1) The red flag was the right choice

It was unprecedented in this race, yes, and defies typical tradition. But IndyCar found a phenomenal way to avoid ending under caution (as it unfortunately has the past 4 years) and still stick to their staunch belief that the Indy 500 should be ONLY 500 miles and nothing more. The decision to throw the red when Townsend Bell wrecked near the end of the race gave fans a thrilling final 9 laps, and I don’t see anyone complaining about that part. IndyCar needed to adapt to avoid continuous anticlimactic outcomes in their “greatest spectacle,” and they did a wonderful job of that this year.

 

2) The tension is real in F1

 

I know this one’s out of chronological order, but since I watched the Monaco Grand Prix on DVR in between IndyCar and NASCAR, I’m sticking it here. I’ll admit I’m not a dedicated follower of the Formula One series, but of course I had to watch this one because of the pageantry of the historical race. Even without being a regular though, I could tell the tension between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg could have been cut with a knife. Hamilton was angry over Rosberg’s slightly sketchy clinching of the pole in Monaco, and that track position allowed Rosberg to lead the entire race and take back the championship points lead from Hamilton. But no eye contact and not even a handshake on the podium after finishing 1-2? I’m glad I don’t have Niki Lauda’s job of overseeing that team.

 

3) The “Double” Mattered – Finished or Not

Read this text frm @Johnny_Joey -this is why I love these guys. Don’t forget them #MemorialDay http://t.co/7w9AngUqZa pic.twitter.com/BfGaGpBSV9

— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) May 26, 2014

 

I don’t know many race fans who weren’t impressed with Kurt Busch on Sunday. Naturally, Busch was visibly disappointed that an engine failure in the Coke 600 prevented him from finishing all 1100 miles of the Double, but he has nothing to hang his head about. It certainly stings to pour everything you’ve got into accomplishing a goal (and Busch certainly did so) only to fall short, but sometimes things are out of your control – like an engine failure – and the victory is in the effort put forth. The Double is no easy task, and Busch not only conducted himself with class, but also used it to raise money for the Armed Forces Foundation on Memorial Day weekend (not to mention and impressive 6th place finish as a rookie at the Indy 500!). This text from a wounded serviceman Busch posted after the race truly sums up the meaning of his Double attempt:

The Kurt Busch we saw this weekend is not the Kurt Busch of old. This Kurt Busch was mentally strong, driven, and most importantly, classy in every aspect of the word. Hats off to you sir with respect for what you did on and off the track this weekend!

 

4) Johnson’s “winless streak” was never anything to worry about

 

Who SERIOUSLY thought it was? Several articles came out the week before the Coca-Cola 600 with drivers joking that Jimmie Johnson was “washed up” and that going 13 races without a win was a major slump for him. This minor winless streak might have been unusual for Johnson, but no one legitimately expected JJ to go the whole season without a win. He teased with the media upon entering the press room after the race, “What the hell are you going to write about now?” It was only a matter of time before we saw 6 Pack back in Victory Lane, and I think we can expect the 48 team to really turn on now that they’ve gotten over the hump of the first win.

 

5) Time to nix the whole “spokesmodel” concept in racing

 

Dear motorsports, do you really need scantily-clad hot women to sell your product? Here’s a hint: NO. You don’t. The on-track product is plenty to get us to watch. The exciting final laps at Indy, Kurt’s attempt at the Double, one of NASCAR’s best getting his first win of the season – those are the things that draw people in. Not your “spokesmodels” in minimal clothing. I’m not talking about the always modest and actually useful Miss Sprint Cups – but if you watch any bit of motorsports, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m referring to. This has always bothered me, but it stands out particularly on this day filled with racing because these pointless marketing tools that do nothing but prance around and take photos are everywhere. This objectification of women in racing does no favors for those of us ladies who are trying to actually be respected for what we know and can contribute to the sport.

 

A few other notables on the weekend:

Kyle Larson won his second Nationwide series race on Saturday after an exciting 3-wide pass for the lead allowed him to lead the majority of the race. But Larson strangely didn’t partake in the usual burnout celebration. The word is that after he took the wheel off for the burnout for his last win, NASCAR told him never to do it again. Was the lack of celebration this time just cautious respect for NASCAR’s rules or a boycott of celebration until NASCAR takes the leash off?

As the resident sprint car lover at Florida Sports Talk, I had to include this one: Monday night, Tony Stewart tweeted a series of pictures of him in a winged sprint, the accompanying caption stating he finally got back in a sprint car for the first time since his August 2013 accident. Can’t wait to see #smokerising on the dirt again!

 

Guess who got back in a sprint car for the first time today 🙂 #smokewillrise pic.twitter.com/HBWg4dno8q

— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) May 27, 2014

 

Over in NHRA, Courtney Force won the Funny Car event at Kansas this weekend, clinching the 100th win for women in drag racing.

 

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This post originally appeared on Tori’s motorsports blog for Florida Sports Talk Radio.