msrpk.com blog

Race Day at the Brickyard

One of the famed "yellow shirts" guarding Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The weather is about perfect for just about everything, partly sunny, highs in the low to mid 70's, slight breeze and tolerable humidity. This is a welcome change from the rainy skies that limited practice and made a hectic qualifying process (at best) even more so. If you do not believe that Danica Patrick is the IndyCar series' most popular driver, a visit with the souvenir sellers and observation of fans eight to ten deep at the trailers selling her merchandise ought to suggest that this phenomenon is real.

Predictions, Race Stuff

This race won't be won in the first turn on the first lap. The winning strategy will likely develop from experience, reaction and preparation. With a full third of the 33 drivers rookies, IndyCar competition boss Brian Barnhart reminded the field that a good strategy to use was developed by the most recent four time winner of the 500--Rick Mears--who said that one should use the first half of the 500 to set up for the second half. Another three time winner, Johnny Rutherford, always says "To finish first, you must first finish". None of the 33 drivers, from pole sitter Scott Dixon to 33rd starter Marty Roth, is afraid of pushing the throttle to the firewall. The driver who will be immortalized on the Borg Warner winner's trophy will be the one who picks and chooses the spots in which to make bold high speed moves. My Predictions: An Exacta Box with Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan (the two best drivers in the field without a win here), with my edge to Dixon.