F1: The Ultimate Insult

It was recently brought to my attention that F1 is more exciting racing than IndyCar.

I have a four-word response to that person:

What are you smoking?

Only if I am having trouble falling asleep would I dare waste my time with F-1, which is a series overwhelmed by arrogance, scandal, controversy and less passing than on a rural country road.

I agree oval racing suffers from extended caution periods, but as far as full-course cautions on road courses are concerned F1 fans should be infatuated with IRL races because that is what an F1 race is: one giant full-course caution. F-1 showcases a slow and dreary parade of million-dollar machines. If I want to watch a real parade, I’ll watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As far as the IRL having a single engine manufacturer, I see no serious issue. I would rather see each team and driver on a level playing field compared to F1, which has a handful of engines; only a few of which are competitive.

Michael Schumacher, despite all his wins and championships, is the most overrated driver in the history of auto racing. I lost any and all respect for Schumacher in 2002 when he told 60 Minutes that the Indianapolis 500 is a step down from Formula One.

Who does this guy think he is? I think he is scared. He is scared to go 230 mph with a chance of losing. He, and the rest of his pompous F1 comrades, would much rather maneuver their way around a course with speeds ranging from 60-200 mphs (mostly closer to 60mph).

In IndyCar, drivers and teams have to work for their wins from start to finish. In F1, fans might as well change the channel after the first turn because the race is over at that point.

F1 drivers do not earn their victories; they are given victories. Just ask Rubens Barrichello about the 2002 US Grand Prix.

F1 does have a historic tradition – a tradition populated by controversy, selfishness, arrogance, and political scandal. Throw in the inferior quality of racing and I can see the excitement everybody screams of.

Local cautions. Full course cautions. No cautions at all. No matter which way you look at it, road racing – whether driven by IndyCars, NASCAR, or F1 – is terrible racing and has no business being marketed.

F1 is a joke. It is that simple. F1 is an insult to the world of auto racing.

Anybody who finds F1 exciting must also enjoy such sports as equestrian and synchronized swimming because their excitement levels rival one another.

I admit, the IRL is not perfect by any means. There’s good with the bad. But as far as F1 goes, I will speak it in a language that F1 fans will understand: It's a bloody waste of time and money.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving: IRL Scrooges Helio; Gives Win to Wilson

Detroit’s Labor Day Parade occurred a day early this year when the IRL’s finest participated in an anti-climatic game of follow-the-leader.

Gone are high speed passes. Gone are close side-by-side finishes. Gone are the principles that established the IRL as the premiere open-wheel racing series.

In the year of unification, the IRL is in the midst of a transition of its own.

The IRL has tossed previously successful tactics out the window in favor of strategies formulated by Champ Car, Formula-1 and NASCAR.

IRL founder Tony George and operations manager Brian Barnhart should be ashamed of pathetic disgrace of a race they showcased today.

Now I understand why IndyCar events have been delayed twice by the LPGA; frankly, the LPGA is more exciting than IndyCars on a road course and anybody willing to argue that point can contact me.

George, Barnhart and their cronies ought to be returning to their headquarters in Indianapolis with their tail between their legs because today’s IndyCar event in Detroit was one of the most disgraceful events in IndyCar’s history.

It is difficult to fathom this was the same series that put on the greatest show on earth at Kentucky just three weeks ago that involved side-by-side high speed passing lap-after-lap from start to finish.

Today was a disgrace. It was an embarrassment. It made NASCAR look good, which is the ultimate slap in the face to any IRL employee.

I am still struggling to understand the appealing factor of road courses. Drivers hate them (see Scott Dixon’s post-race comments). Based on recent telecasts, the local fans show no interest (today’s race an exception; crowd looked rather strong). And I do not know how people can watch an IndyCar road course race from start to finish while listening to Marty Reid without slitting their wrists.

Hats off to Justin Wilson. It is satisfying to see a new face in victory lane, especially with the deteriorating health of team co-owner Paul Newman. Despite the win, Wilson and crew will be unable to walk around with their heads held high because the IndyCar-savvy world knows who the real race winner was.

Helio Castroneves had the race wrapped up and was ready to head to Chicago trailing Dixon by a mere 20 points in the title hunt. That is until the powers-that-be decided to pull a NASCAR and create new rules during the race.

Did Helio block Wilson? It is hard to argue that point, but should the 30-year-old Englishman have been given a freebie? The only significant pass during the entire race and it was a race-control-ordered pass for the lead.

Are you kidding me?

At no point did Wilson start to pass Helio. Wilson had a great run, but there is no guarantee he would have been able to complete the pass.

An unfortunate precedent has been set today. Anytime blocking occurs will the culprit be forced to let his competitor go by?

Just last week Carl Edwards admitted to the world he was proud of bumping Kyle Busch out of the way on his way to victory. Despite the fireworks that ensured, the race was decided on the track – not in race control – which is how it needs to be.

Here’s a hypothetical for next weekend. Helio is leading the race and Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe is ahead of Dixon in the closing laps. What happens now if Briscoe blocks Dixon and Helio wins the race and championship? If the same standards are not followed race-by-race from this point on then the IRL will lose all credibility in the world of sports and competition.

Blocking occurs in every type of racing from NASCAR to go-carts, but today was the first time I can recall somebody losing a position for blocking.

It gets better. Minutes after Wilson’s “pass for the lead,” the IRL pulled a Champ Car ace from their sleeve by abruptly announcing the race was going to be a timed race.

How can a credible organization like the IRL suddenly change the length of a race? What if the NFL started changing the length of their games? Maybe during the next Super Bowl the NFL will decide to just play three quarters instead of four.

The IRL had limitless possibilities and opportunities entering this season. Unification brought new teams, drivers, and sponsors to an already beloved series, but it appears like George and Co. are trying their best to make it difficult to be an IndyCar fan.

The IRL has already released their 2009 schedule which is repulsive at best. Not to mention a 10-year contact with an obscure television channel that is inaccessible to half the country.

Justin, you need to savor this gift from the IRL because it will not happen again.

One for the ages......

After weeks of tedious road course racing and more drama than a daytime soap opera, IndyCar’s finest put on their most thrilling and competitive event of the season last night in Sparta, KY with Dixon winning his series record-tying sixth race of the season.

The Meijer Indy 300 was dominated by side-by-side racing that had the packed house on the edge of their seats from the drop of the green flag until the waving of the double checkered.

I hope IRL officials took notes last night because that was a perfect example of how every IndyCar event needs to be. No more road courses. No more street courses. Tony George and his marketing team need to get back to the basics of how the IRL won the split:

If people really want to watch road course racing with no passing and even less excitement, they can watch F-1, but I digress.

Right now it is all about the immaculate race showcased in prime-time by the best drivers on the planet.

With the race winding down, some great storylines were developing:

Could Helio Castroneves’ fuel gamble pay off and end his career-long winless streak? Spiderman knew he had a 10th-place car at best, so when he last pitted with 57 laps left, it was go broke or go home. The gamble nearly worked, but Dixon passed Helio in the fourth turn on the final lap.

Vitor Meira, who started second and was never outside of the top-3, appeared in position for his first career victory. Meira ran with the big dogs all night, but simply could not make a move when he needed to. Meira was weaseled out of a podium finish by Helio’s fuel strategy game. So close, yet so far away.

After a year filled with agony, drama and dysfunction, Marco Andretti had the strongest car of the night. He only led 38 laps compared to Dixon’s 151, but Andretti passed Dixon on the track not once but twice. Marco was in perfect position for his first victory since his inaugural win at Sonoma in 2006, but just like Helio and Meira, he came up short.

Despite the possibility of some new magic in IndyCar, it was an all-too familiar scene as the red No. 9 Target machine found its way to victory lane yet again.

But last night IndyCar fans were treated to clean (for the most part) side-by-side racing from start to finish. The final 50 laps was the best competition I have witnessed in years. Anticipation filled the Kentucky air as Meira chased down Marco as the two were separated not by car lengths but by inches.

Just behind the battle for the lead was another pair of side-by-sides for countless laps. The battle for fourth between Kanaan and Wheldon was epic. Neither gave an inch. Both held their line (somewhat) as the two former series champions battled it out lap after lap. Finally, it was Wheldon who surged ahead and left Kanaan by the wayside.

And kudos to Ed Carpenter for one of the best runs of his career. The Indy native was strong from the start. He dusted both Penske cars in the opening laps before doing battle with AGR’s dark horse Hideki Mutoh. Those two went side-by-side for what seemed like an endless amount of time. Carpenter found himself in another battle for sixth place in the last segment with Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay as the three took turns battling it out side-by-side directly behind Wheldon and TK.

When was the last time IndyCars ran side-by-side three-deep?

And the IRL wants to transition away from ovals and continue to add road courses?

Hopefully George DVRed last night’s race and will announce this week that Toronto, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio and St. Pete have been scratched off the 2009 schedule and replaced by four more races at Kentucky.

Simply put, last night's showcase was amazing. It is unfortunate that IndyCar fans will have to endure two more road courses (Sonoma, Detroit) before the series finale at Chicagoland, but it is what it is.

So long from Kentucky.

I'm Back!!

After being called a “slacker” by one of my tens of loyal readers, it is time to get back on the horse and enlighten the IndyCar faithful with the wisest and most logical ideas east of the Mississippi.

Another win for Dixon at Edmonton – his fifth of the season. And another runner-up finish for Helio Castroneves – his sixth. Unless the dancing star can rattle off some victories, teammate Ryan Briscoe will own bragging rights this off-season. Helio has done just about everything except win. It is hard to complain about 11 top-five finishes, but the playing field has leveled off, making wins tougher to come by.

DFRESH PREDICTION: Helio will climb the fence in Detroit.

What in the hell is going on in the AGR stable? Is the entire team enduring PMS? How many “team meetings” does it take for owner Michael to realize Danica and Marco are jeopardizing the legacy and credibility of the entire organization? If they are not careful, KV, Newman-Hass-Lanigan or Rahal-Letterman might leapfrog AGR and join Penske and Ganassi as the IRL’s elite.

