A couple of weeks ago, the IRL Indy Car Series kicked its 2007 season first in Homestead and then on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Basically despite all of the off season movement including Danica Patrick going to AGR, the season is vertically the same as the 2006 season that includes back to back victories with first Dan Wheldon winning in Homestead in dominating fashion as he did in 06 and Castroneves winning in St. Petersburg as he did in 06 as well.
The 2007 season looks to be a complete model of last season. The same four drivers are going for the victories and making a run at the championship while the rest of field watches and wonders from behind as a cloud of smoke blows by them.
I would say predictions would be a little bit pointless, but here we go…
For race to race victories with the expection of three-four races, it will come down to Penske Racing with Sam Hornish Jr. (last years champion after a tie breaker) and Helio Castroneves, vs. the boys at Ganassi Racing with Dan Wheldon (or Danny Wheldon, which ever you prefer) and Scott Dixon.
As for the champion, it will be close as last year was, but I would say Penske Racing will win with Helio Castroneves, what about Ganassi Racing, well they will fight as hard as they did in 2006, but will come up short, reason being they can’t stop beating themselves. General mistakes will haunt them all season long as last year did. Like I said, vertically the same as the 2006 season.
As for me, I am going to keep doing what I do all along, watch select races including the Indianapolis 500 (no way I am missing that race), new races to the schedule and a couple others if I have time. LOL.
For the Champ Car World Series, that is a completely different ball game, at least in the IRL Indy Car Seies, I know or heard of the drivers, most of these drivers I have never heard of.
The season opener on the Streets of Las Vegas was surprising interesting, the race had its moments and the new car made its impact, but refueling problems haunted drivers all race long. The track was not bad with wide straights and room to pass.
The only downside to the Vegas Grand Prix race was one thing…NBC’s coverage, there was three people in the booth, one knows Champ Car racing somewhat and that one wouldn’t stop talking and the other two are NASCAR broadcasters that I can’t stand in a NASCAR booth let along in an Open wheel booth. You have to put knowledgeable people of Champ Car racing or Open Wheel racing in the booth, not just anyone. Put a Champ car fan in the booth, that would have been better, of course they will mostly talk about there favorite driver.
Bottom line, good race on a unknown street course, but bad NBC coverage, well at least if you turn off the sound and watch the race, its good. (The bad NBC coverage has to do with the announcers, not the pictures, the pictures were good.)
As for the rest season, I will do the same as the IRL Indy Car Series, select races including new ones. I can’t do predictions here, to many drivers I don’t know and a total unknown racecar. Its Champ Car, its IROC, stop your both right in turns of exactly the same cars, well at least its in the drivers hand as well as the crew with setup and pitstops.
See Yeah!… looking forward to this coming weekends Champ Car – Long Beach Grand Prix including the American LeMans Series race.
