FRESHER VISIONS

F1: The Ultimate Insult

2008-09-04T19:08:00.001-05:00

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

2008-08-31T21:01:00.000-05:00

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......

2008-08-10T09:09:00.002-05:00

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!!

2008-07-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

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

2008-07-21T21:15:00.000-05:00

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

2008-07-13T20:03:00.001-05:00

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

2008-07-10T21:12:00.000-05:00

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

2008-07-06T21:45:00.002-05:00

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

2008-07-05T16:03:00.001-05:00

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

2008-07-03T06:59:00.003-05:00

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

2008-07-01T21:42:00.002-05:00

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

2008-06-29T13:29:00.003-05:00

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

2008-06-22T16:22:00.000-05:00

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

2008-06-20T08:13:00.002-05:00

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

2008-06-17T10:01:00.002-05:00

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

2008-06-16T20:02:00.003-05:00

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

2008-06-15T20:33:00.005-05:00

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

2008-06-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

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

2008-06-06T14:51:00.002-05:00

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?

2008-06-01T15:53:00.005-05:00

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

2008-05-28T18:01:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-20T19:38:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-20T13:44:00.002-05:00

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.

Panthers & Dragons

2008-05-14T11:22:00.002-05:00

Panther Racing’s Vitor Meira and Luczo Dragon Racing’s Tomas Scheckter are at opposite ends of the spectrum, personality-wise. Meira is the quiet gentleman while Scheckter is loud and flamboyant.

They are even more polar opposites in terms of driving style. Meira is patient and allows the race to come to him. Scheckter is rambunctious and surges to the front.

Despite their differences, they do have one thing in common: aspirations of winning the Indianapolis 500.

Meira, who replaced Scheckter at Panther Racing in 2006, is making his sixth Indy start. Despite never winning an IndyCar event, he has been fast no matter the team he drove for.

Meira made his Indy 500 debut in 2003 driving for John Menard. He had a quiet month and started near the back of the pack. But a persistent Meira moved up the field and rallied for a 12th-place finish. That would be Meira’s worst Indy finish thus far.

Since 2003, Meira has four top-10 finishes, including runner-up to Dan Wheldon in 2005 when he drove for Rahal-Letterman.

2008 will be Meira’s third season with Panther as he aspires to improve on his pair of 10th-place finishes. Meira will roll off the starting grid in 8th place, which is not his best start, but is impressive in that he is the highest starting driver not driving for Ganassi, Penske or Andretti.

So, hats off Vitor. You have already won the moral victory. Next it is time for the biggest victory of them all.

And then there is Scheckter.

Scheckter is a special breed in terms of a race car driver. He expels excitement, exuberance, and aptitude. Unfortunately, patience and composure are two virtues that have set sail.

It is no coincidence that Scheckter will be starting his seventh Indy 500 with his fifth different team. During his tenure at Indy, he has had some impressive high to go along with some tumultuous lows. Scheckter led a race-high 85 laps as a rookie driving for Eddie Cheever in 2002 before a crash ended his day 28 laps from the checkered flag. He finished 26th.

Scheckter drove for Chip Ganassi in 2003 and again was the top lap-leader with 63. But just past the 300-mile mark, Scheckter relinquished the lead to Castroneves and had to settle for fourth-place.

His fourth-place finish for Ganassi in 2003 was his best-ever finish until a seventh-place finish in 2007 driving for Vision Racing. He finished 18th in 2004 and crashed out in both 2005 and 2006 (20th and 27th-place finishes).

This year Scheckter is driving for Luczo Dragon Racing, which is co-owned by Jay Penske, the youngest son of 14-time Indy 500 winning car owner Roger Penske. In 2007, LDR leased a car and equipment from Penske for Ryan Briscoe, who drove to a fifth-place finish.

The pressure is mounting for Scheckter. He drove full-time in the IRL for six seasons but could only provide two wins. Now, he has been downgraded to a part-time driver based on inconsistent and lackluster results. He was fired from Red Bull Cheever, Ganassi, Panther and Vision Racing in a matter of six years.

Is that so shocking?

His resume speaks for itself. From 2002-2007, he started 92 races with 40 DNFs. That is no way to impress some of the hard-nosed owners in the business in Eddie Cheever, Chip Ganassi and Tony George.

Despite his failures early in his career, it appears Scheckter has finally started to curb his immaturity behind the wheel. He competed in 61 races for Cheever, Ganassi and Panther which resulted in 31 DNFs, or 51%. During his two-year stint with Vision Racing, that number improved; 32 starts, 8 DNFs, 25%.

Nevertheless, he was still out of a job. Yet somehow Scheckter finds himself with a polished gem of a team with financial stability and a fast car. Scheckter needs to prove to the racing world he is capable of holding it together for 200 laps because the IRL needs Scheckter more than anybody would like to admit.

WHY A PANTHER OR DRAGON WILL WIN:

Meira and Scheckter are both long shots to win because they do not drive for Ganassi, Penske or Andretti. Nevertheless, this is May. This is the Indy 500 and anything can happen. Both drivers have shown glimpses of their capabilities. Meira finished 2nd in 2005 and Scheckter has led 148 laps in their respective Indy 500 experiences. A few modifications here and there and each of these drivers could already be imprinted on the Borg-Warner Trophy.

Of Meira and Scheckter, Scheckter is probably the odds-on favorite to win because of his aggressiveness and killer instinct, but that is reluctantly why Meira will get the best of Scheckter come race day.

Panther beats Dragon.

Andretti-Green Seeks Repeat

2008-05-13T21:02:00.002-05:00

According to Meatloaf, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.

Michael Andretti feels three out of four would be better.

Andretti, co-owner of Andretti-Green Racing (AGR), will be seeking his third Indianapolis 500 victory as a car owner when the field goes green on May 25. A third Indy win would vault Andretti into elite car owner status; tied for third place with Pat Patrick and A.J. Foyt. He would only trail Roger Penske (14 wins) and Lou Moore (6).

How has Andretti – who was snake-bitten more than a handful of times as a driver at the 500 – become so successful as a car owner?

It’s all about the Benjamin’s.

Andretti’s sponsors over the years have included 7-Eleven, Canadian Club Whiskey, Motorola, Coca-Cola, Fritos, Kellogs, Meijer, Jim Beam, and even the New York Stock Exchange. His sponsorships with Fortune 500 companies allow him to afford the best drivers, best mechanics, best equipment and best machines.

That being said, it is no happenstance that AGR has racked up 2 Indianapolis 500 wins, 1 pole position, 15 top-10 finishes and 7 front-row starts since 2003.

Will consistency and domination carry over to the 2008 Indy 500? The answer shall come soon, but here are the AGR stars that all hope to conquer Indy for the first time and add a third title to owner Michael’s trophy case.

Tony Kanaan, the lead driver for AGR, is making his seventh start this year and has yet to win the race, but with a few twists of fate and a little more luck, he could easily be pursuing his fifth Indy crown.

From the time he rolled his car off the trailer as a rookie in 2002, Kanaan has had no difficulties mastering the track. He led 23 laps that year but crashed while leading on lap 89.

Kanaan finished 28th as a rookie in 2002. Since then, his combined finished spots have totaled 30. Kanaan, whether he is driving for AGR or another team, will always be a threat to win at Indy.

Kanaan likes to start from the front and he tends to stay there. In his six starts, he has qualified fifth or better, including from the pole in 2005. He has also led his fair share of laps. He has led 202 laps, which ranks second only to Dan Wheldon’s 204 laps led since 2002.

Come race day, Kanaan will be near the front. A superior pit strategy allowed teammate Danica Patrick to secure her first race win last month in Japan; perhaps a similar race strategy will finally get Kanaan to victory lane at Indianapolis.

Can the IRL’s media darling Danica Patrick follow up her first career victory at Japan with a victory at Indianapolis, where she has always run well?

Finding speed has never been a problem for Patrick. As a rookie in 2005, she ran the fastest practice lap of the month at 229.880. Just a few weeks later she shocked the world with her fourth-place finish.

Patrick’s previous two Indy 500s (a pair of 8th-place finishes) have not lived up the standards set forth by her rookie campaign, but a win would set the media world ablaze. Patrick graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2005 for finishing fourth; imagine the media frenzy that ensue if she won the biggest race in the world. Twenty years ago, the thought of a woman winning the Indy 500 was laughable. This year, it is more plausible than ever.

When it comes to Marco Andretti, expect the unexpected. To steal a line from Forrest Gump, “Marco Andretti is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.”

As a rookie in 2006 at the ripe age of 19, he drove a patient and mature race and actually led the race on the final straightaway with the checkered flag a few feet away. But, his inexperience took over as Sam Hornish, Jr. nipped him at the finish line.

Would Michael or Mario have finished second? No way. They would have blocked Hornish, Jr. for the victory or crashed trying. First or last.

In 2007, as an Indy 500 sophomore, Marco had an up-and-down race, literally. He battled for the lead with teammate Kanaan just past the midway point, but 2007 was a year to be forgotten. Andretti finished the race upside down after he made contact on the backstretch with Wheldon that brought out the final caution.

Andretti was runner-up as a rookie and 24th as a sophomore. Which Marco is real? This year’s Indy 500 should give a more clear picture as to which Andretti is legitimate. Based on previous results in the IndyCar series, his immaturity level will trump his talent level and send Marco into another race of disenchantment.

Last but not least is Hideki Mutoh, the rookie replacement for defending Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti.

Mutoh, with one IRL start under his belt, was a controversial pick to fill such a coveted and prestigious seat. Andretti opted for Mutoh based on his success in the Indy Pro Series in 2007, where he won a pair of races and finished second in the final series standings.

Mutoh has already won at Indianapolis; he won the Liberty Challenge on the speedway’s road course during United States Grand Prix weekend. Despite the victory, Mutoh is a bona fide rookie who will be a long shot to cross the bricks first. But if he takes care of his equipment and uses patience and poise, sake might be the drink of choice in victory lane.

WHY AN AGR CAR WILL WIN:

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and AGR runs well at Indianapolis.

AGR has surpassed Penske as the dominant team at Indianapolis (at least in the last half-decade). AGR has plenty of weapons in its arsenal and each bullet is fully capable of capturing the checkered flag on race day. AGR has placed at least three cars in the top-8 three of the last four years, including four top-8 finishers in 2006 and 2007.

But, the most convincing stat is that AGR has won two of the past three Indy 500s, which is enough evidence to convince any doubter.

AGR understands what it takes to win at Indianapolis. They have superior equipment. They have four top-notch drivers. And they have Michael Andretti; he never won as a driver which makes him that much hungrier as a car owner.

Penske Racing Aims for 15th Indy Win

2008-05-08T14:17:00.001-05:00

What do the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Yankees, Chicago Bulls and Montreal Canadians have in common? They all have been labeled dynasties of their sport. That being said, it is fair to declare Penske Racing at the Indianapolis 500 as perhaps the most dominating dynasty in the history of professional sports.

Simple arithmetic can support that. It is difficult to fathom how one team has been so head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition at the greatest racing venue in the world.

Car owner Roger Penske has it all figured out. He has for a long time and he will continue to do so until God’s light shines down upon him.

24 different drivers have driven for Roger Penske at Indianapolis since 1969, and it took just three years for Penske’s dominance to take form when Mark Donahue won the Indy 500 in 1972.

Penske does not just hire drivers. He hires the best drivers. Occasionally, one or two drivers will fall through the cracks, but for the most part his drivers deliver championships.

There have been 91 Indy 500s run; 10 Penske drivers have combined to win 14 races, which is an astounding 15%.

But, that is all in the past. Penske has won only one Indy 500 since 2003, which is unacceptable in the Penske garage.

Will 2008 be the year when Helio Castroneves climbs the fence for the third time? Can Ryan Briscoe silence his critics about his inability to finish races and score an upset on May 25?

Let us dissect Castroneves, who needs no introduction. Spiderman leaped (literally) into the record books in 2001 by becoming just the eighth rookie to win the Indianapolis 500. He shattered the record books again the following year becoming the fourth overall and first driver since Al Unser, Sr. in 1970-71 to win back-to-back Indy 500s.

Castroneves has competed in seven Indy 500s and has compiled an impressive resume. Of his seven starts, he finished ninth or better in six with his lone DNF coming in 2006 after a crash with fellow Indy champ Buddy Rice. His average finish after his first three starts at Indianapolis was 1.333, which is a record that will not be touched for many years.

Castroneves starts the race as well as he finishes. He started his first two races in the middle of the pack (11th in 2001, 13th in 2002), but has started eighth or better every year since, including from the pole in 2003 and 2007.

To put it in laymen’s terms, Helio, the reigning Dancing with the Stars champion, likes the 2.5 mile oval. No matter if he starts 33rd in a back-up car, Castroneves will be a threat come race day.

His teammate Ryan Briscoe is another story. For the first time in his career with Penske Racing, Castroneves will be teamed alongside an unworthy driver. Castroneves has teamed up with Gil de Ferran (2 CART series championships, 2003 Indy 500 champ) and Sam Hornish, Jr. (2 IRL series Championships, 2006 Indy 500 champ). This season, Ryan Briscoe has taken over the No. 6 orange and white machine that was vacated by Hornish, Jr. when he was lured by NASCAR’s millions.

Briscoe is an unproven journeyman at best. He started driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005 and posted a 10th place finish at Indianapolis, but the rest of the season was nothing but pure disaster. Briscoe completed just six events out of 15 with an 8th place at Nashville his best result. His career with Ganassi came to an end when a terrible crash at Chicagoland Speedway left Briscoe unemployed as Ganassi hired Dan Wheldon for the 2006 season.

After a brief 3-race stint with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing late in 2006, Briscoe started 2007 on the outside looking in. Then, the light began to shine. He was hired by Penske Racing to compete in the American Le Mans Series, where he won three events and finished tied for third in the series standings.

Briscoe returned to Indianapolis in 2007 driving for Luczo-Dragon Racing, which was co-owned by Jay Penske, the youngest son of Roger Penske. Briscoe drove a Penske-leased machine to a 5th place finish. With rumors already putting Hornish, Jr. in a full-time NASCAR ride the following year, the 2007 Indy 500 was a try-out for Penske Racing. With a lack of marketable free agents on the open-wheel market, Briscoe was hired to replace Hornish, Jr.

Briscoe started the 2008 IndyCar season with a bang. He crashed his Penske machine at Homestead and St. Petersburg, but has regrouped with a pair of top-10 finishes at Japan and Kansas leading up to Indy.

