Look at this... it's amazing how a keyboard makes some of you grow a pair of testicles that you don't have in real life.
Unless you drive in the series then you don't know anything about what line you should be taking.
NOPI rules do not forbid passing, they only require a pass to be made cleanly, which Dan did. As drivers we repeatedly asked the judges to clarify their take on passing, and as of L.A. they still refused to give a straight answer.
Bill was on a faster line, which would maintain more speed across the clipping point and make for a smoother transition. But most of the events I've watched Bill tends to run tight when he leads in order to protect the inside line from passes.
Dan and his team have sponsors to please and finishing better means more points, points mean better final standings, higher standings mean more opportunity for next year etc.
I didn't see anyone one here bashing Kenji Yamanaka when he pulled passes exactly like this at Nopi St. Louis... is he immune becasue he's Japanese?? In fact St. Louis was the event that the passing issue became a big deal in the drivers meetings. Particularly because of Kenji and his tactics. Well the judges refused to say no passing. And during practice Kenji pulled this type of pass on Dan. I think this was when Dan realized they were not going to penalize people for doing it, and if Kenji was going to take advantage, then why shouldn't anyone else???. After all it is competition, money is at stake, points, plus sponsors to be represent. Prize money from ATL was doubled due to Chicaco cancellation, and with Dan on Maxxis tires, he stood to make $15,000-20,000 if he won this event.
NO WHO WANTS TO ACT LIKE ANYTHING HERE IS CLEARCUT???
Here's the simple answer, NO PASSING BEFORE THE FIRST CLIP!!!
It should be a rule in every series. FD made it a rule for 2007. D1 still hasn't, and NOPI either.
By not allowing passing before the first clip, then it is actually a benefit to run the leaders line, or wider. The wider you come in, the more you will pull up on your opponent at the first clip, unless you are WAYYY wide, and the better chance you give yourself to pass later in the course.
So once again, "NO PASSING BEFORE THE FIRST CLIP" needs to be a rule. Right now it ISNT, and I refuse to blame Dan for trying to win.
Also the hit was intentional, how could it not be? We all have brake pedals in our cars and Bill is an exceptional driver, he had plenty of options other than just cruising into the back of Dans car. Honestly he probably felt like he got cheated in the pass and its something I would probably do too, especially of there was a NO PASSING BEFORE FIRST CLIP rule.
But there isn't.... so that argument is null and void.
They need to make the rule.
Until that happens, it is the series' and/or judges' fault, not the drivers, and drivers leading will just have to run a tighter line to protect the inside.
Another thing: the tight line is hard for low power cars, hence many of us drivers booing when Dan pulled a tight line pass on Marty in St. Louis.... maybe a rule like NO PASSING BEFORE THE FIRST CLIP would fix situations like this... anyone seeing a pattern here?
Although acording to the Atlanta decision, you can run the faster line, and get passed, and then just rear-end the guy.
Also I think Dan overreacted to the tap a little bit and would have probably won the battle if he had stayed on throttle, rather than pulling to the side....
I consider both of these guys friends and I am just stating it how I see it.
Both drivers have valid arguments, but due to current NOPI rules I feel the hit was unsportsmanlike.
And you kids calling people names like 'faggot'...... GROW UP ALREADY
