Day: August 25, 2015

My Thoughts On The Justin Wilson Situation

By David G. Firestone

I didn’t mean to post the My Thoughts On article on Monday, but I’m glad I did. I need to address the Justin Wilson situation. Sadly, I’m having to do another article about a top level driver death this year. But I’m wondering if something will change for IndyCar design within the next few years.

Just to recap, Justin Wilson was a former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver, who has 7 wins total in Champ Car and IndyCar. He finished 2nd in 2006 and 2007, winning the Greg Moore Legacy Award in both years. He had 16 starts in Formula 1, but only scored on championship point, with no wins or podiums. He was signed to Andretti Autosport for the 2015 Indianapolis 500, and was brought on for the last 5 races of the year.

At the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono on lap 179, Sage Karem spun out, and hit the wall. The nose cone came off the car, and as Wilson drove through the scene, it hit Wilson in the head, and he crashed into the wall. As his car slowed to a stop, he was obviously unconscious, and had to be airlifted from the scene. He never regained consciousness, and died last night.

Obviously this is a tragedy, BUT there might be some good that comes of this. I’m really wondering if canopies will come to IndyCar. I discussed this after the 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis, where James Hinchcliffe was hit by a much smaller piece of debris and suffered a concussion. In that article, I discussed how I think IndyCar will get canopies at some point, similar to many NHRA dragsters. Tony Schumacher has stated that he started using a canopy on his dragster because he was scared that he would take a bird to the helmet, and the damage it would cause. Well, the piece that Wilson took was much larger than most birds than Schumacher would encounter.

Above and beyond that, the last two deaths in IndyCar, Dan Wheldon in 2011, and Wilson’s death could have been avoided if canopies had been added. I’m thinking that the canopies will be added starting within the next few years. The purists are going to scream when they are added, but I’d rather not see another driver die like that! This needs to happen soon!

No racing fan wants to see drivers die, that is a fact. But changes need to happen to prevent driver deaths, and this is the change that needs to happen. If the purists want to scream, let them, but I’m sick of seeing driver die! Remember that since 2011, in IndyCar and F1, there were 3 driver deaths that all could have easily been prevented with the addition of canopies, yet nobody wants to accept that they are needed.

I’m pleading with IndyCar, don’t listen to fans who are stuck in the past, do what’s right for your drivers!

My Thoughts On The Jared Fogle Situation

By David G. Firestone

As you are all aware by this point, Jared Fogle, who for 15 years was a spokesman for Subway plead guilty to possessing child pornography, and traveling to have sex with a minor last week. His actions were reprehensible to say the least. It should also be noted that Russell Taylor, who was the director of the Jared Foundation, a group devoted to preventing childhood obesity, was arrested and charged with child exploitation, possession of child pornography, and voyeurism. I’m not going to try and defend Jared, because he’s not something that can be defended. Sexual exploitation of children is disgusting.

I am however, going to defend Subway in this situation. Subway employed him as a spokesman, and was not aware of what he was doing in his off duty hours. Whenever something like this happens, people who have agendas against the company will place blame on the company. Do you really think that Subway supported him traveling to have sex with a minor? Do you really think Subway supported him downloading child porn? Subway couldn’t have had less to do with this situation!

The idea of blaming a whole company because one or two people involved with the company is a perv, or a criminal, to me, is idiotic. Another example is when Kmart inked a deal with Martha Stewart in 2001. Kmart agreed to start selling Martha Stewart’s merchandise, and things were going well, until she went to prison in 2003 for insider trading. Kmart immediately felt the need to apologize and defend themselves, despite the fact that they couldn’t have had less to do with the Stewart case.

People with agendas like to use controversies to prove their point, even if the agenda couldn’t have less to do with the company, and I get so tired of hearing this nonsense. Again, what Jared did was horrific, and disgusting, but Subway isn’t a part of this! He did this on his own time, and didn’t involve the company, so please stop making the company look like they supported him from day one in downloading porn, and traveling to have sex with a child.