Briscoe will be making his third Indy 500 start with his third different team. He has two top-10 finishes thus far, which defends any inconsistency issues Briscoe must face. Unfortunately for Briscoe, he drives for Roger Penske, who demands victories, not just consistent top-10 finishes.

In years past, even dating back to the 70s and 80s, Penske Racing was always a shoe-in for at least a top-3 finish. This year is not the case. Penske Racing will go as far as Castroneves can take them, but Briscoe is the black sheep of the team who will need an inspiring finish if he wants to remain behind the wheel of No. 6 car.

WHY A PENSKE CAR WILL WIN:

Roger Penske hates to lose. He especially hates to lose at Indianapolis. Penske has 14 reasons why he has been nicknamed “The Captain.” He dedicates his entire year towards the Indianapolis 500. He finds the best drivers to strap into his superior machines (this year might be the lone exception).

If a Penske car rolls into victory lane, it will occur only after Castroneves has climbed the fence for the third time in eight years. Unlike Ganassi Racing and AGR, Penske Racing has a weak link in that of Ryan Briscoe. Briscoe does not deserve to drive in the same car driven by names such as Mears, Unser, Unser, Jr., and Fittipaldi.

Castroneves will have to carry Penske Racing with his experience, killer instinct, and his ability to dance around his fellow competitors.

Target Tandem Strikes Fear in Field

2008-05-02T16:04:00.001-05:00

Here is a blast from the past. Think back to 2000 when Chip Ganassi brought reigning CART series champion Juan Montoya to the Indy 500, who turned the brickyard into his own personal butcher shop as he carved the competition into pieces.

That same sequence of events could take place yet again this year in the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500.

Same Team. Different Drivers. Same Results.

It has been eight years since the successful Montoya experiment. Montoya and teammate Jimmy Vasser combined to lead a mind-boggling 172 of 200 laps as Montoya became the first rookie since Graham Hill in 1966 to win the 500.

This year, the combination of 2005 Indy winner Dan Wheldon and 2003 IndyCar series champion Scott Dixon will be the team to beat as they strive to bring home a second Indy 500 win for owner Ganassi.

Wheldon and Dixon are off to a superior start of the 2008 IndyCar season. Each have scored a race victory and are coming off one of the most dominating performances in IRL history.

In the race leading up to the Indy 500 – the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 – Dixon and Wheldon were unmatchable. Wheldon started from the pole but it was Dixon who took the early lead. Dixon led 145 of the first 151 laps but an ill-timed pit stopped forced him to a third place finish. Wheldon picked up where Dixon left off to lead the final 49 laps for the win.

Dixon was also dominant at the Indy Japan 300 by leading 101 of the 200 laps but had to settle for a third place finish.

Dixon seems to dominate everywhere EXCEPT at Indianapolis. Since joining the IndyCar series in 2003, he has racked up 11 wins to accompany his 10 poles. On the other hand, the Indy 500 has not been as generous to Dixon; six starts, 32 laps led, 1 top-5 finish, two DNFs due to accidents.

Despite his previous track history, Dixon will be driving one of the more reliable and faster machines, which makes him one of the drivers to beat.

Wheldon is no stranger to success at Indianapolis. He drove from a sixth-row starting position in 2005 to battle with Danica Patrick in the final 20 laps on his way to Victory Lane. The victory was the first for Michael Andretti as a car owner.

Despite joining Ganassi Racing in 2006, Wheldon was still strong during the Month of May. He led a race-high 148 laps, but some late race setup changes went south and settled for fourth place.

WHY A GANASSI CAR WILL WIN:

Simply put, Chip Ganassi hates to lose. If a driver is not pulling his weight, he will replace him with somebody who will. He has deep pockets with a financially dominant sponsor that allows him to purchase the best drivers money can buy.

Ganassi is a long-time Indy 500 veteran car owner. He was co-owner with Pat Patrick of Emerson Fittipaldi’s first Indy 500 win in 1989. He started his own team in 1990 with rookie Eddie Cheever as his driver. Others to drive for Ganassi at Indianapolis include Arie Luyendyk, Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Juan Montoya, Tony Stewart, Bruno Junqueira, and Tomas Scheckter; in other words, the best of the best.

Ganassi will win this year’s Indy 500 because of two words: Wheldon & Dixon. They are the two hottest drivers in the series with a wealth of success and experience. All they need is a little luck.

Ladies and Gentlemen.....

2008-05-01T21:04:00.003-05:00

There is a renewed excitement on the west side of Indianapolis.

The sky is bluer.

The grass is greener.

The aroma of burnt rubber and gasoline is overwhelming.

Alas, the month of May has finally arrived.

The Indianapolis 500 brings excitement and enjoyment to millions each year, but this year’s race will add a new twist as this is the first unified Indy 500 since 1994.

Champ Car’s finest will attempt to shock the world at the yard of bricks on May 25. Many teams lack experience when it comes to oval racing so the veteran drivers will need to keep one eye ahead of them, one eye to the side of them, and another eye, well…..

Needless to say, the spotter will be as deserving of the victory wreath as the driver himself.

For die-hard race fans (such as me), the race feels like forever away. But for the race teams, the long and grueling month seems too short.

For veteran IndyCar teams such as Target/Chip Ganassi, Penske and Andretti-Green Racing, the month will be like clockwork. The three aforementioned teams have combined to win 17 Indianapolis 500s, including 7 of the previous 8.

The power teams could skip the first two weeks of practice, show up on the final day of qualifying, fill up the final three rows and would still be challenging for the lead 50 miles into the race.

For middle-of-the-pack and rookie teams, it will be a grueling and stressful month as they search for speed. Not just enough speed to qualify, but enough speed to stay competitive for 500 miles and not be just a safety hazard for the front-runners.

Missing from this year’s Indy 500 are two prominent names that have helped transform the Indy Racing League into the prominent open-wheel series it has become.

Defending Indy 500 and IRL points champion sold out his car owner, Michael Andretti, to test his driving abilities in NASCAR. What a great idea that turned out to be. Franchitti is currently sitting pretty in 37th place in the series rankings with an average finish spot of 31st place. His best result came at Martinsville when he finished a whopping 22nd.

During Franchitti’s run towards the IRL series championship, he failed to finish just one race to go along with four victories. Perhaps Franchitti felt racing in the IRL was too easy.

Another key name missing from this year’s field will be 2006 Indy 500 champion, Sam Hornish, Jr., who like Franchitti, is testing his talents in NASCAR. And, just like Franchitti, he is struggling just as much. Hornish. Jr. is 33rd in the standings with a top finish of 15th.

Andretti-Green Racing replaced Franchitti with an unproven rookie, Hideki Mutoh while Penske Racing replaced Hornish, Jr. with journeyman Ryan Briscoe.

Two relatively inexperienced drivers behind the wheels of two very fast machines could spell havoc on race day, but they could also steal a victory as well. Only time will tell.

Here are just a few of the many storylines that will develop this month.

Will Helio Castroneves climb the fences in celebration again, becoming just the sixth man to conquer Indy three times?

Will somebody open their eyes and give Paul Tracy a ride? Remember, one of Castroneves’ victories belongs to him.

Will Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon follow in the footsteps of Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser as Indy 500 dominators for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing?

Which driver or team has the best chance to come out of left field to kiss the bricks?

These and many more questions will be answered by month’s end. Please check back from time to time during the month of May as I offer opinions, predictions and ideas for the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500.

…Start Your Engines.

Danica Does Not Qualify

2008-04-26T17:57:00.004-05:00

Danica Patrick finally silenced the critics last weekend with her victory in the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. Ever since her arrival onto the IndyCar scene in 2005, it was not if she would win but when.

She finally took the checkered flag in dramatic style. She used a risky fuel strategy to pass Helio Castroneves with three laps to go as Castroneves was running low on fuel.

Patrick’s victory is ground-breaking in terms of IndyCar, but a female winning a professional auto race is nothing new. Patrick’s victory did nothing but sell tickets for upcoming events on the IRL’s schedule, including this weekend’s race at Kansas where she will receive all the media attention – win or lose.

And then comes the Indianapolis 500. Patrick is a consistent top-runner at Indy. In her three starts, she has a fourth-place finish to go along with a pair of eighth-place finishes.

With the Indy Japan 300 victory under her belt, does Patrick now have the confidence and killer instinct to win the Indy 500? That question will be answered on May 25.

As great an achievement as it was for Patrick to win her first race, it has been difficult to tell this week if she is a race car driver or a democratic presidential nominee based on all of her media attention. She grabbed every headline in every major newspaper. She has appeared on talk show after talk show. Just for winning a single race?

Let’s set the record straight. Patrick is a race car driver. She gets paid to win races. Why does she deserve a parade thrown in her honor just because she lacks the traditional genitals?

Patrick’s victory, although historic in every sense of the word, does not fall into the realm of historic.

So, without further ado, here are the five most significant, newsworthy, and ground-breaking races and performances in the history of the IRL.

5. Hornish, Jr. Upsets Helio

Heading into the 2002 IRL series finale at the Chevy 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, two drivers were left standing. In one corner, we had Sam Hornish, Jr., the reigning IRL series champion. In the other corner, we had the two-time reigning Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves, who was finishing up his rookie season in the IRL.

Hornish, Jr. vs. Castroneves.

Panther Racing vs. Penske Racing

David vs. Goliath.

Any non-observant race fan would pick Castroneves to capture the championship 10-out-of-10 times simply based on Penske’s history, reputation, and obsession with championships.

How could Hornish, Jr., driving for a low-funded and under-sized team manage to compete with the open-wheel monopoly that is Penske Racing?

Forget sponsors. Forget money. Forget history. Forget experience.

Hornish, Jr. – with the chips stacked against him – flopped a straight flush and got the job done. He passed Castroneves with just a handful of laps remaining in the Chevy 500 and held on for the victory as David defeated Goliath.

The victory proved that IRL founder Tony George’s vision for the series was still intact; a small and low-budgeted team had equal opportunity for success as a well-funded and experienced team did.

Unfortunately for the IRL, this was the end of an era. Fellow power teams from the rival CART series – Target Chip Ganassi, Andretti-Green, Rahal-Letterman – have staggered into the IRL and have since dominated the series.

Despite Hornish, Jr. being the last driver from a non-power team to win the series championship, he still went toe-to-toe with Goliath and slayed the great giant.

4. IRL Races With Heavy Hearts

When the sun set on March 27, 2006 after a beautiful, sun-filled day in Homestead, FL, the flags flew at half-mass.

A day that started with optimism ended with sadness.

The 2006 IRL season was lost before it even started.

Paul Dana’s death during a morning practice crash on March 27, 2006 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway forced his fellow IRL competitors to race with heavy hearts on that sunny afternoon.

Dana was killed when he slammed head first at 175 mph into an already-wrecked Vision Racing car driven by Ed Carpenter. Dana’s machine snapped in half and he was pronounced dead in a hospital two hours later.

To race or not to race?

Dana’s car owner, Bobby Rahal, withdrew his two remaining cars driven by Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice, but the remaining teams decided the best way to honor Dana was to put on the best show they could.

And what a show it was.

Reigning Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon impressed new car own Chip Ganassi by nipping two-time Indy 500 Helio Castroneves at the finish line by 0.0147-seconds, which was the ninth closest finish in IRL history.

After the close and inspiring finish, Wheldon was unable to celebrate the victory with his new team. Instead, he joined his fellow competitors in grieving the loss of their friend and brother, Paul Dana.

3. Michael Andretti Finally Swigs Milk at Indy

The Andretti name is historically a synonym for heartache, frustration and disappointment.

Michael Andretti competed in 16 Indianapolis 500s with a best finish of 2nd in 1991, but the disappointments overwhelm the achievements.

Four times (1989, 1992, 1995 and 2003) Andretti dropped out of the Indy 500 while leading. In 1992, he led a race-high 160 laps before his fuel pump malfunctioned with just 11 laps to go.

The Andretti family suffered double-heartache in 2006 when Michael returned from a two-year hiatus to be a teammate and mentor to his 19-year-old rookie son, Marco.

The storybook ending was in place. The Andrettis – Michael and Marco - were running first and second with four laps to go. Would this be the year the Andretti curse ends?

Marco passed his father on a late restart to take command of the race, only to lose to Sam Hornish, Jr. by 0.0635, the second closest finish in history. The Andrettis went from first and second to second and third in a matter of minutes.

The curse had struck again.

In 2005, Michael Andretti was finally on the other end of the spectrum. His prized fighter – Englishmen Dan Wheldon – was tearing up the IRL, winning three of its first four races of the season heading into Indy.

A poor qualifying run forced Wheldon to start in the middle of pack. Instead of charging to the front from his sixth-row starting position, he laid low and waited for the perfect opportunity to make his move.

The first three-quarters of the race were dominated by Hornish, Jr. and Wheldon’s teammates, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti. When Hornish, Jr. hit the wall and Kanaan and Franchitti sputtered, it was Wheldon’s time in the spotlight.

Wheldon’s pass of rookie Danica Patrick on a restart with a handful of laps left propelled both Wheldon and car-owner Michael Andretti into Victory Lane, where alas, Michael swigged the milk.

2. Disney World Host Inaugural IRL Race

The Indy Racing League was born on January 27, 1996 at Disney World in Orlando, FL.

IRL founder Tony George opted to establish his own open-wheel racing series instead of abide by CART’s sanctions and rules.

The premier teams opted to remain with CART; the IRL was stuck with what was left.

George was blamed by drivers, car owners, and the media for the decline in popularity of open-wheel racing.

11 years later, the teams that originally opted for CART have since stabilized the IRL while CART changed names a handful of times and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

All hail King George.

IRL’s inaugural race did not include the Andrettis or Unsers that open-wheel fans had become accustomed to cheering for. Instead, the Disney World Speedway was populated by such drivers as Mike Groff, Johnny O’Connell, and John Paul, Jr, but that did not deter the quality of racing.

Two relative unknowns competed down to the wire; each wanted to be crowned champion of the inaugural IRL race. Buzz Calkins and Tony Stewart’s battle brought back memories of Mears and Johncock in 1982 and Unser, Jr. and Goodyear in 1992. When the smoke cleared, Calkins was the IRL’s first winner.

Many of the IRL’s initial entries have since dissipated, but the career of Tony Stewart was launched. Stewart lost the inaugural race, but he rebounded to capture the series championship in 1997 before moving onto NASCAR in 1999, where he done a decent job of making a name for himself.

Stewart was NASCAR’s rookie of the year and won a pair of series championships, but his career – as well as the career of the IRL – was born at Disney World.

