At the Portland Majors 2 weeks back, we had zero SM entries, so I went out to spectate on a GT race. The leader of the race spun under the 2nd lap of an FCY and a 200K+ Ferrari challenge car in P2 lap 2 of FCY nosed it into the spinning GT1 car under that 2nd lap of FCY and took out the radiators. The FCY was caused due to a car pulling off track and couldn't get around the wall. It didn't leave any fluid down, it just lost fire. I was not paying attention to those two cars once I got to impound, but neither car was there and I did not see either of those drivers in the presence of impound, or the stewards shack. It happened with about 5 laps left in the race.
The GT race had ZERO tech performed. As matter of procedure Oregon region weighs ALL cars and is quite good at getting it done quickly. I don't view that as Majors Tech if its standard operating procedure foe the track. After the podium deal and all cars were released I went to the chief tech steward and expressed to them that I found it completely embarrassing that zero tech was done at a Majors event..... Remember we were sold on best of the best.... Best tracks, best drivers, best weather, etc, etc, etc. He got a little bit offended and I asked him to then share with me what tech they did and I was told that their focus for the week was safety related tech and that they checked all cars on the first day for fire bottle pins.
I am all for safety and think we should always be focusing on safety, but that is not a Majors level tech item in my opinion. It is my opinion that in this circumstance people were more worried about getting the day over with an on to social activities than to perform some kind of tech..... Hell, even fake it for all I care, but at least make it look like you are doing something.
As stated before I believe we have a very basic management issue not a rule book issue. It is cultural and starts from the top. I hope the right people at National can help turn this around quickly.
Sean
Well said Sean. But I doubt Topeka even cares.
At a minimum both drivers should have been talked to for not being in control of their cars during a yellow flag situation. And being FCY is 100 times worse.