Quotes of the Week
"It was the most important win of my career and I am really happy to give Dale [Coyne] and his wife Gail their first win. I was in downtown Watkins Glen the other night and I saw the names of all the famous drivers that have won at the Glen and it makes me proud to now join that elite group. It feels fantastic. This is the most important win in my career; winning with Dale and showing what we can do. I was grinning from ear to ear on that last lap. We've worked all year to improve on the road courses, and to dominate like this is fantastic." Justin Wilson, IndyCar driver, Dale Coyne Racing, thrilled after winning the Watkins Glen race for Dale Coyne who is competing in his 25th year of open-wheel racing as a driver and owner
"This year, with my luck, if I had a duck it would drown." AJ Foyt, IndyCar team owner, AJ Foyt Enterprises, commenting after his driver Ryan Hunter-Reay ran into the back of a slowing Raphael Matos during the Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen
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In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done. In the end he got lost, so he wasn't a very good dictator because either he had all these things and knew what was going on and insisted, or he just went along with it… so either way he wasn't a dictator." Ecclestone also sharply criticized democracy claiming: "It [democracy] hasn't done a lot of good for many countries – including this one." Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Association"I was surprised, and I'm still surprised. I don't really understand. I'm disappointed that he [Tony George] didn't want to continue. He's got a lot of confidence in who he's got, and he just felt he didn't want to get in their way. It really wouldn't be like that. There are other things to do. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hope everything goes well. I don't know what's going to happen next." Mari Hulman George, Chairman of the Board for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp., said she still can't explain why Tony George vacated the position of CEO of the IRL after being replaced as President and CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. and Hulman & Co.
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If Tony George had a good support system 19 years ago instead of butt kissers, guys with grudges and people with agendas, he might still be in charge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Robin Miller, Veteran Open Wheel Journalist "All I know, and anyone with a brain knows this, is that the [IndyCar] series needs strong, clear leadership, otherwise potential sponsors aren’t going to be interested. This weekend, there are only 19 cars – and if you include Milka, 20. The frustrating thing is, two years ago, we had two series with 36 cars, and now we’ve got one with 19. It doesn’t add up. Even the ride-buyers aren’t around, because we’re halfway through the year, so even the fat wallets have gone thin." Paul Tracy, IndyCar driver, KV Racing Technology reporting from Watkins Glen on the grim state of IndyCar racing "On the [substance abuse] policy, one of the things that I want to remind everybody, I took a lot of questions and went in very much detail back in May when Jeremy [Mayfield] tested positive, and I still hear confusion and I hear misnomers about the policy. The first thing is it's our responsibility to protect the drivers, the fans, other participants within the events. We have a very unique challenge relative to all sports as you well know, which is the inherent danger of somebody impaired on the racetrack. So our first responsibility, despite the ruling on Wednesday or any ruling, will always be that we are going to make sure every way we can that everyone who is driving these race cars are of clear mind. And I've heard a lot of things that are not accurate about our policy and remember when we changed the policy in the first place, enhanced it, greatly, it was a result of the drivers wanting to have more testing, continuation of the strong penalties should somebody test positive beyond what we were doing at that point. We realize the seriousness and implications that has to an individual, to a race team, to their careers. And if we can do more, we will." Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer "Unless Max [Mosley] has gone even more mad, I don't think he'll back Jean Todt because we all know where he comes from and who he's linked to. What Luca di Montezemolo has done shows a total lack of respect to FIA and the World Council," repeating almost verbatim Mosley's comments that the rebel teams did the equivalent of 'dancing on his grave'. "I don't support Max Mosley to the death, but what I am totally in favor of, to the death, is respect for our institutions. It wouldn't surprise me if Max Mosley runs for re-election. The worst thing you can do is leave an animal badly wounded. What Luca has managed to do is reactivate Max." Carlos Gracia, the highest ranking Spanish motor racing official and an FIA World Council member"
Hard times help to build your character. In the last few months I've grown up a lot because I learned how to deal with setbacks. In that way this year has probably helped me in a personal sense more than any other before it. I would take a step back and listen to my instincts [when he and sacked McLaren manager Dave Ryan were caught lying to stewards in Australia and Malaysia]. The doubts I had, about whether I should be lying, I would take much more seriously." Lewis Hamilton, reigning Formula One World Champion, McLaren