Top IndyCar Stories of 2013

As the sun sets on 2013, and news outlets around the world publish their top ten best and worst lists, it's time for IndyCar to do the same. The end of any year affords us a good opportunity for thoughtful reflection, reminiscing, and forward thinking. So, presented below, here are, in my completely non-expert opinion, the top ten IndyCar stories of 2013. These are not necessarily "best" or "worst" stories; in fact, some are good and some are not so good. But these were the stories that made headlines this year, for better or worse:

1. Dario's Retirement
No question, this was the story that had even non-IndyCar fans talking. The crash in Houston had us all holding our collective breath, and led to a lot of speculation about the track and fan safety, but it was Dario's announcement on November 14 that really captured our hearts. The announcement was not totally unexpected, but still disappointing. I think we all hoped Dario would retire on his own terms rather than doctors' orders. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way, but we are fortunate that Dario will continue to be involved in IndyCar. His legacy as one of the all-time greats is secure.

2. Tony Kanaan Finally Breaks through at Indy
TK's first Indy 500 win was the feel-good story of the year. The fan favorite who had come so close so many times before finally seized that elusive victory. Sure, the race ended under caution and not all fans liked the constant slingshot lead changes and passes, but the roar from the crowd as TK crossed the finish line let everyone know how special this moment truly was.

3. A New Rivalry Emerges
IndyCar officials did everything possible to help Scott Dixon lose the championship. Some of it was justified, and I still say safety should come first and Dixon was rightly penalized when he hit a member of Power's pit crew at Sonoma. However, when the normally skilled road racer Power claimed that he didn't see Dixon on the restart in Baltimore and pushed him into the wall, you couldn't help but be suspicious. The drama of these two races set the stage for a come-from-behind championship run for Dixon, and for a new and intriguing rivalry. With Power's former Ganassi rival Franchitti retiring, who better to continue the Penske-Ganassi competition than his teammate Dixon?

4. An Exciting, Unpredictable Year of Racing
With the field as evenly balanced as ever, we were treated to some terrific races this year in which every driver had a legitimate chance to win. Four drivers scored their first-ever IndyCar Series wins, and four others earned their first trips to the podium. We also had ten different race winners. A rookie challenged for the win at Indianapolis, and a part-time, skilled road veteran led underdog Dale Coyne Racing to a win in Detroit. Next season is shaping up to be just as, if not more, thrilling. It is a good time to be an IndyCar racing fan.

5. Engine Changes
Ganassi's switch from Honda to Chevy-powered machines was nothing short of shocking, and I think many of us are still wondering why this happened. It appeared that Ganassi had a good relationship with Honda, and they made an impressive recovery in 2013, getting Dixon three wins in a row and the overall title. But for whatever reason, Ganassi will have Chevy cars next year, just like their main rivals Team Penske. This decision caused a domino effect, with Andretti switching from Chevy to Honda next year. Understandably, Andretti preferred to be the top dog at Honda instead of the third wheel at Chevy. This also sets the stage for an exciting 2014 season.

6. The Schedule
We saw the début of full-length doubleheaders in 2013, and despite some grumblings from drivers and teams, these doubleheaders are set to return in 2014. Fans complained that the 2013 schedule had too many breaks between races, and these complaints certainly had merit. Three- and four-week gaps are simply too long for a series in need of eyeballs, national attention, and continuity. So what did the powers that be do for 2014? Condensed the schedule to allow for fewer breaks and a conclusion by Labor Day. And fans still complained. Guess there's no pleasing the fickle IndyCar fan. Most notably and most unfortunately, the 2014 schedule excludes two of the best races in 2013, Brazil and Baltimore.

Furthermore, following one of the recommendations from the Boston Consulting Group, Mark Miles decided to add a road course race at Indianapolis in 2014 to kick off the month of May and hopefully reignite interest in the Indy 500. Many fans, media personnel, and drivers complained that such sacred ground like Indy in May should not be messed with. (These outcries became the subject of one of my test questions, as a good example of an "appeal to tradition" reasoning fallacy.) Testing ensued, and the final decision was made shortly thereafter. Like it or loathe it, a road course race at Indy is coming our way in 2014.

7. Standing Starts
In an attempt to spice things up and get fans more interested in the racing, IndyCar experimented with standing starts at Toronto and Houston. Unfortunately, IndyCar never quite got the standing starts right, and they caused more problems than anything. Cars died on the grid, attempts were aborted, and generally the standing starts embarrassed IndyCar. For some reason, fans continue to demand them and some do label them as exciting, so we will likely see them again. One has to think that eventually IndyCar will get these starts figured out.

8. Fired Drivers
Oriol Servia wasn't fired, but was forced to end his 2013 season early after Panther DRR Racing folded after the Indy 500, due to lack of sponsorship. JR Hildebrand was the next driver to go, fired from Panther Racing after a series of inexcusable miscues, most notably when he drove over the back of Will Power's tire at St. Pete. I'm not sure Hildebrand deserved all the blame, considering the team went against his comfort level at Indy and used an overly aggressive setup. Still, Hildebrand's firing followed the "three strikes and you're out" guideline so it wasn't completely unexpected. Later in the season, after consistently disappointing results, Barracuda Racing released Alex Tagliani. All of these drivers eventually returned in 2013 for other teams, but their futures are still in limbo.

9. The Return of Montoya
In a surprising turn of events, after Juan Pablo Montoya announced he would not be returning to NASCAR and to Team Ganassi, Roger Penske snatched him up to fill a third car for 2014. The move was unexpected for a number of reasons. For one, Montoya had not driven an IndyCar in over ten years. For another, Penske signed him without having a sponsor in place, which does not usually happen. And Montoya's NASCAR record was less than spectacular. I think he will always be infamous in NASCAR circles for crashing into the jet dryer at Daytona, and that's not the kind of reputation that normally encourages a signing by a top team. When Montoya was in IndyCar though, he was one of the best so he will definitely be someone to watch closely in 2014. He also brings some name recognition and international popularity to the series, which doesn't hurt.

10. Turbo Stalls in Theaters
The first animated movie to feature IndyCar (the first movie of any kind in a long time, actually) was supposed to be IndyCar's savior. It was expected to introduce IndyCar racing to a whole new audience and gain some much-needed younger fans. Perhaps the movie gained a few new followers, but overall Turbo was, sadly, a box office disappointment, at least here in the U.S. It grossed only $83 million in the U.S. but did fare much better worldwide. The timing of the movie's release couldn't have been worse, too. It débuted on July 17, during one of IndyCar's schedule lulls, and right before NASCAR's Brickyard 400. All in all, Turbo did not have the impact many were hoping for. Now we must wait and see if a spinoff animated television series will inspire new fans.

As you can see from this list (and the other stories that didn't make the top ten), 2013 was a fun year, and we have much to look forward to in 2014. So Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all IndyCar fans!

A Case for Briscoe

After weeks of speculation, including some far-fetched ideas, Chip Ganassi named the driver to replace Dario Franchitti. And as was expected after Marshall Pruett broke the story mere days before the big announcement, Ganassi went with the safe pick: move Tony Kanaan to Dario's #10 Target car, and add Ryan Briscoe to the car originally slotted for TK, the #8 machine sponsored by NTT Data. Some fans are lamenting the choice, saying Briscoe has had his chance to drive for a top team and under-performed. Others are calling it an unexciting decision that will not inspire more people to follow IndyCar. But to team Target Chip Ganassi, and to me, the move makes perfect sense. It is simply a wise business decision.

In our speech communication courses we teach the group problem-solving process, which is a six-step process that groups should follow to arrive at a well-thought out decision upon which all can agree. Having gone through the process myself on some committees, I can tell you that it works and it saves a lot of time. But trying to stress the importance of following this process to our students can be challenging. Most students, and professionals, want to jump in and start finding a solution without fully analyzing the problem or establishing criteria for a good solution. And clearly many fans jumped onto the "let's find a solution NOW" bandwagon, because discussion forums were filled with suggestion after suggestion of who should fill the empty seat. It's reassuring to see that Team Ganassi did not do this. They followed the systematic problem-solving process by laying out their criteria first, before they even started discussing possible replacements for Dario.

What criteria did they establish? For one, they said they wanted an experienced IndyCar driver, someone who was already familiar with the DW12 and who had some prowess on ovals. That automatically eliminated a lot of drivers. But this was a smart statement. With a big sponsor like Target, they could not really afford to take a big risk and hire an inexperienced driver who might cause some embarrassment in an IndyCar. Team Ganassi also said they wanted their new driver to have a good relationship with their sponsor, and they would discuss possibilities with their sponsors to see who the sponsors preferred. This is an important lesson for all drivers and team owners: don't tick off a sponsor; keep them happy so they dollars keep flowing. Lastly, they wanted an unselfish team player with a record of winning races.

So who did that leave then? Alex Tagliani, who had stepped in for Dario at Fontana, and who had done some off-season testing in the Target car. Tony Kanaan, who was already signed by Ganassi, and, being the most recent Indy 500 winner, also has some name recognition and fan popularity that sponsors love. And Ryan Briscoe, who had driven the NTT Data car in the Indy 500, and who had been driving off and on in 2013 for Panther Racing. Sure, there are other experienced IndyCar drivers, including some who are good on ovals, but these were the top three who met most or all of Ganassi's criteria. It made the most sense to move TK over to the Target car, as he has the most experience, the most popularity, and was Dario's choice. So the question then became, who would take over the reigns of the #8 car?

I do not know how Target felt about Tags, but Ganassi did speak admirably of him at the IndyCar banquet. He was impressed with how Tagliani stepped in at the last minute but was able to run up at the front in the season finale. However, Tags does not have a proven record of winning races. He has only won one race during his tenure in IndyCar and Champ Car, and that was back in 2004. He was fired by his team for poor performance in 2013, which does not make a good impression. Having been the lone driver for Barracuda Racing for awhile, too, it's difficult to ascertain if he is a "team player."

