@manthing43 again, no one i have spoken with who covered the race had heard the story before Donaldson mentioned it in 2004, and i can find no reference to Mears saying anything at all. I know Foyt and Andretti later laid some of the blame on Mears for bringing the field up so slowly that it made someone lighting up the tires more likely. Cogan's career is full of screw-ups like this -- see the 1986 race where he let Rahal get the jump on him on a restart with two laps to go.
@dinhwood Defective parts happen. Halfshafts were busting left & right in the '80's right thru mid-80s. One busted on Mario @ Phoenix 1984 so am I to believe that after 20 yrs experience Mario was no better than Kevin at the time? Watch later in this race when Tony Bettenhausen crahes, his car just veers like Kevins but he's already @ full speed & not going up thru the gears. So was Tony a screwup also? Or Tom Sneva a bad driver cuz he had the same thing happen also b4 the start 1986?
The same thing happened to Roberto Gerroro in the 91 or 92 Indy, he was in POLE POSITION and had a similar issue on the back strech on the pace laps. Pretty embarssing but it can happen.
@Zoomer30 Great comment...I was remembering that myself as I was watching and then saw your comment. I believe it was 1992...the first year Little Al won the race.
@PorygonFanatics Split was 1996 so actually Robby competed in 3 Indy 500's before the split. He was a rookie in 1993 driving for Foyt. He finished 5th both 1994 & 1995 driving for Valvoline sponsored Derrick Walker owned team.
@MrGrevy Willy T. Ribbs was one of the best Trans Am drivers at one time, but alas he never did show any moxy in an Indy Car and in fact took some laps around Indy 1985 and was spooked out. He declined to drive that year. He didn't attempt to qualify again until 1991. He only had 2 top 10 finishes in his CART career.
@MrGrevy Uh I'm not sure you get it. "Spooked" means the high speed scared him. In press conference he said he wasn't ready yet which was commendable of him to admit it. I have it on videotape. Only two top 10 finishes driving for some good well-funded teams isn't very good. Sorry but his results speak loud & clear.
@PorygonFanatics: I have spoken with several sportswriters who cover and covered Indy car racing and *none* of them heard anything about Mears having a similar wreck in a test at Michigan until Donald Davidson mentioned it in 2004. I don't know that Davidson, who has a lot of trivia about the IMS, is necessarily a solid source.
@dinhwood Donaldson mentioned it a lonnnnnnng time before 2004, try 1983. It was Derrick Walker who said they "never found anything wrong with Kevin's car" although I don't know how you're going to be able figure out whether a halfshaft broke before or after the impact w/ the wall. No Penske crewmember ever admitted there was a problem (that would be suicide to their job w/ him) but there's 1 guy that didn't have a problem admitting there was a problem & that was Mears himself.
Foyt might be an... opinionated individual, but this was Cogan's fault all the way. He lit the tires up and lost control. Andretti and Foyt have been around enough to know the difference between a malfunction and a bonehead act. Cogan was a nice guy and a good driver but his worst enemy. Cogan was racing for Penske and blamed the wreck on the car -- that's what killed his career. You don't call Penske out in public.
@dinhwood Rick Mears had a similar wreck in a test at Michigan just about a month earlier. It may have been a half-shaft failure, but Kevin Cogan still could have screwed the half-shaft with a bad shift. So even if Kevin Cogan had a problem with his car, he can still be blamed.
@dinhwood The video evidence is against you. Look closely. If Kevin "lit the tires" as you say, you would be seeing either A) tire smoke or B) black streaks left on the pavement from a burn-out. There is not even a hint of either. Guerrero in '92 did lite the tires, side angle showed him leaving black marks behind, not to mention that the audio was great for Guerrero's, there was absolutely no question he lost control while doing a burn-out.
The way they showed the starting lineup is much better than anything they do now. This video proves that Sam Posey sucks. Oh, and Coogan as Super Tex called him pretty much finished his career with this wreck.
@efan2011 you're an effan moron, I was at that race (as I have been at 40 in a row) and Mears brought the filed to the start line WAAAY to slow so when it was time to go they weren't going fast enough, Cogan's car had to much torque too rear wheels and he lost control, simple as that...it's called racing, and AJ Foyt's STILL one of the biggest assholes in Indy 500 history!
@oneirishpoet AJ is the most self centered, egotistical, arrogant jerk to ever race at Indy....He would never admitt to doing enything wrong. If you worked fokr him, he would ride you to no end.
@dbrinkm1 I grew up in Indy and have seen/ heard/ read enough about his jerk-ness to know AJ's an asshole...I don't care how many races he won, if he can't be a decent human being to the people who helped him along the way then fuck him...never liked the asshole one bit
@efan2011 In retrospect it's kind of amazing AJ didn't hit him! Aside from a little girly swearing, he seems kinda docile about it .. for him anyway. Remember when he smashed his computer to the ground and got in a fight with Arie Luyendyk?? LOL
@efan2011 But then again maybe Kevin was more of a scrapper then his quiet demeanor led us to believe. He was fined $50,000 back in 1986 @ Leguna Seca when he approached another driver after the race (can't remember who ... Ed Pimm? Jan Lammers?) and started throwing punches.
This start crash is very similar to US 500 of 1996. Cogan started in middle of front row, like Fernandez in US 500, and then will be red flag in both of two these races.
Now I see why Tony Stewarts idol growing up was AJ. Foyt. Both have alot in common, they both are not afraid to speak their minds and both will show a tempor now and then.
i remember watching this race on espn classic a few years ago. great race. shame i dont get espn classic anymore, used to love it when they showed old races especially around may when theyd show old indy 500's.
For those lovers of profanity, when ESPN Classic showed this race in 2003 AJ's comments to Chris were not bleeped out...not that there was much question as to what was said. LOL.
The guy I haev always felt the most empathy for was Roger Mears. COMPLETELY an innocent victim in this mess, taken out by an overzealous Dale Whittington.
Last time Mario was on the track at Indy I believe he was going over a hundred, upside down and 10 feet in the air....think he blamed it on a broken jack shaft.
that's racing...aj is real piece of werk...and mario did jump the start and put his car in harm's way...all going 130mph...people needed to maintain kool heads and throttles....cogan hardly did it on purpose....the announcers did a horrible job reporting what actually could have happened, rather they ran to mario and aj the plant some big ass kisses on 'em....hey, that's racin'....if ya can't hang, atleast shut yer pie hole.
At 5:57 you can see how far ahead Mario was...he was trying to jump the start. Johncock (his teammate) was right next to him, back in proper alignment, and says that if Mario was back in row 2 where he belonged, he could have steered to avoid Cogan.
