It’s been described as one of the worst mistakes in NASCAR history, In Australia it has prompted comparisons with Greg Norman’s finest choking efforts.
What Roy & HG will make of it I can’t wait to find out. Yes our DNF Maestro Mark Webber has nothing on this one.
Just as he looked set for his long awaited NASCAR Sprint Cup maiden victory, Marcos Ambrose blew the biggest win of his career by stalling his car during a safety car period.
Called on to save fuel Ambrose coasted down hill with the engine off, but when he couldn’t get the Toyota to restart, it was back to eighth place on the restart and a win for Jimmie Johnson.
(As if he needs any more)
Ambrose’s mistake has probably earned the Tasmanian more mainstream media coverage in the USA than he could have ever imagined.
SPEED TV’s website proclaimed Ambrose’s mistake as “The blunder from down under”. The website Sporting News called it the biggest blunder in NASCAR history.
“With the best car and the lead, Ambrose elected to shut his car off and coast during a caution with seven laps to go. (Glad he’s not a pilot).”
Joe Menzer at NASCAR.com described it as “unforgivable stupidity.” (and managed to get in the obligatory reference to Australian’s love for Vegimite)
But everyone is still asking the same question.
WHY?
Why? I’ll tell you why? It’s because Marcos Ambrose is Australian, and in Australia, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is something we do very well.
While other nations celebrate great victories, Australians’ triumph in the heroic failure, the futile attempt and the almost but not quite.
Indeed Australia’s most important and sacred holiday is not a celebration of a magnificent victory, but remembrance of a brutal, bloody defeat that left hundreds dead.
Even our national day January 26 is not a celebration of casting off oppression and injustice, but the colonisation of our country by the British.
The aforementioned Greg Norman remains to this day one of our nation’s most popular sporting heroes, not for his many international golf championship wins but for his uncanny last round fade outs, bad luck and mistakes.
As a nation Australians spent millions of dollars in a seemingly futile attempt to rest the America’s Cup off the New York Yacht Club. Then, after that memorable morning when it actually happened, we lost all interest.
Even Australia’s most famous sportsman “The Don” Sir Donald Bradman, is remembered best not for his remarkable innings of 452 not out or his six triple centuries, but for his last innings duck that left him just six-hundredths of run short of the perfect 100 career average.
No Aussies just love the almost, but not quite, the nice try but better luck next time, the could have won, should have won, would have won but didn’t. Indeed if the is a latin expression for could’a, should’a, would’a then that should be on our new coat of arms.
So Marcos, look on the bright side. Even if you never win another race again you will be forever in this countries proud sporting tradition with Phar Lap, Les Darcy and Eddie Gilbert.
In the decades to come you will be forever welcome in public bars right across the land, where you can sidle up to the bar and say. “G’Day mate, My name is Marcos Ambrose and I’m the bloke that turned his engine off in sight of the biggest win of my career.”
And the room will go quiet, the children will gather in awe, and you’ll never have to pay for another beer as long as you live.
Good on ya cobber, youse done us proud.