Briscoe, on the other hand, has everything Ganassi is looking for. Experience? Check. He's been driving IndyCars since 2005. Prowess on ovals? Check. He won the pole at Indianapolis in 2012, and has always run well at Texas. Sponsor relationship? Check.  NTT Data knew him and loved him from their time together in Indianapolis. From personal experience, I know Briscoe is also great with fans, taking extra time to greet them and sign autographs or take pictures. He's one of the nicest drivers in the paddock, so I'm sure that means he gets along well with sponsors too. Unselfish team player? Check. You sort of have to be when you race for Team Penske. (And I'm sure Briscoe's "inside knowledge" of how Penske operates was a big plus for Team Ganassi as well.) Record of winning races? Check. Briscoe has won seven races in IndyCar, more than most, if not all, of those other drivers out there on the market. Say what you want about him under-performing for Team Penske, but he does win races. He won at Sonoma in 2012, and he won last year driving for Level 5 Motorsports in ALMS. He is a winner.

So was Briscoe the safe choice? Yes. But he was also the smart choice. I for one am thrilled that Briscoe will be back in IndyCar full time next year, even if he is competing for Team Ganassi (not my favorite team owner, that's for sure). We now have three superteams in IndyCar, with Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti, but each of those superteams has at least three impressive drivers. The 2014 season will be fantastic theater. I can't wait.

Dario's Retirement

I'll be honest, Dario Franchitti was my "most hated" IndyCar driver. I thought he was a dirty driver who whined too often, and I always rooted for him to finish last. But that being said, I still read the news of his retirement yesterday with a tear in my eye.

After his scary crash in Houston, many of us speculated that this would be the end of Dario's legendary career. At 40 years old, we wondered how much longer he could put himself through the physical demands and risks of open-wheel racing. So the announcement was not completely unexpected, but still surprising and disappointing. It's never easy when an athlete of any sport leaves on terms that were not their own. Injuries have cut short many a promising career. In this case, Dario has already had a promising career, and we were looking forward to the final chapter of it. Unfortunately we'll never get to see how that story might have unfolded.

Dario's IndyCar legacy is cemented. He is a four-time series champion, which ranks only second behind AJ Foyt on the all-time list.  More significantly, he is a three-time Indy 500 winner, who you know is most disappointed that he won't get a chance at a fourth win. In fact, his final IndyCar victory will stand as the 2012 Indy 500, with his face etched on both sides of his buddy Dan Wheldon on the Borg-Warner Trophy. He was the face of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, who now faces the unenviable task of replacing a legend. Dario surely deserves a place in the IndyCar Hall of Fame.

Make no mistake about it, Dario will be missed, even by me, the fan who cheered against him. He gave the sport a much-needed rivalry. His tussles with Will Power will long be remembered as one of the great motorsports rivalries of our time, even more so because the two hailed from the top two IndyCar teams, Penske and Ganassi. Dario is also a good-looking, charismatic personality that attracted a lot of fans. He is one of the few true IndyCar celebrities, whose fame was elevated due to his marriage to a Hollywood actress. When news of his retirement makes the national news as it did, you know he's not just another race car driver. I'm sure Dario will continue to be involved in IndyCar but it will be strange not seeing him in a race car next year.

In the end, Dario made a decision we should all respect and admire. As the NFL has shown us lately, concussions are not something to take lightly. I'm sure he was heartbroken when doctors told him he should not race again, and it could not have been an easy decision to walk away from the car. But it's the right decision. Dario is taking control of his health, which is something we must all do. It's never easy to leave something you truly love, but sometimes we must act with our heads, not our hearts. It's a shame that Dario's excellent career was cut short by a horrific accident, yet that accident could have been so much worse. Today we are looking back and celebrating a brilliant racing career, not a life lost. Dario has much more to give to the world of racing.

Thank you for the memories, Dario. Even though I rooted against you, I respect your achievements and I will miss seeing you in the DW12 next year. On to the next chapter...

The IndyCar vs. NASCAR Fan Experience

I attended the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway this past weekend, to go with the three IndyCar races I attended this year. I wanted to go partly for research purposes: to learn why more people would choose to attend a stock car race than an IndyCar race. Unfortunately I left with more questions than answers.

Let's start with some obvious differences that I observed. The most glaring difference was the insane amount of people in attendance. The hefty crowds meant increased lines at merchandise trailers, headset rental stations, and concessions stands. They also meant you spent hours in traffic before and after the race. I'm not big on crowds, so I don't find this particularly appealing. Rough estimates put the attendance number at 125,000 people, which is much less than the place holds, but still an impressive number. Especially considering the Cowboys had a home game on the same day at roughly the same time. The June IndyCar race had less than half that number, and I wanted to ask everyone, "Where were you in June? Why weren't you here?" I can only speculate at the answers I would receive. Some would undoubtedly cite the weather, and it's true, this was the first race all year where I did not sweat my butt off, which was a huge perk. But is that enough of a reason to keep 75,000 fans from coming to another race at TMS? I just don't get it.

There were other differences of course, such as the sounds and smells. NASCARs are much louder and have a more pungent smell than IndyCars, and maybe some people like that. There were also a lot more cars on the track. I have to say, at a 1.5-mile track like TMS, I prefer a smaller field of cars. A smaller field is less confusing for fans and usually leads to more and better competition. I've never really understood the 43-car field in NASCAR, especially when some of those cars only run a few laps before retiring.

I saw a lot more trailers devoted to driver merchandise than I saw at any IndyCar race this year. I mean, that was all I saw on the midway. With few exceptions, each driver had his/her own trailer and people were lined up like crazy to purchase items in support of their favorite driver and their sponsor. What IndyCar does better, I think, is they have more than just merchandise. The IndyCar Fan Village features games, car displays, and entertainment, which is a good way to appeal to non-race fans and kids. But do those things bring in the money like these trailers do? And why do fans buy all this merchandise? I have heard, and I believe, that IndyCar drivers are much more accessible than NASCAR drivers. Maybe they're not as famous but they do appreciate and acknowledge the fans.

For all the differences that fans might perceive between the two racing series, I think the fan experience at the race is really quite the same. People still tailgate in the parking lot, or camp onsite. At TMS and some other tracks, you can still bring in a small cooler with your beverage of choice and your own food. Or you can pay outrageous prices at the concession stands. The pre-race ceremony is the same. There are fireworks after the race. It's entertainment.

The biggest complaints that I read after the NASCAR race (and there were a lot of them) were that a) it was boring, with a lack of "racing," and b) the same guy won again. In fact, the guy sitting next to me had his eyes closed for much of the race. I'm not sure if he was sleeping, resting his eyes, or just listening to his headset, but why would you go to a race and not pay attention to the race? Fans, hello! If you want to see real racing with tons of passing, three-wide (or more) action, and parity in that you never know who's going to win each week, then come watch IndyCar! They have figured these things out! I think these fans would love IndyCar if they would just give it a chance.

After witnessing both an IndyCar and a NASCAR race at Texas this year, I did come to the conclusion that Texas is a track that encourages dominant performances. Helio dominated the IndyCar race in June. All three NASCAR races this weekend featured runaway victories. Evidently if a team figures out the setup at Texas, it will excel. Perhaps, as some accused this year, some teams cheat and get away with it. Perhaps TMS is just not an exciting track. But the track has produced some exciting races in the past, in both IndyCar and NASCAR. It's just one of those things that makes you go hmmm....

Season-End Awards

Well, the IndyCar offseason is now a week old, and I'm still savoring that terrific finale. As always happens at the conclusion of a season, I'm also reflective. Time to hand out IndyAnnie's annual season awards!

Best Race: Prior to the season finale, I would have voted Brazil as my favorite race of the year because it featured some exciting passing, a last-lap pass, and a surprise winner. But I have to say Fontana was the best race. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I could not predict the outcome. Cars stayed grouped together for much of the race, which generated some good passes and three- or four-wide action. You also have to be impressed with the way the finishing drivers handled the tough, grueling conditions of a 500-miler. Yes, there were a great deal of crashes and only nine cars finished the race, but even until the end, we were treated to some pure racing drama. I'm still thinking about it many days later!

Worst Race: I know a lot of people will say Texas was the worst race of the year because it lacked action, but to me, the worst race was Toronto Race 2. I don't get bored by motorsports very often, but that race failed to sustain my attention. Dixon ran away with it, and his victory was never in doubt. No one could come close to catching him, and even behind him, there wasn't much action. I may be a little biased because I was at the Texas race, and it's always more exciting to actually be at the races, but I stand by my choice.

Driver of the Year of course has to go to Scott Dixon, because he won the most races and he won them on different tracks: ovals and street courses. He's also the champ so it's tough to argue with this one.

Rookie of the Year: Carlos Munoz. I know Tristan Vautier was the default winner of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year, and he started the year strong and participated in all IndyCar races, but let's be honest. Munoz was far more exciting to watch. He captivated an audience with his daring moves at both Indianapolis and Fontana, and I think we're all eagerly looking forward to what he can do as a full-time driver.

Most Improved Driver: Charlie Kimball earned a lot of respect this year. He showed everyone he should not be considered a Ganassi B-teamer, but a serious contender each and every race. He scored a podium at Pocono, won his first IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio, and challenged Will Power for the lead at Fontana. He has developed into one heck of a race car driver, and he should only continue to improve on the Ganassi superteam next year.

Move of the Year: This has to be James Hinchcliffe's last-lap pass on Takuma Sato to win in Sao Paulo. We saw a lot of great moves and passes this year, so it's hard to pinpoint just one, but to me, Hinch's move was the most memorable of the year. It was the only one that had me jumping out of my seat cheering, too.

