IRL Mid-Season Awards & Predictions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, without further ado….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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