I just listened the entire interview and frankly, was a bit dissapointed.
The interviewer did a great job
The interviewee (Reese) left a LOT to be desired
In part 2 he's whining about weight and how the Corvette slides and get's slippery in the turns and how it'll slide out (I'll use the term "ass out" for reference) in the turns. (note: this becomes relevant later in my commentary)
.
In part 3, when addressing my question, he starts condescening commentary on how "this is not just turning into your driveway", begins describing "drifitng" and "Apexing" and how the Mazda driver should have ben this and that...blah blah blah.....
Maybe I didn't make my question clear enough for him, or maybe, he's just too single focused to answer it straight up?
I wasn't discussing "drift" and that should have be obvious, even in his POV.
Look at the video.
It appears as the Corvette team enters the turn, the rear of the Corvette get's (in his words) "slippery" and goes into a rear slide (in my words) "ass out" in the corner.
Regardless of where "he thinks" the Mazda team "should have been", from the viewers POV (thus the request for additional video footage), it appears the Mazda was at the right rear quarter of the Corvette teams car (enter situational/track awareness).
When the vette starts to slide, forward momentum is slowed (yes, even we "
non-professional race car driver types" can figure that one out
). The Mazda, already committed to the turn, had no where else to go except into the Corvette teams car (unless Mr. Reese would rather him go into the dirt or try to go left possibly causing a larger crash?).
It is possible, even "reasonable" that heavier braking on the part of the Mazda driver might have assisted in minimizing the effect or the incident in general. It may have even avoided the contact? But again, with the video available, it's difficult to tell?
In summary, it appears the Corvette team driver momentarily lost traction and thus some control of his car on the track.
It appears the Corvette team driver laced situational awareness on the track at that particular moment, an unfortunate situation.
The Mazda team driver may not have applied sufficient braking to avoid the impact.
The two teams made momentary contact resulting in damage to the Corvette teams car.
Is there an vendetta?
Of course there's a vendetta. that much is obvious!
That question was pretty well answered by Reese earlier in the interviews where he talks about bringing it to them (or words to that effect) and mentions that "if he had a back up car....."
What does he expect?
With the attitude he's displayed, I'm not sure I'd want to come to thier trailer after a race either without back up?
Essentially, I found his tap-dancing to be comical, more politician than sportsman, and his excessive whining about the rules and the other team to be childish.
Did he not know the rules prior to entering the challenge? Only a fool would do that, and I don't think he's a fool.
So why complain about the "unfairness" now?
Finally, again, the interviewer did a fine job.
The thing lacking in the interview IMO, was as with my question, a clarification by the interviewer when he (Reese) went off on "drifting", although in retrospect, I should have done that myself.
And the interviewer should have posed the question to him again. Is there additional video available that is clearer or a more precise angle?
Reese
NEVER answered the crux of the question
Gordon