As we head into the 2016 IndyCar Series season, I’ve cast an eye over the projected twenty-one cars who will be competing in every round this year, and given you some championship contenders and dark horses in the first two parts. Now, as the first practice sessions of the season are underway, here’s my final instalment: the best of the rest
Charlie Kimball (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet): Kimball is a great story: a young American who suffers from diabetes, yet manages to maintain a career as a professional race car driver, which is no mean feat. Kimball’s a fixture with Chip Ganassi thanks to the strong backing he brings from diabetes-related company Novo Nordisk.
A ride buyer, Kimball is, yes, but, unlike many, he actually has some real talent. Charlie knows his way to victory lane, and has shown speed at various times throughout his career, Kimball is one of those guys who might pop up out of nowhere and snag a win.
Alexander Rossi (Andretti Herta Autosport – Honda): the former Formula One driver comes home to IndyCar racing, and will be the driver of the recently-combined Herta/Andretti operation, which brings Bryan and Michael back to teammates, like they were in the early days of the Andretti operation in the Indy Racing League.
Rossi is an interesting prospect, given he’s not at all experienced in an IndyCar, and will be thrown right into the deep end this weekend. Sure, he’s raced Formula One, but there’s a lot of difference between the two open wheel series’ and, as someone mentioned recently, just getting used to the difference between ultra-smooth F1 circuits and bumpy IndyCar tracks like Long Beach will be a major hurdle. This will likely be a learning year.
Spencer Pigot (Team Rahal – Honda): the Orlando native makes his IndyCar Series debut not far from home, and will be running a partial schedule for Bobby Rahal, in support of championship hopeful, Graham Rahal. Pigot is one of the real success stories of the Mazda Road to Indy, and has a chance to make a good impression on the paddock in his limited starts this year. If he gets a car as good as Rahal’s, he might be able to do some damage.
Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport – Honda): ten seasons into Andretti’s career, and despite showing some promise, Michael’s son/Mario’s grandson only has two wins and a best finish of fifth in the season championship.
For that reason, Marco is an easy target for the keyboard warriors. After all, he occupies a pretty good seat, and doesn’t have much to show for it. When drivers with talent but no funding or familial connections like Sage Karam are sitting on the outside looking in, Marco’s continued inability to become a serious, consistent race- and championship-winning threat frustrates many.
Likely, it frustrates Marco himself. He shows flashes of speed at times, but not enough. Never enough. Each year, I wonder if it won’t be the season Marco breaks out, and I’m always hopeful, but it just doesn’t seem to happen. I wonder if 2016 will be any different?
Max Chilton (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet): the Brit was driving Formula One cars this time last year, lurking near the back and now, three hundred and sixty five days later, the tables have turned: Chilton will be with one of the best programs in the IndyCar Series paddock, and well equipped to win. Give him a few races to get a handle on things, and later in the season, we’re likely to see Chilton up front and competing hard for wins and podiums.
Mikhail Aleshin (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports – Honda): Hinchcliffe’s teammate returns to a full-time ride after a horrific crash at Fontana in 2014. A one-race comeback last year showed that Aleshin was still a viable driver, and gets a chance at SPM this year. Not likely to trouble the front-runners too often, but if some rain or strategy comes into play, don’t count the Russian out.
Matthew Brabham (Team Murray/KVSH – Chevrolet): Brabham, the son of Geoff and grandson of the late Sir Jack Brabham will be driving for an Australian team at the 100th Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the IMS road course, an effort spearheaded by expat Brett Murray and sponsored by Australian company Pirtek. The 2013 Mazda Pro Series champion is steadily climbing the rungs on the Mazda Road to Indy, impressing with limited seat time in last season’s Indy Lights Series.
An alliance with Jimmy Vasser’s KVSH Racing team (co-owned by another Australian, Kevin Kalkhoven) will at least give Brabham good equipment to steer around the 2.5-mile superspeedway, but racing for the first time at Indianapolis is a daunting task, and Brabham will probably feel like he’s won the whole thing if he can somehow snag a top ten finish in the race.
Whatever happens, the entire Australian motor racing fraternity will be behind him.
Enjoy the season, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment