Pop Off Valve: FanPosts

Friday Pre-Race: Kentucky

2010-09-03T13:06:59Z

I wanted to like what happened at Chicagoland. I really do. The danger, side-by-side action, SARAH LEADING, KV Racing's friendly-fire pit incident, it all seemed great. Two obvious things kept me from getting too happy about the race: yet another Ganassi victory and ISC. Those two are IndyCar's greatest threats today. Forget attendance and forget the TV ratings. Hell, forget the economy itself and lack of sponsorship. With the same teams winning each week and ~~NASCAR~~ ISC kicking us (but mostly racing fans) out to the curb it's hard to share any euphoria with some fans.

That takes us back to one year ago….Richmond. The Parade. The death of the Tony George era. The rule changes. Push to Pass. Aero options.

Then we went to Kentucky….AWESOMENESS ENSUED.

Will we see that again? Oh I think so. Will Ed get his revenge? Will we see another Red Car win YET AGAIN? Will Ashley Judd come out of hiding (where has SHE been?) looking like THAT?

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Ryan "@NotNicoleMB 's husband" Briscoe

For somebody (allegedly) who is in danger of losing their ride he just has a knack for stepping up when it matters on ovals. He does have a tendency to blow it, however. Perhaps "Checkers or Wreckers" really is his nickname. Accept it Ryan, unless you want Nicole and not me to give you a better one. If that Versus pre-race special was any indication, it won't be. Never let your "old-lady" make personal nicknames or phrases public. Graham Rahal must've laughed his ass off watching that on his TiVo.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Ed "George" Carpenter

Who knew that our best hope (and was last year) to break the Red Car's winning streak is Tony George's stepson. Robin Miller's head would explode if this guy wins. His weekly Speed.com mailbag inbox will be full of viruses, spam, and the s ame kind of porn scientists force pandas to watch in order for them to actually mate ….in other words nothing would actually change a whole lot.

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): (Insert KV Racing driver name here….AGAIN)

At least they're taking each other out again and not others. Better yet they're doing it in the pits and away from the crew rather than at 200 MPH….for now.

.....ALMOST FORGOT. Drivers beware: THE MAN has returned.

Power Rankings: Kentucky

2010-09-01T12:33:43Z

That's more I like it. Wait....another Red Car won? Don't care. It was epic enough. Sarah leading, Eddie running fast, Marco passing high, Kanaan in-car cam views....THAT'S Chicagoland.

THAT....was the final race there (I hope not....but probably right).

Also it showed us that Will Power's kryptonite is left turns and left turns only. Even when he masters them something is bound to go wrong.

This week's Power Rankings MC Willy P must bow down to MC Scottsman D and his huge nasal strips.

THE GRID

1. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #2 (+1)

In order for nasal strips to work more effectively, they require clean air.

2. Will Power

Previous ranking: #1 (-1)

Penske Perfect Precision. None of these things existed Saturday night.

3. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #3 (no change)

I seriously don't know what's going on with him. By now he should have at least 13 podiums and 7 wins.

4. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #5 (+1)

The "IZOD Race to the Party" dudes finished close together. Mission: Finish First (behind the Red Cars).

5. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #4 (-1)

More Penske imperfection. Somebody has to get fired (if they haven't already).

6. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #6 (no change)

That pre-race special Versus had with he and his wife has made me swear off marriage. If the job of a wife is to embarrass the hubby with nicknames the public isn't supposed to know then I don't wanna go.

7. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #7 (no change)

It should be a mandatory rule that he must have an in-car cam at all times. Just have his cam in a bubble on the bottom of the TV screen all throughout the race.

8. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #9 (+1)

He's watched "Days of Thunder" one too many times. Cole Trickle always passed high, but but it doesn't mean you should do it, too.

9. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #10 (+1)

In Chicagoland terms, he lost by about 3/4 of a mile.

10. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #8 (-2)

A great job sneaking in there at the end, but sadly others simply outran him all night.

11. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #12 (+1)

I moved him up simply for his gesturing at Vitor and NOT AJ when he got knocked out by the #14 car. Smart move. But there's also another reason I moved him up....

12. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #11 (-1)

You LOST to The Breadman....ON AN OVAL. I repeat, THE BREADMAN BEAT YOU. WTF?!?!??!!?

13. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #15 (+2)

Taking out "them furriners" (even though you yourself are one) and still managing a good finish pleased Super Tex. You will not be fired or punched in the face.....yet.

14. Simona De Silvestro

Previous ranking: #13 (-1)

According to HVM's website today (September 1st) is her birthday. Might I suggest getting her a new car. Make sure it has been built within the past 3 years this time.

15. Bertrand Baguette

Previous ranking: unranked

He's been a revelation the past few weeks. That means he's due for getting jinxed again by KV Racing. "The Hitman" Viso doesn't take too kindly to rookies.

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

Raphael Matos

Previous ranking: #14 (no longer ranked)

On his 29th birthday he has to finish 29th. Proof that as you close in on your 30th birthdays are no longer worth looking forward to.

Graham Rahal

Now he'll drive for Sarah again at Kentucky. That HAS to be a record for team-switching during a season. I should start calling him "The Mercenary".

Alex Lloyd

Once again I prop this guy up and he gives a performance like that. Dude, the Rookie of the Year title is yours for the taking! Simona's HVM Lead-Sled and Breadman missing the beginning of the season has left the door wide open for you. I don't care WHO your teammate is.

Yea, I sort of mailed it in this week. I kinda had to before this damn laptop crashes aga........

Friday Pre-Race: Chicagoland

2010-08-27T13:23:56Z

A moment of silence please for Chicagoland Speedway.....

With its NASCAR date moved to cancel IndyCar's late-summer date and the possible open warfare between IICS, NASCAR, SMI, and ISC it appears the wildest track in the IRL's short history will be gone.

The Cup Series date now closer to IndyCar's (among the other recent Cup date moves) is NO accident. IT'S ON.

The moment Tony George went bye-bye, the IZOD deal and The Cowboy took over it appears the "good ol' boys" at NASCAR decided that it's time to treat the IRL as a real competitor. The 800 Pound Gorilla saw Bruton Smith buddying up with IndyCar and didn't even think twice. Your prestigious opening Chase race at Loudon? BYE! Atlanta? POOF! ONE RACE ONLY! Kentucky needs a date? Okay, but only to show them fellers what REAL racing is (complete with BS debris cautions and 10 second margins of victory) and how much better it is than IndyCar "racing" ("Racing" in IndyCar??? HAHAHAHA! Hear that Jethro? I made a funny!)

It's sad not only to see a once great race fade away, but it's possible the good people in Joliet may see its track slowly disappear as well. A Cup date during BEARS SEASON? REALLY???? You would stoop to that level? All this to cloak IndyCar's date in August?

Actually, this shooting themselves in the foot could be a blessing. Anything to spite one of THE WORST racing affiliated corporations in the land. It really is time to begin the Tiger Woods-level divorce with ISC.

But Chicagoland.... *sigh*

Anyways, with that off of my chest back to the preview of the race. Even with the ovals you should know the drill with those damn Red Cars and all....but which one?

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Scott "Jenga Master" Dixon

Look at him. Like in the video he appears beaten and his title chances weak at best....only to prevail with such boring awesomeness. Adding to that is the extra motivation of Briscoe beating him by 0.00000000000001 of a second (or so) last year.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Tony "Yes, I do carry a jar of caramel everywhere I go" Kanaan

Just stay away from The Princess and you're good to go. What is it with you two and ovals and having to get together?

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA DUNO): (Insert KV Racing driver name here)

It's no longer funny. Why? On ovals it STOPS being funny.

So with yet another Red Car winning (and another KV car wrecking) the REAL question is the margin of victory. Will it be more or less than 0.001 of a second?

Considering this is the supposed final race of Chi-town, I'm thinking of a Viking funeral with all of its epicness. So 0.0000000000000000000001 of a second it is (with 6 passes for the lead on the last lap, give or take 5).

We'll miss you. Rest in peace.

Power Rankings: Chicagoland

2010-08-25T14:11:52Z

Last time we saw a roundy-round race, TK obliterated the Red Car Death Star and even raised our hopes for the upcoming twisty races. DOH! So much for that. The Death Star has been completed on schedule AND is operational. Too much Power and too much Ganassi has rendered the competition to the dark ages. Sonoma had yet another 1-2-3-4-5 Red Car finish. It's getting to the point that I'm running out of material for these guys. The only things left to say about them….well….I have to make my posts SOMEWHAT family oriented (although for some families that shouldn't be a problem no matter what I say).

As much as an oval fan that I am (NASCAR will do that to you, and cause you to murder people for touching you at the grocery store checkout line) I have a hard time getting into IndyCar ovals. You can say all you want about how exciting they are (yes, they are) but ovals usually intensify the advantage of superior equipment. The Red Cars have something better: superior attachments....and the superior Power Rankings.

THE GRID

1. Will Power

Previous ranking: #2 (+1)

Willy P back in da house.

2. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #1 (-1)

Not begging for team orders Alonso-style when Dixie got past means much respect and karma for great finishes ahead. But did he LET Dixie go? If so....

3. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #3 (no change)

Why do I have this funny feeling that Mr. Unexcitement going to sweep the ovals….?

4. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #5 (+1)

It looks like yet another year without a title. He gets mad at Mario Moraes and the "block" penalty but not at this. Then again, I don't have 3 Indy 500 wins….neither does the other guys.

5. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #4 (-1)

So that pre-race bit Versus had about him showed that he DOESN'T surf with a polo shirt. LIARS! I feel cheated.

6. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #7 (+1)

Forget Nicole Briscoe's dead Twitter account....here's something EVEN BETTER.

7. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #6 (-1)

That blindfolded lap of Sonoma….come on, TK. WEAK SAUCE. Take lessons from THE MASTER.

8. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #8 (no change)

Game over.

9. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #9 (no change)

Those silver tips on the Andretti Autosport cars ain't chrome horns, Marco.

10. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #10 (no change)

Me posting a picture of him making bread last week….wasn't a good idea. Danny, meet The Breadman. And meet the asphalt.

11. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #11 (no change)

A great comeback from starting beside Milka(!) to the top 10 ruined by a kamikaze pilot. The Old Danica would've owned the HELL out of Takuma post-race. I'm not impressed with this Rainbows/kittens/baby seals version of The Danistar. The Old Danica was a winning driver and a threat. The New Danistar isn't even in the top 10. We want our Princess back!

12. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #12 (no change)

I had a tire once go down on me. When the tire was taken off there was a blade from a Swiss army knife inside. I guess Alex now knows the feeling. What was more surprising to him? It was Simona or it WASN'T Tracy this time?

13. Simona De Silvestro

Previous ranking: #13 (no change)

Chrome horns, Swiss army knives, divebombs….where has THIS been all year?!?!? You're next, EJ.

14. Raphael Matos

Previous ranking: #15 (+1)

That two-wheeled Dukes of Hazzard wheel stand through the dirt combined with that permanent facial stubble probably means he's the next open-wheeler to go NASCAR on us.

15. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #14 (-1)

One more no-show means out of my Power Rankings. Probably also means a punch in the FACE from AJ. These are ovals. Make SuperTex proud. Or else.

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

Graham Rahal

I'm thinking @NotNicoleMB is him. I hope so. How can it NOT be?

Alex Lloyd

Shhhhhhhhh. He's currently leading the Rookie of the Year title fight.

Bertrand Baguette

I HAVE to give this guy props. He's been quietly been making some nice top 15 finishes. That is, until EJ went A-hole on him. Dude, EJ….you're a LAP DOWN. People are racing. What is it with Venezuelans and getting into people's way on a track????

Friday Pre-Race: Simo....errr....Sonoma

2010-08-20T12:42:39Z

Bob Jenkins practices for the Versus telecast of the upcoming IndyCar race at Sonoma….

"Hello, race fans! You are watching the IndyCars at Simona, Califor….DAMMIT! Okay, Bob. Just like you practiced yesterday….At Mid-Ohio, rookie Sonoma De Sil….NOT AGAIN! I spent the better part of the winter getting her name right! I was hoping she would lose her ride by now so I wouldn't have to bother mixing her name up with Simona, Californ….SONOFABITCH! Screw it, I'll just say Sears Point. D'OH! It's Infenion now. This isn't Winston Cup on ESPN anymore. *sigh* Arute is right. Drinking and chain smoking would solve most problems such as this. How else would he come up with those props?"

Now that Bob got that out of the way, we can now concentrate on the race at hand. SEARS POINT (I'll say it. That name sounds better) marks the final twisty event of the IndyCar season. That means only one more race the non-Red Cars might win (no WAY anybody else has a shot, unless there's a surprise short-oval for Kanaan to dominate. Wait, ISC just told me to GTFO....) with a funky strategy call. Snore-oma hasn't really produced much excitement over the years and I'm guessing this year won't be any different. Those turbos can't come soon enough for the 0.3 of us.

So Will Power it is, then? Oh, yea I forgot: HE HASN'T WON IN TWO RACES! So who should take his place as the one to watch Sunday? Of course, it's one of the other FOUR Red Cars.

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Dario "Wait, that a mullet?" Franchitti

I swear if I hear "Chiple" or "Ganassi Sweep" one more time….something tells me The Captain has something special in store for the Homestead finale. NO WAY Penske lets Ganassi get away with this.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Ryan "Kasey Kahne's long lost brother?" Hunter-Reay

He is Obi-wan Kenobi. He is our only hope.

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): Danica "NASCAR'S own" Patrick

Something's happened. There was a time she was a threat for a top-5 finish week in and week out. Is it the NASCAR deal? Can't be. AJ would punch my face in for thinking so. Whatever it is she's lost it over the winter break and hasn't really found it since. She isn't even in the top 10 in points anymore. Last year she was getting solid finishes each week. So if it isn't the NASCAR deal then what is IT? Well, ever since

SHE came along….

....wait, did I just discover Danica's problem? Has she had her MOJO STOLEN? BY HER? The more I think about it, the more sense it sort of makes. After all, ever since she started racing IndyCars at Brazil Danica has just sort of disappeared. After the great fire at Texas all of a sudden Danica was a threat again.

Hmmmm….

Power Rankings: Sonoma

2010-08-18T12:43:43Z

Zzzzzzzzzz....wha....huh....? Oh, the race ended. So much for that. WOAH!!! WILL POWER DIDN'T WIN??? Oh, it was Dario. Red Car. Whatever. This is getting ridiculous. What's it going to take? A nuclear strike? Arming Milka Duno with Mario Kart weapons (preferably a blue shell)? Hell, arming her with REAL weapons? Perhaps had Tagliani and Simona had nitrous hidden in their firesuits (like a certain fella named "Super Tex" did at least once, so they say on his "SportsCentury" episode) it would've made the race FAR more interesting. Memo to Bernard: P2P must have more power. What kind of power? Play "Ivan Stewart's Off-Road Arcade" and load up on nitros (or even Danny Sullivan's IndyCar version of basically the same game). Keep hitting the nitro button. THAT'S what no-passing zone rolling-hill twisties NEED, a P2P button with a million extra horsepower where only the skilled can master it.

Anyway, did Dario's win help him take P1 in the Power Rankings this week? Well, since that photo was taken "William" hasn't won a single race. ON TWISTIES. P1, baby.

THE GRID

1. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #2 (+1)

Not seeing Ashley Judd in the post race FOR ONCE was refreshing. Wait, did I say THAT? Yep, because I am a member of Trackforum.com, I must say such things from time to time....

2. Will Power

Previous ranking: #1 (-1)

Whatever Dario showed him after Toronto may require a visit to a shrink. TWO straight losses? He can't be right.

3. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #3 (no change)

Not even leading a lap at Edmonton couldn't stop him from winning that race. So what's a bad little pit-stop going to do to him? Exactly. Nothing.

4. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #4 (no change)

Survived a Penske sandwich and came back for a top 10. That incident was further evidence of the invincibility of the Red Cars. The Red Cars move on and the one getting sandwiched that ISN'T a Red Car fails. Mmmmm....Dallara sandwich. Subway, give this man a call. Forget Carl Edwards. Nobody likes him anymore anyways (not even Bad Brad haters). I have a perfect name for the sandwich: The Foot-Long Crapwagon. Sorry, Paul Tracy....only ONE per customer.

5. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #5 (no change)

Apparently he got over that pretty quickly....

6. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #6 (no change)

No, Tony. Milka does NOT use her mirrors.

7. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #7 (no change)

GOOD NEWS! Nicole deleted her Twitter account! That's bad news for the rest of us....

8. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #8 (no change)

ONE MORE TWISTY LEFT. And a torn ligament. Damn.

9. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #11 (+2)

I'm guessing those moves he was putting on Simona De Silvestro (or at least tried to) for most of the race are the same moves he uses on Playboy bunnies at the mansion. Notice she didn't even flinch. REEEEEEJECTED.

10. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #9 (-1)

The only good news for him is that he's 10th in the points standings. That's all I got on him. Oh, wait....BAKER MASTER!!!

11. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #10 (-1)

I don't think I saw her for one-half of the race. It's a new record. Be thankful of Milka, Danica. Because of her we actually SAW YOU.

12. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #14 (+2)

Of course the one race Tracy, Shecky and The Pastafarian aren't in he almost gets a podium.

13. Simona De Silvestro

Previous ranking: #15 (+2)

Fact: that was her first race that she finished ahead of Danica Patrick. Bigger fact: so far no one has noticed or made a fuss about it. That's how far ahead she was. She obviously wasn't going to mess around this time.

14. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #12 (-2)

I finally found one thing AJ and Danica have in common besides throwing a fit every now and then: they can't wait for the ovals.

15. Raphael Matos

Previous ranking: unranked

That permanent stuble on his face means only one thing: Tony Stewart fan.

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

E.J. Viso

Previous ranking: #13 (no longer ranked)

The KV Carnival of Carnage came back with a VENGEANCE. Humanity be damned.

Graham Rahal

So heartbroken for the loss of @NicoleMBriscoe he couldn't even backup his fast practice speed.

Takuma Sato

REMEMBER, NO F1 TIRE WARMERS!!!!

Carpenter, Vision back with Panther, Fuzzy's for three more races

2010-08-09T16:00:16Z

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 9, 2010) - Vision Racing and IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter are happy to welcome back Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka to run three more IZOD IndyCar Series events in collaboration with Panther Racing during the 2010 season. Carpenter, who ran with Panther Racing as a second team entry in the 2010 Running of the Indianapolis 500, will drive the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka entry at upcoming races at Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The collaboration between the two IZOD IndyCar Series teams will once again pair Carpenter with full-time Panther driver Dan Wheldon, pilot of the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing entry.

"We're really very excited about the opportunity to compete in more IndyCar races this season thanks to the support of Fuzzy Zoeller and his Ultra Premium Vodka along with John Barnes and the Panther Racing team," said Vision Racing Team Owner, Tony George. "We're looking forward to building on the experience of both teams and our partnership at the Indianapolis 500 this year to secure strong results."

"The Indianapolis 500 experience with Ed Carpenter, Vision and Panther Racing was really enjoyable and we saw it as a success for Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka," said Indiana native and professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller. "We really wanted to continue our relationship and partnership with Tony, Ed and the teams and I'm looking forward to supporting Ed's run at these tracks. I believe we will accomplish some great things together moving forward."

"We knew from the beginning that we wanted to run Ed (Carpenter) for more than just the Indianapolis 500," Panther Managing Partner and CEO John Barnes said. "I've got to thank Fuzzy's Vodka and Tony George for making this happen; they've put in a lot of hard work since we finished at Indianapolis to make this deal happen and we know that Ed is going to be able to step right back in the No. 20 car and be a major factor in all three of these events. He worked very well with (Dan) Wheldon during Indianapolis and I'm sure their relationship will continue to help our team get back into victory lane."

"I cannot wait to get back on the racetrack in the no.20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium vodka car," said Carpenter who made his 100th career start at the 2010 Indianapolis 500 with Panther, qualified in the eighth position for the race and ran as high as fourth before taking the checkered flag in 17th. " We had such a great month of May, I am excited to finish what we started. All three races that we are doing we should be very competitive, and I am hoping to deliver for Fuzzy, Vision and Panther. It has been a long season watching IndyCar action from the sidelines, so I am eager to get back into the action."

Carpenter is a six-year veteran of the IndyCar Series who first debuted in the league in 2003 before becoming Vision Racing's full-time driver at the team's inception in 2005. The 29-year-old Indianapolis resident will being his return to IndyCar competition at Chicagoland Speedway where he finished sixth in 2009 during an exciting race in which the top 13 cars were separated by just 0.8269 seconds at the finish line.

Carpenter also returns to Kentucky Speedway where last season he captured his career best finish, with one of the most memorable battles for the checkered flag of the 2009 season to finish second by a margin of 0.0162 seconds while leading a total of 34 laps in the IndyCar Series' closest finish at Kentucky.

Carpenter will close out the 2010 IndyCar Season with Panther Racing at Homestead Miami Speedway where last year he again equaled his career-best start by taking the green flag in the fourth position. The no.20 Vision Racing entry ran as high as third in the race before the car's handling capabilities and maneuverability deteriorated, crossing the finish for a 12th place finish.

The No. 20 team will feature the same core of personnel responsible for Carpenter's Indianapolis effort, with Al Bodey returning as race engineer and Brian Franzosi continuing chief mechanic duties. Longtime Vision Racing team manager Keven Kaye will oversee operations of the Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka entry.

Panther Racing has collected victories at each of the tracks where Carpenter will join the team later this season. The team earned two thrilling victories at Chicagoland with Sam Hornish Jr. (2002-2003), a win from the pole position at Kentucky (2003) and back-to-back victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2001-2002). Carpenter's teammate will be a strong asset as well, as Wheldon earned a league-record three straight wins at Homestead (2005-2007) and was victorious at Chicagoland in consecutive years (2005-2006).

Vision Racing and Carpenter will make their return to the race track on August 28th in the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, which will be broadcast live on VERSUS at 7 p.m. (ET) with additional coverage on IMS Radio Network, www.indycar.com, XM Channel 145 and Sirius Channel 211.

###

About Vision Racing: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George as well as actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team competed full-time in the IndyCar Series for five seasons from 2005-2009 and entered its sixth season of IndyCar Series competition with an entry in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 as a collaboration with Panther Racing. In 2009 IndyCar competition, Vision Racing scored two hard-earned 2nd place podium finishes and posted their best career start (4th), seven top-10 results and their highest total of laps led, laps competed and races completed in a season. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Racing.

Friday Pre-Race: Mid-Ohio

2010-08-06T13:49:16Z

Twitter-bitching. A rampaging Helio. A driver winning without leading a lap. Will Power losing a roadie event. Danica in the top 10 of a roadie event. Too many cars announced for an IndyCar series race. Delta Wing dead. Robin Miller happy. Robin Miller mad. The spirit of the Crapwagon living on. Lotus returning. Shane Hmiel getting a Lights ride.

What the HELL has happened to IndyCar since July 14th???

I can't figure it out either. Such madness can be good for IndyCar, but not all of this is positive. It's like the 2010 IndyCar season can really be divided into two parts: Pre-July 14th announcement and post. The Canadian races have basically been "Went to an IndyCar race and a hockey fight broke out" affairs. Not surprising. Our "friendly neighbors up north" are anything but. They invented hockey after all. NO, I am NOT complaining (hockey and Canadians rule)….the race results aside IndyCar's Canadian Vacation has been quite good for most of those reasons listed above....at least it WOULD'VE been had that darn Helio didn't "block" (I guess).

Now that we're on US soil in Mid-Ohio this weekend perhaps all will return to normal. Who takes the win at Bobby Rahal's stomping grounds? Hopefully it's the Prodigal Son of 'Stache (just avoid Briscoe, young Grahammo), but with his defeat at Edmonton Will Power has to be ever so pissed.

Anyways, is it just me or did Bobby Rahal from the glory days remind you of a bowling league team captain? Just look at that picture. The bald head, mustache, and barley-pop sponsorship just oozes of manliness. If Super Mario got drunk while playing Mario Kart and later took up bowling the end result would look EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Will "Vengeance on Maximum" Power

He lost Long Beach. Came back to win the next twisty event. He lost Edmonton. Result? Probably a victory by one-lap. Or two.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON RED CAR): Graham "Where's your old lady at, Briscoe?" Rahal

What better way than to return to your home track with some twitter-based motivation? With him laying low (somewhat) missing Edmonton Briscoe probably let off some steam and probably forgot it all. HA. Doubt it. He's married. Nicole is probably lecturing him as we speak on what lap to punt Grahammo. Penske, break out the checkbook….

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): Jay "Don't get the boss lady mad again" Howard

According to the entry list he's racing this week. Last time we saw him he didn't exactly make Sarah proud of him. Hell, the time before that it didn't look pretty. Third time's a charm? Oh, wait….he's in SFR equipment on a ROAD COURSE. D'oh. Wait a minute....Grahammo made it work once. Yea, ONCE.

Only two more twisties left meaning only two more chances a non-Red Car can steal a win. Sure, Kanaan proved that it's possible to beat the Empire on an oval, but lightning doesn't exactly strike twice like that on IndyCar ovals anymore. It's also the last two times I'll ever see a couple of my favorites Justin Wilson and Simona De Silvestro look competitive. Not having Red Cars can be such a drag on ovals.

2012 can't get here soon enough….

Power Rankings: Mid-Ohio

2010-08-05T02:39:49Z

I thought to myself after Helio went nuts over Moraes taking him out at Texas that "I can count with one hand the times I've seen Helio mad. Ever. And with a couple of fingers to spare." Well, so much for that. Other than the $60,000 fine he and Milka now share something in common: Double secret probation from the Dean of IndyCar Brian Barnhart. Does this hurt his Power Ranking? Epic rampages such as that deserve a pass. Had Barnhart actually stepped outside and Helio had given him a Chuck Norris roundhouse-kick-to-the-FACE he would've been number ONE. Oh, well....

THE GRID

1. Will Power

Previous ranking: #1 (no change)

Whatever Dario showed him, it worked....

2. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #2 (no change)

....perhaps it was pictures of him in Ashley's wardrobe? With the oversized hat?

3. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #4 (+1)

This is how boringly awesome he can be; doesn't even lead a single lap and still wins.

4. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #3 (-1)

At one point he was the highest non red car....MORE THAN TWENTY SECONDS BACK. Spec racing my ASS.

5. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #5 (no change)

Hell Castroneves

6. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #6 (no change)

Didn't even bother to qualify. This race and Indy are proof that qualifications are meaningless to him. It just makes him look that much more awesome come race day.

7. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #8 (+1)

Dissapointed despite a decent finish. Why? Twitter-buddy Graham was MIA.

8. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #7 (-1)

Only two roadies to go. That means only two more chances for him to win.

9. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #9 (no change)

This guy used to be good, right?

10. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #10 (no change)

Terrible qualifying, did yard work during the race, and still gets a decent finish? She's a 20th place roadie driver getting top 15 finishes and could be ranked top 10 soon in the overall points. Figure that one out. I can't. Neither can she. Don't think she cares. To quote Danica herself back in May "At the end of the day it is what it is." Those are like my two favorite overused athlete quotes of all time and she mashed them into one sentence. Genius.

11. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #11 (no change)

A decent finish means he's allowed back to the mansion.

12. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #12 (no change)

Imagine had that been a young AJ instead of Helio. The headlines would read "34 Dead, 145 Injured in Foyt Rampage"

13. E.J. Viso

Previous ranking: unranked

Didn't make too many fans with that hopeless divebomb of the Swiss Miss. Being the only non-Red Car in the Fast Six in qualifying and finishing despite the KV curse (which took a week off somehow) merits a nice bump up in the Power Rankings. For now.

14. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #13 (-1)

I was kind of hoping that was Schecker that took him out. So was he. He was more dissapointed in who DIDN'T hit him instead of the state of his own car.

15. Simona De Silvestro

Previous ranking: #14 (-1)

That's what happens when you qualify (or race) near a KV car. A great ride gets ruined. The dead fuel pump was just adding insult to injury.

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

Graham Rahal

Previous ranking: #15 (no longer ranked)

You call Briscoe's wife "his old lady" and you weren't even going to show up for the next race? You should've saved that for Mid-Ohio week!

Raphael Matos

It had been awhile since Paul Tracy properly chrome horned someone. Sadly for Matos he just had to be the one in front of Paul when he realized such a craving for the horns.

Takuma Sato

Well, well, well. The KV curse takes a week off and this guy gets a top 10. Hell, ALL KV CARS did.

Aesthetics Do Matter: My Main Concern with the 2012 Concept and How IndyCar Can Make It Work

2010-07-28T23:31:46Z

Marshall Pruett had an interesting combination interview/commentary with Tony Cotman earlier this week. While various parts of both Cotman's answers and Pruett's editorializing are noteworthy and are sure to spark disagreements, it was the photo at the top that caught my eye: a split image of a 1996 and a 2001 Reynard ChampCar. It's a perfect illustration of what the caption says: even in CART's heyday, evolution was a slow process, and cars looked pretty much the same year to year, but that didn't seem to matter at the time. It was still exciting racing that drew big crowds. Now, however, everyone is clamoring for revolution, something new to grab the attention of the masses. So what's changed? I'll tell you: the current Dallara is ugly. And based on the concepts shown, 2012's cars could end up just as ugly. And that would be bad.

To explain my point, first let me make an example of NASCAR. The COT, in it's winged configuration, was widely derided for how it raced and the car's tendency to turn into an airplane when turned around. The belief among many fans (and some commentators) was that these problems were due to the wing, with varying degrees of science to back it up. The wing made it difficult to see past the car in front. The wing caused to much dirty air. If the wing provides downforce forwards, then it must provide lift in reverse. To them, the answer was simple: the spoiler. It would solve all of NASCAR's problems. Even though a spoiler sticks up just as high and blocks just as much of a view. Even though the spoiler caused dirty air before the COT. Even though cars with spoilers still flipped before the COT. What the spoiler did do was make the COT look more like the traditional stock car shape. Aesthetically, the cars improved overnight, and the fans rejoiced. That, to me, was the real basis of the complaints: the look. The popularity and excitement over the new Nationwide cars, which look more like their street counterparts, bear this out.

IndyCar's current Dallara is not a fan favorite, and though the racing has been entertaining (save for the inevitable Red Car domination), it hasn't been pretty. With it's needlelike nose and bulky airbox, the car looks unbalanced on ovals, and worse, ungainly on road courses. It's a far cry from the elegant nimbleness of the Lola that exemplifies the best remembered times in the sport. It's one of the reasons why both the Lola and Swift 2012 concepts were popular among fans - they both had basic shapes which hearkened back to those late-90s models, while still being modern and forward looking. Meanwhile, Dallara too had some concepts which made an attempt to channel that nostalgia, but nothing that was as graceful or attractive. Still, they were passable.

Then came the announcement.

At this point, I should mention that I stand with Pruett on the idea that different looking chassis don't mean a heck of a lot to me. The gallery that accompanies his article has some fantastic comparison shots, like this one with a '97 Reynard and a '97 Swift. Is the difference really that great? In still shots, you really have to look to see what's different, and moreover, you need to be a hardcore enough fan to know where exactly to look. For a casual fan, watching cars scream by at 200MPH? The variations become negligible and insignificant. Those geeks among us (I count myself as one) could be in for glorious times if the new strategy works as IndyCar says it will, and we get multiple aero packages to dissect and debate about. Johnny A. Racefan in the stands? He ain't gonna care so much.

What worries me about the announcement is what IndyCar and Dallara showed. Slab sided, almost boxy looking cars with the sidepods set way too far back, and a nose that evolves the current car's signature (and ugly) cockpit bump. It was a punch to the gut. How could IndyCar bypass the elegant Lola or futuristic Swift for these? The news thankfully got better as the presser went on, that only the driver's compartment, nose, radiator inlets and underwing would be set from the factory, and the rest of the car's aero would be open for development. Phew. There is still hope for attractive cars...except that the nose, radiator inlets, and underwing shape on the Safety Cell concept are exactly what look to have forced the ugly looks in the first place. Uh oh.

It doesn't have to be this way, though. It was later reported that what was shown were quickie renders made in 3 days to have something visual for the unveiling. This is exceptionally good news, as it might mean the cars don't actually look like that. And, it leads me to beg, plead and grovel to both IndyCar and Dallara to heed the following in designing the new Safety Cell:

Keep the nose as generic looking as possible. With minor variations in shape, the Lola and Swift concepts both have similar, simple, generic looking noses. As does, to a lesser extent, the Panoz DP01, and even Dallara's own World Series car. The shown concept nose is too reminiscent of the existing car, and will still effectively brand the cars visually as Dallaras. Keeping this area generic places more emphasis on the aero kits and enhances their individual brands.
Move the underwing and aero inlets forward. One thing which separates IndyCars from F1 visually is that the sidepods on IndyCars come almost to the front wheels, while they are further back and more distant on the F1 machines. This would be a nice distinction to keep, and would also add much wanted advertising space.
Mandate blocking the back of the rear tires, but not how to do so. The Lola concept used a clever, tight-fitting contoured piece of carbon fiber construction on the back wheels to prevent tire-jumping while still keeping a distinct open wheel look. It looks miles better than the sports car like fairings on the shown Dallara. By letting aero package makers choose their own means of accomplishing this goal, it will help them create better flowing and more pleasing designs.

There is some hope even if the final design ends up looking like the concepts. The few early submissions to IndyCar's "contest" have been impressively attractive. IndyCar should try to direct kit makers to keep aesthetics in mind as much as outright performance. Yes, how the new cars race is important, as is innovation and variety, but if the new generation can be beautiful enough to capture imaginations and eyeballs, then the future of open wheel racing in America will be as bright as ever.

Taking the 'R' out of the IRL

2010-07-26T15:36:04Z

Eighteenth century French philosophy is not usually the first thing that comes to mind while enjoying IndyCar racing. That all changed with two laps to go in Edmonton on Sunday.

When Helio Castroneves was relieved of victory by Race Director, Brian Barnhardt, for an alleged block of his team mate, Will Power, it became apparent that there is a strong absence of racing experience in race control. More disturbing than that was the lack of rational, or indeed, critical thinking amongst those controlling things on track in Edmonton. Voltaire’s suggestion that ‘common sense is not so common’ could have been written with Brian Barnhardt and his blocking rules in mind, for it is precisely that prized commodity that was absent on Sunday.

There numerous aspects of Barhardt’s tenure which have the potential to disturb. From his insistence on climbing into every cockpit before each Indy qualifying run to his heavy presence on and imprimatur throughout the ICONIC decision, there is cloying body of evidence indicating that he likes to be at the forefront of the sport, taking ownership of everything that happens on his tracks.The late race decision yesterday was simply another example of somebody seeking to inject themselves into the narrative simply because the opportunity was there.

One of the few commonalities between fans of stick and ball sports in the United States and their slightly angrier, inebriated counterparts at football grounds around Europe, is the desire to see a game with minimal intrusion from the officials. How many times do we hear fans and pundits alike express a desire for the guys whith the whistle’s to ‘let the players play’? The universal rule of thumb being that a referee has had a very good game if you didn’t even notice him.

While I’m not advocating the idiocy of the NBA officials and their ‘swallow the whistle in the final five minutes’ routine [which is basically what NASCAR have mandated following their latest ruling on Edwards and Keselowski], I am suggesting applying some context and grown up thinking, especially when this infraction in question does not have to be ruled upon in an instant. Race control had time to review the tape before issuing the penalty and yet they still decided that Castroneves had blocked Power. Circumstances were ignored and more disturbingly, visual evidence and logic were judged to be superfluous to requirements in the whole decision making process (we’re back to the ICONIC decisions again).

