5 Times Drivers got SCREWED out of a win

 5 Times Drivers got SCREWED out of a win

By Brian H Cotnoir

If there's one thing in racing that pisses me off, it's seeing a driver (or team) get absolutely screwed out of a win because of some B.S. call or "rule infraction".  It's something that happens in every racing league from your local short track to top echelons of motorsports.  It's wrong, and it can be a huge turn off to lifetime fans of the sport.   There are probably more moments than I ever realized, but let's just start with these five.

1.)  Regan Smith at Talladega 2008

I already talked about this in my defense of Regan Smith article, but I will repeat what I said: NASCAR screwed Regan Smith out of his first career win at Talladega Super Speedway in 2008.   NASCAR implemented the controversial Double-Yellow line rule in an attempt to eliminate unsafe or highly risky passes at Daytona and Talladega.  The rule stated you could not pass below the Double Yellow Line to advance your position and if you did you would be disqualified.  By the time NASCAR came to Talladega in the Fall of 2008 the Double Yellow Line rule seemed cut and dry and never interfered with the finish of the race...until it did.   Coming through the tri-oval on the last lap, Rookie Regan Smith was forced below the Double Yellow Line by race leader Tony Stewart, Smith drove past Stewart and beat Stewart to the finish line.  Chaos ensued as Smith and his team believed they had won, and even the commentators of the race seemed confused.   Even the commentators seemed to be under the interpretation that a pass below the Double Yellow line was perfectly legal on the last lap.

NASCAR named Tony Stewart the winner of the race, Smith was dropped to 18th place.  I truly believe NASCAR gave the win to Tony Stewart because he had more store power than Regan Smith, and because he hadn't won a race all season.  I think if it had been Dale Jr. who made the pass below the Double Yellow line then the win would have stood.    Since then, we've seen drivers Johnny Sauter, and Matt DiBenedetto penalized for forcing a driver below the yellow line coming to the finish line.   Not to mention several races where the leader was dumped coming to the Finish Line to ensure the driver in second didn't get forced down below the Double Yellow Line.

2.)  Paul Tracy 2002 Indy 500

I hate agreeing with Paul Tracy on anything, but I have to admit that I think he really won the 2002 Indy 500.  And I mean, no disrespect to Helio either; History says he's a 4-time Indy 500 Champion, but I still have some doubts about his second win at the 500.  I'm not entirely convinced that he was ahead of Paul Tracy at the moment of caution.   

I think there was chicanery used in the final decision, since this was at the height of the IRL/CART Split, and then IMS President, Tony George had every reason to want to declare an IRL driver (Castroneves) the winner over a driver from the CART Series, Paul Tracy.

3.)  Jim Vandiver, Inaugural Talladega 500

The 1969 Talladega 500 is often credited as the "Worst NASCAR Race" ever.  To make a long story short, the new track was eating up tires like a cheese grater and many drivers expressed concerns for their safety and threatened to boycott the race.  Bill France Sr. balked at their threat and all, but three Cup Series drivers went home that weekend.

Jim Vandiver, Richard Brickhouse, and Bobby Isaac were the only Cup Series drivers to start.   For most of the race it was Jim Vandiver and Richard Brickhouse.   The rumor is that Chrysler encouraged Bill France Sr. to create a "Scoring Error" because Vandiver's year old Dodge Charger was outrunning the brand-new Dodge Daytona, and they wanted to make sure their new car one.   Vandiver maintained to his death that he was the real winner of the Inaugural Talladega 500.    If you're interested in finding out more about this race YouTuber S1apSh0es has a great video about the first race at Talladega and goes into way more detail.

4.)  Ricky Rudd at Sears Point 1991

NASCAR has been fairly laissez-faire when it comes to one driver moving one driver out of the way for a win.   Most of the time when it happens the ruling is "Rubbing is Racing" and "Boys have at it".  I can only think of three times off the top of my head where I can recall a driver getting a penalty for "dirty driving" (and two of them are Dale Earnhardt).  This is the only time I've ever heard of it costing a driver a win.   The 1991 Banquet Frozen Foods 300 at Sears Point looked like it was going to come down to the wire.    Going into turn 11 with two to go, Ricky Rudd bumped leader Davey Allison and caused him to spin.   Rudd took the lead and white flag while Allison looked like he would have to settle for 2nd place.   

As Rudd approached the finish line the flagman wasn't holding the checkered flag, but the Black Flag.  Rudd was penalized for "dirty driving", which handed the win back to Davey Allison.    Rudd's crew chief Waddell Wilson was absolutely livid about the decision, and I can't say that I blame him.   It's something that hasn't happened since in NASCAR.

5.)  F1 Team Orders 

There were too many to choose from so I just decided to say all Formula One Races affected by Team Orders.   There has to be nothing more disheartening then to hear your Team Boss tell you to give up your position to your teammate or hold position and defend for your teammate until the end of the race. A few of the most well-known examples I can think of are Ralf Schumacher at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix not being allowed to pass teammate Damon Hill, Mika Salo having to let his teammate Eddie Irvine pass him to improve his championship lead at the 1999 German Grand Prix, Rubens Barichello being ordered to let Michael Schumacher pass on the front stretch of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, and in my opinion the Most Egregious, Felipe Massa being told that "Fernando is faster" at the 2010 German Grand Prix.