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This is an excerpt from my
Running Race Recap, linked below.
"With 8 laps to go and
it was Meira outside of Sharp with Wheldon lurking behind. Dan,
in the points lead, and probably won't take a chance at the win.
Alex Barron is in 4th, Helio is 5th, two decent Toyota results.
Kim Sharp is the star of the show so far, for her sake, I hope
Scott wins. Sharp Wins, the
first time in over two years, first win for Fernandez Racing
this year, first Panoz win in 2005...
Scott Sharp becomes the 8th driver to win an IndyCar race this
year, all 4 AGR drivers, both from Team Penske, Scheckter and
now Sharp. Whether it was Sharp and Wheldon, or Sharp and Meira,
who has yet to win an IndyCar event, it was IndyCar racing at
it's best, side by side and wheel to wheel for the last quarter
of the race."
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There are reports of rain in
the area around the Speedway, but the morning warm up went off
without a hitch and if the rain clears the area we should see
some awesome racing later this afternoon. Reports are that
advance ticket sales were at a record pace (don't they
always say that), but with Danica Patrick in the first starting
position, the walk up sales could fill the place. Here's the
link to RaceTrack
Weather. The race is scheduled to begin at 3:45 EST, I have
posted a short preview and morning practice recap and will cover
the race in a Live Running Recap format here...
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(AN UPDATE)
"Q" runs were rained out and Danica Patrick will start
on the pole. Today's running recap can be found by following the
link below.
While the race should be contested
between Team Penske, Andretti Green and Panther Racing, the only
teams to win an IndyCar event this season, the published entry
list confirms that AJ Foyt Racing has switched to Chevy power. The
legendary AJ Foyt Jr has complained loudly and often that "his
team wasn't getting the same Toyota engines that the front running
teams were getting," and he "hated the way his team was running."
Now it will be put up or shut up time for both Foyt and his
grandson/driver, AJ Foyt IV. There are many who believe that young
"Anthony" has the ability to become a good IndyCar driver, but is
being held back by his grandfather's stubborn refusal to hire an
engineer, and then listen to him. I doubt that, while old AJ might
not have the latest in shock absorber technology, the basic setups
on these cars is still much the same as it has always been. Given
the correct driver feedback (which I doubt he is getting from
Anthony), Foyt can still set up a car to run with the leaders. The
next question that remains to be answered is whether young Foyt IV
can emerge from the usual back-of-the-pack runners and run with
the leaders without knocking down the fences? We are about to find
out.
One interesting point
about this season that I haven't seen mentioned is that even
though there have been 7 different winners from the three teams
mentioned above, nobody has won with a Panoz chassis this year,
and that chassis won 6 of 16 races last year, and could have won
more had Toyota not stunk up the 2004 season with a noticeable
lack of horsepower, and taking TCGR and 2003 series champion Scott
Dixon out of the mix.
As for Toyota in 2005, it seems
that every time they claim to have found more power, Honda and
Chevy must have as well, or perhaps found even more. There are
rumors of Toyota teams switching to Chevy in 2006 if Chevy has a
change of heart and remains in IndyCar, but contrary to what one
site is saying, I hear that TCGR has told Toyota they need more
help in 2006, and Toyota has promised them that they will have it.
So while many feel that Toyota might seek an early out next year,
it appears that at least TCGR will be staying. I have also heard
that Toyota may have more power at Kentucky, and also might have
found the reason for the engine failures at Michigan as well.
We'll just have to watch and see if Scott Dixon will be able to
dominate practice today as he did in Michigan.
I will follow today's P&Q runs in
a live running recap format, but it will be a joined in process
situation, as noted above, the SCTA Bonneville Speedweek opens
today, and I'm heading out to the salt for the first runs, I'll
make it back before the start of the 2nd practice session, here is
the Saturday schedule as posted on the IndyCar site;
Practice 1
Sat Aug 13 :: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Practice 2 Sat Aug 13 :: 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Qualifications Sat Aug 13 :: 4:30 p.m.
Follow the O/IRR coverage here...
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