Good to see IndyCar back at Pocono

I’m stoked about IndyCar finally – after 24 years (!) – returning to Pocono.

Rebooting the Triple Crown – even with the Pocono race only 400 miles – can differentiate IndyCar and perhaps give it a boost.

One key point of the original Triple Crown – Indianapolis, Pocono and long-gone Ontario – was that each race was anchored around a national holiday. Indianapolis was tied to Memorial Day, of course; Pocono was held around Independence Day and Ontario had Labor Day.

The Pocono date quickly shifted to middle or late June (sort of close to July 4, I suppose), then mid-August to off the calendar completely after the 1989 event.

Pocono – like Indianapolis – also was caught in the crossfire of the original CART-USAC split from 1979-81, resulting in lawsuits, confusion, disgruntled competitors and angry fans. (Sound familiar?)

The 1981 race is notable for being A.J. Foyt’s last IndyCar win and because it included eight dirt cars to round out the field.

Ontario Motor Speedway was dogged by financial troubles almost from the start and could not maintain the momentum from a promising debut in 1970 (Pocono’s first race was in 1971).

For two years (1974 and ’75) the California 500 was run in March, but for the most part the race date was consistently in late August/early September.

Both Pocono and Ontario borrowed some key Indianapolis traditions – 33-car lineups, separate qualifying weekends, queens.

Pocono in particular mirrored many of the Indianapolis non-racing activities with a mayor’s breakfast, festival queen’s ball and victory dinner (or bruncheon, as noted in the 1971 program).

My earliest memory of Pocono was the 1973 race. I remember our family listening to the race on the radio (probably on WIBC) and groaning when Roger McCluskey ran out of fuel on the last lap, handing the win to Foyt.

Twenty-four years is a long time to be away, but the early indications are promising. Let’s hope Sunday’s race opens a new chapter at this one-of-a-kind triangular track.

 

Time for Andretti Jinx to End

INDIANAPOLIS - One-for-67. Or .015.

That’s the batting average, if you will, for anyone named Andretti in the Indianapolis 500. That’s Mario (1-for-29), sons Michael (0-for-16) and Jeff (0-for-3), nephew John (0-for-12) and grandson and current hope Marco (0-for-7).

It’s a slump for the record books. It’s even far below the so-called “Mendoza Line,” named for former shortstop Mario (!) Mendoza, who gained fame as a notoriously poor hitter – lifetime average of .215, with a few seasons quite a bit below that mark.

That’s not to say the Andretti family hasn’t knocked it at least to the warning track or had a few home runs taken away. For example:

·         Michael led the most laps at Indianapolis with never winning (431); by comparison, Rick Mears led 429 laps in racking up an unsurpassed four victories

·         Mario started from the pole and led 170 of the first 177 laps in 1987 before being sidelined by – what else? – mechanical failure

·         Michael led late in both the 1991 and 1992 races before being passed (1991) and having his car break down (1992)

·         Marco, depending on how you view the finish of the 2011 race, is the only person to be passed for the lead coming to the checkered flag

In the face of all these facts, it would seem prudent to pick someone other than an Andretti to win Sunday’s 97^th Indianapolis 500.

Sunday’s race appears to be the most wide open in years. The fact that Ed Carpenter, with his own one-car team, won the pole underscores that.

Still, Andretti, who has his best Indy start at third, is the pick. He usually runs well at the Brickyard – he led the most laps in last year’s race (59) – and appears to have added a larger dose of maturity and a more professional approach to his craft this season.

“Indy has always been an ultimate goal of mine,” Andretti said earlier this month. “I think it's always been a realistic goal. So we just need to capitalize on it.

“Unfortunately I already have a similar record to dad, which is the most laps led for a non-winner. That part of it's frustrating.”

Other favorites

·         James Hinchcliffe: Winner of two races this season will use disappointing qualifying result as extra motivation

·         Ryan Hunter-Reay: Reigning series champion starting to figure out Indianapolis

·         Helio Castroneves: Three-time winner knows time is running out to get record-tying fourth Borg-Warner Trophy

·         Scott Dixon: The modern Al Unser: Consistent, smart and runs all day

Wouldn’t be a huge surprise

·         Ed Carpenter: Not satisfied with pole; wants victory, too

·         Dario Franchitti: Can’t discount him, but has been off since Indy triumph a year ago

·         Will Power: Fast in practice, has had bad luck on race day

·         Takuma Sato: A.J. Foyt’s best chance since Kenny Brack more than a decade ago

·         Tony Kanaan: Along with Carpenter is the people’s choice to win

Could happen, but would need some breaks

·         AJ Allmendinger: Fast car, but rookie at Indy

·         Graham Rahal: Miserable month but experienced team will help him race day

·         Justin Wilson: Good driver, but are team resources stretched too far?

·         Josef Newgarden: Has star potential, needs to show patience

·         J.R. Hildebrand: Is he the new Scott Goodyear/Roberto Guerrero/Kevin Cogan destined to be haunted by the one that got away?

