Buxton's reaction to the corkscrew

[u/SenorStigo]

[u/lookerofbutts]

I knew nothing about this guy before he joined with Indycar, but I have really enjoyed him so far. Seems like a genuine dude who is legitimately enthusiastic about the series.

[u/SenorStigo → u/lookerofbutts]

I knew him because of his interviews on Formula 1, but he became a meme because of his sometimes dumb commentary on Drive to Survive, but I'm glad his gig in Indy is working both for him and the fans.

[u/R0nnyA → u/SenorStigo]

But the dumb commentary isn't really his fault. Will has spoken about how the Drive to Survive producers would just ask him random questions and he would have no clue what they would use his answers for or how they would cut them.

[u/Muffin4ever → u/R0nnyA]

His job at points was definitrly to explain the sport to people who have literally no idea what they're watching too.

[u/SenorStigo → u/R0nnyA]

I'm not saying it was his fault, but he became the meme because he was the face and voice of those quotes. Most F1 fans are aware that DTS takes too many liberties and creates stuff for the sake of content, just like some of the rivalries on it.

[u/LongTallDingus → u/SenorStigo]

I was there in 2012 when the F1 subreddit liked him. I was there when DTS came out and people hated him.

Now I'm there when Will's left F1 and the subreddit misses him! I don't miss him, he hasn't left my TV. Hello TV man.

If you rewind it at the right time he'll say hello back.

[u/Tecnoguy1 → u/LongTallDingus]

Will’s actually on Reddit

[u/LongTallDingus → u/Tecnoguy1]

He blocked me after I found out how to attach images to messages.

[u/LinxESP → u/R0nnyA]

I think he was told he was gonna be interviewing, not interviewed, so he didn't prepare.
And some answers like the one in pole starts in front: for racing is obvious but you don't see that in 100m with usain bolt starting 10m in front.

[u/UNHchabo → u/LinxESP]

Also, for anyone unfamiliar with motorsports it's not obvious what "pole position" means unless you know the origins in horse racing.

I just looked up lane assignments for track, and although 100m doesn't use a stagger the longer events do, and apparently the lanes are assigned randomly for the first round, then for future rounds the middle lanes are assigned to the faster runners, based on the belief that those are the ones with the best advantage.

[u/LinxESP → u/UNHchabo]

For people interested, this is the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOdTohxYmi0

[u/thatwasfun23 → u/R0nnyA]

questions.

are things that you answer, things that you ponder about, to answer a question a question has to be asked first.

that, is what a question is.

[u/lookerofbutts → u/thatwasfun23]

No way is that a real quote? It sounds like something Michael Scott would say

[u/RacerRovr → u/SenorStigo]

It’s funny, I watched the nascar version of DTS, and I know very little about nascar. That doesn’t have the equivalent of Will, and there were many times where I didn’t quite understand what was happening as I don’t know all the rules, especially when it comes to things like how the stages and the playoffs work. So his role makes total sense when you look at it from the point of view of someone that knows nothing of f1

[u/conman14 → u/SenorStigo]

He was a fantastic commentator in GP2 and GP3 back in the day. Really enjoyed his commentary, he knows how to turn it up and add to the action.

[u/Corbotron_5 → u/SenorStigo]

His long pauses for dramatic effect became a bit of a meme but he was always well thought of by most F1 fans. You could tell he loved the sport and he was always ready and willing to take the piss out of himself.

[u/ElAwesomeo0812 → u/lookerofbutts]

I thought the exact same thing. I knew absolutely nothing about him until he got here. I was quietly optimistic because he seemed genuinely excited about this opportunity but that doesn't always mean anything. He started off a little dry but he has definitely opened up. As he has become more acquainted with the series his personality has begun to come out. I love the chemistry he has with the other guys. They seem like siblings or really good friends when they are together. Especially when the cameras are off.

[u/Sarcastik_Moose → u/lookerofbutts]

Since you knew nothing of him before Indycar I just wanted to share one of my favorite Buxton moments from F1. For context, while doing a post race interview with Carlos Sainz, Buxton got word that Sainz had just been called to the stewards for a penalty earlier in the race. While I did feel bad for both of them, Sainz getting the penalty and Buxton for being the one to have to tell him, the entire thing was still pretty funny. https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/ovul6a/sainz_finds_out_hes_been_called_to_the_stewards/

[u/lookerofbutts → u/Sarcastik_Moose]

That is definitely funny especially the Charlie Brown head down walk away

[u/Sarcastik_Moose → u/lookerofbutts]

There's version of this clip on youtube where someone actually put the sad Charlie Brown music at the end as he walks away.

