Hispania Racing's Karun Chandhok gives the Korean Grand Prix venue the thumbs-up after being the first F1 driver to drive...
Kyle's Indycar Look Back: Watkins Glen
Written by Kyle, on 07-07-2009 14:47
Kyle’s Indycar Look Back: Watkins Glen
By Kyle Lavigne
David has beaten Goliath. Dale Coyne has been an owner for 25 years, but had only ever gotten close to winning within the past couple of years. Bruno Junqueira grabbed a couple of podiums for Coyne’s bunch of little guys, but a win was always a good way out of reach. Their struggles were magnified during “blendification” in 2008, as the team struggled to come to grips with the Dallara chassis. The hiring of Justin Wilson and Bill Pappas was a big plus for Coyne’s operation, and they combination nearly won the opening race of the year. Now, finally, Justin Wilson brought Dale Coyne a win…and a very popular one at that (apparently, the likes of A.J. Allmendinger and Jimmy Vassser, who was busy with his own team, offered congratulations and encouragement to the driver nicknamed “Badass”). It was great to see the little guys lock one up, and it’s another nice story for the series to have this season.
Justin Wilson: If you didn’t think he was great road racer after Saturday (when he turned some of the fastest laps in the first two session WITHOUT using the reds), then Sunday’s race convinced you. Wilson never put a wheel wrong and had the field covered, even if he was driving for an outfit that lacks in the funding department. The outcome was never really in doubt, as he led the most laps and rocketed away on the final restart. His performance today should make him a favorite in Toronto and Edmonton (again, regardless of the fact that the team doesn’t have much funding). This bunch is maximizing the chances their getting on the road and street circuits, and if they can crack the top ten in the standings, it will an accomplishment akin to winning a championship. Great to see Wilson and Coyne get a win…and more might be beckoning!
Three straight road and street races will make up the month of July, starting with this weekend’s twisty in upstate New York. It seems so very long ago that the series last visited a right and left turning circuit…because it was. The last road/street race was Long Beach back in April.
Now, we may get a chance to see how the smaller teams can do without the disadvantage they have on the ovals. Most everyone agrees that these road and street races allow a talented driver and smart engineer to do very well, with any “subpar” equipment not much of a factor.
The likes of Justin Wilson, and Mike Conway, and E.J. Viso (and even Richard Antinucci) are punching above their teams’ weights so far. Could one break through with a win? Wilson nearly did so in St. Pete, so it could be possible.
Last week in Iowa, we saw one of the better ovals over the last two seasons. This past week in Richmond, we saw one of the worst. On a track that has always been tough to pass on, no one was able to pass anyone on Saturday night. No passes for the lead came on the track, and some of the only passes were when the leaders came up behind lapped cars; but even that only happened a few times.
The series came under fire for, possibly, too close of racing and too much side-by-side racing in the past, largely due to several incidents in which cars were sent flying through the air after contact. The side-by-side racing is fun, but the flying cars weren’t. We haven’t really seen that this year, but the racing has suffered. The series is looking at solutions, and has time to find one between now and Kentucky, the next oval race (which is in August). I’ve said many times that a reincarnated version of the Hanford Device might help, but my lack of technical savvy may be holding back my ideas for a solution. Regardless, the lack of passing has been a big issue all year, and needs to be fixed. The IRL garnered fame from 2000 to 2002 for offering the closest (and most exciting) racing in all of motorsport. Where did they go wrong?
