Indianapolis 500 Commentary: What to Watch For

Not sure if I can get to 33 questions to ask this month / fortnight at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Maybe a manufacturer can step up and help me out if I run short. Anyway …

1.)     Can Will Power translate his season dominance into an Indianapolis 500 win? In four Indy starts, his best finish is fifth.

2.)     If he can get a Chevrolet, how big of a threat would Sebastien Bourdais be?

3.)     Can Bryan Herta Autosport win back to back?

4.)     How many times will J.R. Hildebrand be asked about last year’s finish?

5.)     Will Dario Franchitti wake up from his early season funk?

6.)     Which of the former winners has the best chance?

7.)     Which of the rookies has the best chance?

8.)     Which engine will have the most power?

9.)     Which will have the most durability?

10.)  Which will have the best fuel mileage?

11.)  Is Simon Pagenaud a serious contender?

12.)  Will Simona de Silvestro ever get a competitive car?

13.)  Can Marco Andretti put it all together?

14.)  Is Ryan Hunter-Reay the best driver at Andretti Autosport?

15.)  Or is that James Hinchcliffe?

16.)  Is Michel Jourdain really the last driver who drove a turbocharged engine in the Indianapolis 500?

17.)  An official, sanctioned and branded Snake Pit seems strange to me.

18.)  Will the return of turbocharged engines mean it will be possible to hear the “clack” when the cars cross the bricks again?

19.)  Can Graham Rahl put it all together?

20.)  Will anyone miss Danica Patrick?

21.)  How about Sam Hornish?

22.)  Does Ed Carpenter have a realistic chance at winning?

23.)  Or Townsend Bell?

24.)  Last year’s pole speed was 227+ mph. Can that be reached this year?

25.)  Is this Tony Kanaan’s year?

26.)  Why doesn’t Buddy Rice have a ride?

27.)  Can Oriol Servia start on the front row again?

28.)  Will A.J. Foyt have Tony Stewart wander around his garage on Bump Day to stir things up again?

29.)  How good is Josef  Newgarden?

30.)  Will there be any bumping this year?

31.)  Can Bryan Clauson restart the road to Indy for USAC drivers?

32.)  How competitive can Rubens Barrichello be?

33.)  Can Helio Castroneves win No. 4?

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway