IndyCar Advocate

Pole Day/Bump Day Notes

2013-05-20T07:43:00.000-04:00

-I was able to spend the entire weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for qualifying, which meant seeing some absolutely tremendous driving and on-track action. Even with the rain delaying matters on Saturday, you couldn't have asked for a much better time. I'll go through and list some of the notes I made on the qualifying weekend that was:

-We have to start with our polesitter, Ed Carpenter. It looked like the first couple of rows would be an all-Penske/Andretti affair, but by staying the course on setup from the morning practice, Carpenter was able to reel off two laps in excess of 229 mph and make it happen. It's a great story, but Ed should again be in contention to win the 500. After Pole Day concluded, he was saying all the right things about ensuring starting P1 didn't ruin the team's focus on that goal. As one of the prime oval drivers in the series over the past few years, Ed definitely has a realistic change at the Borg-Warner next Sunday.

-So what of the rather obvious discrepancy in qualifying speeds between the Chevy and Honda teams? While it's definitely a feather in the hat for Chevy to dominate qualifying in such a definitive manner, things could be completely different once teams get their race setups complete. Stability, sustained speed, and plenty of opportunities to pass mean we could very well see a Honda win, just as much as a Chevy. That said, those first 3-4 rows certainly look formidable right now, don't they?

-Perhaps my favorite row of the race has to be Row 6. That's Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, and Takuma Sato starting next to one another. That could be a very interesting first few laps, couldn't it?

-I'm still scratching my head over the Pole Day decision to send Townsend Bell back out for a second attempt after he had already comfortably qualified. That led to a failed attempt, and Bell having to use his third and final attempt to bump himself back in, albeit at the cost of a position from his earlier attempt. I didn't see it coming, and I'm still not sure I get the logic.

-There are so many great stories to cover, but how about Simona de Silvestro back as a Pole Day qualifier? That had to feel really, really good after last year's Lotus crisis. Simona's usually been mid-pack at Indy, but she seemed a bit more comfortable this year when I saw her. I'll be interested to see what her race pace is.

-It was pretty clear on Bump Day that Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden would be solidly in the field. Both teams probably didn't sleep super-well after Pole Day, but honestly, not much was lost in terms of qualifying position for either driver. The 500 is a long race, so whether I qualify 23rd or 25th, I'm probably ok, so long as I get my setup right.

-My goodness, what a long afternoon for Bump Day! It was pretty clear early on Michel Jourdain's car simply didn't have anywhere near the speed needed to challenge even Katherine Legge at just about 223mph. That's the way it goes, sometimes. It did at least afford plenty of practice time, and there was no shortage of craziness as everyone worked on race setup. Watching from the pits, it was a nice preview of the some of the speed we'll see on race day. When you're just yards away from these cars, it reminds you of the speed of Indy. It's an intense feeling.

-Seeing Michel Jourdain in the garages around 3 pm yesterday, he looked pretty dejected. The team simply could not figure out what the deal with his car was, and even Graham Rahal jumping in didn't help. The last row of Daly, Lazier, and Legge looked pretty solid, especially with the baking heat coming down on the track. As it turns out, they were, and Jourdain is left on the outside looking in. What a brutal unfolding of events for a pretty good guy. That's the harsh side of Indy, but also one of the reasons it matters like it does.

-Really, if a car is that far off the mark, as we saw with Jourdain's #17 car, it doesn't matter if Rick Mears jumps in it. A bad engine, tub, or other serious issue can wreck anyone's chances, no matter how strong their driver or program is. Is it something they should have identified earlier in the week, or was there another available option? That's something we probably won't ever fully know.

-I was really impressed with how few incidents we had through the end of Bump Day. With the exception of Conor Daly's moment and Will Power brushing the wall, it was a very clean month. When you consider drivers such as Pippa Mann and Buddy Lazier having no previous DW12 seat experience before this month, and Katherine Legge getting only a few laps in the car this month before qualifying, it becomes even more impressive.

-Speaking of Buddy Lazier, I heard a few folks in person and online disparaging the relatively ragtag appearance of their crew and car at certain points over the weekend. To me, seeing a one-off team grabbing personnel from a few old IndyCar teams to make it happen was absolutely phenomenal. The Lazier entry wasn't the prettiest on track, and they didn't have the polish of Penske, but they had more than enough to make the show--and probably more if they needed it. Appearances don't matter--only results. There's always time to make things pretty after you're in the field. Congratulations to Lazier Partners Racing on getting it done--and picking up that Advance Autoparts sponsorship, to boot.

-The IMS crowd loves Ed Carpenter, loves Tony Kanaan, and loves Marco Andretti. They really like James Hinchcliffe, Josef Newgarden, Pippa Mann, Simona de Silvestro, and a few others. Helio Castroneves is a rock star.

-Every time I saw Mario Andretti this weekend, even when he was clearly occupied with other duties, he did everything he could to interact with fans, sign autographs, and take pictures as needed. I know it's been said time and again, but it bears repeating: he's an amazing ambassador for this sport.

-So after all that, do I change my pick from Marco Andretti or Ed Carpenter to win the 500? No, I think I'll hold right there. There are plenty of contenders this year for addition to the Borg-Warner trophy, but I think those two are both in a really good spot to get it done.

Your Quick Bump Day Preview

2013-05-18T22:51:00.001-04:00

-The gates open for Armed Forces Bump Day at 7:30 am ET tomorrow, but there first cars will hit the track for practice from 9-10 am. Then, there's a 2-hour wait before spots 25-33 are filled, starting at noon ET and going until 6 pm. It doesn't look like adverse weather will be a factor, happily--the forecast is pretty clear.

-The qualifying order probably won't matter much after the first hour, but it goes as follows (sans T car listings): Lazier, Beatriz, Saavedra, Daly, Jourdain, Rahal, Legge, Vautier, Mann, and Newgarden.

-There are a few different groups of drivers going tomorrow that I'd classify. The first are the drivers I'm not really too worried about. Those would include Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, and probably Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann. I think they all have enough speed to make it happen tomorrow. I think Tristan Vautier is probably here, too, though perhaps not quite so sure a thing.

-The second group would be the remaining Chevy entries of Buddy Lazier and Sebastian Saavedra. Both didn't look stellar on Pole Day, but Chevy seems to have enough power to suggest that barring an accident, both entries should find their way in.

-Conor Daly is in sort of an interesting category. I think he can find enough speed to make the field, but he's also had the "double" in terms of IMS issues this week--first a nasty crash, then all sorts of mechanical issues on his qualifying run. Hopefully, he's still in a good place mentally and can get that car qualified.

-For the last category, there are those that I really have some concerns about. Michel Jourdain, Jr. is the slowpoke of the field right now, and there hasn't been much sign of improvement yet. What will be interesting will be to see how Katherine Legge gets up to speed in the ~~#99~~ #81 car. Simon Pagenaud is safely in, but Vautier hasn't exactly been a lighting it up yet. Where will Legge land on the speed charts, and how quickly can she get up to speed?

-While most eyes will understandably be on Legge tomorrow, there's also the question of Honda-on-Honda violence. Unless Lazier or Saavedra really get in trouble tomorrow, it looks very likely the 33rd position will be filled with a Honda. What happens if it comes down to Legge trying to bump Vautier? I'm not sure, but I bet it's messy.

-If I'm Chevy, I think I'd play with the idea of throwing one more car out there, especially if Jay Howard has last-minute or somesuch. You've won this round; might as well spike the football. Before you say it's too late for that to happen, I suspect we'll have several hours of practice and open track time tomorrow. It could be done, if a team and Chevy wanted it to. I doubt it, but it's fun to throw it out there.

-Speaking of track time, I'd expect everyone to go through once tomorrow, perhaps one or two more 2nd attempts, and then a long wait until later in the afternoon for more qualification attempts. There will be no shortage of cars on track, working on race trim, though!

-Remember, each entry only gets three attempts to bump their way into the field, so after that, it's either so long, or scramble to get the "T" car qualified.

-Right now, I'll go with Lazier, Daly, and Jourdain as my last three in, but all it takes is one bobble out there for everything to change in an instant. Plus, you never know when a team will find that last link they need to put it all together and move up the charts.

Pole Day Morning is the Best

2013-05-18T09:38:00.001-04:00

I wanted to do a quick update before qualifying got under way today. I was feeling a bit under the weather last night, and actually overslept! I couldn't believe it--oversleeping on Pole Day, the best morning of the year!

Yes, I said best morning of the year. As much as I love the entire race day experience for the Indy 500 itself, Pole Day morning holds a special place in my heart. It means getting in just after the gates open, sitting in the Pagoda Plaza, and just watching the Indianapolis Motor Speedway come to life. It means coffee and a pork tenderloin for breakfast, most years. It means having the sounds of the Gordon Pipers awaken the place as you sit and watch teams rush by, on some mission or another. It means seeing teams finally start to show their hand in morning practice. The expectancy and guessing that goes on all month finally begins to climb towards a resolution that will be played out between today and next Sunday.

It's also a great time to get a wonderful feel for the scope of Indy. Walking up and down pit lane, if you look towards Turn 4, it's partially shrouded by an early morning mist. There's just no track like this one.

I wasn't a total speed demon on the roads this morning, but I made good time, getting through the gates at 6:30am. As I write this, speeds are closing in on the 230mph range, we've just gone yellow for a bit moisture in the area. Most predict we'll have some interruptions today, but likely not a full-fledged deluge.

Of course, if you're talking entries, the speculation today is all about the #99 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry, which we could see for Bump Day tomorrow. Katherine Legge is the most often-mentioned name is conjunction with the ride, and if the funding is there. She's been all over the Schmidt garages, and seems to be the most likely choice. If we do see the #99 car go out at this point, and it isn't Legge, I guess I'd be a bit surprised.

More thoughts to come, but for now, we'll wait for the rain to get out of there and get some Pole Day qualifying action in!

One-Page Pole Day Guide Available

2013-05-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

Once again this year, I've created a simple Pole Day guide, a single-page pdf that cuts out all the confusing and cluttering "T" car entries. Aside from basic driver/team info and actual qualifying order, it also lists each driver's top speed of the month.

You can download it directly here. Have an awesome Pole Day, and let's hope the weather cooperates!

Back Home Again: Indy 500 Qualifications Preview

2013-05-17T07:44:00.000-04:00

It’s Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I should be at the track most of the day today, but before we see just how much some of these teams were sandbagging, I wanted to discuss some of the big and emerging stories heading into Qualifying Weekend. Here are some of the main storylines to check out on Pole Day and Bump Day:

Boost: Today, the boost will be turned up on engines, and we’ll see what it yields in terms of overall speed. Last year’s turbo boost yielded about 4 miles per hour, and if that’s the case this year (it's the same level of boost as 2012), we could see 230mph in qualifying. Also impacting those speeds will be…

Weather: The forecast calls for scattered showers over the weekend, but it doesn’t look as if we’ll see anything concrete. Still, we’ll have to see how things progress on both days. If there is bumping, or if teams know showers are coming in, we could see some tough decisions to be made, and some folks trying to work around the forecast. Remember, everyone will get at least one shot at the Pole or Shootout—but if they waive their turn in line, that’s it. As weather predictions appear now, there shouldn’t be too much trouble in getting qualifying in on either day, but this is May in Indiana. For all I know, I could be fleeing a hailstorm tomorrow, wearing a winter coat, or collapsing of heat exhaustion.

The Bump Factor: That seems to be the big question, doesn’t it? Everyone wants to know a) if the #99 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car will run, and b) who will be in that ride. We know it won’t be Buddy Rice, but Katherine Legge and Davey Hamilton are both continually mentioned as possibilities for the seat. As to whether or not the car runs, I think it will, but it also depends if there’s a vulnerable Chevy sitting out there. Will there be a 34th, or even a 35th appear from places unknown? We won’t know that until much later on Bump Day, I suspect, but never say never. Regardless, let’s not forget…

The Importance of Pole Day: Pole Day matters, beyond just the importance of getting those bonus championship points for grabbing a good qualifying spot and the chance at a place in 500 history. Does it really matter if you qualify 24th or 27th? Well, it’s the difference between getting a couple more hours to work on race setup, for one, and not having to worry one more night about getting a qualification run in. In short, getting in on Pole Day this year should be a nice sigh of relief, and a chance to look ahead to the actual race.

The Engine Battle Continues: Although it’s only a last-turn pass from being a tie ballgame, Chevy current is up 3-1 over Honda in the win department this year. Last year, a late Honda upgrade helped pave the way to add another 500 win to the engine manufacturer’s trophy case. We can’t expect the same this year, and Chevy’s teams have looked strong throughout the month. Can a Franchitti, Dixon, or Newgarden give Honda some front role representation, or will it will be a Chevy majority in the Shootout Saturday?

The Little Guys: Of course, Lazier Partners Racing has been the resident underdog since the entry was announced for Indy, and they certainly have plenty of work ahead of them. There are some other one-off entries, part-timers, and the like that are looking at differing expectations this weekend. Lazier’s team will need to find some speed for a decent qualifying result. Pippa Mann has been turning some good no-tow speeds, but teammate Ana Beatriz has been struggling somewhat. 500 specialist Townsend Bell has been downright speedy, while veteran Michel Jourdain, Jr. has apparently not had any success with his car yet. Of course, by 6pm on Sunday, things could look very different. Let’s see who figures it out, and who has issues.

Green, Green, Yellow: Not to jinx it, but this has been a remarkably clean month on-track---or at least it was until Conor Daly's crash Thursday afternoon. There have been a few big wiggles and scary moments, but through the end of practice Thursday, everything had been clean and green, aside from that single incident. Now that I’ve said that, I hope Friday isn’t full of a half-dozen cars walling it.We'll also have to see if Daly can get back in the saddle and find a nice qualifying speed.

Polesitter Returns: We can’t forget about Ryan Briscoe, who’s in what should be an acceptably speedy Ganassi car for qualifying, and is last year’s polesitter. Briscoe has the experience and team to do quite well, and having been released by Penske after last year, might have just a hint more motivation to show just what he can do.

Livery Watch: I’ve refrained from making a call on the best livery among these entries, but there are a few you’ll definitely want to scope out. Of course, everyone’s talked about Sebastien Bourdais’ chrome McAfee #7, and that’s definitely a car folks will be discussing for a good while. Carlos Muñoz’s #26 machine may well be the most colorful entry, with a blending yellow/orangish/reddish car that really needs to be seen in person. The almost day-glo color on EJ Viso’s #5 car is in the same category. Outside of those, I really like the Superman theme worked into JR Hildebrand’s #4 livery, and Josef Newgarden’s Century 21 machine is simple, but very sharp and distinct. I also absolutely love the Sunoco colors and Turbo movie promo on Townsend Bell’s #60 car. There’s definitely a range in this year’s field, from some very busy designs to some rather plain ones. Still, as we always say, any sponsor that pays is a good one—right, Alex Lloyd?

Pole Position Prediction: Those Ganassi boys are tricky, but I think it’s either Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti, or possibly James Hinchcliffe. My gut says Marco, but we’ll see.

Dark Horse: Carlos Muñoz is a rookie, but he’s been extremely fast so far. If he can hold it together for four laps, he could be at the very least a contender in the Shootout. If that's not Dark Horse enough for you (he has led multiple sessions, after all), how about Oriol Servia? He's been right with the leaders for most of practice, and we know he can qualify up front.

Fantasy Racing: IndyCar Advocate Fantasy Racing is still going strong, and is still very much anyone’s league to win. Added to that is the fact that points will count double for Indy 500 picks. Picks are due by 10am ET today, so if you’re reading this before then, head over and get those picks made!

I'll be out at the track Friday through Sunday, and would love to say hi and talk IndyCar and the Indy 500 with everyone. I'll try to have one of my customary orange polo shirts on, so if you see someone who looks like a portly traffic cone, that could be me.

Have the very best of weekends, and enjoy everything there is to be had from the Greatest Race Course in the World.

Donald Davidson Does Shakespeare

2013-05-15T07:54:00.000-04:00

On this site, we've previously followed Donald Davidson, the one-man encyclopedia of Indy 500 racing knowledge, to the Airport. He's one of my heroes, so I can say it's privilege to follow him in whatever he might do. Today, we follow him to his theatrical debut, where he plays the title role in the Speedway Repertory Theater's Production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. We join him in the famous scene where Hamlet deeply contemplates the skull and mortality of Yorick:

Act V, Scene I. A churchyard.

First Clown
A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! a' poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester.

HAMLET (Donald)
This?

First Clown
E'en that.

HAMLET
Let me see yon skull of nostalgic nature.

(Takes the skull)

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
I recall that I believe he was actually a riding mechanic with
Russ Snowberger in 1933; mark it well.

(pause)

Er, I mean, Where be your gibes now? your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? I suppose I would
say the last time we saw gambols at the Speedway was in 1954,
When Chuck Stevenson brought some gambols with him for
qualifying, although to be fair, in 1953, I believe Duke Dinsmore
brought some with him, though he didn't actually qual...

HORATIO
AHEM, My lord.

HAMLET
Er, right.
Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Now speaking of chaps that come to mind, I just want to take a moment
and tell the story of running into Russ a few years before he passed
and he mentioned the entry he ran in 1947 was originally slated to go
to Cliff Bergere, who of course--

HORATIO
MY LORD. I entreat thee, attend. Yorick.

HAMLET
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
come; make her laugh at that.

Of course, if we're discussing paint, we must bring up
one of my favorite paint schemes, which was in the
1957 race, the Belond Exhaust Special, which
actually went on to win the race. What was interesting
about that particular year was...

(long silence, as Horatio and the clowns stare at Hamlet)

Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.

HORATIO
What's that, my lord?

HAMLET
Canst thou name the last time a Novi qualified in the front row?

(exeunt, with Dave From Marion trumpeting a recessional)

Practice Day 3 Notebook

2013-05-14T07:19:00.000-04:00

-This will be a short notebook, since I was unable to attend practice in person today. Instead, I suffered through an interminable day of work. You know the sort of day in May; the sun is out, the sky blue, cars are roaring around the Speedway, and you find you've been staring at the same Excel spreadsheet in your cubicle for a quarter of an hour. You begin to concoct elaborate excuses to get over to the track, or at least to a spot where you can focus your attention on the online broadcast. The pull of the Speedway is a strong one, and it seems to stretch work hours accordingly.

-How great was it to see Pippa Mann and Conor Daly on track today? Daly passes his Rookie Orientation, and Mann got through her refresher session with no issue. It seems as if we've been waiting a long time for those two to hit the track; Mann in a return, and Daly for his debut.

-The Rahal Letterman Lanigan team certainly has had a slow start this month, with Michel Jourdain slowest on the combined speed charts so far, and the rest of the team in the lower third of the chart as well. There's little sense in panicking at this point, but it's at least worth keeping an eye on. We'll see how things change once qualifying engines are installed in the next couple of days.

-Others have weighed in on the Derrick Walker hire as INDYCAR's President of Competition quite thoroughly, but I'll add my voice to those very pleased with the hire. Walker has plenty of common sense, respect in the paddock, and a realistic streak that should serve him well indeed.

-Looking at the combined speed chart so far, only two of the top twelve practice speeds are currently Honda (Josef Newgarden and Takuma Sato). Again, we'll see what happens as teams change out engines, but I don't think Chevy will be caught off-guard again this year. For me, one of the biggest questions comes in asking just which Honda entries will crack the first three rows. Let's see how matters shake out once that boost kicks up, and with a few more days of practice under everyone's belt.

Weather, Late Programs Equal A 500 Puzzler

2013-05-13T07:34:00.000-04:00

I went out to Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday for Day 2 of practice. Opening Day had been cold, but warmed nicely. Day 2 saw the sun come out, but when the wind gusted, it was pretty chilly. The kids were freezing, so we didn't stay all day, but we got to see some runs from Ryan Briscoe and the Andretti boys. It was cool to see Carlos Munoz lead practice as a rookie, and even better to see him avoid a scary incident by a little grass-cutting.