Castroneves needed to move to driver’s left in order to take as close to his normal racing line as possible, in doing so, he defended his position on a track that is 75 feet wide, his move left plenty of room for his team mate to make the pass or at least attempt to do so without hitting the outside wall. If this really had been an egregious blocking manouvre, wouldn’t Helio have then moved back into onto his original line to make the turn? This ruling, if strictly enforced will now mean that no driver can ever set himself up in advance to clip an apex again, if he has a driver in close proximity behind him, to do so will be considered blocking. If we are to take this logic to its full and proper conclusion, every time there is a restart on a road or street course we should now expect to see 15-20 cars pulled in for drive-though penalties, right? And a review of the tape would also indicate that Scott Dixon turns left into Power in order to protect his new position and get a better entry into T3, should he now be black flagged retrospectively too? I don’t understand anymore.

In May, Randy Bernard suggested blowing up the IRL and he stated that he and his counterparts should issue "some sort of press statement to show that [IRL] is dead. We need to let people understand we're trying to change." It would now seem that, due to Bernard’s busy schedule, he has only allocated enough time to blow up one letter at a time. On Sunday he let Barnhardt remove ‘Racing’ from the acronym for good in a highly public display that will not soon be forgotten.

Friday Pre-Race: Edmonton

2010-07-23T11:07:47Z

Me posting a picture of Toronto Maple Leafs' Tie Domi somehow triggered a mountain of contact and fighting....okay the fighting was lame twittering, but still. Perhaps The Great One will trigger an event nothing short of greatness, like maybe a non-Red Car winning? Perhaps somebody NOT named Will Power taking the checkered flag? Maybe everyone's favorite Canadian will win?

Now the track at Edmonton is located on an airport runway. If you want to see a proper airport race (or what EVERY IndyCar race should be like) just look HERE. Yea, "Best Race Evar" indeed. Because of a certain 400 mile race I wasn't able to see all of the race last year. Since Will Power won that one, I'm guessing I didn't miss much....except Tony founding The Torch Club. So who sets the world on fire this year and takes the race? No, Simona....that's not what I meant. My fault. Who has the best shot at winning? That better?

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Will "Women Cannot Resist The" Power

We need SOMETHING to unsettle him. ANYTHING to stop all this. Dario might have the answer....?

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Ryan "How many first names do I have?" Hunter-Reay

He punts Red Cars, he causes them to hit the pit limiter, he beats them, he's the highest placed non Red Car in the points. Oh, and brings us title sponsors. He could be our MVP. Just like Danica last year, but better. Funny what getting a full time deal will do for you. Hell, Rahal almost got a full time deal and got a Top-5. The pen is truly mightier than the sword....or chrome horn.

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): (insert KV Racing driver here)

Over/Under on the bill to Dallara after the race is $1.25 million. Any takers for the under?

I never quite understood why there has to be IndyCar racing during the Brickyard 400. This should be an off week just so some IndyCar drivers can show how to tackle the four corners even with a tin top. How cool would that be? Considering just how much space I had last year (I had the WHOLE ROW to myself) the speedway could use all the help it can get. Boy that COT has killed the racing there. Let's just hope OUR COT doesn't do the same....

Power Rankings: Edmonton

2010-07-22T14:34:22Z

WTF. Indeed. Dallara STILL will be the chassis supplier beyond 2011, yet they won't all be Dallara's? IndyCar might actually PARK MILKA for good? A race involving Paul Tracy has drivers mad at each other and destroying one another, yet Paul WASN'T INVOLVED AT ALL? Paul dive-bombs somebody and MISSES?!? AND STALLS IT?!? An IndyCar race starts and a NASCAR race breaks out? A Twitter World War also breaks out? THAT was Toronto. That was (almost totally) awesome (damn you Will...and Justin). Among the insanity some of the status quo remained with Will Power winning, KV's bill to Dallara growing exponentially, and Mario Moraes remembering that he is indeed Mario Moraes.

For the Friday Pre-Race blog post I posted a picture of Tie Domi and the result was the odd creation of a new full contact sport: IndyCar Street Racing. Perhaps a trip to Edmonton means for the pre-race blog post I should summon a picture of the Oilers' past greatness in hopes of the race resulting in a finish worthy of The Great One. That probably means yet another Will Power victory. So does that mean Will Power tops the Power Rankings yet again this week? Ho-hum.

1. Will Power

Previous ranking: #1 (no change)

Somebody stop this man. Seriously. Must we call back Sebastien Bourdais?

2. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #2 (no change)

The engine change saga is further proof that this is Penske and Ganassi's "hobby" and the others are just in the way. Man up, Dario and Chip. Run it until it "done blowed up."

3. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #5 (+2)

Embrace The Punt. It shall set you free. His move on Dixon was further proof that street races are IndyCar's equivelant to NASCAR's short track races (and road course races, plate races, 1.5 mile races....)

4. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #3 (-1)

Basically said in the post-accident interview that he was having somewhat of a bad year. Seriously?!?

5. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #4 (-1)

How could he NOT know that the Foyt team car was that much slower than him? That's basic IndyCar knowledge!

6. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #7 (+1)

That Blue-White livery was very Forsythe-esque. The result was therefore predictable: a good solid finish.

7. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #8 (+1)

Even in an embarrasing defeat he still looked like the bad-ass that he is. If that race were 15 laps longer he probably comes all the way back. Oh, wait. Will Power....

8. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #6 (-2)

Grahammed. On top of that his wife began the IndyCar Twitter World War. My advice to Simona with her bad luck after The Glen is the same for Ryan now....lay low for a while.

9. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #10 (+1)

Wrecks early again and still gets a Top-10 again. I'm starting to see a method to his madness....or he proved that KV Racing's carbon fiber really is magnetic.

10. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #11 (+1)

Stop. The. Presses. THAT'S the DaniCar we've been looking for all year! I would've placed her even higher had she worn those $1000 heels for ESPN's foot-cam. That would've been the highest form of taunting....of her ability, not her wardrobe.

11. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #9 (-2)

Danica overtaking him had to mess with his mind. Therefore he loses two spots. He has to find the mojo that got him to the top AND access to the Playboy mansion (allegedly). Wait, that IS the top. Forget IndyCar!

12. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #12 (no change)

Foyt probably does not approve of this twitter fightin' between drivers. Not only does he consider it childish but punching a monitor won't go through cyberspace and onto someone's face.

13. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #13 (no change)

....and here I was worried about Tracy/Tagliani Round 2.

14. Simona De Silvestro

Previous ranking: unranked

Her plan worked perfectly (or was it MINE?)....lay low for a week in the alps and come back with new mojo (in this case, a new helmet). End result? First Top-10 AND a missed Paul Tracy divebomb.

15. Graham Rahal

Previous ranking: unranked

Normally I don't put part-timers on the Power Rankings but he has a deal that ALMOST makes him a full-timer. Almost. His punting of a Red Car and Top-5 finish has to warrant a mention and a ranking amongst the best. Would have put him higher but again not a full timer....nor can he grow the 'stache.

DNQ (bumped from the field)

E.J. Viso

Previous ranking: #14 (no longer ranked)

The KV Racing Carnival of Carbon Fiber Carnage Tour 2010 is approaching legendary status. How can there be a recession when somebody has this much money to toss around? Who DOESN'T believe that when the 2012 chassis discussions were taking place that all companies asked IndyCar that "Is KV going to be on the grid in 2012?"

Raphael Matos

Previous ranking: #15 (no longer ranked)

Fell victim to the KVRCoCFC Tour 2010....but seriously, who hasn't?

Alex Lloyd

So when the Citgo money leaves who's going to pay for his chase of the ROTY title?

Friday Pre-Race: Toronto

2010-07-16T11:44:13Z

Wait a minute. Oh, yea....there's a race this weekend! Who knew? While cleanup from the 2012 announcement continues IndyCar hits the streets with a race in Toronto. You kind of get the feeling something big is going to happen. The 2012 "car" was announced, Paul Tracy will race, it's a street course, wow how can it get any better? IT'S ABC/ESPN'S LAST BROADCAST THIS YEAR!!!! That's how. How can it get all ruined? Red Cars. Damn. Wait, remember the last time IndyCar made a major announcement mid-season? It had to do with the Richmond parade in 2009 with Tony George has the sacrificial lamb (about 14 years too late) and instant rule changes. The result was the Kentucky and Chicagoland epic finishes. The old IRL was back. How will the Racing Gods react to the 2012 changes? If it's another Will Power victory with the other Red Cars following him the Racing Gods aren't totally pleased. If Tracy and Tagliani enter the final corner side-by-side and exit in a heap of carbon fiber carnage and smoke (again) with a certain car #78 and car #7 clearing the mist screaming for the checkered flag wheel-to-wheel then we might have something here....oh, and Tracy vs. Tagliani Round 2. Who should you watch for this Sunday?

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Will "Max?" Power

Yea, he didn't mess around at The Glen. Really, who DIDN'T see that one coming? He has OWNED street circuits in which he didn't hit the pit-limiter while on track. If he doesn't do that again he should cruise to another victory. He's out to prove that he isn't the slow one.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Paul "Look out, Helio!" Tracy

Looked a bit slow at the Glen which means the Chrome Horn will be in full effect. Somebody at ESPN should be FIRED if there isn't at least TWO in-car cameras connected to Paul Tracy. They should have an bubble window on the screen with a shot of his car during the race broadcast at all times. Better yet, put the RACE in the bubble and Tracy on the big screen. Yea, I totally ripped off Jim Rome's idea for watching Kevin Garnett during the '09 NBA first round playoffs. Why WOULDN'T ESPN do it? Oh, they're ESPN. That's why. Anyways, competitors should keep an eye in their mirrors for this guy. The only thing that could slow down Paul Tracy is....

