Winners and Losers: Indianapolis

Here are the winners, losers, and the cone of shame winner following the 96th Indianapolis 500:
Winners

Dario Franchitti + Chip Ganassi
What a race. For the first time, I feel like Dario purely drove his heart out. This wasn't a typical Dario Franchitti stay up front and run laps / a pit strategy deal. Dario carved his way through the field after an incident in the pits and pummeled the field with some amazing passes. A much deserved third Indy 500 win for Dario. Also a kick ass day for Chip Ganassi Racing, flexing their muscles after a quiet first four races.

Takuma Sato
Takuma will be remembered as the guy who went for the win instead of lifting and allowing Dario to pull away, and that's is how I would want to be remembered. Hell of a race for Sato, making ballsy passes left and right, and doing a great job of managing the race. Keep your head up Takuma.

Justin Wilson
I'm not at all surprised that Justin Wilson had a kick ass day. The reuniting of Bill Papas, Dale Coyne, and J Dub has proven to be a lethal combination, and we now know Justin is a force to be reckon with on ovals. He too made some very brave moves and capitalized on some restarts to put himself in a great place at the finish.

Indycar
What a race for Indycar. Hopefully a lot of fans witnessed this race in person and/or on TV throughout the world, because that was racing at its finest. Time to build on this positive momentum and go headstrong into this streak of races.

Losers

Andretti Autosport
That was a bust. I don't know what they were trying to do with Marco's strategy, who later crashed. Hunter-Reay had a mechanical. Saavedra was out of the running after the first 30 laps. Bia spun and didn't do anything before that. Hinch was solid but only thanks to a late charge through the field, as he dropped back after the intense battle with Briscoe.

Chevrolet
Chevy got their ass handed to them for the first time this season. They clearly weren't on it despite dominating qualifying. Honda was definitely the better engine today.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
A bit disappointed in the team that is always on point. Clauson looked like he had a terrible car and Newgarden really couldn't keep up with the cars in front early on, I wonder what the handling was like on his car. They'll regroup and be ready for Belle Isle.

AJ Foyt Racing
Super Tex's team had a piss poor race. Cunningham was the only Honda to have a problem, and Conway had a bad accident. It was a shame because Conway was running well up until that crash.

Cone of Shame

Lotus
The sarcastic cheers of the crowds for the battle between Alesi and de Silvestro in the first ten laps basically sums it up. Nothing else needs to be said.

What a fantastic 500. Tomorrow I publish my thoughts and reactions to the 500, stay tuned. Let me know what you all think.

-Matthew Hickey

Full Field Breakdown/Preview for the Indy 500

Previous 500's = how many times they have previously raced at Indy for the 500. Color codes: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, 5th Place. Driver by driver preview (in order of grid position):

It is meant to be 

Ryan Briscoe

Previous 500's: 6 

I guess he's the favorite for the race because he won the pole, but I don't think there is such a thing as a favorite in this years field. Anyone can win, and looking at previous results by Ryan, I don't expect him to win. I'm hoping he succeeds but I am not holding my breath. 

James Hinchcliffe

Previous 500's: 1

Hinch has been one of the few fan favorites this month as mainstream fans are finally seeing the other side of him. With Greg Moore guiding him, expect Hinch to have a strong showing. 

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous 500's: 4

Much better circumstances compared to last year, Ryan is looking for a good result at one of the few tracks were has failed to succeed.

Marco Andretti

Previous 500's: 6

Every 500 he's been in (excluding '08), Marco has had a chance to win. I don't see why it would be any different this year, he is a contender.  

Will Power

Previous 500's: 4

Will Power has had good runs at Indy in the past but a minor mistake here and there has caused the victory to be out of reach half way through the race.

Helio Castroneves

Previous 500's: 11

I would love to see Helio join the list of the four time winners at Indy. But he isn't one to carve his way through the field so he needs a mistake free race to keep himself in contention the whole race.

Josef Newgarden

Previous 500's: 0

The story of the month has been standout rookie Josef Newgarden, who has been pacing the Honda engines throughout the month of may. Can he put everything together and contend for the win? I say yes!

