Iowa: the state of corn, riverboats, Adventureland, and exciting racing action. I used to live in Iowa and I regret that I never made it to the Iowa Speedway, because I think that is my favorite IndyCar track. The short oval provides nonstop action, and Sunday's race was no exception.
True, James Hinchcliffe drove away with the victory, leading almost every lap in a dominating performance. But there was plenty of other action behind him. It was even more fitting that Hinch's third win of the year happened to be in his sponsor's hometown. After RHR's win in DHL Victory Circle last week, you have to wonder if these results are scripted (just kidding, I'm not that big of a conspiracy theorist!). The truth is that Andretti Autosport owns Iowa Speedway--not literally, although they may want to reconsider that, since they've won there the past four years. Their string of success at Iowa is unmatched by any other team. You have to wonder what might have been for Hinch--were it not for those two DNF's at Barber and at Long Beach, he might be leading the championship standings right now. As it is, his win at Iowa brings him back into the conversation, and he has more wins than any other driver this year, so the wind is definitely blowing his way.
Are we ready to declare Andretti Autosport the new Penske/Ganassi? They have been the top team this year, and I would argue that if you polled the drivers, many would say they would love to join their team. They have to be the envy of the paddock, because they consistently put up impressive performances. As I noted in a previous blog, Andretti Autosport understands what it means to work together as a team, and I think their success is a direct result of their chemistry.
The most impressive drive of the day belonged to another Andretti driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay. After contact with Graham Rahal earlier in the race, he fell back to 21st place but was able to charge all the way back up to the front and finish second. His podium finish definitely helped his points standings, and you can tell he is hungry to repeat his title. His performance in the race was a nice comeback after a dismal qualifying effort where he didn't even make it out of his heat. RHR expressed some displeasure with a certain driver who he was trying to pass late in the race to catch up to Hinch, but more on that later.
Speaking of Graham Rahal, his top-five finish was much needed and well-earned. You knew after he won his heat race in qualifying that the car had something special. Rahal was able to handle the high line better than the other drivers it seemed, and it's good to see him, maybe, finally getting back on track. When Rahal drives aggressively (but not too aggressively), almost like he's angry, he seems to be at his best (see: Long Beach). So perhaps more of the media and blogosphere should criticize his underachievements?
While Hinch and Rahal seem to be back on track, Simona De Silvestro appears to be moving in the wrong direction. She was doing well at Texas before a penalty cost her a chance at a top-ten finish, but other than that it's been disaster city for her: DNF's at Detroit race 2 and Milwaukee, and a slow performance at Iowa right from the start. RHR was just one driver who expressed some frustration with her, although not by name. In his post-race interview, RHR said it's fine if you're one lap down, but if you're five laps down, get the hell out of the way so the leaders can battle with each other! (Actually, Simona finished seven laps down.) This was supposed to be Simona's year to show what she could do with a non-Lotus engine, but it hasn't happened yet. Is it because of the driver, or the team? Given her teammate TK's success this year, particularly on ovals, you have to wonder.
I also have to wonder if Chip Ganassi will be leading the picket lines in front of Honda's offices after another underwhelming performance. Hondas have had some success this year, with victories at Long Beach and Detroit, but for the most part, Chevy has dominated the top spots. Are Ganassi's woes all engine-related, though? Time will tell.
Finally, I have to give a small shout-out to ABC, whose coverage was actually pretty decent this past week. I wasn't yelling at the TV like I usually am, and I was pleased that they showed passing in the back of the pack rather than focusing solely on the leader like they tend to do. The announcers seemed to have a bit more enthusiasm, too, so maybe, just maybe, they're listening to the feedback.
The schedule gets a much-needed break now after a fast and furious dash through the months of May and June. I will hopefully be at the Pocono race on July 7th, although that's still a little up in the air because of some family issues. I hope to bring my parents to the race and turn them into IndyCar fans, too!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Ryan Hunter-Reaypeat
The Milwaukee Mile offered us some great race action, so much so that it seemed like the cameras couldn't even keep up with it all! As I expected, Ryan Hunter-Reay found himself in DHL Victory Circle once again. I had such a strong feeling that he would win this race, and I know others did, too. On the very first lap, he seemed like he wanted it more than anyone else, diving to the outside and going three-wide on the start of the race. He drove confidently and consistently, and his efforts were rewarded with a repeat win. It was quite the touching moment to see him share his first Father's Day in Victory Lane with his son. Just as Texas seems to be Helio's track, I think RHR has claimed ownership of the Mile. He seems to love it and has had great success there. Last year Milwaukee jumpstarted RHR's run to the championship, and there's no reason to think we won't see more of the same this year. He just might win three or four races in a row.
As for the other drivers, I think some of them are still trying to simmer down! It seemed like almost everyone was upset with lapped traffic, and as you would expect on a mile racetrack, lapped cars were everywhere. Tony Kanaan apologized to Scott Dixon on Twitter, although I'm still not sure what all that fuss was about. I suspect this will be the first topic of discussion in the drivers' meeting at Iowa, which is an even smaller oval and will likely have even more lapped traffic.
Two drivers had their best results of the year, and one driver had about the worst result possible. EJ Viso finished in fourth place, one of three Andretti Autosport drivers in the top five. Viso could very possibly win an award for "Most Improved Driver" this year, as he has shown increased speed and patience. Recall last year Dario Franchitti humorously remarked that Viso had hit everything but the pace car, but now this year Viso has had more success than Dario! Moving to the Andretti team has certainly seemed to benefit EJ.
Will Power finally scored his first podium of the year, and it surprisingly happened on an oval. Coming off of a pole position at Texas and a blistering speed at Indianapolis, Power has had his best results at ovals this year. Maybe he's finally figuring them out, or perhaps he's driving with less pressure because he hasn't had the success everyone expected. Power wanted more than just the podium, though, judging by his breathtakingly daring late move on teammate Helio. I like Power's chances at Pocono, which is sort of a road-coursey oval that plays into his strengths.
And then there was Marco. After a disappointing pit stop where the fueler had trouble getting the hose out, it was evident that this was not Marco's day. Again. Those kinds of mistakes are disastrous on short ovals but Marco had the speed to make up for some lost time. Shortly after this ill-fated pit stop, however, the car experienced some electrical problems. Fortunately the crew worked to get the car back on the track and he was able to finish in 20th position, scoring a few more points in the process, but overall his championship chances took a big hit in Milwaukee. Marco has had success at Iowa in the past, winning in 2011 (at what I called the best race of that year) so he can definitely turn things around. It seems like we've been saying it's Marco's turn on every oval we've been to this year. Eventually a win has to come, right?
Takuma Sato had an impressive race as well, but it appeared to me that he went too hard too fast once he had the lead, and his tires suffered as a result. Sato likes to drive aggressively, which can sometimes pay off, but in this case that aggression was not rewarded. Once his tires started to wear, his car got loose and almost wound up in the wall. He did well to save it and finish seventh overall.
A lot of pre- and post-race talk centered around Graham Rahal, who has had a very disappointing year after a second-place finish at Long Beach. He has not had the speed nor the performance. Expectations were high for Rahal this year, maybe too high. It's difficult to know where to place the blame for his lack of success, and I've read conflicting viewpoints on the subject. Some believe Rahal is not clicking with his engineer. Some believe the team erred by trying to use Sato's setups from last year, not recognizing the different driving styles of the two men. And still others believe Rahal is an overrated driver who should be doing better. Think what you want, but a year of growing pains with a new team should be somewhat expected. The question is, how long will Dad and team wait before making drastic changes? Or will they just continue to ride the storm?
Other Random Race Notes:
Once again Chevy dominated the top spots, sweeping the podium and the top five, with Dixon being the highest-placing Honda.....Ganassi is still without a win, but the team seems to be getting closer to one each week....Looked like a great crowd, which bodes well for future IndyFests....Welcome back, NBC Sports Network, and thank you for reminding us how a race should be covered on live TV!
