After previewing who I think will be championship contenders in the first instalment of my 2016 IndyCar Series preview, Part Two is all about dark horses: drivers who, if things go right in a variety of areas, will be contending for race wins, and, perhaps, championships:
Graham Rahal (Honda – Team Rahal): For mine, the best story of 2015, Rahal was right in the championship hunt despite being saddled with an uncompetitive Honda engine, and not having a full-time teammate, which is nothing short of a miracle. The chemistry at his father’s team was finally right, and Rahal, oft-maligned because of a few seasons’ of mediocrity, really reaped the benefits.
Incredible consistency, a victory in the hair-raising Fontana race, and Rahal was right in with a shot at the championship going into Sonoma, where, unfortunately, things didn’t go his way. Honda say they have improved their engine package and their aero kit seems better than last year, at least in early testing.
Rahal is my favourite driver – although, I’m always happy when Power wins – and I’d love to have him amongst my title contenders, but I’m concerned that Honda power might let him down. Please feel free to prove me very wrong!
Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport – Honda): Michael Andretti’s stable wasn’t quite the force it’s been in previous years last year. In fact, they weren’t even the best Honda squad, despite having the most factory support, that honour going to Graham Rahal and his father’s squad. That would’ve stung the Andretti clan, so you can definitely expect improvement in 2016 – and it started at Phoenix, with RHR (and Marco Andretti) showing good speed at the Phoenix test.
From IndyCar’s perspective, Hunter-Reay is exactly the sort of guy – an American, with a good sponsor and a serious love of the sport – who they need to win early, win big and win often. And he can, too. A proven race and championship winner, if the Andretti squad can coax some more power from their Honda engines, RHR a threat pretty much anywhere the series races, especially Indianapolis.
James Hinchcliffe (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports – Honda): It was a rough year for the Mayor of Hinchtown who had his season cut short by a fierce crash during Indy 500 practice, from which he was, by all accounts, very lucky to walk away from. Earlier, Hinch won a rain-affected New Orleans Motorsport Park race. Hinchcliffe is wildly popular, especially in his native Canada, and I have a feeling we'll see him standing on the top step of the podium at least once this year.
Josef Newgarden (Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet): After showing flashes of speed in earlier years, Newgarden, a Tennessee native who spurned NASCAR for the Indianapolis 500, had a break-out year a season ago, winning twice, and morphing into the consistent driver we all hoped he could be.
The difference this year is that Sarah Fisher and oil baron Wink Hartman have stepped away from the team they co-owned with Ed Carpenter, and it’s anyone’s guess as to what sort of an impact that will have on Newgarden, who is as impressive an American rookie as we’ve seen in years.
Until we know for sure what the off-track changes for Newgarden’s team really equate to, I can’t rightly say that Newgarden is going to legitimately challenge for a championship. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins multiple times in 2016.
Tony Kanaan (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet): An overwhelming fan favourite (not to mention one of the most popular Indianapolis 500 winners in recent history), TK had an up-and-down 2015 and will look for more consistency in the NTT Data car. There’s no doubt that Kanaan still has speed, and a bit more luck this year should see him challenging for race wins. You’d like to think TK can contend for another IndyCar Series championship, but I’m just not sure.
Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet): IndyCar’s only owner/driver competes exclusively on ovals these days, and he’s always lightning-quick at Indianapolis, having won the pole multiple times. And most other ovals, to be honest. Ed Carpenter Racing has that aspect of their program locked solidly down.
Takuma Sato (A.J. Foyt Racing – Honda): Taku and Big Tex, it’s probably the strangest combination of driver/owner in IndyCar Series history, but, for the most part, it really works. As in, when Sato isn’t tearing up cars. He either seems to be fast or in the wall, with no middle ground. Just as well AJ has a good sponsor in ABC Supply. If Sato is on his game, he can win IndyCar races – as he’s proven before.
Connor Daly (Dale Coyne Racing – Chevrolet): The good news is that this young American talent has a full-time ride for the 2016 IndyCar Series season, which is something that many of IndyCar’s fans have been waiting on for years.
The bad news is that it’s with perennial backmarkers Dale Coyne Racing. Even so, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that Daly’s going to surprise a lot of people this year, and elevate the DCR organisation at the same time. Remember, the late Justin Wilson took Coyne to victory lane, and Daly is definitely the best driver to come through Dale’s door since Wilson. Here’s hoping that this year becomes a springboard to bigger opportunities for Daly.
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