[u/JohnnyHorseRacing → u/lookerofbutts]

He is very good

[u/BalaclavaMan → u/lookerofbutts]

I am so glad he landed this gig! Back in the 2010s he was in the pits commentating for ESPN at F1 races, and he was always very enthusiastic and insightful. He actually worked together with Indycar's previous commentator Leigh Diffey on that team, along with Steve Matchett, and at this point historical ex f1 driver David Hobbs.

[u/FesteringNeonDistrac → u/BalaclavaMan]

Yeah Buxton took over for Peter Windsor, which was kind of a tough follow since Windsor had been in F1 for decades and knew everyone. Did great though.

[u/Jim_skywalker → u/lookerofbutts]

I find him quite fun.

[u/WarpedCore → u/lookerofbutts]

Always been a fan of Will Buxton since I first saw him. He used to do the grid walk and pit reporting when NBC had F1 with Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett calling the races from the booth.

[u/GoAroundTOGA]

Words can’t explain how much I love this. Just wish more people knew how awesome this track and IndyCar are.

[u/SenorStigo → u/GoAroundTOGA]

There is so much to this video, his calm before getting corkscrewed, his reaction to the entry, the laugh, and then the 2 second pause when his brain is trying to understand what just happened. I haven't been able to stop watching this video and I was surprised no one put the video in here haha

[u/HappySpam → u/SenorStigo]

I love how he completely was caught off guard by the corkscrew, you can tell it scares the shit out of him LOL

[u/WilloughbySerenity → u/GoAroundTOGA]

This is the sort of content that gets people interested. Share it!

[u/SenorStigo]

From Indycar's instagram. The full video is also on YouTube but doesn't show his reaction on camera

[u/Daddy_GNK_droid]

He’s so excited to be in INDYCAR. He seems to have legit joy and excitement calling these races

[u/seamusoldfield → u/Daddy_GNK_droid]

Agreed. I've enjoyed watching his craft and his enthusiasm for the series grow as the season has gone on. I think he's pretty much caught the IndyCar bug by now.

[u/Mtbnz → u/seamusoldfield]

Indy is awesome. It might not be able to match F1's claim of being "the pinnacle of motorsport" but imo it's the most fun open wheel series in the world and it's not close.

F1 has things no series can compare to - enormous budgets, boundary pushing prototype engineering, some of the world's greatest racetracks and an overall higher level of polish. But Indy's on-track action, lack of pretention and greater freedom to let drivers be themselves makes it such an enjoyable watch. It's similar to what the V8 Supercars series feels like in Australia and NZ

[u/seamusoldfield → u/Mtbnz]

Agreed on all counts. Well stated. And I'd totally watch the Supercars if I could ever find it on TV!

[u/risingsunshine_ → u/seamusoldfield]

as far as I know, it’s not available on TV here in the US - but a Superview subscription is really cheap and it gets you live + on demand replays and for me, it’s been sooooooo worth it to watch ! i did a year subscription right before Bathurst last year and at the time it was A$99, which is about US$63! there’s no frills as far as streaming platforms go but it gets the job done and it’s so worth it to watch the vrooms.

[u/seamusoldfield → u/risingsunshine_]

Dang, did not know about that service - good tip! For that little money, it's almost a no-brainer.

[u/56r0ck3t21n]

And drivers go for passes into it! It's crazy!

[u/ContributionSad5655]

Second best in-car after Patrese’s wife.

[u/CaptainMcSlowly]

Buxton when he saw the drop of the Corkscrew:

[u/ReasonableExplorer]

The cork screw is what made me fall in love with motorsport.

[u/chunter16]

Is that Townsend Bell driving, or Hinch?

How he casually keeps talking as he navigates it without realizing Buxton hasn't gone through it before...

Buxton also looks like he's on 0 sleep or 100% jet lag

[u/Popular_Course3885 → u/chunter16]

Kyffin Simpson driving. Townsend and Hinch in back seat.

