Indyslotcar driver Ev Kamikawa has a parody of the song he sings that says "won't get screwed again."
Problem is he still keeps getting screwed more often than any other driver in league history.
The latest screw job took place at Badger Raceway for the 2013 Duane Sweeny Memorial race.
Early in the second heat race Ev was down several laps to leader Dean Strom.
Storming back into contention Ev took the lead with three minutes to go.
Track officials announced Ev had a one lap lead on Dean with two minutes to go.
At the one minute mark track officials announced Dean was on the lead lap, although he hadn't passed Ev on the track.
Both drivers battled side by side for many laps.
Ev beats dean at finish line on final completed lap, but time has not run out so drivers continue for the remaining few seconds as they are tied in lap totals. At some point in time, not made clear in the video replays shown at the track, track officials announce time has expired. In the frame shown on replay Dean is indeed ahead by half of a car length when Commissioner Mike claims he called for the cars to stop. As the cars pass out of camera shot Ev is even and passing Dean again. Dean crashes into the wall at the end of the back straight. Ev continues onward for two more track sections before he too crashes.
The lap counter shows Ev ahead at the line and finishing the race in less time than Dean. Ev is ahead of Dean on the track and the corner marshal in the area says Ev has won.
Commissioner K claims time was called as Dean was ahead of Ev by one car length on the back straight and declares Dean the winner, even though where and when time exactly expired and was announced with the cars on track isn't clear, Dean crashed into final turn after Ev passed him and the computer says Ev was the winner.
Victory awarded to Dean and he goes on to win the event.
"You usually race back to the line in any racing event," Kamikawa explained. "I was ahead at the line and ahead on the track. Since both of us couldn't make it all the way around you go back to the previous lap and or use where the cars come to rest. Where someone says 'stop' isn't helpful because do you immediately stop when they start saying the word and you hear the 'ssss' sound or do you stop when you get to the 'p' sound?"
Dean was declared the winner but should he have been? My investigation into league history might prove otherwise.
So far there are at least two cases which prove my point.
By coincidence both precedents involve Kamikawa.
Example number one:
1997 Ford Fall 500 at the Mini Milwaukee Mile.
Pole sitter Ev feel back several laps int he first half to John Baas, teammate with Commissioner Phil.
Ev takes the lead with a few laps to go. Ev is leading the white flag lap but no one is looking at finish line or lap counter. Ev crosses the finish line three car lengths over John. Ev celebrates victory, however the video cameraman, the marshalls, and commissioner were distracted by other events on the track. No one else saw the finish, or at least claims they did. Since no one but the drivers saw the finish, Commissioner Phil declares it a tie. There are no rules in the IndyslotCART rule book to address this situation.
Ev's car is literally torn apart and handed back to him in a plastic bag. Commissioner Phil declares John the winner because according to the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) rule book, in the event of a photo finish the driver that came from further back in qualifying gets the win.
If that precedent was followed in the 2013 Duane Sweeny Memorial then Ev should have been declared the winner as he qualified lower than Dean.
Example number two:
Turkey Trot 2012 at Southshore Speedway. Dan Margetta and Ev are tied on laps with a few seconds to go in a limited de-slot race. Ev has one less de-slot than Dan meaning if he goes off the track once he is done. Dan spins in the hairpin turn and as time runs out and Ev is even with his car while passing him. Effectively the cars are tied in laps and in track position. Ev's car is still under power and Ev de-slots while Dan stays in the slot because car has no power. While no one disputes Ev passed Dan when time ran out and was ahead, the victory is given to Dan because he remained on the track after time had expired and what happened after time was called counts. Even though Ev's last de-slot happened after time expires, officials claimed Dan still won because his car was still on the track.
If this precedent was followed then Ev should have been declared the winner in the 2013 Duane Sweeny Memorial because in addition to being shown ahead on the lap scoring system, Ev was ahead on the track even after time expired.
What should be done to correct this gregarious racing injustice?
The race is in the books.
No changes will be made, however this race will remain one of the biggest debating points in league history.
Maybe the league statisticians should add three victories onto the career totals for Ev.
No explanation. No changing box scores from the past. Just add them in.
One change in the all time stats column. They do it in baseball all the time as hitters get close to milestones, and they even go to the trouble of correcting box scores!
No one checks racing stats as closely as baseball stats.
Did Ev get screwed again?
"Yes!" exclaims Ev.
In my opinion...You bet he did...again!
Until next time...It's not bad being in the pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
