Well, Dave, I did not realize you were a Juan fan. Do not worry, my man. For starters, I have no gaskets and I have few neurons left to blow after my wild youth.
Secondly, I don't care too much about opinions.
It's just that any kind of racism deserves "just indignation", even (ehem... ) people that treats "southern northamericans" as rednecks. You have seen me defending the "redneck pride": I bet no german driver will find easy to defeat a guy like Richard Petty. He could be an "honorary latin". Like I try to do, as Miguel Hernandez, the great spanish poet, said, Mr. Petty, "like the bull, get stronger under punishment" and that's a redneck characteristic I humbly and undeservedly try to make one of mines. "A gentleman is only interested in lost causes", so it's wiser not to allow sadness to overcome you in defeat.
Threatening a colombian is of no use at all: they are used to bullies and they have way too good opinion of themselves to be annoyed by threats, they find them mildly amusing. Anyway, I think I have fun at NASCAR forums, even if half the time half the people don't get half the jokes (that's like one in eight, if you do the math!).
Let me assure I don't have to defend Monty: he attacks enough. He is finding a peculiar style, like the Atlanta race proved. Jeff Gordon, as magnificent as he is, must have felt something weird running alongside Juan for laps and laps, while Mr. Montoya kept the outside racing line, inches from the wall. My wife, no NASCAR fan, watched over 100 laps and that's, for me, quite a compliment to Juan valor. Thanks for the link: it's priceless to read that "As the race went on in Homestead I got more comfortable running the top". My God.
Of course (I was thinking this was going to happen sooner or later, I've seen this happening to rookies more than once), Mr. Burton lead Monty into brushing the wall very smartly. You probably know how it is: you left a small opening and the "outer car", having more speed on the greater radius curve line, thinks he can overtake a little on the entrance to the straight, then you close the window a little and wham! Those rednecks are smarter than they seem, and this is one of their most amazing qualities (what we call here something like the "indian smartness"). More amazing perhaps that Juan not even mentioning it.
Fifth is good anyway, not as much for the finish line position, but for the
racing position. It's been ages (since Gordon entered NASCAR and proved his genius) that I see a guy that is 1 mile per hour faster than the leaders for laps and laps. This is like being 1 second faster than the leaders at F1.
I found
that more amazing than the "soup and dessert" meal Juan gave to the Busch field at Rodriguez's Brothers track, where (gods, pardon me, it was just for a moment
) I laughed hard at Mr. Pruett rant and I could not avoid the comparison with Sylvester the Cat and Speedy Gonzales, even if I admire Mr. Pruett as much as the seven times Daytona 24 hours winner he is. It reminded me of Mr. Schumacher at Brazil 2001, because, like Mr. Pruett, these were guys used to do the same and it's hard on your pride to get "a dose of your own medicine".
I'm having busy weekends, trying to watch Alonso AND Monty. Besides, now that I have Speed Channel to follow NASCAR full time, I've discovered Super V8, a kind of races my wife declared were, finally, "what she was looking for, better even than karting". This is going to be an entertaining year.
As long as Juan is safe and having fun, I will have fun myself and I really don't care if he finishes 1st or 44th. Besides, I humbly believe americans are more touchy and easier to put off balance than europeans, specially germans and british, tough people if there is one in this world. The "Rookie of the year" award is slowly falling into place.
