95 replies to this topic

[taran]

Since jonpollak does know Dario personally I think it was a perfectly reasonable response to your rather mealy-mouthed comment.

 

 

Don't know either poster but your poor attitude and jonpollack's deserve a response IMO.

No, I don't know Dario personally either. In fact, I have never met any driver.

Yet that doesn't stop me from forming an opinion on these public figures based on their behaviour in public and behind the wheel.

This is a forum where opinions are discussed. Usually based on impressions, sometimes on facts.

 

If this offends you or you find the concept too difficult, perhaps you should stop frequenting forums or attacking other posters because you got your feelings hurt.

[Nonesuch]

That's a sad way for any career to end, not to mention a champion's.

 

Then again, as others have pointed out this is the best of the worst outcomes, I suppose.

[jonpollak]

Give it a rest you guys..

Anybody can say anything they like...Read the context as you will.

 

Surface judgements notwithstanding.

Jp

[Tenmantaylor]

Sad news but everyone has to stop sometime and better this way than fading away. Or worse. IndyCar is extremely dangerous and you could argue he is lucky the accident that caused his latest injury wasn't worse. Had his car gone in at a slightly different angle it could have been much worse.

[HoldenRT]

Having an opinion on public figures is fine, but just try to remember to be respectful.  Every racing driver deserves respect.

[Vitesse2]

Having an opinion on public figures is fine, but just try to remember to be respectful.  Every racing driver deserves respect.

[bourbon]

Well congrats to Dario on all of his achievements in Indy; I don't regularly watch, but his achievements are legend already. 

 

And now onward and upward.  What is next...? 

[Rinehart]

I was gutted he never made the move to F1, he's easily my favourite driver in the world outside of F1. 

 

Better he's still here than not at all after some of the shunts he's had in America. I think he's got real courage to take the advice, and stop. 

 

Cheers Dario, amazing career behind the wheel, hope you're part of the world of motorsport for many years to come.

[taran]

Having an opinion on public figures is fine, but just try to remember to be respectful.  Every racing driver deserves respect.

Sure.

 

And every poster deserves respect too.....

Even if you disagree with his opinion.

 

No context implied.

[Tsarwash]

Respect is not automatic, it is gained. The reason why we should respect strangers here is because of our respect for the forum itself. 

Anyhow, wise decision from Dario. I do not follow Indy closely, but he has shone in that series and frankly I think he has been lucky with the accidents that he has been through to date. He could easily have been killed many times over. I hope he has a long and happy retirement. He has a bright future ahead of him. 

[Reinmuster]

It's shame. Dario was a great champion.

 

 

 

[SR388]

Since jonpollak does know Dario personally I think it was a perfectly reasonable response to your rather mealy-mouthed comment.

Hey, I didn't know know that JP knows Dario, and it was never my intent to upset JP, and I feel terrible that I have. I was just stating that in my few short years of watching Indy that I am not a fan of Dario's but I genuinely feel awful to see a great driver or any driver have to end their career under those sort of circumstances. My first post was made via mobile during a quick break at work, in hindsight I should have posted what I just posted above, but I lacked time.


Sorry JP.

[Andy35]

Surely this is an over reaction by over cautious medical staff?

 

Lots of people have broken spines and so things a lot more dangerous still than car driving.  Riding motorbikes again for instance.

 

Well it is his decision.  His family will be happy.

 

Andy

[Paco]

Over reaction?????

He's had soooo many accidents and serious injuries, being 41 and getting concussions is very very serious. It impairs judgement and with a sport that requirement millisecond judgements that could result in life and death accidents to yourself and fellow drivers, it takes a real man to accept that you could be a menace on track. Plus, the last thing he wants to have happen is another concussion and lose his memory, loss of personality, constant migraines etc.

He has nothing left to prove, succedded in every way and had an awesome career that every driver dreams of with a beautiful family.

Total respect to him and his wife for being real about his ailments and doing what's right for him vs. a few more wins...

Edited by Paco, 15 November 2013 - 13:44.

[Seanspeed]

Respect is not automatic, it is gained.

Sorry for the off-topic, but I really hate this.  Respect should be automatic.  The only way you should not respect somebody is if they've done something where you feel they do not deserve it anymore. 

 

Respect other people on the forum not for the sake of the forum but because you're not a terrible human being.

 

Anyways, this is surprising, but if its concussion-related, its a good decision.  A lot of new research being done is showing that repeated concussions is likely far more impactful than we had thought.  It could completely the change the entire sport of American football in the future.  Glad Franchitti has at least had a chance to have a great career and will have little reason to feel too mournful.  He can now feel free to live his life in leisure and spend more time with friends and family.    

[aray]

good luck to him for the road ahead...