And the top ground-breaking race in the history of the IRL……

1. CART Invades & Dominates the 2000 Indy 500

The 2000 Indy 500 turned out to be the IRL’s worst nightmare. For four years, the IRL followed through on Tony George’s vision for the Indy Racing League; cheaper budgets, more American drivers and races, and increased competition.

When Target/Chip Ganassi Racing broke the open-wheel barrier and invaded the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with his primary CART drivers, he left little doubt as to which series had the superior equipment, sponsors, and talent.

The IRL’s finest were in for a long, painful month as soon as Juan Montoya arrived at Gasoline Alley. Montoya outshined the field from the track’s opening ceremonies until the checkered flag waved on the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Montoya was consistently atop the speed charts in practice and had his Target-sponsored machine on the pole for the majority of Pole Day, until Greg Ray edged him in a late attempt.

Montoya was joined by CART teammate Jimmy Vasser, who at the time had four Indy 500 starts under his belt. Vasser and Montoya were the odds-on-favorites to take the top two finishing spots with the edge going to Vasser based on experience.

When the race started, Montoya laid low as a rookie should. Instead of being overly-aggressive, he allowed the race to come to him. Ray commanded the race for the first 26 laps before giving way to Montoya, who did nothing but lead 145 of the next 148 laps without so much as a challenge.

After the final round of pit stops, Montoya reclaimed the lead from teammate Vasser on lap 179 and cruised to a 7.184-second victory to become the first rookie to win the Indy 500 since Graham Hill in 1966.

It is difficult to put into words the flawless performance by Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. The last time a single team dominated Indy in such a manner was in 1994 when Penske Racing’s dream team of Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser, Jr. combined to lead an astonishing 193 laps. Montoya and Vasser combined to lead 172 laps.

The Target/Chip Ganassi invasion of the 2000 Indy 500 opened the floodgates for fellow CART teams to follow in their footsteps. The following year, Target/Chip Ganassi was joined by Penske Racing and Michael Andretti from CART, who claimed the top six positions with rookie Helio Castroneves climbing the fence in victory.

In fact, since Montoya’s jaw-dropping performance in 2000, every team to win the Indy 500 was originally a non-IRL team. Perhaps the powerful CART teams smelled blood in the IRL and wanted to attack the defenseless prey.

Montoya’s dominance shaped the future of the IRL. Without Montoya’s invasion, the power teams probably remain in CART and the IRL struggles with sponsors and finances and would have been forced to file for bankruptcy.

Thank you Chip Ganassi and Juan Montoya. Your 2000 invasion saved the IRL and Indy 500.

Masters Champion Slays the Tiger

2008-04-14T14:25:00.004-05:00

Four months ago, Trevor Immelman was in a hospital bed, unsure if he would ever swing a golf club again.

In December, doctors discovered a golf-ball sized lesion on his diaphragm, which was diagnosed as a calcified fibrosis tumor. Tests later showed it was benign.

Immelman’s flirtation with cancer forced him to miss the first eight weeks of the 2008 PGA season, but on Sunday he overcame incredible odds. He did not slay a dragon, but a Tiger instead. He dominated Augusta National en route to becoming the newest Masters champion.

Leading up to the Masters, Tiger Woods was on quite a roll. He won three of the four tournaments and finished fifth in the other. Woods was the clear-cut favorite to win the Masters, and several media members picked this year as the year Woods wins the official grand slam.

Tiger, take a back seat to a man named Immelman.

Thank you, Trevor. Thank you for shutting up the Woods-biased media. Thank you for winning and forcing Woods to finish second.

Remember, second place is the first loser.

So, who exactly is 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman?

Immelman, the 28-year old South African, took up golf at the ripe age of five. When he swung a club for the first time 23 years ago, he probably never imagined being crowned Masters champion on the 18th hole of Augusta.

Ironically, Immelman’s Masters victory came on the 30-year anniversary of fellow South African Gary Player’s last win at Augusta in 1978.

Unlike Woods, Immelman had struggled heading into the Masters; 8 tournaments entered – 4 missed cuts with a best finish coming at the Accenture Match Play Championship where he tied for 17th.

But then he came to Augusta National, the pinnacle American golf course where dreams come true. Europe has St. Andrew’s. America has Augusta National.

Immelman’s shaky play leading to the Masters left critics wondering if he had fully recovered from his emotional and physical flirt with cancer. But he silenced the critics and his own personal demons with an opening-round 68, which was good enough to share the lead with Justin Rose.

Of Immelman and Rose, Rose is the more household name. He has flirted with major championships in years past, but this was not his year. Rose followed his opening 68 with a second-round 78, which inevitably ended his tournament.

Immelman, on the other hand, persevered towards the Green Jacket.

Despite becoming the first wire-to-wire Masters champion since Raymond Floyd in 1976, the question around the course was the same as with any tournament in which he was not winning: Where is Tiger and will he make a charge?

Let’s get the record straight. Tiger Woods is not God. Everybody assumes that no matter how many shots behind the leader Woods may be that he can always mount a charge. Is Woods the greatest golfer in the history of the sport? That remains to be seen. Certainly he is the best golfer of his time, but everybody needs to get off the Tiger Woods bandwagon and give somebody else time in the spotlight.

It was not only an insult to Trevor Immelman (he led Tiger by 4 shots after the first round and by 7 shots after the second round), but to the game of golf to have a non-contender be the top news story at America’s greatest tournament.

The top news story should be who IS winning, not who IS NOT winning. Tiger received so much attention that somebody who did not follow golf would assume HE was the one who led the tournament from start to finish, not Immelman.

Tiger did not win. Quite honestly, he did not come close. Despite finishing second, he was more of a pretender than a contender during the weekend. Woods looked more like a hack on a public course instead of a 13-time golf major winner. He hooked and sliced balls into the pine straw all over the course, repeatedly tossed his clubs, and missed putts that were gimmies to the average golfer.

Immelman had destiny on his side. With Woods lurking on Sunday, Immelman could have folded and given Woods his fifth green jacket and 14th major championship. But he slammed the door on Woods and the rest of the field. He was determined to get that Green Jacket. Is he a walking miracle? Few people on the planet can say they flirted with cancer AND defeated Woods at the Masters all in a matter of months.

Immelman is the real deal. He has flown under the radar in recent years because Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh attract all the attention. He has finished 21st or better in each major since 2005, including a fifth-place at the Masters in 2005 and a tie for sixth-place at the 2007 PGA championship.

So, what is next for Immelman? After a tour of daytime and late-night television shows, it will be business as usual on the driving range and practice greens.

Immelman has joined an elite golfing fraternity that includes members such as Woods, Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Byron Nelson.

Trevor Immelman is a Masters Champion.

He may win 100 tournaments or miss 100 cuts, but Masters champion is a title that will follow him for eternity.

He is a champion because of will, determination, and poise. But most importantly, he is a Masters champion because he slayed the Tiger.

NCAA Championship Preview: Tradition vs. Street Ball

2008-04-07T15:44:00.002-05:00

The curtain will soon fall on yet another college basketball season.

Surprises were plentiful as both finalists from last season’s NCAA championship – Florida and Ohio State – failed to be selected in this year’s big dance. Indiana, a storied basketball powerhouse has fallen from grace amidst a recruiting scandal which cost former coach Kelvin Sampson his job, and possibly his career. And, can we not forget about Stephen Curry?

And what about the incomparable freshman class that could be the top five picks in this summer’s NBA draft: Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo.

After six months of blood, sweat and tears, there is just one game left. Two teams are left standing and in just a few hours we will be celebrating a new college basketball champion.

Kansas and Memphis have traveled different paths with diverse backgrounds. Tonight, one school will leave San Antonio as champion while the other will have to head home with their tales tucked between their legs.

Ladies and gentlemen, get comfortable because tonight's main event will be a dandy. But first, let’s meet the teams.

Kansas (36-3) needs no introduction. They are a perennial powerhouse from the Big 12. They are the third winningest program in college basketball history. They have appeared in 13 Final Fours and cut down the nets in 1952 and 1988.

But, despite all their previous success, the past is just that – the past.

The Jayhawks have played their way into tonight’s title game because of balance, balance and more balance.

Four players average double figures with Brandon Rush leading the way at 13.4 a game, but will that be enough to stop the flurrying Memphis Tigers?

Kansas also has the experience needed by today’s standards to win the championship.

Rush and Mario Chalmers – the two leading scorers for Kansas – are both juniors. Starting point guard Russell Robinson and the fourth-leading scorer Darnell Jackson are seniors. Sophomore Darrell Arthur is the lone underclassman in Kansas’s starting lineup.

A balanced ball club with experience is a deadly combination to have, which is why Kansas head coach Bill Self should feel confident heading into his first championship appearance.

They Jayhawks are the sexy pick. They are the safe pick. They are the traditional pick.

Perhaps Kansas is just too traditional.

Despite reaching the title game seven times – which would be impressive and admirable to the honest observer – they come up empty too often.

It is hard to call a program with 1,942 wins overrated, but in Kansas’ case, when it comes to “the big game,” they are tremendously overrated. Consider all of the great players that have donned the Jayhawk uniform but have nothing to show for it:

Nick Collison, Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, Kirk Hinrich, Mark Randall, Wayne Simien, Drew Gooden. The list can go on and on. Even Wilt Chamberlain was unable to lead Kansas to the promise land in the late ‘50s.

Kansas has also had an impressive fraternity of legendary coaches. Roy Williams. Larry Brown. Phog Allen, whom Kansas named its basketball field house after. And, we must not forget Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game of basketball.

This is Self’s first championship game appearance. After several near-misses at Tulsa and Illinois, Self finally got over the hump and reached a Final Four, but Kansas needs and deserves more than a Final Four apperance. A win tonight and Self can begin to write his place into history and align his name with Naismith, Allen, Brown and Williams. But a loss and he might be writing his own obituary.

On the other end of the court we have Memphis (38-1) from Conference USA, who takes a street-ball mentality and attitude into tonight’s championship. Memphis is just the second school since 1998 from a non-power conference (Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-10, SEC) to play for a national championship. You have to go back 10 years when Utah from the WAC played for the national title.

Memphis’ starting five looks more like a police line-up than five student athletes preparing for the biggest night in their young lives.

Despite their appearance, Memphis is 40 minutes away from the school’s first men’s basketball championship and nobody can take that away from them.

Memphis is the poster-child for the new brand of college athlete. Derrick Rose, their star freshman point guard, will lead the Tigers into Monday’s title game having just played perhaps the greatest and most all-around game a freshman has ever played on a stage as large as the Final Four.

25 points. 9 rebounds. 4 assists. 11-12 from the free-throw line.

Remember, just a freshman, folks.

Rose, perhaps the most polished gem of this year’s freshman class, has taken his team under his wing. Yes, I said it. HIS TEAM.

Kansas has a balanced attack. Memphis has a powerful 1-2 punch.

Which is more beneficial to winning a championship?

Rose makes the dazzling moves and shakes the defenders with a killer crossover, but junior Chris Douglas-Roberts is the heart and soul of the Tigers.

Douglas-Roberts scored 28 points to lead Memphis in Saturday’s semifinal win over UCLA, and he will need another stellar performance if he hopes to cut down the nets tonight.

Memphis is years away from being considered one of college basketball’s elite teams, but them playing in tonight’s championship is justified by their resume.

Nobody can argue the Tigers play in a weak conference, but look at who they have beaten outside of their conference:

They beat up on eventual tournament participants Oklahoma, UCONN, USC, Georgetown, Arizona and Gonzaga by a combined 60 points.

And aside from a three-point victory over Mississippi State in the second round, the Tigers have cruised through the NCAA tourney virtually unscathed.

They knocked off three top-20 ranked opponents in Michigan State, Texas and UCLA by an average margin of 17 points.

And remember, they are a 4-point loss to Tennessee away from being just the 14th school to enter the tournament undefeated. Instead, they had to settle for being the 20th team to enter the tournament with one loss.

Memphis is for real.

They are new to the spotlight, but they are poised. They are tough. They are aggressive. They are fast. But most importantly, they are big. They’re three starting guards, Rose, Antonio Anderson and Douglas-Roberts are 6’3, 6’6 and 6’7, respectively. Their two starting big men, Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier, both stand 6’9. Will Kansas be able to compete with Memphis’ size and ferociousness?

Success may be new to the Memphis basketball program, but their coach John Calipari took a Marcus Camby-led UMass team to the 1996 Final Four, where they lost to eventual champion Kentucky.

So what does all this mean? Absolutely nothing. That is why they play the game.

Rush could twist his ankle in the first half. Dozier and Dorsey could be forced to the bench with early foul trouble. Somebody could get hot from behind the arc. Kansas has not forgotten their last title game appearance in 2003 when Syracuse freshman Gerry McNamara drained six 3-pointers in the first half en route to the title.

Despite all four No. 1 seeds making the Final Four, everybody assumed North Carolina and UCLA would meet for the title while Memphis and Kansas would settle for the consolation prize.

UNC and UCLA exit stage right. Kansas and Memphis, the floor is yours. Enjoy it. Cherish it. Live it up because life is short so appreciate this opportunity while you can.

DFRESH PREDICTION: As mentioned before, Memphis has cruised throughout the tournament. They are high flying and playing with confidence. Their multiple double-digit victories have allowed them to relax and rest. They are peaking at the perfect time.

On the other hand, Kansas is reeling. They had to withstand an overachieving Davidson squad in the regional final and nearly blew a 28-point lead to UNC on Saturday. Kansas looked impressive early and late against UNC, but it takes a full 40 minutes of basketball to be crowned national champion.

Memphis has all the momentum flowing in their direction, and they will use their size advantage in the paint and on the perimeter until Kansas crumbles into submission.

Elvis is leaving the building…with the national championship.

Memphis 84, Kansas 70

Paul Tracy: The Next Indy 500 Winner?

2008-02-28T20:47:00.001-05:00

When Paul Tracy last stepped foot into Gasoline Alley, he was a robbed man.

During the final moments of the 2002 Indianapolis 500, Paul Tracy had eventual winner Helio Castroneves in his sights. He inched closer and closer to the realization of a dream; his dream of being a 500 champion.

Finally, Tracy made his move, but it was a split-second too late. Just as Tracy was making the pass between the third and fourth turns, Laurent Redon and Buddy Lazier got together and crashed and brought out a caution.

Unfortunately for Tracy it was too little, too late. He did not complete the pass of Castroneves before the caution came out, therefore clinching the second Indy 500 win for Castroneves and the 12th win for car owner Roger Penske.

Despite numerous protests by Tracy and team owner Barry Green, the original decision was upheld and Castroneves was declared the champion.

To this day, Tracy still declares himself the 2002 Indy 500 winner.