In the minutes following the crash, on the radio, most of the drivers...Rutherford, Johncock, among them, all thought that Mears took the field down way too slow. Which could have been the reason Cogan was in first gear as he said he was, and if they were going faster, he wouldn't have gunned it so abruptly.
Everyone at Penske maintains that "nothing broke." We'll never know if that's true or not.
I always found Sam Posey's remarks amazing, since the IMS Radio Network crew was all over the crash. Rodger Ward immediately suggested that either 1) Kevin was riding the brakes to engage the turbo, released, and it came around or 2) He simply gunned it in 1st gear (when he should have been in 2nd) and it came around. It wasn't hard to do that back then.
Posey's analysis...."Absolutely no idea."
4 years later Sam would call Cogan on the radio with 3 laps to go..."I'm kinda busy now Sam"
@harryspen wow, you sure get to the heart of the matter....brilliant. you should try to get a job with the speed channel....i just gotta have more of your insight.
Until 1986, ABC broadcast the Indy "500" on tape (edited) the evening of the race, several hours after it took place.
During these years, the commentators would describe the start, the first few laps, and the last few laps as they took place. They would describe the middle of the race (edited), watching it on TV monitors, while the edited tape was being broadcast.
Maybe it was a good thing it didn't air live; otherwise, the FCC may have fined ABC and it's 200-or so stations for A.J.'s "s**t".
There's a pretty big case for a failure in the rear suspension. Rick Mears had a rear suspension go out on him at Michigan earlier that season in the same way, and Cogan looked to the right left corner as he got out, almost like he thought something broke.
I think they should have a new series with 100% american drivers on american tracks, that way they will have an american champion every year. oh and they should call it the World Series.
@snappy452 Rubbin aint racing it following someone for a entire race then fuckin him up,even i can do that. open wheel takes skill "rubbin is instant 'oh shit'.
i still don't understand why they let photographers and officials stand in that area between the track and pit road....i don't know how no one hasn't been killed yet....
Wow! 80's Flashback. Actual Americans in the field! Love the graphics and music. 130 looks like pace car speeds in comparison to 230s. Nice they actually waited (or tried to) until the entire field was on the front straight. That was a different era in American Open Wheel.
I was watching this back in 82 when it happen and after watching it again, I still think Cogan was messing with something in the cockpit or looking at the stands and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rick Mears slowly vering towards him and he overreacted. watch it again, Mears actually unintentionally started this thing, still Cogans fault.
im sure back then no one knew that 20 years later chip ganassi would be such a succesful owner. and dennis firestone would be the best name in indycar racing today. back then they used goodyear... i think
@luridplanet Eh, surely Mario calmed down later and realized it wasn't Cogan's fault (at least not intentionally.) That could have happened to anybody. He was just angry that he wasn't going to get a chance to run and his temper was saying stuff his mind didn't really mean.
lol Recalling a line from a classic Bob & Tom song. "Nobody was sure what the yellow flag was for but some guy who had Kevin Cogan in the office pool was taking his and the Lords name in vain"
Still astonishes me that in a 500 mile oval race that everyone thinks that they are going to win the race on the first lap. Mario should have know better than to be so close...and Cogan just completely dropped the ball..I remember watching this race and seeing foyte say to one of his mechanic..."he ran into my fucking car'!
Still astonishes me that in a 500 mile oval race that everyone thinks that they are going to win the race on the first lap. Mario should have know better than to be so close...and Cogan just completely dropped the ball..I remember watching this race and seeing foyte say to one of his mechanic..."he ran into my fucking car'!
Cogan gassed it and simply lost it running into AJ-(aka Supertex). It was a MAJOR mess up but in Cogan's defense, he easily would have won in '86 before a late caution gave Rahal the chance to catch(bunch) up under yellow then make the pass. on the restart.
@themusicman1970 honestly Mears had a lead of the whole front straight before the next to the last flag on that race in 1986 so honestly I think mears was the one that was screwed in that race in 1986,,,,he also dominated that race....A couple of things differently here and there and Mears is easily 6 time winner
How did Mears get screwed in '86? Cogan just made a great pass on him as did Rahal, simple as that. Mears was great. Keep in mind though that all his wins came with the distinct and real advantage of the Penske team which wins FAR more that any other in this modern era. AJ is the only 4 time winner without the help of Roger and did it at at a time when it was more driver and less car (testing, money, etc...) Takes nothing away from Mears though, he was a great driver for sure.
@dalebshelton he didn't get crowned. I felt like mears should have won the 86 race and the 82 race. If not for the yellow..rahal and cogan would not have had a chance....if not for a slower in experience driver int he pits in 82 mears would have won the 82 race....but thats racing...something here and there and the race is over.
@dalebshelton Foyte is the only guy that has won with a Front engine and a rear engine car. Take nothing away from him. A lot of people have won before Penske. So saying that Mears is the only guy to win four without the help or Roger is really not a big statement. Penske started from the 70's on. I am not getting into an Arguement about who is better. I was just making a point. Mears put himself in posisiton time and time again to win the big race.
@dalebshelton growing up in the 80's watching open wheel racing...(nascar fan now) i was a HUGE mears fan...he WAS open wheel racing to me...him along with unser jr. (I lived in new mexico at the time) it was exciting times for Indy...now its just...well...blah....
@tonip420 Yeah we were big Mears fans too as well as Cogan. I have a CIRCLE TRACK magazine in which Kevin was quoted as saying "Rick has THE touch on ovals - nobody is better!" I probably didn't get it exact but that's pretty much what he said and I thought that was pretty cool of him to say. Rarely did you hear drivers praise other drivers.
@tonip420I was 10 years old...beg my mom to watch the race that night on tape delay. The buildup was HUGE..it was the biggest race ever at that time.I never saw anything like it! I was hooked..the next day at school myself and these other 2 kids .thats all we talked about... At that point the guy that finished second..Rick mears because my favorite race car driver...Until..I discovered...Ayrton Senna..I never got to see meet Ayrton Senna. I will not make that mistake with Mears.
@dalebshelton Gotta disagree cuz Mears car was a dog in traffic so it's quite possible Rahal & Cogan would've caught him anyways. Cogan not only had the awesome pass around the outside near the end but also zipped around Mears on the outside in turn two near the midway mark too. Just an awesome pass. But to Mears defense his car was just terrible in traffic. Cogan's set-up his car to run high, so he was in good position to take advantage of traffic.
yeah, sometimes I hate AJ Foyt for some of the stuff he does, but this one was unbelievable. Coogan didn't keep both hands on the wheel I guess - that's unbelievable. can't blame AJ for that, all Coogan there
@ratzinator1 It's not here in this particular video but somewhere there's a frontstretch camera video & you get a halfway decent view of the cockpits and you could see Kevin w/ both hands on the wheel turning it the opposite direction the car is going before he hits Foyt. Leads me to believe something broke on his car like he said.
if what you are saying is true (which I can't contest), yeah, that wouldn't be his fault then unless he turned into A.J. - it's just bad luck and the only person who really knows what happened is Cogan; A.J. and Mario just were caught in the spots and they are mad about that
Add to that, the changing face of Indy car as a more of a computerized, aerodynamic, money consuming, sport and it started to become the 'superteam' sport that it is today (Penske, Ganassi) Before that, it was more driver and less car. One thing is for sure, AJ is the only driver to ever win four Indy's w/out the assistance of old Penske.
AJ actually was able to his car and came out on the restart and smoked everyone taking and extending the lead over Mears for the first 30 laps or so. Ultimately, Aj's car broke and I think it was related to Cogan running into him. This was Foyt's last best shot for Five as his father (head mechanic) passed the following year and he just didn't have the same burning passion any longer.
AJ actually was able to his car and came out on the restart and smoked everyone taking and extending the lead over Mears for the first 30 laps or so. Ultimately, Aj's car broke and I think it was related to Cogan running into him. This was Foyt's last best shot for Five as his father (head mechanic) passed the following year and he just didn't have the same burning passion any longer.
I was there working on Dennis Firestone's car, Had been a mechanic for Kevin Cogan, knew him personally. It was unfortunate but he stood on the gas lost traction in a split second and rotated sideways. That was the cause of the crash, He was an excellent driver not accustomed to the instant massive power of the Indy or Cart car.
@sir945 I don't know if I could compare Dale Sr to Aj Foyte. Just two different type of career. Dale was completely and utterly a NASCAR driver. Foyte was a complete driver of all sorts. I would compare him more to Andretti. I consider Ayrton Senna the greatest racing driver I have ever seen. I terms of sheer speed. Rick Mears could be compared to Ayrton Senna
Little known fact: Don and Bill Whittington would be part of a drug scandal in IMSA, look up for more details on Wikipedia. I Know that money laudering was involved, but correct me if I am wrong.
@tonip420 Actually Foyt's car only had minor damage, The crew repaired it and Foyt didn't just make the start but stormed into the lead going into Turn 1. He led like the first 22 laps! He dropped out about the halfway mark with transmission problems which was another classic image, as he got out and began hammering on his transimission! I never heard anyone complain about their tickets because they were treated to one of the closest finishes in history!
Gordon Johncock had the best veiw of what happend but abc did not even bother to talk to him because it was Gordy that said Mario pulled up behind cogan and Gordy even got on radio and said you need to tell mario to get back and the crash mario took himself out
It's almost 100% the same thing that later happened to gerraro (not sure on the name, he was the pole sitter in the 91 92 or 93 500).
His car just made a right hand hook on him right into the inside wall. And he was a vet and the freaking pole sitter These cars are really touchy going slow like that and i think kc got way too much grief for it.
Fast forward to lap 37. Tony Bettenhausen is full speed on the mainstraight & almost the same spot where Cogan crashed, Tony's car suddenly veers right like Cogan's. Fortunately he was not hurt and no other cars were near. Was it cold tires? No he had many laps at speed on them. Did he jump on the throttle too hard? No, he was already flat out. Obviously it was mechanical failure, as Sam Posey eluded to & said "This is the sort of thing that may have happened to Cogan earlier".
I've always wondered......what wouldve happened if that accident hadn't occured? Would Mario and Kevin had a chance at winning? Its interesting to think about, but then that is what happens when "you have children doing a man's job!"
I am also skeptic. There is no forensic evidence in the video as there is with Guerrero (the black burn-out marks). & it's also evident Kevin let the car skate to the wall to get it out of the path of the field when he could've just slammed on the brakes. Good heads up move. As reported by Speedway Historian Donald Davidson, teammate Rick Mears had a nearly identical accident in a test a few weeks later & Mears said the mechanical failure he experienced is exactly what happened to Cogan.
if the start was in a higher speed this wouldn't happen... i mean, the grid in perfect formation and stuff was cool, but start this slow as they used wasn't safe at all. i guess.
It is possible, but I am sceptic about this one... He was not an ordinary little experimented guy.Cogan had 2 f1 w.c. race, one Aurora F1 series season, one indy 500 experience and a formula atlantic title. He was far away from being called veteran, but he was not the new rookie around the track.
But I do think he did an error: trying to prepare the car for the race, he overheat something like the brake or a joint. Then he over-corrected the car... When he should put it into the wall.
The point is that you can not rely on any car, whether on the track or the street. No car is perfect ... I do not know, but I think something was wrong with the car Cogan happens ... .. why many crashes ... relies too much on your car. I´m a Indy ! ! !
AJ is an idiot. He walked into most of his indy victories when the leading cars broke in the closing laps. Otherwise he would have maybe one win at the 500.
and that was a huge factor back then, i find it more interesting when reliability is a factor in races especially the indy 500. Wish it was still like that today
The commentators are idiots. "It's as if he turned the wheel intentionally"
Why on earth would a driver deliberately drive into another car before the race has even started. There's a short answer to that, he didn't. Something obviously broke on the car.
The witchhunt that Cogan suffered afterwards was unforgiveable and he's owed some big apologies from a lot of people.
well basically he's saying that by observing how oddly Cogan's car swerved it leads one to think it was intentional that's how oddly his car swerved. he's not saying it was intentional
Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. Just that Sam had a unique way of saying or describing things. He's not dumb or anything. In a way, I kinda miss him.
yeah, one thing i miss about him and paul page is the passion, and they conveyed that passion pretty well in my opinion. that something these announcers these days just lack.
Yes, those two and I must add Jim Mckay and Bobby Unser to that list. Today's commentators are good, but you're right, the passion isn't there as much. Mckay wasn't the biggest racing expert, but it wasn't cause of a lack of effort. Tom Sneva was good too, and witty. I was actually impressed with Jason Priestly in 2001 too.