As for the other drivers, I think some of them are still trying to simmer down! It seemed like almost everyone was upset with lapped traffic, and as you would expect on a mile racetrack, lapped cars were everywhere. Tony Kanaan apologized to Scott Dixon on Twitter, although I'm still not sure what all that fuss was about. I suspect this will be the first topic of discussion in the drivers' meeting at Iowa, which is an even smaller oval and will likely have even more lapped traffic.
Two drivers had their best results of the year, and one driver had about the worst result possible. EJ Viso finished in fourth place, one of three Andretti Autosport drivers in the top five. Viso could very possibly win an award for "Most Improved Driver" this year, as he has shown increased speed and patience. Recall last year Dario Franchitti humorously remarked that Viso had hit everything but the pace car, but now this year Viso has had more success than Dario! Moving to the Andretti team has certainly seemed to benefit EJ.
Will Power finally scored his first podium of the year, and it surprisingly happened on an oval. Coming off of a pole position at Texas and a blistering speed at Indianapolis, Power has had his best results at ovals this year. Maybe he's finally figuring them out, or perhaps he's driving with less pressure because he hasn't had the success everyone expected. Power wanted more than just the podium, though, judging by his breathtakingly daring late move on teammate Helio. I like Power's chances at Pocono, which is sort of a road-coursey oval that plays into his strengths.
And then there was Marco. After a disappointing pit stop where the fueler had trouble getting the hose out, it was evident that this was not Marco's day. Again. Those kinds of mistakes are disastrous on short ovals but Marco had the speed to make up for some lost time. Shortly after this ill-fated pit stop, however, the car experienced some electrical problems. Fortunately the crew worked to get the car back on the track and he was able to finish in 20th position, scoring a few more points in the process, but overall his championship chances took a big hit in Milwaukee. Marco has had success at Iowa in the past, winning in 2011 (at what I called the best race of that year) so he can definitely turn things around. It seems like we've been saying it's Marco's turn on every oval we've been to this year. Eventually a win has to come, right?
Takuma Sato had an impressive race as well, but it appeared to me that he went too hard too fast once he had the lead, and his tires suffered as a result. Sato likes to drive aggressively, which can sometimes pay off, but in this case that aggression was not rewarded. Once his tires started to wear, his car got loose and almost wound up in the wall. He did well to save it and finish seventh overall.
A lot of pre- and post-race talk centered around Graham Rahal, who has had a very disappointing year after a second-place finish at Long Beach. He has not had the speed nor the performance. Expectations were high for Rahal this year, maybe too high. It's difficult to know where to place the blame for his lack of success, and I've read conflicting viewpoints on the subject. Some believe Rahal is not clicking with his engineer. Some believe the team erred by trying to use Sato's setups from last year, not recognizing the different driving styles of the two men. And still others believe Rahal is an overrated driver who should be doing better. Think what you want, but a year of growing pains with a new team should be somewhat expected. The question is, how long will Dad and team wait before making drastic changes? Or will they just continue to ride the storm?
Other Random Race Notes:
Once again Chevy dominated the top spots, sweeping the podium and the top five, with Dixon being the highest-placing Honda.....Ganassi is still without a win, but the team seems to be getting closer to one each week....Looked like a great crowd, which bodes well for future IndyFests....Welcome back, NBC Sports Network, and thank you for reminding us how a race should be covered on live TV!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Milwaukee IndyFest
Mark down another item I've added to my bucket list: the Milwaukee IndyFest. The more I read about this event, the more I want to go. I mean, just the name alone sounds exciting: IndyFEST. This is exactly what an auto race needs to be these days to attract fans. It should be more of a festival, carnival-type event rather than just a race--especially on the oval tracks, where the common criticism from non-fans is "but it's just cars going around in a circle!"
I applaud Andretti Sports Marketing for figuring all this out. I had thought for years that more tracks should do this. The street races seemed to have realized this long ago. You have to attract all kinds of individuals if you want to improve your attendance at a motorsports event. Sure, you'll always have the diehard fans and the gearheads but let's face it, even in NASCAR that number is decreasing. So what can be done to encourage other people to check out an IndyCar race? Exactly what has been done in Milwaukee.
Take a look at the schedule for the weekend and you'll see that there are plenty of things to do, no matter where your interests lie:
However, you can always make improvements to the event to attract even more fans, and to keep them coming back year after year. You could allow fans to bring in their own food and beverage like some other tracks do. Since racing is all about competition and trying to be the fastest one to the finish line, I think you could incorporate that into some type of activity where fans compete against one another. A hot dog eating contest for example, or a fastest biker/runner/three-legged walker race. And the zipline seemed to be pretty popular at Indianapolis this year, so why not add that too?
As for the racing, which almost seems like an afterthought after all the festivities going on around the track, IndyCar will be looking to rebound from an unspectacular showing on national television and I expect that we will see a much better race than Texas. Last year's race could not have been scripted any better, with Andretti driver Ryan Hunter-Reay winning and celebrating in DHL Victory Circle. I like his chances to repeat this year, and you have to think that Marco will eventually get that oval win this year so look for him to be in contention too.
All in all though, Milwaukee IndyFest should be very worthwhile for all who attend. Perhaps in the future we'll see IndyFests at more tracks. If those tracks want to improve their attendance, they would be wise to take a page out of the Andretti Sports Marketing book. You'll see a lot more than an IndyCar race this weekend in Milwaukee, and maybe some new IndyCar fans will be born.
I applaud Andretti Sports Marketing for figuring all this out. I had thought for years that more tracks should do this. The street races seemed to have realized this long ago. You have to attract all kinds of individuals if you want to improve your attendance at a motorsports event. Sure, you'll always have the diehard fans and the gearheads but let's face it, even in NASCAR that number is decreasing. So what can be done to encourage other people to check out an IndyCar race? Exactly what has been done in Milwaukee.
Take a look at the schedule for the weekend and you'll see that there are plenty of things to do, no matter where your interests lie:
- For families: There are carnival rides such as a ferris wheel, bumper cars, and a carousel.
- For the partyer or the social butterfly: There's a beer garden and a street party, and earlier this week several drivers took over as bartenders at a local bar and grill.
- For the music buff: A street party hosted by a hotel providing accommodations for attendees features live music and local bands will play throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. There is also a post-race concert.
- For the car enthusiast: A vintage car show, a pit stop competition just like at Indy, and three IndyCar races throughout the weekend (Pro Mazda, Indy Lights, and IZOD IndyCar Series) tells me that there is always some kind of action occurring on the track.
- For those who like racing, but maybe not car racing: The Mile is featuring the first-ever World Championship of Rickshaw Racing, which sounded very intriguing to me. This is a unique event that should grab fans from other cultures, too.
- For those who want to experience what it's like to go fast: There are pace car rides, and two-seater rides around the track in an actual IndyCar. I'm sure these are not cheap but it still can be the thrill of a lifetime for many.
However, you can always make improvements to the event to attract even more fans, and to keep them coming back year after year. You could allow fans to bring in their own food and beverage like some other tracks do. Since racing is all about competition and trying to be the fastest one to the finish line, I think you could incorporate that into some type of activity where fans compete against one another. A hot dog eating contest for example, or a fastest biker/runner/three-legged walker race. And the zipline seemed to be pretty popular at Indianapolis this year, so why not add that too?
As for the racing, which almost seems like an afterthought after all the festivities going on around the track, IndyCar will be looking to rebound from an unspectacular showing on national television and I expect that we will see a much better race than Texas. Last year's race could not have been scripted any better, with Andretti driver Ryan Hunter-Reay winning and celebrating in DHL Victory Circle. I like his chances to repeat this year, and you have to think that Marco will eventually get that oval win this year so look for him to be in contention too.
