Thoughts on Paul Tracy

[Jimmy Hendricks]

I heard an interview with Paul Tracy today, on radio here in Indy. Here is what I can remember (and these are as close to his actual quotes as I can recall) and some editorial comments from me...


-"I feel its beneath me to be at Indy, walking around the Garage Area, waiting for someone to crash". Beneath you? Are you kidding? Uhh, Paul, the race will go on (somehow) whether you are in it or not. It somehow survived the past 5 years without you and will again this year. Its about being visible and being available, if you are an Indy veteran driver. Most guys, that want to be in the race, are there at IMS, being visible and being available.

-"I don't think I should be at Indy, doing things for the sport, promoting it, things like that, when they haven't done much to help me out". Ahh, yes. Putting yourself above the sport. Selfish and solid reasoning. Maybe it was all those years of tearing down the series and the Indy 500, that a few folks may not be doing cartwheels to find you a car, now that you are desperate, huh?

-"I have more oval experience then 95% of the current Indy field". Really? OK. Evidently, that's not enough to get you a ride though.


-"I don't need to be at Indy, because the people that matter know how to get a hold of me". Yes, its just a stones throw from Las Vegas to Indianapolis. You could probably jump in your golf cart and be there in a few minutes.



Why would anyone (besides the PT fan club members) have any sympathy for this guy? He has done jack squat to get a ride this May. Guys like Jeff Simmons, Jaques Lazier, Alex Barron, John Andretti, Jimmy Kite and Roger Yasakawa have been at Indy basically all month, doing what unemployed drivers have been doing at IMS for decades. Some of them are going to get rides this May. Those guys are actually showing A REAL INTEREST in the event and being one of the 33 competitors for the Biggest Single Day Sporting Event in the World. John Andretti, gave up a couple weekends of his Cup ride, just to be at Indy (when he had no deal for Indy). Since PT flamed out of Busch Racing, he may not realize how special those Cup rides are and how lucrative they are, no matter how small the team is. But, John thought it was special enough, to be at Indy in May. And, amazingly, he is in a car now, trying to make the Indy 500.

I realize this guy has had a terrific racing career in CART/Champ Car. He has a very nice resume and has put up a nice collection of wins. But, in his situation right now, he has no bargaining power. He has no team, no sponsor, and evidently, not much interest. He hasn't been on ovals recently, is nearing 40 years old, has had some real tough years recently in CC, and hasn't been at Indy in 6 years. And, his response is to sit at home, stay as far away from IMS as possible, put forth ridiculous demands (from the level of team to what he should be paid) and then complain that IMS and TG weren't doing enough to find him employment? That is mind-tinglingly stoooopid.

Forsythe screwed him, no question. That happens sometimes in racing. Its happened to better drivers than him over the years. Its too bad Gerald took his billion dollar ball, and went home. And, its too bad PT hitched his wagon with that guy. But, thems the breaks. He got paid like a star, for a series that was losing money by the fist-fulls, so he probably got what he wanted from Gerald over the years.

It really all comes down to this..... If he really, truly wanted to be at Indy this year, he would have a ride. He said tonight that Walker was only about 200,000 short of putting a solid effort together. Hey PT, you got plenty of dough. Why not do, what so many other drivers (some that are better than you) have to do, and write that check and get yourself into a car? You got a nice little going away present from Gerald at Long Beach, didn't you? You can make that money back in no time, especially if you make the race. And, if you show you still have something, it might open the eyes of a car owner to help you keep your career from ending, and you might get a nice new contract with someone, that will pay you a nice salary. But, nope. That would be "beneath" him, again.

[fla-agr]

Well I'm glad Jimmy had some thoughts on Tracy...

cause I got nothin'.

[indyracefan]

I heard an interview with Paul Tracy today, on radio here in Indy. Here is what I can remember (and these are as close to his actual quotes as I can recall) and some editorial comments from me...


