and the point of HD?

I guess is so ESPN2 can show one little screen of the race and one of Dan Weldons car and the rest of the screen taken up by a big ESPN border. Great way to start the season - watching picture in a picture on my wide screen HD set. Why to go ESPN DOUCHES

What ESPN are you watching, its full wide screen here in 720p. Sometimes they show two pictures on the screen when talking about a particular driver but they have always done that.

I wrote this as they dropped the flag. Apparently you weren't watching the first five minutes of the race?

Picture in picture for the first dozen laps with Weldon's in car camera in the second screen. Then it flipped to a HD shot for about 5 seconds and then went to this four way picture. Then finally full screen. Not how I would imagine starting a season if I was producing.

I was thinking something more along the lines of the roar of cars and full screen images of the race. Boogity boogity boogity turn it up and all that crap. Instead we are treated to what looked like a commercial break for the start of the season.

Oh well, I will give them kudos for not flocking showing Danica all race long. Most of the IRL races I flipped over last year were nothing but the Danica show - she could be in 12th place and they would be talking about her.

Also, on TSN HD, you don't get the "side-by-side" during the commercials?

I was thinking something more along the lines of the roar of cars and full screen images of the race. Boogity boogity boogity turn it up and all that crap. Instead we are treated to what looked like a commercial break for the start of the season.
Well, the start was so bad I don't think they could have gotten all the cars in one shot. They should send the drivers to a school that teaches them how to start a race, haha.

Also, on TSN HD, you don't get the "side-by-side" during the commercials?

Same here with TSN in BC. Had to resort to 'old style TSN' to watch side by side - surely HD is the perfect media for side by side.