Just like the newly-minted Verizon IndyCar Series, so too am I returning from a long hiatus. I have no other explanation for my hiatus other than that life, busy as it gets both professionally and personally, sometimes gets in the way. But my commitment to and passion for IndyCar racing is unwavering, so I welcome it back this weekend with open arms.
As the IndyCar season revs its engines once again, there are a lot of storylines to watch. We've had a lot of good news during the off-season, with the best news of all perhaps coming from the name of the new title sponsor. We've also had some sad news, with the passing of some key IndyCar supporters, and some frustrating news, such as the decision to award double points for 500-milers and the Panther Racing lawsuit. That said, it's difficult to pinpoint the top three stories to watch over the course of this season, but I will do my best! Here's what I'll be keeping an eye on this season:
1. Verizon's Impact: When it was first announced that Verizon would be the new title sponsor, many IndyCar fans rejoiced. We saw this as a tremendous marketing opportunity to have a company with a) dollars to spend, and b) the desire to promote IndyCar drivers and technology. We must be cautious about labeling Verizon the series savior, however, and about getting our hopes up too high. We've thought other sponsors would have more impact, too. But this time, I think we will see a difference. Verizon has already done a lot to promote IndyCar racing, by featuring its drivers in a commercial and by having one of the best fan zone tents at races. It will take time to see an impact, but I imagine it will happen. Verizon should increase IndyCar's visibility, and hopefully they will see a good return on investment. I for one am especially proud to call myself a Verizon customer now, with no plans to switch for the next ten years at least!
2. New Faces, New Teams: Understandably, we lament the loss of Simona de Silvestro and the fact that there are no full-time female drivers in IndyCar for the first time in a long time. I'm highly disappointed in that, because as a woman, that's one of the things that drew me to IndyCar as opposed to other racing series: women could compete with the men on equal terms. But we also have some new, fresh faces to welcome to IndyCar. After last year's runner-up Indy 500 finish and his thrilling, daring run at Fontana, I think we're all excited to see what Carlos Munoz can do. We also welcome back Juan Pablo Montoya, who I suspect will give IndyCar some buzz and give some drivers a new rival. It also sets up an intriguing, renewed battle between Penske (the team who pilfered him) and Ganassi (the team who let him go). Speaking of Ganassi, Tony Kanaan's arrival brings added intrigue. Not only is he the reigning Indy 500 champion, he is taking the place of a legend in the (unfortunately) retired Dario Franchitti. This is probably TK's swan song, so it will be interesting to see how much he can deliver for his new team. We'll also be keeping a watchful eye on his teammate Ryan Briscoe (a controversial addition to the team, but one I fully support) and rookies Mikhail Aleshin, Jack Hawksworth, and Carlos Huertas. If any of those guys beat out Munoz for rookie of the year, I will truly be both shocked and impressed.
3. Engines: Ganassi made the surprising switch from Honda-powered engines to Chevy, forcing Andretti Autosport to switch from Chevy to Honda. Undoubtedly this will bring some growing pains as drivers and teams grow accustomed to the new engines. The manufacturer battle was incredibly close last year, coming down to the final race, and we can only hope we will see a similar contest this year. With Honda now also using twin-turbo engines, the competition has grown more equal. So will we see the same parity we saw last year? If St. Pete qualifying is any indication, with seven different teams in the top twelve, one has to think yes we will! Hopefully IndyCar can maintain that suspense; it really is a mystery as to who will win each race. That's why I never predict race or season winners, and I'm not going to do it this year, either. I will say that Will Power ended last season on a high note, so I would expect to see him carry that momentum into this season, too. But it's anyone's championship to win. Start your engines, fans--IndyCar is finally back!
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