Although the rains dampened the afternoon yesterday and all day today, it was a great opening weekend at the worlds greatest race course. Saturday got off to a delayed start, not by rain, but a sprinkler on the backstretch. Hope this isn't a sign of whats to come with the weather, as today was a wash, and the next 6 days have rain in the forecast.
32 drivers logged laps at the Brickyard yesterday with local Ed Carpenter taking the top speed at 224. 786. Ed shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. He has ran well at the speedway, leading laps two years ago at the 500, and making the Top 11 in qualifying last season. The Surprise should be in Sarah Fisher Racing. SFR has made significant strides in the off season, and with an experienced driver in Carpenter, along with long time engineer Nathan O'Rourke. Rumor is Buddy Lazier could be in line for the #57 ride with SFR if Ed makes it safely into the field on Pole Day.
I think this will be one of the most competitive fields in recent history. I feel their are 17 drivers that have a legit shot at winning, I guess I should back, in no particular order. 1. Dan Wheldon 2. Helio Castroneves 3. Will Power 4. Ryan Briscoe 5. Scott Dixon 6. Dario Franchitti 7. Tomas Scheckter 8. Tony Kanaan 9. Graham Rahal 10. Justin Wilson. 11. Marco Andretti 12. Mike Conway 13. Ed Carpenter 14. Paul Tracy 15. Ryan Hunter Reay 16. Townsend Bell 17. Alex Tagliani.
Right after that list there are a few that wouldn't be shocking, such as Danica, Simona Oriel Servia, Buddy Rice, JR Hildebrand, Bertrand Baguette and Alex Lloyd. There should be a good battle for Rookie of the Year as well, with James Hichcliffe, Scott Speed and JR Hildebrand, not to mention a few others. Not that I have crazily said that half the field could contend, Ill be back Friday for my pole day predictions.
It was great to see familiar faces at the speedway all weekend, and hopefully more to come. Ill continue to be that guy that roams around the pits by himself, taking pictures like an Asian in a parking lot, but I'm OK with that, this only comes around once a year, got to soak it up while I can.
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