Just three years ago, AGR comprised of TK, Dario, Wheldon and Bryan Herta. They were entertaining and victorious. Dario, Wheldon and Herta have since left and now the team lacks stability. TK needs to beg Chip Ganassi or Roger Penske to run a third car in 2009 and run for the hills.

AGR then needs to show Danica and Marco the door and replace them with Buddy Rice and Casey Mears (the open-wheel world needs a Mears in the series). Mutoh can stick around – his talent and equipment will make him the first Japanese-born driver on the Borg Warner Trophy.

It gave me chills to see PT behind the wheel of an IndyCar again, and rumors have him running a few more races this season, which is enormous for the series. PT brings competition, controversy, and competitiveness. Despite being “over the hill,” PT is exactly what the IRL needs to take over the auto racing industry. NASCAR is on a steady-decline and the IRL needs to strike while the iron is hot.

The 2009 IndyCar schedule is released. Some major question marks arise.

Homestead has consistently been a tough sell over the years, so how has it deserved the role of season-ending race? I can’t see it being MUCH warmer in Homestead in October than in March.

Starting the season with a pair of road courses on opposite coasts is a head-scratcher. A non-committed IndyCar fan could lose interest in the series before it even hits its peak. Texas would be the perfect opener. The racing is consistently phenomenal and would get the season off to a fantastic start.

I am 85% anti-road course, which explains my displeasure in running six road courses in eight races from July 5-Sept 6.

Motegi should not be on the schedule at all, let alone the second-to-last race. If the points race is tight, I do not want a potential series-clinching race to be tape delayed.

This year’s Brickyard was tumultuous, but was it so bad that the IRL felt the need to schedule the Edmonton race head-to-head with the Brickyard 400 in ’09? I will definitely invest in TiVO’s stock that weekend.

Ok, enough ranting. Time for the positives.

Back-to-back races in Canada will restore IndyCar tradition and provide excitement to our fans up north. The IRL needs to ensure that native sons PT, Alex Tagliani, and Jacques Villeneuve all have competitive rides those weekends.

Moving Chicago to a night race is perhaps the best decision the IRL made. The IRL needs to take advantage of every opportunity to showcase their talents in primetime.

2009’s schedule was announced less than 48 hours ago, but I am already dreading 2010’s schedule. Rumors have 2009 being the final year for Homestead and Motegi with potential replacements being Cleveland, Elkhart Lake and Australia (all road courses). Losing ovals in favor or road courses is what led Tony George to create the IRL in the first place.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s worry about the rest of ’08 first.

Sadly, no IndyCar race this weekend. However shall I pass the time?

Any suggestions?

Brisco'e Win at Mid-Ohio a Snoozer

Unfortunately for Ryan Briscoe, the memories stemming from Mid-Ohio – the site of his second career IndyCar victory – will be dominated by the Danica-Duno squabble that included the towel-toss heard ‘round the world.

Briscoe’s triumph at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio lacked enthusiasm and drama, but that is the price the IRL paid for showcasing the best drivers in the world on a one-groove, 14-turn road course with minimal passing opportunities.

The only dramatic twist towards the end of the race was whether the over-under for margin of victory would be 10 seconds. Helio made a late charge in the closing laps to be Briscoe’s bridesmaid by 7.26 seconds. It was Helio’s fifth runner-up finish of the season.

Helio did shave a whopping five points off Scott Dixon’s lead, but the reigning Indy 500 winner still has a commanding 58-point lead with just five races left. If Helio hopes to capture his first IndyCar series title, his outrageous winless drought must end.

It is difficult to fathom that two months ago it was Briscoe on the hot seat, but now he has a pair of victories compared to Helio’s goose egg.

It was good to see some new faces leading the pack on Sunday. Vitor Meira. Justin Wilson. Will Power. Mario Moraes. Darren Manning. Unfortunately, the aforementioned drivers combined to lead just 37 laps compared to Briscoe’s 43 laps lead.

On a side note, Moraes increased his season laps led total to four. Every little bit counts.

Briscoe, Helio and Dixon’s first, second and third-place finishes are no shocker, but KV Racing’s combo of Will Power and Oriol Servia deserve just as much credit for rounding out the top-five.

Power and Servia will be licking their chops with three of the final five races coming on road/street circuits. A podium finish for one or both of these guys is inevitable.

Franco Harris might have the Immaculate Catch, but Ryan Hunter-Reay had the Immaculate Drive on Sunday.

RHR and poor-excuse-for-an-IndyCar-driver Mario Dominguez tangled on the ninth lap, all but ending a shot at RHR’s second victory of the season. But he persevered and brought his No. 17 Ethanol machine home in 10th place, two spots ahead of Danica “The Menace” Patrick.

Patrick once again stole the IndyCar spotlight before the race even began with another needless temper tantrum; this time the target was fellow double X-chromosome Milka Duno.

Granted, Duno has no right being on the track or in the series (what happened to Townsend Bell???), but DP needs to realize the world does not revolve around her. Patrick needs to shed the idea she can say or do whatever she wants whenever she wants simply because she is a female in a male-dominated sport. Hopefully Patrick accosts Duno soon and Duno knocks the IRL’s media darling on her ass.

How many more lines does Patrick need to cross before she is disciplined? She has endangered the lives of pit crews and safety officials in the past, and now she is storming into another competitor’s pit box.

Brian Barnhart, you need to take one for the team and teach the menace a lesson by suspending her for a race.

Her actions are uncalled for and unacceptable and until some disciplinary action is thrown in her direction, she will continue to run rampant.

She has a tremendous fan base with a top-tier sponsor, but even Kobe Bryant has been suspended a time or two.

But I digress.

The IRL travels north of the border this week for a Saturday stroll around the Edmonton City Centre Airport where all eyes will be on Paul Tracy, who makes his return to IndyCars for the first time since 2002.

Welcome back, PT.

Dixon's Rain Dance Earns Nashville 3-Peat

NASHVILLE, TN - Tony Kanaan had the Firestone Indy 200 victory in his crosshairs on Saturday night, but an untimely pit stop and a gamble by Scott Dixon left Kanaan on the outside looking in at possibly the final Nashville IndyCar event.

Kanaan led a race-high 59 laps, but on lap 148 – with rain on the way – gambled and pitted in hopes the race would go the full distance. Instead, it was Dixon’s gamble that paid off and landed himself in victory lane at Nashville for the third straight year.

Dixon was initially instructed to follow Kanaan into the pits as well, but a communication error with his pit crew left both Dixon and teammate Dan Wheldon on the track. Thunderstorms hit the area on lap 166 and the checkered and red flags waved on lap 171, awarding Chip Ganassi Racing a 1-2 finish.

Despite leading 53 laps, Dixon was not the deserving winner. Kanaan was the class of the field. Kanaan worked his way into the lead on lap 87 after he took advantage of a slower car (Mario Moraes) and rocketed past Dixon and proceeded to dominate the middle portion of the race. Kanaan looked like a lock to capture his second victory in three races, but another poor pit strategy by AGR cost him the win.

Fellow Brazilian Helio Castroneves did not fare much better either. The pole sitter for a record 24th time in his IndyCar career, Helio led the first 54 laps and appeared to have a strong enough car to end his 25-race winless streak. No dice. Streak extends to 26.

Outside pole sitter Danica Patrick was a surprising threat. Instead of being timid, Patrick exuded an aggressive driving style that turned heads. Patrick, the obvious crowd favorite threw everything at Helio except the kitchen sink. On lap 44, Patrick was ready to lead an IndyCar race for the first time since her Japan fluke when Helio turned down and blocked her heading into the first turn.

On the next lap, Patrick and Helio were side-by-side heading into the first turn, but Helio protected his lead by coming down, which forced Patrick out of the throttle. Dixon and Kanaan screamed past Patrick as she fell from second to fourth in one lap.

Helio relinquished the lead for good on lap 54 to Dixon. Helio – like Patrick – also lost momentum and fell from first to fourth in less than a lap. Despite leading the first 54 laps, Helio settled for third place– his ninth top-five of season.

It was not fun and games for all of the usual suspects. Marco Andretti was up to his old tricks again on the third lap when he lost control of his car and collected an innocent Ryan Briscoe before slamming hard into the outside backstretch wall just past turn 2. Marco settled for last place while Briscoe drove his car to pit lane where he was rewarded with a 25th-place finish.

Marco continued his HIT-and-miss driving style by adding another machine to the junk pile in 2008. How much more patience can daddy take before yanking the immature Marco? It’s time to cut the cord.

For the third consecutive week Briscoe was an innocent victim. Only two top-10 finishes since his first victory at Milwaukee and the monkey on his back has started to grow once again.

Can Briscoe shake off his funk at Mid-Ohio this weekend? Briscoe, a sports car specialist, should be the heavy favorite this weekend, but if we have learned anything this year about IndyCar, it is this: expect the unexpected.

As for the Nashville winner Dixon, rock on!

Familiar Face Returns

I woke up this morning to great news. This juicy nugget is just what the IRL needs to bolster the support and credibility of the series. Out with the new; in with the old.

A new and refreshing era is returning to IndyCar.

It is time to roll out the red carpet as Paul Page makes his long-awaited and much deserved return to the broadcast booth for Saturday night’s Firestone Indy 200 in Nashville.

Page was IndyCar’s lead television announcer from 1988 until 2004 when he was unjustly replaced by Todd Harris, whose thrill-level rivaled the hair on my big toe.

The reappearance of Page is fantastic news because it signals the end for current IndyCar lead announcer Marty Reid. Reid ranks second in my book in terms of IndyCar Martys (Yes, Roth trumps Reid).

Apparently the IRL did not mind the constant blunders, gaffes, and mistakes with Reid at the helm.

If you think I am being too ruthless then let me give you a direct quote from Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen.

“Mario Moraes with his best run going at NINTH, then there’s Graham Rahal in NINTH….”