Tony Kanaan

Previous 500's: 10

Tony is driving for more than a win. He's driving for, not only the chance to put his face on the Borg Warner next to Dan Wheldon's, but also the chance to win it for his friend, Dan Wheldon. He has tried and failed 10 times, but everything seems to be in place for TK to win.

EJ Viso

Previous 500's: 4

EJ has never run well at Indy, but conventinal wisdom says that will change this year. He has a fast car, he just needs to pace himself throughout the race. 

Rubens Barrichello

Previous 500's: 0

The world watches as Rubens Barrichello makes his first start at Indy for the 500. He is very high up in the field and just needs to settle in after the first couple of laps. 

Alex Tagliani

Previous 500's: 3

2011 Pole Winning Driver + 2011 Indy 500 Winning Team = Recipe for success? I think they have a strong showing.

Graham Rahal

Previous 500's: 4

Many forgot about his third place finish last year. I haven't, and I am expecting a top-five finish from Golden Graham.

Ana Beatriz

Previous 500's: 2

Time to put up or shut up for Bia. Her teammates are fast, and in order for her future in Indycar to survive, she needs a good showing.

Charlie Kimball

Previous 500's: 1 

If the aggressive Charlie Kimball shows up on race day, then I expect good things. If not, then I won't bother wasting your time with a sentence on how he will do great, cause he won't.

Scott Dixon

Previous 500's: 9

Dixon knows what he's doing, expect him in the front late in the race. 

Dario Franchitti

Previous 500's: 8

Dario knows what he's doing, expect him in the front late in the race. 

James Jakes

Previous 500's: 0

No track record for Jakes excluding him getting bumped last year, so I have no idea what too expect. 

JR Hildebrand

Previous 500's: 1

So conventional wisdom says Panther will finish in 2nd? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and go 3rd for them this year. Let's hope they can get past the 800th turn.

Takuma Sato

Previous 500's: 2

Sato is on a Indy 500 winning team who clearly know what they doing. Focusing more on the race setup in the week should bode well for him. 

Townsend Bell

Previous 500's: 5

I think Townsend Bell really loves running the 500, and the passion is there. I don't think he has a shot in hell at winning. 

Justin Wilson

Previous 500's: 4

Justin Wilson will quietly sneak his way to the front. 

Michel Jourdain Jr.

Previous 500's: 1

No one leaves Indy for 16 years, comes back, and has a good race. Nobody. I do not see Jourdain competing for a win. 

Simon Pagenaud

Previous 500's: 0

Jean Giraud will most definietly enjoy his first 500, a dream come true for him. The question is, will he contend for a win? It could go either way.

Sebastian Saavedra

Previous 500's: 1

Surprised Indycar hasn't fined him for that crazy hair of his.  

Sebastien Bourdais

Previous 500's: 1

Bourdais finally gets a good engine, but lack of testing puts him behind the eight ball.

Wade Cunningham

Previous 500's: 0

I was impressed with Wade's aggressiveness last year in the select races he ran. If I could compare him to one driver, it would be Tomas Scheckter. 

Oriol Servia

Previous 500's: 3

Big O has lost his Lotus and is now running with Panther. Talk about a win-win. Expect him to charge through the field. 

Ed Carpenter

Previous 500's: 7

Ed has had a rough month. I'm trying to figure out if he has a car good enough to make it through the field and get him to the top, as of right now, I think not. 

Mike Conway

Previous 500's: 2

Brutal month for Conway, Indy just hates this guy. 

Katherine Legge

Previous 500's: 0

The roller coaster of a month for Lady Katherine Legge finally builds up to her big moment, just finish the race Kat. 

Bryan Clauson 

Previous 500's: 0

Keep your eyes on this guy, he will be on a charge and I am expecting a top-ten from him. 

Simona de Silvestro

Previous 500's: 2

I hope she enjoys her five laps of racing before getting black flagged. 

Jean Alesi

Previous 500's: 0

I hope he enjoys his five laps of racing before getting black flagged.


Let me know what you all think, and if you have an opinion, please share.

