The IndyCar Series: The best TV ratings for the Indianapolis 500 in years came on the back of a completely pulsating last fifteen laps, with Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power, Scott Dixon and Charlie Kimball – two Penske cars versus two Ganassi cars, just as we’d expected and hoped it would eventuate – dicing back and forth for the victory. I’ve often said that the IndyCar Series is the best open-wheel racing on the planet, and on Sunday millions tuning in for, in most cases, their one glimpse of IndyCar racing a year, saw a brilliant display. It was the perfect promotion for the series. Hopefully it made some new fans!
Juan Pablo Montoya: JPM is a gun, not just because he won, but because he was forced down to thirtieth place after the first caution flag, when Simona de Silvestro inexplicably ran into him under yellow, necessitating a trip to the pits and a restart deep in the field. Many other drivers might’ve thrown in the towel. Not Montoya. He took it as a personal affront, and carved his way back to the front, and into Victory Lane. What a drive!
Charlie Kimball: The forgotten man on the Ganassi squad these days, lingering in the shadow of Indianapolis 500 champions Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and the rising Sage Karam, but when the dust settled on Sunday, Kimball, a young American who battles diabetes, was third, the highest finishing Ganassi driver. The kid has talent, and it’s guys like him who’re going to be the future of IndyCar Series racing. If so, that future’s in good hands.
Will Power: The highest-finishing Australian in the history of the Indianapolis 500, and he’s in pretty good company. Admitted it “sucked” finishing second, but Will drove like a champion, not throwing away his chance, and although second hurts, he bagged a nice parcel of championship points. Now, to win next year, at the 100th Indianapolis 500!
Graham Rahal: Not
for the first time this year, Rahal was the fastest Honda runner – and there
was a sizeable gap all month between Chevrolet and Honda – and drove a sterling
race from deep on the pack. After a few years in the wilderness, Rahal is back
in town, recording three top five finishes in the last three races. He’s going
to win a race this season, I’m sure of it!
J.R. Hildebrand: J.R. was the guy who crashed off the final corner of the final lap in 2011, handing a win to the late Dan Wheldon, but he’s always been fast at Indianapolis, even in a one-off deal as was the case this year. Quietly, the Californian finished in eighth, one spot ahead of his more fancied teammate, Josef Newgarden.
Ryan Briscoe: The Australian subbed for the injured James Hinchcliffe, and barely had a few hours of practice on and just before Carb Day before strapping in for the race. It was a quiet but strong drive from the Sydneysider, who improved from thirty-first to twelfth.
Marco Andretti: Diced with Rahal for fifth, and another guy driving an underpowered Honda to sixth. The grandson of Mario Andretti is always a threat at Indy, and surely will win one before he’s done.
Roger Penske: The Captain, as he is universally known, won his sixteenth Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. His is a record that almost certainly won’t be broken. Despite his team’s well-publicised V8 Supercar hiccups, it’s been a pretty solid year for Penske. His NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Joey Logano, won the Daytona 500 in February and remains at or near the top of the points table there and is considered a real threat as far as Penske might yet score another IndyCar Series championship this year, too. The guy is unparalleled in racing circles.
J.R. Hildebrand: J.R. was the guy who crashed off the final corner of the final lap in 2011, handing a win to the late Dan Wheldon, but he’s always been fast at Indianapolis, even in a one-off deal as was the case this year. Quietly, the Californian finished in eighth, one spot ahead of his more fancied teammate, Josef Newgarden.
Ryan Briscoe: The Australian subbed for the injured James Hinchcliffe, and barely had a few hours of practice on and just before Carb Day before strapping in for the race. It was a quiet but strong drive from the Sydneysider, who improved from thirty-first to twelfth.
Marco Andretti: Diced with Rahal for fifth, and another guy driving an underpowered Honda to sixth. The grandson of Mario Andretti is always a threat at Indy, and surely will win one before he’s done.
Roger Penske: The Captain, as he is universally known, won his sixteenth Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. His is a record that almost certainly won’t be broken. Despite his team’s well-publicised V8 Supercar hiccups, it’s been a pretty solid year for Penske. His NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Joey Logano, won the Daytona 500 in February and remains at or near the top of the points table there and is considered a real threat as far as Penske might yet score another IndyCar Series championship this year, too. The guy is unparalleled in racing circles.
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