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): Paul "Sorry, Tagliani" Tracy

Yep, he's his own worst enemy. He's the only guy I know that can be winning by a full lap and still take himself out. Hopefully he has mellowed out a bit in his old age and will bring it home in one piece. Yea, right.

See what I did there? He's always The Show when he hits the streets. With him being part-time it makes it even more so. KV Racing's bill to Dallara won't look pretty again this week. Is it just me or does the 2012 "strategy" help make a profit for whomever makes the aero-kits for KV Racing? I imagine people are already lining up at their doors just waiting to be their source for precious carbon fiber. It's no coincidence that Lotus sponsors KV with Sato and Lotus came out and made a press statement stating that they loved the new upcoming rules. Hmmmmm....

What they're saying about the 2012 IndyCar

2010-07-14T21:39:10Z

Quotes from selected IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, team owners, manufacturer representatives and other officials about the 2012 car strategy unveiled by the IZOD IndyCar Series (in alphabetical order):

"The ICONIC group has come up with a smart way of bringing diversity and a new look to the 2012 IndyCar while keeping longtime partner Dallara, who has the expertise and an incredible amount of knowledge of the technical specifications of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Obviously as a team owner, I will have a lot of questions regarding this new concept, and I want to be reassured that the new rules around this car will guarantee a good operating cost control and a good open competition in between teams. It is also good to see that the state of Indiana is behind the project." -- Eric Bachelart, Owner, Conquest Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"I think it's great that the IZOD IndyCar Series is continuing with Dallara. They provide a great product, and they've shown they are capable of producing an elite race car. It's also good for the teams as it provides some continuity. This car will take some big steps forward in both safety and performance while also keeping in mind cost-effectiveness and efficiencies. I'm excited, and I'm looking forward to seeing and racing the finished product." -- Ryan Briscoe, Driver, Team Penske, IZOD IndyCar Series

"It's pretty exciting to see the future car for the IZOD IndyCar Series. We've had a lot of thrilling moments on the track in the Dallara IndyCar, and I'm looking forward to racing the next-generation car. It will be great to see other manufacturers involved in the sport through the aero kits, and I think that will create some interest and competition that will be good for IndyCar racing overall." -- Helio Castroneves, Driver, Team Penske, IZOD IndyCar Series
"Dallara produces some great cars, so it's good that the series is able to continue their working relationship with them. With the cars being produced in Indianapolis, it will help cut costs and produce jobs, which will help everybody. The car looks great, and the racing will be as close as ever with the increased engine power on the road courses. I can't wait to see the car in the flesh!" -- Mike Conway, Driver, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"I think it's great that everything is far more open now, be it engineering or engine manufacturers or to bring different-looking cars to the fans. At the end of the day, I think the fans will like it and believe it's a step in the right direction." -- Scott Dixon, Driver, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"Lotus Racing congratulates the IZOD IndyCar Series on this exciting news and supports the ICONIC Advisory Committee's recommendation on the revolutionary concept of a standard safety cell with various manufacturers producing aero kits. We look forward to seeing more details on this future car strategy, and hopefully, allow our involvement in the IZOD IndyCar Series." -- Tony Fernandes, Team Principal, Lotus Racing (Formula One), CEO Air Asia

"Cutting the cost of the chassis by 40 percent is a game-changer for the sport. After spending countless hours working with the ICONIC Committee, it became very clear that only one chassis supplier could be chosen because of the economics. For the fans, we've ensured that team owners currently in the sport can continue to participate, and we can entice new teams to join affordably. When is the last time you ever heard of the cost of a high-tech race car - the fastest in the world - dropping?" (About the fans' voice in the decision): "The fans were a major influence in this decision. They made it clear that they wanted to see some variety in the cars, and the ICONIC committee constantly factored that desire into the consideration. In a perfect world, we would have recommended multiple chassis providers, but the research-and-development costs alone would have caused the price of the cars to inflate astronomically instead of reducing them. That would have been bad for the health of IndyCar racing. The committee and the IndyCar Series technical staff have developed the concept of 'clothes,' which can be changed to allow different looks for the car. It's a smart, affordable way to offer variety while providing a known, proven, safe race car that will provide wheel-to-wheel racing action at more than 200 miles per hour. We think it's a great compromise to provide the fans with what they demand and ensure the long-term vitality of IndyCar racing." (About serving on the ICONIC Committee): "It was an honor to serve with retired Air Force General (William) Looney (committee mediator) and the other six members of the ICONIC Committee. It was an interesting process to see how this diverse group - some of whom I had never met before - mesh and work easily to reach this recommendation. We spent so much time together that I have made some rewarding, lifelong friendships with people that I can trust for advice and wise counsel. I commend Randy Bernard and the IndyCar Series technical staff for this process because it ensures buy-in from everyone within the industry. Anyone who does not get on board and help row this boat in one direction clearly has another agenda. While I know we won't agree on everything that comes up down the road, I do know that anybody that loves IndyCar racing needs to work together from this day forward. The series may be hesitant to say it, but the day is here for everybody that loves IndyCar racing to link arms and help each other out. Anybody who doesn't want to do that needs to find something else to do with their time." -- Eddie Gossage, President, Texas Motor Speedway, ICONIC Advisory Committee Member

"Today's IRL announcement is the embodiment of our vision for the Town of Speedway - a vision of racing, innovation and community. Dallara is an excellent fit for Speedway because we share a mutual dedication to the racing industry and advanced technology. We are excited to welcome them as our newest neighbor. As the home to 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,' the Indianapolis 500, we are proud to be a part of the continued success of the motorsports industry in Indiana and the world." -- Scott Harris, Executive Director, Speedway (Ind.) Redevelopment Commission

"The announcement is definitely creating a lot of buzz. I think the new design addresses a lot of key issues that face IndyCar racing into the future. From my perspective, competition on levels beyond just team and driver are immensely important to increasing how much people care about what's going on out on the racetrack. Having said that, maybe from a driver's perspective, I think the new car still needs to be capable of going 230 at Indy and needs to be able to set new track records on road courses. Very much looking forward to what's happening going forward." -- J.R. Hildebrand, Driver, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"Everyone at IZOD is very excited about today's announcement because the chassis decision encompasses all of the characteristics that attracted us to the IndyCar Series as a title sponsor. The design represents innovation, speed, technology and performance, all of which are attributes of the IZOD brand. The new car, with the extra 100-horsepower push-to-pass capability, will create even greater moments of speed and competition, which is unbelievable. And the fact that they were able to accomplish all of this while keeping the costs contained and the drivers safe is a real tribute to the ICONIC committee and their forward thinking. We think this will bring the sport to whole new level of competition." -- Mike Kelly, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Phillips-Van Heusen, parent company of IZOD brand

"This is a great day for all of us in the IZOD IndyCar Series. I couldn't think of a better manufacturer than Dallara to make the Safety Cell, and, of course, make that product in Indiana. Add to that the fact that there will be development around that cell is fantastic. It's what fans and competitors alike have been wanting, and in 2012, we will have exactly that but at a much lower cost than what we are running now. In most aspects of life and business, it costs more to get what you want, but somehow the ICONIC committee has managed to achieve the right product at a substantially lower price. I can't wait for 2012." -- Alex Lloyd, Driver, Dale Coyne Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"I am extremely excited about the new IndyCar. I have spent the first two years learning about IndyCar, the dynamics of the car and working on my race craft. The new car will be an equalizer for everyone because we will all be starting from scratch. I think the competition level will be closer because with the less-expensive car, the teams with less funding will be able to compete at a higher level. The car will be faster, which will make it fun to drive, and with the stronger Safety Cell, it will be safer, too. That means the drivers will be more confident to push hard and will provide better races for the fans. It's a new era for the IZOD IndyCar Series, and I'm excited about it." -- Raphael Matos, Driver, De Ferran Dragon Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"I think it's great to have Dallara as a partner. I can speak directly about their safety, feedback and technology. I've been driving Dallaras since 1999, in Formula 3. So I'm glad this happened. I'm glad they are involved. I'm glad the concept is similar to what they issued on the press releases. From what I hear and what I know, it's going in the right direction. I'm really excited. Really exciting times for the IZOD IndyCar Series. I'm glad to be part of it on this historic time for the series. Not only do we have the new engine coming out, we have the new car now, we have the Centennial Era for the Speedway. So it's really exciting times." -- Vitor Meira, Driver, A.J. Foyt Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"Any time there is a new car, it's great. We have been using this car eight years, so it would be good to have everybody start with a new car again. Dallara has produced a safe and reliable product, and I am sure that contributed to them being announced as the builder of the Safety Cell." -- Hideki Mutoh, Driver, Newman/Haas Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"We've just seen examples, but I think it's the exact direction we need to go in, to entice more manufacturers to come in, both engine and chassis. The car's a lighter, faster car, and it's safer. I think as a driver, it's exactly what you want to hear: 'Faster, safer car.'" (From a driveability standpoint, what positives do you see with this direction?): "A lighter car is more nimble, makes it easier to pass people. With the turbo engine, you can increase that power to pass a lot, and make for better racing anyway, and more horsepower makes it tougher to drive. There's more mistakes, more opportunities to pass. You couldn't have asked for anything better. We have a one-make chassis now, and now we'll have a common tub, which is safe. And you're able to design your own bodywork." (Can you imagine going 240 mph at Indianapolis in a car like that?): "I love competition, I'm not sure that it's necessary to go 240 again. This year, gee, we were going 228, and it's getting up there. I think it's something you have to wait, see and watch it develop and see what horsepower works best where, because with a turbo you can adjust that. The thing I like is it will take its own direction with the design because it's open." -- Will Power, Driver, Team Penske, IZOD IndyCar Series