-Matthew Hickey

Dallara Gets a Gold Star

Thinking about all Dallara has done in a short period of time is simply staggering. On July 14, 2010, it was announced to the public that the ICONIC Committee had selected the Dallara chassis concept for the 2012 Indycar Season. Along with the new car, Dallara has built a new facility in Speedway, Indiana, where they assembled all the cars for 2012, and has also created American jobs (Go Emerica). At first, I, along with others, thought, "That looks hideous." At the time, I thought the bumper was a waste of space and took away from the open wheel factor of the sport.

Dallara Facility back when it was under construction

But then the car began taking shape when two-time Indy 500 winner and Dan Wheldon began testing. Tweaks were made to the cosmetics of the car that also increased speed. Then I jumped on board for good after the first test. Still wasn't sure about the wheel guard.

Then October 16th happened, and my mind was instantly changed.

On October 18th, in maybe the classiest move I've seen or heard of in a very long time, Dallara decided to name, at the time no-named chassis the DW12 for Dan Wheldon, who was instrumental in getting the car up to speed and testing out a lot of minor details.

The offseason saw a lot of testing. There were plenty of critics after the first couple of tests, especially about the balance and rear stability of the car, but Dallara did not waver. They worked hard, made adjustments, and by St. Pete, they had done the improbable, which was build 26 beautiful, well functioning pieces of engineering success, and put them on the track.

Which led to the next big question, would the racing be top quality with the new car? And we got a taste of it at St. Pete in a good race (even though ABC felt the need not to show it to us), and then it was later confirmed at the usually dull Barber Motorsports Park that this car can produce some amazing racing on road courses. The drivers were smiling. They hadn't had a car they could truly drive on road courses in a long time. They could be aggressive and go after it, and they have done just that.

The final hurdle is ovals. If they can perfect the cars on oval, it is all gravy baby. They needed to find extra MPH for the Indy, and they did just that, with the introduction of the Batwing. The rear stability of the car needed to be fixed, and they did just that. They needed to improve safety, and after four heavy crashes by Clauson, Servia, Carpenter, and Kimball, they did just that, as all of them walked away relativity unscathed. And by the looks of how racey things have been in practice, I am very optimistic that the race will be a very good one to watch, which is not how I was feeling as late as last year.

Clauson's hard crash, walks away

Servia's hard crash, walks away

Moral of the story, Dallara has encountered every problem, taken on said problem, and fixed it. They are a vital partner to Indycar, and their efforts shall not have gone unnoticed. And the current car is much more affordable than the IR07 which was the old Indycar chassis.

Keep up the great work Dallara, and thanks for making a great race car.

Let me know what you all think.

-Matthew Hickey

Indy Lights Not Meeting Its Full Potential

Anyone noticed how much uninteresting Indy Lights has been this year? I have been impressed with a couple of drivers this year, mainly Vautier, Saavedra, and Guerrieri. But the rest of the field has been pretty sub-par. Now, there are a limited number of seats in FIL and it is understandable why some drivers are picked over others, because we cannot ignore the finance side of the sport. Deep pockets are replacing talent, which isn't to say drivers currently in FIL aren't talented, but it could be so much better. Let's take a look at some of the great drivers not in the field as a full time contender:

Stefan Wilson

Nine Top-5's in 2011, and what does he get? A swift kick in the ass. Stefan has proven that the racing DNA is inside of him as well, so he can win races in the big time. Bigger brother Justin Wilson would be a great teammate for him in Indycar. Yet he isn't in FIL in 2012 after nothing came together on the Indycar side. Are FIL teams stupid?




Anders Krohn
http://indycarmn.blogspot.com/2011/11/get-used-to-hearing-name-anders-krohn.html <--- A previous blog I've done expressed my feelings about Anders. And they haven't changed. Glad he has something for Freedom 100 though. Time for him to kick ass again.




Jacob Wilson
The master of the AIRFIVE can kick ass and take names on any course. 2012 rolls around after a solid performance at Las Vegas in 2011, and nothing came together. He comes from the USAC ranks, which is a great stepping stone into FIL. Jacob can win, but he has been sidelined since the start of the season. Get him a car, and the results will follow.




