always start and park if he always has Geico sponsorship on the car? Obviously the other guys S&P because they have no sponsorship but every time I see Papis he has Geico on the car but he still gets out early. Anyone know why?
by Joelg88 on Jul 25, 2010 7:16 PM EDT reply actions
The Geico sponsorship is for 13 or so races. He was supposed to run today, but the fire ended his day. If the car is not damaged too badly from the previous use, there is no reason to re-wrap it so that it is blank. Therefore they keep it wrapped.
by Missa on Jul 25, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh
I understand. Makes sense.
by Joelg88 on Jul 25, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
You're probably right...
They’ll buff the soot marks off of it
and tell him that it’s just like new!!!!
Just like he’s a real GEICO customer!!!!
by NY17NE14 on Jul 25, 2010 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Start and Park
Nascar should just cut the field by 10 cars! That would surely eliminate this nasty business that is the “S&P” Crowd. It makes me sick. I love racing and race car drivers and these “drivers” should be ashamed of themselves!
by Stephanie Suslow on Jul 26, 2010 1:14 AM EDT reply actions
S&P
My question is how come no one raises the bullshit flag when these guys say something like “vibration” and yet didn’t even bring 4 full sets of tires to the track? This is one situation where i think you CAN prove intent, and some of these teams had no intent at all of running the whole race. Why not just redivide the money to cut out the last ten cars? I mean really? 600 grand split between 5 teams when only one of them even made it onto the broadcast? Good job Joe Nemechek for at least leading a lap even if you didn’t have the balls or the money to stay up front for the restart. Personally i think he should’ve made JJ and everyone else run him over, that would’ve actually added something to the race.
by Kaxxxxxx on Jul 26, 2010 3:27 AM EDT reply actions
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