All in all though, Milwaukee IndyFest should be very worthwhile for all who attend. Perhaps in the future we'll see IndyFests at more tracks. If those tracks want to improve their attendance, they would be wise to take a page out of the Andretti Sports Marketing book. You'll see a lot more than an IndyCar race this weekend in Milwaukee, and maybe some new IndyCar fans will be born.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Afterthoughts on Texas
I cannot stop thinking about or reading about the Texas race. I have read many divisive comments, from some who appreciated Helio's impressive victory to those who felt the race was boring. I understand those latter comments from fans, who pay good money to be entertained. But when at least two national writers devote entire articles to the "boring" Texas race or the "ho-hum" nature of the event, I get a little fired up. IndyCar does not need such negative rhetoric, and I don't think all of it is deserved.
I just watched the telecast and I have to say I'm glad I did. I received more information about why certain drivers fell off the pace, and I came to admire the outstanding drive Helio had. I wonder why, when Tiger Woods has a five-shot lead going into the last few holes at a golf tournament, we all tune in but when a driver shows the same kind of domination on the race track we think it lacks excitement? Can we not just appreciate greatness?
I also don't think the telecast was as bad as everyone claims. Sure, there were plenty of oversights. During the first and only "up to speed" through-the-field analysis, they skipped over P3 and P4 for no apparent reason. Eddie Cheever continued to make unintelligent comments. They showed everyone who pitted, whether they were in contention or not. They focused too much on Helio the leader and not much on the action in the back of the pack (as usual). I wish they would have followed Tony Kanaan after his final pit stop, because I saw his charge to third place in person and it was impressive and exciting. Scott Goodyear did seem to be "dumbing down" his comments, but that's to be expected because they were in prime time and might have lots of new viewers who have never seen an auto race, much less an IndyCar race. They did not follow up on Scott Dixon or his pit crew until after the race was over. Okay, maybe those are a lot of criticisms. But I was also intentionally looking for them because I'd read how displeased others were with the broadcast. I do think they did a good job informing us what was going on in the pits. They explained how long Helio was able to go between pit stops, which demonstrated the excellent job by his team. It sounded like they all expected one more caution, and I did, too. We've grown used to them at oval races. But that did not happen this time, so let's give them a break. I don't think Marty Reid misidentified any cars this time, so that's something!
This was not the best race of the year, we can all acknowledge that fact. I think we've grown accustomed to seeing exciting racing so we expected to see that again Saturday night. I think we also had high expectations and hopes because the race was broadcast on prime-time regular television. But I also think we're really overreacting here, and I'll include myself in that, too. I noticed on TV that the first half of the race was fantastic. You had lead changes, pit challenges, passing, two-wide traffic, and a few cautions. Then Helio took over and you just had to stare in awe at his ability to drive away with the race. And really, does anyone show the kind of enthusiasm that Helio does after a race? It's infectious, and I couldn't help but smile. Helio's win was good for IndyCar and good for national television because he's a household name (thanks to Dancing with the Stars) and he shows his excitement and passion. I don't think we should be as discouraged as I originally thought.
What we should be seeing, instead of articles proclaiming the lack of race excitement, are analyses of why Helio was able to dominate so easily. He only made three pit stops! He was able to go 54 laps after his first stint and 61 laps after his second stint. Every other driver had the same struggles as tires began to erode. Why was Helio able to manage them so much more effectively? Why was he so quick on that third restart when it looked like his teammate Will Power held up the rest of the field? And why oh why does IndyCar not line up their restarts in order? Charlie Kimball should not have been at the front on that second restart. Restarts are some of the most exciting parts of racing, but IndyCar botches them by allowing the cars to line up in some seemingly random order.
Derrick Walker admitted he messed up on the package. I respect someone who can admit a poor decision and take responsibility, but I think he's being too hard on himself in this situation. Perhaps he didn't mess up the package, but Helio's team was the only one to properly figure it out. The drivers got what they wanted--a tire that would degrade faster and the opportunity to put the race back in their hands. While this may not have been the best "show" for the fans, we're not the ones driving around the track at over 200mph. We're the ones sitting in the stands, on our couches, or behind computers tweeting, blogging, and criticizing. But that's the culture we live in these days I suppose.
One last rant and then I'm going to end with a story. I don't know why, for all the good Eddie Gossage does for the fans, he sometimes bashes the product he's trying to sell. Regarding the weekend, he was asked by a fan if the NASCAR truck winner receives six shooters too. Eddie replied that no, it's only for the main event of the weekend. I found his next response, containing a comment from another fan, insulting:
Okay, here's my final Texas story from the weekend and then I'll shut up and look forward to Milwaukee. After the race my boyfriend and I went to a local chain restaurant for a bite to eat and a late-night cocktail. We sat out on the patio, because the weather was beautiful. We're sitting outside chatting and who do I see come out on the patio? Simon Pagenaud. I wasn't sure at first it was him but after a second look I knew it was. My boyfriend did not know who he was but I quickly informed him of Pags' first win last weekend in Detroit. (This is the second year in a row I've had to point out to my boyfriend that we were in the presence of an IndyCar driver." Last year we stood mere feet away from Ryan Briscoe in the garage after the race and my bf was clueless. I'm educating him though!) I'm not one of those fans who gushes over celebrities (as much of a celebrity as an IndyCar driver is, ha), so I made no attempt to talk to either Briscoe last year or Pagenaud this year. Pags sat far in the corner anyway so it wouldn't have been easy to chat. But as Simon was leaving, my outgoing boyfriend told him, "Hey, great win in Detroit!" to which he replied, "Thanks, buddy!"
A brief cool moment for both of us. Was that the most IndyCar excitement we had all weekend? Maybe, just maybe. :) But it definitely won't stop me from watching for more.
I just watched the telecast and I have to say I'm glad I did. I received more information about why certain drivers fell off the pace, and I came to admire the outstanding drive Helio had. I wonder why, when Tiger Woods has a five-shot lead going into the last few holes at a golf tournament, we all tune in but when a driver shows the same kind of domination on the race track we think it lacks excitement? Can we not just appreciate greatness?
I also don't think the telecast was as bad as everyone claims. Sure, there were plenty of oversights. During the first and only "up to speed" through-the-field analysis, they skipped over P3 and P4 for no apparent reason. Eddie Cheever continued to make unintelligent comments. They showed everyone who pitted, whether they were in contention or not. They focused too much on Helio the leader and not much on the action in the back of the pack (as usual). I wish they would have followed Tony Kanaan after his final pit stop, because I saw his charge to third place in person and it was impressive and exciting. Scott Goodyear did seem to be "dumbing down" his comments, but that's to be expected because they were in prime time and might have lots of new viewers who have never seen an auto race, much less an IndyCar race. They did not follow up on Scott Dixon or his pit crew until after the race was over. Okay, maybe those are a lot of criticisms. But I was also intentionally looking for them because I'd read how displeased others were with the broadcast. I do think they did a good job informing us what was going on in the pits. They explained how long Helio was able to go between pit stops, which demonstrated the excellent job by his team. It sounded like they all expected one more caution, and I did, too. We've grown used to them at oval races. But that did not happen this time, so let's give them a break. I don't think Marty Reid misidentified any cars this time, so that's something!
This was not the best race of the year, we can all acknowledge that fact. I think we've grown accustomed to seeing exciting racing so we expected to see that again Saturday night. I think we also had high expectations and hopes because the race was broadcast on prime-time regular television. But I also think we're really overreacting here, and I'll include myself in that, too. I noticed on TV that the first half of the race was fantastic. You had lead changes, pit challenges, passing, two-wide traffic, and a few cautions. Then Helio took over and you just had to stare in awe at his ability to drive away with the race. And really, does anyone show the kind of enthusiasm that Helio does after a race? It's infectious, and I couldn't help but smile. Helio's win was good for IndyCar and good for national television because he's a household name (thanks to Dancing with the Stars) and he shows his excitement and passion. I don't think we should be as discouraged as I originally thought.