Soon, he will get a chance to tackle the Greatest Spectacle in Racing again.

Or will he?

When the open-wheel unification occurred, it was assumed that Tracy’s Champ Car team, Forsythe Racing, would make the transition to the IRL. But it was reported today that Forsythe Racing is closing shop due to a lack of sponsors in the new league.

So, if Tracy returns to Indy, it will not be in as a member of Forsythe. So, who will take the risk of hiring Tracy.

He is an accomplished driver and racer. Tracy made his race debut at the 1991 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and has amassed 31 career wins. His career culminated in 2003 when he won the Champ Car series championship.

Somebody please pick up their phone and call Tracy. He needs to be participating in the IRL. He needs to be driving in a top-notch open-wheel racing series. He has flirted with notion of joining other open-wheel drivers in NASCAR, but that is not Tracy’s cup of tea. NASCAR has enough open-wheel drivers now. They can wait.

Tracy needs redemption. He deserves an opportunity to settle his score with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Whether it is a new IRL team or an already-established team, somebody needs to pick up the phone, send an e-mail, a text message – something – and hire Paul Tracy.

Whether on a part-time or full-time basis, Tracy needs to be behind the wheel when the IRL seasons kicks off in Homestead, Florida on March 29.

But, if the powers that be in the open-wheel fraternity opt not to hire Tracy for the season, at least hire him to run the Indy 500.

You never know. Karma works in mysterious ways. Perhaps this year Tracy will be claiming victory while another driver cries “foul.”

How to Cure the Sampson Hangover in B-town

2008-02-25T22:27:00.002-05:00

Kelvin Sampson, exit stage right. 694 days after being hired as Indiana basketball coach, Sampson was shown the door after being involved in repeated scandals involving improper recruiting practices and severe moral turpitudes.

The worst crime Sampson committed was embarrassing a pristine university with a previously squeaky-clean record; morally, academically, and athletically.

Sampson did his damage – more than he should have been allowed to – but damage control is in full force.

Indiana – once a proud and shameless university - has become the laughing stock of the NCAA – of the sporting world – of the country.

Sampson has been punished. He is a proven liar and cheater. His resignation and contract buyout from Indiana proves that. Barring a miracle that would rival the Miracle on Ice in 1980, he will never coach Division I basketball again. Or Division II. Or Division III. It would come as a shock if even a high school in Mexico with an enrollment of 300 would take a chance on a black eye like Sampson.

So, what does Indiana University do to move on? How can they move on after being thrown into the national headlines from being involved in a scandal?

How can Hoosier Nation be proud again?

Well, here are some ideas that IU president Michael McRobbie and his board of trustees can think about to get the ball rolling.

First and foremost, the players who skipped Friday’s practice to protest Sampson’s dismissal need to be disciplined. Armon Bassett, D.J. White, Jamarcus Ellis, Jordan Crawford and DeAndre Thomas all deserved to be punished. Brandon McGee also failed to show up at practice, but how does one discipline a player who averages less than seven minutes per game?

Minus McGee, the five significant players who skipped out of practice need to be punished. A fair punishment would be a first half suspension of their upcoming game on Tuesday against Ohio State. Actually, a proper punishment would have been some type of suspension against Northwestern, but hindsight is 20-20.

The Hoosiers’ lack or respect towards both the university and new coach Dan Dakich should not be tolerated. Apparently, the aforementioned players preferred assistant coach Ray McCallum to take over instead of Dakich.

The IU administration did not agree. Live is not perfect. Deal with it. Play the game.

Indiana must make an example. Yes, these young student athletes went through an emotional and trying time, but that is no excuse. Remember, it was this very same (or similar) IU administration that coined the term “zero tolerance.”

Zero tolerance means zero tolerance. Had these select individuals skipped one of Sampson’s practices, they would have been seated next to him for a game and played the role of water boys.

An example must be set. If that means spotting the Bucks 10 or 20 points in the next game, so be it. Indiana’s transition to a new coach must not begin with the prisoners running the asylum.

Secondly, IU athletic director Rick Greenspan has to go. No questions asked. He needs to call U-Haul and reserve the largest moving truck available – one that would be big enough to hold his ego.

Back in 2006, Greenspan had the perfect opportunity to leave his mark on Indiana. He had the chance to restore tradition and glamour at IU. He could have restored credibility to Hoosier Nation. He should have re-established the righteousness that former and future IU alums can respect and admire.

What did he do? He hired Sampson – who was already under investigation by the NCAA – and regretfully fired him less than two years later when he brought on more allegations and violations for breaking the very same rules that created the initial investigations.

Once a cheater, always a cheater. Cheaters never win. Insert cliché here.

If this man were given a second chance to hire a head coach, it is scary to think about who might be next to pace the Assembly Hall sideline. Jerry Tarkanian?

Thanks for your help, Rick.

Thirdly, the interim tag from Dakich’s title needs to go. In the words of the famous Tammy Wynette song “Stand by your man.”

Remember the last time IU chose to hand out an interim head coach title to Mike Davis? IU had sudden and unexpected success which was followed by a downward spiral of failure, which eventually led to his dismissal as well.

IU needs to reward Dakich for his commitment to the university. Reward him the four years he spent as a player at IU in the early-to-mid ‘80s. Reward him for the 12 years he spent as an assistant coach under Bob Knight. Reward him for all the years out on the recruiting trail in hopes of improving the basketball program.

Apologize to him for already been passed over twice, and then reward him with a five-year contract to be the head coach at Indiana University. No questions asked.

Let’s face it. IU is about to receive a death sentence from the NCAA. It would be difficult to attract a big-named coach to Bloomington with recruiting and scholarship restrictions and the possibility of post-season banishments.

Forget That Matta. Forget Mark Few. Forget John Calipari. And please, heaven forbid, for the last time, forget about Steve Alford.

Dakich is the man. He is the new general. Make it happen. Make it right.

Finally, with Greenspan out of the loop, that athletic director position is still open. Do we even dare mention the initials RMK?

Robert Montgomery Knight.

Bob Knight would be the perfect fit as AD at IU. He would restore credibility with his academics-first mentality. He would restore the honor that has been destroyed by the previous two head coaches. He would continue the enthusiasm towards the basketball program that was rejuvenated by Sampson (perhaps his one positive mark he left on IU). And, he would bring back the entertainment factor at IU. Who would not want to see Knight throw a chair from the 5th row?

Plus, with Dakich working for his coach and mentor once again, something special could develop at IU for many years to come. Big Ten Championships. Final Fours. National Championships.

Dakich and Knight won an NCAA championship together in 1987; if given a fair shake, the duo could very likely do it again.

But, do not get your hopes up. There is a better chance of Eric Gordon playing four years at IU than Knight stepping onto the Bloomington campus, let alone setting foot inside the Assembly Hall.

Nevertheless, this is the plan that needs to be followed. This is the blueprint to executing the resurgence of Hoosier Nation.

The punishing of the Sampson-lovers, removal of Greenspan, rewarding of head coach Dakich and the bringing back of The General as athletic director is a recipe for a championship in B-town.

Hello, Newman....

2008-02-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

Hendrick Motorsports was the team to beat. They won the Bud Shotout, captured the pole, and even won one of the Twin 125 races. The Daytona 500 was Hendrick’s to lose.

But after the checkered flag waved after the 50th running of the Great American Race, it was underdog Ryan Newman who stole the show and gave team owner and open-wheeling mogul Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 win.

As the laps began to count down, it appeared as the top two tiered teams of NASCAR – Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing – were going to battle to the finish line as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart exchanged the lead on numerous times.

It appeared Stewart had the race all but wrapped up until he was passed by the Penske tandem of Newman and Kurt Busch, as Busch pushed Newman across the finish line for the victory.

Newman shocked the world.

Or did he?

Let us not forget who his boss is. The legendary car owner Roger Penske. Penske owns 14 Indianapolis 500 victories. His current roster of drivers includes reigning Daytona 500 champ Newman, 2004 series champ Kurt Busch (he drove for Roush Racing at the time), and 3-time IRL series champ and 2006 Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr, so here is now for Penske Racing.

So, was Newman really the underdog, or was the Hendricks quartet just over-hyped?

The South Bend native has had his fair share of racing success in the big league. Since his rookie of the year season in 2002, Newman has finished sixth in the series on three different occasions (2002-03, 2005) and has 13 race wins to go along with 42 career poles.

Newman is Penske Racing’s senior driver, as he has driven for the Captain since his 2002 rookie season. Busch is in his third season under Penske and Hornish is the rookie of the bunch. Newman is the leader. Newman is the mentor. Newman is the heart and soul of Penske Racing.

So why was everybody so shocked that he captured the Daytona 500?

The big story was not that Newman had won; the major story was who failed to win: Stewart, Dale Jr., Gordon, Johnson, Hamlin, Kyle Busch. Those five drivers combined to lead 152 of 200 laps. Newman only led 8 laps, but it was the final lap that mattered.

All the hype and attention leading up towards the race was focused on Dale Jr. and how he would perform in his Hendrick debut. Dale Jr. performed about as expected. He was in the lead pack for the majority of the race, led some laps, and was in the mix towards the end. But, he failed to capture his second Daytona 500, which results in a failure.

Will winning the Daytona 500 transform Newman from a quiet and shy racer into the face of the series and a threat to win a championship?

That remains to be seen. But, Newman now joins the fraternity of Daytona 500 champions that includes legends such as Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and Buddy Baker.

Ryan Newman has been racing for 15 years, but his career truly started with winning the Daytona 500.

Hello, Newman…..

The Next IU General

2008-02-14T02:45:00.001-05:00

What do UNLV, Michigan, and Ohio State all have in common? All schools were found guilty of severe NCAA violations and their punishments included the removal of both Final Four banners and player records.

According to the NCAA, Michigan’s Fab Five – which added style, flare, and a brand new breed of basketball player – never existed.

Although nothing is official, Indiana can now be tossed into the notorious group of universities who have committed major NCAA infractions.

Rules were broken and one concise action needs to happen.

Kelvin Sampson must go. No excuses. He simply must go.

Sampson has infested a squeaky-clean basketball program with lies and deceit and now he must pay the price.

Whenever IU decides to kick Sampson to the curb for inviting major NCAA violations into the Assembly Hall, one question will linger.

Who will take the IU coaching reigns?

Dan Dakich – current IU assistant coach, former player & assistant coach

The obvious – but not sexy – choice is Dan Dakich.

Dakich comes from the Indiana family. The Merrillville, IN native graduated from Indiana in 1985 and then spent 12 seasons on Bob Knight’s coaching staff as an assistant coach.

During his initial tenure at IU, Dakich assisted in graduating every four-year player to go through the program. Dakich was the academic monitor of the IU basketball staff during his final seven seasons.

Dakich returned to IU in 2007 after a 10-year stint as head coach at Bowling Green, where he finished tied for third all-time in victories.

Based on his overall record at Bowling Green (156-140), the man knows how to coach and win.

Along with his aforementioned academic accolades during his first stretch with IU, he saw 20 of his 23 seniors earn degrees at Bowling Green.

The hiring of Dakich would alleviate the fear of future NCAA infractions because Dakich learned his coaching morals from Knight, who graduated his players and eluded any NCAA infractions.

Assuming he would still be eligible, Dakich should be high on the list. If Indiana president Robbie McRobbie decides to clean house and remove all of Sampson’s assistants, than obviously IU would have to look outside the box for their next general.

Dane Fife – current IPFW coach, former IU player

Dane Fife graduated from IU after leading the Hoosiers to the 2002 NCAA championship game. He led the team past heavily favored Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. He led them again over a favored and Sampson-coached Oklahoma team in the Final Four.

Notice a pattern? Fife is a leader. Fife was the heart and soul of the Hoosiers during his career, both on and off the court.

Fife led a distraught and heartbroken team after Knight was abruptly fired in 2000. Instead of being a follower, he chose to be the leader of the team and assisted with the transition under first-time coach, Mike Davis.

IU alums and administration should take a hard look at Fife to lead the Hoosiers again, although this time from inside the coaching box.

Fife is the current head coach of the IPFW Mastodons (Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne). In 2005 at the ripe age of 28, Fife was named head coach of the Mastodons and at the time of his hiring was the youngest coach in Division I.

Fife is in the middle of his third season at IPFW and has posted anything but an impressive record. He has posted a career record of 27-46, but the Hoosiers should look past his coaching record and more at his morals, personality, and leadership abilities.

Is he too young? Yes. Does he have the experience? No. Does he deserve the job? Not yet.

Those negative responses would turn away most to the next coaching candidate. But, one should not turn their attention away from Fife that fast.

Fife is a Hoosier. He bleeds cream and crimson. He is part of the Indiana family. He is one of Knight’s boys as he was recruited by the General.

Perhaps the biggest upside to Fife is his youth and enthusiasm. Despite his lack of experience, his leadership during IU’s miracle NCAA run of 2002 is still fresh in the minds of IU fans and alums across the nation.

Assuming the NCAA comes down hard on IU for their violations, Fife – as head coach – would probably be given more leniency and patience based on his Hoosier background.

Fife would not be a front-runner for the opening, but he definitely deserves a second, third and even fourth look. He led the Hoosiers to the Final Four as a player; he deserves the same opportunity as their coach.

There are other candidates out there that surely will get their opportunities to talk with the IU administration. Both Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Memphis’ John Calipari turned down offers before the Sampson hiring, and perhaps they will be approached again.

Another potential Sampson successor is also part of the Indiana family. In fact, he started the Indiana family. He recently resigned from his coaching post at Texas Tech. He is the all-time wins leader in men’s college basketball?

Give up? Need more clues?

No, Bobby Knight will not return to coach at IU, but perhaps he should replace the spineless and incompetent Rick Greenspan as athletic director.

Sampson’s firing needs to be done sooner rather than later to prevent further suffering and humiliation.

President McRobbie can sum it up in four words:

“Kelvin, you are fired.”

Time to roll out the red carpet for a new general.

Farewell Sampson

2008-02-13T11:29:00.000-05:00

IU basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has not been at the helm of one of the most prestigious programs in the county for two full seasons and he has already been involved in numerous investigations and controversies that should warrant his dismissal.

Breaking news out of Indiana University late Tuesday night reports that Sampson knowingly lied about excessive and impermissible phone calls he placed. These restrictions were placed on Sampson from previous violations while he was the coach at Oklahoma.

According to the Indianapolis Star and the NCAA, Sampson “failed to deport himself…with the generally recognized high standard of honesty” and “failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the men’s basketball program.”

In other words, he knowingly broke the rules, tried to lie about it, and got caught.

