Indy 500 Reflections

I almost wish we had a week off after the big race to digest everything and let TK take a proper victory lap. He's so busy with appearances and interviews this week (stopping in Texas today) it will be hard to concentrate on Detroit this weekend. Oh, the plight of an Indy 500 champion, huh? But now that the Indy 500 hangover is somewhat settling down, it's time to revisit the storylines from before the race and see if our questions were answered.

The first question I posed was which engine will triumph? Clearly Chevy was the big winner here, sweeping the top four spots and running in the front almost all day. The Hondas never really had a chance it seemed. Ryan Briscoe commented after the race that his car could never capture the speed of the top ten, and the other Hondas could echo that sentiment. Justin Wilson was the top Honda, and he did turn the fastest lap of the race, so evidently the Hondas are at least capable of top speed. You have to think Honda will not be pleased with this result, nor will any of the teams with Honda engines, so they will likely work feverishly over the next year to ensure more equal competition. (On a side note, who would've thought that the so-called Ganassi B-team of Briscoe and Charlie Kimball would place higher than its A-team of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti?)

Second, I asked who will find redemption? The most obvious answer is the champ Tony Kanaan, but I definitely think AJ Allmendinger deserves an honorable mention. Despite starting off conservatively, AJ eventually surged to the front of the field and led 23 laps. He may have even won the race were it not for a problem with his seat belt. Hopefully this success lands AJ in a full-time IndyCar ride, because that seems to be the best place for his talent. He also spoke of the Indy 500 with great passion every time I saw him interviewed, so you have to think his heart lies with open wheel racing.

The driver who definitely was not redeemed was JR Hildebrand. The first driver out of the race, crashing on lap 4, does not score you any redemption points. If we are to believe the reports, JR's team went with an aggressive setup more focused on speed than anything else, which indicates a lack of team competence more than driver error. I had high hopes for this team, though, because they looked great in qualifying and JR seemed to be gaining confidence with each race. Something's not quite right with this team, though. They don't seem to be "gelling," and that does not bode well for the future.

Third question: will the early-season Andretti success continue? Though they didn't win the biggest race of the year, this question must be answered with a resounding yes. Andretti drivers finished 2-3-4-18-21, and every Andretti driver led at least one lap. Most impressive was rookie Carlos Munoz, who finished second and may have even won it all were it not for that last caution. Hinchcliffe's finish was rather disappointing, but Andretti Autosport has been the team to beat this year, and they will probably remain so through the rest of the season.

Fourth: will the quest for four be achieved? Not this year! Dario was never even close, so Helio had the best chance this year. Both will instead set their sights on next year and on winning the championship this year.

Fifth: how will blocking impact the race? This actually turned out to be a non-story, surprisingly. Sebastian Saavedra ran into some blocking issues early in the race, as Pippa Mann appeared to block him, causing him to crash out of the race. This story was never followed up on by the ABC telecast so it's difficult to know exactly what happened there. Pippa is also entangled in some Twitter angst with Graham Rahal over a restart (why take to Twitter to air out grievances by the way?), and both Rahal and James Jakes received fines for not lining up properly on a restart (they're appealing), so there were some behind-the-scenes stories we were not privy to. But overall everyone appeared to drive a clean, safe race, which was good to see.

Lastly, can an American finally win the race? Again, not this year. But I don't think a lot of Americans were upset with the Brazilian who did win. Americans Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, AJ Allmendinger, Ed Carpenter, and Townsend Bell all led at least one lap, and Hunter-Reay and Andretti were definitely in contention for the win at the end. The future is bright for American open wheel racers, and I'm sure one of them will win in the next few years.

The other story that I didn't raise before the race (though in hindsight I probably should have) concerns the records that fell. Record number of lead changes (68) and record average speed (187.433). Fourteen drivers held the lead, and we had no idea who was going to win this race as it unfolded. I'm a bit undecided about the constant slingshot passing we saw, but it did make for some dramatic racing and most fans seemed to love it. Most of the rhetoric I have read since Sunday has been positive, calling it one of the best races ever (there are also those who are disappointed the race finished under caution, but that's to be expected). Overall I think most were pleased with the race and especially with the final outcome.

Now we're off to Detroit, where we saw the worst race of the year last year. After ending on such a high note at Indy, let's hope the great racing we've seen this year continues and Detroit fixes its problems from last year. In the meantime, we can keep savoring that fantastic Indy 500 race!