What we should be seeing, instead of articles proclaiming the lack of race excitement, are analyses of why Helio was able to dominate so easily. He only made three pit stops! He was able to go 54 laps after his first stint and 61 laps after his second stint. Every other driver had the same struggles as tires began to erode. Why was Helio able to manage them so much more effectively? Why was he so quick on that third restart when it looked like his teammate Will Power held up the rest of the field? And why oh why does IndyCar not line up their restarts in order? Charlie Kimball should not have been at the front on that second restart. Restarts are some of the most exciting parts of racing, but IndyCar botches them by allowing the cars to line up in some seemingly random order.
Derrick Walker admitted he messed up on the package. I respect someone who can admit a poor decision and take responsibility, but I think he's being too hard on himself in this situation. Perhaps he didn't mess up the package, but Helio's team was the only one to properly figure it out. The drivers got what they wanted--a tire that would degrade faster and the opportunity to put the race back in their hands. While this may not have been the best "show" for the fans, we're not the ones driving around the track at over 200mph. We're the ones sitting in the stands, on our couches, or behind computers tweeting, blogging, and criticizing. But that's the culture we live in these days I suppose.
One last rant and then I'm going to end with a story. I don't know why, for all the good Eddie Gossage does for the fans, he sometimes bashes the product he's trying to sell. Regarding the weekend, he was asked by a fan if the NASCAR truck winner receives six shooters too. Eddie replied that no, it's only for the main event of the weekend. I found his next response, containing a comment from another fan, insulting:
Agreed. RT @ingalls22: @eddiegossage @jebburtonracing @tsmotorsports @txmotorspeedway no offense this wknd Trucks WERE your main event!Ugh. I got pretty riled up when I read this. That's what passion will do though! At least he responded to the fans, I guess that's what most would say.
— Eddie Gossage (@eddiegossage) June 10, 2013
Okay, here's my final Texas story from the weekend and then I'll shut up and look forward to Milwaukee. After the race my boyfriend and I went to a local chain restaurant for a bite to eat and a late-night cocktail. We sat out on the patio, because the weather was beautiful. We're sitting outside chatting and who do I see come out on the patio? Simon Pagenaud. I wasn't sure at first it was him but after a second look I knew it was. My boyfriend did not know who he was but I quickly informed him of Pags' first win last weekend in Detroit. (This is the second year in a row I've had to point out to my boyfriend that we were in the presence of an IndyCar driver." Last year we stood mere feet away from Ryan Briscoe in the garage after the race and my bf was clueless. I'm educating him though!) I'm not one of those fans who gushes over celebrities (as much of a celebrity as an IndyCar driver is, ha), so I made no attempt to talk to either Briscoe last year or Pagenaud this year. Pags sat far in the corner anyway so it wouldn't have been easy to chat. But as Simon was leaving, my outgoing boyfriend told him, "Hey, great win in Detroit!" to which he replied, "Thanks, buddy!"
A brief cool moment for both of us. Was that the most IndyCar excitement we had all weekend? Maybe, just maybe. :) But it definitely won't stop me from watching for more.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Texas Review
I am not a parent, but I am a teacher, and I know the feeling when a student does not quite live up to his/her potential. You know the student or child can do so much better but for a variety of reasons, she/he does not. That is how I feel about the race at Texas Motor Speedway this past weekend.
I have not watched the broadcast yet because I was at the race, but I did record it and will watch it within the next couple of days. So I cannot comment on what I gather was one of the worst broadcasts in the history of IndyCar racing. I will say I'm not surprised by this, but it is a huge let-down considering this was supposed to be IndyCar's showcase on national television. Does this further fuel the NASCAR-paying-off-ESPN-conspiracy-theory? I'm starting to become a believer!
The prime-time Texas race presented an outstanding opportunity to prove to the nation what the rest of us diehards already know: IndyCar gives us exciting, fast racing entertainment. Unfortunately that did not happen, and I am hugely disappointed. Not in IndyCar per se, because I don't think it's their fault. Every now and then you have a race like this, and we have been spoiled over the past year with some of the best racing in years, so many fans may have been surprised by the lack of action. But I am disappointed because we were not able to capitalize on this opportunity to grab new fans and impress old ones.
Let's face it, the Texas race lacked thrills. My boyfriend, who attended the race with me, told me he had a hard time watching the race. He said he didn't know what to watch and he felt like he was in a trance the whole time. I suspect that's how a lot of fans felt, because there were quite a few leaving early. That happens at every sporting event though--there's always those who want to "beat the traffic." I am not one of these people, and neither is my boyfriend thankfully. No matter how bad the action in front of us is, we will always stay to the end and get our full money's worth. Plus, at TMS you get to tour the garages after the race, so I didn't want to miss out on that cool experience. I did find some action to watch. I was most impressed with Tony Kanaan's late charge, and with Ed Carpenter's battles. But overall even I have to admit I did not have the same level of enthusiasm that I have as I watch other IndyCar races.
TMS produces some snoozefests in NASCAR too. Last year's NASCAR race in April was widely criticized as one of the most boring races ever. Why was it perceived to be boring? Too much green-flag racing (what!?), single-file parade-style racing, and few challenges for the lead. Did we see that in IndyCar on Saturday night? Somewhat. We did see a lot of green-flag racing, with only three cautions and none of them caused by a wreck (Oriol Servia did spin out, but he was able to save the car from being damaged). Should IndyCar have thrown a phantom NASCAR-type caution? To maintain integrity, no. But to entertain a national viewing audience, I'd say yes and I hate that I'm saying that. I do not think we had single-file parade racing at all, though. I don't know what they showed on TV, but cars were going two- or even three-wide around the track quite often. Now, granted, that was because you had lapped cars intermingling with lead cars, but that creates drama! It also showed the great skill these drivers have to keep these cars under control and avoid crashing, especially with heavy tire wear (see the picture below of Marco's car and you'll see how worn the tires got). While there were some lead changes, there really weren't any battles for the lead. Only five cars finished on the lead lap. Marco Andretti took the early lead, and looked like he was in control, but then the sun went down and Helio took over. No one was even close to catching Helio, and I'm still not sure how he was able to run away with it considering he only made three pit stops. I kept expecting him to run out of gas or have to make one final pit stop. That's Penske and Chevy engineering I suppose.
So was it the track that caused the race to lack excitement? Considering how little action there has been at NASCAR races too, I think that's a fair conclusion. TMS has done a great job creating a safe track, let's applaud them for that. I for one am not disappointed there weren't more crashes. But last year we were able to see more evidence of tire wear affecting a car's handling and drivers' struggles to control it. Many of the drivers indicated the cars were difficult to drive, but it did not seem that way in person, or, as I've read, on television. This leads fans to wonder, are the cars too easy to drive? Or are we just witnessing a talented, skilled group of drivers who know how to control the car? I don't know what package they went with for this race, but it did not produce the kind of exciting racing we've grown accustomed to. It did, however, produce safe racing, and we should be thankful for that.
When you look at the other motorsports races from this past weekend, you'll see that IndyCar was not alone in its one-driver domination. Jimmie Johnson led most of the Pocono race, and Sebastian Vettel ran away with the Canadian Grand Prix. This race reminded me a lot of those so-called "good ol' days" of IndyCar. A Penske runaway victory with few cars on the lead lap. Is this what we have to look forward to if Derrick Walker's "technical innovation" initiatives are put into action? I am deeply concerned that yes, that will be the case. I want to tell all the viewers and race fans who attended Saturday that this is not typical IndyCar racing. The action this year and last year has been so much better than this, just stay tuned. I hope I'm not wrong on that.
(Side note about the crowd: I actually thought, and my boyfriend agreed, that the crowd was slightly bigger this year. It's very hard to judge at TMS, though, because the track has so much seating and fans can spread out so much. It's one of the things I love about the track--I hate being so uncomfortably close to someone else for over two hours, especially when you have a cooler or two as TMS allows you. But I know that does not translate well to TV. I still think TMS has higher attendance than most other IndyCar races.)
