The Fastlane Motorsports Forum

A thread dedicated to things which, at the time, seemed not out of the ordinary... but in hindsight don't look good anymore, are shameful, embarrassing, or simply funny.

I'll start with a 2000 F1 Racing magazine cover about Barrichello
('his battle with Schuey' while he signed a contract as number 2, lol)

A 2001 cover of its sister magazine went with "Ralf Schumacher - 2002's world champion in waiting" and asked such tricky questions as which brother was the better driver?

"Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NASCAR, period."
-Clint Bowyer, 2008

October 7, 2011...
"Michael Waltrip racing has announced today that Clint Bowyer will drive the team's 15 Toyota for the next three years."

A recent example is Cyril taking a leadership role at Renault, only for him to leave the F1 team and company outright.

On the flip side, does anyone remember the rumors that Ron Dennis had been fired by McLaren...from early 2008?

https://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/rum ... nis-fired/

I recall variations:
- his ex-wife had gotten him fired..somehow
- Vodafone was angry with Ron for his treatment of Alonso
- Mercedes was embarrassed over the cheating saga

I recall there being issues after the Alonso rift and Spygate stuff but dont recall reading of any moves to oust him from the leadership..... not until the 2015/6 official split anyway. I remember at that time the shareholders not being happy with his leadership style and prior to that his failure to regain a title sponsor after the Vodafone split in 2013, and the shareholders having to dig deeper themselves. I do remember it was apparent that he and Mansour (TAG) had a major difference of opinion and that led to his actual outing....

Somewhat grim question given how Donnelly's career was basically over six weeks later...

Microsprinter18 wrote: ↑3 years ago "Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NASCAR, period."
-Clint Bowyer, 2008

October 7, 2011...
"Michael Waltrip racing has announced today that Clint Bowyer will drive the team's 15 Toyota for the next three years."

you beat me to it

You could probably do a whole series of Autosport covers, always in January of the years 1995 to 2005 or so, with the title story:

"David Coulthard: Why [insert year] is going to be My Year!"

These videos have statements that didn’t age too well in NASCAR, my favourite is probably the first clip in the second video. Hamlin still hasn’t won a championship yet either.

One for the "Shit happens" file.

Also, like one replied, the post interview was very short. One question and Ray Dunlap knew he had to leave it by that question.

Pat O'Connor, cover athlete for the SI issue leading up to the 1958 Indy 500.... a race the proved deadly for Pat.

Here's a completely out-of-touch Michael Waltrip giving Bubba Wallace, the lone black man in NASCAR, a watermelon:



Well, a watermelon-painted football, but you get my point.