Persberichten - 9 of Series' Top 15 DNF | F3 America

9 of Series' Top 15 DNF | F3 America

6 of the Top 10 Long Beach 2nd-leg fastest lap drivers had to watch from the pit area after as an incredible DNF-filled race saw 9 of the series top 15 go out to crashes and failures. They were forced to watch as Drummond Bennett drove away with the race, and likely the overall series, uncontested after Hansson, Wheeler, Wayne, Knight, Zimmers, and Shackleford were all sidelined. Also of note, the 10th fastest driver on the day, Ray Harroun fell victim to long beach, as well as series contenders David Jr. Smith and Clyde Springer.

As the 3rd DNF of the day, Nick Wheeler stared off into space, as Jason Anderson approached with questions.

Anderson: What happened out there, Nick? Another DNF.

Wheeler: No idea. The machine just spun around. I wasn't even fighting with it or overdriving it. I was clean in front and behind 5 seconds from Drum and 2 in front of Rusty. There was no rhyme or reason. It just spun around.

Anderson: So, you can't explain it?

Wheeler: Well I can't explain it, but I'll tell you what, I find it odd that I'm sitting here, Hans is hanging out not finishing a lap, Smith and Springer are out. Hell there's 4 of the top 15 right there.

Anderson: So do you expect foul play?

Wheeler: Holy Jesus, Shackleford just drove into a wall, and now Bruce is down! What the hell is going on!? There are only about 12 drivers that are worth anything in this series and 6 have crashed now. You've gotta be kidding me!

Anderson: To clarify, folks, it looks like Bruce Wayne and Rusty Shackleford were both just involved in separate incidents in clean air. Shacklefrod continues to drive, Wayne looks to be out...

Wheeler: Diedrich just ran Brandon over! What the hell is happening? Are we racing, or are we at the damn theme park playing bumper cars!?

Anderson: Wheeler's spotted it again. Brandon Knight was just driven into by Rick Diedrich. Both drivers are continuing, fortunately. And again! This time, it looks like Knight drove into Dierich! This is unbelievable, it's a S#&tshow out there on the track! Pardon my language, hopefully they managed to edit that. Nick, as pit stops are starting, what are you seeing here?

Wheeler: I'm seeing a joke of a race. I'm seeing my teammates being targeted by someone or something. I don't spin driving by myself. Bruce NEVER spins, and Brandon doesn't drive into people. This is a travesty.

With that, the two watched just a few laps pass before Wheeler spoke up again, pointing at the far end of the course, towards Turn 4.

Wheeler: Shackelford is done. Machine is dead on the infield. Something isn't right. All the good drivers are going down. Something has to be happening that isn't in the control of the drivers.

The interview continued like this for the remainder of the race. Wheeler speaking up as Harroun spun in 8 for a DNF, Hilton and Morrison both crashing but continuing within a lap of Harroun's exit, and ultimately his 2nd teammate's DNF, Brandon Knight spinning in 2/3 with 14 to go.

Wheeler: There goes brandon. These race organizers are a big joke. You're kidding me. You mean to tell me that 4 of the series Top 5 drivers going out in a single race is just a coincidence? This is beyond the control of the drivers. It has to be. Otherwise, how would ALL of the top drivers in this series be going out in one race. Rocco and Drum are lucky they're still in. They must be dodging everything. HA! Zimmers just went out!

That's it. We may as well just boycott the final week. If the top drivers are going to be killed off by the organizers so some new faces can be near the top of the chart, why bother risking my ass out there?

I think I'll just run 1/1/1 on all my aggressions next week just to prove a point that no matter how good you are, or how aggressive you drive, they're in control of everything anyways. Screw this place.

Anderson: Who is the "they" you're referring to?

Wheeler: Jason, if I knew that I wouldn't be sitting here. See you next week.

So, foul play is being called by the fiery Rage driver who watched not only 2 teammates fail, but the majority of the high-end series competition fail on this 18th of 20 stages.