Best Moment: Ryan Hunter-Reay celebrating his first Father's Day with his son in Victory Lane at Milwaukee was pretty touching, but I think the best moment was Tony Kanaan's Indy 500 win. Finally, TK captured that elusive victory. And the roar from the crowd as he took the checkered flag was unforgettable. That moment was special.

Biggest (Pleasant) Surprise: All the first-time winners we had this year, and the surprising amount of parity in the field. Four first-time winners, four first-time podium finishers, ten different race winners, and twenty different drivers on the podium throughout the year. Now, the finale did come down to a Penske-Ganassi showdown once again, but overall the field was very competitive, with anyone having a legitimate chance to win each race.

Biggest Disappointment: Without a doubt, I am hugely disappointed that IndyCar will not be returning to Baltimore next year or probably ever again. This was one of my favorite races because it looked spectacular on TV, and it produced some exciting racing. I hope some other city steps up to take its place and give us the same quality entertainment that Baltimore provided.

Quote of the Year: This was tough, because we've had some memorable ones over the year, such as Dixon's "That was a d*ck move right there" comment in reference to Power's crew member. But my personal favorite comes from Will Power, as he spoke about Sebastien Bourdais in Detroit: "He once was a champ, now he's a chump."

All in all, it was an enjoyable, entertaining IndyCar Series season once again. I will continue to post some news, thoughts, analysis, and reflections throughout the offseason. Just because the season is over doesn't mean we have to stop thinking and talking about IndyCar. After all, there are only five months until St. Pete!

Post-Finale Thoughts

I think Saturday night's season finale in Fontana showed everyone why IndyCar racing is the best,  most exciting in the world. Unfortunately, some people will just look at the box score, see that only nine cars finished the race with only five on the lead lap, and think the race was terrible. But that race was anything but terrible. It was a fantastic finish to a fantastic season.

First of all, congratulations to Scott Dixon, the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series champion. He drove a smart race, staying out of trouble and not getting too aggressive. Things certainly got interesting at the end, as he encountered some overheating issues, and we weren't sure if he would finish the race. But he did and capped a remarkable championship comeback, one that he earned by winning more races than anyone this season. A season that started off dismally for all Ganassi cars rebounded impressively, highlighted by a Ganassi sweep at Pocono. He earned this title, the third of his career, and cemented his IndyCar legacy as one of the best drivers of all time.

Helio Castroneves fought until the end, and he has to be proud of how he gave it a full effort. He very nearly pulled out a win until a broken front wing forced him to pit late in the race. Even after that, Dixon's win wasn't guaranteed, given the way the race had gone to that point. As Helio looks back on his season, one has to wonder if he regrets playing it safe in some of those earlier races. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but I think his result will change the way drivers compete for the championship in the future. In order to win the title, you have to win races. And that's really the way it should be. I want to thank both Helio and Dixon for giving us some real, thrilling drama right up until the end.

Lost in all the championship shuffle was that Will Power won a 500-mile race...on an oval. Not a "twin-275" oval where he had randomly drawn a good start position, but a legitimate oval race and a true test of endurance and skill. Power called it the most satisfying win of his career, and it's easy to understand why. While nothing can really take away the sting of losing last year's championship title, this win had to feel like sweet redemption. And considering how well he performed in the last third of the year, winning three of the last five races, I think we can say he's back in championship form and will be a force to be reckoned with next year. I'd say not only should we consider him a possible favorite for the IndyCar Series championship, but we should also consider him a favorite for the Indy 500. He has exorcised those oval demons with some impressive performances at the ovals this year, and has quieted those critics (such as Ed Carpenter) who see him as a road/street course specialist only. I'm really happy for him, and I'll be cheering for him next year to get his first championship.

As for the race itself, I thought it was excellent. Three- and four-wide racing? Incredible passing? A fearless rookie, Carlos Munoz, showing us why he deserves a full-time ride next year? Multiple lead changes and drama right up to the last lap? Come on, as some people said afterwards, if you didn't like that race, then you won't like anything. My friend who watched the race with me actually commented at one point, "This is a lot better than NASCAR. Their [IndyCar's] racing on ovals is amazing." YES! This is what so many IndyCar fans have realized for so long, and I'm glad others are starting to see that as well. Even NASCAR personalities were tweeting about what an entertaining race it was:

Pretty darn good #IndyCar race going on out west tonight!
— Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) October 20, 2013

However, there is the other side of the story, the crashes. Pippa Mann and Sebastian Saavedra completed their Indy 500 reunion by becoming the first victims, and it's still unclear exactly what happened there. Other drivers such as Alex Tagliani, A.J. Allmendinger, and Sebastien Bourdais appeared to get caught up in the track seams and spin out (Dinger's was more a result of trying to handle a slowing Ed Carpenter in front of him). But Justin Wilson and five other cars experienced "the big one" on lap 111. Wilson suffered the most damage, with an inoperable pelvis fracture and a pulmonary contusion (a medical term that is over my head). Fortunately he will recover, because we all feared the worst as we watched the crews extract him from the car. I hope he and Dario heal quickly and healthily, and we see them both in an IndyCar in St. Petersburg next year.

The high attrition rate was curious, considering we had not experienced anything like it all season, and more than fifteen cars finished last year's finale at Fontana. Anything can happen in a 500-mile race, however, and we were shown just how grueling that experience is for the drivers and the cars. It was an unfortunate side effect of the race, but I don't think it took away from the overall event. Even on the last restart, with only five cars vying for the win, we saw some great racing and edge-of-your-seat drama. IndyCar and Auto Club Speedway showed us why they have the perfect showcase for a season finale. As the curtain closes on the 2013 season, I am left with a bittersweet feeling. It's sad to know that we won't see any racing for five more months, but I will savor the high from that enjoyable finale for awhile. Thank you, IndyCar, for another fantastic season.

Remembering DW

I started this blog exactly one year ago, and I was very strategic in my date selection. I chose October 16 as my launch date because it marked the anniversary of the day we lost Dan Wheldon, and that was also the date I realized how passionate I am about IndyCar.

I’m not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby when Dan passed, and that reaction surprised me. I don’t think I get emotionally invested in professional sports or athletes, and even now, I don’t think I would have the same reaction if something unexpected and tragic were to happen to someone from my favorite team. Two years ago, I was just starting to get back into IndyCar racing as a regular follower. Of course I knew who Dan Wheldon was and understood some of his accomplishments, but because I’d been away from the sport for so long (mainly because of work commitments and conflicts; I still remained a casual fan), I didn’t have a chance to feel a strong connection to him as many fans did (and do). To me, he was an Indy 500 champion and an incredibly charismatic, enjoyable television commentator. I loved listening to his enthusiastic analysis of the races, and though Townsend Bell, Leigh Diffey, and others do a good job as well, I still think he was the best analyst to ever sit in the NBC Sports Network (then Versus) booth. I literally tuned into the races because I wanted to hear what he had to say.

After that fatal accident in Las Vegas, I could not stop reading articles about Dan and about IndyCar. I had an insatiable hunger for IndyCar news, and that continues to this day. I also started journaling about the tragedy and about IndyCar racing in general. Last year, as I realized my passion was unwavering and that I enjoyed writing about it, I also realized I had no one else with whom I could share these feelings. Thus, this blog was born.

I had no idea that starting this blog would introduce me to a whole community of IndyCar fans and fellow bloggers. I had no idea that so many people shared my passion. But I am so grateful for both of these things, and in a way, I suppose I have Dan to thank for them. Were it not for his energetic commentary during the races, I would not have continued to renew my interest in IndyCar racing. And had I not been so affected by his passing, I don’t think I would have discovered this passion, nor even considered starting a blog about it.

Dan’s legacy lives on. When Helio won the first race following Dan’s death, in Dan’s adopted hometown of St. Petersburg, and he climbed the fence at Dan Wheldon Way, it was one of the most moving, memorable images I’ve ever seen. I tear up just thinking about it. This year, James Hinchcliffe, who took over Dan’s GoDaddy ride, won his first IndyCar race at St. Petersburg. And the DW12, which Dan helped test and develop, likely saved Dario Franchitti’s life in Houston just a short time ago. His spirit is everywhere, and I’m glad we continue to remember and celebrate his life.

So I will remember Dan on this day and every time I scour the Internet for an article about IndyCar (which is quite often!). I know the rest of the IndyCar community mourns and remembers him as well.

Fontana Storylines

As the IZOD IndyCar Series season winds down to its frenzied finale, all eyes are on the championship, naturally. The title is more Dixon's to lose, since he holds a fairly comfortable 25-point lead over Helio Castroneves. But as we saw last year, anything can happen. And there are plenty of other storylines to follow in Fontana. I can't wait!

Of course, not only is Dixon gunning for another IndyCar championship, but he and Tony Kanaan are also seeking another leg of the Triple Crown and a $250,000 bonus. So don't think that Dixie will just settle for a top ten, even if it guarantees him the overall title. Thanks to IndyCar for bringing back the Triple Crown and the added intrigue that accompanies it.

There are also extra financial incentives and bragging rights for being one of the top five overall drivers for the year. And if you look at fourth through seventh in the standings, this fight gets pretty heated. Justin Wilson looks to put a cap on a highly impressive year and finally receive his due, and reigning champ Ryan Hunter-Reay wants to show that he's still one of (if not the) the best drivers in the series. He'll have to beat his teammate Marco Andretti to secure that top-five overall finish.

To me, the most intriguing storyline concerns the manufacturer competition. Chevy and Honda have each won 9 races this year, and this race is anyone's to take. I think that adds some extra drama and motivation for all teams, especially those not named Penske or Ganassi. Honda will be looking to prove that Pocono was no fluke and they can be counted on to win a 500-mile race. And after Chevy snatched Ganassi from Honda's clutches, you can bet they will be looking for even more bragging rights and IndyCar domination.