We had such sweltering weather last year at the track, and this year has ranged from fair to downright frosty in comparison. If we can hit a happy medium by the weekend, I'll be thrilled. But the weather has also brought a lot of uncertainty with it. A number of team members I spoke to over the weekend indicated they were limiting their running until Monday or Tuesday. Of course, there's nothing to say that race weekend wont be 50 degrees and windy, but it doesn't seem as if there's a whole lot of deep progress being made out there. The wind doesn't help it; there were some nasty gusts, and several drivers took to social media to talk about getting shoved around out there.

The other part of the equation, which was touched on a bit on Saturday, is the fact that teams are still assembling and prepping after Brazil. Pippa Mann and the #63 Dale Coyne team decided to wait another day to get some laps in. The other two Coyne drivers, Ana Beatriz and Justin Wilson, have likewise not taken laps. Conor Daly won't turn a lap for his Rookie Orientation until likely this afternoon. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's entries have turned just over a dozen laps apiece. Outside of rookie AJ Allmendinger, Team Penske has run very little. We won't see Buddy Lazier's program until Wednesday, and if the #99 of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports runs, it will be a late entry indeed.

If there's a common thread here, it's that it all adds up to a big puzzle. We don't know how the Coyne cars will run. We don't know what Buddy Lazier and the Great Hemelgarn/Conquest/Other Hybrid team can muster. We don't know if a new look for Dragon Racing will accompanied by a new direction on the year. We're not certain what will happen to teams when the boost is turned up for qualifying, or what the Foyt entries can must, or what Penske and Ganassi are doubtless hiding up their sleeves. Weather, winds, and works in progress equal only speculation for the die hard Indy fan.

As if to punctuate an already wild season, the first few days at the Greatest Race Course in the World have told us little about how the remainder of the month will go. From looks of it, we'll have to take our bits and pieces of information as they come. With wind expected in the early week a few nice days, and the specter of showers headed into the weekend, every day could very well take place under markedly different conditions.

Quick Thoughts: Indy 500 Opening Day

2013-05-11T22:42:00.000-04:00

-It was a cold start to this year's Month of May at IMS, but the day warmed up nicely. Still, I ended up grabbed a couple of hot chocolates for the kids not long after the gates opened.

-The Gordon Pipers are tremendous, whether they're marching or performing in place. I know that might sound cliche for a 500 fan to say, but seriously, that is the soundtrack to start my May. You wouldn't normally put bagpipes and racing together, but somehow it just works.

-Kudos to IMS for having a couple of other musical acts out there today, including the High Octane Drumline. These guys play at Indiana Pacer sometimes, but they were a nice addition out at the track.

-The Celebration of Automobiles has become the crown jewel of Opening Day. There are just so many cars to look at--Duesenbergs, Packards, Marmons, Rolls Royce, classic roadsters, a vast range of vintage pace cars--cars you could just about cry over, they're so perfect. It's just a fantastic addition to the festivities, and fitting event for the Cathedral of Speed.

-The Social Media Garage had two driver events today, and both seemed very well-attended. Pippa Mann and Josef Newgarden are two popular drivers at Indy, and I'm impressed with the Speedway's continued push to integrate social media and current technology into their plans, and I hope they keep pushing in the same direction.

-Not a whole host of cars saw track today, but that doesn't mean it wasn't productive. Rookie Orientation went over without any major speedbumps, all three rookies who could go out today passed, and the we got to see drivers such as Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, and Josef Newgarden turn quite a few laps. Still, talking with some of the crew guys, it's pretty clear that we won't see a full track until probably Monday or so. Teams are still turning around from Brazil, and today there were even folks in the pit area applying needed decals to stands.

-Plenty of discussion today about the #99 entry for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Buddy Rice is the most likely candidate by far (although no official announcement was made), but of course other names like Jay Howard and even Katherine Legge popped up on the radar, too. That's just part of the fun of May, is getting to play Conspiracy Theorist/Detective. I'm surprised George Snider wasn't brought up. It does seem very likely we'll have at least 1-2 more drivers added, though--with that number including Rice or whomever jumps in the 99. Bump Day seems safe.

-The kids had a blast today, and I'll be taking my girls back tomorrow for more. It's going to be a cold day, but any day at the track is a good one, as far as I'm concerned. We'll see how many cars make it out on track.

Friday Notebook: Opening Day's Eve

2013-05-10T07:40:00.000-04:00

-It's the day before Indianapolis 500 Opening Day, which means it's going to be one of the longest work days of the year. There's nothing to be done for it, aside from trying and failing not to watch the clock every two minutes.

-Every year at Indianapolis is special, but I can't recall a year with fewer definites than this one. It seems as if nearly anyone could be a contender; from Foyt to Carpenter to Andretti, many teams have plenty of reasons for hope. While Ganassi and Penske will doubtless have their moments, the parity we've seen this year, plus memories of last year's flood of lead changes, means all bets are off. Anything seems possible, and I absolutely love it.

-What's always fun is marking what we think is so when practice begins. In 2011, it was Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann having little chance to make the field. In 2010, we though the same of Sebastian Saavedra, and believed Tony Kanaan would be a top qualifier. In 2008, we thought the same of Marty Roth and that pokey Hemelgarn car piloted by Buddy Lazier. When it comes to the Indy 500, prevailing wisdom rarely works out as we'd believe it. Remember that in a few weeks, when someone we thought would be a first-day qualifier is trying to pull it together to slot into Row 11.

-As far as the car count, I don't think we'll have a firm idea of whether we see 34 or 35 entries until later next week (though I believe we will). There's still plenty of time to work, and I'm pretty certain we will see some bumping. There are just too many possibilities out there for one not to land. Let's see how teams fare early in the week, and see what develops from there.

-One of the last TBA details on the current announcement list was resolved yesterday, as Pippa Mann not only showed what her car will look like this year, but it sounds as if they may be going with number 63 (despite 81 being shown in the car's mockup). We'll see if we get more info today.

-If you're anywhere in Central Indiana or in town on 500-related business, don't forget about the Festival on Main tonight from 6-10 pm in Speedway. It's for the Indy Family Foundation, which is a great organization that assists with hardship cases in the motorsports family. There will be plenty of activities for adults and kids alike, and plenty of drivers will be there, too. Check here for more information.

-I'll be out at the Speedway all weekend, and will have one or more of my kids with me. This is a family-oriented weekend for us, a chance to spend time with them without it being the marathon Pole Day/Bump Day experience I usually engage in. It's going to be a great time, and a great May. There's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be.

The Legacy and Legend of Buddy Lazier

2013-05-09T07:38:00.000-04:00

Sixteen Indianapolis 500 races. An incredible, injury-defying 500 victory in 1996. Runner-up on two different occasions, and in the Top 5 in two other Indy efforts. Add to that that one more Top 10, and you have an Indy 500 résumé just about any driver would be understandably proud of.

That’s Buddy Lazier’s career stat line at Indianapolis, but it’s perhaps more remarkable for all the items it doesn’t show. The fact that he somehow kept coming back for more after a practice crash during his first year at Indy, and not qualifying in his second. The spirited runs that came close to granting him another 500 victory. The fact that he expertly, sometimes amazingly, qualified entries that had no business creaking along on the track. The fact that even in his last effort, in 2009, in a car that was clearly too old and outclassed to make the field, resulted in the fan in the stands still thinking, “If anyone can do it, it’s him...”

Looking at Buddy Lazier’s time in Indy, it wasn’t all roses and sunshine. He had his share of DNFs, though in the interests of fairness one should point out only one of those (2002) was chalked up to an accident, the others being mechanical. As one would expect in a career somehow touching four different decades at Indianapolis, there were some ups and downs. But the perception of Lazier as the enduring 500 champion, as the clutch last-minute driver, is the one most fans see.

Maybe this year will be different. It’s a team that’s not completely assembled, with sponsorships not entirely worked out, working on a single chassis, without a backup, trying to beat established experienced DW12 teams and find a way into the race, or perhaps even a decent qualification result. That’s a tall order for any driver and team, even a 500 champion.

But let’s ask this: Given a minimal amount of time to practice at Indianapolis, with a small team, no backup car, and the odds stacked against your effort, which driver would you rather have to jump in the car and somehow, beyond all reason or laws of physics, pull together four laps fast enough to make the show? If that list has any names in front of Buddy Lazier’s, I bet there aren’t many.

Throw five IndyCar and Indy 500 fans in a room, ask them who the greatest drivers at Indy were, and you’ll come back an hour late to five fans with black eyes and a few loose teeth. Buddy Lazier’s stats aren’t in the realm of Rick Mears, but he does have a claim to inclusion in a pretty exclusive club. He was listed in IMS’s Greatest 100 Indy 500 drivers during the Centennial Celebration. He ranks 8th all-time in laps completed. Yet again, we have to go to intangibles to see what makes Lazier’s return to Indy such a popular one. He has often been referred to as a “bulldog” on the track, or as one of my fellow J-Standers is fond of saying, “there’s no quit in him”. He’s not just a former 500 winner, he’s a former winner that shrugged off a broken back to get his victory, has endured from the nastiest days of the split to the earliest days of reunification, and has never seemed to have lost the hunger and fire for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

I don’t know how Buddy Lazier’s return to the Indianapolis 500 will go this month. We're not even sure yet what Bump Day will look like. I hope I look back on this article next month and can point to another amazing effort by Lazier to make a qualification run stick. Perhaps the comeback story ends before Bump Day even begins. I’m not sure. But whether he finishes 3rd or 33rd, I won’t fail to include Lazier on my list of all-time Indy Legends. As long as the #91 is on track, there’s a chance that legacy will be added to. Whatever the circumstances, Buddy Lazier can’t be counted out.

500 Entry List: Awaiting A Few Additions

2013-05-08T07:45:00.000-04:00

The Indianapolis 500 entry list was released yesterday, and probably wasn't what some folks were expecting. Listing 32 drivers, several of the rides fans hoped to hear about weren't filed at the time of publication yesterday. We didn't get Pippa Mann's car number, there's an extra Ed Carpenter Racing entry that's essentially never going to see the track, the anticipated 3rd Schmidt car was not yet listed, and so on.

It's tough for fans impatient to know what they're looking at for May, but it bears repeating: the entry list can always be added to. If someone wakes up during Qualifying Weekend and decides they want to throw Bruno Junqueira (for example) in a car, then by golly, it can happen.

