"The Pass": just never gets old

Ran across this again today. Hard to believe it was 22 freakin' years ago. I remember it happening like it was yesterday.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

What a move!

[GH85Carrera]

We we were in the driver's meeting for my play time at that track, the race master specifically said, "do not try the Zanardi line though the corkscrew!" we all laughed.

[astrochex]

Colin Edwards pass on Valentino Rossi in 2005 was another epic corkscrew monent.

[Tobra]

Colin Edwards grew up down the street from my wife.

[rattlsnak]

That Zanardi pass really shouldn't have been allowed. All 4 wheels off the track constitutes a "short cut"..

[vash]

was there a heated interview afterwards? that was pretty amazing.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That's cheating.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

That Zanardi pass really shouldn't have been allowed. All 4 wheels off the track constitutes a "short cut"..

Yup, should have been penalized

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

That Zanardi pass really shouldn't have been allowed. All 4 wheels off the track constitutes a "short cut"..

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's cheating.

Agreed. "Brilliant move" my ass. He cut the course and gained an advantage. Since he did not give the place back, he should have been penalized with added time, since there was no time for a stop and go.

[Aerkuld]

Agreed. I remember this very well, and the more I see it the more I think it was a dishonest pass.

A ballsy move, yes, but it would only have been a brilliant move if he'd stayed on the track.

Still, Zanardi is clearly a racer and you have to give him credit for even trying to pass there. I guess in his mind it was "If I pull it off, it's good. If I stuff it up, who cares". I wonder whether he even thought he could keep it on the track? Much as I hate penalties deciding the outcome of a race, this is an instance where I think it's justified.

Like I said—never gets old.

[TimT]

I do not agree, it is a clean pass, if you check the video... he has two wheels in the dirt, two still on asphalt...

Granted this is 22 year prior to the NASCAR guys at Watkins Glen using every bit of asphalt.... and they go 20-30 feet beyond the turtles and come back on track... the whole pack. This little two wheel off excursion was given a pass.. as it should have been...

Do you not think the second place team didn't protest? I'm sure they did

Oh yeah, Huerta protested. I think maybe CART realized that it would be an iconic moment they didn’t want to screw up.

I think this basically broke Herta as a driver. He was a consistent front runner, but only won twice—both at Laguna Seca. IIRC.

[Por_sha911]

Short cutting the corner was illegal then but CART/Indy always have always had two sets of rules. One set for the favorite sons and the other set of rules for the other 20 drivers. That said, Zanardi was one fantastic driver. He would have been a legend if he hadn't had the crash.

It was cool to hear Paul Page's voice again.

[smadsen]

Zanardi over-cooked it on the way in, Hurta chose not to turn down on him, which he could have, probably launching Zanardi, Zanardi finished up with four wheels in the ice plant.

Sorry, illegal pass, 10 second stop & go. Any first year Steward at an SCCA club race could have called that one.

Oh, wait a minute...…. It was a CART race.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by TimT

I do not agree, it is a clean pass, if you check the video... he has two wheels in the dirt, two still on asphalt...

Granted this is 22 year prior to the NASCAR guys at Watkins Glen using every bit of asphalt.... and they go 20-30 feet beyond the turtles and come back on track... the whole pack. This little two wheel off excursion was given a pass.. as it should have been...

Do you not think the second place team didn't protest? I'm sure they did

Yes, two in the dirt, two on the asphalt - on the wrong side of the curb. Off the track. Off of the racing surface. A clear violation any way you look at it.

[Reiver]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

Agreed. I remember this very well, and the more I see it the more I think it was a dishonest pass.

A ballsy move, yes, but it would only have been a brilliant move if he'd stayed on the track.

Still, Zanardi is clearly a racer and you have to give him credit for even trying to pass there. I guess in his mind it was "If I pull it off, it's good. If I stuff it up, who cares". I wonder whether he even thought he could keep it on the track? Much as I hate penalties deciding the outcome of a race, this is an instance where I think it's justified.

Was it 'gutsy' or 'ballsy'? Here is a solid definition...

Guts vs Balls

There is a medical distinction between
“Guts” and “Balls”, according to the British military.

We've heard colleagues referring to people with “Guts”, or with
“Balls”. Do they, however, know the difference between
them? Here’s the official distinction; straight from the
British Medical Journal: Volume 323; page 295.

GUTS - Is arriving home late, after a night out with the lads, being
met by your wife with a broom, and having the “Guts” to ask:
“Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?”

BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the lads, smelling
of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your
wife on the bum and having the “Balls” to say:
"You're next, Chubby."

I trust this clears up any confusion.

Originally Posted by Reiver

Was it 'gutsy' or 'ballsy'? Here is a solid definition...

Guts vs Balls

There is a medical distinction between
“Guts” and “Balls”, according to the British military.

We've heard colleagues referring to people with “Guts”, or with
“Balls”. Do they, however, know the difference between
them? Here’s the official distinction; straight from the
British Medical Journal: Volume 323; page 295.

GUTS - Is arriving home late, after a night out with the lads, being
met by your wife with a broom, and having the “Guts” to ask:
“Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?”

BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the lads, smelling
of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your
wife on the bum and having the “Balls” to say:
"You're next, Chubby."

I trust this clears up any confusion.

You win the internet for that post, Pat! Bravo!

Say what you will about CART, I flat out loved it before the split. Beautiful cars, different manufacturers, different engines. Some of the greatest racing ever. Took my son at age 5 to watch the Portland race back in 1999, and saw a sophomore driver named Helio Castro-neves (he still had a hyphen back then) set some incredible laps in the rain. Saw Greg Moore, driving by on a moped, say hi to my son. Saw a great race, won by de Ferran.

This year Indycar is back at Portland, and he's going with me again. He's 6 feet tall now, so I'm not gonna carry him like I did in 1999!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by TimT

I do not agree, it is a clean pass, if you check the video... he has two wheels in the dirt, two still on asphalt...

Ha, ha, no

I quit following CART after that race