Who is the winner?
Sentimental pick?
Where does Danica Patrick finish?
I take Sam Hornish Jr for two reasons. He is from Defiance, Ohio. He will defy the odds of being raised in Ohio to win it all. The other reason is he was the first American listed, I know less then squat about Indy racing.
Sentimental pick goes to the local grandson of the legend. A.J. Foyt IV from Hockley, Texas
Danica Partick comes in 7th. 9th place is the best finish by a female. She bests that as a rookie.
Dan Wheldon is on a roll this season. I don't think his mid-pack starting position should hurt him too much.
As for her
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I think she'll run up front through the first half of the race. She'll get shuffled back due to a bad pitstop or setup decision, get lapped and eventually finish 8th.
Sentimental pick is Buddy Lazier. A veteran shoe in a one-off Indy ride. Either that or Bruno Junqueira giving Carl Haas his first 500 win at the expense of Michael Andretti.
No matter who wins, I'm hoping for a safe and dry race.
I would love to see Danica win, just because it will give the sport a good shot in the arm, but I dont think she will pull it off because of lack of experience in these huge races. I have to think either Kannan or Wheldon will be there at the end.
Order of finish. I've been greatly impressed by Danica, but I think the pressure will get to her this year. She'll be great in the future, but this is Indy.
I think Danica will definitely lead some laps, probably early. Her problem will be folding under pressure late. I think she'll be the one that makes the error, not her crew. She has never been on this kind of stage with this kind of media attention. It got to her in qualifying and IMO it'll get to her again at the end of the rae.
Talamius wrote:IShe has never been on this kind of stage with this kind of media attention. It got to her in qualifying and IMO it'll get to her again at the end of the rae.
In defense of Danica, _nobody_ has ever been under this kind of pressure and media microscope at Indy. Especially not as a rookie. The only rookies who come close would be Montoya, who was carrying CART on his back; Nigel Mansell, who was the defending WC; and Janet Guthrie, who won her race when she crossed the starting line.
If you include all forms of racing, you could bring in Prince Dale when he competed at Rockingham (or wherever the next race was) after St. Dale died. But that's about it, in the US at least.
I worked the race in 2000 when Montoya was a rookie, and I'm working it this year, and the media frenzy over Danica is much greater than for Montoya.
The Montoya story was big in the small fishbowl world of open-wheel racing. Danica's story is big, period.
I do agree with the Mansell comparison, though. Most longtimers around here agree that the last time a rookie received this kind of media attention was Mansell in 1993. The Janet comparison also is very apt.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
That's funny that guys are complaining that she has an unfair advantage and some (Robby Gordon) said he wouldn't race if Indy doesn't equalize the cars. LOL...she is 100 pounds lighter...so I guess it makes sense, by why are they whining about it NOW...a day before the race.
Buddy Lazier is the heaviest among the 33 drivers in this year's field at 175. Robby Gordon should clam up and stay away from Waffle House and Old Country Buffet, as we have him listed at 180 in this year's media guide.
Her lighter weight gives her a minimal advantage, as moving ballast around plays a greater role in road racing than oval racing. Weight transfer under rapid and repeated acceleration and deceleration is much more frequent in road racing.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
Not only is Danica a good pick but I have ties close to her that I didnt even realize until I read an article today in the Des Moines paper.
My aunt used to live very close to Danica's parents and then after making some phone calls found out that Iused to frequent the restaurant that her parents used to own, which a cousin of mine bought and now runs.
While I dont know Danica personally I know her parents so definately she would be a sentimental favorite, and even after the whining I read about her having an advantage I still hope she wins, just so someone can look at Robby Gordon and tell him to STFU.
I'm not saying she has no talent BTW. The girl has obviously got some skills! I just don't think she's prepared for the crushing pressure she'll have on her shoulders. Of course if she proved me wrong and won it she'd instantly become P1 in american motorsports.
I do think she'll win a race this year, just not today. No real shame in that either.