·         Alex Tagliani: Solid driver and team

·         Ryan Briscoe: Has something to prove after losing IndyCar ride - again

·         E.J. Viso: Fast, but reputation of a crasher

Best of the rest

·         Oriol Servia: Solid veteran whose team likely to fold after the 500

·         Sebastien Bourdais: Former CART star hasn’t done much since split ended

·         Simona de Silvestro: Much expected of popular driver

·         Carlos Munoz: Rookie has been big surprise this month with No. 2 starting spot

·         Buddy Lazier: 1996 winner remains a fan favorite

·         Townsend Bell: Steady competitor

·         Simon Pagenaud: Going through sophomore slump after fine rookie season

Rounding out the field

·         James Jakes: Steadily improving driver

·         Conor Daly: Son of former IndyCar and Formula One driver Derek Daly

·         Charlie Kimball: Had some good runs last season

·         Sebastian Saavedra: Finished 20^th and 26^th in two previous starts

·         Katherine Legge: Nice job to get last-minute ride into field

·         Tristan Vautier: Rookie has shown promise

·         Ana Beatriz: Average finish of 22^nd in three previous starts

·         Pippa Mann: Finished 20^th in only other Indy start three years ago

Photo credit: Forrest Mellott/Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Carpenter Surprise Indy Pole Winner

INDIANAPOLIS – Ed Carpenter beat both the most successful team in Indianapolis 500 history and the one that dominated practice this week to take the pole for the 97^th Indianapolis 500 on Saturday.

Carpenter, an Indianapolis resident, Butler grad, stepson of former track president Tony George and who formed his own team, watched a couple of furious challenges fall short in the final moments of time trials to claim the top spot with a four-lap average of 228.762 mph in his No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Dallara-Chevrolet.

“It’s an honor to win this pole – this is such a competitive field,” Carpenter said. “I hope this is a part one of a magical month. This is awesome, bigger than our wins and huge for our team. It’s definitely a landmark day.”

Carpenter’s best previous Indianapolis start was eighth in 2010 and 2011.

In a day delayed by rain that pushed qualifying past the usual 6 p.m. EST close, the full roster of drivers for Team Penske and Andretti Autosport – plus Carpenter – made up the Fast Nine shootout that concluded Saturday’s first day of qualifying.

Team Penske’s Will Power had the fastest speed in the first segment of qualifying. The order is inverted for the Fast Nine shootout; therefore Power had the last chance to oust Carpenter from the top spot.  After opening with a promising lap of 229.119 mph, Power faded to a four-lap average of 228.087 to settle for sixth starting position.

Team Penske was looking to add to its record of 17 poles at Indianapolis to go along with a record 15 race victories.

Rookie Carlos Munoz continued his amazing week to claim the second starting position at 228.342 mph. Andretti Autosport teammate Marco Andretti claimed the other front-row starting spot with an average of 228.261 mph.

One of IndyCar’s perennial powerhouses, Target Chip Ganassi, had a less-than-stellar qualifying effort.

Former Indy 500 and series champions Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti will start next to each other in the sixth row – spots 16^th and 17^th, respectively. Franchitti won last year’s 500 from 16^th.

Six cars were bumped out of the top 24 after the first round of qualifying, including Ryan Briscoe, last year’s pole-sitter.  Briscoe, now with a Ganassi satellite team, bumped his way back in and will start 23^rd.

Rain cut into the morning practice period, then delayed the start of qualifying until just before 1:30 p.m. EST.

The final nine positions of the 33-car field need to be filled in today’s final day of qualifying. The slowest qualifier then is bumped. Each car is allowed three attempts per day.

Among those vying for the final nine spots will be Katherine Legge, who will drive one of the Dallara-Hondas affiliated with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. It will be renumbered No. 81.

Legge, 22^nd in her Indianapolis 500 debut last year, could get a shot at redemption today. She was bounced out of her ride with Dragon Racing after last season in favor of Sebastian Saavedra, who also needs to qualify today.

Others looking to secure a spot are Graham Rahal, Pippa Mann, Ana Beatriz, Michel Jourdain, 1996 champ Buddy Lazier, Tristan Vautier, Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden, the last driver bumped on Saturday.

 

Photo credit: Jim Haines/Indianapolis Motor Speedway

 

Quick Thoughts After First Part of Qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS - Some observations after the first round of qualifying for the 97^th Indianapolis 500:

·         Rookie Carlos Munoz may be the least-known driver and biggest surprise in the field. Added to the Andretti Autosport team for Indianapolis after finishing fifth in the Indy Lights series for Andretti last year, Munoz was third after the first round of qualifying with a four-lap average of 228.171 mph.

·         All five Andretti Autosport drivers made the provisional Fast Nine

·         All three Team Penske drivers made the provisional Fast Nine, led by Will Power

·         James Jakes had his run disallowed after his car flunked tech inspection. His average of 225.397 mph would’ve been good enough for 23^rd after the first round of qualifying.

·         The Fast Nine qualifiers will get one attempt when the session begins at 6:30 p.m.

 Photo credit: Forrest Mellott/Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Hinchcliffe Fails to Dislodge Allmendinger

Seven qualifiers so far – track has gone yellow after Conor Daly waved off. AJ Allmendinger still fastest at 227.761 mph. James Hinchcliffe started his run at 228.131 mph, then dropped about a half mile an hour on each succeeding lap to finish at 227.493 mph, second to Allmendinger.

Allmendinger Sets Early Pace

INDIANAPOLIS - Rookie AJ Allmendinger of Team Penske is the fastest of five qualifiers so far with a four-lap average of 227.761 mph. Called “Junior” by his Penske teammates, Allmendinger  won five races when he competed in CART before heading to NASCAR.

About to Get Started

INDIANAPOLIS – Looks like we’re about to get started. The rain-condensed schedule makes it likely that each car will get one shot only before the nine-car shootout is established at 4 p.m.

Scott Dixon is first in line.

Photo credit: Forrest Mellott/Indianapolis Motor Speedway