Oh, it got even better. Just a few seconds later, Reid uttered the following:

“…Then Danica Patrick is 12th and RYAN Dixon is 13th and Ryan Briscoe is 14th.”

IndyCar is an unparalleled passion in my life and that is why I demand perfection. To call the reigning Indy 500 champion by the wrong name is intolerable and disrespectful.

Nobody is perfect and everybody makes mistakes, but if Reid exuded even a remote amount of enthusiasm during a broadcast then his shortcomings would be more tolerable. Listening to Reid’s habitual mistakes and mind-numbing explanations makes me want to find a 9-foot length of rope and jump off a bridge.

Reid is not the only IndyCar broadcaster heading for the unemployment office. Brianne Pedigo is out the door as well. Her immature and unprofessional reporting continued to throw IndyCar behind the 8-ball. Thankfully those days are past.

Dr. Jerry Punch – the best doctor in the business – is also making a long overdue return to IndyCar’s pit lane. He will be joined by Jon Beekhuis and Gary Gerald. They will be reunited with the always electrifying Jack Arute and the best pit reporters on the planet will be back in the saddle come Saturday night in Nashville.

The revival of Page & Co. means a superior class of broadcasting and first-class professionalism is on the horizon.

The year of unification has just begun, but there is one slight problem.

You know that feeling when you are lying in bed with a Playboy Playmate and are abruptly woken up and your heart sinks because you realize it was all a dream?

Ryan Hunter-Reay: King of New York

This year’s Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen screamed Patriotism. An American driver with an American sponsor won his first race to cap off America’s birthday celebration.

Ryan Hunter-Reay passed Darren Manning on a restart with nine laps left and never looked back on his way to his first IndyCar win.

I predicted his first victory was just around the corner and now RHR is a bona fide star.

Some fans might say RHR’s win was a gift. The usual suspects had their share of trouble, but RHR started third and ran up front with the leaders most of the day.

If anything, RHR had to work harder for his win today than any other driver has done this season. He played a high-speed game of follow-the-leader behind Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon for the first 40 laps. Then, after Dixon and Briscoe tangled with 12 laps to go, RHR used his superb driving skills to avoid the trouble.

The victory vaulted RHR into 9th place in the season standings. He is the first car behind the power teams and it would be a spectacular accomplishment if he can crack the top-8.

Today’s victory will be the first of many for RHR. He received a traditional wreath following today’s win, which is a sign of things to come because the next time he dons a similar wreath will be in victory lane at 16th and Georgetown.

Aside from RHR, there was not much left from Watkins Glen to brag about.

What happened to the so-called road course specialists? Will Power? Justin Wilson? Oriol Servia? They were hyped as shoe-ins for podium finishes, but IndyCar regulars swept the top-five spots. Four transition drivers did crack the top-10, led by Bruno Junqueira who finished sixth.

Today’s race kicked off the second half of the 2008 IndyCar season; let’s hope the remaining races are less appalling than today’s. It was great to see RHR grab his first win, but the IRL displayed an inferior product for the second straight week.

The IRL needs to start penalizing their guys for poor driving. E.J. Viso, A.J. Foyt, IV and Milka Duno have no right running next week after their actions today. Viso pulled a Kyle Busch and blatantly knocked Vitor Meira into the tire barriers while IV and Donut tangled UNDER A CAUTION?!?!?! Yes, Dixon also fouled up under a caution which consequently eliminated himself and Briscoe from victory, but the series point leader has plenty of “get out of jail free cards” in his pocket.

The IRL not only needs to eliminate the amount of cautions, but shorten the length of cautions as well. Why was there a three lap caution for Helio’s stalled car? He touched nothing nor was anything leaking. A three lap caution on a 3-mile road course for a stalled car on pit road is ludicrous.

The worst moment of the race came on lap 41 when Danica Patrick over-accelerated her machine on pit road and nearly took out Dixon’s pit crew. To show their displeasure with The Menace, the pit crew – instead of offering to help – placed her dislodged front wing on the nose of her car, which was priceless. If Dixon thought she was a menace before, what does he think of her now? My guess is it rhymes with “stupid witch.”

Up until now, I have chosen my words carefully in regards to Patrick because I think she is a true asset to the series, but the gloves have come off.

Today was Patrick’s second pit road incident in as many months that has endangered opposing crew members. Thus far, she has received zero penalty.

The IRL needs to do something drastic to teach her a lesson.

Yes, I will say it: The IRL should take away Patrick’s keys for next Saturday’s race at Nashville.

It is bad enough to be a menace at 200 mph, but to allow her to habitually endanger the lives of vulnerable crew members is an act of lunacy. The IRL needs to put safety ahead of dollar signs. Please do the right thing and bench the menace.

If today’s race is any indication of how the remaining four road courses will go down then expect the unexpected.

See you in Nashville, literally. Row 42, baby!

Spiderman to Climb IRL Fences for Years to Come

Chalk one up for the good guys. It has been quite a chore lately to keep open-wheel stars in IndyCar, but the IRL managed to keep its prized possession.

Helio Castroneves, the face of IndyCar, will be climbing fences throughout the Midwest for years to come.

Rumors of a potential move to NASCAR were squashed on Friday when word broke from the Penske stable that Helio would sign a multi-year extension to remain in the IRL. The details of the contract are unknown, but I would assume Helio will be locked up for the next three or four years.

Helio’s supposed desire to drive in NASCAR arose in May but had been placed on the back burner ever since. Perhaps the struggles of Sam Hornish, Jr., Dario Franchitti, and Juan Montoya convinced Helio that IndyCar is a pretty good gig after all.

Helio – the ‘01 & ‘02 Indy 500 champion – would have been a free agent following the 2008 season. IndyCar fans can now kick their feet up and enjoy Helio without the fear of him bolting anytime soon.

Penske’s re-signing of Helio is the biggest re-acquisition in IRL history. Hopefully the signing will slam shut the floodgates of IndyCar stars bolting for redneck country.

IndyCar improves their product and fan base on a weekly basis, but the loss of Helio to NASCAR would have been catastrophic. The thought of NASCAR having as many Indy 500 winners as the IRL is nauseating. Helio’s move would have given NASCAR Helio, Montoya and Hornish, Jr. The IRL would have been left with Rice, Wheldon, and Dixon.

Helio has a golden opportunity to become one of the greatest open-wheel stars in history. At age 33, he has tremendous odds of becoming the fourth four-time Indy 500 winner. Rick Mears accomplished the same feat at age 39.

Hopefully Helio can convince soon-to-be IndyCar free agents Dan Wheldon, Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan to stick around and help restore IndyCar pride and tradition.

IndyCar needs Helio. The loss of other open-wheel drivers to a rival series is disappointing, but Helio is too marketable to lose. Helio’s personality, charisma, and high-octane energy level are exactly what the IRL needs to generate a reputable legacy for man years to come.

Franchitti: Indy Champ to Unemployed Chump

It was no bombshell when Chip Ganassi announced on Tuesday the dismemberment of Dario Franchitti’s wretched NASCAR team. The shutdown was looming due to inconsistent sponsors, but Franchitti’s lack of on-track accomplishments did him no favors.

The shutdown was not a matter of if but when. Franchitti’s NASCAR career was doomed from the beginning. That is what he deserves for trading in his silver spoon for a spit bucket.

Franchitti had IndyCar eating out of the palm of his hand. Indy 500 champion. IRL series champion. He drove for a top-level team. Oh, not to mention is married to one of the hottest women on the planet.

Apparently they do not teach common sense over in Scotland.

What is next for Franchitti? I would wager that he ends up driving in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) before the year is over.

Does he have any other viable options?

His Sprint Cup career is finished. Not even an owner with a hamster on wheels for a brain would hire Franchitti, who finished an average of 34th in 10 races. NASCAR is out.

Bathgate’s favorite son can also rule out Formula-1 due to his age (35). What he carries in credentials he lacks in youth. F-1 preys on young drivers in their early 20’s; not drivers inching towards social security. Remember, Michael Schumacher retired at the ripe age of 37 after winning seven world driving championships. F-1 is out.

A return to the IRL would gratify the fans, but Franchitti has made it perfectly clear he has washed his hands clean of IndyCar. If he had any desire to drive an IndyCar, he would not have bolted in the first place.

There are only two ways Franchitti will run in an IndyCar ever again.

First, Franchitti could drive a fifth AGR machine on a part-time basis and only participate in marquee events, such as the Indy 500. Or, he could follow in Michael Andretti’s footsteps and own his own team and drive whenever he gets the itch. But, both of those are not likely, so IndyCar is out.

Franchitti has a passion for motorcycles so the MotoGP series is a viable option, but then again, it is awfully late for him to pursue a new career. MotoGP is out.

Where does that leave the Scotsman besides a venture towards ALMS? Franchitti drove sports cars on a limited basis for AGR in 2007 so if he wants to continue driving on a full-time basis, it would be in his best interest if he returns to ALMS.

Franchitti committed career suicide by choosing money (NASCAR) over success (IndyCar). His talent level and decision making have now been questioned, which in turn dooms any possibility of Franchitti revitalizing any success he achieved in the past.

God Speed, Dario. You will need it.

IndyCar Mid-Season Report Card

There are nine races down with eight to go. We are past the halfway point of the 2008 IndyCar series so it is time to find out who is inching towards graduation and who is flunking out.

