Markus Niemela and Simona De Silvestro Clash in Atlantic Championship Finale

[PhilipTheBigOne]

DAMN!!! Markus, that wasn't very smart!!! You could have waited for another lap to make your move...

It is a shame, because had this crash not happened, Simona would have won the championship (she came in the points-leader)!!!

[Ksoism]

And he would have braked on the sand, right? That is called racing, and in racing, there will be accidents, without it being anyones fault. He didn't have anywhere else to go, fence ahead, tires on sand (AND in the corkscrew!) with door closed on his left. Shame, 'cause Simonas move was really brave, just a tad too late. It would've been a great pass, but you just can't go side-by-side through there.

[conesussteve]

@limao38 You actually can put most of the blame on him. Trying to pass in the cork screw at Laguna is one of the stupidest things you can do in racing.

[foxtrotalphaone]

It's difficult to tell if she thought she was clear of him and pushed him wide, or if the speed he was carrying through the turn to stay beside her took him off track. He did get on the throttle a bit early, especially for not having the apex, but still she should have left room for him. She would have had the inside anyways for the next turn, which is essential if you're going to run through it flat.

[jraybay]

@terrunazz Yea thats racing Men do it too. wtf?

[CeBeSprTNG2005]

Well he thought he was Zanardi , but Talent comes in small doses. ... Tough luck for Simona . A shame.

[everybodylovesmybaby]

She was ahead of him in the corner, and the intelligent thing to do would be to back off and let her have it. Instead he drove across the dirt, where he had less control, and ran straight into her.

[jockspotter]

shocking driving from Niemela...

[fueldragster]

RIP Atlantic Championship

1973-2010

[DBoy02]

@fueldragster There's still some hope. Word is Mazda's looking to sink some money into a revival for 2012 if nothing can be done sooner. But it may hinge on the IRL canceling Indy Lights(which is getting increasingly likely every year with how little Indy Lights has helped generate new talent compared to the Atlantic Championship).

[jdagracing]

@cosworths

If I was Markus and someone squeezed me like that... I would've fired them off too. Can I ask... have you ever raced before? In Europe and the US? While I don't disagree Markus hanging in there was a bit rash I think Simona could have tried a safer spot for the pass. I do rate her and think she'd smoke Danic*nt... regardless she's going to do bigger and better things, atlantics champ or not

[jraybay]

@jdagracing safer spot? The corkscrew is a perfectly fine place to make successful passes. why wait and try it somewhere else?  Its easy for you to speak in hindsight. The truth is markus f****d up.

[ritchie22061981]

c'est vraiment un enfoire ce type, you are a dirty driver man!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mistah2]

That really sucked, I was hoping Simona would make history and win the championship.

[punkr]

Right. She would have won the title had it not been for the accident. In the rules, it states the best 11 (of 12) results count towards the championship. It would have been clear that de Silvestro would be considered the winner.

[ridoxsupra]

I don't think Markus should have stayed in Atlantics after winning the title. It will only look bad if he struggles the year after winning it. If he can get together a US 700k budget for Atlantics, then he should have looked at Indy lights or even WSR. Unfortunately he said he's looking to get a top seat in Atlantics for 2010..I hope his career doesn't end here.

[lukesterld]

It looks like the orange and black car on the left did not leave the car on the right any room. The car with the camera had nowhere to go. Either get back on the track or hit the wall.

[jdagracing]

Looks like a racing incident to me... two people going for the same piece of tarmac. Ur comment highlights the problem with American mentality towards racing. In Europe Markus would most likely not have been penalized or even summoned to the officials, why you ask? If put yourself on the outside of any competitor you are at their mercy "ahead" or not. They both could have used better judgment, especially Simona going for a championship. By her giving him room she left the door wide open for this

[openwheel6]

She was leading the points?