Full Throttle

For lack of a better title.

Here are a couple stories that have caught my discerning eye in the last few hours:

Is there nothing Tony Stewart doesn’t do? Stock car racer, Sprint Car racer, Midget Racer, IndyCar racer, two-time NASCAR Champion, race track owner, fence climber.

A true Renaissance Man. And now you can add ice hockey coach. Next Wednesday he will assume duties as assistant coach of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.

Why do I have visions of the Hanson Brothers dancing in my head? And a couple bench penalties handed out by the zebras.

And in late breaking news, Smoke’s weekend dance card is full. Friday sees Stewart and IndyCar star Sam Hornish Jr. participate in the 9^th annual Rumble midget indoor races at Fort Wayne’s Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.

Whatever you chose to call them, partisans, the deluded, or just plain fans of NASCAR’s most popular and marketable driver, this poll of the years most over rated athlete should raise more than a few hackles.

In a poll run by AOL Sports Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the sixth most overrated athlete in 2006. In a poll that offered Danica Patrick as one of the twelve options it makes one think someone did a little ballot stuffing. But you didn’t hear that at Full Throttle. No way!

While on the subject of stupid ignorant polls comes word via Daily F1 News of a British magazine that set out to discover which F1 driver was fastest of all time. Their methodology leaves something to be desired.

They found Fernando Alonzo is Numero Uno among current drivers. Ayrton Senna and the retired Michael Schumacher rate as 1-2 as fastest F1 chauffeurs of all-time. So how did they come to this somewhat less than shocking conclusion?

Aside from conferring with acknowledged experts such as “Max Mosley (ed - WHAT?!), Jean Todt, Keke Rosberg and Eddie Jordan, the magazine compared drivers’ statistics relating to their teammates in F1.”

Now, my Dad always taught me being stupid is a waste of time, unless you demonstrate your “talent” for all to see, so here goes:

Wouldn’t comparing a #1 driver and a #2 driver, driving for the same team, in almost all instances always tilt the results in favor of the #1? Does the magazine take into account of how many #1s had a much less talented driver as a teammate, like say a rookie? How about those cases where the #2 on a team had what amounts to a test mule under control of his right foot?

Or am I just just living up to dear old Dad’s edict by showing how stupid I am for all to see?

I’ve noted on several occasions how Red Bull will make its presence known in a large way in the NASCAR paddock. Here is the latest example, the Red Bull Energy Station that will be utilized at selected NEXTEL Cup events in 2007.

The Energy Station comes complete with “love sacs.” Wonder if Ray Evernham and his Side Dish have a season pass?

Speaking of delusional fans, NASCAR doesn’t hold the patent on them, F1 has its share as well.

A 21-year-old Brit paid $200 to officially change his name to Fernando Alonso. His birth name was David Fuller, he is now known as Fernando Alonso Rodney Trotter Ronaldinho.

Rodney Trotter was a British television character from the 80s and Ronaldinho the famous Brazilian football player.

And the world awaits for the guys next name change: Fernando Alonso Rodney Trotter Ronaldinho Benny Hill.

F1, Formula One, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle