A Long Time Ago, on a Beach Far Far Away

Hello Internet! Back after a less-than-18-hour break. Go back and check out my musings on the new Indy-and-afterward formula, using the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix results.

Ok, time turn to the IndyCar at hand: Long Beach! As usual, turn forward by turning back.  Here's the data jamboree:

Race Finish	Driver	Qualifying Position	Starting Position	Laps Led	Laps Completed	Aggregate Race Score
1	Power	2	12	15	85	70.36
2	Pagenaud	11	4	26	85	73.95
3	Hinchcliffe	6	16	0	85	61.54
4	Kanaan	10	19	0	85	64.42
5	Hildebrand	16	20	0	85	67.31
6	Hunter-Reay	3	13	4	85	46.58
7	Briscoe	1	11	5	85	39.48
8	Sato	13	6	16	84	48.69
9	Barrichello	19	22	0	84	56.47
10	Wilson	9	3	15	84	33.81
11	Jakes	22	14	0	84	44.07
12	Viso	5	15	0	84	25.05
13	Castroneves	8	18	0	84	26.92
14	Carpenter	23	24	0	83	42.84
15	Franchitti	4	1	4	82	2.16
16	Servia	20	23	0	82	31.36
17	Bourdais	24	25	0	82	33.14
18	Kimball	17	9	0	80	8.26
19	Legge	25	26	0	80	27.15
20	de Silvestro	26	17	0	74	15.97
21	Tagliani	21	10	0	46	5.81
22	Conway	14	7	0	41	-1.05
23	Dixon	12	5	0	27	-1.17
24	Rahal	15	8	0	23	-0.74
25	Andretti	18	21	0	22	1.11
26	Newgarden	7	2	0	0	1.92

Notes:

- Last year's Long Beach race saw EVERY Chevy in the field take a 10-grid penalty, and so this is the first time we see the use of an Aggregate Race Score, factoring in positions gained against the start as well as against qualifying.

- Top 3 Race Scores: Pagenaud (73.95); Power (70.36); Hildebrand (67.31). This was the race that really got me excited about Simon Pagenaud. I listened on the "radio." And, by radio I mean the IndyCar app on my phone. That thing rules. Plug over. And, listening on the radio I was electrified by listening to Pagenaud try to chase down Will Power. Speaking of Power, his Aggregate Race Score gets bumped up by virtue of the penalty, but he'd have put up a big number anyway. He was untouchable during the Barber-Long Beach-Brazil stretch last year. Finally, big ups to J.R. Hildebrand. He's a flashes of brilliance type driver, and his relationship with the National Guard is admirable. Would love to see him have a Kimball-style improvement track, but I just haven't seen that happen yet...

- Things that stand out from the data: Ed Carpenter with a big number. I refer you to my on-the-record comments concerning Ed Carpenter and the 2013 Race Score World Championship. James Jakes with quite the Aggregate Race Score as well; and Bourdais scored 33.14 in a LOTUS. A LOTUS, people!! Sebastien (with 2 es) sure does love Long Beach.

- Words on newcomers: Vautier was third in last year's Indy Lights race. He'll be fine. Allmendinger never really had a great Champ Car result at Long Beach, but he looked GOOD at Barber (the numbers didn't show it, but I have eyeballs). Bia is in the second Coyne car. It will run like the second Coyne car (note, Jakes was in that car last year, but when I say "second Coyne car" I think we all know what I mean).

So, that's the general notes. After qualifying on Saturday, I will be putting up Twitter predictions. Stay tuned to @ScoringIndy on Twitter for those!

Let's go racing, Long Beach!

- Guido