Finally!

Ahhhh....

That's the sound of me savoring a sweet, sweet victory.

When I wrote in a previous blog post about redemption stories to watch in this year's Indy 500, I neglected to mention one of the most compelling stories of all. This story is not really one of redemption though; it's more a story of perseverance and sheer determination. Have you ever wanted something so badly you would do anything to get it? That's the focus and fight I imagine Tony Kanaan drove with in this year's Indy 500. He showed us that perserverance, determination, and focus can and will ultimately pay off. After years of being so close to winning the big prize, he finally earned it, and I think you'd have a hard time finding someone who didn't like this win.

How badly did TK want this win? He charged from 12th to first within the first ten laps of the race. On the final restart, he passed Ryan Hunter-Reay and Carlos Munoz with a daring, aggressive move. He was heard on the radio telling his team he was going to go for it, it was "all or nothing." When Franchitti crashed with two laps to go, we all knew it was TK's day, finally.

A word about the end of this race. Count me as one of the fans who is NOT in favor of a gimmicky green-white-checkered finish. It's the Indianapolis 500, not the Indianapolis 502.5. If you're not in front at the end, then too bad. I know the end of the Indy Lights race was what we were hoping for. Well maybe Dario shouldn't have crashed then. I could possibly be in favor of a red flag with less than five laps to go so that the distance remains the same. IndyCar did this at Fontana last year, and though it was met with some resistance I think it was a good idea. I don't see this happening at Indy, though. We may be letting a sentimental win cloud our judgment a little bit, but the race ended the right way. Now, if Munoz had been in the lead when the final caution came out, preventing TK from grabbing that elusive win, I think it'd be a different story. And had the final two laps stayed green, I do think the race was Munoz's for the taking. That would not have been nearly as popular a win--except maybe in his native Colombia. The rookie was definitely impressive, and I'm sure he will be back.

After the race, I spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting, because I didn't have anyone to share my joy with. It's so hard to find other fans who "get it." That is, who get why IndyCar racing is so special, and why the Indy 500 in particular is truly the greatest spectacle not just in racing but in any sports or entertainment venue. I have not met anyone who shares my passion (hence why I started this blog), nor anyone who understands the high I feel after a race. There aren't many people out there who get it.

But all those fans at IMS on Sunday who stood and cheered when TK took the checkered flag--perhaps with a tear in their eye--got it. I wish I could've been among them, to witness a touching, historical moment and feel the energy of an electric crowd who loves the Indy 500 as I do. I know there were also many fans like me across the world who stood and cheered from their living rooms (probably also misty-eyed like me) and I think from somewhere up above Dan Wheldon was smiling too. It takes a special person, a special event, and a special venue to cause that kind of reaction. Indy found that winning combination in 2013.

Tomorrow I'll take more time to reflect on the other storylines from the race but this is TK's moment, his day. Long overdue and well deserved.

Storylines for the 2013 Indianapolis 500

As in years past, this year's greatest spectacle in racing is not lacking in stories that capture our attention. Some stories will appeal to the technical race fan, whereas others may interest fans of particular drivers. Whichever story piques your interest the most, here are some key questions to keep an eye on in Sunday's race, and I'm sure others will emerge as the race goes on.

Which Engine Will Triumph? One of the most intriguing storylines for me has to be the Chevy vs. Honda battle. Chevy dominated the top ten qualifying spots, but Honda won the race last year and appeared to have better fuel mileage. In the final practice on Friday, a Honda was the fastest car (Simon Pagenaud). I have to believe Honda has another rabbit up its sleeve and is waiting to pull it out on race day.

Who Will Find Redemption? As I mentioned in a previous blog, this year also features many drivers on the path to redemption. Whether it's a revenge-seeking story like Ryan Briscoe or Katherine Legge, a personal battle like AJ Allmendinger, or a desire to expunge previous Indy 500 demons like JR Hildebrand and Takuma Sato, there are no shortage of storylines here. Oriol Servia is another driver to keep an eye on, because he probably has the most pressure of anyone in the field. Due to lack of sponsorship, his team will close up shop after the Indy 500--unless he can win the biggest race of the year. While his story will not be known to many casual fans, I would suspect a lot of diehard IndyCar fans will be rooting for him to have some success.