This race kind of has an all-star feel to it (or a family reunion perhaps), as it brings back some of the IndyCar stars from this year and years past: A.J. Allmendinger racing for Team Penske. Alex Tagliani taking Dario Franchitti's spot. Both of these drivers are strong on ovals, and will be helping their teammates try to secure the championship title, so this will be fascinating to watch. We will also see the return of J.R. Hildebrand, driving for Tagliani's former employer, Barracuda Racing, and the popular, likable Pippa Mann, who will reunite with Dale Coyne Racing. With the exception of Allmendinger, who already has a full-time ride in NASCAR next year, all of these drivers are also essentially auditioning for next season, so they will want to make a good impression.

This also marks the final race for the IZOD IndyCar Series, although I don't expect we'll see much of a farewell party for that title sponsor. It's also National Guard's last collaboration with Panther Racing, so can you say awkward? It would be most ironic if either Allmendinger or Oriol Servia wins the race, as an ode to these two sponsors.

There's much more to watch for I'm sure, but above all else, and especially after what happened in Houston, I know we all hope for a clean, safe race. Dario and Dan will be on everyone's minds in this finale, and I hope all drivers, crews, and fans are treated to an enjoyable, safe night of entertainment and good racing action.

Grand Prix of Houston

I was fortunate to attend the first race of the Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader last weekend. It was the first non-oval motorsports race I have ever attended, and like most sporting events, there were things I liked and things I didn't like. Before I discuss the fan perspective though, let's recap the race itself.

Sorry to be a teacher for a moment, but Primary-Recency Theory argues that audiences will remember the first thing that you say and the last thing that you say more than anything in the middle. I think this theory proved its merit in Houston since the weekend of course will be remembered for how it started and how it ended. The event did not start well, with some track issues that were overlooked because it was assembled so hastily (out of necessity). Crews worked feverishly overnight to repair the bumpy track, but it still looked tough on both drivers and cars. After they postponed qualifying, negative criticism about IndyCar permeated various media sources, and I worried that the first race would be a disaster. I'm happy that I was wrong. Both races were action-packed, with tons of passing, especially in turn 2, which was right in my vantage point.

But what a weekend to forget for Helio Castroneves. We all knew Scott Dixon was on a roll, and that he had an excellent chance to close the gap by the time the weekend was over, but I doubt any of us could have predicted the huge points swing we did see. A 49-point lead evaporated into a 25-point deficit because of mechanical issues. I'm rooting for Helio to win his first championship, but let's face it, it's going to be very difficult now. I feel for him, and it was a crushing blow to exit the second race so early, especially after sitting on the pole. Critics will point to how conservatively Helio has driven over the past few races, staying out of trouble instead of going for the win. And Dixon has driven like a champion this year, with four victories, so if he hangs on to win it, it will definitely be deserved. But what a bummer for Helio and Team Penske. At least the championship is going down to the wire and the final race. Again. Gotta love that.

I have now read mixed reviews of standing starts, but when they were first tried in Toronto, fans demanded them and loved them. I still do not understand the appeal. They didn't work at either race in Houston so can we finally admit they're not that great? They just make IndyCar and its drivers look incompetent, which they are not. I will say, though, that witnessing them in person and hearing the engines revving is pretty cool and far more exciting than watching them on TV. But kudos to IndyCar for trying them again, even after an aborted start, because that's what the fans claimed they wanted. This fan, however, could do just fine without them.

I don't think you could find anyone who wasn't happy for Simona DeSilvestro earning her first IndyCar podium on Saturday. She has really salvaged her year with some strong performances lately, and she has to be optimistic about next year. Hopefully she'll have a good teammate to work with.

Though it's been an un-Will-Power-like season, he showed he still has the racing chops this weekend by winning the second race and staying in contention most of Saturday. But what was with that pit strategy in the first race? Stay out a little longer while the leaders come in to pit? That strategy definitely backfired, and you could see how difficult it was for Power to pull away from Dixon, who was on fresh tires. I thought that was a poor call by Tim Cindric, especially when it involved Helio's teammate and his main championship rival. I realize they got burned a little by the caution flag, but I think they would have had a difficult time hanging onto the lead even without the caution. (UPDATE: After watching the video of Race 1, I now understand this pit strategy was to help Power lead the most laps so they could take a bonus point away from Dixon. Makes more sense now!)

For all the good news the weekend brought, unfortunately it ended on a somber, scary note. Dario Franchitti's last-lap crash took my breath away. It was the first big wreck we've had in IndyCar since 2011, which tells you something about the safety of the DW12 and the skill of these drivers. (Yes, we've had some bad crashes, such as Josef Newgarden and Sebastien Bourdais's at Sonoma last year, but it didn't evoke memories of Las Vegas like this one did.) The crash has been analyzed extensively by individuals with more technical knowledge than me (and frustratingly, also by so-called "experts" who know nothing about IndyCar, but don't get me started on that!) so I will just say two things: Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt. Dario will be in pain for awhile but it could have been much worse, and I know we're all thankful that it wasn't. And second, let's be careful with our accusations of blame here. It was an unfortunate racing incident, but we don't know that the track caused the crash. The catch fencing did its job, it kept the car on the track. Maybe the stands shouldn't have been so close to such a high-speed area, and maybe we can make these tracks even safer. But the bottom line is that these kinds of crashes can occur anywhere, because open-wheel racing is dangerous. We should never think it is immune from incident. Race car driving is risky business, but the biggest risk of all is complacency.

As for the event, I am left with mostly positive feelings, though there's certainly room for improvement at the Grand Prix. First off, the pros: I was very impressed with the layout of the track and the surrounding activities (such as games and an arena filled with display booths), and even more impressed with how much racing fans could see over the course of three days. Indy Lights, Mazda Road to Indy, USF2000, Pirelli World Challenge...it was a racing fan's dream come true. The crowd was great, and it was nice to see such a large turnout. I've already mentioned in a previous blog how thrilling it was to walk across the pedestrian bridge while cars sped past beneath my feet. There were plenty of things to do and see, and I understand why street races are so popular. I would attend again, but...

Not in such hot temperatures. Saturday was miserably hot, and all of the fans were dripping in sweat from the heat and high humidity. Now this weather would be a little more tolerable if there were shady places where fans could escape to, or if we were allowed to bring in our own water instead of paying $4.25 for a 20-oz. bottle of it. And with that heat, I had to purchase a lot of water. Ridiculous, and not fan-friendly at all. Like I said, this was the first street race I have attended so I'm not sure if this is typical or not, but at the oval speedways I've visited you can bring in a cooler-with some restrictions of course. I really hope Houston revisits this policy, especially if the race is in June next year as it's rumored to be. I understand if you don't want fans bringing alcohol, but at least let them have water, sheesh. The area behind Grandstand 1 was also inexplicably devoid of shade, activities, and picnic tables or places to sit and eat. It was like a mini ghost town (but with plenty of fans milling around). Grandstand 1 had the most expensive seats, so I would think you'd give that location a little extra attention.

It was also strange to not be able to see the whole track. I'm used to ovals, where it's easier to see all the cars. But the promoters did a good job displaying all the necessary information and passing on the video screens, so I can't complain. I eventually got used to it, but it was a different experience. I'm glad I recorded the races so I could get a more complete picture of the track.

All in all I had a great time at the Grand Prix of Houston, and I hope to return. I hope other fans will as well, and won't be too scared off by what happened on Sunday. There were so many races run on that track over the weekend, it's actually pretty remarkable that we only had one incident, albeit a big one. I know the track organizers and promoters will continue to make this event an improved, enjoyable experience for all. Get well soon, Dario and fans.

An Overdue Thank-You Letter

A more detailed recap of the Houston doubleheader, including my perspective as a fan in attendance on that sweltering Saturday, will be forthcoming, but today is a day for reflection. With all the post-race analysis and conversation surrounding Dario Franchitti's accident in Houston, I think we forget sometimes to remember and to thank the individuals and teams who have helped make this series safer for all involved. NBC's website has an excellent analysis and recap of how Dario's accident could have been much worse. I think it's time to formally recognize and offer some public thank you's to the following:

Thank you to Dallara for building a safer car, particularly the "tub" where the driver sits. In the past, that part of the car would break into a million pieces and would provide very little protection. But we can also thank technology and some brilliant minds for the new and improved IndyCar we have today, and the even better versions yet to come.

Thank you to the safety crews, who arrive on scene and assess a situation quickly and responsibly. Some people complain that they take too long, but they're often tucked away in a far-off land, and on a street course there's usually no direct path to the incident. They get there as soon as they can because they understand the urgency that their job requires.

Thank you to the medical personnel who respond to racing-related injuries without judgment. There are those who may refuse treatment to a driver who knowingly puts him/herself at risk, but there are also those who give racers, officials, and fans the same care they would give to any patient.

Thank you to the track organizers and construction workers who (especially in Houston) quickly assemble and disassemble a course and plan fan-friendly events. It's impossible to satisfy everyone, and sometimes things can get overlooked, but these folks learn from their mistakes and continually try to improve the experience for everyone.

Thank you to the pit crews, who willingly place themselves in a dangerous and stressful situation but perform their jobs with a strong work ethic that can serve as a model for others in any profession to follow. These crews must also suffer in extreme heat for a long period of time, and they rarely receive the recognition they deserve.

Thank you to the engineers and mechanics, many of whom work long, late hours, to prepare a car for a race. They are the quick thinkers and problem-solvers, who diagnose a concern and prescribe a solution. Sometimes the solution works, sometimes it doesn't. Just like life, we learn and we move on.

