Top Row Seat - California
Dateline: 05/03/99Fluke? Bad luck? New Pavement? You can explain it anyway you want but there is no mistaking the fact that for the third time in three years the California 500 was boring.
Most hard core race fans I know enjoy a good fuel mileage duel once in a while, but not at the expense of good old fashioned racing. Where is the side-by-side racing for the lead? Why is it that there are one or two dominant race cars while everyone else is getting lapped?
Roger Penske's California Speedway was supposed to be his greatest achievement to date. While it is a beautiful facility, it still has yet to impress any of the rabid race fans that I know. California's sister track, Michigan Speedway, hosts some excellent racing. There are numerous examples over the years of races being won and lost there by just a few yards.
Is it the slightly lower banking in the corners? The fact that the asphalt is still relatively new? The fact that the drivers are still learning their way around?
I don't know what the problem is but I hope they fix it soon. California Speedway is quickly becoming one of the sleepiest 500 miles in motorsports.
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