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.