Will the Early-Season Andretti Success Continue? Andretti Autosport has been dominant all year, winning three of the first four races, and getting all five of their cars into the Fast 9 for qualifying. Can they translate this early season success into success at Indianapolis, a place that has seemed to haunt the Andrettis since Mario's lone win in 1969. In particular, Marco Andretti will be one to watch, as, like his father, he has been so close so many times, only to run into problems or bad luck late in the race.

Will the Quest for Four Be Achieved? Two three-time winners, Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves, will be going for that sacred fourth victory, and both have legitimate, serious shots at getting it. In fact, they may both be considered the favorites to win this race. Dario and Helio faced off in the final round of the Pit Stop Challenge, so perhaps that was a sign of things to come on race day. Winning a fourth Indy 500 would put either driver in some exclusive company and cement his legacy as one of the greatest drivers in IndyCar history.

How Will Blocking Impact the Race? With the controversy in Brazil over a non-blocking call for Takuma Sato, we have to see if blocking penalties will come into play on Sunday. Beaux Barfield has informed all of the drivers of blocking rules for the 500, so they should be aware of these guidelines. Whether or not this awareness leads to actual enforcement (not to mention the drivers remembering the rules in the heat of the moment!) remains to be seen. Apparently, if I understand the rule correctly, drivers are supposed to leave room for drivers to pass on the left side. If that's the case, then Dario would have received a penalty with this rule in place last year. I think this could be a big story as the race progresses.

Can an American Finally Win Again? I read a discouraged fan's comment on Facebook about how the number of Americans in the field keeps shrinking. While that may be true, there are certainly plenty of Americans to watch this year; in fact, USA has 11 cars in the field (or one-third of the entries), more than any other country. Ed Carpenter sits on the pole and is the hometown hero. Ryan Hunter-Reay is last year's series champ but has never won Indy. Two Indy 500 rookies, Allmendinger and Conor Daly, could make things interesting. Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti are trying to follow in their fathers' (and grandfather's) footsteps. It would certainly help IndyCar's popularity if one of these drivers were to win. But the crowd favorite is probably Brazilian Tony Kanaan. His charisma, humor, and history at Indianapolis definitely make him someone to root for.

I usually don't make predictions for any race or season, but I'll break with tradition and share my pick to win. I have been saying all month it's going to be Takuma Sato, but even though I'm not fully convinced of that choice any more, I'll have to stick with it. Personally, I would love to see any American, Kanaan, or Ryan Briscoe win. There are plenty of drivers and stories to watch at the 2013 Indy 500. Above all else, though, let's hope for a safe, entertaining race.

Planning an Indy 500 Party

Sunday's Indy 500 has a lot to live up to after Friday's thrilling four-wide, closest-ever finish in the Firestone Indy Lights' Freedom 100. Wow! I did not even think cars could go four-wide at the Speedway. Peter Dempsey's fourth-to-first push on the last turn will be talked about for many years to come. In case you missed it, check out the video below. The Indy Lights feeder series has received some criticism this year because of its small field, but who cares how big the field is when you have finishes like this!?

The Indy 500 is like Christmas for me, something I look forward to every year with great anticipation. And this year I have been trying to harness some of that excitement into a true celebration. Typically on Indy 500 day I will wake up, flip on the TV, watch the pre-show with my coffee, and settle in for a long but exciting afternoon. But I got to thinking this year...Texas Motor Speedway (along with other tracks I'm sure) hosts a Daytona 500 viewing party but not an Indy 500 viewing party. And you know, there's always Super Bowl parties and theme parties, so why can't I have an Indy 500 party?

Well, for starters, I'm the only IndyCar fan I know. My boyfriend is a casual fan thanks to me, and he enjoys watching the races, but he's nowhere near the passionate superfan that I am. So if I decided to throw an Indy 500-themed party, there would only be two guests.

I also did some research online, searching for food and beverage ideas for an Indy 500-style party and I was immensely disappointed in what I found. Most of the suggestions were for a children's race-car-theme party, with stock car/NASCAR-type decorations and food options, which is fine but not quite what I was looking for. I guess if someone wants to throw an Indy 500 party, he or she will have to get creative. (Unfortunately I'm not the most creative apple in the bunch.)