IU must respond in writing by May 8 with a possible hearing to follow on June 14 in Seattle at a hearing with the Division I Committee of Infractions.

Nevertheless, IU is facing its first major NCAA violation since 1960, thanks to Sampson.

Before Sampson’s arrival, IU had its fair share of publicity problems. Bob Knight, any publicists’ dream, was fired from IU in Sept. 2000 for violating a “zero tolerance” behavior policy.

Mike Davis was named interim head coach for a season and was named permanent coach after the 2000-01 season. Despite leading is team to the NCAA championship game in 2002, the program dwindled under Davis until his resignation in 2006.

Enter Sampson, who arrived to Bloomington already under a blanket of scrutiny after multiple NCAA rule violations that stemmed from excessive phone calls to recruits.

Sampson was already under a microscope before he coached his first game for the Hoosiers, and then he started to leave his dirty fingerprints all over the program.

His judge of character has become an issue, starting with the recruitment of Bud Mackey of Kentucky. Mackey led his high school team to a state championship last season, but was arrested on Sept. 28, 2007 after possessing and intending to sell crack cocaine within 1,000 yards of a school.

He was carrying the crack cocaine in his shoe, nonetheless.

Did Sampson fail to do his homework on this one? How can Sampson look at himself in the mirror after a recruit was busted for carrying crack in his shoe? One finds it difficult to see the reasoning behind Sampson’s decisions.

Mackey, he will never wear an IU jersey. The criminal justice system will be sure of that.

The list of other Indiana athletes who have struggled with issues outside of Assembly Hall continues to grow.

A.J. Ratliff was suspended for IU’s first 13 games due to academic ineligibility. When he finally returned to the court, his presence was hardly noticed. He averaged just 11.3 minutes per game and scored 1.7 points a game.

On Tuesday, the 2001 Indiana Mr. Basketball from North Central High School announced he would end his basketball career at Indiana due to personal reasons.

The next off-the-court distractions came in the pair of sophomore point guard Armon Bassett and freshman guard Jordan Crawford. Bassett and Crawford were each suspended for three separate games due to a violation of team rules.

So, let’s recap Sampson’s tenure at IU. A high school recruit arrested for selling crack from his shoe on school property. A 13-game suspension for academics. Another pair of 3-game suspensions for violation of team rules.

Oh, and have we forgotten the trouble Sampson has gotten himself into with his lying, cheating, and cover-ups involving the phone calls?

Sampson, you better think about your final meal, because your execution is rapidly approaching.

IndyCar Preview for 2008: Question after Question......

2008-02-12T17:44:00.000-05:00

There are just over 46 days until the 13th IRL season kicks off from the Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the series is already abuzz with both hope and questions.

Tony George, chairman of the IRL, spent this past weekend in Japan in hopes of switching around several dates of some already-scheduled racing events. If George has it his way, the moving of several races would pave the way to an eventual unification of the IRL and the Champ Car.

Since the open-wheel split of 1995, there have been numerous breakthroughs, such as major teams Penske, Andretti-Green, Ganassi, and Rahal-Letterman jumping ship from Champ Car to the IRL.

This most recent breakthrough – George traveling across the globe to Japan – is not the first major breakthrough in hopes of a series unification.

Every couple years George finds himself in the midst of discussions with Champ Car owners Gerald Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi, and Kevin Kalkhoven, but the discussions fizzle due to minor details such as money, scheduling, sponsors, and cars.

In other words, do not get your hopes up.

So, that is just one of the storylines that will be closely followed in the upcoming weeks and months, but the 2008 IRL season has many more questions that demand answers.

Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. decided to test their talents in NASCAR this season, which left two huge voids in the series.

Franchitti won the 2007 series championship to go along with his Indy 500 victory for Andretti-Green Racing. He will be driving for Chip Ganassi’s in NASCAR this year.

Sam Hornish Jr., the poster-boy for the IRL, joins Roger Penske’s NASCAR stable and will team with Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman. Hornish Jr. leaves behind quite a racing legacy. In 116 starts in the IRL during the past 8 years, he captured 19 wins, 12 poles, 3 series championships (2001-02, 2006), and narrowly won the 2006 Indy 500 over Marco Andretti in the second-closest finish in the history of the great race.

To say finding Franchitti’s and Hornish Jr.’s replacements were easy is an understatement. Both seats were quickly filled, but will the success come as fast?

AGR team owner Michael Andretti chose Hideki Mutoh as Franchitti’s replacement. Mutoh’s hiring can be described as questionable at best. Mutoh finished second in the Indy Pro Series in 2007 and finished eighth in his first and only IndyCar race at Chicagoland in the series finale.

Nothing against Mutoh, but AGR could have hired a more marketable driver. Franchitti won the Indy 500. He won the series championship. He is married to actress Ashley Judd. Franchitti screams marketability. Where does that leave Mutoh? Is he already a lame duck? Does AGR already have a future replacement in mind? Was Mutoh hired simply to bridge the gap until next season? We will soon find out.

Roger Penske also raised eyebrows when he hired Ryan Briscoe to team with Helio Castroneves at Penske Racing this season.

Briscoe came to the IndyCar series in 2005 with Chip Ganassi Racing and finished 19th in the driver’s standings. Briscoe showed real inconsistencies during his rookie campaign. He crashed in 7 of 15 races and had a season-best finish of eighth at Nashville. These inconsistencies led to Briscoe being fired in favor of Dan Wheldon.

Briscoe completed in just four races for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2006 with a best finish of third at Watkins Glen.

So far, Briscoe has not posted a Penske-worthy resume, but that is why it helps to know the right people

In 2007, Briscoe was hired to drive for Luczo-Dragon Racing in the Indy 500. Luczo-Dragon Racing was co-owned by – ironically enough – Jay Penske, the youngest son of Roger Penske.

When Briscoe was hired to drive for the youngest Penske, the rumors already began to swirl that Briscoe – based on his finish at Indy – would be the front-runner to replace Hornish if he got the NASCAR itch.

Briscoe finished fifth in the Indy 500, and as soon as Hornish said bon voyage to the IRL, the elder Penske had Briscoe on the phone and the deal was done.

So, what does this do for the state of IndyCar racing? The IRL did not only lose the two defending Indy 500 champs and a combined four series championships. The IRL lost experience. Gone from the upcoming season are a combined 183 races started, 27 wins, 19 poles, and 4,983 laps led.

Those stats will be replaced by a combined 20 starts, zero wins, 1 pole and 59 laps led.

So, with Franchitti and Hornish Jr. off making millions in NASCAR, who will be around to carry the IRL torch for the upcoming year?

Despite the free agent losses, the IRL will not be struggling that much for talent. 2005 series and Indy 500 champion Dan Weldon will once again team up with defending series runner-up Scott Dixon at Ganassi Racing. This talented tandem will surely be a pair to reckon with.

As mentioned before, two-time Indy 500 champion Castroneves will continue to drive the familiar and famous orange and white machine for Penske in hopes of capturing his first series championship that has eluded him since his arrival in the IRL.

AGR, despite losing Franchitti to the good ol’ boys down south, still has plenty of weapons that are ready to attack.

Tony Kanaan, the 2004 series champion, will lead a four-team stable of Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, and the aforementioned Mutoh.

Just as many questions are swirling around AGR as there are around the rest of the IRL.

Is this the year that Kanaan can overcome adversity and win the Indy 500? After several close calls, one would think he is running out of chances.

Can Marco continue to distance himself away from his father’s shadow and create a legacy of his own? Despite winning at Watkins Glen as a rookie, he has completed a mere 18 or 31 career starts. Not to mention a pair of rocky Indy 500s. He was dusted at the finish line by Hornish Jr. in 2006 and finished last year’s race upside down in the grass in turn three. How much more patience does the elder Andretti have for his son?

And finally, it is hard to believe that after 1,000 words, we are just now bringing up Danica Patrick. Now, why is that? Perhaps her fad has ended. Perhaps she has been overshadowed by the success of her teammates, Kanaan and Franchitti. Perhaps Patrick’s dream has finally come true where the rest of the racing community views her as just another regular driver as opposed to the beautiful mid-20s woman with long, dark hair.

No matter the reason, the question must still be asked. Is this the year when Patrick picks up her first victory? With Hornish and Franchitti out of the mix, her chances just increased immensely.

There are many more questions that will arise during the course of the season with answers hopefully to come soon after.

So, until then, good luck to all the drivers, crew members, and fans in 2008.

Gordon’s Message to Illinois: Take That!

2008-02-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

The disgraceful chant of boos from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

An angry mob of students screaming so many expletives it sounded like Pulp Fiction.

Not to mention, an 18-year old student athlete feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders because he is considered the biggest traitor west of the Indiana border.

Despite all those factors, Indiana freshman phenom Eric Gordon embraced the inferior Assembly Hall and torched the Fighting Illini for 19 well-deserved points and retreated more hated than ever.

His message for the Illini?

Take that!

Gordon, who orally committed to Illinois, only to spurn them for Indiana, is more hated in the state of Illinois than Barrack Obama at a KKK meeting.

Gordon betrayed the University of Illinois. Gordon betrayed coach Bruck Weber. Gordon betrayed the town of Champaign. Gordon betrayed the thousands of fans that had jumped on the EJ (Eric Gordon Jr.) bandwagon soon after his oral commitment.

So after his initial and probably only ever trip to the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Gordon left a message:

Take that.

Gordon is the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 21.6 points a game, but he was very un-Gordon-like in the Hoosiers’ 83-79 victory over the Illini on Thursday. He did manage a team-high 19 points, but he had to work hard for every single one of them.

Gordon was not only harassed by a raucous home crowd, but every shot was well-defended by a smothering Illini defense.

After scoring a season-low one point in the first half, Gordon picked up the scoring – and emotion – in the second half. Despite shooting 3-13 from the field (all three field goals from beyond the arc), his three-point bank shot from the left wing with under a minute remaining in regulation to tie the game will go down as one of the most clutch shots in the history of Indiana basketball.

It will rival Keith Smart’s shot to win the 1987 title game. It will be talked of in the same sentence as Jay Edwards’ winning three-pointer against Michigan in the late ‘80s.

No matter how Gordon’s playing career turns out – both at IU and in the pros – his three-pointer that stabbed the Illini in the back (figuratively and literally) will define Gordon’s career.

As the renewed rivalry between the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini intensifies, Gordon’s shot will be the first and defining moment.

After a season sweep in a pair of come-from-behind wins over a jealous and struggling Illinois team, one would say two words:

Advantage Indiana.

As for Gordon, the smile and excitement on his face after his banked three-pointer was not just from hitting a career-changing shot. It was a sign of relief. It was his way of silencing his critics. It was his way of silencing the Orange Crush.

It was his way of saying another two words:

Take that, Illinois.

Ok, make that three words.

Indiana - Illinois: A Revived Rivalry

2008-02-06T23:20:00.001-05:00

On Nov. 28, 2005, Illinois got news that lifted their spirits following a disappointing runner-up finish to North Carolina in the 2005 in the NCAA championship.

Eric Gordon (North Central High School, Indianapolis), the best junior guard in the country, made an oral commitment to play for Bruce Weber and the Fighting Illini.

The Illini were immediately thrown into the national spotlight. Gordon had not yet stepped onto the Assembly Hall hardwood but the Illinois faithful were already making Final Four reservations.

Illini alumni were taking routine bus trips to Indianapolis to see their future star guard hard at work.

Just when Illinois thought things were on the up and up, the bottom fell out.

Indiana head coach Mike Davis was out following an NCAA tourney loss to Gonzaga. Former Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson was named IU coach on March 29, 2006. And Gordon, a long-time Hoosier fan, did the ultimate shot-fake on the Illini and signed a national letter of intent to play for Indiana in October 2006.

Gordon did nothing but follow his heart, but the Illini fans were not forgiving or understanding.

Now, nearly 18 months after the switch heard ‘round the world, Gordon prepares for his first – and probably only – visit to Champaign, IL when his No. 14 Hoosiers (18-3, 7-1) invade the inferior Assembly Hall to do battle with the Illini.

A battle will be an understatement.

Mr. Gordon, you are treading on dangerous waters. Despite Illinois’ lackluster season thus far (10-13, 2-8), one thing Illinois fans have for their team is passion.

When these teams hook up at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Gordon will think his name was legally changed overnight to Boo as that is what he will expect to hear from the Orange Crush, Illinois’ world-famous student section.

Every dribble. Every pass. Every shot. Every foul. Gordon will be harassed from start to finish. Think the Orange Crush will go bonkers if Gordon were to throw up an air ball? The eruption and pandemonium might be so fierce that it may register on the Richter Scale.

As much attention that will be focused on this game, this is not the first time that Indiana and Illinois have hated each other due to recruiting issues.

In the late ‘80s, former IU coach Bob Knight went into then-Illinois coach Lou Henson’s backyard and recruited two high school players that would help lead the Hoosiers to a Final Four. Jamal Meeks and Eric Anderson, both of Illinois, were starters on Knight’s 1991 Final Four team that lost to Duke in the national semifinal.

This recruiting “scandal” sent shockwaves across the state line, as Henson referred to Knight as a “big bully” for stealing his players from his state.

So, this is nothing new for Indiana and Illinois. The only thing different is it now involves a high-profile player who is probably one-and-done to the NBA.

Just think how each team would be different had Gordon followed through on his oral commitment and enrolled at Illinois. If you take away Gordon’s 21.8 points per game from Indiana and add it to Illinois and the roles are completely reversed. Illinois would be a national ranked team and IU would be near the basement of the Big Ten.

So, Mr. Gordon, the next 24 hours of your life will be under a microscope. Fortunately for Gordon, he will probably not have to experience the aftermath of his change of heart, but the damage has already been done.

Expect this rivalry to go from snowball to avalanche in a hurry as Sampson has already received a commitment from high school senior Matt Roth of Illinois. He is not the crown jewel of the 2008 high school class as Gordon was, but gauntlet has been thrown down.

The Indiana-Illinois basketball rivalry has returned with a vengeance.

How ugly will it get? Mr. Gordon, you will soon find out.

Hendrick Motorsports: The Evil Empire

2008-02-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

Now that the New England Patriots’ pursuit of perfection has come to an end, it is time to discuss yet another franchise that could shape up to have as dominating a record in a season.

The arrival of thoroughbred Dale Earnhardt Jr. to an already potent Hendrick Motorsports stable gives owner Rick Hendrick the talent that rivals the New York Yankees.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are already accomplished and established champions.
They have combined for 76 poles, 114 victories, and six series championships, including the last two going to Johnson.

Casey Mears – the “third-string driver” for Hendrick – has accounted for one race win.

