Race #9 Iowa Corn Indy 250 – Recap

I think we can safely say/write that this oval track has everything INDYCAR could want in a venue: great fans, great promotion, great racing, great finishes. The only thing that may hurt the event is the starting time for casual fans to tune in…because after that they should be glued to the TV set. There is just no chance to take a breath with 17-seconds laps and all the side-by-side racing. I thought we could lose some close-racing excitement with the downforce changes to the aero packages but the DW12 chassis has shown is just too good for its value! We were entertain to once again a close victory this time by Ryan Hunter-Reay with now back-to-back wins (last week at Milwaukee). Ryan is now the oval-meister in the series!!!

The storylines are as follows:

• Honda Engines – engines are failing and blowing on testing and racing during the last week. We’ll see if they hold on on this high-rev race. // it was clear there were some potential issues and it showed right out of the warming laps and into Lap 1 as Dario Franchitti’s engine blew (torpedo hit by Rebel squad Andretti Autosports on Death Star Troopers Ganassi Racing!). Still, there were some Chevy issues as well and I love this manufacturers competition as it keeps everyone on their heels and the Championship is very much up for grabs still.
• The Marco Andretti Watch – He is on a freefall but this race could be his season’s turnaround. Now is the time to complete races and get results as much as possible. He is the reigning race Champion. // how close Marco came to reversing his season?!?! a 2nd place finish is still good enough for a turnaround on the season. One problem: Marco excels on ovals but he has improved on RC/SC competition. He needs to step up on the next 6/7 races before the next oval (potential schedule changes due to China GP cancellation!!!)
• The Ryan Briscoe Watch – Ryan always races well on ovals but he needs his car and skills to be a match. This race could be another good opportunity to close on the Top 5 on the Championship. We’ll see! // He would have won the race if not by the banzai move by Josef Newgarden that sent both cars into the wall. What a bad break for Briscoe who would surely have been a podium contender.
• TV Partner and Ratings – the race will be on NBC Sports Network and the TV partner will provide 5 (FIVE) hours of INDYCAR coverage. AWESOME RESPONSE…but the race will start late for Eastern Seaboard fans (around 10pm ET) and we may get some sleepy ones at that time. I expect the 0.5 rating these start-time races get. Read here the TV Schedule. // now this is a TV Partner!!! The commitment to INDYCAR by NBC Sports Network is evident (they can improve on their tweeter account but they are making strides!!!). They were prepared for what all of us feared: rain delay time…they had recent information to share on drivers and the series. Too bad it was such a late start as the rating will surely reflect that.
• Will There Be Some Issues at the Race? – The drivers are complaining on restarts procedures regarding starting point on the track. Drivers in this series will always complain about anything but this time I think they out-done it. They are professionals and should manage the restarts. We’ll see if Race Director Beaux Barfield bows to the drivers demands. // as expected, the race had multiple cars going into the wall as it is part of the bullring racing at Iowa. Race Control and TV were very good on this one!

As in every race, we should pick a winner, just for the sake of trying to be the guru of INDYCAR knowledge (which I’m far from it, but let’s do it anyway!):

Race Winner: I will pick Mr Go Daddy himself: James Hinchcliffe to finally win his 1st race and take over the sponsor’s homepage away from the princess Danica Patrick. Did I mentioned he has already done more on the same team in HALF a season than the lady queen? // Oh, Hinch had a great car to even challenge for the win…he led 19 laps and was driving in the pack when he caught dirty air (air wash Maverick!) and went straight into the wall. I’m very, very happy that RHR is winning and staying happy with Andretti Autosports. He was my title contender at the beginning of the season and now he sits 3 points behind Will Power who last week seems secured on the Championship run. That’s why the IZOD IndyCar Series is the best…great drivers, great championship EVERY YEAR!!!

Engine Winner:Chevrolet should be back on the top spot!!! // Chevy swept the podium!!! Enough said…

Highest Rookie: Well I’ll go with Simon Pagenaud since Josef Newgarden has been burned by me picking him in every oval. Probably now Josef can take podium. // Now it just a matter of finishing the season…Simon Pagenaud has even mastered the ovals (never raced on any!) so it all over for the ROY award. Great run by Simon coming from last (25th) to a Top 5 finish! Awesome job!!!

Race #9 Iowa Corn Indy 250 – Preview

We are returning to one of the great oval spectacles on the INDYCAR schedule: The Iowa Speedway –  a 0.875 mile rectangular oval – which is known for fast and close racing. There has been some attrition in past races so we expect carbon-fiber pieces to be floating around a couple of times on the track. The almost-continual G-loads of stress on drivers will be a factor for this race. This venue has been a sellout every year and we can expect the same. One new element this year: Heat Races Qualifying.

The storylines are as follows:

• Honda Engines – engines are failing and blowing on testing and racing during the last week. We’ll see if they hold on on this high-rev race.
• The Marco Andretti Watch – He is on a freefall but this race could be his season’s turnaround. Now is the time to complete races and get results as much as possible. He is the reigning race Champion.
• The Ryan Briscoe Watch – Ryan always races well on ovals but he needs his car and skills to be a match. This race could be another good opportunity to close on the Top 5 on the Championship. We’ll see!
• TV Partner and Ratings – the race will be on NBC Sports Network and the TV partner will provide 5 (FIVE) hours of INDYCAR coverage. AWESOME RESPONSE…but the race will start late for Eastern Seaboard fans (around 10pm ET) and we may get some sleepy ones at that time. I expect the 0.5 rating these start-time races get. Read here the TV Schedule.
• Will There Be Some Issues at the Race? – The drivers are complaining on restarts procedures regarding starting point on the track. Drivers in this series will always complain about anything but this time I think they out-done it. They are professionals and should manage the restarts. We’ll see if Race Director Beaux Barfield bows to the drivers demands.

As in every race, we should pick a winner, just for the sake of trying to be the guru of INDYCAR knowledge (which I’m far from it, but let’s do it anyway!):

Race Winner: I will pick Mr Go Daddy himself: James Hinchcliffe to finally win his 1st race and take over the sponsor’s homepage away from the princess Danica Patrick. Did I mentioned he has already done more on the same team in HALF a season than the lady queen?

Engine Winner:Chevrolet should be back on the top spot!!!

Highest Rookie: Well I’ll go with Simon Pagenaud since Josef Newgarden has been burned by me picking him in every oval. Probably now Josef can take podium.

Well, tune in TOMORROW at 7:30pm on NBC Sports Network (Channel 159 on Dish Network) to INYCAR 36 featuring Charlie Kimball…then qualifying…then the Iowa Indy Corn 250….then the Sukup IndyLights 100. I’m already exhausted writing this schedule… Enjoy!