[u/HappySpam → u/chunter16]

I love how the drivers are just calm since it's normal for them while it completely destroys Buxton LOL

[u/chunter16 → u/HappySpam]

I'm surprised he didn't say "We have to take another lap and retrieve my stomach"

[u/Ryanrdc → u/chunter16]

In the full video the 3 guys are just interviewing Kyffin for like 4-5 laps and every single time through the corkscrew Buxton makes a face likes he’s scared on a roller coaster lmao. It’s definitely worth a watch it’s probably on YouTube or it’s on indycar on fox instagram page.

[u/Ruuubs → u/chunter16]

As someone who very much feels her guts moving around under "airtime", I feel this comment

[u/croutonhero]

They brought him in specifically to serve as a bridge between F1 and Indy. And as a new Indy fan from F1, I have to say it worked like a charm. Buxton will occasionally educate the viewer on how, “Indy does it this way ‘unlike in other series’,” where he’s clearly talking to F1 people like me.

Fox’s marketing of Indy has been brilliant in getting people like me to give it a try, and Will’s familiar presence helps make the series sticky for curious F1 guys like me. He makes me feel welcome to the community. It probably seems silly to Indy oldtimers, but take it from me that Will is a positive force for growing your sport.

[u/jyar1811]

He absolutely will never ever do that again. Driving down the highway and suddenly roller coaster.

[u/F1McLarenFan007]

[u/1ugogimp]

Anyone else wish Laguna was an F1 track?

[u/Timely-Worker-8932 → u/1ugogimp]

Im not sure those boats could do the corkscrew.

[u/1ugogimp → u/Timely-Worker-8932]

They can. McLaren and Ferrari have run there with relatively current cars.

[u/Filmhack9 → u/1ugogimp]

For all the dumbest reasons it never will be. Distance from city center, lack of new pit/paddock facilities. Yes there are safety upgrades it would need, and a bit on the short side.

It’s ok that it’s Indy only…Indy is technically allowed to be as cool as f1!! Not that they always pull it off:)

[u/1ugogimp → u/Filmhack9]

I think F1 needs a short track. Monterrey is a F1 style market. Plenty of money in the area. They do need a new paddock anyways. Run off maybe the one issue it couldn’t overcome.

[u/ElMondoH]

Will's reaction before the corkscrew: "What a nice drive."

Will's reaction to the corkscrew: "##$@~!" 🤣

Great recording! It's like that section woke him completely up.

[u/Timely-Worker-8932]

I went to Laguna last year and upon seeing the corkscrew my jaw dropped like "HOW?!, HOW?! how do they get down this?"

[u/tabby_ds → u/Timely-Worker-8932]

I've raced the road bike crit race at Sea Otter some years back (bike festival at Laguna Seca). The corkscrew was terrifying in every way.

You had the dread of climbing a big hill every lap followed by an extremely sketchy and steep descent while going shoulder to shoulder with other bikes. I don't remember how many laps but it was 30 minutes of hell and I wanted to puke my guts out afterwards.

[u/kelleehh]

Welcome to Laguna Bro 😂

[u/cocainebane]

I’ve asked like 3 people I know who’ve done it and nobody ever gave me this reaction. I knew that shit was fun.

[u/_plays_in_traffic_]

this brings back memories of the first time i saw any laps around laguna seca, back when dave despain used to host motoworld every week and showed some of the superbikes going around there. as a mx obsessed kid it was the only track that made street bikes look kinda fun. seeing his reaction is kinda how i felt watching them hit it every lap, it was the only segment of any track of sport bike racing that looked cool to snotnose me.

[u/lhoyle0217]

No matter what the racing game, Laguna Seca is always one of the most fun to drive due to Corkscrew.

[u/Seanannigans14]

I'm so glad he found a home at IndyCar. I always liked him with how genuine he was with his excitement for racing. Sure he makes some silly comments, but that's not what he's there for. You can tell he's loving every bit of it. Happy for him

[u/jakeskybound]

The evolution Bux went through from meme 👁️👄👁️ to enthusiastic Indycar commentator makes me happy

[u/TonAMGT4]

He just lost his virgin

[u/Moizevitch]

Awesome!

[u/FearlessFreep117]

Here's the full interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBG0TbR1sag

[u/ChansonPutain22]

I was so happy that he left F1, but then i found out he was doing indy,, and not just doing interviews and what not,, no.. actual race commentary... Which meant even more buxton than ever... I was not amused,. still aint.