I agree and also from the announcers and the broadcasts, it was a simpler time back then. Not all those flashy intros and stuff filled with computer graphics. And the coverage didnt have to make reference to Danica Patrick every 5 minutes like they do now. The racing and the action told the story and the indy 500 and its greatness itself was enough. The announcers back then conveyed that passion that is the greatest spectacle in racing the Indy 500
Man, I just remembered Jackie Stewert. He was smart, thoughtful and respected the legend of the 500. Here's a thought, I wonder how the old gaurd would do with all the camera angles, including the onboard cameras of today. I don't know if it would make it better or not. You're right, it was a simpler time.
You gotta love those old school graphics
snappy452 5 months ago
The Race STARTS only at 3:13 can someone cut it?!?!?! haha
MrJvc98 6 months ago
hahahaha, Chip Gannasi with hair!!!! 1:16
LuchoPSP8 6 months ago
@manthing43 again, no one i have spoken with who covered the race had heard the story before Donaldson mentioned it in 2004, and i can find no reference to Mears saying anything at all. I know Foyt and Andretti later laid some of the blame on Mears for bringing the field up so slowly that it made someone lighting up the tires more likely. Cogan's career is full of screw-ups like this -- see the 1986 race where he let Rahal get the jump on him on a restart with two laps to go.
dinhwood 6 months ago
@dinhwood Defective parts happen. Halfshafts were busting left & right in the '80's right thru mid-80s. One busted on Mario @ Phoenix 1984 so am I to believe that after 20 yrs experience Mario was no better than Kevin at the time? Watch later in this race when Tony Bettenhausen crahes, his car just veers like Kevins but he's already @ full speed & not going up thru the gears. So was Tony a screwup also? Or Tom Sneva a bad driver cuz he had the same thing happen also b4 the start 1986?
manthing43 6 months ago
The same thing happened to Roberto Gerroro in the 91 or 92 Indy, he was in POLE POSITION and had a similar issue on the back strech on the pace laps. Pretty embarssing but it can happen.
Zoomer30 6 months ago
@Zoomer30 Great comment...I was remembering that myself as I was watching and then saw your comment. I believe it was 1992...the first year Little Al won the race.
Derby14 6 months ago
@Zoomer30 And it also happened to Tom Sneva 1986 - he started on the 2nd row I believe. Everybody seems to forget about that one.
manthing43 6 months ago
Pancho Carter is the greatest driver in history.
MrGrevy 6 months ago
@MrGrevy To have never won the 500, yes.
PorygonFanatics 6 months ago
@PorygonFanatics Well Willy T. Ribbs is actually the best.
MrGrevy 6 months ago
@MrGrevy Definite a versatile driver. Same can be said of Robby Gordon, but Robby wasn't a contender until CART and IndyCar split.
PorygonFanatics 6 months ago
@PorygonFanatics Split was 1996 so actually Robby competed in 3 Indy 500's before the split. He was a rookie in 1993 driving for Foyt. He finished 5th both 1994 & 1995 driving for Valvoline sponsored Derrick Walker owned team.
manthing43 6 months ago
@MrGrevy Willy T. Ribbs was one of the best Trans Am drivers at one time, but alas he never did show any moxy in an Indy Car and in fact took some laps around Indy 1985 and was spooked out. He declined to drive that year. He didn't attempt to qualify again until 1991. He only had 2 top 10 finishes in his CART career.
manthing43 6 months ago
@manthing43 Yeah but he was good when he drove and his name was Willy T. Ribbs and he was black. Oh I get it! "Spooked"! omg
MrGrevy 6 months ago
@MrGrevy Uh I'm not sure you get it. "Spooked" means the high speed scared him. In press conference he said he wasn't ready yet which was commendable of him to admit it. I have it on videotape. Only two top 10 finishes driving for some good well-funded teams isn't very good. Sorry but his results speak loud & clear.
manthing43 6 months ago
@manthing43 Oh I thought you were making a racial epithet.
MrGrevy 6 months ago
@PorygonFanatics: I have spoken with several sportswriters who cover and covered Indy car racing and *none* of them heard anything about Mears having a similar wreck in a test at Michigan until Donald Davidson mentioned it in 2004. I don't know that Davidson, who has a lot of trivia about the IMS, is necessarily a solid source.
dinhwood 7 months ago
@dinhwood Donaldson mentioned it a lonnnnnnng time before 2004, try 1983. It was Derrick Walker who said they "never found anything wrong with Kevin's car" although I don't know how you're going to be able figure out whether a halfshaft broke before or after the impact w/ the wall. No Penske crewmember ever admitted there was a problem (that would be suicide to their job w/ him) but there's 1 guy that didn't have a problem admitting there was a problem & that was Mears himself.
manthing43 6 months ago
Foyt might be an... opinionated individual, but this was Cogan's fault all the way. He lit the tires up and lost control. Andretti and Foyt have been around enough to know the difference between a malfunction and a bonehead act. Cogan was a nice guy and a good driver but his worst enemy. Cogan was racing for Penske and blamed the wreck on the car -- that's what killed his career. You don't call Penske out in public.
dinhwood 7 months ago
@dinhwood Rick Mears had a similar wreck in a test at Michigan just about a month earlier. It may have been a half-shaft failure, but Kevin Cogan still could have screwed the half-shaft with a bad shift. So even if Kevin Cogan had a problem with his car, he can still be blamed.
PorygonFanatics 7 months ago
@dinhwood The video evidence is against you. Look closely. If Kevin "lit the tires" as you say, you would be seeing either A) tire smoke or B) black streaks left on the pavement from a burn-out. There is not even a hint of either. Guerrero in '92 did lite the tires, side angle showed him leaving black marks behind, not to mention that the audio was great for Guerrero's, there was absolutely no question he lost control while doing a burn-out.
manthing43 6 months ago
whoa a 3X rolling start?!? sweet
LiViNgFeAr12 7 months ago
Bobby Rahal is a Rookie . . .