With that in mind, there's still a bit of work to do on the list. Buddy Rice is largely expected to be with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in their aforementioned third car, and the Buddy Lazier and Bryan Clauson deals are still being worked. There's little doubt we'll have 33 shortly, and then we'll have to see what happens with potential entries 34 and 35. We've gone later without at least 33; for example, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 was brutal on entries. That year, it took last-minute announcements on Bump Day for Vitor Meira and Airton Dare to get a full field. You haven't gone through fan hand-wringing until you look back on the lead up to that 500. Fortunately, this year seems a far cry from that one. We're a single, projected announcement away from a full field, and look almost certain to have at least one, and quite possibly more for bumping.

I love the depth of this field as it stands, especially as unpredictable as the season has been. There are fan favorites, 500 winners, legacies looking for that first 500 victory, and a host of drivers that you just can't count out. Yet if you're looking at what's out there, you can count two Indy 500 champs and a 3-time USAC National Drivers Champion that would make pretty handy additions to that list. If we get two out of the three possibilities at least, I'd be pretty satisfied with that. If they want to push for all three (questionable but possible), even better. 500 winners and champions of other racing series are always going to add some excitement and chatter to the proceedings.

So, it turns out we'll wait a little bit longer for that final Indy 500 entry list to be revealed. It's a chore to wait, but hopefully the final result is well worth it. If the drivers currently projected as additions make it, I think it will be.

Bell Again A Welcome Addition To Indy

2013-05-07T07:38:00.000-04:00

Townsend Bell has certainly managed to stick around this whole IndyCar business, hasn't he? The 2001 Indy Lights champ never had what you'd call a stable ride, but just keeps on plugging along. How he's done it is as varied as the liveries of the teams he's represented along the way.

Long before he was an IndyCar analyst with NBC Sports, before his reputation as a super-substitute was cemented, Bell was another on-again, off-again driver, one that could have been another casualty, lost somewhere in the chaotic days before the reunification of IndyCar. There was a single race here, a stand-in for Milka Duno there, but no sustained IndyCar season. Still, he hung around, and rare was the racing season we didn't hear his name a few times.

Over that time, something funny happened. Despite a slow start at Indy in 2006, Bell managed to find his niche. He had a Top 10 in 2008, follow by a thrilling 4th place finish in 2009. Even a rough 2010 didn't seem to diminish his newfound reputation at Indianapolis. He started on the second row in 2011, and of course rebounded from a rough qualifying effort to score another 500 Top 10 last year.

Now, at 38 years of age, Townsend Bell is a respected veteran of Indy, always seen as at least a threat to finish up front. If Panther Racing can rebound from a disappointing 2012, Bell's #60 Sunoco/Turbo machine could again be a threat.

Bell isn't likely to be a full-time IndyCar driver anytime soon, despite the fact that his reputation as an oval standout belies his extensive history and experience on the twisties. Frankly, I think as much as I like his driving, he's a big asset to IndyCar in the broadcast booth. He brings wisdom, common sense, and an insider's view without sacrificing any enthusiasm for the on-track action. I have really enjoyed his time paired with Leigh Diffey on-air this year.

In short, while I welcome Townsend Bell in the booth and hope he remains a big part of of the team for the foreseeable future, I also appreciate his record at Indianapolis, and his well-deserved reputation as a fantastic one-off or part-timer there. Far from being a field-filler, Bell is a valuable add to this 500 list of hopefuls in terms of competition. He's in a good spot; a veteran driver that can show up and be a welcome addition to a team. We're to a point where we expect to see Bell each May, and at least throw him in the discussion. There's no reason think he doesn't have at least a few more Indy 500 runs in him, and I'm excited to see what he can do with them.

Brazil Notes; Or, Stunner In Sao Paulo

2013-05-06T07:52:00.000-04:00

-Let's just start with the admission that the Sao Paulo Indy 300 was one of the best street races in, well, let's just say decades. Despite seven cautions, the race never dragged, and passing wasn't just possible, it was prevalent, especially in the middle and end of the event. James Hinchcliffe's last-lap, last-turn pass will be on highlights reels for years to come. We didn't get another first-time winner, but it was simply incredible racing, and kept us guessing until the last possible second. I'm just going to come right out and say it: for unpredictability, closeness of racing, parity, and pure on-track action, this has been the best IndyCar season in a long time.

-Of course, some of the post-race discussion revolved around Sato's defending or blocking (depending on your point of view) versus Josef Newgarden and then James Hinchcliffe. Race Control let it go, however, which obviously elicited some comment online. For my part, I thought it was a veteran racer trying (successfully) to get away with as much as he could. Now, if someone gets called for blocking at Detroit, I'm sure we'll hear an earful from the penalized party. For now, though, I'm ok with letting it play out. It's a fine line between letting cars race and ensuring a race doesn't turn into a parading, lumbering block-fest. I'm glad I'm not Beaux Barfield and Co.

-As for Sato himself, blocking/defending drama aside, he's been close to perfect these last two races, despite running on worn-out tires at the end of Sunday's race. More and more, this is looking like anything but a fluke win. I was excited to see his effort at Indy before; now I absolutely cannot wait. The resurgence of AJ Foyt Enterprises this year is such a fun story, and I don't see why it can't keep going at Indy.

That was a pretty fantastic start to May.
(Courtesy IndyCar Media)

-I have to admit, with Marco Andretti having a career best result of P14 at Sao Paulo, I wasn't sure how he'd react to the possibility of another brutal weekend there. As it turned out, there was no reason to be worried. Marco didn't have a particularly good early stint in the race, but he roared back and did his part to make those last 20 laps some of the best we've seen. I really like where he is going into Indianapolis. It could be his time.

-Without a doubt, massive kudos are in order to Simon Pagenaud, Josef Newgarden, and Oriol Servia for also contributing to a fantastic race. Pags came back from issue after issue to threaten for the podium, Newgarden just missed out on his first podium (and grabbed his first Top 5!) after starting dead last, and Oriol Servia showed why he's still one of the best and cleanest in this business. That's a good group of guys to cheer for--especially Servia, who I'm sure will get a big welcome at Indy and be a crowd favorite. No one wants the guy in P8 and in championship striking distance to have his season end early. Still crossing my fingers that there's some May magic there for Servia and the great people at Dreyer and Reinbold.

-This race was an absolute disaster for some title contenders (Will Power, who is poor 500 away from being out of the Top 20 in points), just holding serve for others (Ryan Hunter-Reay's P11 could have been much better--or much worse), but also a massive boost for guys like Takuma Sato and Marco Andretti. With a big bucket of points available at Indianapolis, some title contenders could take a massive jump forward--or see their position dwindle away.

-If you thought the NBC Sports broadcast was a little rough in parts yesterday, remember they were working with the feed from Brazil, and Kevin Lee was essentially the only boots on ground (tasked with covering a massive area). Given that, I thought Leigh Diffey and Townsend Bell especially did a great job of providing tremendous enthusiasm for the race.

-How about that crowd noise for Tony Kanaan? Both of his passes for the lead were met with massive cheers, and you got a sense of just how popular of a driver he is in his native Brazil. Seeing him slowing down and bringing out the yellow late was a tough blow, but I'm still impressed just how strong his run was up to that point, especially considering he's been dealing with an injured right hand. Not every ending can be storybook, but it was still something to remember. He'll have another very supportive crowd later this month as he chases after that elusive Indy 500 win.

-Other Notes: What a horrendous outing for Will Power. The way he was passing cars before his own caught fire, I thought he was going to come back and at least grab a podium. The snakebit season continues...Charlie Kimball had a quiet day, but still managed a very nice P10. I still think he's got a very good chance to end up Top 10 in points this year. We know he can get the result, now waiting to ensure the consistency is there....EJ Viso's turnaround this year has been excellent. He couldn't find the podium Sunday, but he didn't try to do too much and stayed clean in a very messy race. There's a reason why he's currently tied for 10th in points...What a tough break for Ana Beatriz in front of a home crowd. There's that exhaust issue for Honda again...IndyCar Advocate will be gearing into May Mode, meaning a busier posting and update schedule. I'll try not to spam!...Don't forget Talk of Gasoline Alley and Trackside will begin their regular Month of May broadcast schedule tonight! Check here for details, listen live link, and podcast download.

Storylines: Sao Paulo Indy 300

2013-05-03T07:47:00.000-04:00

The running joke this week, of course, has been that everyone has forgotten about the Sao Paulo Indy 300. With the Indy 500 around the corner, it might be easy to get ahead of ourselves, but make no mistake, there is an actual IndyCar race this weekend, and it should be a good one. Oh, and if you're reading this before 10am ET Friday, don't forget those fantasy picks.

Of course, all eyes are on Will Power, as he goes for his fourth straight Sao Paulo win after year-long victory drought, but that's hardly the only thing to pay attention to in Brazil. Here are a few of the storylines to follow this weekend:

Course Tweaks: Sao Paulo will be a slightly different course this time around with Turns 1 and 2 adjusted to facilitate more passing. There's also been some smoothing of bumps on the course. We should see lap times fall accordingly.

Dry Brazil: Everyone knows, the Sao Paulo race is always rainy. However, the most recent forecast is still showing practically no chance of rain for the weekend. Usually, rain is a big surprise and adjustment. This time, it might seem like the opposite.

Tire Change: Firestone is using 2012 specification tires this weekend, which could throw some teams for a loop on setup. It’ll be fun to see who’s able to dial things in early, and which teams struggle with the change this weekend.

Sato Sequel?: I don’t know about you, but I haven’t come all the way down from the Takuma Sato/Foyt victory at Long Beach. Happily, they’ll get a chance to do it all again this week, as a team that’s feeling pretty good about itself is coming to a track where both team and driver have had some success. I’m pretty sure that if Taku can make it happen.

Brazilian Rock Stars: It’s not the normal lineup of superstars for this race, as Tony Kanaan, Ana Beatriz, and Helio Castroneves get another chance to race in their homeland. You have to think it would be very nice for TK and Bia’s sponsors especially to get a great result here, but either way, you can bet the Brazilian drivers will be the most popular autograph of the weekend. It would be especially nice to see Bia get things going in Sao Paulo, wouldn’t it?