Valedictorian
Chip Ganassi Racing is the head of the class in 2008. The dream team of Scott Dixon and Dan Weldon has 5 wins including Dixon’s Indy 500 triumph. If that is not impressive enough, try this one on for size; Dixon and Wheldon have combined to lead 784 of 1886 total laps this season, which equates to 42%. Dixon alone has led 34%, which itself is mind-boggling. Ganassi Racing already has straight A’s, but they will not be satisfied until they are crowned valedictorian at the year-end banquet. A+

Penske Racing
Penske Racing lacks wins, but Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe are still in the championship hunt. Briscoe captured his first career win at Milwaukee while Castroneves has become Mr. Consistent with eight top-5 finishes. Penske is not the head of the class, but they still qualify for the dean’s list. A

Rahal-Letterman Racing
Second-year driver Ryan Hunter-Reay is transforming into a star right before our eyes. HR has produced four top-10 finishes and was positioned for a runner-up finish at Texas before an overly-aggressive Marco Andretti took him out. B+

KV Racing Technology
Of the transition teams, KV has shown the most readiness and consistency since their IndyCar inception. Heading into the season, Will Power was top dog while Oriol Servia settled for sloppy seconds. Instead, Servia has seven top-12 finishes compared to just three top-10s for Power. Write this down: Servia will win this season. B

Vision Racing
To say that Tony George’s drivers Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV have underachieved would be an understatement. The duo’s eight top-10 finishes have both drivers sitting comfortably in the top-15 in points, but each has had a multitude of missed opportunities. The potential hiring of Paul Tracy for a handful of races this season should boost the team’s moral. B-

Andretti Green Racing
Which is worse? Leading lots of laps with no victories or being called a poor driver by a teammate and fellow co-workers? Marco Andretti falls into both categories. Need I say more? Danica Patrick, aka THE MENACE, has spiraled downward since her Japan victory. Uninspiring runs at Kansas and Indy combined with complaints from her colleagues has spelled doomsday for IndyCar’s media darling. Hideki Mutoh’s five top-5s have him the leading contender for rookie of the year and should be a threat for years to come. TK finally landed in victory lane in Richmond, but it will take more similar performances to hoist the series trophy for a second time. C+

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
D&R has reaped the benefits of attrition and inexperience in 2008. Lead driver Buddy Rice has produced three top-10 finishes and journeyman Townsend Bell has four top-11 finishes to his credit. They are not a top-tier team by any means, but considering the competition and their lack of sponsorship, D&R’s stock has skyrocketed. C

Newman-Hass-Lanigan Racing
NHL is the second transition team to earn a passing grade, albeit not as high as they are accustomed to. A victory and six top-10 finishes by rookies Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson have an optimistic buzz in the garage. C

HVM Racing
E.J. Viso is a star in the making. Despite criticism during the month of May, Viso has brought home four top-10 finishes and completed seven of nine races. Viso is polished for success and is not far away from his first win. C

Panther Racing
Vitor Meira is inching towards the dubious distinction of the best IndyCar driver never to win a race. Since dazzling the world with arguably the greatest pass in Indy 500 history, Meira has had little to celebrate. Three finishes of 15th or worse in three of four races have dropped Meira to 15th in points with no signs of improvement on the horizon. C-

Conquest Racing
In terms of ovals, rookie drivers Enrique Bernaldi and Jaime Camara are anything but seasoned. Both have struggled on ovals, but the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. Road courses dominate the remainder of the IndyCar season which should suit the two Brazilians nicely. D+

Marty Roth Racing
Marty Roth should be selling tires instead of driving at high speeds on banked ovals. Roth has two top-20 finishes and has finished 26th or worse five times. Roth hired John Andretti to temporarily replace rookie Jay Howard, and despite producing Roth Racing’s best ever finish of 11th at Iowa, Howard will return to the No. 24 machine this Sunday at Watkins Glen. D-

Dale Coyne Racing
Rookie Mario Moraes surprisingly leads veteran teammate Bruno Junqueira in points. Neither driver has produced a top-10 result, which is why they fail to make the grade. F

Top to bottom, IndyCar competition this season has been fierce. Just imagine how gung ho the series will be in a couple years as the transition teams familiarize themselves with the new tracks and machines. NASCAR, you are going down.

Kanaan Dominates Demolition Derby at Richmond

What a difference a week makes. IRL officials were radiant following last Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250. The passing was crisp and the number of accidents was fewer than expected.

Last night’s SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond shattered any and all momentum the IRL had gained heading into the second-half of the season.

There were nine cautions (102 laps), which tied a Richmond record from 2001. Before the guys got their act together, 89 of the first 163 laps were run under yellow. There were three multi-car accidents that led to accusations, finger-pointing, and some “meet me in the parking lot afterwards” jabber.

After the smoke cleared it was Tony Kanaan’s race to lose. The pole sitter led 166 laps en route to a four-second victory over fellow Brazilian Helio Castroneves. The win ended a winless streak that spanned nine races and dated back to Belle Isle in 2007.

Kanaan led the most laps, but rival teammate Marco Andretti had the superior car. Marco led 90 laps but an ill-timed caution sent him to the tail-end of the lead lap, all but ending his chances of a win. The Andretti brat settled for ninth-place.

Besides Kanaan’s domination and the demolition derby, there was some other out of the ordinary storylines that developed.

A potential IndyCar star was born last night. Conquest Racing rookie Jaime Camara started 24th but sliced and diced his way through the field and into contention. He was running 12th by lap 50 and found himself leading his first IndyCar race on lap 72.

Camara held the lead for 44 laps (35 were under caution) and hung with the leaders until his day came to a heartbreaking end on lap 218 when an accident ended his night.

It would be a shame to call Camara’s run last night a fluke, but it was just that. Attrition and some poor driving and decision making allowed the 27-year-old Brazilian to storm to the front. Granted, he remained competitive once he was with the lead pack, but inexperience trumped himself and sent him into the wall.

For the second week in a row, point leader Scott Dixon was an absolute non-factor. What is up with the Kiwi lately? Dixon did secure his seventh top-3 finish, but he failed to run up front for the second consecutive race. The last time that feat occurred was in July of 2006 when he failed to lead at Milwaukee and Michigan.

It is hard to argue with a third-place finish, but not when two fellow contenders finished ahead of him.

Winning at Richmond could prove to be a great omen for Kanaan: four of the seven race winners at Richmond have gone on to win the series title. Kanaan will be looking to make that five out of eight.

Do not worry Uncle Helio, I have not forgotten about you. Castroneves (AKA The Bridesmaid) picked up his fourth runner-up finish this season which inched him nine points closer to Dixon in the championship hunt. He now trails Dixon by 43 points.

Helio had the best run of the night. He started 18th but wasted no time in heading to the front. He cracked the top-10 on lap 42 and was running second by lap 70, but he was never able to overcome Kanaan or Andretti. Helio will have to wait yet another week to end his winless streak, which now stands at 24 races.

The biggest disappointment of the night has to be Vision Racing. A.J. Foyt IV was coming off a fifth-place finish at Iowa, but his night ended on lap 29 after an accident. Debris from Foyt’s car collected Vision teammate Ed Carpenter, which ended any shot of the Indy native grabbing his first win.

The IRL takes its show to Watkins Glen next week, which starts a string of three road courses in four weeks, which should favor the Champ Car transition drivers. Hopefully the IndyCar fan base will be better showcased in New York than it was at Richmond.

Did anybody notice the multitude of empty grandstands last night? Last night’s IndyCar race proved the IRL is light years behind NASCAR in terms of marketing, promotion, and popularity.

Also, what happened to the pre- and post-race shows? Last week at Iowa, there were rock-solid pre-race and post-race shows that included interviews with all the contenders. Last night the drivers were already strapped in when the broadcast started. Afterwards, Vince Welch briefly interviewed winner Kanaan just seconds before the credits rolled.

I guess the IRL marketing directors took the night off, but I digress.

Richmond is in the past and it is time to move forward. Here is what to watch for in the upcoming weeks:

Can Helio regain his winning form and snap his winless streak?

Can Kanaan build on his momentum and start a real championship push?

Can Dixon shake off two “dismal” races and get to the front where he is most comfortable?

See you at the Glen.

Happy Birthday, Old Man

Just to combat the rumors, Dan Wheldon was born on June 22, 1978, which makes him 30 years old today. That date nullifies the pre-race prank Wheldon pulled on ABC pit reporter Vince Welch when he claimed he was only 26.

Today, it was not age, but experience that allowed the 30-year-old Brit to win the Iowa Corn Indy 250 for his second victory of the season.

When Enrique Bernaldi’s spin brought out a caution on lap 187, Wheldon’s team strategist Barry Wanser opted to play the fuel mileage game and stay out while all the leaders pitted for fuel and tires. AGR teammates Hideki Mutoh and Danica Patrick also elected to roll the dice in the fuel strategy game.

The gamble paid off as Wheldon led the final 63 laps and stormed past the checkered flag two car lengths ahead of runner-up Mutoh. Wheldon was blessed with several caution periods which equated to 36 laps of yellow during his final run, which allowed him to stretch his fuel mileage to the finish.

Mutoh’s AGR teammate Marco Andretti settled for third while Wheldon’s teammate and current point leader Scott Dixon came home in fourth.

But the big shocker in Iowa was the performance of Vision Racing’s A.J. Foyt IV. Foyt IV looked like a hardened veteran on the 7/8 mile track. His striking and well-timed passes helped Foyt IV finish in the top-five for just the second time in his IndyCar career.

Foyt IV was not the only unusual suspect who threatened to steal the show. Ryan Hunter-Reay was headed to his first top-3 finish of the season, but he settled for eighth when he was victimized by Wheldon’s, Mutoh’s, and Patrick’s fuel strategy gamble. But, Hunter-Reay did get the last laugh when he referenced Andretti’s poor tactics at Texas two weeks ago.

“It was nice to see that I could go under Marco Andretti and get by him without him pinching me.”

That will surely raise the eyebrows in the AGR stable.

So, who were the winners and losers at Iowa?

First and foremost, the real winners will be the citizens of Iowa. After being completely ravaged by floods the past two weeks, they are about to receive some well-deserved aid courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing. Both Wheldon and Dixon agreed before the race to donate all of their winnings to the Iowa Red Cross.

Dan and Scott, hats off.

The biggest on-track winner was Dixon. Despite not leading a race for just the second time this season, Dixon worked his way back into contention after an abysmal start that saw him drop to ninth place after 90 laps. He managed to increase his point lead as his top competitors buckled.

