Mid Term Report Card

Well, the IndyCar season is now effectively more than halfway over, thanks to the China race going down the toilet.   Frankly I had my doubts about that one ever coming to fruition.   It’s not like many people were gonna watch it anyway.  Well, I’m sure I would have stayed up until 3 am to watch it, but I don’t really think the demise of the Qingdao race is going to matter much in the long run.  What is going to matter is the admirable way in which the series has overcome innumerable and seemingly insurmountable challenges over the past year to create a product well worth consuming.  In the wake of last year’s season ending tragedy, this year’s IndyCar season has been something truly remarkable.   The new car seemed to be the source of much pre-season angst, with many referring to it as the “son of the crapwagon”.   To be honest, I always thought it was a pretty cool looking car.  Not as cool as the Delta Wing, but pretty neat nonetheless.   All things considered, it was a sheer miracle that 25 of the new cars have been able to show up week after week so far this season.   Apart from the new cars, all the races this year have been entertaining and worth watching.  Some will argue that Belle Isle was a disaster.  No, I say!  It was chock full of drama.  Who cares if it didn’t go the full distance or wasn’t terribly competitive.  It got people talking, even if it was about flying concrete.   Hey, any press is good press when it comes to IndyCar.  The worst thing that could happen now would be for people to ignore it. Some might disagree, but I’d rather have the media bashing it for one reason or another than ignoring it altogether.   But back to the races.  They have been very fun to watch.  I know the drivers don’t like them much, but the straightaway starts have been breathtaking.   IndyCar’s Crown Jewel, the 500 was legendary in every sense of the word.    Milwaukee was back in a big way (Congrats Michael Andretti for resurrecting it from the dead) and who can forget Justin Wilson’s late race heroics at Texas?  Chalk one up for the little guy…well the 6’2” Wilson isn’t exactly a little guy, but his team would not often be mentioned in the same sentence with Penske or Ganassi.   In the end though, it will still be a Penske or Ganassi driver winning the championship. My money is still on Will Power.  He’s been in hiding as of yore, but his immense talents on the road and street courses will soon re-emerge.  That is not so say he can’t drive on ovals.  He certainly can, but I think we all know on what side his bread is really buttered.   Dario and Dixie will be in the hunt too and let’s not count out Hinchcliffe.  And Wilson is not likely to go quietly into that good night.   I still expect him to win again somewhere between now and the end of the season.  So where does that leave us?  With one interesting second half of the season ahead of us.   As for the first half, I give it an A minus.    I would like to thank Mr. Bernard and all the drivers for keeping it compelling and interesting. And most importantly, safe!  These guys and gals have been fun to watch so far this year!  Keep up the great work.