Thank you to the safety innovators, who have invented and refined many of the features we now take for granted. Things like SAFER barriers, catch fencing, the HANS device, seat belts, and rear wheel pods have all helped reduce the amount of fatalities and serious injuries. We must also thank those individuals who continue to make safety a priority and continue to pursue ways to make all motorsports, and all vehicles safer.

Thank you to members of the media, who bring us the stories, sights, and sounds we so desperately crave. Now, not all media members should be thanked, for there are those who reacted too quickly and irrationally after Sunday's crash, and there are those who are woefully misinformed. But I'm talking about the good ones, and especially the camera operators who bring us some amazing images, and who also often suffer in 100-degree heat. We all wanted to know what happened as soon as it happened on Sunday, and a special thank-you to the NBC Sports Network crew for giving us accurate, fast information.

Thank you to the drivers, who risk life and limb to do something they love for our entertainment. Let's face it, many motorsports fans would love to be in the cockpit of these cars, but some of us are not willing or able to take the risk. So we live vicariously through the ones who do take the risk.

Thank you to the fans who attend and watch races knowing that disaster may occur, but who ignore or downplay those thoughts for the sake of entertainment, camaraderie, and awe. We forget that we could be injured, too, but we like to get up close to the action because racing excites all the senses. I cannot explain the feeling I had as I crossed the bridge to the other side of the track in Houston, as IndyCars zoomed past underneath my feet (this was during qualifying). Unbelievably exhilarating, and I am so thankful for that experience.

Lastly, thank you to Dan Wheldon, whose legacy lives on. His assistance and expertise in testing and developing the DW12 that likely saved Dario's life will not be forgotten. Perhaps his spirit was watching over Dario and the fans on Sunday. Maybe, just maybe.

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone, so I'll add to this list as I remember others. Racing is dangerous. We sometimes forget that fact until something traumatic occurs. But racing is also thrilling, exciting, unpredictable, and dramatic. That's why we watch it. That's why we won't stop watching it. Thank you to those who will never quit, and who will continue to pursue their passions. All for the love of racing.

Rush

With the Formula One-centered film Rush now in widespread release, one has to wonder what, if any, impact this movie will have on open-wheel racing's popularity in the U.S. (and how many people will mistake IndyCar for Formula One, or vice versa). Clearly Turbo was not the answer to help IndyCar, but it definitely doesn't hurt to have two open-wheel racing-themed films released in the same year. It also begs the question: if you were to make a non-animated IndyCar film based on a true story, what would it be about?

A film about IndyCar should be relevant to a larger audience, not just race fans, and it shouldn't be too negative. Rush focuses on a heated rivalry and its consequences, and IndyCar has had plenty of those over the years. The whole IRL debacle could be chronicled in film quite nicely but I wonder if such a plot would be too technical for a big audience. Rush appears to be a heavily race-focused film so I'm not sure how much wide appeal it will generate. Evidently it was not a big hit in its premiere weekend, which is usually a bad sign. It does have critical acclaim and awards buzz though, so that will help.

Biopics can also make for interesting movies, and IndyCar has a whole cast of characters from which to draw for a biopic: A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell just to name a few. After reading Helio's autobiography, I think there's an interesting subplot in it about Emerson Fittipaldi's con artistry that could be movie-worthy. The Will Power-Dario Franchitti rivalry could make for a hilarious comedy as well.

I'd like to see a movie made about Dan Wheldon, not a biopic necessarily but how IndyCar's overzealous attempts to gain popularity contributed to negligent decision-making. This film would not paint IndyCar in the brightest light, so it would probably never be approved, but it certainly would be interesting. It would also appeal to a wider audience and help us all learn a valuable lesson about not rushing to a decision without careful consideration of all possible problems with the outcome. The film would have to include an epilogue about the changes IndyCar and other racing series have made since this tragedy.

Of course these films will probably never reach the studio, but it is fun to think about. If an IndyCar movie is made, let's hope it's better than Driven, which I have never fully seen (only parts of it) but have heard is dreadful. I do plan to see Rush soon, because racing movies are so rare. Good racing movies are even rarer.

Bye Bye Baltimore, Hello Montoya

Two significant IndyCar stories broke this past week--one good, one very bad. Let's start with the bad news first, so we can end on a more positive note.

The announcement that IndyCar would not be returning to Baltimore in 2014 or 2015 felt like a kick in the gut. Really, we should not be surprised given the turmoil that has surrounded the event since its inception. But it felt like things were moving in the right direction. The track had increased attendance this year, and the mayor spoke positively about the economic impact the Baltimore Grand Prix had on tourism and the national and international exposure it generated for the city. I spoke glowingly of Baltimore in my race recap, and I was looking forward to attending the track in the future.

So what went wrong and where do we place the blame? Organizers pointed to scheduling conflicts, which makes some sense. Certainly it's difficult to plan an event in a city with two major sports teams, whose schedules have to be worked around, and a large convention center near the track location. IndyCar exacerbated the problem by insisting that its season end before Labor Day. Dates in June and August were discussed, but were unavailable due to other events already planned in the city. I would guess that the city of Baltimore experienced at least a little frustration at IndyCar's stubbornness. Dates in late September or October might have been an option, but that would extend the season beyond IndyCar's goal. But based on what the mayoral spokesperson said, I would argue that the lack of a title sponsor is the biggest reason why the event was canceled. Perhaps the city was losing too much money, or pumping too much money into the race without a sufficient return on their investment. I actually feel like the city of Baltimore used IndyCar, especially after reading Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's statement in the Baltimore Sun. They hosted a three-year event with the intent to show that the city could take chances, could bring in new audiences, and could be rewarded for their efforts. But I feel like the intent was to tell other interested organizations, "Hey, we hosted an IndyCar race, look what we can do! Come host your event here!"

While there's a miniscule amount of optimism that IndyCar will return there after 2015, I'm not going to get my hopes up. It does not sound like Baltimore wants IndyCar back. And losing Baltimore is a huge blow to IndyCar. It was a successful track with good fan support, in a location where NASCAR does not visit. Now East Coasters must travel to Pocono Raceway if they want to see an IndyCar race, and thankfully they have that option for at least the next two years. Street races are tricky because they require a great deal of planning and they force the host cities to shut down some traffic flow for awhile. But they are also a great opportunity to showcase what a city has to offer and to give its residents a unique, family-friendly event. I'm not aware of any other cities besides Fort Lauderdale that are interested in hosting an IndyCar street race. So Houston, it's your turn. Let's see what you can do.

On to more positive news! Juan Pablo Montoya will be returning to IndyCar in 2014 after an unsuccessful run in NASCAR. This announcement surprised me since he had turned down an offer from Andretti Autosport. I had expected him to accept a deal from another NASCAR team, since they would probably pay him more. But Montoya wants to be with a winner, which is why he chose Penske. When Montoya was in open-wheel racing, he was one of the best drivers around. It will be interesting to see what he can do now that he's been away from the sport for awhile.

Montoya's return to IndyCar gives us an intriguing rivalry. Not just between Penske and Ganassi, the team that dumped Montoya from NASCAR, but also between teammates. Montoya is very competitive, and he'll want to win just as much as Helio and Will Power. This creates sort of an IndyCar superteam, but the intra-team dynamics could be interesting to watch. I think Montoya will be on a mission, too. He needs to re-prove himself as a dominant open-wheel driver, and will be looking for revenge against his Ganassi team. Never underestimate the power of a driver with a chip on his shoulder.

Montoya's return is also great for IndyCar. He is an internationally known star who will bring an allegiance of fans with him. NASCAR fans, even if they didn't like him, may casually read race recaps or check out a race just to see how he's doing (or perhaps, to root for him to fail). IndyCar fans are in for some thrilling theater next season. It's just too bad he'll never get to experience the thrills of the Baltimore Grand Prix.

Conspiracy Theories

I will admit, I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist. Many people believe the moon landing was staged or that JFK's assassination was an inside job, but I'm not one of them. I do, however, think that our sports outcomes are not always as spontaneous as we might think they are. These days, no sport is immune from scrutiny, and with the vast amount of technology we have available to us we can overanalyze every single play, comment, and decision until we start to believe it was all prearranged. Couple that with the appeal of social media, and conspiracy theories in the world of sport are bound to emerge.

I will also admit that I think the outcome of the NASCAR race in Richmond, and subsequently, the "Chase" was manipulated by Clint Bowyer and others. NASCAR evidently felt the same way, as they assigned some significant penalties Monday. But I also think this is nothing new when it comes to motorsports.

When Scott Dixon viewed the replay of his actions on pit lane in Sonoma, his immediate reaction was to think that the pit crew member impeded his path intentionally. Likewise, he felt Will Power may have purposefully swerved in front of him on a restart at Baltimore, causing him to crash and affecting his championship chances. Townsend Bell addressed the issue of "gamesmanship" on NBC Sports Network prior to the Baltimore race, alleging that pit crew members do indeed try to make it difficult for others to have clean stops. So NASCAR, you are not alone in your conspiracy theories.

Formula One practically invented "team orders." Not being more than a casual observer of F-1, I was surprised when I watched the movie Senna at how political the sport is. It astonishes me that crew chiefs, owners, and drivers would put themselves at such risk in a dangerous activity just to help a teammate secure a win or a championship. Is it worth it? What would have happened, for example, had Power's pit crew member been seriously injured? Or if Clint Bowyer had slammed into the wall at over 100mph? Are racing teams really trying to win at all costs? Do we need to be reminded just how dangerous racing truly is?

We should expect some conspiring in motorsports, which has teammates like many other sports. Teammates look out for one another, support one another, and in the case of racing, they share data, resources, and staff. If you really want to get rid of possible race manipulation, then you should only allow single-car operations. But even that may not fix the problem, because if you are to believe some of the crazies after the Indy 500, Dario Franchitti crashed on purpose so that his friend, not his teammate, would win the race (personally, I think that's the most ridiculous of all conspiracy theories).

Furthermore, if you want know if races are being manipulated, look to the sponsors. Is it merely coincidence that Ryan Hunter-Reay has put his car into DHL Victory Circle at Milwaukee the past two years? (I don't really believe this was prearranged but it's just one example of a coincidence.)  Money talks, we all know that. And sponsors like winners. So do fans.

Fans will probably be suspicious of anything Will Power does in the remaining races. He has admitted that his charge now is to help Helio win a championship, and we know Penske wants that badly. We have learned from the Richmond NASCAR race that teams can be creative in how they help their drivers win. So for better or worse, every move Power makes will be scrutinized--on television, radio, and social media. That's just the world we live in now.

Perhaps we are so suspicious of sports outcomes because they have been manipulated before. The 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal is arguably the most famous of all fixed events, when eight baseball players took bribes from gamblers and agreed to lose games. Unfortunately for these players, they were promised a payoff but never actually received it. Nevertheless, they were eventually banned from professional baseball (for an excellent summary of this scandal, read Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof, or see the as-excellent movie). In a more recent case, NBA referee Tim Donaghy admitted officials played favorites when making calls, so much so that he was able to bet which teams would win based on who the referees were. These cases cast doubts that all games, players, and officials are on the up-and-up.

Television coverage also manipulates outcomes. "TV timeouts" can break up momentum, or give hurting players a little more rest before re-entering a game. And then there's the one I am beginning to believe more and more, that if a team is getting blown out, something must be done to make the game closer because otherwise ratings will suffer. So are we, the fans, just the innocent bystanders in one big, sports conspiracy? Who knows? Would we stop watching even if we were?

IndyCar and NASCAR have received a good deal of criticism over the past few weeks, but both entities took swift action to try and reduce intentional, unethical manipulation of race outcomes. Meanwhile, the NFL has announced they will try to crack down on teams that intentionally fake injuries, and the NBA penalized numerous players for "flopping" last season. So evidently conspiracy and collusion will not be tolerated in sports. Are these just words to calm down fan outcries? I'll leave that for the conspiracy theorists.

Baltimore Recap

Well, Baltimore was...interesting. The street circuit definitely did not lack drama, with so many storylines I'm sure I'll leave one out. We had caution-filled carnage, an unexpected podium, a new rivalry, and a whole host of drivers upset with one another after the race. Not to mention that this all took place in Iron-Man city, at a venue with an uncertain future. So let's take a look at each one of these stories in turn.

Caution-Filled Carnage
We should expect some full-course cautions and bottleneck crashes on street courses like Baltimore. We have seen them elsewhere this year and in years past. Naturally when you try to squeeze 20 cars through a tight opening, when everyone wants to win or improve their position, there's bound to be some wreckage. Some drivers blamed the crashes on double-file restarts, but I'm not convinced eliminating them will prevent these issues. If anything we might see even more aggressive driving. Once everyone started driving more cautiously and less aggressively, we saw fewer problems.

Not only did cars exit the race because of crashes, but it seemed like there were more mechanical gremlins than usual. Mechanical problems unfortunately victimized Dario Franchitti, who had been on a roll, and championship contender Ryan Hunter-Reay, giving the title fight a whole new look. It appears RHR's chances for a repeat are all but done, as he falls to fifth place, 74 points behind Helio.

An Unexpected Podium
In between the wrecks and the cautions, we saw some fantastic racing and passing. Simon Pagenaud scored his second win of the year, and the second of his young IndyCar career, with a determined late pass on his fellow countryman Bourdais (Bourdais took issue with the contact but was more restrained than we've seen him be in post-race interviews). I think we all knew Pags would be someone to watch out for, especially on street courses. He showed us last year that he has some serious driving chops. Not only can he win on these tracks, but he is now a serious championship contender, catapulting up to third place in the standings. To me, that's more surprising than his victory in Baltimore.

And how about Josef Newgarden, who earned his first IndyCar podium with a car that looked strong enough to win all weekend? Honestly, even though he took second place, it felt like he won the race. I was more excited for his finish than Pagenaud's win. This was an outstanding result for a small team that really needed it. We should see Newgarden in victory lane soon enough--he has shown some good patience and improvement as a driver this year.

A New Rivalry
Will Power and Dario Franchitti have had their issues over the years, even as recently as last weekend in Sonoma. But it appears Power has found a new rival on the Ganassi team. We have discussed the Scott Dixon Sonoma penalty ad nauseum the past few weeks, but that controversy ignited this new rivalry. Now, in Baltimore, Power chopped Dixon on a restart, ending Dixon's day and significantly affecting his championship chances. The initial camera angle made Power's move look blatantly intentional, but subsequent replays and Power's explanation afterwards showed it was more carelessness and lack of awareness than malice. Power has to feel terribly about causing Dixon to spin and hit the wall, but that move points to a bigger concern in my opinion. Power has always been one of the best drivers on road and street courses, but this year his results have not reflected that talent. I would be more likely to expect that kind of ill-advised move from Luca Filippi or some other rookie who lacked IndyCar experience. Has Power lost his mojo? And how much patience will Roger Penske have if Power keeps making these silly mistakes?

Scott Dixon had a legitimate gripe, though he may want to start showing more restraint if he wants to get race control on his side. He seemed more upset that IndyCar officials would not let him bring his car back to pit lane to work on than he was at Power. I would like to hear race control's explanation as to why Dixon's car was not towed back to pit lane, but he wasn't the only driver who was denied access. The past two races have not gone Dixon's way, and he has every right to be frustrated about it. But I'll be honest, his comments and reactions have forced me to root for his rivals rather than him. He showed a lack of compassion for an injured crew member after Sonoma, and he called for race officials to be fired after this race (which, in any other sport, he would receive a hefty fine for). He also seems to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist, accusing Penske of gamesmanship at both Sonoma and Baltimore. I think back to Pocono, where he was helped out by Sato running into Hunter-Reay on pit road. Race results are often the result of good teamwork, strong driving, and a little bit of luck, let's face it. Lately Dixon has not had the luck, but it's not like he hasn't had any luck this year. He is not out of it. He swept the doubleheader in Toronto, so he can definitely do it again in Houston, which would be a huge swing in the points standings.

Upset Drivers
Is there anyone who wasn't upset with another driver after the race? Bourdais didn't like Pagenaud's pass. Justin Wilson was unhappy with Bourdais for clipping him. Bobby Rahal called Tony Kanaan a punk on Twitter. Simona DeSilvestro also had less-than-flattering words for her teammate. Oriol Servia and Will Power both served drive-through penalties for avoidable contact, and Dixon believed Graham Rahal should have been penalized as well. Wow! You know it's a good race when you have this many drivers complaining afterwards! If it was an easy race where everyone was civil to one another, that would not be good entertainment. So thank you, drivers, for adding a little bit of drama and intrigue into the remaining races! Let's just be mature about it and discuss it with each other instead of airing out grievances through social media, okay?

Baltimore the Venue
Some questions remain about whether or not Baltimore will be back on the schedule next year. It will definitely not have the Labor Day date, because of a scheduling conflict at M & T Bank Stadium and because Mark Miles wants IndyCar's season to be finished by Labor Day. It appears Baltimore will return for 2014 but beyond that we will just have to wait and see. It's a shame that the event has had so many financial issues because it truly is a beautiful venue that has produced some exciting racing these past three years. I loved the overhead views of downtown Baltimore with cars zooming right past Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore is one of those tracks I hope to see, so I hope it's still around for me to visit in a few years.

Finally, we must give congratulations to Iron Man Tony Kanaan, who broke the all-time IndyCar starts record this past weekend. TK has now started an astonishing 212 races in a row, which is extremely impressive in a dangerous sport. The fact that he broke this record in front of where the other Iron Man, Cal Ripken, played for so many years, just felt incredibly fitting. A special accomplishment in a special place.

Sonoma Review

Whew, what a race! IndyCar roared back after a long three-week layoff with a drama-filled slugfest at Sonoma. Will Power finally got a win after a long drought, and Team Penske continued its dominance at the track. But let's face it, that's not what got the most attention.

Let's start with the call that had everyone talking. Scott Dixon clipped a member of Will Power's pit crew, creating a sort of domino effect that led to several crew members lying on the ground and icing various body parts afterwards. Replays showed that one pit crew member may have been purposefully carrying a tire and leaning toward Dixon's car, enticing Dixon to hit him and ultimately serve a drive-through penalty. I first have to ask, why would someone intentionally risk getting hit? We'd have to go back and review previous pit stops to see where that crew member walked to know if it was intentional. Stupidity maybe, or lack of awareness, but intent is nearly impossible to prove without a confession. Perhaps there were other issues such as one Beaux Barfield mentioned in the post-race interview, the pit boxes were confusing.

Regardless of intent or the reason for the incident, the rule is absolutely clear: If someone gets hit, you call a penalty. I had to look it up to be sure, and in case you're wondering (and I know you were, ha!), it's rule 7.10.1.6, which says "contact with personnel" is cause for a penalty. If the tables had been turned, and Power had clipped one of Dixon's crew members, I would hope Dixon would feel a penalty was justified. In his post-race interview, as he was being shown the replay, Dixon (in addition to calling the pit crew member in question a less-than-favorable, yes-we're-on-live-TV name) complained that race control needs more consistency. Maybe on other issues, but how can you be inconsistent when it comes to someone else's safety? Show me one instance where someone has been hit in pit lane and not penalized, then we can talk about inconsistency. I understand Dixon's frustration but he showed no compassion for crew member safety in that interview. His response certainly lacked the tact that Mike Hull and Tim Cindric displayed. And I have to agree with Barfield's comment that safety is and should be more important than a few championship points.