The other big winner of the weekend has to be 11th-place finisher John Andretti, who once again outshined his boss, Marty Roth. Roth failed to even start the race after a practice crash on Saturday. Andretti was running in seventh place with 100 laps remaining which proves the equipment is competitive, but the car owner and driver Roth simply is under-qualified.

Marty, it is time to step out of the cockpit and give rookie Jay Howard the opportunity he deserves.

The two biggest losers of the weekend have to be Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan. Dixon’s lead grew to 48 points over Castroneves after Spiderman suffered a blown tire in the closing laps and finished 14th. Despite leading a race-high 92 laps, Castroneves, who recently became an uncle for the first time, finished outside of the top-five for the first time all season.

Kanaan likewise lost ground to Dixon when he slammed hard into the turn 2 wall with 39 laps left while running in third place. Kanaan also took his turn running up front as the Brazilian, still seeking his first win of the season, led 71 laps. He remains in fourth place in the title hunt, but his deficit now stands at 100 points with nine races left.

What did we learn from today’s race?

We learned that Marco Andretti can in fact race clean. He easily could have nudged Mutoh in the closing laps, but he held his line and settled for third place, which earned him a minute amount of respect from me, but he still has a long way to go.

In closing, I want to send a personal congrats and thank you to the entire Chip Ganassi organization for putting the state of Iowa first in their desperate time of need. The IRL needs more gratifying stories such as this to bolster the respect and support for the series.

Today, I have never been more proud to be an IndyCar fan.

Response to John in Speedway

John, I agree 100% whole-heartedly about Buddy Rice. He is the pure characterization of the IRL: an American who excels on the ovals. It is a shame he has been downgraded to D&R because his talent is unmistakable when he is provided with superior equipment. Apparently the top owners were asleep during his dominating 2004 Indy 500 performance. Rice did manage to pick up a sponsor (Express Auto Delivery, a local company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) for this weekend’s race in Iowa, but I assume it is temporary. Unfortunately, there is not enough money spread out amongst the power teams to add any much-deserved talent, such as Rice. It is a shame – almost embarrassing – how a former Indy 500 champion is treated and respected by his peers. Hopefully the unification will bring a top-tier sponsor to the series, which should attract more money and teams.

The IRL has ten races remaining with five coming on street and road courses, and I would expect D&R to run Milka Duno to discover if she has what it takes. She has demonstrated steady progression on the ovals this season, but as you mentioned, her background is in sports cars and road courses, which is why she needs to be in the car for Mid-Ohio, Edmonton, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and Belle Isle. If D&R opts to run Townsend Bell then Duno should see about returning to sports cars on a full-time basis because it is obvious she is wasting her time. As for Bell, the journeyman has found a home in the IRL. A pair of top-10 finishes and an 11th place finish at Milwaukee has earned him valuable respect in the garage area amongst drivers and owners. Unfortunately, he is in the same position as his D&R teammate Rice; a heap of talent with zilch opportunity.

The biggest problem with the IRL is simple economics involving supply and demand. There is a multitude of talented drivers who ought to have better sponsors and equipment, but there are not as many lucrative opportunities in the IRL as opposed to NASCAR, which is why all the young talent continues to head south. Personally, I would like to see Penske and Ganassi close their NASCAR shops and transfer all their equity to the IRL to bolster the series. Imagine the rivalries that would immediately develop should Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Dario Franchitti, and Juan Pablo Montoya jump off NASCAR’s sinking ship in favor of IndyCar. A guy can dream, can’t he?

IRL Mid-Season Awards & Predictions

In case you were flipping channels this weekend and could not find the IRL race, you were not the only one.

People were outraged. Riots were starting at 16th and Georgetown.

But, cooler heads finally prevailed when everybody came to the realization that there was no IRL race this weekend.

Yes, that was a hard fact to grasp since the IRL is currently in the midst of running 12 races in 15 weeks, which is comparable to NASCAR’s grueling schedule.

Needless to say, the guys enjoyed a much-deserved break from action after a demanding past couple of months dating back to their trek halfway around the world to race in Japan.

Including the Champ Car series finale at Long Beach, the IRL has completed 8 of 18 races, which qualifies for a mid-season report card.

2008 has been a bizarre IndyCar season that includes four first-time IRL winners (if you include Will Power’s win at Long Beach) and one of the most complete and dominant months of May by Scott Dixon.

So, without further ado….

Best driver NOT named Scott Dixon: In a season in which Dixon has led more than half of total laps completed, it is difficult to find somebody who deserves to share the spotlight. The usual suspects trail Dixon in the standings, but Tony Kanaan shows the most potential in catching Dixon. Remember, it was Kanaan who was running away from Dixon at Indy before an ill-timed maneuver sent him into the wall and later to the garage. Kanaan produces steady results and will challenge Dixon until the very last lap at Chicago in September.

Worst driver NOT named Marco Andretti: Marty Roth could win this award every year, and this year is no exception. Roth has only finished once in five starts this year, and that occurred at Texas when he came home in 22nd-place. You must respect Roth’s passion, but you can only laugh at his talent. Marty, do the world a favor and call it a career before you get yourself killed.

Best race: Milwaukee gets my vote. There were so many great stories within the race. Oriol Servia’s charge after losing a lap early was some of the best driving in recent years in the IRL. And, who could forget the manner in which Ryan Briscoe chased down Dixon, passed him, and then held on for dear life in the closing laps. Unfortunately, racing fans were duped by a yellow-flag finish, but they were treated to a gem for the previous 95% of the event.

Worst race: It kills me to say this, but this dubious award must go to the Indianapolis 500. The caution-filled demolition derby lacked passing, excitement, and suspense. Once Kanaan suffered his unfortunate fate, the crowd of 300,000 knew it was Dixon’s race to lose. Aside from an earth-shattering pass by Vitor Meira and some off-track drama, the race lacked personality and will unfortunately be one of the more forgettable races of the year.

Biggest surprise: E.J. Viso. This pick might surprise the racing community, but Viso has taken strides in proving his worth in the IRL. Viso has been criticized by fans, media, and fellow drivers for his reckless driving style, but he has defended himself with three top-10 finishes. Viso’s background and experience favors street circuits and road courses, so his true driving capabilities will be showcased in the second half of the season as five of the final 10 races are non-ovals. Do not be surprised if Viso finds himself in victory lane at Mid-Ohio or Edmonton.

Biggest disappointment: Tomas Scheckter is fast no matter which track he is at. Unfortunately, in 2008, he has failed to deliver any consistent or positive results. Whether by his fault or not, Scheckter has recorded three DNFs in as many events, which will not sit well with car owner Jay Penske, son of open-wheel icon Roger Penske. Scheckter had perhaps the best car to challenge Dixon at Indy, but a mechanical failure prematurely ended his day after 156 laps. Scheckter will always ignite some hype based on his off-the-wall driving style, but he has not lived up to the hype. He has the machine, but poor results will result in eventual unemployment.

Best story: The outpouring support for owner/driver Sarah Fisher at Indianapolis still brings tears to my eyes. When her primary sponsor reneged, anybody and everybody threw money at her feet, literally. Whether it was IUPUI or strangers off the street, Fisher earned enough money to complete the month of May. Despite being in a cut-throat industry, I wish there were more touching, feel-good stories similar to this one.

Best “Wow” moment: Vitor Meira’s pass on Ed Carpenter and Scott Dixon at the Indy 500 left everybody speechless. It was a precision pass. If Meira pass was not pinpoint, he very well could have taken out the remaining contenders with a quarter of the race remaining. It was a high-risk maneuver, but it launched Meira into the lead for a handful of laps. Without the move, he probably does not finish second and win a cool million bucks.

Over/under DNFs for Marco for remainder of season: Marco already has four DNFs in seven races thus far, which puts him on pace for just over nine for the season. Despite heavy criticism of Marco, I will give him the benefit of the doubt for once. Marco excels on the road courses, which is why Marco’s O/U for DNFs for the remainder of the season is 2. Any bets?

Rookie of the Year: Graham Rahal would be the runaway winner if he can stop putting cars into the wall. The surprise winner in his inaugural event at St. Petersburg put Rahal on the map. A last finish at Indy did not help his cause, but an 11th-place finish at Texas should turn things around for the second-generation star. If Rahal continues to stumble, Hideki Mutoh wins by default.

Best Victory Celebration: Danica Patrick does deserve some recognition, so she wins my vote for best celebration. Her genuineness and excitement after her victory in Japan brought tears to the world. As the first woman to win an IndyCar event, Patrick showed her passion and dedication through her tears of joy and satisfaction. As long as she is provided competitive cars, this will not be her lone victory.

Biggest surprise in second half of the season: Two of the following drivers will capture their first victory: Ryan Hunter-Reay…Vitor Meira…Ed Carpenter. These three drivers have steadily improved race-by-race as several of the power teams have appeared less-dominant at times. One slip-up and there will be another newbie in victory lane.

Series champion: Scott Dixon will not win the championship. Although it appears to be a foregone conclusion at this juncture in the season, Dixon’s season has been just too perfect to culminate with a second series title. Who will knock off the Kiwi? Helio Castroneves will be a bride’s maid no more. He has four top-4 series finishes, including runner-up to Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2002. He has been the most consistent driver in the series with seven top-5 finishes in 2008 compared to Dixon’s six. Once Castroneves rattles off some wins, he will hoist the series trophy that has eluded year after year.

Letter from the Blogger

Please, as a way to improve and enhance my blog, please leave contact information when you leave comments so I have increased channels of communication. To the person who has left comments regarding Tomas Scheckter, please contact me using your real e-mail so we can exchange ideas and opinions. I think it would be beneficial to both of us.

Thank you,

DFresh

Response to Scheckter

My response to criticism of Tomas Scheckter in a recent post: I stand by my opinion. Scheckter has driven for five IRL teams in seven years. In 95 career starts, he has a jaw-dropping 42 DNFs to go along with two wins. He has been fired by Cheever Red Bull Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Panther Racing. He was even fired from Vision Racing who continues to employ the rubbish that is A.J. Foyt IV. Scheckter is a fan favorite because of his speed and unpredictability, but he fails to deliver reliable results, which are what car owners are concerned about. In the current state of the IRL, financially-strapped teams are not willing to gamble on a high-risk like Scheckter. Has every DNF been his fault? Of course not. But why should a team hire a driver who has finished just 56% of his races? So much talent. Unfortuntely, it is wasted talent.

