“Indiana sunshine” ruined the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500, but it didn’t harm it that much.
It was a fantastic race, maybe one of the best ever. People keep harping about how dismal things are in Indy-car racing.
I often hear the same old tune about how the Indy 500 isn’t what it used to be and that it’s watered down.
While Indy-car racing is in a mess, the Indy 500 is just fine. In fact, since CART got tossed out, the race has been good every year since.
It was a pleasure to see all those lead changes, and nobody got a chance to pull away. The drivers made some hairy moves, too. It was real dirty-fingers racing, the best since the roadster days.
This was done without phony debris cautions, and the fight for the lead was on the track, not in the pits like in NASCAR. This race was far better than any NASCAR TV show.
How about the attrition rate? The only cars out of the race were due to accidents. Not one car was out because of mechanical failure. This is an Indy 500 first. Throwing the turbochargers out years ago was a smart idea.
But we still need more young American drivers out there.
If the IRL merges with Champ Car, all it will inherit is a bunch of drivers nobody knows. IRL’s No. 1 priority should be to encourage driving prospects to run with them, like was said when it was formed in 1996.
Mark this down for future reference: Every 91 years, someone named Dario wins at Indianapolis.
With Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) driving the pace car and Ashley Judd being married to the winner, “Entertainment Tonight” might have to hire a racing correspondent. With three women in the 500 field, will Lindsay Lohan be looking for a ride?
nDanica Patrick has shown she can drive with the best of them, now with a solid team.
nMichael Andretti holds a distinction that no one else has ever possessed in pro sports. He has competed in his sport’s biggest event against his father, his brother, his cousin and his son.
nDale Jarrett has things backwards. He drives too slow on the track, but when he commentates on TV, he talks too fast.
nTwo nice Memorial Day things: The return of Davey Hamilton and the victory by Casey Mears at Lowe’s. Good things do happen to the right people.
nI’m confused: For years Stevie Smith lived in New Oxford, Pa., and traveled with the World of Outlaws. He now lists his home as Broken Arrow, Okla., and races in Central Pennsylvania.
nI wish they had Bob Jenkins anchor the ABC telecast of the Indy 500. Marty Reid is duller than used sawdust. It was great to see the race on HDTV. Kudos for split screening during commercials. NASCAR would never allow its sponsors to be shown that way.
nWhy does NASCAR get so huffy over competing phone and oil companies when it allows a sponsor from China (Haier)?
nPoor Burney Lamar. He doesn’t have a ride this year. He is probably just moping around the house with his wife, supermodel Niki Taylor.
nIf Milka Duno was to go into the racing-wheel business, could she call her company “Milka Magnesium?”
Auditioning for “The View” at 25 Emerson Place, Valley Stream, NY 11580. E-mail to racewri771@aol.com.