I must add a caveat to all this, in that I did not want to see Dixon win again. I would have felt the same way had Power or any other driver won three races in a row. I just like variety and different winners. So perhaps my analysis is a little biased, but I would have liked to see a more objective review of the incident rather than the anti-race control rants we heard on NBC Sports Network and on Twitter. If you don't make that call and issue a penalty, you're basically saying it's okay to hit crew members. I know some will say that this call now creates a slippery slope, where crew members can intentionally be negligent and spiteful, trying to get lead cars penalized. But this brings me back to my original question: why would you intentionally risk serious injury or death just to get a penalty? I sincerely hope we do not head down this path. I'd like to believe that most, if not all, crew members are responsible and ethical.

Let's talk about something else, shall we? This race had plenty of other storylines. Justin Wilson was impressive, finishing second and racing cleanly next to Power on the final restart. He gave us some edge-of-your-seat thrills as he tried to pass the leaders. Ryan Hunter-Reay managed to rebound after a questionable pit strategy in which he stayed out while all the other leaders came in to pit. Most importantly, he finished ahead of Helio Castroneves (who drove a smart, safe race), so he remains in the championship hunt. I'll admit, I thought he was doomed after that initial call, when he dropped back to 16th place. At this point, it's going to be very difficult for him to win this thing, but he's still alive so kudos to him. And Graham Rahal had a strong qualifying effort, plus surviving contact in the race, to finish in 11th place. Perhaps this is the start of good finishes for him.

The race featured a lot of contact, as a record for full-course cautions was set. Surprising, considering the caution-free race we had at Mid-Ohio. The Captain, Roger Penske, could be seen scolding Marco Andretti after the race for making contact and not giving his driver enough room. There were plenty of penalties for avoidable contact, with the last one ruining Ryan Briscoe's good day. I had been reading articles and previews of Sonoma prior to this race, and most said the same thing: we should be prepared for an uneventful race on a track where passing is difficult. Well, this race was anything but uneventful! In addition to the race control drama, we saw passing aplenty, with good battles for the lead all day. Sonoma proved to be a great track, and these storylines will carry over to next year's race as well as next week's event in Baltimore.

Overall, I think most folks--except for those in Ganassi's camp--were pleased to see Will Power in victory lane once again. (Where was the victory jump, though, Will? I missed it!) Power has always been good at Sonoma, and he now has three wins at the twisty road course. It's hard to believe that Power had not won since Brazil last year, and had only been on the podium once this year prior to this race. He wanted this win, that was evident. Would Power have won without that penalty? It's difficult to say, because Dixon had nailed all the previous restarts, leaving everyone else in the dust. He clearly had a dominant car. But we shouldn't forget those intangibles like desire and determination. We'll see just how much those variables count in these last few races.

Schedule Gaps

Rumor has it the 2014 schedule is nearly finalized, and with 20-21 races supposedly finished by Labor Day, you can bet we won't be seeing three- and four-week gaps like this year. The schedule is a major source of contention among everyone associated with IndyCar--owners, drivers, and fans alike. Fans don't want long breaks between races, but teams get worn out without them, especially with doubleheaders. We need a happy medium. Unfortunately I don't think this problem will be fixed any time soon.

NASCAR thrives in part because races take place nearly every weekend. It's just like any other sport: it has a regular schedule that fans can plan around and look forward to. Huge gaps between races lead to fans losing interest, forgetting to tune in, and finding other things to occupy their leisure time. I've been somewhat grateful for these breaks because they have allowed me to get some much-needed work done, but I want to see some racing! I know we all do, and let's face it, as good as Turbo is, it just doesn't cut it. But I don't necessarily need doubleheaders every weekend either, which might happen if we're expected to fit in 20-21 races by Labor Day. Again, let's find a happy medium.

News also surfaced this week that IndyCars would begin testing on the IMS road course, for a possible race next May. Testing does not guarantee there will be a race, but the IndyCar powers that be certainly seem to have their mind set on it. I am not opposed to the idea of an IMS road course event. I think it will help the track bring in a little more revenue, and it gets IndyCar back to its roots, the place they are most known for. However, I am opposed to such a race in May.

Forget about tradition, and history, and ruining a sacred event like the Indianapolis 500 for a moment, although those are good reasons too. I just don't think this is the best solution to help IndyCar gain recognition and financial stability. You already have the premier motorsports race on Memorial Day weekend (despite what some naysayers say, I still believe it's the greatest spectacle in racing). So a lot of eyeballs and fan attention are already turned toward the speedway in May. Wouldn't it make more sense to spread things out so you can bring those eyeballs back, such as at the end of the year? I think having the season finale at IMS would be great publicity. (A street race in Indianapolis would be even better.) And I think it would highlight the fact that these drivers are the most versatile in the world, because they race on ovals and non-ovals--at the same place! Crazy! If you want to expand your fan base and grow more appeal, I think that would be a better way to do it.

I hear some fans complain that the race would be too boring, because previous events held on that course have been. Let's not rush to judgment on that just yet. As I recall, a lot of folks used to say street races and tracks like Barber were boring too, but we've had some incredibly exciting action at those venues this year. I'm willing to give an IMS road course race a chance. I just wish it wasn't in May.

The End of Speed

A lot of motorsports fans are lamenting the loss of the Speed network, particularly now that Speed Center and Wind Tunnel have aired their final shows. As most of us know by now, Speed will be replaced by the new Fox Sports 1, an ESPN wannabe channel. I have mixed feelings about the début of this new channel. On one hand I'm grateful that ESPN will finally have some real competition, which they have never really had. CNNSI didn't last very long. NBC Sports Network struggles to gain viewership, although it has done a good job of creating its own unique identity, separate from ESPN. I think the increase in multisports channels will give sports viewers more choices, and force all networks to be at the top of their game, both of which can be positive outcomes from this change.

Years ago ESPN2 had a show called RPM2Night, a show very similar to Speed Center. I'm not sure why it went off the air, but it was really the only show devoted to covering and analyzing all forms of motorsports. Speed (formerly SpeedVision) followed the same philosophy. With SpeedVision, motorsports fans finally had a consistent place to turn for their favorite sport. Now, once again, they are left without such a place and I know many fans like myself feel a void now that this place has been taken away. It's strange to me that there are so many sport-specific channels now-NBATV, NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel...but as of Saturday there will be no motorsports channel, and I would argue that motorsports are at least as popular as hockey or tennis in this country.

I will admit, I was not a regular viewer of Speed Center or Wind Tunnel, but I would check them out occasionally. I knew that if I wanted to follow up on the IndyCar race of the weekend and get some post-race analysis, I either had to read stories online or tune into one of these two shows. They were the only ones that talked about IndyCar. Now there's only the internet, unless NBC Sports Network decides to add such a show, which they should. I'm fine with that but I understand the frustration some fans must feel at the lack of exposure other non-NASCAR motorsports will now receive. Fox Sports issued a statement reassuring fans that they would still be receiving motorsports coverage, but in their statement, they really only mentioned NASCAR and MotoGP. Oh, and Formula E, which may not even last more than one year. What I want to know is, what will happen to the 24-hour races like Daytona and LeMans? I enjoyed watching those, along with some of the other non-mainstream motorsports that Speed occasionally showed. Without consistent coverage, I fear these motorsports are doomed--and that includes IndyCar. But I must remain optimistic.

Change is difficult for most people. When I worked in retail years ago, an elderly woman asked me if we still carried a particular product. I informed her that we didn't and I explained why (although I can't remember why now). She sighed and replied, "Everything changes, but not always for the better." I have never forgotten those words, and I often repeat them to myself whenever a change occurs that I don't necessarily approve of. I pride myself on keeping an open mind so I will just have to wait and see what the future of Fox Sports 1 brings. I encourage all viewers to do the same. In the meantime, to all the folks at Speed, farewell and thank you for your years of motorsports coverage.

OH Kimball!

After watching part of today's NASCAR wreck-fest at Watkins Glen, I am much more appreciative of the caution-free racing we saw in IndyCar last weekend at Mid-Ohio. Last week's race was nearly issue-free, too, until a late tire issue caused Tony Kanaan's day to end. (And I think I jinxed TK because I had literally just tweeted that I was surprised every car was still in the race, when TK had problems. Sorry Tony!)

Mid-Ohio was Charlie Kimball's coming-of-age event. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who was not happy to see Kimball get his first IndyCar win. Kimball has shown steady improvement this season, with a podium at Pocono and a trip to the Firestone Fast Six at Barber. The victory was even more impressive considering Kimball was in a backup car after a scary crash in practice and he didn't even race at Mid-Ohio last year. To me, Kimball has always seemed stronger on road and street courses than ovals, and the pass he made on Simon Pagenaud showed why. He has had several memorable, bold moves throughout his IndyCar career, and that was perhaps the best. When he went off course into the dirt, I thought his day was done. But he made a nice save and drove an aggressive yet smart race to earn a well-deserved visit to victory lane.

As Ryan Briscoe noted, it was refreshing to see the fastest car win rather than the car with the best fuel mileage. The two-stop strategy backfired for Ryan Hunter-Reay, Will Power, and Scott Dixon, and though I like all of those drivers, I'm glad it did. The different pit strategies kept the race interesting, and the ensuing battle between Pagenaud and Kimball after their final pit stop was edge-of-your-seat thrilling. One does not need cautions and crashes to create drama, as this race showed.

I think we can officially say that Ganassi is back. They stumbled out of the starting blocks this year, but ever since the post-Iowa break, the team and Honda have really gotten their act together. Dario has made a nice quiet comeback, although he's still out of the championship hunt. Honda swept the top three spots at Mid-Ohio so they appear to have identified and corrected the source of their problems. However, I'm not convinced that the engine is the reason why Kimball, Pags and Dario were on the Mid-Ohio podium. They were just the best drivers of the day.