MicJColeman 7 months ago
AJ looks like a fat ass, and Andretti looks like a midget.
mesa401 7 months ago
4:03 waving hand from red car ^^
PhoenixFirebreath 7 months ago
LOL thanks ASSHOLE!
tyronnezx 7 months ago
"AJ Foyt blames it on Kevin Cogan" no shit
realkman666 7 months ago 6
The way they showed the starting lineup is much better than anything they do now. This video proves that Sam Posey sucks. Oh, and Coogan as Super Tex called him pretty much finished his career with this wreck.
racingfanTS14 7 months ago
skip to 3:58 because im nice
ggman7117 7 months ago
sbazsi 8 months ago
I wish AJ would have hit Cogan, that would have been funny to see.
efan2011 8 months ago
@efan2011 you're an effan moron, I was at that race (as I have been at 40 in a row) and Mears brought the filed to the start line WAAAY to slow so when it was time to go they weren't going fast enough, Cogan's car had to much torque too rear wheels and he lost control, simple as that...it's called racing, and AJ Foyt's STILL one of the biggest assholes in Indy 500 history!
oneirishpoet 8 months ago
@oneirishpoet
I was talking about punching him you stupid asshole
efan2011 8 months ago
@oneirishpoet AJ is the most self centered, egotistical, arrogant jerk to ever race at Indy....He would never admitt to doing enything wrong. If you worked fokr him, he would ride you to no end.
dbrinkm1 7 months ago
@dbrinkm1 I grew up in Indy and have seen/ heard/ read enough about his jerk-ness to know AJ's an asshole...I don't care how many races he won, if he can't be a decent human being to the people who helped him along the way then fuck him...never liked the asshole one bit
oneirishpoet 7 months ago
@oneirishpoet I was a coworker for many years with the tire technician for the Neuman Hass team and he said the same thing about Foyt..
dbrinkm1 6 months ago
@efan2011 In retrospect it's kind of amazing AJ didn't hit him! Aside from a little girly swearing, he seems kinda docile about it .. for him anyway. Remember when he smashed his computer to the ground and got in a fight with Arie Luyendyk?? LOL
manthing43 6 months ago
@manthing43
Yeah AJ would have hurt Cogan if he was to fight him. When AJ get's pissed off it always fun to watch though
efan2011 6 months ago
@efan2011 But then again maybe Kevin was more of a scrapper then his quiet demeanor led us to believe. He was fined $50,000 back in 1986 @ Leguna Seca when he approached another driver after the race (can't remember who ... Ed Pimm? Jan Lammers?) and started throwing punches.
manthing43 6 months ago
@manthing43
I don't know either. I am a Nascar guy usually bit i watch some Indy too.
efan2011 6 months ago
This start crash is very similar to US 500 of 1996. Cogan started in middle of front row, like Fernandez in US 500, and then will be red flag in both of two these races.
sbazsi 8 months ago
@sbazsi yeah... except indy didn't then let all the teams with extra cars restart with new cars in the spots they were in before
xupthree60 8 months ago
Now I see why Tony Stewarts idol growing up was AJ. Foyt. Both have alot in common, they both are not afraid to speak their minds and both will show a tempor now and then.
rjl1184 8 months ago
Lol. A.J tells it like it is as usual. Long live "Super Tex!" There will never be another one like him.
agabbahey 8 months ago
@agabbahey AJ Foyt is an embarrassment to mankind.
KinetiK138 8 months ago
Don't suppose anybody has this entire race that they'd like to upload? This is one of the few that is missing on youtube.
agabbahey 8 months ago
@agabbahey tvspnd1228 has it now on his channel. Go there. You're welcome.
LMCMInterloper 2 months ago
"Chet Fillip is the first bearded driver to start here in 40 years"- WTF? They apparently didnt have better info.
hoosierredneck1 8 months ago
i remember watching this race on espn classic a few years ago. great race. shame i dont get espn classic anymore, used to love it when they showed old races especially around may when theyd show old indy 500's.
lemans24fan 9 months ago
Kevin Cogan...well in the "where is he now file".
PeterMayer 9 months ago
For those lovers of profanity, when ESPN Classic showed this race in 2003 AJ's comments to Chris were not bleeped out...not that there was much question as to what was said. LOL.
Radar19792006 9 months ago
The guy I haev always felt the most empathy for was Roger Mears. COMPLETELY an innocent victim in this mess, taken out by an overzealous Dale Whittington.
3338MAN 9 months ago
Last time Mario was on the track at Indy I believe he was going over a hundred, upside down and 10 feet in the air....think he blamed it on a broken jack shaft.
bofustjohnson 9 months ago
that's racing...aj is real piece of werk...and mario did jump the start and put his car in harm's way...all going 130mph...people needed to maintain kool heads and throttles....cogan hardly did it on purpose....the announcers did a horrible job reporting what actually could have happened, rather they ran to mario and aj the plant some big ass kisses on 'em....hey, that's racin'....if ya can't hang, atleast shut yer pie hole.
bofustjohnson 9 months ago
Comment removed
AutoRacer5 9 months ago
At 5:57 you can see how far ahead Mario was...he was trying to jump the start. Johncock (his teammate) was right next to him, back in proper alignment, and says that if Mario was back in row 2 where he belonged, he could have steered to avoid Cogan.
doctorindy 9 months ago
In the minutes following the crash, on the radio, most of the drivers...Rutherford, Johncock, among them, all thought that Mears took the field down way too slow. Which could have been the reason Cogan was in first gear as he said he was, and if they were going faster, he wouldn't have gunned it so abruptly.
Everyone at Penske maintains that "nothing broke." We'll never know if that's true or not.
doctorindy 9 months ago
I always found Sam Posey's remarks amazing, since the IMS Radio Network crew was all over the crash. Rodger Ward immediately suggested that either 1) Kevin was riding the brakes to engage the turbo, released, and it came around or 2) He simply gunned it in 1st gear (when he should have been in 2nd) and it came around. It wasn't hard to do that back then.
Posey's analysis...."Absolutely no idea."
4 years later Sam would call Cogan on the radio with 3 laps to go..."I'm kinda busy now Sam"
doctorindy 9 months ago
7:28.. Mario's comment about "..children doing a man's job.." I've heard that line before in F1 also :D
Usually when a Rookie takes out a big name driver.
CHABBO 9 months ago
Thats what happens to the car when the half shaft breaks. No fault of Kevin Cogan.
Andretti and Foyt whining like little beeotches.
dakotarider74 9 months ago
kevin cogan sucks ass he cant even drive a below avarge f1 car the dumbass
harryspen 9 months ago
@harryspen wow, you sure get to the heart of the matter....brilliant. you should try to get a job with the speed channel....i just gotta have more of your insight.
bofustjohnson 9 months ago
Guy had his head up his ass,thats all.
ynp1978 9 months ago
R.I.P.Gordon Smiley.
Topolandjevic 10 months ago
Kevin was just to anxious to get the race started,but Foyt should Blane it on him
colonary16 10 months ago
spun out from wheelspin, tried to get a jump on the start
327yellow 11 months ago
Gordon Johncock won it, but his name is as hilarious as Kevin Cogan's crash!
Porygonseizureman 11 months ago
Until 1986, ABC broadcast the Indy "500" on tape (edited) the evening of the race, several hours after it took place.
During these years, the commentators would describe the start, the first few laps, and the last few laps as they took place. They would describe the middle of the race (edited), watching it on TV monitors, while the edited tape was being broadcast.
