Hello racing world! I’m back (sort of took a summer hiatus on writing columns since I generally stink at it) and ready to stir up some fodder with you all once again. OK, OK, OK… since I didn’t write all summer long, feel free to go to either my MySpace or Facebook or my ESPN fan page to read me the riot act – Blog away – I deserve it.

On to the news at hand… The Chase for the championship has now started in NASCAR Sprint Cup and the NHRA, but in IndyCar, the championship ended Sunday with one of the best finishes in the series’ history. Damn those IndyCar’s can race at Chicago – might Chicago become the 2nd best track next to only Indy on the schedule? That may upset some Texas Motor Speedway fans, but damn, TMS hasn’t had races like Chicago has the last few years… if you are anywhere in the remote location of Chicago, you had better get your ass to next year’s IndyCar race because with the series gaining huge momentum this year due to the ‘merger’ and many other names set to join the series next year (hmmm, besides Dario Franchitti who I GLADLY welcome back, I’ve been given word of another NASCAR driver who is actually in talks today with the IndyCar brass to switch sides – WAHOO!), it is only going to get better!!

Now, back to that IndyCar finish… some people left the track and drove home thinking Scott Dixon not only wrapped the championship, but won the race. Not so! I had several emails during our show Sunday night questioning how Helio Castroneves won when the pylon at the track said Dixon won. Yeah, it was THAT close. But believe it or not, it was only the SECOND closest finish in IndyCar history – the closest also being at Chicago in 2002 where Sam Hornish beat Al Unser Jr.

Congrats to Helio, but Dixie was the man who won the championship, the million dollar bonus, the girl (wait, he already won the girl) and became the 4th driver in a row to win the Indy 500 and the championship in the same year. Moving forward with all the cool additions in IndyCar I think it will be extremely doubtful that we will see that again, at least in a long time… we had 4 years of the Indy 500 winner taking the championship, but beginning in 2009 it will be much harder to do. Your thoughts?

In Indy Lights, Arie Luyendyk Jr. took his first win of his career, while his teammate Rafa Matos solidified the championship. Now pay attention to this… Rafa won the Atlantics championship last year and was guaranteed $1 million plus for a Champ Car seat, Champ Car folded, he took an Indy Lights ride instead and now has won the Indy Lights championship… so, shouldn’t he naturally move up to an IndyCar seat for 2009? YES! But this is not happening between Indy Lights and IndyCar as it should. Just ask Alex Lloyd or Wade Cunningham. PLEASE, IndyCar… PLEASE make room for these champs as the series progresses so that the ladder series can be proven to work. As of now Rafa is planning to run Sports Cars… PLEASE don’t allow him to become another Open Wheel star relegated to Sports Cars (Michael Valiante, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Tonis Kasemets, Alex Figge, Ryan Dalziel, Guy Cosmo, Joey Hand & Simon Pagenaud)… OK, and if you want to add some of the ‘older’ guys to the argument (even though they aren’t ‘old’), then fine: Scott Pruett, Adrian Fernandez, Scott Sharp, Bryan Herta, Christian Fittipaldi and maybe even Max Papis (though I know Max is trying to keep his IndyCar options open).

• DISCLAIMER: I am not implying that there is anything wrong with Sports Cars as it is tremendous racing and quite entertaining in the paddocks, but open wheel drivers should, in their younger years, stay in open wheel as that is the path they have desired to follow. Do you agree?

On to the other goings on this weekend… In NASCAR, Ron Hornaday commanded the Truck race in Gateway and is now 94 points out of the top spot. For his interview with us Sunday, hit this: Ron Hornaday on the Freaks

Jimmie Johnson was the winner in Sprint Cup… again. Hey, did you see the Rolling Stone article on Tony Stewart (who finished second) and how he called out JJ? It’s entertaining… RS on Smoke

Regarding the Chase for the Championship, Budweiser’s Kasey Kahne did not make the cut, therefore NO Dodges are in the Top 12. Ouch! Chalk up the Chase to 3 Toyotas, 3 Fords & 6 Chevy Bowties.

NHRA had the weekend off, but Mac Tools US Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Steve Johnson came in to the Freaks Pits Sunday night to discuss parody in the bike class… and of course it was high energy: SJ’s Suzuki

Other 2-wheel news: Ken Coolbeth won the Flat Track race in NY on the weekend, 6x champ Mat Mladin’s DQ appeal from Virginia race was denied (BIG ouch) and the series finale in ATVA Extreme Dirt Track was cancelled due to rain dumped in IL by Hurricane Gustov remnants (meanie!)

NOW, let’s have some SERIOUS fun… what is your opinion of the F1 debacle this weekend? Come on now, according to the forums out there and the discussion we had on our show last night, there are some BIG opinions. Was it a racial issue? Does Max Mosley really have it out for Lewis Hamilton… possibly because he is black and soooo successful in Max’s ‘white’ world? (enter white kitchen appliances Danica Patrick comment here). Is the FIA quickly approaching WWE status like many of you have stated? What do you think?

Oh, you live under a rock and still don’t know what happened? Well, bottom line is that Lewis Hamilton drove brilliantly in the wet on the last few laps (on dry tires mind you) and won the race. TWO hours later, the FIA overturned the results, fined him 25 seconds and forced him back to a 3rd place finish… yes, all this AFTER he celebrated in Victory Lane. Why the penalty? Apparently it was for an illegal maneuver. Hmmm, why doesn’t someone have this video up on YouTube yet? I wish you could be the judge because IMO yes, Lewis cut a corner while fighting Kimi Raikkonen for position. However, he clearly was forced to cut the corner in a typical racing move as Raikkonen was not willing to give up the position. But no matter as after he accidentally cut the corner, Lewis did what he had to do and gave the lead back to Kimi. Here is where the controversy comes in… when he returned the lead to Kimi and went behind him in line, he then quickly re-passed Kimi. Lewis claimed he caught a draft and had no where else to go but pass him as in a typical race pass, but the stewards claim it was illegal (apparently he was supposed to stay behind Kimi another second or two??) and that he shouldn’t have passed him at all. Huh?

Well bottom line is that now Felipe Massa is the declared winner, the points battle is now just TWO markers between Felipe and Lewis (Lewis the leader) and McLaren (Lewis’ team) is vehemently appealing the penalty. Stay tuned…

OK, I need to go do some TV cut-ins and then get ready to leave tomorrow for the MotoGP race in Indy (damn, I can’t wait), so that is all from me for now… but I soooo want your opinions on all the above… email me at CrashG@SpeedFreaks.TV , MySpace, Facebook or ESPN Fans me… Ciao!

Crasher