Montreal: Wednesday

Going into this race, we definitely have a championship battle, as AJ is just not letting Sebastian run away with the title. There is plenty of points left and plenty of opportunities for AJ (Or Wilson) to take over. But, at the end of the day, do we really believe Seabass is going to be dethroned? I’m not saying it can’t happen, but if you look at the finishes this year, Bourdais rarely finishes outside of the podium. What happened two weeks ago in Denver was an anomaly. An anomaly in the name of Paul Tracy. Come to think of it, both anomalies this season for Bourdais have come in the name of Paul Tracy. Cleveland was likely Paul’s mistake as he tried to split the two cars, and Denver was arguably Seabass’ mistake, if for anything else, because he shouldn’t have tried to pass and gone home with another Podium. My biggest disappointments with regards to those two incidents have fallen to the number 9 team. I know both Cleveland and Denver, Justin suffered mechanical breakdowns, certainly no fault of his own. But what if they wouldn’t have happened? What if Justin would have been (likely) on the podium in Cleveland and Denver? I know the perils of racing are difficult, but I can’t help but think that Justin isn’t supposed to win the championship this year, because his two biggest opportunities this year have resulted in failures. Meanwhile, AJ has captured both Denver and Cleveland wins. Not much more you can ask from your driver. Boy, what if AJ had started the year with Forsythe? What then? I mean, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter and you can argue all night. Its hindsight and its irrelevant. I’m just frustrated that Jwil has been unable to make the most of his opportunities. Nonetheless, we definitely have a championship battle, but for AJ and Jwil to seriously compete, we are going to need a few more anomalies with the number 1 car. Who knows, maybe Karma has something to say to Seabass for something he’s done in the past.

I’ve been meaning to write about what Paul Tracy has said about French people wearing helmet and try and help better understand my American friends why this is such a big deal in this country. It is an utterly harmless comment on its own. It’s even funny. But unfortunately, Canada is a very politically fragile climate, especially when it comes to French-English relations. When English Canadians have made comments that are seemingly derogatory towards the French in the past, they are lambasted and burnt at the stake in Quebec. The English people will sometimes take (especially those in the media) a politically correct stance and insist that comments towards the French are wrong, even though in their own minds they probably chuckle at whatever Don Cherry or some English-Canadian hockey player says towards the French. But the French are 100 percent offended by this. Even though Quebeckers have one of the best senses of humor around, they absolutely get offended when anything is said ‘about’ them by English Canadians. If Paul Tracy’s comments had come from AJ or Justin Wilson, it would have been a non-issue, because they aren’t English-Canadian. But the fact that it came from Paul, then it’s a whole different issue. That’s what the media will tell you anyway. Personally, I think the French media plays it up too much and that most Quebeckers are not offended by such a comment. But the Quebec media resembles that of the British, in terms of sensationalism and having a shock affect. To hear if from them, you’d think Paul Tracy will need extra security around him going into Montreal. He’ll be fine. His comments were harmless and 100 percent tongue and cheek. Quebeckers know that, even if the media doesn’t.
As a French Canadian raised in Ontario and making a livelihood in America, I’m not quite sure how to react. Actually, I know exactly how to react: I thought it was very funny and I’m thinking of bringing my helmet to the track (OH IF MY DARN CAMERA WAS FIXED!!!). Having said that, I have been the victim of numerous verbal attacks in my life, mostly by English Canadians who may not have known at the time they were in the presence of a French person (for some reason, I was born or developed zero French accent in my tongue) Frankly, its not always fun to hear those comments, especially the ignorant comments (which they practically all are). But I don’t pay attention to them because I can’t change who I am anyway, nor would I want too.

French-English issues have been prominent in this country since day one and the French Media are always looking for English Canadians to slip up, while Politicians all around the country do their best to also point out faulty comments, just so they don’t piss off the French. Personally, I like making fun of the French. I enjoy making fun of the English even more so, but the French are right up there too. ;)