My go at a race report from a crazy race.
Skip Barber. Watkins Glen.
"WHAT THE F---- GLEN??"
Started 4th on the grid, first turn in I grabbed 3rd place. It was a race down to 5a with top 3 neck and neck. first driver goes into 5a slow, 2nd and me slow down and as we go through turn 5 the loop, its even closer, I hit for a contact 0x. Again in turn 1, I ran it close to the apex and he ran wide, he went into the outer areas of after the turn and I held my line. My heart was pounding as I knew
a) if he was a good driver he needed to let me pace as I had the race line
b) if he was a dweeb, he would of just crashed into my side.
*heart skips a beat*
a) he lets me pass. I am now in 2nd place. Good driving lines brings me very nice speeds into turn 5a. In 1 seconds time I was trying to do too many things at once. I realised I was faster than usual and I braked a little bit late, in that split second I had to think what the hell was I going to do, was I going to go into turn 5a and drive on the grass and pretty much lose a few places? I also looked into my rear view mirror for a split second and the other driver was very very close, to avoid a big accident and my process of logical thinking came into play, I realised I would be much better to go into turn 5a straight on, miss the turn and cop a "slow down". So I did, I parked my car there before turn 5 the loop and watched cars go past as I tried to recollect myself after that stupid blunder.
7th place, here we go again.
I keep my racing tight with minimal areas hitting those breaking zones.
6th place.
I continue to be within a few .xxx of my main lap times.
5th place.
At this stage the person infront of me was about 7 seconds ahead of me and I couldn't close it. Person behind was 10seconds away. I knew I just had to maintain it and 5th was mine. I am quite happy since I was #5, finishing 5 would of been ok.
3rd and 4th has an accident in turn 5a.
I managed to somehow get through both of them in turn 5a to grab 3rd!!
A few laps latter, some lapped cars were in front of me, I was scared, with a few laps to go and 3rd place being secure, something down the back of my brain told me to accept a crash.
Right behind the lapped car. We go into turn 5a. He holds his driving line (WHY?!?!?!), I hit him for a contact oc 0x. I saw his rear wheel and it seemed to be taken damage from a prior incident? Is the guy driving with a broken wheel I thought? I am going to be crashed out.
After turn 5 he goes in tight I take the outside.....
....
We're neck and neck as we go into turn 6 and he finally brakes and gives way. I breathe a sigh of relief. 3rd place, 1 lap to go, easy right?
Last lap as I slowed a little bit down (from experience, if you have secured your position, slow down!! secure the finish!!), then in the last few turns I realised some crazy lapped car is gaining heaps of time on me? Who was this guy? turns out it was the fastest car yet he must of got crashed out earlier, bent on revenge, his bumper to bumper. In my mind I am thinking what the @#$@#$@#....
Turn 5a, turn 5 and turn 6 he was bumper to bumper. I got annoyed, is this lapped car going to end my race in the final turn of the final lap??
Turn 7.
He brakes early and lets me go. Sigh of relief. 3rd place. Watkins Glen.
Good call.
