Okay, I hate to be a downer to start off, but it's kind of sad that the biggest technical innovation at Indy this year is Penske's mirrors. Plus the fact that, while this is not the first time one engine has been in every starting car (Offenhauser did it one year in the 60's IIRC), it's the first time that only one engine was entered.
Plus, the complete farce of "Bump Day," with NO BUMPING!!! Like the Tony Stewart dog-and-pony-show last year (two years ago?), the whole "will he/won't he" of Ryan Briscoe getting in A.J. Foyt's third car was just ridiculous.
Hopefully, the two series will get back together soon. Or, if they don't, like Robin Miller has reported, Champ Car will clear their May schedule and lease a bunch of IRL cars so Tracy, Allmendinger, etc. can participate in the 500. (Fingers crossed for either option.)
(Ever notice Robin Miller's column is the
only one on speedtv.com with the disclaimer "The views expressed are not necessarily those of Speed Channel, Fox, NewsCorp, etc.")
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Okay, now that I've been a total downer, I'm actually really looking forward to the race. It's about the only IRL race I still watch, because it is the Indianapolis 500. Four intense laps of qualifying, "Back Home Again in Indiana," "Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!!!" (especially done by Tony Hulman), the Borg-Warner Trophy, a bottle of milk and all that. Gives me goosebumps every year. Can't beat it.
Who's going to win? I'd have to go with the general consensus and say either Penske or GanASSi. I'm hoping Sam Hornish Jr. does it this year, since the Yanks have had only three Indy winners since the IRL started (there's an irony in that). Outside of that, you can never discount Andretti-Green and although I'm not a fan of Michael Andretti, I'd like to see him pull it off in his last Indy 500. Like the Red Sox, end the "Curse."
Lots of traffic (13 mph between pole and the back row will do that), lots of yellows, so pit work will be essential (can't beat Penske on that) and I'm betting on a 10-20 lap sprint after the final caution period. Will certainly be interesting.
And of course, they'll still spend half the ABC broadcast talking about Danica Patrick.