DFresh's Weekly Targets: Kyle Busch, Marco, Scheckter

Raise your hand if you jumped for joy after Kyle Busch’s 43rd-place finish at the Pocono 500? It makes me sick to my stomach when he takes those obnoxious bows after each race win, but I was grinning from ear to ear after he bowed out on the 95th lap. And to make the icing on the cake even sweeter, Busch’s 142-point cushion over Jeff Burton after Dover dwindled to a mere 21 points after Pocono. The once runaway leader has been grounded and now the series championship is up for grabs. Hopefully somebody with class and dignity can topple Busch and send him whining back to Las Vegas.

It was another solid Sunday drive for NASCAR’s trio of former Indy 500 champs. 2000 Indy winner Juan Pablo Montoya tangled with Clint Boyer on lap 46, but Montoya’s excitement did not end there. Montoya’s car coasted down the main straightaway and came to a stop at the end of pit road where it engulfed in flames. 2007 Indy champ Dario Franchitti’s day ended just six laps earlier when an accident sidelined the reigning IRL champion in his first race since his horrific crash at Talladega in April. Last but not least, 2006 winner Sam Hornish, Jr. brought home his Mobil 1 No. 77 machine home in 42nd-place when an accident ended his day after just 37 laps. All three Indy champs were eliminated in the span of nine laps. Which former Indy winner will be looking for a ride in the IRL next season? If I was a betting man – and last time I checked I was – I would bet a couple pretty pennies that at least one of the former Indy winners will be driving in the IRL in 2009. Montoya, Hornish, Jr. and Franchitti are not wise gambles for NASCAR. All three blossomed in open-wheel, which is where they belong. Dream scenario: Tony Stewart becomes a driver/owner in the IRL and hires one of the three as his teammate. When it comes to the Rushville Rocket, expect the unexpected.

What do Marco Andretti and Kyle Busch have in common? They are practically mirror images of one another. Both are arrogant. Both are cocky. Neither admits fault and are quick on the trigger to throwing fellow drivers under the bus. But, there is one facet in which they are vastly different: Kyle Busch wins. Busch spends the same amount of time in victory lane that Marco spends in the infield care center after yet another accident. Would Marco still be employed at AGR if he was not the son of team owner Michael Andretti? Probably not. How many cars does he have to wreck before he gets a pink slip? The pressure on Ryan Briscoe has ballooned and his future with Penske gets cloudier by the minute, but Marco deserves the same amount of heat, if not more. Marco and Briscoe each have one IndyCar victory, but both have more machines lying around in a scrap yard than a demolition derby. When Briscoe becomes bored during a race he tends to eliminate himself. On the other hand, Marco has the tendency to take out multiple cars with a quick turn of the wheel. Marco not only lacks the maturity to drive for AGR, but he lacks the skills and patience to be in the IRL altogether. He needs to spend another couple years in the Indy Lights Series and learn how to make clean passes and keep all four wheels on the track.

First, the IRL’s Kansas race was delayed due to an LPGA event in April. Strike one. Strike two occurred this past Saturday night when the already-tape-delayed Bombardier Learjet 550 from Texas was pushed back 30 minutes due to a NASCAR Nationwide event. It is apparent that NASCAR and all its proprieties generate more interest and revenue than the IRL, but ESPN – which broadcasted the Nationwide and IndyCar event – could have used better judgment to satisfy the open-wheel fans. At 10 p.m. – the scheduled start time for the IRL event – ESPN2 opted to continue their precious Nationwide event. On good ol’ ESPN, they broadcasted a college World Series game between Miami and LSU, which undoubtedly attracted minimal attention in the Indianapolis market. And, with all due respect, a rodeo event from the 1960s on ESPN Classic as a tribute to the late sports broadcaster and pioneer Jim McKay needs to be lower on the sports totem pole compared to an IRL event. IRL CEO Tony George and his marketing team need to get their act together. How does the IRL expect to retain current fans and win the trust and respect of new ones when they start a tape-delayed race at 10:30 p.m.? This is the year of unification; not disorientation. I digress.

Tomas Scheckter, winner of the Texas event in 2006, was a severe disappointment this past weekend. Scheckter was a popular pick by both the fans and media based on his impressive performance last month at Indy. While aspirations were high for the part-time Luczo Dragon race team, Scheckter’s race ended after contact on lap 56. Scheckter finished in an unflattering 25th place, which were three spots behind Marty Roth. Let me repeat that. Marty Roth finished ahead of Tomas Scheckter. If that will not enrage and motivate the 27-year-old South African then he needs to hang up the racing helmet today. Scheckter is persistently fast, but he lacks patience and common sense. Scheckter signed up to compete in four IndyCar events this season; thus far, he has 3 DNFs with the August 24 Sonoma event looming. DNFs and destroyed machines are no way to prove to the deep-pocketed owners that he is still worthy of a full-time ride. Scheckter, at his current pace, will retire as the most over-hyped, over-rated, and biggest waste of talent in the history of IndyCar.

From Goat to Gladiator

Ryan Briscoe can breathe easy. For at least one week.

The first-year Penske Racing driver fell under heavy scrutiny after eliminating the IRL’s media darling Danica Patrick from this year’s Indianapolis 500. If that was not bad enough, rumors started swirling that Briscoe would not return to Penske in 2009. Of course, that is assuming that he even survives the remainder of the season.

Briscoe, a journeyman at best, was off to a rocky start with Penske. Leading up to the Indy 500, he posted a top finish of seventh at Kansas, but he also sent a pair of cars to the scrap yard after accidents in the first two races.

Despite driving for Roger Penske, who possesses an unbelievable 14 Indy wins, Briscoe was anything but a favorite to bring home a 15th win. But, Briscoe shocked the world when he qualified his No. 6 Penske machine on the outside of the front row.

Briscoe’s immaculate run restored composure and confidence in the 26-year-old Aussie as he became a perennial threat to capture his first IndyCar win. The weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders as he prepared for his perfect opportunity…

…An opportunity that lasted a handful of laps after a botched pit stop sent Briscoe to the back of the pack. Then, with 29 laps left and Briscoe challenging for a top-5 finish, he tangled with Patrick while leaving the pits and his race was over.

And the controversy began.

The rumors of Briscoe’s firing, which started as a small twister, escalated into a category 5 hurricane. Potential replacement drivers were being suggested the media.

Tony Kanaan. Vitor Meira. Ryan Hunter-Reay. Sam Hornish, Jr.

People should feel sorry for Briscoe. He has become a victim of Penske’s legacy and success. There was one simple solution to prevent this minuscule snowball from growing into a massive avalanche.

Win. Win now. Win fast.

And win he did.

Briscoe won his first IRL event at the Milwaukee Mile last Sunday and in doing so silenced his critics (temporarily) and as owner Penske said, “Got the monkey off his back.”

After the Indy debacle, the monkey had grown into a 500-pound gorilla.

Briscoe earned his first victory, but he now has a more challenging task ahead of him – prove to everybody his win was not a fluke and that he deserves to be in the orange and white No. 6 Penske machine next season.

Was his win a fluke? Negative, Ghost Rider.

Briscoe ran with the front-runners throughout the afternoon and when he had his chance, he passed arguably the best driver on the planet in Scott Dixon. He made mature decisions and he held off Dixon for the final quarter of the race.

His win is legitimate, but Briscoe’s reputation and legacy is still in question.

Those questions should be answered this weekend when the IRL races under the lights in Texas.

Can Briscoe continue to redeem his reputation with another solid performance or will he return to his more familiar roots of failed results and crumbled machines?

I have been openly critical of Briscoe due to his lack of accomplishments prior to signing with Penske as I feel there were a handful of drivers more deserving of one of the premier jobs in all of auto racing.

But, it is what it is. Briscoe is Penske’s man, but his days are numbered. Remember, this is the same Roger Penske who fired 2-time Indy 500 champ Al Unser, Jr. There are plenty of suitable drivers ready to take over the reigns of the No. 6 machine, such as Graham Rahal and Kanaan. And who knows, if their lackluster results continue, Hornish, Jr. and Dario Franchitti could be viable options for 2009.

Until he gets his official pink slip, let’s just sit back and enjoy the Briscoe roller coaster. He was a goat after Indy. He was hailed as a gladiator after Milwaukee.

What will Briscoe be after Saturday’s race?

Goat or gladiator?

The Rivalry Has Begun; Will it Stick?

The future of IndyCar will start on the front row today in Milwaukee in the A.J. Foyt Indy 250.

19-year-old second generation star Graham Rahal will start alongside 21-year-old third generation pole sitter Marco Andretti as the famous sons prepare for what hopefully will a career-long rivalry filled with wins and championships.

Andretti became the youngest winner of an IRL event – 19 years, 5 months, 14 days – when he won at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA in 2006. Rahal trumped Andretti’s record by 74 days in April when he won the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Thus, the rivalry has begun.

The thought of Marco and Graham battling it out for the next 20 years tickles my spine, but there is also a constant nagging fear that this rivalry will not last through the decade; at least, not in IndyCars.

Both drivers have expressed aspirations of competing in Formula-1 at some point in their career. Rahal has backed off his initial statements and said his future is in the IRL, but Andretti has already tested for Honda Racing’s F1 team. If Andretti can rack up some more wins, such as the Indy 500, he would be the hottest commodity west of the Atlantic Ocean.

IRL owner Tony George needs to take a good, hard look in the mirror and face the fact that his racing league is simply the college basketball of auto racing. Young drivers are using the IRL as a spring board to the more lucrative world that is NASCAR and F1, just like teenagers are using college basketball as a one-way ticket to the NBA.