"I think it's very interesting with what they are doing with the innovative designs and the cost-effectiveness. I like the cost format as a driver who is involved with a lot of companies and speaking to them about sponsorship: This will help put it in the ballpark. I also hope that you will see bigger fields, and I hope these cars will go 230 to 240 mph in speed. I think that's what I'm looking forward to. Also, I'm really happy that Dallara will be involved again. They are a great company. I been driving the Dallara chassis since I was 18 years old, and they always do a great job. I'm glad they are back onboard." -- Tomas Scheckter, Driver, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

"Firestone Racing is glad that a decision has been made and that this process has sparked a lot of great ideas and innovative thinking. Congratulations to Dallara - they were chosen over some tough competition, so they are deservedly happy. We have worked well with many chassis manufacturers and look forward to continuing a great relationship with Dallara. We would also like to recognize and thank all of the other chassis manufacturers that participated in this process. BAT, DeltaWing, Lola and Swift also contributed a wide variety of different and unique ideas that ultimately strengthened the entire process. I remain very confident that we have the experience and ability to design, develop, manufacture, deliver and service Firestone Firehawk racing tires better than anyone else for the next-generation IZOD IndyCar Series cars." -- Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing

"I think it's a very good decision. Sticking with Dallara is always a good thing. They have the experience, and they do a great job in every series in which they work. They did a very good job with the IndyCar. Giving teams the options about the aero kit is definitely going to make it more fun. Just more tools to work around and more things for the engineers and drivers. Definitely a positive change, and I'm looking forward to being a part of the series when all of these changes come around." -- E.J. Viso, Driver, KV Racing Technology, IZOD IndyCar Series

"The announcement sounds good. I think that the ICONIC committee has incorporated a lot of ideas and concepts that the people wanted. I think we will get the best of both worlds. Dallara makes a very safe rolling chassis and we know that the safety will be there, so I'm glad they are behind it. I think this introduces a new idea, and it will be interesting to see how it all works. One of my two points of concern was hopefully the new car will make it more exciting for the fans, and I think it will." -- Justin Wilson, Driver, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, IZOD IndyCar Series

Power Rankings: Toronto

2010-07-08T12:54:44Z

Since by this time next week we'll be all over the 2012 Chassis decision I've decided to post Power Rankings just a bit early. Hell, it's slow at work so that means my lowered productivity gets increased HERE.

Well, that didn't take long. I guess Penske and Ganassi just couldn't stand someone else invading their "hobby" called IndyCar for more than one week. The Red Cars were the only leaders, Andretti Autosport once AGAIN ran out of gas, The Princess disappeared, and Milka invaded someone else's space with her ineptitude. In other words....we're right back to our regularly scheduled program already in progress. How will that change the Power Rankings this week?

1. Will Power

Previous ranking: #1 (no change)

Pole Position. Most Laps Led. Win. Was there ever any doubt? A couple more snoozers like this and he'll at least lock up the Andretti Trophy and perhaps the overall title....and lock them up effortlessly just like he does his car.

2. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: #2 (no change)

"The Mobile Chicane". That's a new one. Perhaps this means Brian Barnhardt, who generally only listens to the Red Car teams, MIGHT listen this time about the Milkapocalypse. Milkapocalypse. That's another new one. I'm taking credit for that one NOW. Sorry, Robin Miller....this one's MINE.

3. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: #3 (no change)

Iceman. He's ice cold and makes no mistakes. Riiiight.....and my nickname is Maverick.

4. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: #4 (no change)

The biggest shock for him wasn't that Scott Dixon attempted such an overtake, but that it WASN'T Mario Moraes. Or Paul Tracy. I shouldn't lump Paul in the same paragraph as Moraes....and NO I don't care where they finished at The Glen.

5. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: #6 (+1)

FULL TIME DEAL. The "16th corner" was just a distant memory to him on Sunday. Three full-time Americans down, just one more to go....

6. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: #7 (+1)

The Captain was most pleased with that pass for second. He's almost forgotten your past brainfades and accidents. Almost.

7. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: #5 (-2)

AGAIN with the late race fuel stop. Seriously who is in charge of fueling the Andretti cars? Are they SURE it's the same fuel as the rest of the field? Only Danica hasn't had such issues yet....hmmmmmmmmmmmm....The ChampCar FTG conspiricay crowd could be onto something here. Or not.

8. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: #8 (no change)

He upgraded his team and had Tracy as a teammate....and that's the BEST he could do? Seriously? He blew away the Red Cars with Coyne equipment last year. I (and he) was expecting him to push the button to unleash the Lightning Bolt from Mario Kart and OWN the field.

9. Marco Andretti

Previous ranking: #10 (+1)

Like I said before: get hopes up early, fade late, repeat. It's the Andretti way. To his credit he didn't fade too far, but he didn't exactly look great to start....

10. Dan Wheldon

Previous ranking: #12 (+2)

The National Guard car and Boy Scouts of America car collide on the 4th of July with Brits driving both. Yep, makes sense.

11. Danica Patrick

Previous ranking: #9 (-2)

I don't know what's worse....getting punted by the oldest guy in NASCAR, getting beat by the oldest guy on the IndyCar grid, or consitently NO SHOWING on the twisties this year. Her ONLY moments of happiness was watching her gender rival hitting the wall in front of her and Kanaan running out of fuel and finishing behind her.

12. Vitor Meira

Previous ranking: #11 (-1)

Now THAT's the Foyt team performance we all remember. Sadly. Jinxed by me.

13. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: #13 (no change)

Was it just me or did he purposely lag behind Tracy as much as he could Sunday? Bad news, Tag....two more races to go. The good news is that HE could be the one out of F-ing cars if you two tango again.

14. E.J. Viso

Previous ranking: #14 (no change)

Another one bites the dust....Just how DEEP are KV's pockets? Do they get discounts from Dallara?

15. Raphael Matos

Previous ranking: unranked

This is how much Penske/Ganassi had a stranglehold on The Glen: the highest finishing non-Red Car has a Penske as a co-owner. Figures.

DNQ (bumped from the field)

Alex Lloyd

Previous ranking: #15 (no longer ranked)

Only fitting that where Dale Coyne Racing had their greatest triumph ever is where they (or perhaps the car) remembered they're just Dale Coyne Racing and end a semi-hot streak with a DNF. That's what I get for calling his performances with Coyne's equipment "Foyt territory". JINXED.

Takuma Sato

It was going so well. At least he didn't add to KV's bill for Dallara. Again.

S***** D* S********

I do root for her like post people do. Result? JINXED. So from now on I won't refer to her by name. Since winning the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors she's had 3 DNFs, 1 roasted toasted Dallara tub for the dumpster, 1 burned hand, 1 hit tire changer, and even more lost parts with her wreck at The Glen. Things aren't going so well....my advice to you is to lay low for a little while. It seems like she's way ahead of me on that one.....aaaaand of course even that isn't without an issue.

So the Rumor that I am hearing about the new Indy Chassis of the future is...

2010-07-05T17:27:33Z

I am hearing from watching the Speed channel, and various publications out there that the IRL will announcemultiple Chassis options for the teams from the various designs out there. Now the first thing I thought when I heard this is how cool would that be to have many different looking race cars out there? For example, I think it would be awesome to see some Delta wing cars racing the more traditional types of indy cars.

Now one thing that this speculation is doing is generating buzz around the motor sports community. The IRL has clearly struggled to gain fan support in the past decade or so with NASCAR growing in popularity during that period. However, it does seem as if the time is right for the IRL to gain some serious fan support, as NASCAR is losing fans with its chase format, its wishy washy rules, and its growing reputation as the motor sports version of the WWE, if you don't know where the WWE reference is from watch a replay of the Nationwide race from last Saturday.

I am not sure if these rumors are true, but if they are I would say that it would be a fantastic idea to bring some car diversity into the sport.

I am curious what everyone else thinks

Friday Pre-Race: The Glen

2010-07-02T12:35:11Z

Wow. The Red Car Death Star lost on an OVAL. AN OVAL. A short track. Designed by Rusty Wallace. In the heartland of America. Figure that one out.

As I said before Richmond in 2009 produced the lowest form (and lowest point in the history) of open wheel racing. Changes were made and heads rolled (well, one BIG head rolled). The end result was nothing short of oval racing brilliance. Returning to the scene of the crime (in spirit) produced yet more EPICNESS. Kanaan, you ARE the man. Even Danica thinks you're number one. Wait, wrong finger.