Maybe it was a good thing it didn't air live; otherwise, the FCC may have fined ABC and it's 200-or so stations for A.J.'s "s**t".
altfactor 1 year ago
Tosh should give Kevin Cogan a web redemption
ikefootball75 1 year ago 24
@ikefootball75 dude best comment ever!
sennadesillva 3 months ago
There's a pretty big case for a failure in the rear suspension. Rick Mears had a rear suspension go out on him at Michigan earlier that season in the same way, and Cogan looked to the right left corner as he got out, almost like he thought something broke.
TheCarlsonsRaiders 1 year ago
what a hardcor accident :)
motorsportfan1990 1 year ago
"How in the WORLD could this of happened?"
"Absolutely NO Idea Jim!"
fueldragster 1 year ago
haha, man AJ hit it right on the nose.
equalcharliebrown 1 year ago
wtf
what was Cogan's problem ?
Was he Drunk or something
Hanjin13 1 year ago
@Hanjin13
Something had to have broken on the car for it to wreck like that.
PYLrulz1984 1 year ago
gordon Johncock,was that his real name?Sounds like he should be making PORN.
mmmkaythen 1 year ago
AJ Foyt - Best interview ever
snappy452 1 year ago
I think they should have a new series with 100% american drivers on american tracks, that way they will have an american champion every year. oh and they should call it the World Series.
watanabehefuml 1 year ago
@watanabehefuml NASCAR aka hillbilly bumper tag.
mmmkaythen 1 year ago
@mmmkaythen lol they only cheer when an american wins.
watanabehefuml 1 year ago
@mmmkaythen NASCAR = rubbin's racing. Open Wheel = Rubbin's crashin. Nice mechanics, dick.
snappy452 1 year ago
@snappy452 Rubbin aint racing it following someone for a entire race then fuckin him up,even i can do that. open wheel takes skill "rubbin is instant 'oh shit'.
mmmkaythen 1 year ago
@mmmkaythen um, what? Thats not english.
snappy452 1 year ago
@snappy452 Simple things for simple people.Was that English enough for you.
mmmkaythen 1 year ago
@mmmkaythen nevermind i was just being cheeky :P
snappy452 1 year ago
Cogan was a child. You can tell by his answer. Much like Obama on the economy. " I didn't do anything wrong. "
thewelford 1 year ago
i still don't understand why they let photographers and officials stand in that area between the track and pit road....i don't know how no one hasn't been killed yet....
joeyskierdrummer 1 year ago
How did Bobby Rahal got involve in this wreck, all I know it was Foyt, Cogan, Andretti, Dale Whittington and Roger Mears.
AutoRockinRacing94 1 year ago
wow lots of big names
KoichiCL 1 year ago
Chip Ganassi better be glad he didn't start that yard sell!
gahloot 1 year ago
Wow! 80's Flashback. Actual Americans in the field! Love the graphics and music. 130 looks like pace car speeds in comparison to 230s. Nice they actually waited (or tried to) until the entire field was on the front straight. That was a different era in American Open Wheel.
vuetube 1 year ago
AJ was the best
CourtyardPigeon 1 year ago
@biggpapi09 Well, 46 actually.
therrydicule 1 year ago
At 3.57 Rick Mears car vers to the right!
gijoeman22 1 year ago
I was watching this back in 82 when it happen and after watching it again, I still think Cogan was messing with something in the cockpit or looking at the stands and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rick Mears slowly vering towards him and he overreacted. watch it again, Mears actually unintentionally started this thing, still Cogans fault.
gijoeman22 1 year ago
im sure back then no one knew that 20 years later chip ganassi would be such a succesful owner. and dennis firestone would be the best name in indycar racing today. back then they used goodyear... i think
gamrguy101 1 year ago
@gamrguy101 Not sure Dennis Firestone is part of THAT Firestone family. He's from Australia
gijoeman22 1 year ago
Mario didn't like Kevin Cogan very much after this heheh
luridplanet 1 year ago
@luridplanet Eh, surely Mario calmed down later and realized it wasn't Cogan's fault (at least not intentionally.) That could have happened to anybody. He was just angry that he wasn't going to get a chance to run and his temper was saying stuff his mind didn't really mean.
CombatSportFan 1 year ago
What is the name of the song in the background when they show the starting grid?
AutoRockinRacing94 1 year ago
lol Recalling a line from a classic Bob & Tom song. "Nobody was sure what the yellow flag was for but some guy who had Kevin Cogan in the office pool was taking his and the Lords name in vain"
GasCityGuy 1 year ago
I was 13 when I watched this with my family and wow, did it create lots of laughs while they were cleaning up the mess.
clrayles 1 year ago
Still astonishes me that in a 500 mile oval race that everyone thinks that they are going to win the race on the first lap. Mario should have know better than to be so close...and Cogan just completely dropped the ball..I remember watching this race and seeing foyte say to one of his mechanic..."he ran into my fucking car'!
dalebshelton 1 year ago
Still astonishes me that in a 500 mile oval race that everyone thinks that they are going to win the race on the first lap. Mario should have know better than to be so close...and Cogan just completely dropped the ball..I remember watching this race and seeing foyte say to one of his mechanic..."he ran into my fucking car'!
dalebshelton 1 year ago
Cogan gassed it and simply lost it running into AJ-(aka Supertex). It was a MAJOR mess up but in Cogan's defense, he easily would have won in '86 before a late caution gave Rahal the chance to catch(bunch) up under yellow then make the pass. on the restart.
themusicman1970 1 year ago
@themusicman1970 honestly Mears had a lead of the whole front straight before the next to the last flag on that race in 1986 so honestly I think mears was the one that was screwed in that race in 1986,,,,he also dominated that race....A couple of things differently here and there and Mears is easily 6 time winner
dalebshelton 1 year ago
How did Mears get screwed in '86? Cogan just made a great pass on him as did Rahal, simple as that. Mears was great. Keep in mind though that all his wins came with the distinct and real advantage of the Penske team which wins FAR more that any other in this modern era. AJ is the only 4 time winner without the help of Roger and did it at at a time when it was more driver and less car (testing, money, etc...) Takes nothing away from Mears though, he was a great driver for sure.
themusicman1970 1 year ago
@dalebshelton he didn't get crowned. I felt like mears should have won the 86 race and the 82 race. If not for the yellow..rahal and cogan would not have had a chance....if not for a slower in experience driver int he pits in 82 mears would have won the 82 race....but thats racing...something here and there and the race is over.