Dragon Doldrums: Dragon Racing has not had a good year so far, let’s just get that out in the open. Whether it’s mechanical or crash-related, there hasn’t been a good weekend for the team yet. Sebastien Bourdais is mired back in 18th, and Sebastian Saavedra is in dead last among series regulars. Neither driver has a particularly good result to point to at Sao Paulo, though Saavedra did manage a P11 back in 2011 with Conquest (his best finish of that rough rookie year). Marshall Pruett’s article this week pointed to the new tires as a possible culprit, though with the series racing on 2012 spec tires this weekend, it’s tough to tell just how this will play out. One thing’s for sure, and that’s Dragon could use a really nice result Sunday.

Contenders or Pretenders?: You know what’s great? Right now, there’s a jumbled, crazy mess at the top of the IndyCar standings, and I have no earthly idea who will rise or fall this week. For every Castroneves and Dixon, you have a Sato and Wilson, drivers from teams not used to that rarified air. For all we know, someone else could jump in the discussion this week, or someone could experience a precipitous drop. Let’s see who can keep the early mojo going heading into Indianapolis.

Livery Watch: Dario Franchitti will be in the black-and-gold Lexar livery, probably just to confuse me. Tony Kanaan will be in a white-and-red Itaipavia-sponsored machine, which will further mess with my head. Graham Rahal will be in the black, white, and blue blu-cig machine, and Oriol Servia will be in the black-and-green Valspar car. Essentially, it’s Brazil, so anything goes, apparently.

Mazda Road to Indy Update: No Firestone Indy Lights this weekend, obviously, but yesterday did see the Firestone Indy Lights test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Then entire field was apparently within .7 seconds of one another. Kyle O' Gara did nice work in his first laps at Indy, finishing just behind Zach Veach for top time on the day. It should be interesting to see just such a close field fares at the always-chaotic Firestone Freedom 100 later this month.

Pole Winner Prediction: Will Power. Copy, paste, copy, paste...

Race Winner Prediction: I'll go with Power, but in my post-Long Beach euphoria, I'll take Takuma Sato for my backup.

Dark Horse Prediction: I guess we can't use Sato anymore, can we? Let's go with Justin Wilson to keep the good Dale Coyne vibes going.

Have a great weekend, enjoy the relatively early Sunday race, and rest up, because things are going to be moving in even more of a hurry starting next week!

25 Ways To Have A Great Month of May

2013-05-02T07:38:00.000-04:00

(In no particular order)

1) Remember family, and make time for them, too, whether it's at or away from the track.

2) Create an office Indy 500 pool.

3) Recognize ahead of time you won't be able to sleep the night before the race. Hang out with friends, listen to old 500 radio broadcasts, or re-figure your race predictions for the 100th time.

4) Don't forget about the other IndyCar race this month. It's sort of important.

5) Thank a soldier. Memorial Day weekend is really about them, and their sacrifice.

6) Read 500 Miles to Go.

7) Listen religiously to the Talk of Gasoline Alley every evening it's on.

8) Get qualification or practice tickets for a new or lapsed fan, and bring them with you. Spend the time to explain what's so cool, and what you love about what you're seeing.

9) Pull for an underdog.

10) Try to guess the pole speed to the third decimal (no cheating).

11) Spend some time reading up on a old 500 driver you haven't heard of. Start here.

12) If you're at IMS, be nice to a Yellow Shirt, even if they're blowing that whistle right in your ear. That's probably someone's grandma or grandpa, even if they are a mean old cuss.

13) Have a breaded pork tenderloin (or three).

14) If you know the Jim Hurtubise Beer in the Engine Compartment story, share it with someone who doesn't. If you don't know if, ask someone (Donald Davidson will probably a little irritable if you choose him for this).

15) Decorate your office, cubicle, or home. Checkered flags never go out of style.

16) Make an absurd prediction ahead of time and stick with it. Don't let facts or reason stop you.

17) Take 5 minutes to write a thank you letter to a sponsor of your favorite driver or team. Feedback helps.

18) Play one of these soundbites when pulling out onto the road in the morning.

19) Read Paul Dalbey's dad's Historic Indy 500 journals over at MoreFrontWing.

20) Use racing lingo in as much of your daily conversation as possible. At work, you're not "running out of steam" in the afternoon, you're "slowing on the backstretch". You aren't filling up the car, you're coming in for a "splash of fuel".

21) Spend some time formulating the perfect "shortcut" for avoiding race morning traffic. Even if it doesn't work, you tried, you trailblazer you.

22) If attending Indy in person, pull driver names out of a hat with other folks in your section.

23) Don't forget to catch Trackside nightly, or get the podcast if you miss it.

24) Stay sober enough to tell who won the race.

25) Live in the moment. You only get so many Indy 500s. Don't spend them worrying about what you can't control. Take the time to appreciate and enjoy what we have this month.

Pippa’s Persistence, Personality A Valuable Lesson

2013-05-01T07:40:00.000-04:00

Finally, yesterday, IndyCar fans had confirmed what had long been speculated or quietly known: that Pippa Mann, pairing with Dale Coyne Racing, was returning for another attempt at the Indianapolis 500.

Obviously, IndyCar fans online are pretty overwhelmingly happy with the news; Pippa has long made it a point to be one of the most accessible and engaged IndyCar drivers at both community events and social media. That sort of give-and-take and interaction is going to give a driver well-wishers, and that’s certainly the case with Pippa.

Let’s throw all considerations about how she and the other drivers will fare at Indy this year off to the side for a moment, because really, that’s for a future discussion (and what a discussion we’ll have!). What Pippa’s continual communication about her efforts has yielded over the past few years has been a fan investment in the entire process. We’ve seen just snippets of what Mann has done to stay in the conversation, and just a hint of how hard and frustrating the disappointments have been along the way. In a sense, in social media communities, there’s a feeling this time that one of our own has made it.

When you’re young, you put drivers up on a pedestal. To a point, we still do, regardless of age. Talk to an old-timer about Eddie Sachs, Jim Hurtubise, or yes, AJ Foyt, and there’s still that reverence, as if they aren’t exactly real or human, as if they’re part of an Olympian pantheon, demigods instead of mortals. I still turn into a babbling idiot around Rick Mears. Of course, we know these drivers are all too human, that as Jonnie Parsons said, they “are not wild and woolly characters who do not care if they live or die, nor are they clowns or speed-happy maniacs”.

Obviously today’s drivers, living in an era of micro-coverage, Twitter, and Facebook, are not precisely distant, remote figures among the clouds. And we know they have foibles and faults. But drivers who bring the warmth and outreach such as Mann does provide a sense of humanity and community. This person, whom you chat with online, whom you met at a party or event, seems more real to you. They aren’t some remote 2-D image. People follow and pull for a person for simply that reason. And when you’ve seen a driver describe their battles, their ups, their downs, you know a bit more of just what signing that deal and getting to race means. You’ve seen the battling and clawing and scrapping to get this chance. In a sense, the girl next door in the virtual neighborhood gets to strap in and go 225+ mph in the course of getting a crack at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

That’s when you really begin to get some sense of just what these drivers go through to do this. They’re already willing to physically put it all on the line to scream through Turn 1 at Indianapolis, but leading up to that moment is months, years of mental anguish, start-and-stop false leads, disappearing promised funding, hours on the phone trying to make something, anything happen. It’s something that weighs on the mind and soul continually, the effort to keep the dimmest hopes alive on nights in October and November, or crushingly bright days in May on the sidelines when it probably seems like you’ll never race again. All of that effort, all of that emotion, all of that disappointment and euphoria and sleepless nights—that’s all bundled into that moment, when it turns out, yes, I get to race. For every driver that gets to experience that payoff, there are countless others who do not, who never get the phone call. That makes the times it does work out all the more worthy of appreciation.

We’re spectators, in a way, whether it’s in the stands or following drivers on Twitter. Just as we don’t see what’s going in under the engine cowling while a car scorches past at Indy, we don’t know the ins and outs and every intimate moment of a driver’s life. But what we do get are these glimmers of understanding, these moments of illumination, that we’re looking at something that’s the sum of a Herculean effort.

My kids are 8, 5, and 4 years old, respectively. They don’t understand racing politics, and they don’t have to wade into the endless arguments over sponsorship, who should be in what car, or really what TV ratings are. They do, however, follow Pippa Mann—having met her numerous times at events both at and away from the track—and their common question is often, “Is Pippa racing?”

Usually, the response to that is “well, she’s working really hard so she can!”, but today, I can tell them she does have a ride. Maybe they get a little bit of a lesson of how persistence pays off, that hard work can lead to amazing things. Perhaps it’s not something they fully realize today or even this year. But as a parent, I have someone I can point to, and tell my girls (and my son) “you can be these things. You can be kind and dedicated. You can be focused and fun. This person, whom you’ve met, is doing this incredible thing that your Dad and so many others would give up a right arm to do, because she worked hard, did her best, and did not quit”. They can understand that, I think.

Soon, we’ll see just what the field looks like for the Indy 500, and where Pippa Mann’s place is in all that. With the deal signed, for the fans, the next step will be endless hours of speculation, debate, prognostication, and yes, drawing names out of hats. But for today, we can appreciate hard work paying off, and the story of someone from IndyCar’s online community making good.

Power: A Year Since Victory

2013-04-29T07:46:00.000-04:00

Exactly one year ago today, Will Power would do something he had done on two previous occasions--win the Sao Paulo Indy 300. Victory was something that had come to Power no less than 18 times in the years between 2006-2012. Yet after last year's Sao Paulo race, Power, who had been ridiculously dominant on road and street courses, would begin his longest victory drought as an IndyCar driver.

One full year. It seems unbelievable, but a driver who has often looked to be in another league on the twisty courses has seen victory elude him time and again. Oh, there have been plenty of pole positions--Mid-Ohio, Sonoma, and Baltimore, last season--and some close chances, but time and time again, Power did not finish where we all expected to see him.