Two IndyCar newbies also had decent performances. James Davison and Luca Filippi finished 15th and 16th respectively, but more impressively, they stayed out of trouble and drove professionally and intelligently. Their rookie performances may bode well for future IndyCar rides. And EJ Viso was up to his old tricks again, inexplicably failing to move over for the leaders. Just as we thought he was taking significant steps forward, he reminds us that he's still the same old Viso.

Having Ryan Briscoe in the booth was a welcome addition, though he lacked the charisma of Dan Wheldon or other analysts who have temporarily joined the IndyCar broadcast team. He did, however, provide some unique driver insight, which was appreciated.

This part of the schedule is frustrating. We just had three weeks between races, and now we have three more weeks between races. What a great way to kill momentum. On the other hand, I'm somewhat grateful for these lags because they have allowed me to get some necessary class prep work done! And at least we still have five more races to look forward to!

On Turbo and NASCAR's New Deal

I had the pleasure of seeing Turbo last weekend, and I was not disappointed. It actually was better than I expected. I laughed out loud numerous times, and I'm an adult! I was afraid the previews had given too much of the movie away, but that wasn't the case. Turbo really is a must-watch for all IndyCar fans, children, and anyone who ever had a dream that someone criticized.

I'm sure everyone knows the storyline by now: a racing-obsessed snail who calls himself Turbo has a freak accident and suddenly gains blistering speed. His snail brother and "co-workers" think he's weird and should spend his days keeping the garden intact rather than dreaming of racing. But he sets on a quest to participate in the Indy 500. The story's message for kids is nothing we haven't heard before: "Follow your dreams, no matter what others tell you." But it bears repeating for today's youth I think. One of my colleagues is currently doing a speaking tour across the nation encouraging people to follow their dreams. She thinks people, particularly young college students, have forgotten how to or don't want to dream anymore. This movie hits on that message, and it also points out how critical people are nowadays, especially of each other. Turbo's brother, voiced by Paul Giamatti, thinks he's showing brotherly love by talking some sense into him, but it comes across as harsh criticism for being different. I think no matter what age you are, you can relate to that experience. So the "follow your dreams" mantra may not be original, but it's still timeless.

As for the racing and depiction of IndyCar, I think this is Turbo's biggest strength. Keep in mind that you have to suspend disbelief when you watch this movie. It's a cartoon but also has elements of realism. I couldn't help but gaze in awe at the accurate and spectacular way DreamWorks has captured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the thrills of racing. They really did a phenomenal job, and I do recommend seeing the movie in 3D to feel the full effects. After I left the theater, I wondered two things: 1) when am I going to get that Snoop Dogg/Lion song out of my head? (seriously, it's catchy) and 2) how long until the Indy 500? It just made me want to watch a real race! And unfortunately IndyCar is off until August 4, darn it!

Will Turbo bring us a new crop of IndyCar fans? Time will tell, but I'm sure there's at least a few kids out there whose interest was piqued. Unfortunately I think the beneficiary of the movie's release will be NASCAR, because they're the ones racing at IMS this weekend. But this movie gives some much-needed exposure to IndyCar and reminds naysayers that IndyCar racing is still some of the most exciting entertainment out there. If I was in marketing, I would release Turbo on DVD for Christmas, but then again in May as an "Indy 500 special edition." I wish Turbo had been released over Memorial Day weekend instead of now, so you could have that sort of mutually beneficial cross-marketing.

Speaking of NASCAR, word broke this week that NBC would begin covering them in 2015 instead of ESPN and TNT. While I think this is great for NASCAR because NBC's motorsports coverage (and their coverage of live sporting events in general) is far superior to ESPN's, I think it signals doom for ESPN. Not only is Fox Sports debuting a new 24-hour sports channel on August 17, ESPN has now lost bids to broadcast the Olympics, NHL, UFC, and NASCAR. (And three of those organizations chose NBC.) Clearly ESPN is not the sports superpower they once were, and I for one could not be happier. My opinion of ESPN has really changed in the last few years, since their coverage turned more sensational and football-dominated. I now turn to other sports channels (MLB Network is my fave) and websites for my sports news. I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment.

NBC's winning bid should mean good things for IndyCar. For one, NBC will be able to advertise upcoming IndyCar races during NASCAR events, and that's a key target audience to reach. NBCSN may even be able to do some racing doubleheaders, with IndyCar followed by NASCAR or vice versa. It should also give NBCSN more visibility. This deal is still a year and a half away, but I'm optimistic that it will have a positive impact on IndyCar.

And now, since we have to wait another week for an IndyCar event, why not go see Turbo? I highly recommend it, and it's a great way to get your IndyCar fix while they're away!

TOtal Dixon Domination

Happy Turbo Day! Many of us IndyCar fans have waited a long time for this day. I plan to see the movie within the next week, and I'll post a review after I've seen it. So far the reviews are mixed, so we'll see. Already I'm noticing some issues with the release. Entertainment Weekly mistakenly identified the racing in the movie as NASCAR, which ticks me off, along with other IndyCar fans I'm sure. Please, reviewers, get it right--NASCAR was in Cars. Turbo features IndyCars.

Now, let's look back on last weekend's doubleheader in Toronto, an event that certainly did not lack drama...at least on Saturday. Sunday could've used some more drama in my opinion. To recap...

All the hype and publicity over the standing start quickly evaporated into a collaborative public outcry when the start was aborted due to Josef Newgarden's car issues. Wow, were fans in a tizzy when this happened. Fans in attendance booed Newgarden, as if it was his fault there was no standing start. And fans on Twitter erupted in anger, demanding (and ultimately getting) a re-do on Sunday. To me, it was no big deal. We had been warned ahead of time that if the standing start was not successful on the first try, it would be aborted. After witnessing the lackluster beginning to Sunday's race, I have to say rolling starts are much more interesting. But kudos to IndyCar for trying something different.

Kudos also to Sebastien Bourdais for finally earning a spot on the podium--twice. He nearly won Race 1 , too, but after using up all his Push-to-Passes and finishing on reds, it was only a matter of time before Dixon passed him for the lead. Unfortunately, Bourdais' good weekend was overshadowed by his podium oops--dropping and shattering the crystal trophy he'd just earned. Really, I can't fault him for that blooper. I would've thought the trophy was attached to the base, as most trophies are. But he gave us a humorous moment on a day that needed some by the end of it.

Will Power made an aggressive move on Dario Franchitti late in the race, in Turn 3 once again, and Power met doom once again, ending up in the tires. I think we all know what happened next. After reviewing the move, race control decided Dario was blocking Will, and they took away his podium finish--after he had posed for pictures and just as he was getting ready to participate in the champagne toast. Later, Dario's finish was reinstated after Derrick Walker reviewed the move on different monitors, with apparently more advanced technology than they have in race control. Most fans attributed this embarrassing turn of events to Brian Barnhart, who was subbing for Beaux Barfield, and it doesn't seem to be concidence that controversy followed Barnhart's return to officiating. I'll say this about the move: I'm no fan of Dario's but he didn't deserve to be penalized. Sato's moves in Sao Paulo were much more egregious and nothing was called on him. So while IndyCar ended up with egg on their faces, they eventually took the correct action. All this drama was an unfortunate conclusion to a race that featured a lot of action and passing. However, NASCAR fans love this kind of drama, right? So maybe IndyCar needs more of this?

More drama emerged on Sunday when Dario was allowed to run only one lap on red tires, even though the rules stipulate you must run at least two laps. Again, this turned out in Dario's favor because of a new "doubleheader rule" that allows for exceptions just in case a team runs out of tires. I think IndyCar needs to rethink that one. If you can't run a mere two laps on reds you don't deserve to finish in fourth place. Part of me wonders if they just let it slide because they felt bad about interrupting his podium celebration on Saturday.

What a weekend to forget for Andretti Autosport. Ryan Hunter-Reay had pit problems on Saturday, and crashed late in the race on Sunday to take a big hit in the points. James Hinchcliffe couldn't even get on the starting grid on Sunday, which was hugely disappointing to the home crowd. These complications, coupled with their underwhelming qualifying effort, shifted the IndyCar tides. Ganassi and Penske appear to be coming on strong again, while Andretti appears headed in the opposite direction.

I'll be honest, Sunday's race bored me. Perhaps I was doubleheadered out. Perhaps I had higher expectations because Saturday's race had been so exciting, and perhaps I was less than thrilled to see Dixon win again, but I think that race ranks up there with Texas as the worst one of the year. I attribute the lack of excitement to two things: one, Ganassi and Honda finally figuring things out (hence, Dixon's runaway win), and two, the standing start. The standing start seemed to immediately spread out the field, leading to little passing and a Formula-One-style race. But if I'm to believe fans' comments on Twitter and elsewhere, the standing start was amazing and should be retained. I have to respectfully disagree. It was an experiment, great. But the rolling starts allow for much more excitement. It's like the old adage says: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Overall, the weekend belonged to Scott Dixon and he deserves major congratulations for his accomplishments in IndyCar. With his victory in race 1 and his dominating performance in race 2, he has now won three races in a row and really shaken up the championship standings. As the schedule gets a long three-week layoff now, it's difficult to say anyone has momentum, but the pendulum definitely seems to be swinging Dixon's way.

Other Random Race Notes:
Takuma Sato finished in last place on Saturday. Hmm, karma after Pocono's debacle?...Loved having Steve Matchett in the NBCSN booth. He added humor, insight, and intelligence to the commentary. The trio of Matchett, Leigh Diffey, and Townsend Bell is a winning combination...Carlos Munoz impressed again, stepping in for an injured Ryan Briscoe at the last minute. And lastly, extra special get-well wishes for daddy-to-be Briscoe!