Despite patience, Sam Hornish Jr. in wreck with Sprint Cup points leader

By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr. was involved in the Jimmie Johnson crash early in the Dickies 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Wayne Ebinger
NASCAR Scene

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FORT WORTH, Texas – More than two hours after making contact Sunday with championship leader Jimmie Johnson at Texas Motor Speedway, Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr. stood with his hands on his head still seeming to be in disbelief.

“One of the things I've been trying to work on the last couple weeks is patience – doing what we can do to make it to the end,” he said during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Dickies 500. “And then we get run into from behind.”

Hornish said he was trying not to do too much, too early on the third lap of a 500-mile race. He had Hendrick Motorsports' Mark Martin in front of him and Johnson to his outside, so he decided to be patient and let things sort out.

But Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann slipped up the track into Hornish, who got sideways and spun Johnson.

“I got hit by the 00 [of Reutimann] and didn't even have time to correct before I got up into Jimmie,” Hornish said. “I don't ever want to feel like I've affected the outcome of the championship when I'm not in it.

“It's unfortunate, you get somebody behind you that's got a good car and runs into you on lap three. It's no fun.”

Hornish was especially frustrated that in light of his more conservative approach, a wreck still occurred. He said he felt bad for Johnson and said “you don’t want to take him out.”

“I got my head down a little bit this week because I had a really good car and all we wanted to do is make it so we could race the last three laps like that and not the first three,” Hornish said. “It's just, what do you do? Try to play the game the way you think it should be played and get hit on lap three. It sucks.”

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Comments

20 responses to "Despite patience, Sam Hornish Jr. in wreck with Sprint Cup points leader". Post a Comment.

1

Rainier said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Hornish shouldn't feel bad. Old Reuti gave him a nudge.
2

Andi said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 8:18 PM
No Hornish was innocent in this incident, he had a little help from Reutimann. So no, Hornish shouldn't feel bad.
3

Anonymous said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Nope... Hornish had just let off and was not holding his line BEFORE Reutimann hit him. Sam seems to spin out all the time. Johnson has a good lead and he should still win the championship. IF he doesn't, then Hornish can feel guilty !
4

amalycke said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Johnson is just mad because Reutimann won at his hometrack of Lowe's last spring.
5

b48orr said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 9:29 PM
I am just going to state this with certainty! Every time I went to a Nascar race in the last two years Hornish spun out or wrecked in front of us every time! Heck at the glen two years ago I think He personally removed all the sand in the turn ten sand trap. It only took him three or four tries but he moved it all to the fence. Please dont talk to me about a little tap from behind. This guy will find a way to spin it out one way or the other. I apologize to his fans, but sheez. Enough allready!
6

BILLFAN50 said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 9:53 PM
I agree with #1&#2...
7

alisoeddie said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Sudden Sam is a caution or a wreck waiting to happen.He does not have the car control needed, pushes his cars too hard, and wrecks often.
Reuti may have just been fed up with him and was in no mood to lift.
8

razldazl said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 9:58 AM
If nothing else, Reuti and Hornish have made the next 2 races somewhat interesting..
9

JRSMOKEFAN said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Its a combo; Hornish can't control a car and Reuti has trouble passing naybody without nudging them a little.
10

CrazyClyde said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Your not supposed to let up on start/restart laps, you only get nailed from behind. Isn't that in the learners permit handbook?
11

rumbling said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Oh, come on. Rudi is not much driver---and neiter is Sammi---but Rudi causes MORE than his share of wrecks---while Sammi boy wrecks himself. I like Rudi alot, but would not want to be racing in front, side, or in back of him.
12

eucasafari said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:10 PM
its also up to the points leader to know who your around and their abilities. it would be like holding up Robby Gordon at a road course, your just playing with fire running near some guys like Sam. Maybe it was 00 that started it, but perhaps a better driver would have saved that car after a little tap.
13

nascarnutsheeler said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I wonder if wonderful Waltrip will say that his rootie was a bad boy. I'll bet not,he will have some off the wall excuse, but thats Nascars suckie isn't it.
14

andee said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Reutiman is starting to drive just like Mikie.Waltrip has never played give and take.He just holds the line and ends up with the record he has(not good ).
15

rmdunn3 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Rooty drives just like his owner Mikey. They must have practice sessions on their day off.
I think that Rooty will take Stremme's place as the wrecker next year.
16

bthompson133 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
bet you can't hit jj again sammy
17

twins4tony said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM
They don't call him "Sideways Sam" for nothing.
18

wmvjr1960 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Sam is used to those super-wide gummy bear tires and ultra-light cars. I can't stand Kyle, but he would've saved it. Just wait until 'you-know-who' gets in there if you want to see some spins.
19

jbbigrod said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Yeah, maybe Crashlouseski will take him out THIS week. Hope so. THEN we will REALLY have a Chase for the Championship at Homestead. Good ole Hornish ALWAYS crashes; but THIS was one time you could have heard THIS household cheering for a mile. Even clapped. THEN I knew the race was on. - - - I am not a Jimmie hater, but definitely don't want him to win a championship for at least a couple more years. The ONLY ONE in the top five I want to win is Mark Martin. . . . AND I will be picking Jimmie to win AGAIN this week. So far so good . . . . ..
20

tbyrdman94 said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 7:33 AM
Johnson hit Sam, so who is to blame? Penske?