It's probably a testimony to Power's skill and dominance that it doesn't seem as if it has been that long for Toowoomba's Favorite Son, but it has. Team Penske's top street and road course driver, on a schedule filled them, shut out of victory circle.

There's certainly many theories as to why Power hasn't won in a year. Perhaps the most likely reason, however, is that the Haves and Have-Nots of IndyCar are closer together than ever before. The Foyts and the Coynes have shown they can win, and the Andrettis and Ganassis remain almost always formidable. While Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi still have teams that are expected to maintain excellence, it isn't as if there are only 5-6 cars that can win. Most weekends, it seems more like 20. And yes, neither of the "Big Two" have won this year, between Andretti Autosport's continued resurgence and the Foyt crew grabbing a big win at Long Beach. It's a different world. The giants remain, but they are as vulnerable as they have ever been.

Power will look to Brazil to ease the victory drought.
(Courtesy IndyCar Media)

Perhaps the most jarring sight has been seeing Will Power fight in traffic, and dropping backwards as challengers push their way past. That's not to say Power hasn't had some bad breaks, such as JR Hildebrand's "distracted driving" bump in the season opener, a fuel-saving strategy gone awry at Barber, or Tristan Vautier being told to gun it right into his car's backside. But there seems to be the lack of that "wow" moment, where you realize Power is in his element, and has totally checked out on the rest of the field. For whatever reason, he's not dominating.

Perhaps more alarmingly, through three races, Power is bogged down, tied for P8 in the standings, behind such key title rivals as Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Dixon, and teammate Helio Castroneves. That's not an insurmountable lead, especially when we know Power can reel off a strong of top finishes, but it is concerning. He's normally working on a solid points lead at this point in the season.

The unpredictability we've seen this year has contributed to some exciting racing, and it's nice not having one driver or team monopolize the standings. Yet Power represents something: he's a record-breaker, a clear favorite, and sort of a gauge of how your favorite racer is faring. IndyCar is better when all the drivers are in the mix for a win, though to be fair, there hasn't been a weekend yet where it's felt like Power was out of contention. And really, the season is still young, there's time for Will to make up ground. But the clock is ticking.

If he's going to get that next win soon, one would suspect it will be this upcoming weekend at Brazil. He's won every single race IndyCar has held at Sao Paulo, and it's certainly his sort of course. If Power wants to get that title he's just missed out on for the last few seasons, Brazil could represent a massive step in that direction. Despite the year-long drought, Power has to be the favorite this upcoming weekend. He's simply too good for the next win not to come soon. Team Penske and Will Power will have their moment once again, but you can bet with what we've seen in IndyCar this year, it won't come easy.

Engines and Tenderloins: Q&A With Tristan Vautier

2013-04-26T07:50:00.000-04:00

Tristan Vautier isn't just making some waves as a rookie in the IZOD IndyCar Series; he's also a remarkably nice guy. I reached out to the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver to do a Q&A about his season so far, Honda's engine performance, being a teammate with Simon Pagenaud, and couple of other areas of interest, to boot. Spend your Friday doing a bit of light reading about IndyCar's newest driver:

Tristan, thanks again. How would sum up your rookie experience through the first three races of the season?

TV: It's been a great experience so far. I've definitely been able to realize how much it takes to put a good result together at this level of the sport. The field is incredibly competitive and tight, and you really have to be on it and put things together to be in the high part of the lap time charts. Then if you achieve this, it takes even more to convert it into a result during the race, because so much happens and you can't do one mistake; pitstops, restarts, traffic, tire degradation, push-to pass management...

The job out of the car is a lot more than before as well. The debriefs are longer, it's technically more demanding, you have more PR work, so you have to adapt your routine to all of that.

As a Honda driver, do you think Honda's dominating performance at Long Beach should quiet any talk that Hondas were at some sort of deficit versus Chevy?

TV: I think that the talk should have been made quiet from the start, and Long Beach shows for it. Honda and HPD have shown over the last 20 years how good they are. Yes, there were two Chevys on pole for the first two races and Chevy got the St. Pete podium, but people always start to talk and make conclusions too quickly. I've never been worried and I couldn't be happier than with the Honda engine.

Before the season started, did you have any doubts you were ready for IndyCar?

TV: I never really wondered whether I was or not. I had won the lower level so it was logical to step up. I knew how much I would have to learn and I still have a lot to learn.

(Courtesy IndyCar Media)

Simon Pagenaud is obviously a driver that's extremely well-respected in the paddock and stands alike. How would you describe the communication and feedback between you two? Does it help to share a common native language, even when you're discussing more technical terms?

TV: We get on really well. We've been knowing each other for a while as friends and working together has been very good since the start of the season. We can have different feedback sometimes and don't always want the same from the car so it makes it interesting. Simon is extremely fast and has a lot of experience so I'm very fortunate to have the chance to benefit from that, especially as a rookie.

Sharing the same language is fun but in terms of work it doesn't really change anything.

Obviously you don't want to overlook São Paulo, but have you started mentally preparing for your first Indy 500?

TV: No. I'm incredibly excited about the Indy 500 but we have been so busy working on the road courses ahead of us than I've not had time to think about it too much. I try to take it one step at a time.

Speaking of Indy, have you tried one of the Track Tenderloins yet, or do we need to get you acquainted with the delicacy that is an Indiana pork tenderloin?

TV: I haven't! I'd love to try it.

You received a nice ovation from the fans after climbing out of the car in St. Pete. Have you been surprised at all at the rather warm reception you've gained from the fans as a rookie?

TV: I've been very impressed by how nice and welcoming the fans have been to me. It's always good to meet them during the autograph sessions and exchange a few words. The ovation in St Pete was an amazing feeling.

As last season's Firestone Indy Lights champ, what do you think of this year's field--anyone you see as a favorite to win this year's Lights title?

TV: I think that the field is of great quality this year. Yes, there are not many cars, but if you look at how many fast drivers are entered you realize how high the level is. As a Schmidt-Peterson guy, my favorite would be any car of our team!

I think a lot of folks have seen the Bass Pro video with you and Pags. Any hunting or fishing trips scheduled in the near future, or what other ways do you spend any leisure time you might have?

TV: To be honest, with all the traveling we do I think my favorite hobby is to chill out at home! I enjoy going to the beach when I have spare time, it relaxes me. But usually most of the time I have when I'm home is spent working out and doing stuff around racing!

Indy 500: The Race To 33 (34?) Entries

2013-04-24T07:50:00.000-04:00

We’re at the time of year where there’s no shortage of speculation on just which drivers and teams are going to round out our Indianapolis 500 field. Every season, it seems, there’s a fair amount of worry that 33 entries will not be achieved for Indy. This is where the old adage “Keep Calm And Carry On” is valuable. There will be 33 entries for Indianapolis, and possibly 34. Will there be 34 for sure? No one is certain, though Honda and Chevy did anticipate 17 engines each. That doesn’t mean they’ll all be used, but at least we know they’re available for prospective entries. Honestly, we're at 30 right now with the Michel Jourdain announcement, and will be at 31 once Coyne announces his ride as expected. 33 is not a stretch, and 34 is at least feasible.

Below is a list of the drivers most commonly considered in the hunt for one of the last few seats for the Indianapolis 500. Please bear in mind that this is simply an aggregation of public statements and what we think we know. Anyone who’s followed the chaos before Indianapolis knows that everything can change on a deal at the drop of a hat. The best advice is until you get an official announcement, or actually see a driver’s butt in the driver’s seat, have a healthy amount of skepticism.

Townsend Bell: Bell has always been considered an oval specialist, and he’s been a regular program addition at Indy since the merger. The last three years have seen him in a Schmidt car, though this year there was some speculation he’d end up with Ed Carpenter’s crew. With Carpenter stating a second car for Indy looking unlikely, that shifts the suspicion back to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports as far as a possible destination. Bell is apparently still scrapping to put together what is needed for a ride this year, and Sam Schmidt has said the needed sponsorship is still only 50/50 at this point. We’ll see if the two work this out, and if Bell is indeed their driver for a third SPM car. Sarah Fisher's team has also been brought up a couple of times, despite the hour being very late.

Bryan Clauson: Clauson’s Indy program came together last year with the help of the USAC/Road to Indy scholarship, which helped him land with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. This year, there’s been no public awarding of the scholarship (yet), but Clauson appears to be working hard on a late deal that would get him into a ride for a sophomore attempt at Indy. The 3-time USAC National Drivers Champion’s relationship with Tony Stewart might earmark him for a Chevy, though that remains to be seen. Don’t count him out yet.

Jay Howard: Howard was extremely vocal about having a program for Indy at this point last year, though his partnership with Michael Shank Racing famously did not work out due to the entire engine supply issue. This year, he’s been pretty quiet, only mentioning that he’s still working on it. Frankly, there’s just not a lot of info to go on here. Cavin stated he saw him possibly in a Schmidt ride, but there’s nothing concrete there, either. If we do see him this year, it'll be as a third Schmidt entry, it would seem.

Buddy Lazier: Let’s qualify this one: the only place the Buddy Lazier rumors seem to be coming out of are from some posters at TrackForum, albeit some that are pretty reputable in nature. Still, there’s been no other updates on any sort of Buddy Lazier effort, aside from it allegedly being tied to the chassis from last year’s Fan Force United effort. That’s pretty slim pickings, for now. As Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee said on Trackside last night, we'll have to see if the funding actually comes through.

Jaques Lazier: The other part of the “out of left field” brotherly duo in the 500 rumor mill, Jaques seems the more concrete of the two right now (relatively speaking). We know he was at Long Beach, he’s talked with Chevy, and he apparently has a new chassis he’s bringing to the discussion. If Carpenter doesn’t run another car and Jaques does manage a Chevy deal, that leaves teams like Panther/Panther-DRR as a possibility, or possibly a brand-new effort with support or in conjunction with an existing team. I would have laughed at you three weeks ago if you said Jaques Lazier would be added for an Indy run this year, but not now. That doesn't mean it will happen, but it's at least a possibility.

Pippa Mann: Mann has sent out several optimistic tweets in the last week or so, but nothing specific to her Indy 500 ride. She has been mentioned as a possibility at Dale Coyne, but there’s been no mention from Coyne as to a deal in the third car. Coyne is pretty famously close-mouthed, so aside from knowing there will likely be a third Coyne car, that’s as much as we can officially say at this point. With any luck, we'll hear something official soon on the ride.

