We knew going in that this year's Indy 500 would be different. That's because for the first time since 1965, the race won't be on ABC. And in the first year of NBC's deal, their entire three-hour TV window when they were supposed to do pole and Bump Day qualifying last Sunday was rain delayed. They continued coverage on NBCSN later, and, amazingly, they were able to fill the last row and set the top nine positions. But let's hope their maiden voyage with the Indy 500 itself features better weather.
Qualifying proved to be interesting, too. Fernando Alonso, the former F1 World Champion, didn't qualify. That was the same fate James Hinchcliffe, one of the most popular drivers on the IndyCar circuit, suffered last year. Hinchcliffe was on the bubble again after a crash on the first day of qualifying, but he was able to make the field in a backup car.
Part of the Indy mystique is that long-standing belief among drivers that the track picks the winner. It really is the only way to explain some of the weird stuff that has happened over the years. Ask any member of the Andretti family what they think about that. It's been 50 years since Mario earned the family's only win at the Brickyard.
Anyway, the real reason why I brought that up is because it sure looks like the Brickyard has decided how James Hinchcliffe's Indy 500 career is going to go. Although, I used to think that about Tony Kanaan and Will Power, but, after Power's victory last year, they're now both former Indy 500 champions. So maybe the Indy Curse can be lifted, after all.
That's good news for a bunch of drivers who've had fast cars all month. Starting with pole-sitter Simon Pagenaud, who also turned in the fastest practice laps the day after securing the pole. He's got the speed and he's got the car. He'll be a factor.
Then there's Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter. He just missed his second straight and fourth career Indy pole, finishing just 0.003 mph behind Pagenaud on pole day. So he'll have to settle for starting on the front row for the third consecutive time. Carpenter finished second last year, and if he were to move up a position that would be a very popular victory with a lot of people.
Carpenter's not the only Ed worth mentioning. Ed Jones was the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2017, when he finished third. This year, he made the Fast Nine and had the top speed in one of the practice sessions. A good driver with a fast car is a good combination at Indy. And Ed Jones is a good driver with a fast car. He'll be a factor. I'll be shocked if he's not in the top 10.
Or maybe 19-year-old Colton Herta will win Indy in his first try. His dad, Bryan, a two-time top five finisher as a driver, has won two Indy 500s as a team owner, including Alexander Rossi's victory in 2016. That was the last time a rookie won, but Colton Herta is starting fifth and has impressed everyone all month. He looks poised to win Rookie of the Year honors. Unless Marcus Ericsson does. Ericsson's team won the pit stop challenge, so you know he's got a good car.
Another guy who won this race as a rookie actually crossed the line of bricks first on both his first AND second tries. I'm, of course, talking about the legend Helio Castroneves. It's been 10 years since he picked up that third win. But let's not forget he's finished second twice since then. There's a reason Helio has 14 Top 10s in his Indy 500 career. As long as he's in a car, he's in the conversation.
Helio isn't the only former champion who's remarkably consistent at the Brickyard. Scott Dixon won the 2008 Indy 500, has finished second twice and was third last year. He's starting 18th this year, but don't be surprised to see him quickly make his way through the field and into the discussion. In order to win, though, Dixon will have to be as close to perfect as possible, and he probably needs to get a little lucky, too.
But I never count out any former winners at the Indy 500. They know what it's like to sip the milk, and you know they want to have that feeling again. Although, I like the chances for former champs Power, Rossi, Helio and Dixon a little bit more than I do for Kanaan, Takuma Sato and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
I really feel like this is a year where we're going to see some new blood at the top, though. By "new" I mean somebody who hasn't won Indy before. I really think it'll be one of the Eds or Pagenaud. They've all been so impressive all month. So has Colton Herta. Danica Patrick can't stop raving about him. And I wouldn't be surprised to see James Hinchcliffe shut all of us up and make a run towards the front after starting 32nd.
My track record with Indy 500 picks has been surprisingly good. I nailed it with Will Power last year, and I correctly called the late Dan Wheldon in 2011 (which was the other win for Bryan Herta as a team owner). So I take my Indy pick seriously. I'm just so unsure this year. Because I like so many drivers.
The one name I keep coming back to, though, is Simon Pagenaud. The Frenchman's on the pole, and he's the driver to beat. Although, he's just one of a handful of drivers with a legitimate chance to come away with the win. Which means NBC's first go at Indy should be a competitive one.
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