But all is not lost. Here's what I have come up with so far: Taste of Home's website has a menu of racing theme party items such as Hot Dog Race Cars and Winner's Trophy Dessert (which I am going to try this year). I also found, on an Australian website, a fun idea for Milky Way race cars. You take fun-size Milky Ways, insert a Teddy Graham for a driver, and use frosting to attach either M & M's (or Mini Oreos, which is what I'll be using since they look more like wheels) to the side of the candy bar for wheels. Sounds fun and tasty! Best of all, it's truly an "open-wheel" race car, unlike some of the other recipes I found. Here's a picture of my creations:

For entertainment during the race, one of my go-to favorites is Bingo. You can create Indy-500-themed Bingo cards very easily, with squares such as "mechanical failure," "three-wide," "caution flag," "car commercial," etc. I do this all the time for the Super Bowl and my guests really love it. It's a great way to keep non-race guests interested in the action.

When the Indy 500 winner crosses the finish line, there's no reason you can't celebrate with a glass of milk yourself. Or spice up that glass of milk with an adult beverage (Kahlua goes nicely!).

So there are a few ideas to start your Indy 500-theme party engines. I'll continue to put on my creative thinking cap and brainstorm other ideas. But no matter what happens, I will still enjoy the greatest spectacle in racing!

Redemption 500

To be honest, Bump Day was a snoozefest. After the eight initial qualifying efforts, it became clear that Michel Jourdain Jr.'s car did not have the speed to make the field. All the drivers showed empathy and concern for his disappointment, which had to be elevated as each hour dragged on. Had his car been adequate, we might have had some bumping competition, but alas, it was not to be this year. We can only yearn for the Bump Days of yore, and look to the future, when more than one car might be on the bubble.

It was fun to see so many cars out on the track, drafting one another and practicing their race setup, but it's too soon to speculate who looks good so far. After looking at the final grid, I would have to say that there are about 20 cars who have a legitimate chance of winning the 500. I'm still going to stick with my initial prediction of Takuma Sato, but it's anyone's race. And that is exciting.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I think this year's Indy 500 should be called the "Vengeance 500." I thought of that title after Katherine Legge entered the field, because she'll be trying to prove to her former team that she still has something to offer. Couple that with Ryan Briscoe's possible "revenge" on Penske Racing, and you have some possible vengeance. However, I think it's more appropriate to call this the "Redemption 500" because that seems to be a key theme running through the grid. There are so many drivers looking for redemption from last year or from previous Indy 500 miscues. Let's examine a few.

I already mentioned Legge and Briscoe, who definitely have something to prove. Legge's departure was a bitter feud, whereas Briscoe's seemed more expected and professional (I may be wrong about that, though). I would love, love, love to see Briscoe win this race. I could not believe he did not have a full-time ride this year, and he definitely deserves it. I see shades of 2011 here, with an eventual winner who also should have had a full-time ride....

AJ Allmendinger is another driver on the path to redemption. In an NBC Sports Network interview, which showed his passion and love for the Indy 500, he talked about last year's "dark days." You have to respect his honesty at admitting his mistakes from last year, and his immense gratitude toward Roger Penske for giving him a second chance. He will be a crowd favorite, and his entrance in this year's race should give it some additional eyeballs because of his experience in NASCAR.

Also consider the last two Indy 500's had crashes on the final lap. The drivers who were the victims of those crashes--Sato and JR Hildebrand--will be looking for redemption. Sato appears to have gained confidence and a strong team, while Hildebrand still awaits his first IZOD IndyCar Series victory. I'm not convinced Hildebrand has the best team, and I wonder what would happen if he were in position to win the race again. Those demons do not go away easily, but it would be a feel-good story if either of these drivers were able to push aside the last-lap disappointments and wind up in Victory Lane.

There are plenty of other stories to follow for this year's race, but to me these are some of the most compelling. America seems to love second-chance, redemption stories, and you'll find them in the 2013 Indy 500.

Pole Day Storylines

Pole Day at the 2013 Indianapolis 500 featured much drama and a few surprises. Let's recap some of the highlights that stuck with me:

The little guy beats the big guys: The Fast 9 featured five Andretti Autosport cars, three Penskes, and one lone driver/owner. That driver/owner, Ed Carpenter, beat all of them to grab the pole. Carpenter's speeds seemed to come out of nowhere, but his win was hugely popular in his home state and certainly deserving. We've always known Carpenter was a force to be reckoned with on ovals, but he's never had the Indy 500 success until now. It will be very interesting to see what he can do on race day.