My picks from Iowa were all jinxed. Dario "done blowed up", Danica got fussy, and although I predicted Simona not running well all Hell broke loose in just a span of a few minutes and she parked it to escape any additional FAIL. Should all the same happen again we could expect further awesomeness and me picking ALL RED CARS for epic jinxing in the future and for the rest of the season.

Now it's time to turn right again and travel to the sight of the Red Cars' greatest defeat in 2009....THE GLEN. The ultimate underdog Dale Coyne Racing pimpslapped Penske/Ganassi with a win that proved that it just isn't a sport for kings. Penske probably signed a few pink slips on the spot and Ganassi took a second depressing trip to the buffet line. With Iowa fresh in their minds and returning to the site of such a defeat probably means the empire strikes back. HARD.

Who takes home the prize during a holiday in which we celebrate by setting things on fire and getting burned? Torch Club members Kanaan or Simona winning would make that the greatest irony of all time....but again, put your money on RED (cars).

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Will "That's his REAL name" Power

Damn, it's been a while. He's somewhat been confused by only taking left turns....mixing in some right ones always bring the best out of him. Him winning would restore order in the galaxy. It's been so long that he should pull away....since he doesn't believe in running with the pack.

THE BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Justin "BAD ASS" Wilson

He's probably had this date circled since January. Wrecked the car in Iowa just to get a head start. Probably hit the iRacing just as soon as he hopped out. I'm a Mario Kart man myself....because what better way than to defeat Red Cars than with red shells?

THE MARTY "SLOTH" ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): Alex "Unfortunate Teammate of Milka" Lloyd

The Dale Coyne car won this race last year and Alex's been looking good on the ovals recently. Which means one thing: FAIL AHEAD. He wasn't the best road racer earlier in the year and DCR don't do hot streaks. Besides, the Boy Scouts of America car on the 4th of July driven by a Brit doesn't provide the appropriate karma....or at least Robin Miller wouldn't think so.

Yep, picking a Red Car for the victory yet again....hopefully that jinxed them like last time. Notice I picked ZERO Americans, because they need all the help they can get. Marco will probably run out of fuel, Danica's cold streak earlier in the year began right after running NASCAR races, and RHR is getting set to start collecting unemployment again. Yea, I'm not picking them.

Power Rankings: Midseason

2010-06-26T08:35:35Z

Back in my hardcore NASCAR fanboy days I spent time reading the weekly "Power Rankings" on NASCAR.com because of the wit and numerous (and humorous) references to funny things about the drivers (like Ward Burton's immense and AWESOME southern drawl) and the OCCASIONAL professional ranking of the drivers. It even had awesome driver quotes not printed anywhere like Ryan Newman calling Mike Skinner "Lynyrd Skynyrd".

My question is this: Why no IndyCar Power Rankings?!?!?

That shall be fixed. BEHOLD! Power Rankings....IndyCar style.

THE GRID

1. Will Power

A Power Rankings WITHOUT Power in 1st place just wouldn't work. Now that he's survived the 1st oval stint with the points lead it looks like he'll be P1 for at least the next 5 weeks. The only thing holding him back is the lack of a nickname.

2. Dario Franchitti

A Red Car with a mechanical failure while fighting for the lead? There just might be a God. Kudos to Versus for not immediately sending two cameras towards Ashley Judd's enormous hat like the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" would.

3. Scott Dixon

Except for his odd wreck at St. Pete and his dominant win at Kansas we haven't heard much from him. Which is typical and generally means he'll have the point lead before too long.

4. Helio Castroneves

At Texas he fell victim to the KV Racing Carbon Fiberocalypse like most drivers this year, but he could've lost the title because of it.

5. Tony Kanaan

He made a mad charge at Indy, pissed off Danica, won the neatest looking trophy outside of Indy, AND destroyed the Red Car Oval Death Star. Just have one in-car camera for the races and put it on his*.

* except for when Paul Tracy races. He needs about FIVE.

6. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Even Michael knew having him unemployed for the 4th of July would unleash Robin Millerzilla to no end. No need to look at the stock market ticker to gauge the economic recovery, just read the entry list every week to see if he's there or not.

7. Ryan Briscoe

He's raced well the past few weeks....which means he's due for yet another crash.

8. Justin Wilson

He JUST couldn't wait for the road courses, huh?

9. Danica Patrick

The Princess did NOT like Tony Kanaan's move. (NSFW language)

10. Marco Andretti

Isn't it just like Andretti tradition to lead early, get hopes up, and then fade late?

11. Vitor Meira

This has to be the best I've seen the Foyt car look in a while....which means it'll disappear soon in a cloud of smoke and broken laptops.

12. Dan Wheldon

Just checking....yep, still regretting leaving Ganassi for Panther.

13. Alex Tagliani

Sounds like most people are happy Paul Tracy makes his return at the Glen this upcoming weekend. NOT HIM.

14. E.J. Viso

Perhaps if he can finish on the podium for the rest of the year he MIGHT pay off all that KV Racing carnage. Maybe.

15. Alex Lloyd

Doing what he's been doing since Indy is kind of impressive. Doing it in a Dale Coyne car? With Milka as a teammate? Foyt territory.

DNQ (bumped from the field)

Raphael Matos

I've only seen him TWICE this year: a near podium at Brazil and wrecking at Indy.

Simona De Silvestro

She's wormed her way into our hearts....just not into Lady Luck's heart yet, sadly. True story: in celebration of IndyCar returning to the road courses she recently had a cookout as seen HERE. It couldn't be confirmed if the IndyCar Safety Crew was in attendance (just by judging the video, most likely).

Takuma Sato

That whole "green racing cars are bad luck" myth....perhaps Lotus went too old school. This enough?

Friday Pre-Race: Iowa

2010-06-18T11:18:42Z

Okay, my first "blog" had a hint of heartfelt seriousness to it. Enough of THAT. On to what blogs are all about: infinite sarcasm, half-assed attempts at humor, and the occasional fact that at times finds its way through the cracks. Oh, and starting LATE at night when boredom and genius go hand and hand and finishing at dawn. With alcohol, of course. With a long off week (and momentum with praise from blog #1) I figure a pre-race posting will hold me over for just one more day.

This weekend marks the weirdest day of the racing year. The Cup Series at Sears Point….Nationwide Series at Road America….IndyCar on a short oval. What, F1 not racing on a rally track? Wait, I shouldn’t give Bernie ideas….or at least good ones like that.

The last time we saw the IndyCars take the checkered flag on a short oval, everything broke. Lights started flashing “12:00” over and over, the Blue Screen of Death flashed on the Jumbotron, and a plague of locusts and venomous ducks descended upon Richmond. The aftermath saw the end of Tony George, which brought tears of joy to the 17 remaining ChampCar fans, and tears of sadness to the 23 remaning IRL diehards. There was no other way to put it….it was the lowest point in American Open Wheel Racing.

What followed next was something NASCAR would never even dare: immediate rule changes. No waiting for next year or the year after. NOW. What happened at the next two ovals? EPICNESS. But still those damn Red Cars won.

Okay, now we return (somewhat) to the scene of the crime. This will be the first short oval with the new rule package. Will get the same awesomeness? No Red Cars in victory lane? Will Jesu….Danica finish the first phase of the oval racing season with a win?

Come on! This is IndyCar! Put $100 on Red.

THE FAVORITE (BEST RED CAR): Super Dario

The last three races held here had winners with a D in their name and were from the British Isles. One of them still drives a Red Car and he won here last time. The chances we see Ashley Judd again are higher than the chances Milka parks it before lap 75. Yea, that high. With this being the last oval for the spring the Red Car Death Star HOPEFULLY will be down for maintenance during the twisties. Or not.

BEST OF THE REST (BEST NON-RED CAR): Princess Sparkle Pony

“It’s not my fault.”

Those four words have turned the tide….for better and worse. Yes, there have been booing, but Danica has returned with FORCE. The last time she came to Iowa she led laps. Knowing this is the last oval until the final few races of the season she should make a final appearance until then. Oh, yea….that NASCAR thing she does starts again soon. Should De Silvestro somehow finish ahead of her you can bet Kyle Busch will be sporting Simona swag during driver intros….or the Harvicks will. That’s what I call motivation.

Oh, speaking of the Swiss Miss….

THE MARTY “SLOTH” ROTH BACKMARKER (NOT NAMED MILKA): Swiss Steak (medium well, please)

Fire? No big deal to her. Fear? Ha!

A heavy, old rustly backup HVM Dallara tub? On an oval?

Awwww, damn it.

No worries, Sim Racer. The twisties return soon enough. What? You STILL have to use that jalopy for the road courses too? Double damn. Remember, pit as soon as Tracy and Helio meet again for position late in Toronto….just a thought. Pit strategy. It’s the only known cure for old heavy crapwagons.

My first Pre-Race blog complete. What happens when you mix cold pizza, High Life, Bob and Tom, and a night off of work. Perhaps I can do this on Fridays due to those long off-weeks IndyCar insist upon. Plenty of time for 5am drunken rambling.