Peter Dempsey 
The Irishman (who I hope to have a Guinness with one day) recorded five top-5's in 2011, in only nine starts, as he ran a limited schedule. But come on, you can't ignore the fact he succeeded in limited time. I don't know what kind of shenanigans Andretti Autosport have been running with the dumping of Wilson and Dempsey. Money isn't the issue for them.





Connor DePhillippi 
Putting my bias as a friend of Connor's aside, he should have been fulltime in Indy Lights this year. He kicked ass last year in Star Mazda with four wins, so he was ready to make the next step up, but nothing came together and now he is in Star Mazda for a whole 'nother year. So he will probably go on to kick ass every race like he did last year and then he should be in Indy Lights in 2013. But that's one whole year lost.



Solutions? Maybe Indycar can find a way to reduce the costs of FIL so it isn't such a financial burden to teams so they don't have to search for drivers with deep pockets. Also, they should provide an incentive for Indycar teams to have a team in Indy Lights, in the form of financial aid. Could you imagine if the five drivers listed above were in the field this season full time in Indy Lights? It would be incredibly competitive, as well as getting them on the door step for Indycar.

Do you think the field is as strong as it could be? Let me know what you all think.

-Matthew Hickey

Fast Five with (Magoo) THE STIG

Some say he's the offspring of a mongoose and Mario Andretti, and that Chuck Norris once asked him for his autograph. All we know, is he's called THE STIG. This is a funny interview with one of the best people I know on Twitter, Mathew Gruenholz aka The Stig (@MagooTheSTIG on Twitter). The intention here is to shed light on the one they call the Stig, and for people to take notice of a funny and great individual. Follow him (link to his profile https://twitter.com/#!/MagooTheSTIG), and his campaign to get Pippa Mann some sponsors for Indy. Here is our quick five question interview, enjoy:

Stig at IMS supporting Pippa Mann.
Photo Courtesy of  James Black
from 16th and Georgetown

1) So clearly, you are the prodigy of racing. How does it feel to wake up, look in mirror, and have the knowledge that you are way better than everyone? I guess what I'm trying to ask, does it suck to be so awesome?

STIG: When I wake up (after being unplugged from an electrical outlet) I just refer to my pre-installed Ego sub routine, that states a different reason each day why I am better than anyone else on the track... And life in general.  It's good to be The King.


2) What's the dumbest thing someone asked you? Has anyone ever asked you, "What's with the outfit?" And did this question get followed with a vicious Stig beatdown?

STIG: I've had a person ask if I was a Storm trooper, I just turned to him and glared.  I was surprised when he suddenly burst into flame and ash, i wasn't aware i could do that. "Force choke" on that Darth Vader...


3) Ever though about something other than a white suit? I mean come on, your supposed to be the symbol of the greatest of the great? You were born with a steering wheel in your hands.

STIG: White wasnt my choice, i just woke up one day and i was white (Caucasian Stig).  I thought about getting painted gold to show that I am worthy of greatness, but the gold flakes looked too much like my terrible weakness... Glitter.  How did you know about my steering wheel pacifier?


4) Is it hard to role model after somebody considering there is no one better than you? Ipso facto, are you your own role model?

STIG: When I started my life, i was shown movies and racing clips of a man you know as "Steve McQueen."  This accounts for why I am hell bent on being the best... And why females seem to be so attracted to me... But i can't be bothered with that, racing is my prime directive.

Stig vs Pippa

5) The staple question on the Fast Five is have you ever sneezed, sighed, or anything else that would be considered obscure whilst driving a race car? 

STIG: I truthfully have sneezed during a go kart race once, it was gross and it startled me. I wasn't sure what a sneeze was til then.  Is it true that if you sneeze, unload waste and hiccup at the same time that my visor will read "Syntax error" or "error 404- file not found" or is that just a joke? Cruel joke...


Thanks to The STIG for giving me the chance to interview him! Mathew, the person, is great, and is definitely worth a follow.

-Honey Badger