Restarting open-wheel's engines
Saturday's IRL Indy Car Series season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway marks the beginning of a new era in American open-wheel racing.
What was once two series – the IndyCar Series and Champ Car World Series – now, finally, is one.
And while the deep wounds inflicted by the egos and bitter words that kept the two series apart for 12 years will take an equally long time to heal, there is a moderate level of excitement among open-wheel fans across the country around the prospect of seeing race-by-race starting fields nearly as large as the 33 for the Indy 500.
But the series begins the 2008 season lacking the kind of star power necessary to attract new fans, having lost two of its most familiar names – Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. – to NASCAR.
The IndyCar Series does feature two female drivers (Danica Patrick and Milka Duno) – neither of whom has ever won an Indy car race – though Duno has won sports car races and Patrick has won driving go-karts. A third female driver, Sarah Fisher, is expected to join the field in time for the Indy 500 in May.
It also can tout a two-time Indy 500 winner, though more people know Helio Castroneves for his dancing ability rather than his skill and daring behind the wheel of a race car at 230 mph.
And lastly, the IndyCars boast three second-generation drivers whose last names recall the excitement of the golden era in Indy car racing.
Key story lines to watch as the season unfolds:
• Unification: After several attempts, the two are now one, and fields of 24 to 26 competitive cars at every race as opposed to fields that used to be as small as 16 to 18 cars will make already exciting IRL racing action even more so – especially given the lack of oval experience nearly all of the former Champ Car drivers claim. Better get those spare parts ordered now.
• Second-generation drivers: Legendary racing names like Andretti, Foyt and Rahal will be in the field, though none of these second-generation drivers has shown the promise of having the skills rivaling his father (or grandfather, in the case of Foyt). These three young men – Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal and A.J. Foyt IV – need to kick things up a notch to show they're more than just members of the lucky gene pool club.
Incidentally, Rahal will miss the season opener after wrecking during practice; his team will be unable to repair his car in time.
• Danica Patrick: Though she still has not been seen in victory lane (and likely won't again this season unless she's running third while the first- and second-place drivers take each other out on the final lap), Patrick is the one name most Americans associate with IndyCar racing. She has to answer the question on most fans' minds: Can she win at this level?
• The big three: Despite boasting new names and new teams, the IndyCar Series will continue to be dominated by three organizations: Andretti Green Racing (four cars), Team Penske (two cars) and Chip Ganassi Racing (two cars). Possibly joining that elite group this year will be the two-car team of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.
• Familiar faces at the front: The list of drivers who are sure bets to be seen in victory lane at one or more races this year is a short one: Castroneves and former series champions Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan.
• New faces at the front: Joining the list of possible winners in '08 are past Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, Ryan Briscoe (who replaces Hornish at Penske), Graham Rahal, former F1 driver Justin Wilson and Marco Andretti, who has one IRL win to his credit and nearly won the 2006 Indy 500.
• MIA: Missing from the grid (for now) is 2003 Champ Car champion Paul Tracy, who undoubtedly was the now-defunct series' biggest name once its champion Sebastien Bourdais left for a career in Formula One this season. Expect Canadian-born Tracy to land a ride in time for the Indy 500.
Also missing is Katherine Legge, who was Champ Car's only female driver. She has gone to Europe this year to race for Audi in the German equivalent of NASCAR, the DTM. But expect her to be back in Indy cars down the road.
• Names to remember: Bruno Junqueira, Will Power and Oriol Servia. All three have won races in Champ Car, and once their teams are up to speed, they will be regular fixtures in the top five in the IRL. Also keep one eye on Ryan Hunter-Reay, who once was regarded by many as "the next great American driver."
• Who?: A glance at the list of entrants for the season opener has quite a few new names: Mario Moraes, Hideki Mutoh, Ernesto Viso, Enrique Bernoldi and Franck Perera. Mutoh may be the only one who has the experience to keep his car off the wall.
• Keep the caution flag handy: Unfortunately, both the lack of experience on ovals and the short time teams had to prepare for the season will hinder most of the former Champ Car teams. So for first few races, expect to see a plethora of yellow flags – but hopefully very few serious injuries – as nearly half the field will be receiving on-the-job training while competing at nearly 220 mph just inches away from the SAFER barrier.
The GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami begins Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. It will be aired on ESPN2.