-"I feel its beneath me to be at Indy, walking around the Garage Area, waiting for someone to crash". Beneath you? Are you kidding? Uhh, Paul, the race will go on (somehow) whether you are in it or not. It somehow survived the past 5 years without you and will again this year. Its about being visible and being available, if you are an Indy veteran driver. Most guys, that want to be in the race, are there at IMS, being visible and being available.

-"I don't think I should be at Indy, doing things for the sport, promoting it, things like that, when they haven't done much to help me out". Ahh, yes. Putting yourself above the sport. Selfish and solid reasoning. Maybe it was all those years of tearing down the series and the Indy 500, that a few folks may not be doing cartwheels to find you a car, now that you are desperate, huh?

-"I have more oval experience then 95% of the current Indy field". Really? OK. Evidently, that's not enough to get you a ride though.


-"I don't need to be at Indy, because the people that matter know how to get a hold of me". Yes, its just a stones throw from Las Vegas to Indianapolis. You could probably jump in your golf cart and be there in a few minutes.



Why would anyone (besides the PT fan club members) have any sympathy for this guy? He has done jack squat to get a ride this May. Guys like Jeff Simmons, Jaques Lazier, Alex Barron, John Andretti, Jimmy Kite and Roger Yasakawa have been at Indy basically all month, doing what unemployed drivers have been doing at IMS for decades. Some of them are going to get rides this May. Those guys are actually showing A REAL INTEREST in the event and being one of the 33 competitors for the Biggest Single Day Sporting Event in the World. John Andretti, gave up a couple weekends of his Cup ride, just to be at Indy (when he had no deal for Indy). Since PT flamed out of Busch Racing, he may not realize how special those Cup rides are and how lucrative they are, no matter how small the team is. But, John thought it was special enough, to be at Indy in May. And, amazingly, he is in a car now, trying to make the Indy 500.

I realize this guy has had a terrific racing career in CART/Champ Car. He has a very nice resume and has put up a nice collection of wins. But, in his situation right now, he has no bargaining power. He has no team, no sponsor, and evidently, not much interest. He hasn't been on ovals recently, is nearing 40 years old, has had some real tough years recently in CC, and hasn't been at Indy in 6 years. And, his response is to sit at home, stay as far away from IMS as possible, put forth ridiculous demands (from the level of team to what he should be paid) and then complain that IMS and TG weren't doing enough to find him employment? That is mind-tinglingly stoooopid.

Forsythe screwed him, no question. That happens sometimes in racing. Its happened to better drivers than him over the years. Its too bad Gerald took his billion dollar ball, and went home. And, its too bad PT hitched his wagon with that guy. But, thems the breaks. He got paid like a star, for a series that was losing money by the fist-fulls, so he probably got what he wanted from Gerald over the years.

It really all comes down to this..... If he really, truly wanted to be at Indy this year, he would have a ride. He said tonight that Walker was only about 200,000 short of putting a solid effort together. Hey PT, you got plenty of dough. Why not do, what so many other drivers (some that are better than you) have to do, and write that check and get yourself into a car? You got a nice little going away present from Gerald at Long Beach, didn't you? You can make that money back in no time, especially if you make the race. And, if you show you still have something, it might open the eyes of a car owner to help you keep your career from ending, and you might get a nice new contract with someone, that will pay you a nice salary. But, nope. That would be "beneath" him, again.

...I haven't agreed with you on a number of things but you're spot-on with this. I couldn't agree more.

[mstove]

I agree with most of what you are saying.

However, I think you are missing many (most?) posters' points about wanting him there. I doubt too many people have huge amounts of sympathy for PT. That said, the first 500 after the end of CC would be even more interesting if he was racing. I've never liked the guy going back to pre-split days, but would be happy to see him go out there and get beat again. This year is full of different stories and it would be cool to have him in the race.

I do have empathy over the GF situation. Who cares if others have had similar situations? How does that matter? "Others had it worse" is not a strong argument for anything. I don't like any racer being put behind the curve because of split politics. Even PT.

[cbreez99]

Most of the time I don't like Paul Tracy's attitude, but I think he's on the money here (no pun intended)...He's a proven driver that can get it done, he shouldn't be buying or begging for a ride. Unfortunately, this is one of the few sports where money, not talent, gets you on the playing field. Years ago, when car owners were more sportsmen than businessmen at Indy, he'd be in a car.