I guess winning the last two series championships was not enough for team owner Rick Hendrick. With pockets so deep he could touch his toes through his pants, Hendrick went out and signed perhaps the greatest free agent in the history of NASCAR.

On May 10, 2007, Dale Jr. announced his intention to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his late father built from the ground up. He hoped to take over DEI as majority owner, but after negotiations fell through, Dale Jr. opted to test the free agency market.

Earnhardt Jr. was a free agent for exactly 34 days when on June 13, he announced he had agreed to a five-year contract to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.

The rich keep getting richer. Richer in regards to winning and championships.

Hendrick Motorsports – just like the New York Yankees – has plenty of championships but spent more money on the best driver that money could buy.

Who will benefit more from the greatest free agent signing in the history of NASCAR?

Obviously, Hendrick already has enough championships and generated income from wins and sponsors to end child hunger and cure cancer, so that would point the arrow of success to Mr. Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr., with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, should add to his career win total of 17 and capture a series championship that has eluded him his entire career.

So, who has more to lose?

Dale Jr. was unable to capture a championship with his own team. If he is unable to win a points championship with Hendrick, one would have to point the finger at Earnhardt’s driving ability, talent, and passion.

Now, let us not put too much pressure on Dale Jr. A job with Hendrick does not guarantee success. Numerous drivers have had their opportunities with the Evil Empire, but for whatever reason could not uphold legacy of Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle Busch. Kenny Schrader. Ricky Craven. Jerry Nadeau. Brian Vickers. Just to name a few. The aforementioned drivers combined for a mere 12 victories. All of those previous drivers have moved on, leaving the door wide open for Dale Jr.

There are already many questions regarding the upcoming season that are lingering on the minds of racing enthusiasts across the country.

How will Dale Jr. handle not being a team’s top gun? At DEI, Earnhardt Jr. was the team. Despite a run of teammates that achieved great success, Dale Jr. was always the top attraction. Obviously he will still attract attention, but now he will be looked upon as just another teammate to Gordon and Johnson instead of being the team leader.

Can Dale Jr. break out of his father’s shadow and live up to the hype that has followed him since his rookie campaign of 2000? Based on the history of Hendrick Motorsports, all signs point to a series championship on the horizon.

How many trophies will be added to the Hendrick trophy case with the addition of Dale Jr.?

For Dale Jr.’s sake, hopefully he will fare better than the Patriots and not choke in the clutch.

There are many questions, but the answers will not come until February 17 when the Daytona 500 kicks off the season.

Stay tuned.

Tiger Woods: Champ or Chump?

2007-06-20T18:53:00.000-05:00

Tiger Woods failed at this year’s U.S. Open. Or did he?

According to the PTI’s and Around the Horns of the world, Woods is a failure and has lost his swagger and edge that has helped him win 12 major championships.

For the second consecutive major of the season, Woods was unable to mount a Sunday charge for a victory, leaving him 0-for-29 in relation to coming from behind to win a major.

In April, Woods came up short in his pursuit of Zach Johnson, who claimed the 2007 Masters – and his first major championship – by two strokes.

Angel Cabrera can now be slumped into the group of “no-names” who have defeated Woods on a Sunday in a major.

But, does Woods’ recent “struggle” really give any indication that he has passed his peak?

Absolutely not.

The man is still the man. He is the best golfer on the planet. When he retires – barring an extreme circumstance – he should be considered the best golfer of all-time.

Give the man some credit. He has had a lot on his plate during the past couple years. Marriage. Death. And now a birth to a daughter. Despite those distractions, Tiger still captured two of the four majors last year in the British Open and PGA Championship.

Tiger’s critics will continue to criticize as long as he fails to win majors. How can the Tony Kornheisers and Michael Wilbons of the world criticize a man who has won 57 official tournaments (Tiger has three wins and two runner-up finishes in 2007 out of 10 entries), 12 majors and quite frankly changed the world’s perspective on golf over the past decade?

Without Tiger Woods, there is no golf worth covering.

As for the other big guns on the PGA tour, there is nobody with the pizzazz and explosion of Woods. Els is foreign. Furyk is boring with an ugly swing. Mickelson continues to break everybody’s hearts with his late-round blow-ups.

It is players like Woods who continue to impress and amaze galleries with clutch shots such as his miraculous chip on the 16th at Augusta in 2005 or his incredible eagle from 209 yards out with a 4-iron at the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool.

Woods dazzles. He amazes. But most importantly, he entertains. Woods has the power to hype up what is stereotypically a dreary experience.

So, back to the original question. Is Woods a champ or chump? He may struggle from time to time, but every champion does. Not every dynasty is consistently superior. Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. Super Bowl champions in 2006. Nothing short of disaster in 2007.

Woods, just like the Steelers, will regroup and recover.

But, I do not feel too sorry for Tiger. He has his 12 major championship trophies to keep him company.

Formula-1: Please Leave Indianapolis Forever

2007-06-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

The checkered flag has flown on the eighth United States Grand Prix, and hopefully the half-filled grandstands and less than exciting race will lead to Bernie Eccelstone taking his Formula-1 series elsewhere. Whether the GP relocates to another American state or country, it makes no difference as long as it relocates far away from Indianapolis, because that is what us locals deserve.

Formula-1, you had your chance. You had your chance to put on a great show. You had a chance to not just entertain the American people, but to educate them as well. But instead, you have provided lackluster, anti-climatic finishes and enough controversy to keep David Letterman busy with one-liners for the remainder of his career.

Let us take a look back at some of the lows and lowers of the USGP’s career.

The USGP debuted at Indianapolis in 2000 to a record crowd for an F-1 event. The nearly 250,000 spectators were treated to an uninspiring performance as Michael Schumacher dominated the inagural event.

Schumacher built such a comanding lead that a late-race spin with four laps remaining did nothing to give his fellow drivers a chance. Despite the miscue, Schumacher won by 12 seconds over Ferarri teammate, Rubens Barrichello.

In 2002, the American fans were insulted by the first of two fatal contoversies orchestrated by Formula-1.

With Schumacher well on his way to his second USGP victory in three years, he literally pulled over on the final straighaway and allowed his teammate – Barrichello – to win the race. Do you think Helio Castroneves or Dan Weldon would ever pull over and allow their teammate to win?

The 2002 debacle got the smoke started, but it was the 2005 USGP that turned the smoke into a four-alarm fire with no chance of putting it out.

To make a long story short, Michelin did not provide an acceptable tire for the teams to use in 2005, which led to Michael Schumacher’s younger brother – Ralf – seriously injured in a practice crash. Ralf’s crash led to a revolt in the F-1 garages. Several teams proposed installing a last-minute chicane in the final high-speed turn, but the Ferrari team would not approve of such a measure.

Instead, 16 of the starting 22 cars pulled off before the start and boycotted the race. If the three remaining teams had been Ferarri, McLaren and Renault, it could have been an “exciting” race. But instead, Ferarri’s Schumacher and Barrichello ran circles around two inferior teams en route to an effortless 1-2 podium finish.

This lack of respct for the fans who traveled as many as thousands of miles away will always leave a bitter taste in the mouths of every racing fan.

The numbers do not lie. USGP finishes have been as exciting as watching two turtles race down the highway. Michael Schumacher won five USGPs by 42.81 seconds for an average margin of victory of 8.56. To put that into perspective, the previous 14 Indianapolis 500s dating back to 1990 that have not finished under caution have added up to a margin a victory of 48.31 seconds.

So, what does that mean? A severe lack of competition.

Had USA’s Scott Speed won today – or been at all competitive – the USGP could have a chance at staying in Indianapolis, or even in America. But Speed drives for the lackluster Toro Rosso team which debuted in 2006, but has earned just a single point when Vitantonio Liuzzi raced to an eighth-place finish in the 2006 USGP.

Eccelstone said before today’s USGP that Tony George must do a better job of promting the race for it to suceed. To give George the benefit of the doubt, it is difficult to promote a race with extreme media restrictions and a lack of suspense following the first turn.

It is unfortunate for those American fans who actually do follow Formula-1 racing because today’s USGP winnier Lewis Hamilton – the 22-year old rookie phoenom – appears ready to take this sport by storm.

But, once George kicks Eccelstone and his pathetic form of auto racing to the curb, the only way Americans will be able to watch Formula-1 racing will be on live television at 3 or 4 a.m.

So, I bid you – Bernie Eccelstone and Formula-1 – a fond farewell. And please do not let the door hit you on your way through customs.

Nextel Drivers Invade Busch Series

2007-06-11T19:25:00.000-05:00

In 2006, Kevin Harvick won NASCAR’s Busch Series title by 824 points. This season, Carl Edwards is safely in position to win the Busch title. He leads by 662 points.

There is just one problem.

Harvick and Edwards are Nextel Cup regulars. They are not only regulars, but they run for two of the upper echelon teams in Richard Childress and Roush Racing. Childress and Roush are not new when it comes to racing championships. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won six of his seven championships while driving for Childress and Roush has captured 2 of the last four titles (Matt Kenseth in 2003, Kurt Busch in 2004).

Harvick and Edwards are not alone when it comes to Nextel regulars running full-time in the Busch series. Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Casey Mears, David Reutimann, Regan Smith and David Ragan are all Nextel regulars who run a majority of the Busch races.

So, the question should be asked. Is it fair that Nextel drivers have invaded NASCAR’s minor league?

The Busch series was created to develop drivers and giving them experience and notoriety. Not as a way for the Nextel regulars to “beat up” on the younger, inexperienced, and less-proven drivers.

The plethora of Nextel stars in the Busch series will lead to a lack of development for younger drivers.

Currently, 9 of the top 10 drivers in the Busch standings are Nextel regulars. The lone exception is Bobby Hamilton Jr., who is in seventh place. In 2006, 8 of the top 10 finishers in the standings were Nextel regulars.

The dominance of Nextel regulars in the Busch series has led to a lack of up and coming stars in Nextel Cup.

Of the five rookies on the 2007 Nextel Cup circuit, Juan Pablo Montoya is the leading rookie. He currently sits 21st in the standings. David Ragan is the only other rookie to qualify for every race so far, but that can be credited to owner points as took over Mark Martin’s ride for Roush Racing.

Paul Menard and David Reutimann have each qualified for just nine races and A.J. Allmendinger rounds out the rookie class in 45th place. Allmendinger – last season’s CART runner-up – has qualified for just seven races.

How have Nextel’s rookies fallen so far?

During the span of 2000-2006, at least five rookies finished in the top 40 in points. The only exceptions occurred in 2005 when Kyle Busch (20) and Travis Kvapil (33) led the rookie class. 2002 had a good excuse as two rookies – Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman – both finished in the top 6.

Compare all that with this season. Top rookie is 21st and three other rookies rank between 39th and 45th.

So, what can be done to fix this? Obviously, the younger drivers are not getting the preparation and experience they deserve. Busch series drivers need to be competing against other Busch drivers; not against Nextel’s finest, which include former champions.

There is no problem with Nextel regulars competing on the Busch circuit as promotion to increase fan base, ticket sales, and merchandising.

But competing full-time on the series is simply unfair. It is more unfair. It is wrong.

I propose the Nextel series should enforce a top-20/10-race rule. If a Nextel driver finished in the top 20 in points the season before, they are not permitted to drive more than 10 Busch races the following season.

Some Nextel drivers may find that rule to be unfair, but Nextel stars such as Harvick and Edwards racing in the Busch series is the same as Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds playing a full season in the minor leagues.

It is simple. Nextel drivers belong on the Nextel series so Busch series drivers have a chance to grow, develop, and gain exposure.

Nextel regulars, here is my plea. Stay in Nextel. We know you have talent. We know you can drive. You do not need the extra experience or money.

Give the little guy a chance.

NASCAR Allows Busch to Escape

2007-06-10T14:22:00.000-05:00

Nearly a week has passed since yet another on-track incident involving Kurt Busch. In previous incidents, Busch took out his anger and frustration on fellow drivers, but his most recent incident crossed the line.

He crossed the line so far he is lucky to even be driving in this week’s Pocono 500.

When Busch came within inches of striking Tony Stewart crew member Jason Lee, he crossed into unprecedented waters.

Busch has grown into the reputation of NASCAR’s new “bad boy” due to on-track encounters with such drivers as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Mr. Excitement Jimmy Spencer, just to name a few.

But, this was the first time Busch ever went after a crew member.

NASCAR had a perfect opportunity to lay down the law and enforce a championship-ending punishment. Instead, they came out and said – not in a direct manner – that endangering the life of a crew member is equal to cheating.

NASCAR penalized drivers and crew chiefs for failed post-qualifying inspections. Drivers were deducted points and were fined and their crew chiefs were suspended from a number of races.

So, when a “professional” driver endangers the life of a fellow professional and receives a similar penalty, where does NASCAR draw the line?

Kurt Busch should have been suspended for a minimum of five races and docked 500 points.

Instead, Busch was fined $100,000 and docked a mere 100 championship points. He dropped from 12th to 17th in the championship standings, but there is still enough time for him to catch up to the pack. If he was docked 500 points and missed a handful of races, there is no way he could qualify for the chase.

Would a 500 point deduction and five race suspension been too harsh? Probably, but it would have taught Busch a severe lesson.

Busch has been known to bump fellow drivers out of the way without care or concern for their safety, and that is why he needed more than a slap on the wrist this time.

Busch is the 2004 Nextel Cup champion. He has five career poles and 93 top-10 finishes to go along with his 15 career victories. To put it simple, Busch is not hurting for money.
He can afford a $100,000 fine without a problem. NASCAR could have gone as far as to fine him $1 million. But, for whatever reason, they did not.

To put it simple, NASCAR chickened out.

NASCAR is in real trouble. They are not far removed from Tony Stewart’s accusation that NASCAR is just like professional wrestling. With their slight punishments, they are almost encouraging drivers such as Busch to continue with their antics.

NASCAR needs to put their foot down in a more emphatic manner before a driver – or even worse, a crew member – has to suffer the ultimate sacrifice.

The Pacers’ Answer: The Rifleman

2007-05-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

Forget the Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell. Forget the Suns’ assistant coach Marc Iavaroni. Forget former Portland and Sacramento coach Rick Adelman.

There is one clear-cut answer that will not only lead the Pacers to new heights, but will hold the players accountable for their on-and-off courts actions and will get the city of Indianapolis excited about the Pacers once again.

The answer: The Rifleman, Chuck Person.

Person was drafted fourth overall by the Pacers in 1986 and played in Indianapolis until 1992.

After stints with Minnesota, San Antonio, Charlotte and Seattle, Person retired in 2000 to pursue a career in coaching.