In the past 15 years, the list of drivers who have bolted for the big bucks is mind-boggling:

Michael Andretti left CART to drive for McLaren in F1 in 1993. He finished six of 13 races with a third place at Monza, Italy his best finish, but was released from his contract three races early and returned to CART in 1994.

Jacques Villeneuve opted not to defend his 1995 Indy 500 title because money lured him to F1’s Williams team, for whom he won the 1997 championship. His racing career dwindled after his title as he bounced around amongst four teams in eight years. Villeneuve dabbed in NASCAR with zero success, and currently competes in the Speedcar Series.

Juan Pablo Montoya’s 1999 CART title and 2000 Indy 500 victory were enough credentials to get him a ride with F1’s Williams-BMW team. In 5 ½ years in F1, Montoya racked up 13 poles and seven wins before leaving to drive for Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR team, where he is currently 17th in points.

Alex Zanardi left Ganassi Racing after capturing the 1997 and 1998 CART titles and returned to F1’s Williams team in 1999, which was an utter disaster. He finished just six of 16 races and was not retained for the remainder of his contract. He returned to CART in 2001, where his career came to an abrupt conclusion after a catastrophic crash in Germany, where he lost both of his legs.

Cristiano da Matta won the 2002 CART championship and then moved to F1’s Toyota Racing. da Matta completed less than two full seasons before F1 chewed him up and spit him out. He resurfaced in CART in 2005, driving two seasons, but his comeback ended in 2006 by a freak practice accident with a deer at Road America in Wisconsin, thus ending his driving career.

Sam Hornish, Jr. was the poster child for the IRL, but he finally gave in to temptation and took his talents to NASCAR for the 2008 season. The 3-time IRL series champ and 2006 Indy 500 winner is a rookie with Penske Racing.

Dario Franchitti followed Villeneuve’s footsteps by winning the Indy 500 and series title in the same year before departing for Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR program. Franchitti, just like fellow Indy champ Hornish, Jr., has struggled severely in his rookie campaign.

Sebastien Bourdais is the reigning 4-time Champ Car series champion, but left American open-wheel racing to test his talents in F1 for Toro Rosso. So far, his talents have gone by the wayside as he has finished just two of six races.

The aforementioned drivers have combined for over 140 race wins, 14 series championships, and four Indy 500 titles. But for whatever reason success in CART and the IRL was not enough to satisfy them. The thought of Dixon battling with Montoya, Villeneuve, Hornish, Jr. and Franchitti ought to make every race fan giddy.

But, that is just a pipedream.

Sadly, until the IRL steps it up with more lucrative sponsors and television packages, more and more open-wheel young guns will head south or overseas for bigger paychecks.

Both NASCAR and F1 televise live practice session and qualifying rounds. Plus, NASCAR treats every race like a Super Bowl with an extravagant pre-race show. That is a lot of air time for drivers and sponsors, and the IRL needs to take notes on how to offer similar packages. IndyCar offers practice and qualifying web casts, but no money is being exchanged.

The open-wheel unification, after 12 horrid years, has finally arrived. Now, it is up to George and his IRL cohorts to explore marketing opportunities to restore tradition, fans, and excitement.

It is no secret that George is power-driven, which caused the CART-IRL split in the first place. If his stubbornness gets the best of him yet again, he will be bidding farewell to Marco and Graham, as well as the bread-and-butter of the IRL.

Dixon Finds Destiny After Indy 500 Domination

When Scott Dixon won CART’s Nazareth race in 2001 at the ripe age of 20, it was obvious then that Dixon was destined for open-wheel greatness.

Dixon inched closer to an unparalleled destiny in 2003 when he captured the Indy Racing League championship in his first year in the series.

Then, on Sunday, May 25, 2008, Dixon discovered the Holy Grail and arrived at his absolute destiny when he won the Indianapolis 500 from the pole position in one of the most dominating performances in history.

By a show of hands, who honestly thought Vitor Meira was going to win the race?

Mr. Meira, please put your hand down.

Meira’s victory, although heart-warming, would have spoiled Dixon’s perfect month.

From the moment Dixon’s No. 9 Target machine rolled off the trailer, he was the odds-on favorite to capture the Indy crown. Dixon ran the day’s fastest lap four times throughout the month, including pole day, which gave Dixon the essential advantage of starting up front. Despite a few unorthodox restarts, Dixon was flawless on race day and led 115 laps en route to manhandling the competition.

It is a shame that another Danica Patrick temper tantrum, Tony Kanaan’s feud with teammate Marco Andretti, and 60 mind-numbing caution laps stole the headlines. But, nevertheless, Dixon will go down as one of the most deserving Indy 500 champions in history. His charismatic personality will do nothing but generate millions in terms of revenue and endorsements for himself, his team, and the IRL.

The media has unfairly tabbed Dixon as The Iceman because of his dry personality that rivals the emotional depth of a stone. If 12 career victories, a series championship, and earning $2.9 million for winning the Indy 500 are qualities of an Iceman, than I am sure Dixon will not mind the unmerited criticism.

It is difficult to believe that Dixon, who has a career’s worth of accomplishments by age 27, is just hitting his peak.

His potential is priceless. If Dixon were to get the NASCAR itch, his car owner Chip Ganassi would be more than happy to oblige. Imagine this for a race team: 2000 Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, 2007 Indy champ Dario Franchitti, and reigning Indy winner Dixon. Sponsors would flock to Ganassi’s garage.

But, there is no need to get ahead of ourselves. Although that trio of drivers as teammates would be a media gold mine, open-wheel success in no way guarantees similar success in NASCAR. Montoya, 2006 Indy 500 champ Sam Hornish, Jr., and Franchitti currently rank 17th, 34th, and 42nd in NASCAR’s season standings. The three have combined for just 1 victory in 69 total starts.

Note to Dixon: Stay where you are!

Dixon will undoubtedly be approached numerous times in the upcoming years about jumping to NASCAR. And why not? NASCAR bosses tend to prey on Indy 500 winners. When NASCAR owners come calling, Dixon needs to follow the same advice that drug ads offer: Just Say No!

After years of perseverance and hard work, Dixon has arrived at his destiny. Now, it is time to fulfill it for years to come the only way a Kiwi can.

Official 2008 Indy 500 Prediction

Yes folks, it is finally that time. The moment you have all been waiting for.

It is time for the DFresh prediction of who will drink the milk after the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.

33 drivers will start but only one will be recognized as an Indy 500 champion by day’s end.

Who will that driver be?

Well, the answer is very simple. It is more than simple. In fact, it is a no-brainer.

Let’s be realistic. More than half of this Sunday’s field does not have a prayer.

Marty Roth. Milka Duno. Enrique Bernaldi. A.J. Foyt IV. The list can go on. Thank you for showing up and helping fill the field, but it is past your bedtime.

The field consists of four former winners; Buddy Lazier (1996), Helio Castroneves (2001-02), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Will one of these gentlemen add another trophy to their mantle? Castroneves and Wheldon are both overwhelming favorites with Lazier and Rice on the outside looking in.

For the second straight year, three women will be given the command to start their engines. Sarah Fisher brings the most experience to the table with her seventh start. Milka Duno embarks on her second Indy 500 with another year of experience under her belt. Danica Patrick, making her fourth start, is oozing with confidence after her first IndyCar win in Japan last month. If any of these women are to make history on Sunday, Patrick would be the best bet.

The field is comprised of 11 rookies, most of which are a result of the off-season open-wheel merger between Champ Car and the IRL. Most of these rookies have zero oval experience which is a recipe for disaster, but there are a few picks of the litter.

Graham Rahal, son of 1986 winner Bobby Rahal, is considered the favorite of the rookies based on his appreciation and respect for the speedway. He drives for Newman Haas Lanigan Racing, which won the last four Champ Car series championships but years of disappointment at Indy should motivate young Rahal.
ODDS: 50:1

So, exactly who will win Sunday’s race?

Let’s start from the top.

Pole sitter Scott Dixon finished runner-up to Dario Franchitti in last year’s Indy 500 and has been fast all month, but starting from the pole does not guarantee a victory. Dating back to Rick Mears in 1988, only six pole winners have gone on to win the race, so history does not bode well for Dixon.
ODDS: 10:1

2005 Indy winner Wheldon should be a contender on Sunday, but his lengthy hair and new teeth will cause his car to develop a push in the turns, which means he will have to wait another year for a second win.
ODDS: 9:1

Penske newcomer Ryan Briscoe has had relative success at Indy, but it would be difficult to picture him in Victory Lane. Briscoe put his back-up car into the wall in practice this month, and odds are he will do the same with his primary car come Sunday.
ODDS: 25:1

Helio Castroneves is a victim of his own success. Two wins in two starts make Castroneves a contender year-after-year, but it has been six years since he climbed the fence in victory. The Dancing with the Stars winner needs to share the wealth and let somebody else drink the milk and kiss the queen.
ODDS: 5:1

Danica Patrick led 19 laps in her rookie run of 2005, but she failed to lead the most important lap. She won her first IRL event last month in Japan and is a legitimate contender on Sunday. The IRL will quietly be cheering for Patrick because a victory on Sunday would generate millions of dollars in sponsorships and revenue. Unfortunately, there are too many other top contenders for her to compete with so it will take another risky fuel strategy to steal a victory.
ODDS: 10:1

Marco Andretti finished second to Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006 in the 2nd-closest finish in the history of the Indy 500, but that is as close as he will get on Sunday. Andretti’s cockiness and lack of appreciation is why he does not deserve an Indy win just yet. He has been fast all month, but after his runner-up finish in 2006 his immediate reaction was, “Second place is nothing. They don’t remember people who finish second here.” Marco feels he deserves a win here simply because of the notoriety of his last name. If you do not respect Indy, you end up in the wall or upside down, which is how Marco finished last year, and odds are that is where he will end this year.
ODDS: 100:1

Tomas Scheckter has nearly won this race twice already, but has not been competitive since a fourth-place finish in 2003. He led a race-high 85 laps as a rookie in 2002, but crashed out while leading the race with just 28 laps left. Scheckter is the biggest threat to the 3 power teams, but he will need to show more patience than in years past.
ODDS: 25:1

There you have it; the odds and predictions for the top contenders in Sunday’s race. Of course, there is one driver left, and that would be the winner.

