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!