[Alfisti]

He's extremely lucky. I know i have said this before but when Monty said he's going back to Indy i said it's a massive risk for a man with money in the bank, a wife and a few kids. Dario really should have quit a year or so ago because flying around in circles with an open wheel vehicle means a big one is going to happen from time to time and then you're in the hands of fate. He's gotten away with one, best to hang em up and polish the trophies.

[Andy35]

Paco, please read my post again and see where it says " by the medical staff".   A clue, it is in the first line, surely you got that far into my post before frantically bashing away at your keyboard.

 

If it is their decision then it is an over reaction, if it is his then that is fine and I fully respect that.

 

I am pretty sure it is more family and personal rather than medically advised. From personal experience medical people after a spinal medical injury do not preach what you should and should not do.

 

Andy

[OfficeLinebacker]

Surely this is an over reaction by over cautious medical staff?

 

Lots of people have broken spines and so things a lot more dangerous still than car driving.  Riding motorbikes again for instance.

 

Well it is his decision.  His family will be happy.

 

Andy

 

Yeah but how many of those lots of people are:

• In their 40s
• Have won multiple championships at a very high level
• Have won multiple Indianapolis 500s
• Competing at a level where the cars are open cockpit and regularly exceed 200 MPH
• Were at the tail end of a storied career and probably going to retire within a few years anyway

?

 

Also note he's divorced (or soon to be) and has no kids, so the family angle is probably weaker than most people think.

[Radoye]

He's extremely lucky. I know i have said this before but when Monty said he's going back to Indy i said it's a massive risk for a man with money in the bank, a wife and a few kids. Dario really should have quit a year or so ago because flying around in circles with an open wheel vehicle means a big one is going to happen from time to time and then you're in the hands of fate. He's gotten away with one, best to hang em up and polish the trophies.

 

Ironically, he is retiring due to a crash on a street circuit. So what you said above would just as well apply to any F1 driver for example.

[Afterburner]

Got the news last night and was sorry to hear it. I only got to watch him race for a year and he seemed to not be at his best. Wish I had had the chance to see him in an IndyCar at his prime.

My brother and I did get a picture taken with him at the Petit Le Mans last year, though. Very polite and respectful about it considering we ran into him leaving the pits at around half-past midnight.

Edited by Afterburner, 15 November 2013 - 15:35.

[Hans V]

Very diasppointing, but health comes first. Im my view the coolest and most interesting guy in racing. So fast, so great a racer and so successful, but still humble and funny. I'm so impressed with his knowledge and appreciation of racing history. His columns in Evo magazine are absolutely great, hope he continues with them. He wants to continue being involved in racing, so I'll hope he gets to manage the Ganassi IndyCar team a couple of years before he takes over Williams.;)

[Pikachu Racing]

Will miss him. There been many times he bounced back from flips, crashes, and broken bones, but not this time. He got to look out for himself on the long run. The fact he already suffer 4 concussions as a driver and new and improving studies on long term effects of head injuries is not so pretty. You have former NFL players with CTE and few have committed suicide after playing days are over. What happening with concussions in US football took athletes in every sport to notice and be cautious about head injuries.

Edited by Pikachu Racing, 15 November 2013 - 15:53.

[Pikachu Racing]

Photo of Dario I took in Houston. It was on Friday

 

[Ryan94]

Such a sad way for a great Champions career to end. Definitely my favourite driver outside F1, should be better known here in the UK

[InSearchOfThe]

Congrats to DF on an outstanding career. A true gentleman racer. I always thought he would've made a good grand prix driver. He raced on Paul Sterwarts F3 team I think. Enjoy retirement.

 

The thread title is misleading. Forced is not the right world. More like advised to stop. I'm sure there wasn't a gun pointed at his head. He's a smart cookie.

[Alfisti]

Ironically, he is retiring due to a crash on a street circuit. So what you said above would just as well apply to any F1 driver for example.

No it wouldn't because there's no way F1 would run on a track like that. 

[SonnyViceR]

No it wouldn't because there's no way F1 would run on a track like that. 

 

I'm glad you said 'would' and not 'could'

 

But it's a massive, massive shock - and shame. Will miss Dario. Hopefully he'll stay around as NBCSN commentator or something at least.

[DrProzac]

Such a shame.

[vapaokie]

No it wouldn't because there's no way F1 would run on a track like that. 

 

You're really delusional if you think flight into a fence like that couldn't happen at Monaco, Australia, Spain, Singapore, etc.

[Radoye]

Got the news last night and was sorry to hear it. I only got to watch him race for a year and he seemed to not be at his best. Wish I had had the chance to see him in an IndyCar at his prime.

My brother and I did get a picture taken with him at the Petit Le Mans last year, though. Very polite and respectful about it considering we ran into him leaving the pits at around half-past midnight.

 

He just never seemed to adapt to the new chassis, despite winning his third Indy in it. He was right at the top in 2011, in 2012 and since he was struggling.