But let's end on a positive note, shall we? We must give major props to Helio Castroneves, who drove the pants off the rest of the field. Helio clearly loves racing at Texas; this was his fourth win at the track. It was great to see Spiderman climb the fence again, and he did give us another different winner this season. The rest of the top four also deserves credit: Ryan Hunter-Reay showed he is a definite title contender again with his fourth podium finish this year. Again, I repeat: he is the best all-around driver in any motorsport, period. Third place Tony Kanaan really came to life late in the race, and I'm sure they didn't show it on TV but his moves were something to admire. He is a passing beast, especially on ovals. And Ed Carpenter had a good showing, too, in fourth place. I know he was disappointed with his tenth place at Indy but this showed he's still an oval master.
Helio cemented the points lead for now, but the top three are all closely bunched and could take over any weekend. We now head to the Milwaukee Mile and IndyFest, which just looks like great family fun. I wish I could attend, but I'm going to Pocono and that's my spending limit for the year. On another positive note, the NBC Sports folks take over this weekend, so we have something else to look forward to now!
I have not watched the broadcast yet because I was at the race, but I did record it and will watch it within the next couple of days. So I cannot comment on what I gather was one of the worst broadcasts in the history of IndyCar racing. I will say I'm not surprised by this, but it is a huge let-down considering this was supposed to be IndyCar's showcase on national television. Does this further fuel the NASCAR-paying-off-ESPN-conspiracy-theory? I'm starting to become a believer!
The prime-time Texas race presented an outstanding opportunity to prove to the nation what the rest of us diehards already know: IndyCar gives us exciting, fast racing entertainment. Unfortunately that did not happen, and I am hugely disappointed. Not in IndyCar per se, because I don't think it's their fault. Every now and then you have a race like this, and we have been spoiled over the past year with some of the best racing in years, so many fans may have been surprised by the lack of action. But I am disappointed because we were not able to capitalize on this opportunity to grab new fans and impress old ones.
Let's face it, the Texas race lacked thrills. My boyfriend, who attended the race with me, told me he had a hard time watching the race. He said he didn't know what to watch and he felt like he was in a trance the whole time. I suspect that's how a lot of fans felt, because there were quite a few leaving early. That happens at every sporting event though--there's always those who want to "beat the traffic." I am not one of these people, and neither is my boyfriend thankfully. No matter how bad the action in front of us is, we will always stay to the end and get our full money's worth. Plus, at TMS you get to tour the garages after the race, so I didn't want to miss out on that cool experience. I did find some action to watch. I was most impressed with Tony Kanaan's late charge, and with Ed Carpenter's battles. But overall even I have to admit I did not have the same level of enthusiasm that I have as I watch other IndyCar races.
TMS produces some snoozefests in NASCAR too. Last year's NASCAR race in April was widely criticized as one of the most boring races ever. Why was it perceived to be boring? Too much green-flag racing (what!?), single-file parade-style racing, and few challenges for the lead. Did we see that in IndyCar on Saturday night? Somewhat. We did see a lot of green-flag racing, with only three cautions and none of them caused by a wreck (Oriol Servia did spin out, but he was able to save the car from being damaged). Should IndyCar have thrown a phantom NASCAR-type caution? To maintain integrity, no. But to entertain a national viewing audience, I'd say yes and I hate that I'm saying that. I do not think we had single-file parade racing at all, though. I don't know what they showed on TV, but cars were going two- or even three-wide around the track quite often. Now, granted, that was because you had lapped cars intermingling with lead cars, but that creates drama! It also showed the great skill these drivers have to keep these cars under control and avoid crashing, especially with heavy tire wear (see the picture below of Marco's car and you'll see how worn the tires got). While there were some lead changes, there really weren't any battles for the lead. Only five cars finished on the lead lap. Marco Andretti took the early lead, and looked like he was in control, but then the sun went down and Helio took over. No one was even close to catching Helio, and I'm still not sure how he was able to run away with it considering he only made three pit stops. I kept expecting him to run out of gas or have to make one final pit stop. That's Penske and Chevy engineering I suppose.
Marco Andretti's car post-race; check out the tires!
So was it the track that caused the race to lack excitement? Considering how little action there has been at NASCAR races too, I think that's a fair conclusion. TMS has done a great job creating a safe track, let's applaud them for that. I for one am not disappointed there weren't more crashes. But last year we were able to see more evidence of tire wear affecting a car's handling and drivers' struggles to control it. Many of the drivers indicated the cars were difficult to drive, but it did not seem that way in person, or, as I've read, on television. This leads fans to wonder, are the cars too easy to drive? Or are we just witnessing a talented, skilled group of drivers who know how to control the car? I don't know what package they went with for this race, but it did not produce the kind of exciting racing we've grown accustomed to. It did, however, produce safe racing, and we should be thankful for that.
When you look at the other motorsports races from this past weekend, you'll see that IndyCar was not alone in its one-driver domination. Jimmie Johnson led most of the Pocono race, and Sebastian Vettel ran away with the Canadian Grand Prix. This race reminded me a lot of those so-called "good ol' days" of IndyCar. A Penske runaway victory with few cars on the lead lap. Is this what we have to look forward to if Derrick Walker's "technical innovation" initiatives are put into action? I am deeply concerned that yes, that will be the case. I want to tell all the viewers and race fans who attended Saturday that this is not typical IndyCar racing. The action this year and last year has been so much better than this, just stay tuned. I hope I'm not wrong on that.
(Side note about the crowd: I actually thought, and my boyfriend agreed, that the crowd was slightly bigger this year. It's very hard to judge at TMS, though, because the track has so much seating and fans can spread out so much. It's one of the things I love about the track--I hate being so uncomfortably close to someone else for over two hours, especially when you have a cooler or two as TMS allows you. But I know that does not translate well to TV. I still think TMS has higher attendance than most other IndyCar races.)
But let's end on a positive note, shall we? We must give major props to Helio Castroneves, who drove the pants off the rest of the field. Helio clearly loves racing at Texas; this was his fourth win at the track. It was great to see Spiderman climb the fence again, and he did give us another different winner this season. The rest of the top four also deserves credit: Ryan Hunter-Reay showed he is a definite title contender again with his fourth podium finish this year. Again, I repeat: he is the best all-around driver in any motorsport, period. Third place Tony Kanaan really came to life late in the race, and I'm sure they didn't show it on TV but his moves were something to admire. He is a passing beast, especially on ovals. And Ed Carpenter had a good showing, too, in fourth place. I know he was disappointed with his tenth place at Indy but this showed he's still an oval master.
Helio cemented the points lead for now, but the top three are all closely bunched and could take over any weekend. We now head to the Milwaukee Mile and IndyFest, which just looks like great family fun. I wish I could attend, but I'm going to Pocono and that's my spending limit for the year. On another positive note, the NBC Sports folks take over this weekend, so we have something else to look forward to now!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Texas Three-Step
A trifecta of interesting stories emerged this week in the IZOD IndyCar Series. As with many controversies, these storylines have pros and cons, but I think anything that gets people talking, particularly mainstream media, is good for business.
Story #1: Technical Innovation
Derrick Walker wasted no time in his new position developing a strategic plan for technical innovation over the next five years. The plan mainly focuses on increasing speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway while developing kits to differentiate the cars more, so that fans can identify a Honda car versus a Chevy car. While his vision is impressive, I am not fully convinced this plan is the best direction for IndyCar.
Fans who long for the "glory days" of IndyCar bemoan the fact that the cars are ugly, all look alike, and lack the technical innovation that made the series great in the 1980s and early 90s. These fans also likely grew up around cars, enjoying the problem-solving challenge of fixing them and "pimping" them out. Walker's vision seems to be aimed at this target audience. He claims that fans want these changes. And true, some definitely do. But for every fan that desires innovation, you'll also find others (like me) who are worried that such changes will reduce the great racing we have seen over the past two years, and take away the parity among owners and drivers.