[Jakester]

As noted by an eminent poster here....

These are quotes: " "

These mean paraphrase: ' '

What you have posted are NOT quotes. Quite honestly, knowing your feelings toward Tracy, I expect there's quite a bit of bias in your paraphrases of Tracy's comments. So excuse me if I take them with a large grain of salt.

That said, Tracy certainly does has always had an 'attitude' that, by and large, I do not care for. While I think he should be in a Indy car cockpit, I agree if he really wants to be in the Indy 500 he ought to have his butt on the ground at IMS right now. I think he still retains enough skill to be competitive, but his clock is running. And we need some personalities in IndyCar...whether they're 'white hats' or 'black hats'.


btw, Andretti didn't exactly "gave up a couple weekends of his Cup ride", he doesn't have a full time ride, he's only been in 3 of the 10 Cup races this year. But Andretti did come to Indy, pounded the pavement and found a ride. PT could take a lesson here.

[MoparsRule]

I heard the interview & concur with the accuracy of the "quotes" & 'paraphrasing' in the original post.

I'm a PT fan, and even I was overwhelmed by his arrogance while being interviewed by JMV.

[pb]

As noted by an eminent poster here....



What you have posted are NOT quotes. Quite honestly, knowing your feelings toward Tracy, I expect there's quite a bit of bias in your paraphrases of Tracy's comments. So excuse me if I take them with a large grain of salt.

That said, Tracy certainly does has always had an 'attitude' that, by and large, I do not care for. While I think he should be in a Indy car cockpit, I agree if he really wants to be in the Indy 500 he ought to have his butt on the ground at IMS right now. I think he still retains enough skill to be competitive, but his clock is running. And we need some personalities in IndyCar...whether they're 'white hats' or 'black hats'.


btw, Andretti didn't exactly "gave up a couple weekends of his Cup ride", he doesn't have a full time ride, he's only been in 3 of the 10 Cup races this year. But Andretti did come to Indy, pounded the pavement and found a ride. PT could take a lesson here.

I think your last paragraph the most salient point that can be made about PT. If he wanted really wanted to drive the Indy 500, he can reasonably be expected to expend a minimal degree of effort to secure a ride. He hasn't and so is irrelevant to the race this year. He keeps on whining but won't do anything to help his cause.

Since that's how he's going to play it, I don't want him to go away mad but I do want him to go away.

[Jimmy Hendricks]

1. What you have posted are NOT quotes. Quite honestly, knowing your feelings toward Tracy, I expect there's quite a bit of bias in your paraphrases of Tracy's comments. So excuse me if I take them with a large grain of salt.

2. btw, Andretti didn't exactly "gave up a couple weekends of his Cup ride", he doesn't have a full time ride, he's only been in 3 of the 10 Cup races this year.

1. As Mopars already put it, these were basically his quotes yesterday. I couldn't write them down word-for-word, as I was driving, but I do remember the basic comments he made. He wasn't being misquoted or I wasn't making him sound worse then it was. It was a very arrogant interview, of a bitter man, who obviously over-rates his place in racing.

2. He did give up his ride in Cup. Yes, he has missed several races. But, the #34 car, is his full-time NASCAR ride, no matter how underfunded and no matter how many races he has missed in it. He stepped out of the car, for a CHANCE at a Indy 500 ride. He had nothing going at Indy, and decided to do it. That is a man that wants to be at Indy. Tracy? I don't think so.

[stnkypete]

Holy crap Jimmy, get out the sock suspenders, I agree with you. Well stated infact. Tracy has an impressive resume indeed but he needs to accept that he was the biggest casualty of the unification and if he wants to salvage the last couple years he has left, he needs to shelve the ego and look for a job.

If Walker is $200K short, Paul should get the money together with the deal that he gets his money back first. You know that if he qualifies some company will come along with some form of cash for the effort.

His antics have grown old over the years and really it's sad to see a guy who was a good (if not erratic) racer in the past go out like this.