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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Indy 500 Musings
Robin Miller's 33 observations, complaints, suggestions and kudos for the unquestioned return of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
1. Dan Wheldon, who had to sue Panther Racing owner John Barnes last year to get paid after being terminated, claimed his last-second victory over his former team wasn’t any more satisfying than his first win in 2005. Really? Bull.
2. They always say nobody ever remembers who finished second at Indianapolis. Bet they will now.
3. If the yellow light comes on before Wheldon passes J.R. Hildebrand, does Panther have a good argument? It would seem so according to Tony Cotman, the former Champ Car chief steward who assists Brian Barnhart in INDYCAR Race Control. The yellow always freezes the field (Oriol Servia passed Scott Dixon for fifth after the caution waved and was sent back to sixth) and Hildebrand was still maintaining pace car speed as he scraped along the wall. But, because it was clearly green when Wheldon went sailing past his old car, there was no protest filed. “You want to see the race end under green if at all possible,” said Cotman. “In most situations disabled vehicles are a non factor when ordering the field under a caution. Does a driver who hits the wall like that deserve to win the race? I don’t know but when the yellow light came on, the 98 car was in front. Disabled vehicles are usually a non factor but Sunday was a little different.”
4. The two abreast restarts were exactly what the fans wanted and INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard hoped for: electrifying, a little insane and relatively safe. “We owe Randy an apology, they were exciting and no doubt helped me,” said Tony Kanaan, who charged from 21st to fourth and thrives on this formation. “I’m glad he (Bernard) listened to us and let us restart in Turn 4 because that really helped. It’s not the drivers vs. the series; we just appreciate being listened to.”
5. It wasn’t a sellout, maybe 20,000 empty seats, but it was easily the best turnout since The Split in 1996. The suites were full, good infield crowd and 250,000 sounds like a legit number.
6. Team Penske didn’t lead a lap Sunday. It’s like Tiger Woods missing the cut at The Master.
7. Scott Dixon led 73 laps (just like he did in 2009) and gets the Lloyd Ruby Award for being run out of fuel on what should have been his second W. He was catching J.R. by 4-5 mph before the problem.
8. The supposed return of The Flying Start and 11 rows of three thundering down the straightaway to the green was a joke in every way as it appeared the single file, spread out field was orchestrated by the drivers – knowing TGBB wasn’t about to wave it off. Kind of an “in your face” to Bernard.
9. Hildebrand didn’t need to pass Charlie Kimball going into Turn 4 because he had a nice cushion, just wonder if his spotter or team let him know?...
10. Graham Rahal (29th to first and eventually a third place finish) and Kanaan charged to the front, went to the back (twice) because unlucky cautions on pit stops and had to pass 80 cars between them.
11. Some really connected people are convinced IMS is in the process of being sold or will be sold next month. Mari Hulman George has always maintained the Speedway is not for sale, it’s for her grandchildren. I believe her.
12. Winning co-owners Bryan Herta and Steve Newey are “lifers” that assembled a solid one off team with engineer Todd Malloy, crew chief Don Lambert and Wheldon. Very deserving group and a story for the ages.
13. Brian France called Jeff Belskus and made a last-second appearance to watch the best race at IMS. Of course this will get the annual rumor ramped up even more that the Speedway has been sold.
14. Damn cool watching Parnelli drive the Marmon Wasp and Mario in the Maserati during pre-race.
15. The cheers for Simona de Silvestro in driver intros make me think people are paying attention.
16. Most of the 23 lead changes came on the track, not in the pits, and just think how much better it would be if they brought The Apron back?
17. Despite all their bitching and whining, the drivers did a damn good job of using their heads and skills on restarts.
2. They always say nobody ever remembers who finished second at Indianapolis. Bet they will now.
3. If the yellow light comes on before Wheldon passes J.R. Hildebrand, does Panther have a good argument? It would seem so according to Tony Cotman, the former Champ Car chief steward who assists Brian Barnhart in INDYCAR Race Control. The yellow always freezes the field (Oriol Servia passed Scott Dixon for fifth after the caution waved and was sent back to sixth) and Hildebrand was still maintaining pace car speed as he scraped along the wall. But, because it was clearly green when Wheldon went sailing past his old car, there was no protest filed. “You want to see the race end under green if at all possible,” said Cotman. “In most situations disabled vehicles are a non factor when ordering the field under a caution. Does a driver who hits the wall like that deserve to win the race? I don’t know but when the yellow light came on, the 98 car was in front. Disabled vehicles are usually a non factor but Sunday was a little different.”
4. The two abreast restarts were exactly what the fans wanted and INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard hoped for: electrifying, a little insane and relatively safe. “We owe Randy an apology, they were exciting and no doubt helped me,” said Tony Kanaan, who charged from 21st to fourth and thrives on this formation. “I’m glad he (Bernard) listened to us and let us restart in Turn 4 because that really helped. It’s not the drivers vs. the series; we just appreciate being listened to.”
5. It wasn’t a sellout, maybe 20,000 empty seats, but it was easily the best turnout since The Split in 1996. The suites were full, good infield crowd and 250,000 sounds like a legit number.
6. Team Penske didn’t lead a lap Sunday. It’s like Tiger Woods missing the cut at The Master.
7. Scott Dixon led 73 laps (just like he did in 2009) and gets the Lloyd Ruby Award for being run out of fuel on what should have been his second W. He was catching J.R. by 4-5 mph before the problem.
8. The supposed return of The Flying Start and 11 rows of three thundering down the straightaway to the green was a joke in every way as it appeared the single file, spread out field was orchestrated by the drivers – knowing TGBB wasn’t about to wave it off. Kind of an “in your face” to Bernard.
9. Hildebrand didn’t need to pass Charlie Kimball going into Turn 4 because he had a nice cushion, just wonder if his spotter or team let him know?...
10. Graham Rahal (29th to first and eventually a third place finish) and Kanaan charged to the front, went to the back (twice) because unlucky cautions on pit stops and had to pass 80 cars between them.
11. Some really connected people are convinced IMS is in the process of being sold or will be sold next month. Mari Hulman George has always maintained the Speedway is not for sale, it’s for her grandchildren. I believe her.
12. Winning co-owners Bryan Herta and Steve Newey are “lifers” that assembled a solid one off team with engineer Todd Malloy, crew chief Don Lambert and Wheldon. Very deserving group and a story for the ages.
13. Brian France called Jeff Belskus and made a last-second appearance to watch the best race at IMS. Of course this will get the annual rumor ramped up even more that the Speedway has been sold.
14. Damn cool watching Parnelli drive the Marmon Wasp and Mario in the Maserati during pre-race.
15. The cheers for Simona de Silvestro in driver intros make me think people are paying attention.
16. Most of the 23 lead changes came on the track, not in the pits, and just think how much better it would be if they brought The Apron back?
17. Despite all their bitching and whining, the drivers did a damn good job of using their heads and skills on restarts.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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