dalebshelton 1 year ago
@dalebshelton Foyte is the only guy that has won with a Front engine and a rear engine car. Take nothing away from him. A lot of people have won before Penske. So saying that Mears is the only guy to win four without the help or Roger is really not a big statement. Penske started from the 70's on. I am not getting into an Arguement about who is better. I was just making a point. Mears put himself in posisiton time and time again to win the big race.
dalebshelton 1 year ago
@dalebshelton growing up in the 80's watching open wheel racing...(nascar fan now) i was a HUGE mears fan...he WAS open wheel racing to me...him along with unser jr. (I lived in new mexico at the time) it was exciting times for Indy...now its just...well...blah....
tonip420 1 year ago
@tonip420 Yeah we were big Mears fans too as well as Cogan. I have a CIRCLE TRACK magazine in which Kevin was quoted as saying "Rick has THE touch on ovals - nobody is better!" I probably didn't get it exact but that's pretty much what he said and I thought that was pretty cool of him to say. Rarely did you hear drivers praise other drivers.
manthing43 1 year ago
@tonip420I was 10 years old...beg my mom to watch the race that night on tape delay. The buildup was HUGE..it was the biggest race ever at that time.I never saw anything like it! I was hooked..the next day at school myself and these other 2 kids .thats all we talked about... At that point the guy that finished second..Rick mears because my favorite race car driver...Until..I discovered...Ayrton Senna..I never got to see meet Ayrton Senna. I will not make that mistake with Mears.
dalebshelton 1 year ago
@dalebshelton Gotta disagree cuz Mears car was a dog in traffic so it's quite possible Rahal & Cogan would've caught him anyways. Cogan not only had the awesome pass around the outside near the end but also zipped around Mears on the outside in turn two near the midway mark too. Just an awesome pass. But to Mears defense his car was just terrible in traffic. Cogan's set-up his car to run high, so he was in good position to take advantage of traffic.
manthing43 1 year ago
@themusicman1970
yeah, sometimes I hate AJ Foyt for some of the stuff he does, but this one was unbelievable. Coogan didn't keep both hands on the wheel I guess - that's unbelievable. can't blame AJ for that, all Coogan there
ratzinator1 1 year ago
@ratzinator1 It's not here in this particular video but somewhere there's a frontstretch camera video & you get a halfway decent view of the cockpits and you could see Kevin w/ both hands on the wheel turning it the opposite direction the car is going before he hits Foyt. Leads me to believe something broke on his car like he said.
manthing43 1 year ago
@manthing43
if what you are saying is true (which I can't contest), yeah, that wouldn't be his fault then unless he turned into A.J. - it's just bad luck and the only person who really knows what happened is Cogan; A.J. and Mario just were caught in the spots and they are mad about that
ratzinator1 1 year ago
Add to that, the changing face of Indy car as a more of a computerized, aerodynamic, money consuming, sport and it started to become the 'superteam' sport that it is today (Penske, Ganassi) Before that, it was more driver and less car. One thing is for sure, AJ is the only driver to ever win four Indy's w/out the assistance of old Penske.
themusicman1970 1 year ago
AJ actually was able to his car and came out on the restart and smoked everyone taking and extending the lead over Mears for the first 30 laps or so. Ultimately, Aj's car broke and I think it was related to Cogan running into him. This was Foyt's last best shot for Five as his father (head mechanic) passed the following year and he just didn't have the same burning passion any longer.
themusicman1970 1 year ago
AJ actually was able to his car and came out on the restart and smoked everyone taking and extending the lead over Mears for the first 30 laps or so. Ultimately, Aj's car broke and I think it was related to Cogan running into him. This was Foyt's last best shot for Five as his father (head mechanic) passed the following year and he just didn't have the same burning passion any longer.
themusicman1970 1 year ago
I was there working on Dennis Firestone's car, Had been a mechanic for Kevin Cogan, knew him personally. It was unfortunate but he stood on the gas lost traction in a split second and rotated sideways. That was the cause of the crash, He was an excellent driver not accustomed to the instant massive power of the Indy or Cart car.
ransarge 1 year ago
a.j foyt is the dale earnhardt sr of indycar racing
sir945 1 year ago
@sir945 wouldn't go that far
dalebshelton 1 year ago
@dalebshelton wich one are you refering to because i have made 2 comments of this video
sir945 1 year ago
@sir945 I don't know if I could compare Dale Sr to Aj Foyte. Just two different type of career. Dale was completely and utterly a NASCAR driver. Foyte was a complete driver of all sorts. I would compare him more to Andretti. I consider Ayrton Senna the greatest racing driver I have ever seen. I terms of sheer speed. Rick Mears could be compared to Ayrton Senna
dalebshelton 1 year ago
Little known fact: Don and Bill Whittington would be part of a drug scandal in IMSA, look up for more details on Wikipedia. I Know that money laudering was involved, but correct me if I am wrong.
MrElectricOne 1 year ago
could you imagine buying tickets for this race in '82 and watching Foyt and Andretti get taken out BEFORE the race even started...
tonip420 1 year ago
@tonip420 Actually Foyt's car only had minor damage, The crew repaired it and Foyt didn't just make the start but stormed into the lead going into Turn 1. He led like the first 22 laps! He dropped out about the halfway mark with transmission problems which was another classic image, as he got out and began hammering on his transimission! I never heard anyone complain about their tickets because they were treated to one of the closest finishes in history!
manthing43 1 year ago
@manthing43 cool...well you learn something new every day...but you gotta admit...that would be a bit of a sinking feeling at first...
tonip420 1 year ago
Gordon Johncock had the best veiw of what happend but abc did not even bother to talk to him because it was Gordy that said Mario pulled up behind cogan and Gordy even got on radio and said you need to tell mario to get back and the crash mario took himself out
sir945 1 year ago
Oh and just tune out any words and stuff that vomit out of AJ Foyts piehole, he is "The Rush Limbaugh of Racing" and it's best to just ignore him.
Zoomer30 1 year ago
It's almost 100% the same thing that later happened to gerraro (not sure on the name, he was the pole sitter in the 91 92 or 93 500).
His car just made a right hand hook on him right into the inside wall. And he was a vet and the freaking pole sitter These cars are really touchy going slow like that and i think kc got way too much grief for it.
Zoomer30 1 year ago
Na, nothing broke on the car, neither was is intentional. He just lit up the rear wheels and was to slow to correct it. duh!
club100pusher 1 year ago
Way to go Kev....