He landed in Indianapolis – first as a team consultant – and was eventually hired by team president Larry Bird to be an assistant coach for Rick Carlisle.

After Carlisle’s firing, Mitchell and Iavaroni’s names have emerged as the front-runners, but the Pacers should take a hard look at Person if they want a team this city can re-embrace.

During Person’s stint as a Pacer, he brought excitement, enthusiasm, unpredictability and leadership, which are qualities the Pacers lacked under the Carlisle regime.

Person has no head coaching experience, but neither did Larry Bird before he guided the Pacers to three of the most successful seasons in the franchise’s history, which culminated with a loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in 2000.

Person’s inexperience would be his biggest downfall, but just like President George W. Bush, he would need to be surrounded by wise minds in order to succeed.

Among his best qualities is familiarity.

He is familiar with the city. He played and coached here for a combined eight years. He understands the expectations of the fans. Having lived in Indianapolis during the Colts’ run to the Super Bowl, he knows how this city will embrace a team after multiple disappointing seasons.

Can Person guide the Pacers to prominence and a return to the glory years of the last ‘90s?

Yes, he can.

Person is also familiar with the organization. After playing and coaching here, he understands the expectations of Mel and Herb Simon (owners), Donnie Walsh (CEO) and Larry Bird (club president). If the foursome of the Simons, Walsh and Bird want to keep the head coaching position “in-house,” they should look no further than the man who has sat on the bench as both coach and player.

Finally, Person is familiar with the team. He understands their strengths and weaknesses. He understands their talents and routines. Perhaps Person can transform Jamaal Tinsley from the troublesome, often-injured point guard into the star and leader he was at Iowa State where he earned Big-12 Player of the Year in 2001.

So, what exactly are the chances of Chuck “The Rifleman” Person as Carlisle’s replacement?

100 to 1? 50 to 1?

I think the odds are better than fans may think. The Pacers are always good for a shocker. Bringing in Larry Bird as head coach. Trading away Dale Davis for a then-unknown Jermaine O’Neal. Hiring Isiah Thomas as head coach.

The Pacers like to follow their own routine and refuse to follow the beaten path.

Realistically, I would put the odds of Person as the next Pacers coach at 5 to 1.

He has the hometown knowledge. He has the charisma. He has the attitude. He has the perseverance.

He is an assistant coach on the rise and the Pacers need to snatch him up before they make another mistake as they did with trading away Antonio Davis for Jonathan Bender.

Hiring Mitchell, Iavaroni, or Adelman would not be a bad decision, but hiring Person would be the right decision.

Person is the answer to all the Pacers’ questions.

Indy 500's Promises, Possibilities and Probabilities

2007-05-07T19:16:00.000-05:00

With the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 a mere 20 days away, it is not too early to discuss the possibilities and probabilities that will occur between now and race day.

Obviously, the new media target will be Milka Duno, the sports car driver who is making her Indy debut. She has next to zero open-wheel experience – she finished 14th place at her inaugural event in Kansas City – but she will still demand attention simply because she is a woman with the looks of a swimsuit model.

Duno drives for SAMAX Motorsports, whom she helped finish second at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Duno is in no way inexperienced when it comes to auto racing, but will she be a contender come race day?

No.

Unlike Danica Patrick’s amazing rookie season in 2005 when she came up four laps short of winning the Indy 500, Duno has not driven the entire race schedule thus far. She has one race. She started dead last and moved up to finish 14th with the help of attrition. She is not familiar with this track, nor is she familiar with her fellow drivers.

Assuming Duno qualifies for her first Indy 500, I cannot see her staying on the lead lap for more than 10 laps.

Or….

She could have a decent qualifying run and with the help of a few breaks and a solid pit stop strategy, she could be battling Ganassi, Penske and AGR for the lead in the closing laps.

But I have a better chance at winning the Presidential Democratic Nomination than Duno does of winning or even competing in the 500.

But, that is what makes the Indy 500 the spectacle it is: anything can happen.

Now, to the most important question of the month – not necessarily who will win the race, but will it be a Penske, Ganassi or AGR driver that will be sipping milk in victory lane?

Will Helio climb the fence for the third time? Will Weldon regroup from last year’s disappointing fourth place finish after leading a race-high 148 laps to capture his second victory in three years? What about the defending champion, Sam Hornish? Despite a subpar start to the IRL season, Hornish will be a factor on Memorial Day weekend because of the name on his car – Penske.
Or, will the winner come from the Andretti-Green Racing stable? Can Tony Kanaan shake off many Indy 500 disappointments and win the second Borg Warner Trophy for car owner Michael Andretti.

Speaking of Andretti, can he overcome last year’s third-place finish and win the one race that has eluded his career?

Do not count out Marco – last year’s runner-up – who had the race won until the final straightaway. If Marco is in the same situation this year, I guarantee he will not make the same mistake twice.

Throw in Ganassi’s Scott Dixon and AGR’s Dario Franchitti, and I would be stunned if the winner does not emerge from the aforementioned group.

But, as mentioned earlier, that is what makes the Indy 500 so special and suspenseful. A few mishaps by the big dogs and a couple odd-ball strategies from some smaller teams and Scott Sharp or Ed Carpenter could shock the world.

That is why they call it the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Indy 500 Just Around the Corner

2007-02-24T17:56:00.000-05:00

With the racing season officially underway after Kevin Harvick’s Daytona 500 win, it is time to start counting down the days until the 2007 Indianapolis 500 (92 days).

It will be hard for this year’s race to live up to last year’s spectacle when Sam Hornish nipped Marco Andretti at the finish line as the elder Andretti, Michael, watched from a close third place.

Last year’s race created a buzz that should increase momentum the 500 generated before the near-fatal split of 1996.

Roger Penske won his 14th Indy 500 as a car owner when Hornish won his first Indy 500. Michael Andretti was leading the race with 3 laps to go, only to relinquish the race lead to his son, Marco, who failed to hold off Hornish on the final straightaway.

All of those stories will headline this year’s race, along with a few new ones.

Helio Castroneves, a 2-time winner, is always a threat on Memorial Day weekend. Despite his crash with 2004 winner Buddy Rice, he will be a favorite to tie Louis Meyer, Johnny Rutherford, Wilbur Shaw and Bobby Unser with three likenesses on the Borg Warner Trophy.

Danica-mania has slowed since her remarkable fourth-place finish in the 2005 Indy 500, but that should pick up as the IRL season officially kicks off March 24 from Homestead when Danica Patrick begins her first season with Andretti-Green Racing.

Patrick will have plenty of experience and resources as she will team with last year’s runner-up Marco Andretti, 2004 runner-up Tony Kanaan, and former front-row starter Dario Franchitti.

And don’t forget about the elder Andretti, who will lace up his driving suit once again and tackle the race that has eluded him 15 times.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s tandem of 2005 Indy 500 champ Dan Weldon and Scott Dixon hope to regain the dominant form of last year when they led for a combined 154 of the 200 laps.

Weldon had the entire field covered midway through the race, but luck was not with Ganassi as Weldon had to settle for a fourth-place finish and Dixon for sixth.

Nevertheless, Ganassi’s cars and teams are consistently primed and ready for May, and this year should be no different.

Rounding out the list of big stories heading into May is the return of Sarah Fisher, who will compete in her fifth Indy 500 and first since 2004. She will team with 2005 Indy 500 champ Buddy Rice and drive for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

There is still the possibility of a third woman to join Patrick and Fisher on the starting grid.

Milka Duno of Venezuela is rumored to be driving for Cahill Racing, but a formal announcement has yet to be made. Duno already has Danica-ish looks and could steal some of Patrick’s thunder come May.

So what does all this mean? The anticipation for the Indy 500 is underway with a talented pool of hungry drivers eager to drink the milk in victory lane.

Fresher Vision’s Official Pick: I started attending the Indianapolis 500 in 1991, and in the 16, a Penske driver has won seven. To make Penske an even more odds-on-favorite, his cars have won 7 of the last 11 races in which they have competed in (Penske skipped out on the race from 1996-2000 due to the IRL-Cart split).

Hornish or Castroneves would be a safe pick, but I am not going the safe route this year.

My prediction is always fast and consistently competitive, and that is why I believe Tony Kanaan will be drinking the milk on May 27 as he will capture his first Indianapolis 500 win. Kanaan was runner-up to Buddy Rice in 2004, and could have given Rice a run for his money had rain not shortened the race by 20 laps. Kanaan followed up his 2004 runner-up finish with the pole in 2005.

In his five previous Indy 500 starts, he has led for 119 laps and four top-10 finishes. The only time he failed to finish was his rookie year of 2002 when he crashed on the 89th lap when he crashed while leading.

Barring another freak accident, the 2007 Indy 500 will be Kanaan’s to lose.

Chargers Electrocute Marty-Ball

2007-02-15T20:38:00.000-05:00

If somebody were to tell former San Diego Charger coach Marty Schottenheimer that his club would post a league-best 14-2 record with a first-year starting quarterback and his running back would win the league MVP, he would take that and call it a season.

All of the above happened. The Chargers went 14-2 before bowing out in the divisional round of the playoffs after Tom Brady led the Patriots in a come-from-behind over the host Chargers.

Phillip Rivers finally stepped out of Drew Brees’ shadow and commanded the Chargers on the field with his calm and collective style. He made few mistakes. He may not have won games, but he did not lose them either. Rivers passed for 3388 yards and 22 touchdowns in earning a Pro Bowl berth, which he had to decline due to a foot injury he suffered in the regular season finale.

LaDainian Tomlinson re-wrote the NFL record book this season. The fifth-year pro from TCU broke Priest Holmes’ 2003 rushing touchdown record with 28. Holmes had set the record with 27.

Add all that up and Marty-ball will be playing somewhere else in the future.

Schottenheimer was fired on Monday as head coach of the Chargers due to dysfunction inside the organization after both his offensive and defensive coordinators – Cam Cameron and Wade Phillips – were hired as the head coaches in Miami and Dallas, respectively.

What was the real reason behind Marty’s dismissal?

A dismal playoff record? Marty is 5-13 as coach of the Browns, Chiefs and Chargers during the playoffs, including four losses when his team was the top seed. This season was the ninth year a Schottenheimer coached team lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

But, it is hard to find evidence to fire a coach simply because he could not win a home playoff game.

Would the Colts have won this season’s Super Bowl had they fired head coach Tony Dungy after squandering home field advantage with a loss to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers?

Highly unlikely.

The firing of Schottenheimer proves one simple theory:

There is no loyalty in the NFL.

Case 1: Ted Marchibroda

Entering the 1994-95 season, the Indianapolis Colts would have been lucky to achieve a winning record. They not only finished with a 9-7 record and advanced to the playoffs, but they fell one play from reaching the Super Bowl as Jim Harbaugh’s hail mary as time expired fell incomplete. Nevertheless, despite the Colts completing one of their most successful seasons in franchise history, Marchibroda was not offered an extension. Instead, he was given a hearty handshake and was kicked to the curb. In other words, “Thanks for nothing.”

Case 2: Ray Rhodes

After a successful tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagle, Rhodes left the city of Brotherly Love to take over as coach of the Green Bay Packers after Mike Holmgren left for Seattle.

Rhodes did not get a fair shake in Green Bay as he was fired after one season in which he led the Packers to an 8-8 record.

Case 3: Trent Dilfer

Dilfer, a journeyman quarterback from Fresno State, finally demonstrated his potential on the national stage as he led the Baltimore Ravens to a convincing and dominating win in Super Bowl XXXV. Dilfer did not put up Peyton Manning-like numbers, but he was efficient and used his experience to prevent turnovers. Similar to Rivers of the Chargers; he did not win games, but he was sure not to lose them either.

What happened to Dilfer after winning the Super Bowl? He was not resigned and has since played for Seattle, Cleveland and San Francisco and has never been given a solid opportunity for another ring.

So, what happens to the San Diego Chargers now? If I could look into a crystal ball, I see a similar situation to 2001 when Tony Dungy was fired from Tampa Bay after posting four straight winning seasons. The Bucs brought in then-Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who hoisted the Lombardi trophy the following year.

Whoever general manager A.J. Smith brings in will be inheriting a talented team who is already the odds-on favorite to raise the Vince Lombardi trophy next year in Glendale, Arizona.

Phillip Rivers. LT. Antonio Gates. Lights Out Shawn Merriman. Potential candidates are drooling over the opportunity to coach these players.

The future coach of this organization should win immediately or else lightning will strike twice.

Let the Madness Begin

2007-02-12T20:54:00.000-05:00

March Madness does not officially begin for another 31 days (29 days if you include the play-in game in Dayton), and there is still LOTS of basketball yet to be played, but it is never too early to nominate and eliminate some Final Four contenders.

The NCAA tournament this season has the makings of being one of the wackiest in recent years as Florida, Ohio State, North Carolina and UCLA have already taken turns as the top-ranked team in the land with Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M laying in the weeds.

Not to mention surprise teams such as Nevada, Washington State, Butler and Air Force who could be tough outs come mid-March.

Add all that up, and it is anybody’s guess as to which team will be cutting down the nets on April 2 at the Georgia Dome.

Several teams already appear to be potential locks as No. 1 seeds, but that does not always guarantee a free trip to the Final Four. Last year, none of the No. 1 seeds advanced to Indianapolis as a surprise 3-seed Florida knocked off a 2-seed UCLA team.

This year, expect much of the same. Perhaps more.

If the season were to end today, Florida, Ohio State, Wisconsin and North Carolina would appear as the front-runners for the coveted top seeds.

Florida has perhaps the best starting lineup in the country – and possibly the best of the past decade – but rarely does the favorite in February cut down the nets in April.

Just ask UCONN as they lost to Cinderella George Mason in the regional final last season.

Florida has virtually the same core of playmakers that claimed the school’s first basketball crown last year, but some things have changed.

Last year, the Gators crawled in under the radar. This season, they will be the hunted.

Prediction: It will be hard for Florida to withstand every team’s best punch for six rounds, which is why the defending champs will be ousted in the regional.

In the NFL, offense wins games but defense wins championships. Wisconsin has one of the more stellar defenses, but they will need to score more than 50 points to cut down the nets.

Despite national player of the year candidate in Alando Tucker, the Badgers just do not have the horses to hang with the higher scoring teams in the country.

Prediction: Wisconsin will struggle mightily and will not even advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

UCLA, last year’s national runner-up, seems like a shoe-in to be playing in Atlanta on the last weekend of March, but it is very difficult to advance to the Final Four year-after-year unless your school rhymes with Luke.