I am not a sociologist, but I would definitely say the world has changed in the past twenty years (duh). Those changes have led to different interests among fans. Some claim that people aren't as interested in fixing cars anymore. Newer vehicles resemble more of a computer than a classic automobile. Sports fans' attention must vacillate between a smartphone with games and apps, an HD television with over 100 channels, and the increased popularity of extreme sports such as MMA. Does technical innovation really inspire new fans? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that if IndyCar wants to thrive, its fan base needs to get younger, not older. So it would be wise to develop strategies aimed at getting new fans, not appeasing the gearheads who are already watching but who express some dissatisfaction with what they're watching.
Having a plan in place is not necessarily bad for IndyCar, though. The college where I teach has such a strategic plan based on visioning sessions with its students, employees, and the community. This gives us goals to strive for, and we can assess how well we are meeting those goals over the next five years. We can articulate the details of the plan to each other, and to outsiders, which is extremely important for IndyCar. Sponsors and advertisers can see that IndyCar finally has direction and a clear future, which is nothing to bemoan about.
Story #2: Detroit Fines
News broke today that several drivers received fines or penalties for infractions at the Dual in Detroit. While some of these fines were justified, such as James Jakes' fine for rear wing violations, others lack merit. Will Power was placed on probation for throwing his gloves (his gloves, mind you) at Sebastien Bourdais, who was also placed on probation for comments directed at officials (but not for causing a huge wreck?). Sebastian Saavedra received a rather hefty $30,000 fine for giving Marco Andretti double birds, in plain sight of the TV cameras. I am guessing that the series' rationale for the fine is more because it was broadcast on live television, but Texas Motor Speedway used the opportunity to creatively promote its own race:
Now that's great marketing, which IndyCar desperately needs to learn! The glove throwing and the double birds were hilarious, come on! And gloves are a lot less harmful than a helmet, which is what Tony Stewart threw at Matt Kenseth last year. I understand IndyCar is not trying to be NASCAR, but this is one area where they should be. These kinds of images and stories bring humor and interest to the motorsport, and I actually think they should be encouraged (within reason) rather than fined. They are entertainment, which is what sports should be. Judging by the comments I've read in social media so far, many other fans agree. What happens if Power violates his probation? Will they really suspend him? Oh IndyCar, sometimes you embarrass yourselves.
Story #3: Texas
And sometimes, IndyCar, you produce great racing, which is what we've had all year and what we had last year at Texas. I suspect we'll have more of the same this year, and I'll be at the race on Saturday night to witness it!
One of the more intriguing Texas storylines concerns Oriol Servia. Servia is not well-liked in Texas, to be blunt. He has made some rather negative comments about the state in the past, which Texans did not appreciate. Now he is back racing in the National Guard car for Panther Racing. This does not sit well with many fans. I expect him to be booed a little when he is introduced on Saturday.
Texas is a wickedly fast track, and appropriate actions were taken last year to ensure that the cars would remain fast but safe. These actions resulted in drivers having to really drive the cars (Power even indicated it was the most fun he'd ever had on an oval!), but also resulted in tires falling off quickly and noticeably. We'll see if the same holds true for this year.
Justin Wilson was a surprise winner at Texas last year after Graham Rahal's late dust with the wall cost him a victory. Rahal will be a man on a mission at this race, eager to redeem himself and to prove he should be the #1 RLL driver after Jakes' podium finish in Detroit. Really, though, this race is anyone's to win, which brings incredible excitement to the race. Can a Penske or Ganassi car finally win this year? Will Marco or Helio take over sole possession of the points lead, or will someone else emerge as the new leader? Will we see a new winner, or a new first-time IndyCar series winner? We'll find out on primetime TV Saturday night!
Story #1: Technical Innovation
Derrick Walker wasted no time in his new position developing a strategic plan for technical innovation over the next five years. The plan mainly focuses on increasing speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway while developing kits to differentiate the cars more, so that fans can identify a Honda car versus a Chevy car. While his vision is impressive, I am not fully convinced this plan is the best direction for IndyCar.
Fans who long for the "glory days" of IndyCar bemoan the fact that the cars are ugly, all look alike, and lack the technical innovation that made the series great in the 1980s and early 90s. These fans also likely grew up around cars, enjoying the problem-solving challenge of fixing them and "pimping" them out. Walker's vision seems to be aimed at this target audience. He claims that fans want these changes. And true, some definitely do. But for every fan that desires innovation, you'll also find others (like me) who are worried that such changes will reduce the great racing we have seen over the past two years, and take away the parity among owners and drivers.
I am not a sociologist, but I would definitely say the world has changed in the past twenty years (duh). Those changes have led to different interests among fans. Some claim that people aren't as interested in fixing cars anymore. Newer vehicles resemble more of a computer than a classic automobile. Sports fans' attention must vacillate between a smartphone with games and apps, an HD television with over 100 channels, and the increased popularity of extreme sports such as MMA. Does technical innovation really inspire new fans? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that if IndyCar wants to thrive, its fan base needs to get younger, not older. So it would be wise to develop strategies aimed at getting new fans, not appeasing the gearheads who are already watching but who express some dissatisfaction with what they're watching.
Having a plan in place is not necessarily bad for IndyCar, though. The college where I teach has such a strategic plan based on visioning sessions with its students, employees, and the community. This gives us goals to strive for, and we can assess how well we are meeting those goals over the next five years. We can articulate the details of the plan to each other, and to outsiders, which is extremely important for IndyCar. Sponsors and advertisers can see that IndyCar finally has direction and a clear future, which is nothing to bemoan about.
Story #2: Detroit Fines
News broke today that several drivers received fines or penalties for infractions at the Dual in Detroit. While some of these fines were justified, such as James Jakes' fine for rear wing violations, others lack merit. Will Power was placed on probation for throwing his gloves (his gloves, mind you) at Sebastien Bourdais, who was also placed on probation for comments directed at officials (but not for causing a huge wreck?). Sebastian Saavedra received a rather hefty $30,000 fine for giving Marco Andretti double birds, in plain sight of the TV cameras. I am guessing that the series' rationale for the fine is more because it was broadcast on live television, but Texas Motor Speedway used the opportunity to creatively promote its own race:
Now that's great marketing, which IndyCar desperately needs to learn! The glove throwing and the double birds were hilarious, come on! And gloves are a lot less harmful than a helmet, which is what Tony Stewart threw at Matt Kenseth last year. I understand IndyCar is not trying to be NASCAR, but this is one area where they should be. These kinds of images and stories bring humor and interest to the motorsport, and I actually think they should be encouraged (within reason) rather than fined. They are entertainment, which is what sports should be. Judging by the comments I've read in social media so far, many other fans agree. What happens if Power violates his probation? Will they really suspend him? Oh IndyCar, sometimes you embarrass yourselves.
Story #3: Texas
And sometimes, IndyCar, you produce great racing, which is what we've had all year and what we had last year at Texas. I suspect we'll have more of the same this year, and I'll be at the race on Saturday night to witness it!
One of the more intriguing Texas storylines concerns Oriol Servia. Servia is not well-liked in Texas, to be blunt. He has made some rather negative comments about the state in the past, which Texans did not appreciate. Now he is back racing in the National Guard car for Panther Racing. This does not sit well with many fans. I expect him to be booed a little when he is introduced on Saturday.
Texas is a wickedly fast track, and appropriate actions were taken last year to ensure that the cars would remain fast but safe. These actions resulted in drivers having to really drive the cars (Power even indicated it was the most fun he'd ever had on an oval!), but also resulted in tires falling off quickly and noticeably. We'll see if the same holds true for this year.