Will Power: Power's speeds during the first qualifying run were unexpected but thrilling. He was the first driver who ran two laps of over 229mph. Apparently he tinkered with the downforce a little too much for the Fast 9, but he showed that he can in fact compete on ovals. His run was the pleasant surprise of the day.

What a difference a year makes: As pleasantly surprising as Power's run was, Ryan Briscoe's qualifying effort greatly disappointed. Last year's pole sitter, now driving a less-than-speedy Honda, struggled to make the top 24. I was cheering louder than the fans when he finally made it in, but he had me nervous for quite awhile there. As Jon Beekhuis indicated on the telecast, I don't think his struggle was the result of being away from IndyCars for seven months. Briscoe can drive. It does, however, point to some possible issues with Hondas and with the Ganassi cars.

Hondas slow: Speaking of Hondas, they were shut out of the top ten, with the fastest Hondas being Alex Tagliani and Justin Wilson. We sort of saw this coming, because the Chevys had been dominant in practice all week, but it's still disappointing. Honda said no one will care if they win the race next weekend, and that's probably true. But I'll bet they got or will be getting an earful from the Ganassi camp, who are not used to underperforming like this.

Bumping decisions: Townsend Bell's highly questionable decision to withdraw his top-24 qualifying run and try again backfired big time. Fortunately for him, he was able to run a third time with more success and avoid being bumped. In the process, he managed to avoid some heavy criticism for that risky decision. Sarah Fisher also made a tough judgment call by not running Josef Newgarden out for another qualifying attempt. Newgarden was ready to go out, at the front of the line, but was pulled because he was still in the top 24. In a television interview, Fisher alluded to some electrical problems that prevented them from having more speed, but they seemed to have fixed those problems now. Well, if that was the case, and you think you will have more speed now, why not try another run? Those 23rd and 24th spots are anything but secure, and shortly after making that decision James Jakes bumped Newgarden out of the top 24. Newgarden seemed to have a great attitude about the situation, staying positive and upbeat. Really, how can you not like this kid?

RLL with rll issues: Until James Jakes' final qualifying run, it seemed the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team could do nothing right. Jakes' initial time was disallowed for being underweight. Graham Rahal struggled and was very frustrated with his car, which failed to make it in on Saturday. Michel Jourdain Jr.'s car was by far the slowest of the day, with speeds nowhere near the rest of the field. (He's my pick to be bumped out of the field of 33 if that keeps up.) This is an unfortunate turn of events for a team that had such success at the Indy 500 last year. Hopefully they will get it figured out on Bump Day.

Real bumping: The announcement that Katherine Legge will drive for Schmidt Motorsports means that there will be at least 34 cars trying to make the final field. So at least one driver will be bumped off the grid, creating some more drama and excitement for fans. Who will be bumped? That remains the story for Sunday.

Legge's addition also makes this the "Vengeance 500" in my opinion, and I'll write more about that in the next week. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the suspense of qualifying!

As the Big Day Draws Nearer...

I have not written in awhile because I've been busy finishing up my semester and trying to get an online class ready to be reviewed. Anyone who thinks online classes are less work is gravely mistaken, let me tell you! I've been busting my tail like crazy over the last week to meet my deadline, but in between preparing the class I did make time to view some online steaming of practices for the Indy 500.

Tuesday's practice sessions were the most interesting to me. Only one Honda in the top 18? That was unexpected. But it seems the new Honda engines have rebounded, although they still hold the bottom seven spots as I write this. Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan has had the most disappointing practice sessions in my opinion; it seems like none of their cars have the speed to compete with the others. However, a 500-mile race is not all about speed. Endurance and engineering will also play a big role, so perhaps they are learning some things that will help them come race day.

Meanwhile, Andretti Autosport continues to impress once again. All of their cars and drivers have been near the top of the speed charts each practice day. I have a good feeling that one of their cars will find its way into Victory Lane next Sunday. I've also been impressed with JR Hildebrand. It would be great to see him redeem himself from that ill-fated 2011 finish (although I still say there was a spiritual presence overseeing that final lap, waiting to give Dan Wheldon one last win).