UCLA head coach Ben Howland has been a winner every place he has coached, but these are not the Bruins of the 60’s and 70’s that produced multiple titles under the Wizard of Westwood.

Prediction: The surprising success and depth of the Pac-10 conference this season will take too much out of the Bruins, who will fall in the regional final.

That leaves 2005 champion North Carolina. After an 83-79 loss at NC State on Feb. 3, the Tar Heels have looked like a championship caliber team in their past two outings. First, a win at Cameron Indoor Stadium over heated rival Duke, and then the dismantling of Wake Forest, 104-67.

Roy Williams has championship and Final Four experience that spans over 15 seasons, which gives him the edge over any other coach in the country with a contender.

Prediction: The Heels will falter in the ACC conference tournament, but will bounce back in a big way with a tournament run that will culminate in Atlanta.

As for who will join UNC, the list continues to grow. Some teams to be aware of are Texas A&M and Pitt, even though they are cruising through a pair of watered-down power conferences in the Big-12 and Big East, respectively.

Who will be this year’s George Mason? Beware of the Texas Longhorns. Kevin Durant – not only the best freshman, but the best player in the country – could easily become the next Carmello Anthony and shock the world by cutting down the nets on April 2.

So many favorites. So many underdogs. So many upsets await.

That is why they call it Madness.

Pacers Should Blame Themselves

2007-02-10T20:18:00.000-05:00

Jermaine O’Neal feels disrespected by the referees? Perhaps that is because the referees and the NBA have been disrespected by the Indiana Pacers.

Since Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson jumped into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19, 2004, the Pacers have given the NBA black eye after black eye.

It started when Artest demanded a trade from the very team that stood by him and supported him after his 72-game suspension from his participation in the Palace brawl.

After the Pacers washed their hands of Artest by trading him to Sacramento, the Pacers were dedicated to a clean image that would make the city of Indianapolis proud.

Their cleaner image lasted until October 9 when Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were involved in an altercation outside an Indy west-side strip club in which Jackson fired five bullets into the air after he was hit by a moving car.

So much for a new, clean image.

After trading away Jackson to Golden State, Tinsley, Daniels and new Pacer Keith McLeod have found themselves under investigation yet again after Tinsley allegedly punched a bar manager and threatened his life.

Even though this latest incident has not been fully investigated, recent behavior would lead everybody to believe the Pacers were at fault.

Black eye after the black eye, and now the Pacers feel they have been disrespected?

The Pacers need to respect the league before they demand respect of their own.

This new lack of respect the Pacers have demonstrated needs to be blamed on the organization’s management and their lack of discipline, as well as bringing in players with questionable moral issues.

Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird are probably kicking themselves on a daily basis because of their poor management decisions. Trading away locker room leader in Austin Croshere and replacing him with Daniels – who looks like he is the star of Cops – is not a good way to win a championship or maintain the squeaky-clean image the Pacers created during their glory days of Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson and Rik Smits.

If the Pacers were performing on the court, perhaps there would not be a magnifying glass on every newsworthy story. But, the Pacers are just two games above .500 and have lost three consecutive games to sub-.500 teams.

If the Pacers want to win back the fans, they need win on the court first and re-earn the respect of the league before they demand respect from the referees.

The Pacers organization needs to make a blueprint of the Colts.

Class wins championships. Thugs win jail time.

Congrats to Colts Fans, Too....

2007-02-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

When the Indianapolis Colts won the city’s first world championship of any kind since the Indiana Pacers won the 1973 ABA crown, the city as a whole celebrated in a professional, upstanding manner.

Just as the town is proud of the Colts, the Colts should be proud of their fans.

Once the clock reached all zeros, it was uncertain how this city would react. Would they react with class or rage?

I can attest to this because I was a first-hand participant in the downtown celebration, but it was pure class and dignity – mixed with some alcohol – but for a mere six arrests for a town of close to a million after the town’s first championship in over 30 years – I’d still call that class.

Other towns have literally burnt down their city after a championship win – or loss.

In 2002 – after Maryland’s men’s basketball team won the NCAA championship – their hometown celebrated with arson and embarrassment. In fact, the losing Indiana Hoosiers rioted as well as a form of frustration. They celebrated their runner-up “fluke” of a season with setting furniture on fire and storming the streets with dangerous, evil attitudes.

How did Indianapolis celebrate? They celebrated with hugs, high-fives and smiles.

They celebrated the same way the Colts celebrated: With class.

After the Colts won the Super Bowl, but before they celebrated, they prayed and thanked God for their success. I did not see much praying in the bars after the victory, but nevertheless, nothing was broken or burnt.

Both the Colts and city of Indianapolis are all about class and dignity, and that was displayed to perfection Sunday night.

I’m sure the Colts were proud of their fans when they arrived for the parade and rally on Monday and saw the city was still intact.

So, hats off to the Colts. Every NFL team should blueprint their team from top to bottom. Religion. Dignity. Football. In that order. It may not be flashy, but it is classy. And this year – class – not flash, won the championship.

Hopefully if – and when – the Colts win another championship, this city will continue to celebrate with class.

Barbaro: Death of a Sports Icon

2007-01-29T19:28:00.001-05:00

When news broke that reigning Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized due to injuries suffered 8 months ago at the Preakness, goose bumps covered my body like the Chicken Pox.

Barbaro’s death will send people to bed tonight with tears in their eyes, whether they are a horse racing enthusiast or not.

Barbaro’s rise and fall was more than a horse racing story. It told the story of a horse on the brink of history, but fell from glory and fought for his life until the very end. Barbaro told the story of hope like nothing had ever done in the world.

Barbaro claimed the 2006 Kentucky Derby by 6 ½ lengths, which was the largest margin of victory wince 1946. He was the favorite to win the Preakness and Belmont and become just the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown and first since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.

Instead of being showered with joy and praise, Barbaro’s Triple Crown – and eventually his life – came to an end one furlong (1/8 of a mile) into the Preakness when he pulled up lame after shattering his right hind leg.

Immediate surgeries proved temporarily successful to ease the pain, but in the end, the injuries proved fatal.

Barbaro should be considered one of the bravest athletes of our generation. For eight months, he fought for his life. He inspired us. He taught us that no matter how high the chips are stacked against us, we should never give up. Through surgery after surgery, he refused to give up. Sadly, the combination of his size and severity of the injury, along with new arising illnesses from the initial injury, proved too much for the celebrated colt.

Hours after Barbaro’s injury when his outlook looked bleak, the world rallied behind Barbaro with flowers, cards, and messages of encouragement, which proves that the nation adopted Barbaro as an honorary pet.

Barbaro’s triumph and tragedy are rare in this day and age of cheering for sports figures with questionable values and backgrounds. If Barry Bonds or Ray Lewis were forced into retirement in their prime because of a life-threatening injury, would there be similar support and outcry of sadness as there is for Barbaro?

Doubtful. Highly doubtful.

It is a crying (literally) shame the world was not fortunate, blessed, and privileged to see what Barbaro was truly capable of.

Barbaro took the world by storm. Before the Derby, the focus was on odds-on favorite Brother Derek. It was not until after Barbaro was draped with one of the greatest sports trophies of our time – the lush blanket of 554 red roses – that we realized just how special and talented Barbaro was. For two weeks, we jumped on the Barbaro bandwagon in hopes of him winning the Triple Crown.

Unfortunately, just as when anybody passes before their time, all we have are the memories when that person, or in this case animal, made us feel blessed and happy.

I challenge everybody to live up to Barbaro’s legacy:

Work hard. Live happy. Never give up.

Montoya is Real Deal

2007-01-28T23:37:00.000-05:00

Is there anything Juan Pablo Montoya can’t do? Or win? Or drive?

The 1999 CART champ, 2000 Indianapolis 500 champ and winner of a handful of Formula-1 races, Montoya was dazzling yet again when he led his team to the Rolex 24 endurance race win at Daytona International Speedway.

Mexican driver Salvador Duran and road racing expert Scott Pruett joined forces with the 31-year old Colombian racing master to win a second consecutive Rolex 24 race for team owner Chip Ganassi.

Juan, it may be time to take some carpentry classes so you can build yourself a brand new trophy room. At this rate, it will fill up quickly.

Montoya was hired this season to drive a NASCAR for Ganassi, whom he drove for during his stint in CART and the Indy victory.

Some motor sports experts may question Montoya’s endurance since Cart and F-1 races are completed before breaking a sweat, whereas most NASCAR races last at least 400 miles and can go as long as 4 or 5 hours.

Montoya’s performance behind the wheel during the Rolex 24 proved to the racing world he is durable behind the wheel for hours and hours while driving the high banks of Daytona.

So, how long will it take for Montoya to dominate the NASCAR series and win the Chase?

Two years.

As long as he drives for Ganassi Racing, he will be a favorite to win every race and every championship, but I think it will take him one full season before Montoya’s domination begins.

Montoya will spend his first season adjusting to the travel schedule, the length of the races, as well as the length of the season, but once the rookie stripes come off, he will have the passion and driving ability to dominate this sport for the next 10 years.

Ganassi loves winning more than anything and with an unlimited budget and strong sponsor support, Ganassi will supply Montoya with all the resources he needs to be the first foreign driver to win NASCAR’s prize jewel.

Ganassi has succeeded in open wheel and sport car racing due to talented drivers. Ganassi was blessed with young, talented drivers en route to four consecutive CART championships spanning from 1996-1999 (1996: Jimmy Vasser, 1997-98: Alex Zanardi, 1999: Montoya).

In Ganassi’s previous Rolex 24 victory, his threesome of Casey Mears, Dan Weldon (2004 IRL and 2005 Indy 500 champ), and Scott Dixon (2003 IRL champ) are young guns whose careers are on the up and up.

Ganassi has never achieved significant success during his NASCAR tenure as a car owner due to a combination of employing drivers past their prime (Sterling Marlin) or drivers who are still wet behind the ears (current drivers David Stremme and Reed Sorenson).

Montoya’s arrival will bring with him a confident and winning attitude that should rub off on Stremme and Sorenson.

Montoya has been a winner in every form of racing he has attempted. In NASCAR, he will not be a winner…

He will be a champion.

Hammerin' Hoosiers Hitting Stride

2007-01-28T21:34:00.000-05:00

After suffering one of the worst team losses in school history on Tuesday at Illinois, the No. 24 Hoosiers bounced back with a vengeance and took out their anger on the Michigan Wolverines.

Sampson promised a hammering defense when he was introduced as head coach and Saturday’s win was a perfect example of his vision.

The Hoosiers limited the Wolverines to 34.9% from the field on 15-43 shooting. They were a woeful 2-9 from behind the 3-point line.

Sampson must have broken out the rawhide whip that Bob Knight used on Calbert Cheaney in the early ‘90s because the Hoosiers pulled a complete 180 on Saturday from the team that took the floor in Champaign on Tuesday.

Before Tommy Amaker’s Wolverines even broke a sweat at the Assembly Hall on Saturday, they were already down 11-0 to the Hoosiers, who improved to 11-0 at home for the season.

Despite Michigan cutting Indiana’s once-17 point lead down to 8 late in the second half, the Hoosiers finished strong in their 76-61 victory, which marked the 11th consecutive loss for Michigan at the Assembly Hall.

It was important for the Hoosiers to put up a stellar performance because they have a challenging road ahead.

On Wednesday, Indiana will travel to Madison to face No. 3 Wisconsin. The Badgers are considered one of the elite teams in the nation, along with Florida, North Carolina and UCLA.

Wednesday’s game will be a huge measuring stick for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers have played remarkably well in losses to ranked opponents Butler, Duke, Kentucky and Ohio State by a combined 20 points (Butler was not ranked at the time of their game, but they are currently as high as No. 12 in some polls).

The Hoosiers’ success for the rest of the season will hinder on their ability to shoot from behind the 3-point line.

The Hoosiers have a bi-polar mentality when it comes to consistency from behind the arc this season. In their 15 wins, they are 39.6% from 3-point land, but are shooting just 32.2% in their 5 losses. And nobody can forget that pathetic 4-25 shooting performance in their loss at Kentucky.

But, a good 3-point shooting game does not guarantee a win because the Hoosiers were 12-22 from downtown in their loss at Ohio State.

The Indiana basketball program is at its highest mark since Bob Knight’s dismissal, and that includes the fluke 2002 NCAA tournament run. There is a renewed jubilation that has feasted on Bloomington, and as long as Sampson and his Hoosiers can throw down the hammer like they did against Michigan, they should be a tough out come March.

Notre Dame Has Earned Nothing

2007-01-03T18:46:00.000-05:00

Tonight when Notre Dame takes the field against LSU in the Sugar Bowl, football fans all over the country will be scratching their heads.

How did Notre Dame land a spot in the BCS?

They finished 10-2, but six wins came against inferior opponents – Michigan State, Stanford, Navy, North Carolina, Air Force, and Army – all finished with losing records.

And, when the Irish actually stepped up and played a respectable opponent, got destroyed.

When they were ranked No. 2 in the nation and hosted Michigan, they were humiliated, 47-21.

After an average season, they finished their regular season with a trip out west to USC, and once again were taken apart by the Trojans, 44-24.

So, after a sub-par season in which they played two good teams and lost to those very two teams, they are rewarded with a Sugar Bowl invitation. Why?
They are Notre Dame.

If Notre Dame was not so stubborn and too good to join a conference, there is no way they are playing in the Sugar Bowl tonight.

Notre Dame is not the same team from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that was filled with Heisman winners and national champions. Players do not come to Notre Dame because it is Notre Dame anymore.

Teams such as Texas, USC, Ohio State, and Michigan have dominated college football during the past decade, which has left Notre Dame on the outside looking in.

Notre Dame’s last bowl victory came at the end of the 1993-94 season when they narrowly defeated Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Since then, the Irish have lost eight consecutive bowl games by an average of 16.5 points.
The Irish have not had a consistent successful head coach since Lou Holtz resigned in 1996.

During Holtz’s 10 seasons at the helm, he compiled 100 wins, two national championships, 9 straight New Year’s Day bowl appearances, and his teams finished in the top 10 in the AP poll five seasons.

In the 11 seasons since Holtz’s resignation, the Irish have been northing short of mediocrity, which includes 4 head coaches, the George O’Leary debacle, and 6 bowl defeats.

Holtz went 100-24-2 during his stay at Norte Dame. Since then, four Irish coaches have combined for a 75-46 record.

Granted, the Irish appear headed in the right direction. They appear to have found their man, Charlie Weis, who hopes to re-establish Notre Dame’s program as one the elite programs in college football.

All that said, one question still looms. Why is Notre Dame playing in a BCS game?

One answer. They are Notre Dame.