Haha, that was me in the white/blue car. It was a hotly contested race for second between me and my good friend Will Schrader. First, I slightly hooked a tire on exit of T7 at PIR and it threw me wide. I was able to hold on to it and tuck back in behind Will. The real fun didn't start until we hit about 124mph on the front straight. Without the chicane, it's a pretty long straight! I got a huge run/draft on Will and was coming through on one side or the other. will chose the middle and made it a tight squeeze for the outside pass. I nuzzled up beside him and we both swear we were pointed straight but we touched rear wheels and near disaster ensued.
I hopped a foot or two in the air and started a long hard slide in the grass. Even though it was dry I thought I was going over for sure. Will (camera) car did the same on the left side of the track and actually barely grazed the wall with his nose, yelling NOOOOOOoooo. the whole way. Moral of the story... Treat these cars like formula cars when you're wheel to wheel. (Miata rear track is wider than the front) That's not the first or last time Miatas will touch rear wheels and cause havoc!
A very lucky day indeed!
-b
Bruce,
Maybe the side draft drew you into each other. MX 5 Cup last year just about claimed Lyonell Kent at Road America in a similar manner. I had a similar less violent incident when passing at high speed last year.
Somone with more race experience might be able to confirm the effects of the side draft. I know when I pass the 18 wheelers in light cars, they get pulled towards the trucks as I get along side.