Buddy Rice: Rice is always mentioned as a possibility to return for Indy, and of course there’s always talk of him lining up once more at Panther Racing. Yet with a second Panther car looking questionable and given the other individuals with possible funding sniffing around for a ride, it seems fairly unlikely we’ll see him this year. Still, you never know. So long as there are ovals and Buddy Rice is kicking, he will be a part of the rumor mill.

Of course, you'll hearing a couple of other names--John Andretti, Tomas Scheckter, Wade Cunningham (Larry Foyt has said it's very unlikely there will be a third Foyt car)--and you can take those as you will. But given the number of names currently swirling around rides, 33 cars will not be an issue. I don't believe 34 will, either. But either way, sit back, cross your fingers for your favorite drivers, and see how it plays out over the next two weeks.

Long Beach Notes; Or, Satooooooooo!

2013-04-22T07:39:00.000-04:00

Several items may or may not have transpired in my household immediately following the checkered flag falling on the 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach:

-I may or may not have engaged in a number of wildly exaggerated fist pumps.

-I may or may not have yelled "IN YOUR FACE" in the general direction of my (hopefully) understanding and tolerant wife.

-I may or may not have performed an impromptu, remarkably uncoordinated victory dance.

To say I have been waiting for a Takuma Sato victory for a long time would be a massive understatement. Oh, he's been close before--such as the final of lap of last year's Indy 500, which needs no painful recollection here. We know Taku is fast, but it was always that elusive bit of actually finish a racing, and putting the entire package together.

Well, it's a different world this morning. We Taku fans, who hung in there through some frankly absurd and cringe-inducing moments, finally have our holiday. The nation of Japan, home to some truly wonderful IndyCar fans, finally gets a winner. AJ Foyt Enterprises gets back in Victory Circle after a decade away, and the IndyCar landscape seems as jumbled and gloriously chaotic as it ever has.

At last.
(Courtesy IndyCar Media)

Here are some other notes from an absolutely wild IndyCar weekend:

-Graham Rahal finally got his good finish on the season, and hopefully that's a confidence builder. He seemed really aggressive, and you get the idea that the rough start to the year was messing with him a bit. With Sato grabbing his victory, is Rahal next?

-Justin Wilson kept the Honda dominance going on the weekend, and starting from the back didn't seem to bug him much. Really, a lot of the Hondas starting in the back--Tristan Vautier, Wilson, Simon Pagenaud--showed a really nice ability to move through the field. I think Long Beach bodes well for engine competition for the rest of the season--when your top four finishers are all Honda, that's a really good sign.

-What a weekend to forget for Andretti Autosport--incidents for James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and EJ Viso made this one a prime candidate to be swept under the rug for that team. Still, Marco Andretti managed a P7 finish, which is remarkable, considering I think every time we heard about him it was in regards to either damage or some sort of issue he was having. Marco might not be content with seventh place, but it 's much better than it could have been, especially considering he started P25. He just needs to keep up the good results from week to week, and he'll get that next win. He's also still very much in the title hunt right now--ahead of all his teammates, in fact.

-It wasn't just Andretti having woes--let's not kid ourselves, this was a messy race. Just about every title contender had to wince today, and from Tony Kanaan to Sebastian Saavedra, there was carbon fiber flying aplenty. You're going to have those weeks, and we were probably due after how clean Barber was. Some races are just about swapping out that front wing, getting back out there, and salvaging what you can. For a good chunk of the field, that's exactly what this weekend represented.

-Dario Franchitti got the good finish and points he needed this week, but just as importantly, just about everyone else had a really lousy day. Yes, Helio Castroneves still leads in points (by just 6 over Sato!), but Dario moves from dead last to P20 in points, with the capability of jumping even further with a decent result at Sao Paolo. He's not out of this just yet--only within 17 points of the Top 10, for example.

-If you look at the Long Beach result (revised after Oriol Servia's penalty was rescinded Sunday evening), Dario isn't the only one who got a much-needed outcome. Scott Dixon managed to come back from probably one of his least favorite race weekends to improbably salvage a P11 and stay on course in the title battle. Rahal managed to grab a podium and make a nice points jump. JR Hildebrand also got on track, and is close on points with Simon Pagenaud and Orio Servia--two other guys making a good show of it Sunday. On the other hand, Will Power's title chances took a bit of a hit, with some ovals coming up after Brazil. James Hinchcliffe fell all the way back to P10 in points.

-The Firestone Indy Lights was extremely messy, with half the field involved in contact of some sort. Carlos Munoz won, which was another bright spot for Andretti, and Gabby Chaves was a clear P2. Sage Karam jumped from the back of the field to finish on the podium. You had to feel for Peter Dempsey, who probably had a car that could have challenged up front, but was collected early. Props as well to Matthew Di Leo, who recovered from a spin and started laying down some nice lap times enroute to finishing P5--the last car running, but running nonetheless. Sunday, that was an accomplishment all by itself.

-We've had three races now, and each of them has featured fierce competition, great on-track action and passing, and suspense until the very end. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say IndyCar has been absolutely great for the fans so far this season. It's simply the best racing going right now.

-Other Notes: Until the incident with Will Power in the pits, I would have bet on at least a Top 5 for Tristan Vautier. Gotta blame his wheelman for that one...There were entirely too many commercial breaks over the last 30 minutes of the race broadcast. If they have to do them, side-by-side is better than nothing, but it felt like we'd have 15 seconds of race time before jumping back to Terry Bradshaw hawking diet programs...For the love of Pete, just sing the National Anthem normally. We don't need different words, we don't need a phantom "h" thrown in front of words ("the bombs bursting in HAIR"). Just belt it out...Simona de Silvestro had a quiet but quality drive to record another Top 10 on the year...Sad to see Mike Conway's day end with electrical issues. He's so much fun to watch at Long Beach...Here's hoping for the best in regards to Tony Kanaan's right hand, hurt in the late accident Sunday. Still waiting to hear extent of the injuries...

Storylines: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

2013-04-19T07:38:00.000-04:00

Well, it’s tough to go wrong with a race at Long Beach, isn’t it? IndyCar has had two great races to start the season, and will be carrying a pretty good head of steam into one of the premiere street courses on the schedule. There are no less than six previous Long Beach winners in Sunday’s field (even more if you count Atlantics and Lights). Looking back over the years, this is a course that has often produced a hodgepodge of winners. If you’re going to have someone break out for an unexpected victory, this is one of the places to look for it.

Here are just some of the storylines to watch heading into the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach:

Andretti Tries To Make It 3/3: Obviously, you can’t talk about the season so far without discussing the big success Andretti Autosport has found. Will we see more of the same Sunday? It’s very possible. Ryan Hunter-Reay always is up for this race, and James Hinchcliffe has been great here. Marco Andretti may be a bit more of a question mark; this course has not been kind to him overall, and EJ Viso’s Long Beach results have also been up and down. If Andretti can fight through the admittedly strong competition this week and get the win, expect a) a very happy Michael Andretti, and b) increased ulcer medication for Chip Ganassi.

Dario’s 250th Drive: Dario Franchitti will be making his 250th IndyCar start this weekend, and I’m sure he’s hoping it goes better than 248 or 249 did. Granted, a header failure doesn’t fall at Dario’s feet, but there’s been the perception for a while now that he is simply not in a comfortable spot right now. If he wins here as he did a few years ago, that perception could go out the window very quickly.

Penske Pride: As mentioned last week, we’re coming up on a year without a Will Power victory. He’s a two-time winner at Long Beach, so obviously that could change in a hurry, but for as dominant as he’s been in that time frame, he has no wins to show for it. Meanwhile, teammate Helio Castroneves is leading in points, but will have plenty of competition from drivers such as James Hinchcliffe, Scott Dixon, and Ryan Hunter-Reay if he wants to stay up there. Let’s not forget, Penske will also have AJ Allmendinger in the #2 car this weekend—his last race before Indianapolis.

One-Off Wonder: Mike Conway won the 2010 Grand Prix, but of course more recently ended last season by stepping out of the Foyt car and writing off any idea he’d ever compete on an oval again. However, he’s back with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for a Long Beach one-off, and he very well could turn some heads. Conway is extremely fast when it comes to Long Beach, so his participation could spell a very good result for RLLR.

Pags and T-Vau Show: Simon Pagenaud drove a great race here last season, coming up just short against Power. His pairing this year with rookie Tristan Vautier has seemed to be chock full of potential, and it’s not hard to imagine either driver have a very good weekend. We’re going to begin to get a gauge of where the Schmidt team is this year in terms of consistency; let’s see if either of the French Connection lads can pull off the big win here.

Speaking of France: Let’s not forget, Sebastien Bourdais has also won on these streets. Dragon Racing is always a tough one to puzzle out in terms of how their weekend will go, but Seb should be in good shape so long as he has a halfway decent car underneath him for the weekend.

Can Kimball Keep It Going?: We’ve seen mid-pack drivers have good results before, only to fade into the background the following week. That said, Charlie Kimball is not a mid-pack driver, or at least, he shouldn’t be, not with the expectations that come along with a Ganassi ride. CK was brilliant last race, and it would seem that his progression of the past few years is finally bearing fruit. The question is, can he do that on a regular, consistent basis? Long Beach will be the first test of precisely that.

Lights Update: There will be a few new faces in Lights this weekend, with Canadian Mikael Grenier taking his turn in the car for Team Moore, and his countryman Matthew Di Leo making his Lights debut with his own team. We’ll see how his MDL Racing does in their first outing, but Di Leo had some very impressive moments last season in USF2000. Meanwhile, Jack Hawksworth enters Long Beach 12 points ahead of Carlos Munoz and two dozen or so ahead of Peter Dempsey and Sage Karam, so we’ll see if he can keep his lead with the oval Firestone Freedom 100 looming next month. Also, if you missed Wednesday’s interview here with Munoz, be sure to check it out—he’ll be making his rookie attempt at the 500 next month, so you’d better get acquainted with him.