PeterMayer 1 year ago
Takuma Sato is the new Kevin Cogan :)
sbazsi 1 year ago
"Cooogin!!" -Classic AJ.
Mario's "children" comment also applies to his grandson last year at Indy.
shagdesign 1 year ago 2
A.J. Foyt Acted Like Dale Earnhardt Sr.!!!!!
jamespic 1 year ago
Foyt has one hell of a reputation, thats for sure.
bobdole57 1 year ago
Dale Earnhardt Sr was child's play compared to A.J. Foyt.
erasetoimprove 1 year ago
I think he had cold tired cause Cogan to crash.
afannell 1 year ago
Fast forward to lap 37. Tony Bettenhausen is full speed on the mainstraight & almost the same spot where Cogan crashed, Tony's car suddenly veers right like Cogan's. Fortunately he was not hurt and no other cars were near. Was it cold tires? No he had many laps at speed on them. Did he jump on the throttle too hard? No, he was already flat out. Obviously it was mechanical failure, as Sam Posey eluded to & said "This is the sort of thing that may have happened to Cogan earlier".
manthing43 1 year ago
This is what happens when you have children doing a man's job up front :)
fueldragster 1 year ago
That's a pretty childish comment from Andretti after having been out-raced by Cogan in qualifying! :P
Was there any follow-up analysis? Do we know what happened to Cogan's car?
dcs002 1 year ago 2
i...LOVE the commentators reaction when it starts "HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED"
yowaso13 2 years ago 2
I've always wondered......what wouldve happened if that accident hadn't occured? Would Mario and Kevin had a chance at winning? Its interesting to think about, but then that is what happens when "you have children doing a man's job!"
penske369 2 years ago
I remember seeing this on the tape delayed ABC broadcast when I was 12.
rivotrich7 2 years ago
I am also skeptic. There is no forensic evidence in the video as there is with Guerrero (the black burn-out marks). & it's also evident Kevin let the car skate to the wall to get it out of the path of the field when he could've just slammed on the brakes. Good heads up move. As reported by Speedway Historian Donald Davidson, teammate Rick Mears had a nearly identical accident in a test a few weeks later & Mears said the mechanical failure he experienced is exactly what happened to Cogan.
manthing43 2 years ago
if the start was in a higher speed this wouldn't happen... i mean, the grid in perfect formation and stuff was cool, but start this slow as they used wasn't safe at all. i guess.
greatassistant 2 years ago
It is possible, but I am sceptic about this one... He was not an ordinary little experimented guy.Cogan had 2 f1 w.c. race, one Aurora F1 series season, one indy 500 experience and a formula atlantic title. He was far away from being called veteran, but he was not the new rookie around the track.
But I do think he did an error: trying to prepare the car for the race, he overheat something like the brake or a joint. Then he over-corrected the car... When he should put it into the wall.
therrydicule 2 years ago
Wasn't this the same race that Gordon Smiley died in?
CrapVisionLive 2 years ago
@CrapVisionLive Gordon died in qualifying for the event. George Snider, who started in the middle of row 9 (26th), replaced him in the #35 entry.
JoeytheHDK 2 years ago
Gotta lol @ A.J. Foyt's style of speaking.
Fattaman 2 years ago 6
@Fattaman
yeah, he didn't hold back, did he? rightfully so too
ratzinator1 1 year ago
The point is that you can not rely on any car, whether on the track or the street. No car is perfect ... I do not know, but I think something was wrong with the car Cogan happens ... .. why many crashes ... relies too much on your car. I´m a Indy ! ! !
jollybossvf84 2 years ago
whata dumbass Cogan!
weallfollowmanutd 2 years ago
Chip Ganassi (R) lol
WSHfan 2 years ago 3
Funny Thing At 2:51-2:54!!!!!
jamespic 2 years ago
q monce
DaMiaNBraD666 2 years ago
What does mean (R) near the name?
HellToroLoco 2 years ago 2
R= Rookie
tjminc 2 years ago
Republican
lolx
derekrau 2 years ago
AJ is an idiot. He walked into most of his indy victories when the leading cars broke in the closing laps. Otherwise he would have maybe one win at the 500.
supersevenn 2 years ago
Well, AJ broke in a few Indy races where he was dominating at the time, so I guess it kinda evens out.
2014cwajts71 2 years ago 4
and that was a huge factor back then, i find it more interesting when reliability is a factor in races especially the indy 500. Wish it was still like that today
jbracer86 2 years ago
wow herm johnsons car looks strange
NHmadman1 2 years ago
somthing let go in the rear end..diff,shaft or brake related
NHmadman1 2 years ago
The commentators are idiots. "It's as if he turned the wheel intentionally"
Why on earth would a driver deliberately drive into another car before the race has even started. There's a short answer to that, he didn't. Something obviously broke on the car.
The witchhunt that Cogan suffered afterwards was unforgiveable and he's owed some big apologies from a lot of people.
MeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeAndU 2 years ago 12
Well, Sam Posey was never the brightest of commentators.
2014cwajts71 2 years ago 4
That's an understatement.
dinhwood 2 years ago
well basically he's saying that by observing how oddly Cogan's car swerved it leads one to think it was intentional that's how oddly his car swerved. he's not saying it was intentional
jbracer86 2 years ago
Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. Just that Sam had a unique way of saying or describing things. He's not dumb or anything. In a way, I kinda miss him.
2014cwajts71 2 years ago
yeah, one thing i miss about him and paul page is the passion, and they conveyed that passion pretty well in my opinion. that something these announcers these days just lack.
jbracer86 2 years ago
Yes, those two and I must add Jim Mckay and Bobby Unser to that list. Today's commentators are good, but you're right, the passion isn't there as much. Mckay wasn't the biggest racing expert, but it wasn't cause of a lack of effort. Tom Sneva was good too, and witty. I was actually impressed with Jason Priestly in 2001 too.
2014cwajts71 2 years ago
I agree and also from the announcers and the broadcasts, it was a simpler time back then. Not all those flashy intros and stuff filled with computer graphics. And the coverage didnt have to make reference to Danica Patrick every 5 minutes like they do now. The racing and the action told the story and the indy 500 and its greatness itself was enough. The announcers back then conveyed that passion that is the greatest spectacle in racing the Indy 500
jbracer86 2 years ago 2
Man, I just remembered Jackie Stewert. He was smart, thoughtful and respected the legend of the 500. Here's a thought, I wonder how the old gaurd would do with all the camera angles, including the onboard cameras of today. I don't know if it would make it better or not. You're right, it was a simpler time.
2014cwajts71 2 years ago
well said sir!!
renegar6 2 years ago