Justin Wilson was a surprise winner at Texas last year after Graham Rahal's late dust with the wall cost him a victory. Rahal will be a man on a mission at this race, eager to redeem himself and to prove he should be the #1 RLL driver after Jakes' podium finish in Detroit. Really, though, this race is anyone's to win, which brings incredible excitement to the race. Can a Penske or Ganassi car finally win this year? Will Marco or Helio take over sole possession of the points lead, or will someone else emerge as the new leader? Will we see a new winner, or a new first-time IndyCar series winner? We'll find out on primetime TV Saturday night!
Monday, June 3, 2013
A Tale of Three Races
That's how I feel about this weekend's doubleheader in Detroit. It really felt like we had three separate races: Saturday's race, the first half of Sunday's crashfest, and then the excitement of Sunday's second half. There's a lot to digest from one weekend, but here goes!
Race 1
The first race of the Dual in Detroit will be remembered for Mike Conway's sheer domination. He showed he is a force to be reckoned with on street and road courses. No one could even come close to catching him all day. Dale Coyne Racing impressively had two drivers on the podium, with Justin Wilson taking third. Conway clearly needs to be in a part-time ride as a road course specialist, and ovalie (I just made that word up, but it fits!) Ed Carpenter would be the perfect partner.
The race will also be remembered, as will the entire weekend really, for some inter-driver drama a la NASCAR. Sebastian Saavedra's double birds, directed at Marco Andretti, were delivered in plain sight of the TV cameras, which ABC may not like but I loved it! I like to see drivers showing some emotion and passion, and Saavedra had to feel both after his day ended early. Big kudos to his team for getting the car repaired and ready to race again on Sunday.
Late in the race, Ryan Briscoe spun and stalled the car. Rather than calling for a full-course yellow, race control elected for a local yellow instead. After all the controversy following the caution-ending Indy 500 a week prior, this seemed like the right call. It was unfortunate for Briscoe, who just needed a restart to finish the race, but it was satisfying to end the race under green.
I'm going to go out on a limb and make a bold claim here. Ryan Hunter-Reay may be the best all-around driver in any motorsports series, period. He has proven he can win on street circuits, road courses (including a win at Barber this year), and ovals. He has podiums at all three type of tracks this year, and I believe he'll have at least one more win. It's time to promote this American driver for the talent that he is and give him some well-deserved recognition.
Race 2
This race was really a tale of two halves. The first half of the race was, quite frankly, an embarrassing crashfest. I'm sure a lot of viewers tuned in, laughed at all the accidents, and flipped the channel, never to return. That's unfortunate, because the second half of the race was fantastic, with action-filled passing galore. I still am not sure how Simon Pagenaud came out in front of Jakes and Conway, but he owes his pit crew a few brewskis for that effort! Congrats to Pags on his first IndyCar win. And we have now seen three drivers this year score their first IndyCar series victory. We may not be done yet!
I was very surprised that race control did not call for a red flag after that huge crash that apparently Sebastien Bourdais instigated. The track was completely blocked, and I think it messed up the restart order because some drivers pitted and could not line up properly. I would like to hear an explanation on this. I'm sure they have a good reason, whether it was their expectation that safety crews would clean up quickly, allowing teams to work on their cars, the TV window (not a good reason), or something else. Those kinds of accidents happen from time to time on street courses, and we expect it with those kinds of races. Since this was the first big accident to happen all year, I think we're doing quite well.
Speaking of Bourdais, how funny was Will Power? I loved his glove-throwing (gloves, really?) and his "once was a champ, now he's a chump" comment. Between this encounter and Saavedra's on Saturday, IndyCar is starting to build some good old-fashioned rivalries. Those work pretty well for NASCAR so why not?
James Jakes deserves some recognition for being able to hold off an impressive Mike Conway, too. I am still not fully convinced of Jakes' abilities, but he showed us all he can play with the big boys this weekend. I think Charlie Kimball's pass on Conway needs a shout-out, too, because he seemed to be the only driver who could catch up to Conway all weekend!
Overall Weekend Reflections
The newly reconfigured track was much, much better for passing this year. Sunday's race had more action than Saturday's, but that could have been because teams were playing it safe and not wanting to damage their race cars. Big thank you to Roger Penske for investing so much into this event and making some much-needed, effective track changes.
I liked seeing how the different tire strategies played out. It became evident on Saturday that the blacks were better than the reds, and more teams adopted that strategy on Sunday. The tire battle gives us something else to watch for, and even a non-technical car person like me could understand it.
AJ Allmendinger proved that lightning can indeed strike twice. It seems unfathomable that the same driver can be out of each race on the first lap. After such an impressive performance at Indy a week ago, this was truly a huge disappointment and you have to wonder what's next for the Dinger. I'll admit I was not on the bandwagon until Indy, but I became an AJ Allmendinger fan after this weekend. From seeing his passion for "It's Indy Pole Day!" to his humbled honesty at admitting his mistakes in Detroit, he won me over. I empathized with his dejected emotions. I really hope someone gives him a chance in open-wheel racing, but after messing up twice in Roger Penske's backyard, Roger will have to think long and hard about giving him that opportunity.
Honda rebounded from a disappointing Indy 500 by sweeping both races and the top five spots on Sunday. All in Chevytown. I think this gives us a terrific, friendly rivalry between manufacturers.
We are seven races into the season, and we have seen six different winners from six different countries, five different teams, three first-time IndyCar winners, and...none from Penske or Ganassi. As we move on to Texas, a race that is anyone's to win, Derrick Walker wants to make some changes and possibly take all this parity away from us. That's a subject for another day. In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy this thrilling, unpredictable season.
Race 1
The first race of the Dual in Detroit will be remembered for Mike Conway's sheer domination. He showed he is a force to be reckoned with on street and road courses. No one could even come close to catching him all day. Dale Coyne Racing impressively had two drivers on the podium, with Justin Wilson taking third. Conway clearly needs to be in a part-time ride as a road course specialist, and ovalie (I just made that word up, but it fits!) Ed Carpenter would be the perfect partner.
The race will also be remembered, as will the entire weekend really, for some inter-driver drama a la NASCAR. Sebastian Saavedra's double birds, directed at Marco Andretti, were delivered in plain sight of the TV cameras, which ABC may not like but I loved it! I like to see drivers showing some emotion and passion, and Saavedra had to feel both after his day ended early. Big kudos to his team for getting the car repaired and ready to race again on Sunday.
Late in the race, Ryan Briscoe spun and stalled the car. Rather than calling for a full-course yellow, race control elected for a local yellow instead. After all the controversy following the caution-ending Indy 500 a week prior, this seemed like the right call. It was unfortunate for Briscoe, who just needed a restart to finish the race, but it was satisfying to end the race under green.
I'm going to go out on a limb and make a bold claim here. Ryan Hunter-Reay may be the best all-around driver in any motorsports series, period. He has proven he can win on street circuits, road courses (including a win at Barber this year), and ovals. He has podiums at all three type of tracks this year, and I believe he'll have at least one more win. It's time to promote this American driver for the talent that he is and give him some well-deserved recognition.
Race 2
This race was really a tale of two halves. The first half of the race was, quite frankly, an embarrassing crashfest. I'm sure a lot of viewers tuned in, laughed at all the accidents, and flipped the channel, never to return. That's unfortunate, because the second half of the race was fantastic, with action-filled passing galore. I still am not sure how Simon Pagenaud came out in front of Jakes and Conway, but he owes his pit crew a few brewskis for that effort! Congrats to Pags on his first IndyCar win. And we have now seen three drivers this year score their first IndyCar series victory. We may not be done yet!
I was very surprised that race control did not call for a red flag after that huge crash that apparently Sebastien Bourdais instigated. The track was completely blocked, and I think it messed up the restart order because some drivers pitted and could not line up properly. I would like to hear an explanation on this. I'm sure they have a good reason, whether it was their expectation that safety crews would clean up quickly, allowing teams to work on their cars, the TV window (not a good reason), or something else. Those kinds of accidents happen from time to time on street courses, and we expect it with those kinds of races. Since this was the first big accident to happen all year, I think we're doing quite well.