 

A great guy, a great career, nothing to regret - except maybe the chance to try going for that 4th Indy...

[Radoye]

You're really delusional if you think flight into a fence like that couldn't happen at Monaco, Australia, Spain, Singapore, etc.

 

And it neraly did a few times - have we forgotten this already?

 

 

The main difference between this and Dario's crash was that Webber was near the inside wall and inertia took him away from the fence, while Dario was squeezed against the outside wall and the forces were pushing him into the fence rather than from it.

 

 

EDIT: one word

Edited by Radoye, 15 November 2013 - 22:04.

[Prost1997T]

You're really delusional if you think flight into a fence like that couldn't happen at Monaco, Australia, Spain, Singapore, etc.

 

Yup.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Prost1997T, 15 November 2013 - 22:12.

[Cynic2]

Paco, please read my post again and see where it says " by the medical staff".   A clue, it is in the first line, surely you got that far into my post before frantically bashing away at your keyboard.

 

If it is their decision then it is an over reaction, if it is his then that is fine and I fully respect that.

 

I am pretty sure it is more family and personal rather than medically advised. From personal experience medical people after a spinal medical injury do not preach what you should and should not do.

 

Andy

 

I'm going to assume you know very little about (Dr.) Steve Olvey and his background . . . .

[ThadGreen]

Certainly disappointing news, I wish him well in his future endeavours.I'm not that surprised at his announcement to retire because it did seem to be a nasty accident and there were 2 (i think) ankle surgeries. I was unaware of the head trauma issues until reading about them in this forum He has had a very nice career and has achieved a lot and considering that he is not getting any younger perhaps now is the right time to stop.

[LB]

He's 40 not 41 (Hes a couple of months younger than me so it IS important lol). 

 

I have a feeling that he was probably going to retire from indycar soon anyway. I'll miss him thats for sure.

[MattPete]

My favorite Dario moment (and excuse me for my dusty memory) comes from Portland back in the 90s.

 

Something happened -- I don't remember what, perhaps Dario crashed out -- and Carl Hogan was about ready to chew Dario out.  At the last minute, Carl realized that he was on camera, and instead gave Dario a big hug.

[Risil]

Will choose to remember the fact that Dario picked up more pole positions than anyone else in 2013. He wasn't done yet.

[jonpollak]

You got that right Ris

I've a few things to post here...
 
First of all 'An Appreciation' by the wonderful Donald Davidson.
http://blog.ims.com/...an-appreciation


Secondly, a nice look back at his career.


Jp

[B Squared]

Thanks for posting the video Jon.

From Robin Miller's Mailbag at Racer, the 1997 Road America race in the wet is one of my favorite memories of Dario too. e we soaked to the bone, but it was worth it.

Q: I remember watching Dario burst onto the CART scene with Hogan, and then lighting things up with Team KOOL Green, and being a match for Montoya in that driver's heyday. Nothing beat watching Dario hustle a 900hp beast around the streets of Vancouver in person, and his battles with Paul Tracy were great fun to watch as well. He even got me to watch a NASCAR race or two. His race craft is unparalleled, but his role as an ambassador for the sport will also be missed (although I'm sure we'll see him around). A tough competitor, nice guy, student of racing history, and someone who never misses the opportunity to give props to his old buddy Greg Moore.

As for that No. 10 Ganassi seat, well I think they should move it further back in the cockpit. If Justin Wilson doesn't get that drive, something is wrong. I imagine Dale Coyne is hedging his bets contract-wise again, and hopefully that is the Chipster's gain!

Trevor Bohay, Kamloops, B.C., Canada

RM: The competition between Dario and P.T. was as intense as anything in the paddock and the amazing thing is that they stayed friends. My best memory of his rookie season is the drive he was putting on, in the rain, at Road America. You knew then he was the real deal.

Yes, Justin would be great in that No. 10 car but I don't hold out much hope.

[B Squared]

From Marshall Pruett at Racer, part 1 of a Dario Retirement Perspective:

http://www.racer.com...article/326953/

[Rob]

Well I'm going to miss him. I started following his career when I was 10 and I'm now a year shy of 30. I was a teenager when he was racing for Team KOOL Green in CART and he left a huge impression - that you can be quick on the track and at the same time be a class act off of it. Nice guys don't have to finish last.

 

It's going to be odd going into a season without Dario being a part of it, but I wish him the best for his retirement and I hope he stays involved in the sport in some capacity.

[jonpollak]

To compliment Brian's part 1

Here's part 2

http://www.racer.com...article/327051/

Jp

[B Squared]

And now part 3:

http://www.racer.com...article/327355/

[B Squared]

Dario's Retirement Perspective Part 4, from Racer:

http://www.racer.com...article/327700/

[jonpollak]

Now THAT'S a good one ..

Thanks B²

Jp