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?