Speaking of Bourdais, how funny was Will Power? I loved his glove-throwing (gloves, really?) and his "once was a champ, now he's a chump" comment. Between this encounter and Saavedra's on Saturday, IndyCar is starting to build some good old-fashioned rivalries. Those work pretty well for NASCAR so why not?
James Jakes deserves some recognition for being able to hold off an impressive Mike Conway, too. I am still not fully convinced of Jakes' abilities, but he showed us all he can play with the big boys this weekend. I think Charlie Kimball's pass on Conway needs a shout-out, too, because he seemed to be the only driver who could catch up to Conway all weekend!
Overall Weekend Reflections
The newly reconfigured track was much, much better for passing this year. Sunday's race had more action than Saturday's, but that could have been because teams were playing it safe and not wanting to damage their race cars. Big thank you to Roger Penske for investing so much into this event and making some much-needed, effective track changes.
I liked seeing how the different tire strategies played out. It became evident on Saturday that the blacks were better than the reds, and more teams adopted that strategy on Sunday. The tire battle gives us something else to watch for, and even a non-technical car person like me could understand it.
AJ Allmendinger proved that lightning can indeed strike twice. It seems unfathomable that the same driver can be out of each race on the first lap. After such an impressive performance at Indy a week ago, this was truly a huge disappointment and you have to wonder what's next for the Dinger. I'll admit I was not on the bandwagon until Indy, but I became an AJ Allmendinger fan after this weekend. From seeing his passion for "It's Indy Pole Day!" to his humbled honesty at admitting his mistakes in Detroit, he won me over. I empathized with his dejected emotions. I really hope someone gives him a chance in open-wheel racing, but after messing up twice in Roger Penske's backyard, Roger will have to think long and hard about giving him that opportunity.
Honda rebounded from a disappointing Indy 500 by sweeping both races and the top five spots on Sunday. All in Chevytown. I think this gives us a terrific, friendly rivalry between manufacturers.
We are seven races into the season, and we have seen six different winners from six different countries, five different teams, three first-time IndyCar winners, and...none from Penske or Ganassi. As we move on to Texas, a race that is anyone's to win, Derrick Walker wants to make some changes and possibly take all this parity away from us. That's a subject for another day. In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy this thrilling, unpredictable season.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Till We See You Again, JR
Is it possible to find something unexpected but still unsurprising?
That's how I felt when I heard the news about JR Hildebrand being let go by Panther Racing. At first I was shocked, probably because this change comes in the middle of a season. But upon further reflection I realized we all knew it was coming. Three strikes and you're out I suppose. JR did make his share of mistakes, and being the first one out of the Indy 500 this year was the final straw. But I also don't believe he deserves all of the blame for that team's lack of success.
Hildebrand's initial mistake was smacking the wall on the final turn of the 2011 Indy 500. He was within one turn of winning the biggest race in the world in his rookie season. Fine, you can chalk that up to a rookie mistake (and, like I said, perhaps a little bit of fate intervening to give Dan Wheldon one final victory). Last season was unspectacular but featured few errors, certainly none like that one. He finished 14th in last year's Indy 500, probably playing it safe and trying to get over the previous year's heartbreak.
Then we come to this season. The biggest mistake JR made was driving over the back of Will Power's car in St. Pete. He admitted the mistake and said he wasn't paying attention. Still, that was a dangerous and, quite frankly, stupid mistake. I think he will always be known as the driver who crashed on the final turn of the Indy 500, but this error will also mark his infamy in IndyCar.
As for this year's Indy 500, JR indicated that the team went with an aggressive setup and he never truly felt comfortable in the car. So is he the only one at fault for his early crash? I don't believe he is, and as I've remarked in previous posts, this team has never quite "gelled" together. Whether that's because of owner John Barnes, the engineers, or Hildebrand, we'll probably never know. It is somewhat telling though that the team has gone through drivers like babies go through diapers. And just like those diapers, something stinks. Hopefully Hildebrand can get some more experience elsewhere and return as a driver on a mission.
Ryan Briscoe takes over the #4 car for this weekend's Dual in Detroit, and it looks like Oriol Servia will be the driver for the remainder of the year. Some individuals have a problem with this, claiming that the National Guard-sponsored car should have an American driver in it. I agree, but then we need to find a good American driver to take it over. That driver should drive the car with the same sense of pride that service members feel when they see it. I'm sure Briscoe and Servia know this, and will represent their sponsor well. I wonder what will happen to Hildebrand's national commercial now about how the National Guard is "more than a sponsor?"
I have mixed feelings about the doubleheader in Detroit this weekend. As a television viewer, it's difficult to commit to watching two full races on a weekend. And I wonder how many casual fans will tune in on Sunday and think the race is a rerun of Saturday's event. It makes more sense for attendance, that fans can attend both races for one price. It will be very taxing on the drivers, and we'll find out how much fitness really matters. Last year's Grand Prix at Belle Isle was the worst race of the year, with virtually no passing, Dixon dominating from start to finish, and an embarrassing pothole-filled track. Changes have been made for this year, though, and hopefully those changes result in a more entertaining race. IndyCar needs to build on the momentum and excitement from the Indy 500.
That's how I felt when I heard the news about JR Hildebrand being let go by Panther Racing. At first I was shocked, probably because this change comes in the middle of a season. But upon further reflection I realized we all knew it was coming. Three strikes and you're out I suppose. JR did make his share of mistakes, and being the first one out of the Indy 500 this year was the final straw. But I also don't believe he deserves all of the blame for that team's lack of success.
Hildebrand's initial mistake was smacking the wall on the final turn of the 2011 Indy 500. He was within one turn of winning the biggest race in the world in his rookie season. Fine, you can chalk that up to a rookie mistake (and, like I said, perhaps a little bit of fate intervening to give Dan Wheldon one final victory). Last season was unspectacular but featured few errors, certainly none like that one. He finished 14th in last year's Indy 500, probably playing it safe and trying to get over the previous year's heartbreak.
Then we come to this season. The biggest mistake JR made was driving over the back of Will Power's car in St. Pete. He admitted the mistake and said he wasn't paying attention. Still, that was a dangerous and, quite frankly, stupid mistake. I think he will always be known as the driver who crashed on the final turn of the Indy 500, but this error will also mark his infamy in IndyCar.
As for this year's Indy 500, JR indicated that the team went with an aggressive setup and he never truly felt comfortable in the car. So is he the only one at fault for his early crash? I don't believe he is, and as I've remarked in previous posts, this team has never quite "gelled" together. Whether that's because of owner John Barnes, the engineers, or Hildebrand, we'll probably never know. It is somewhat telling though that the team has gone through drivers like babies go through diapers. And just like those diapers, something stinks. Hopefully Hildebrand can get some more experience elsewhere and return as a driver on a mission.
Ryan Briscoe takes over the #4 car for this weekend's Dual in Detroit, and it looks like Oriol Servia will be the driver for the remainder of the year. Some individuals have a problem with this, claiming that the National Guard-sponsored car should have an American driver in it. I agree, but then we need to find a good American driver to take it over. That driver should drive the car with the same sense of pride that service members feel when they see it. I'm sure Briscoe and Servia know this, and will represent their sponsor well. I wonder what will happen to Hildebrand's national commercial now about how the National Guard is "more than a sponsor?"
I have mixed feelings about the doubleheader in Detroit this weekend. As a television viewer, it's difficult to commit to watching two full races on a weekend. And I wonder how many casual fans will tune in on Sunday and think the race is a rerun of Saturday's event. It makes more sense for attendance, that fans can attend both races for one price. It will be very taxing on the drivers, and we'll find out how much fitness really matters. Last year's Grand Prix at Belle Isle was the worst race of the year, with virtually no passing, Dixon dominating from start to finish, and an embarrassing pothole-filled track. Changes have been made for this year, though, and hopefully those changes result in a more entertaining race. IndyCar needs to build on the momentum and excitement from the Indy 500.
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