Here are some notes from the world of randomness:

Vegas apparently has Josef Newgarden as a 200-1 longshot to win the Indy 500. Are they serious? I actually think Newgarden has a great chance to win, or at least place in the top five. He is coming off of his best IndyCar series finish ever, and his car has been fast in practice. I understand he's just a sophomore in the series, but to put him below Mike Conway, who isn't even entered in the race (!) and some of the other one-off entrants is just insulting. Someone could end up with a huge payday. By the way, Scott Dixon is the favorite, with Dario second. That at least makes some sense to me.

What is up with ESPN's Indy 500 promo? I just caught the short one last night and it's playing soft, slow piano music in the background. That does not capture the excitement and thrill of the Indy 500. If they really want people to tune in, then they should show speed, passing, drama, celebrations! Just replay Sato's attempted pass from last year! I should not be surprised by this half-hearted promotional attempt by the mother ship, but it's still disappointing.

I purchased my tickets to the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway this week, and I was dismayed to see that I paid $10 more per ticket than I did last year. Especially since there's no rally car race beforehand like last year. I'm also trying to convince my parents to attend Pocono with me, and I'd say I've been 90% persuasive so far. My mom was concerned the cars would be too loud, which I found amusing but understandable. I know my dad would have a great time. I can just hear him now: "You mean I get to sit in the sun, drink beer, and watch cars go fast? Heck yeah I'll be there!" Although he'd probably use a more colorful word than "heck...."

And on that note...enjoy Fast Friday!

Holy Sao Paulo!

If you didn't watch the Indy Sao Paulo race this weekend, you missed one hell of a race. The last 10-15 laps in particular were some of the best racing I have ever seen. It was full of passing, intense action, and last-lap drama. Despite the record number of cautions in the race, it never felt like the action lagged. The restarts kept you on your toes and showed who the raciest drivers were. And what a thrilling finish!

The race started off normally enough, until Will Power's car caught on fire. Sadly, this put an end to his quest to four-peat in Brazil, and also dealt a huge blow to his championship hopes. Will's had some hard luck this year, with most of his problems not his own doing, and his year-long winless streak continued. With a stretch of ovals looming over the next two months, you have to figure this stretch will continue. Ovals are not Power's strength, and he'll be the first to admit that. Then again, in a year full of surprises so far, maybe, just maybe, he can pull off a win at Indianapolis.

Bad luck also struck hometown hero Tony Kanaan, who had the lead at one point until running out of gas. How did his team allow that to happen? Still, TK showed he's a fighter by starting his 200th consecutive race, with an injured right hand no less.

What has gotten into Marco Andretti? Another third-place finish and second place in the points standings? This is great news for him as we head into the oval-heavy portion of the schedule. Marco's always been stronger on ovals than road & street courses, so the fact that he has had success on the non-ovals demonstrates his off-season commitment to improvement. I'm not the biggest Marco fan, but good for him. It's funny that he's been on the podium twice now for Hinch's wins--his other third place finish came at St. Pete, where Hinch also went to victory lane.

The big story of the race, though, happened toward the end. Takuma Sato appeared to block Josef Newgarden, preventing him from passing for the lead. A few laps later, he did it again to James Hinchcliffe. Sato seemed to be swerving all over the track so much you'd swear he was a drunk driver. But after reviewing both moves, race control decided no penalty was necessary. This decision to let the drivers settle it on the track was certainly controversial, and sets a serious precedent for the rest of the year. The decision would have been more controversial had Sato won, and I'm even more grateful that Hinch pulled off that last-lap pass of Sato for the victory. I have mixed feelings on the issue of blocking, because I think drivers should be allowed to defend their position, but they also have to let other drivers make moves safely. Sato's swerving pushed Newgarden into the wall, so I think that first move was more blatant blocking than the move on Hinchcliffe. And the biggest bummer of all is that it cost Josef his first IZOD IndyCar Series podium. However, it was enormously gratifying to see him place in the top five, his best finish ever.

I don't always finish races, but when I do, l prefer to win.

— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) May 5, 2013

It has been one wild season for the Mayor of Hinchtown. Two victories and two last-place finishes. Like he said, he wins every race he finishes! The move he made on Sato for the win was nothing short of awesome. Just like the entire Sao Paulo race. And now it's on to the grand go-daddy race of them all....#indy500 or bust!