The Indy 100

It seems like we've been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500 for a few years now.  The track opened in 1909, so that was cause for a celebration.  Then we rightfully honored the 100th anniversary of the first race in 1911 two years later.  Now, we've reached another Indy 500 centennial.  After the breaks for World War I and World War II, we've finally gotten to the 100th race, so it's party time in Indianapolis once again.

Everything about the Indy 500 is awesome.  It's called the "Greatest Spectacle In Racing" for a reason.  The Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend is the greatest day in racing.  Formula 1 kicks it off in Monte Carlo, and NASCAR of course has the Coca-Cola 600 pretty much immediately after Indy is over.  I usually can't do all 1100 miles, but I always make it a point to watch Indy from white flag to checkered.  There's just something about it.  I just love the Indy 500 so much.

Part of the mystique of the Indy 500 is that long-standing belief (among both drivers and fans) that the track decides who wins.  Think that's just a myth?  Ask any member of the Andretti family, which is at 47 years since Mario's win in 1969.  Or Tony Kanaan, who led every year, but didn't kiss the bricks until his 12th try.  Or J.R. Hildebrand, who lost control on the final turn of the last lap and finished second to the late Dan Wheldon five years ago and hasn't come close since.

Then there are those that the Brickyard has smiled upon.  Helio Castroneves won each of his first two Indy 500s, then finished second in his third.  He's drunk the milk three times, finished in the top 10 all but twice in 15 career starts, and he has a chance to join Indy legends A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser as the only four-time winners.  Or defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya, whose tour de force last year was his second Indy win, 15 years after his first.  (Montoya spent most of that time in NASCAR and has only started at Indy three times, winning twice.)

So who will add his name to Indy lore have his face inscribed on the Borg-Warner Trophy?  Will Castroneves or Montoya continue his Indy brilliance?  Will Kanaan or Ryan Hunter-Reay or Scott Dixon win for a second time?  Will one of the rookies have beginner's luck?  Will Marco break the Andretti Curse, or Graham Rahal get a win on the 30th anniversary of his father's victory?

Or will someone else get to write his Indy story?  Maybe someone like Carlos Munoz, who was second and fourth in his first two races before finishing 20th last year.  Or Will Power, who I think is the best driver on the circuit yet to win at Indy.  Or how about pole sitter James Hinchcliffe?  His story is already a remarkable one.  Hinchcliffe almost died in a practice crash before last year's Indy 500, costing him the rest of the 2015 season.  Not only is he back at Indy a year later, he's sitting on the pole!

Also worth noting is the Indy 500 debut of rookie Stefan Wilson.  Wilson's brother, Justin, died from injuries he suffered during the Pocono race last season.  Stefan's car number?  Justin's 25.  What else?  I don't think Stefan Wilson will be a factor in the race, but it's a nice story nonetheless.  Although, I'm sure they planned on racing together at Indy this year and never got that chance.

Last year, Dixon looked poised to cap a dominant month at the Brickyard, leading for a race-high 84 laps before Montoya worked his way through the field to win going away at the end.  I don't think we'll see a repeat of that in 2016.  I have a feeling this year's race will be more like the ones we saw in 2013 (a record 64 lead changes) and 2014 (34 among 11 drivers).

Picking the winner of the Indy 500 is such a crap shoot.  Everything can go right until the very end, when one little mistake (not even necessarily made by you) costs you dearly.  Likewise, you can make an early mistake and think you have no chance, only to battle back and end up in Victory Lane (Montoya had a pit issue very early in the race last year).  Then sometimes it comes down to a simple drag race or getting a draft off a final restart.  No wonder winning it is so hard.

You obviously can't count out Hinchcliffe.  He was obviously the fastest qualifier, which is why he's on the pole.  But I don't think he'll be the winner.  Simon Pagenaud is the series points leader, but he's never finished higher than eighth at Indy.  He could be a factor, but I also don't see Pagenaud in the mix at the end.  Rather, I think this will finally be Will Power's year.

All the usual suspects will be there, too, but I just have a feeling about Power.  He's come so close, and last year he almost got it, finishing second to Montoya.  With a decent starting position (No. 6) and good speeds throughout the month, Power looks primed to grab his first Indy win.  Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon have also regularly been putting up fast laps in practice and qualifying, but they've both won Indy before.  Power hasn't.  His luck will finally change, and he'll join them as an Indy 500 champion.