Nordschleife

Listen to Jörg's voice over the radio after the finish. His Dad sure didn't whinge like that. Jörg knows big boys lean on each other.

R+C

tdf360

You hit the nail on the head with this post! It was purely a failure of tactics and line control on Jorg's part. I had exactly the same experience in a FF race 30 years ago. Well even the pros learn something every race...

Gary

Bull

Exactly! I have tried to say this, but not as well, right after the race, but the Porsche crowed would have none of it. I still feel this way.

cooleyjb

My only issue is people calling it "good clean racing" It defintiely wasn't dirty, but it wasn't completely clean either.

DrJupeman

So yours and everyone else's point is that he should have expected to get bumped?

Larry Herman

It's a pro race with a lot at stake. I think that to not expect a bump would be naive. Better to be prepared for what does not come than not to be ready for what does.

Bull

Not sure who everyone else is, but my point is, as I said above, that I agree with, and have said something similar to what Larry said:

"Originally Posted by Larry Herman
Jorg just blew turn 17. I lost a race at Roebling the same way, and it'll never happen to me again like that. After squeezing by on the straight, Jorg should have parked it in 17 and made sure that the inside line was his. His mistake was that he tried to run away from Melo. He should have made Melo drive around him, or at least keep it under control enough so that if/when Melo bumped him, he wouldn't spin. He could have blocked him all the way to the checkered".

I would expect "bumping" in that situation, in that race, all the way to the checker if they were together that long. Jorg let him inside, where he could have his way with him. He shouldn't have let him inside after taking the lead. Jorg was in the lead, just not at the point that counts.

38D

Yep, that's what I pretty much think. It was still a dirty move, but Jorg should have shut the door or cut back across Melo's nose.

Bryan Watts

Absolutely. On the last lap, in the last corner, for the win of what is arguably the most important sports car race in America, I would expect everything short of being spun out if I leave the door open. And, if I had been beat like Jorg was, I would probably complain just like he did after the race, not because I really thought it was dirty, but because I would be so pumped up and upset, and a little bit shamed for getting beat.

DrJupeman

Let's try this: would Jorg have lost if he wasn't bumped?

Also, if Melo was in the bumping spirit, why would have "shutting the door" helped? Wouldn't Melo have hit him anyway?

Bryan Watts

Tough to tell...though I'm not sure why it matters. A bump is a perfectly good racing move in that situation.

Nano

Jorg braked late, Melo moved on a faster line... jorg lost. Melo had the better line, by a big margin.

Maybe Jorg thought melo was still on the outside, whathever the reason, Jorg lost because of Jorg.

38D

If Jorg has stayed directly in front of Melo and Meo had still hit him, I think Melo would have been penalized.

Bryan Watts

It wouldn't have done any good to hit him directly from behind, so I doubt Melo would have bothered...it would have just slowed both of them up. What evidence to you have to point to Melo just wanting to bump Jorg as opposed to Melo using a strategic bump to the side of Jorgs rear fender in order to wedge his way into the inside line?

ztnedman1

Melo still wasnt faster than him. Jorg was faster out of the corner till melo made him loose. Thats the problem, it doesnt look like it in regular speed, but in slow mo birdseye you can see it. Jorg had to get off the gas to save it so it looks like melo was faster. If jorg wasnt bumped he would have took off on the outside line and run away from him.

Also jorg didnt nessesarily brake late, melo pushed him way inside so it looks like he braked late when he was just on a different line.

And a bump is fine when your side by side, infact it makes it exciting, but hitting someones raer corner is a no.