DFRESH PREDICTION:

Tony Kanaan will end all of his disappointment and snake-bit luck on Sunday and will finally capture the only trophy that has eluded him throughout his career – the Borg Warner Trophy. Kanaan has been close year after year. He has led 202 laps since his rookie year in 2002 and he has shown no signs of slowing down. He drives for Andretti-Green Racing, which has produced two of the last three Indy winners, so experience is on his side. Kanaan has three top-five finishes on his Indy 500 resume, but he is tired of coming up short. Kanaan has the drive, the patience, the passion, the experience, and the killer instinct that is required to win this great race. 2008 is the year of Kanaan.
ODDS: 2:1

Good luck and Godspeed

Best of the Rest Indy 500 Preview

Best of the Rest Indy 500 Previews

Townsend Bell will drive the third Dreyer & Reinbold machine. Bell finished 22nd in his only previous Indy 500 start in 2006. He was the fastest third-day qualifier (second day rained out). Solid open-wheel experience should make him a genuine competitor on Sunday.

The Indy 500 welcomes another second-generation racer when Graham Rahal, son of 1986 Indy 500 champ Bobby Rahal, starts his first Indy 500. He rolls off the grid 13th for Newman Hass Lanigan Racing. Rahal poses perhaps the best threat of any Champ Car drivers based on his passion and appreciation for the speedway.

Darren Manning is hungry for his first IndyCar win, which could not occur at a more historic event like the Indy 500. A victory would be the second for car owner A. J. Foyt, who won in 1999 with Kenny Brack. Manning will be making his fourth Indy start with his best finish of 20th coming in 2007.

2002 pole sitter Bruno Junqueira returns for his fifth Indy 500 after a two-year hiatus. Junqueira had a solid run going in 2005 before a violent wreck broke his back just before the 200-mile mark. He is eager to improve on a pair of fifth-place finishes. He has led in each of his last three races, so if his Dale Coyne machine holds up he should be a contender.

Rookie Justin Wilson may not win the Indy 500, be he will go down as one of the tallest to ever cross the yard of bricks. Wilson, who stands 6’3, is eager to win the only trophy that eludes Newman Haas Lanigan; the highly coveted Borg Warner Trophy

Buddy Rice is one of four former winners competing in the 92nd Indianapolis 500. Rice looks to rebound after some recent bad lack at the speedway. He was unable to defend his championship in 2005 due to a practice accident, and then crashed out in both 2006 and 2007. Rice drives for Dreyer & Reinbold, which seeks its second IRL win and first at Indy.

Alex Lloyd is the reigning Indy Pro series champion and is making his Indy 500 debut in a joint effort by Chip Ganassi and Rahal Letterman Racing. Lloyd found the wall on Fast Friday, but rebounded to qualify safely for the race. Assuming his confidence has not been shattered, Lloyd could be a legitimate threat on Sunday.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is driving for the same Rahal Letterman Racing team that won the race in 2005, so the bar is set high for this 27-year old rookie from Dallas. Hunter-Reay crashed on pole day, but he has the backing of an experienced car owner to guide him through his first race.

John Andretti joins cousin Marco as the other Andretti in the field. He makes his second consecutive start after a 12 year absence. Andretti drives the second Marty Roth owned car, but managed to find speed immediately. Andretti has four top-10 finishes in his eight career starts, including fifth-place back in 1991.

For the first time in her Indy 500 career, Sarah Fisher comes to Indianapolis as a car owner. Despite a lack of support from several primary sponsors, Fisher qualified for her seventh race. Despite being voted most popular driver in the IRL three years in a row (2001-2003), she has failed to deliver successful results. Her best finish of 18th came last year, which means much room for improvement.

Will Power, a fiery Australian rookie to Indy, seeks his second IndyCar victory of the year after winning on the streets of Long Beach. He drives for KV Technologies, owned by former Champ Car president Kevin Kalkhoven and 8-time Indy 500 starter Jimmy Vasser. Does Power have the power to be the third rookie since 2000 to drink the milk?

Jeff Simmons straps into the second A.J. Foyt car for what will be his fourth Indy 500. Last year was his most impressive showing – he actually led a lap en route to an 11th place finish.

Oriol Servia makes his first start at Indianapolis, but he no stranger to open-wheel racing. In fact, this is his second trip to Indianapolis; he failed to qualify in 2002. Servia is best known for replacing an injured Junqueira in 2005 and finishing second in the Champ Car final season standings.

EJ Viso’s first appearance at the track came by way foot, not car, when he participated in the Mini Marathon. Viso drives for HVM Racing, which is a carryover team from Champ Car. Viso has displayed signs of potential thus far which makes him optimistic for Sunday.

Milka Duno became the fifth woman to drive in the Indy 500 last year, when she finished 31st after crashing out on lap 65. She returns to Indy with more experience and even more confidence so improving on her prior performance should be a simple task.

Mario Moraes, Enrique Bernoldi, and Jaime Camara are all rookies at this year’s Indy 500, and they fill up the 10th row. Moraes look for advice and leadership from Dale Coyne teammate Junqueira while Bernoldi and Camera are teammates are Conquest Racing and plan to surge to the front together.

It was an up and down bump day for 1996 Indy winner Buddy Lazier, but he survived and will start a race-high 16th Indy 500. Lazier’s resume is impressive, which includes the 1996 win and five top-five finishes. It will be a challenging charge from the rear, but there is no driver in the field more capable of overcoming incredible odds at Indy.

Last, but certainly not least, is Canadian Marty Roth, who survived the bubble and will start from the tail end of the pack in his fourth Indy 500. No need to waste space discussing Roth’s history. He has yet to finish an Indy 500 and there is a better chance of Milka Duno and Danica Patrick making out in victory lane than Roth has of winning the race.

Hopefully everybody is now more familiar with some of the newcomers and journeymen who will be competing in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. It should be filled with drama, suspense and excitement, and that is why it is the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Vision Racing Eyes Indy 500 Upset

Tony George became president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1989. He founded the Indy Racing League in 1996. He completed the open-wheel Triple Crown in 2005 when he founded his own racing team, Vision Racing.

Since its inception to the IRL in 2005, Vision Racing has endured tumultuous moments time and time again.

The worst moment occurred at the 2006 season-opening IndyCar event in Homestead, Florida. Vision driver Ed Carpenter crashed during a morning warm-up session and came to a rest at the bottom of the track. Out of nowhere, a car driven by rookie Paul Dana smashed head-on at full speed into Carpenter’s idle machine. Dana was killed while Carpenter escaped with only bruised lungs.

Controversy struck the Vision stable once again at the 2008 season-opening race at Homestead. Carpenter and Vision teammate A.J. Foyt IV qualified career-bests of 2nd and 3rd, but both runs were disqualified after the cars failed technical inspections.

Team manager Larry Curry was fired due to the violations, but hopes are still high heading into Vision’s fourth Indy 500.

Some experts – for unthinkable reasons – picked Carpenter and Foyt IV to be front row contenders. With Curry running the operations, that was a viable possibility. But, Curry’s demise sent Vision scrambling for solutions. After pole day, just one of three Vision machines was qualified. Carpenter qualified comfortably on the inside of row 4, but his teammates, Foyt IV and Davey Hamilton were still on the outside looking in.

So, who exactly are these three chaps who will be driving for Vision on May 25? Each comes from diverse backgrounds, but all carry a plethora of experience to give team owner George a win at his home track.

Carpenter, step-son of boss Tony George, is preparing for his fifth Indy 500 start with expectations of improving on his career-best finish of 11th, which he accomplished in 2005 and 2006. Carpenter is an Indy native who grew up minutes from the track so winning the race would result in one of the more emotional and memorial celebrations in history.

In four previous starts, Carpenter crashed out in two of them and finished a lap down in the others. He has yet to contend in any of his four appearances, so improvement is limitless.

Vision’s second car will be driven by the most famous names in Indianapolis 500 history.

A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of four-time 500 champ A.J. Foyt, is making his fifth Indy start. Despite carrying the famous name, Foyt IV is light years away from living up to grandpa’s legacy.

Foyt IV, whose best finish of 14th came in 2007, is best known for breaking Bruno Junqueira’s back in the 2005. Junqueira was running in fifth place when he attempted to pass Foyt IV’s on the outside on lap 76. He started to make the pass in turn 2, but he never made it to the turn 3; Foyt IV came high and touched wheels with Junqueira, which sent the Brazilian into the turn 2 wall. Junqueira broke his back and was forced to sit out the rest of the season.

If Foyt IV plans to carry on his grandfather’s legacy, Indy is the paramount place to start.

Veteran and journeyman Hamilton will pilot the third Vision machine on race day. Hamilton will be competing in his eighth race, but just his second since 2001 due to a horrific crash at Texas Motor Speedway that halted his driving career. Hamilton will be representing Vision Racing for a second straight year. He finished 9th last year, which was the third top-10 finish of Hamilton’s career. He finished 4th in 1998 and 6th in 1997.

Hamilton has probably moved into the No. 2 slot on Vision Racing’s board due to the multitude of issues Foyt IV has endured this month. Nevertheless, as it stands now, this is a one-shot deal for Hamilton so he needs to make the most of it. He needs to find the magic and confidence he drove with in the late 1990s before his accident if he hopes to accomplish his dream of winning the Indianapolis 500.

WHY A VISION CAR WILL WIN:

It has been nine years since CART invaded Indianapolis and they have dominated ever since with no signs of slowing down. If a non-power team is going to roll into victory lane, George will be sure it is one of his Vision cars. George, who has more money than God, will expend all possible resources to ensure his cars are competitive come race day.

Are they a long shot? Yes, but every once in awhile the long shot comes from nowhere to astonish the world.