First of all, congratulations to Scott Dixon, the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series champion. He drove a smart race, staying out of trouble and not getting too aggressive. Things certainly got interesting at the end, as he encountered some overheating issues, and we weren't sure if he would finish the race. But he did and capped a remarkable championship comeback, one that he earned by winning more races than anyone this season. A season that started off dismally for all Ganassi cars rebounded impressively, highlighted by a Ganassi sweep at Pocono. He earned this title, the third of his career, and cemented his IndyCar legacy as one of the best drivers of all time.
Helio Castroneves fought until the end, and he has to be proud of how he gave it a full effort. He very nearly pulled out a win until a broken front wing forced him to pit late in the race. Even after that, Dixon's win wasn't guaranteed, given the way the race had gone to that point. As Helio looks back on his season, one has to wonder if he regrets playing it safe in some of those earlier races. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but I think his result will change the way drivers compete for the championship in the future. In order to win the title, you have to win races. And that's really the way it should be. I want to thank both Helio and Dixon for giving us some real, thrilling drama right up until the end.
Lost in all the championship shuffle was that Will Power won a 500-mile race...on an oval. Not a "twin-275" oval where he had randomly drawn a good start position, but a legitimate oval race and a true test of endurance and skill. Power called it the most satisfying win of his career, and it's easy to understand why. While nothing can really take away the sting of losing last year's championship title, this win had to feel like sweet redemption. And considering how well he performed in the last third of the year, winning three of the last five races, I think we can say he's back in championship form and will be a force to be reckoned with next year. I'd say not only should we consider him a possible favorite for the IndyCar Series championship, but we should also consider him a favorite for the Indy 500. He has exorcised those oval demons with some impressive performances at the ovals this year, and has quieted those critics (such as Ed Carpenter) who see him as a road/street course specialist only. I'm really happy for him, and I'll be cheering for him next year to get his first championship.
As for the race itself, I thought it was excellent. Three- and four-wide racing? Incredible passing? A fearless rookie, Carlos Munoz, showing us why he deserves a full-time ride next year? Multiple lead changes and drama right up to the last lap? Come on, as some people said afterwards, if you didn't like that race, then you won't like anything. My friend who watched the race with me actually commented at one point, "This is a lot better than NASCAR. Their [IndyCar's] racing on ovals is amazing." YES! This is what so many IndyCar fans have realized for so long, and I'm glad others are starting to see that as well. Even NASCAR personalities were tweeting about what an entertaining race it was:
Pretty darn good #IndyCar race going on out west tonight!
— Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) October 20, 2013
However, there is the other side of the story, the crashes. Pippa Mann and Sebastian Saavedra completed their Indy 500 reunion by becoming the first victims, and it's still unclear exactly what happened there. Other drivers such as Alex Tagliani, A.J. Allmendinger, and Sebastien Bourdais appeared to get caught up in the track seams and spin out (Dinger's was more a result of trying to handle a slowing Ed Carpenter in front of him). But Justin Wilson and five other cars experienced "the big one" on lap 111. Wilson suffered the most damage, with an inoperable pelvis fracture and a pulmonary contusion (a medical term that is over my head). Fortunately he will recover, because we all feared the worst as we watched the crews extract him from the car. I hope he and Dario heal quickly and healthily, and we see them both in an IndyCar in St. Petersburg next year.
The high attrition rate was curious, considering we had not experienced anything like it all season, and more than fifteen cars finished last year's finale at Fontana. Anything can happen in a 500-mile race, however, and we were shown just how grueling that experience is for the drivers and the cars. It was an unfortunate side effect of the race, but I don't think it took away from the overall event. Even on the last restart, with only five cars vying for the win, we saw some great racing and edge-of-your-seat drama. IndyCar and Auto Club Speedway showed us why they have the perfect showcase for a season finale. As the curtain closes on the 2013 season, I am left with a bittersweet feeling. It's sad to know that we won't see any racing for five more months, but I will savor the high from that enjoyable finale for awhile. Thank you, IndyCar, for another fantastic season.
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