Livery Watch: Tony Kanaan is back in the very busy Hydroxycut scheme this week, while Mike Conway will be sporting the “blu” e-cigarette colors. Oriol Servia is back in the now-familiar Charter Communications green-and-blue livery, while Tristan Vautier will have Lucas on his sidepods. Josef Newgarden will have Hartman Oil on the side of the #67 car for this one.

Pole Prediction: You know, I’m feeling the Andretti power. Let’s go with Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Winner Prediction: I think Hinch gets it done this week, but Penske won’t be shut out forever.

Dark Horse: Just for fun, Josef Newgarden.

Don’t forget, fantasy picks are due by Friday 10am Eastern! Have a great weekend!

Andretti’s Muñoz Ready For First 500, Lights Title Run

2013-04-17T07:27:00.000-04:00

Carlos Muñoz hasn’t been around IndyCar very long, but he’s definitely moving up in terms of name recognition. The Colombian prospect won twice in Firestone Indy Lights last season, and is in the middle of a championship fight in this year’s Lights campaign. He’s also preparing to run in the #26 car for Andretti Autosport next month in a qualifying attempt for the Indianapolis 500. If you haven’t been following him yet, you’ll definitely want to keep tabs on him leading into May.

Carlos recently sat down for an IndyCar Advocate interview to discuss both his upcoming 500 rookie try, his Lights season, and just what impact conditioning has on a race car driver:

First, congrats for your big win at Barber two weeks ago. This was your second Lights race at Barber—did you approach the race any differently this time around? For that matter, are you approaching the season any differently?

CM: I approached it with a “first day” mentality—my goal has been to learn as much as I can. I knew last year, more or less, I had to be in Lights two years to help the learning process. The second year, I knew could be “my year”. I’ve felt a little more pressure to perform this year. I thought the team did a great job through all the preseason tests, and I’ve really worked on my overall athletics—I’m much more fit this year, both mentally and physically.

Let’s go into that for a minute. How much does fitness training play into your results?

CM: A lot, I think. I’ve been doing a very heavy regimen this year—biking twice of week, lots of swimming and running, plenty of karting and gym sessions—I feel much stronger. After the races at Barber and St. Pete, I felt so much better compared to those races last year. Really, that was my first year with longer-distance races. I came from Europe, so we don’t have one hour races—over there, you’re looking at a 30 minute race. Plus, most of the tracks don’t have long stretches where you can afford to rest—it is a constant effort. So, especially coming over here, it’s very important to have that fitness.

As far as learning in these Lights cars, what’s probably the biggest thing you’ve learned in these last two years?

CM: Really, you have to get comfortable, and gain confidence. If I look at the start of last season versus how I ended last season, I finished really strong. I know exactly what the car does, where the limit of the car is, you know? I am very happy I had the experiences I did in Europe, because it helped me adapt to a different sort of car quickly. That’s part of being a driver. Yes, the car is way different than what I had in Europe, but I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that it isn’t a one lap race. It’s a long race; learning that, I’m able to wait and overtake better than last year, and I’m also thinking out my race better. Of course, there’s also learning ovals, which I’ve really loved, and have done well on. Overall, I’m very comfortable and happy with the racing here in America.

Muñoz will be making his IndyCar debut at Indy.
(Courtesy IndyCar Media)

Right now, you’re in a battle with Jack Hawksworth and some other quality drivers for that Lights title. People talk about the small size of the Lights field, but what about the overall quality?

CM: For sure, there aren’t big numbers in there, but it’s a case of if not quantity, at least quality. There’s Sage Karam, who’s a big American prospect, right? He was very strong in Star Mazda. There’s also Gabby Chaves—also from Colombia—and he was excellent last year. Jack Hawksworth is also a big talent, and he seems just so comfortable in the car and is with a very good team. Then there’s Peter Dempsey, who’s a fast driver with a lot of experience. He’s been really quick and I’ve been impressed when I see him race.

Aside from your Lights duties, you’re going to be attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie next month. What’s your approach for Indy as a rookie with what should be a very strong Andretti team this year?

CM: I tested two weeks ago in Texas Motor Speedway. The DW12 felt really good, and I thought I was strong and pretty comfortable. Of course, the team helped me out a lot. I think we’re going to have a really good car. I know I’m a rookie, but I’m going to have one of the best teams behind me. That gives me some pressure, but I’m really comfortable coming into the month, too. I’m just going to go step-by-step and not set any big goals for myself just yet. We’ll see how the month goes, and then I’ll make my goals for the race.

You were around Indy last year for the Firestone Freedom 100, and got to see some of what Indy is all about. How does the experience at Indy compare with your experiences in Europe?

CM: Well, the Indy 500 is the biggest race in America, of course. Last year, I was really impressed with the number of spectators and it’s just a different race than anything I’ve seen. Between the length of the race and seeing them going 100% to the finish after that last pit stop, I just had so much fun watching the race—there was so much overtaking, pushing to the end, and great racing. Just as a spectator, it’s better to see the 500 than any other race.

Also, at Indy, the fans are so much more involved. In America, they are so inside the world of racing compared to Europe. They care a lot about the teams and drivers, and I think the drivers care about them too—since that’s the whole point of racing.

You've got your one race deal for the 500 with Andretti Autosport. Is it too early to start looking ahead to your plans for 2014? It seems like you have a full IndyCar season as your goal, right?

CM: I think it's too early to discuss next year. My main goal is the Indy Lights championship, and I think I've started quite good in that regard. I can't afford to distract my mind from Lights until it's time for IndyCar. People have asked if I'm distracted for the Indy 500, and say no, because this week I'm focused in on Barber or Long Beach. I will focus on the 500 when it's time for that. I think this year, we can do a great job in Lights and in the 500, and then move on from there as far as a full year.

In Wake of Boston Tragedy, 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Continues

2013-04-16T12:59:00.001-04:00

In the aftermath of this week’s horrific Boston Marathon bombing, large-scale events all over the United States are facing questions in regards to their safety and contingency planning. In Indianapolis, the city is readying to host an influx of visitors for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 4. The event is the largest half-marathon in the U.S., and has been a major lead-in to and part of Indy’s all-important Month of May for over three decades.

In addition to the Mini, the 500 Festival puts on some 50 other events during the month, which reach hundreds of thousands of fans and guests. Activities range from concerts to kids’ festivals. Still, with the Boston Marathon so fresh in everyone’s mind, it is understandable there would be questions specifically regarding the Mini’s safety preparations.

Reached for comment, 500 Festival Communications Manager Megan Bulla confirmed the event is expected to be heavily attended.

“The Mini-Marathon is sold out for the 12th year in a row with 35,000 participants,” verified Bulla.

That’s 35,000 souls and their families likely wondering just what will be in store for them next month. It is a time of uncertainty, but the 500 Festival does have planning in place for these sorts of contingencies.

“Unfortunately we live in a world where these conversations and planning must take place,” Bulla explained. “Our plan covers a variety of scenarios- from weather-related issues to man-made disasters”.

With information coming out of Boston still of an uncertain nature, and specifics still hazy, Bulla said that any amendments to the Festival’s current safety plans are still to come.

“We review our security plan annually for each of our events. No changes have been made in the plan so far. However, as more information becomes available about what happened at the Boston Marathon, we will review to ensure our plan is as updated as possible. The safety of our participants, spectators and volunteers is our upmost concern”.

Indeed, it would appear the 500 Festival and organizers of the Mini are acutely aware of the desire for public reassurance and information. As of Tuesday, their website featured a front page link to a statement which states their “safety and security plan is the result of years of planning and it mirrors that of the 2012 Super Bowl which was put into place prior to last year’s race”.

Ultimately, while the mourning in Boston continues, sports event planners and fans alike are taking stock of their plans and preparations. The 500 Festival and the Mini-Marathon are no exception. It’s natural to be worried or apprehensive in the wake of Boston’s tragedy, but the 500 Festival appears to be taking the calm, measured approach to the situation. The Month of May in Indianapolis and all it entails will proceed, but with caution throughout.

Long Beach Looms Large For Dario

2013-04-15T07:43:00.000-04:00

As we move into another IndyCar race week, the individual listed as dead last in IndyCar points is one extremely unfamiliar with those surroundings. Yes, Dario Franchitti, your 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 IndyCar champion, has had a start to his season to forget.

There was the mental flub exiting the pits in the St. Pete opener. Then there was a decent start to the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama before header issues ensured another early exit. Certainly the latter result can't be laid at the feet of Dario, but the end result is the same: Dario at the bottom of the standings, a whopping 69 points behind points leader Helio Castroneves.

Of course, one would expect no matter how the next two races go down, Dario will be a threat to win at Indianapolis, where he's among the best ever. And even champions can have off weeks and still win the IZOD IndyCar Series championship; Ryan Hunter-Reay shook off a disappointing P27 at Indy and a disastrous P24 at Mid-Ohio last season and still grabbed the title.

Yet here's the thing; Dario has never had a first two weeks of a championship year where he's finished worse than P7 in either of the first two races. Last year, where he seemed a bit off (finishing P7 in the standings overall), his first three results were a P13, P10, and a P15 at Long Beach. It would seem a hot start is a recipe for a Dario title, and that just hasn't happened this year.

So what can we expect from Dario at this weekend's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach? It's difficult to say. Dario won here in 2009, finished P12 in 2010, was on the podium in 2011, and finished the aforementioned P15 last year. It seems to be an even/odd sort of performance pattern for Franchitti when it comes to Long Beach.

Is Franchitti pushing too hard? Are the engine woes Chip Ganassi complained of affecting him? Does it have to do with not being completely comfortable in the braking setup with the DW12, or possibly even less tangible reasons? Ultimately, perhaps the best explanation is simply this: it only takes a couple of issues out of the hundreds or thousands of things that have to go right each week for an IndyCar driver to net a bad result. There's no overarching reason; it's death by paper cuts.

No, technically, it isn't too late for Dario Franchitti to join a title discussion that currently seems focused around Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and a few others. Yet as we head into Long Beach, no one can doubt the clock is indeed clicking. A win or podium would do much to potentially salvage his season; another poor result, early as it is, would likely be an indicator that a fifth title run is simply not in the cards.