Friday, May 23, 2014

Looking Back -- 2014 Indy Preview

Hello Internet! This is Guido here with a Scoring Indy update. It's race weekend in Indianapolis for the Indy 500, and this transplanted Hoosier can't wait! This week, we'll take a look at last year's 500, as well as a look back at the Chase for My Heart, which will result in me gushing with new-found love for Will Power.


2013 Indianapolis 500

This is what the scores looked like from last year's 500

FinishDriverGridLedCompletedRace Score
1Kanaan123420079.74
2Munoz21220062.05
3Hunter-Reay72620069.88
4Andretti 33120064.68
5Wilson14020056.36
6Castroneves8120059.11
7Allmendinger52320051.79
8Pagenaud 21020059.27
9Kimball19020050.58
10Carpenter 13720048.93
11Servia13020047.07
12Briscoe23020049.81
13Sato18020043.36
14Dixon16120043.94
15Beatriz29020044.54
16Vautier28020043.44
17de Silvestro24020035.58
18Viso4520027.34
19Power61620029.49
20Jakes16519921.96
21Hinchcliffe9719923.29
22Daly31019829.25
23Franchitti17019724.27
24Tagliani11119619.59
25Rahal26019325.25
26Legge33019320.77
27Bell22119218.8
28Newgarden2501918.95
29Bourdais1501786.21
30Mann300466.38
31Lazier320444.28
32Saavedra270343.34
33Hildebrand10030.99


Observations

Three quick ones from 2013:

- I haven't believed in Ryan Briscoe all Month of May here in 2014, but the 2013 results make me contemplate reconsidering. With at three wide start, opening the race in P23 (as he did in 2013) in the middle of Row 8, isn't substantially better than starting P30 (as he will in 2014) outside of Row 10. Can Briscoe contend for a win? I don't think so. But, can he have a day where you look back and say "that was solid?" For sure.

- Looking back at 2013, Simon Pagenaud's result is Briscoe's performance turned up to 11. I firmly believe that Pagenaud has the ability to contend for a race win and pull of the Indy Sweep. Pagenaud starts in the middle of Row 2, and he was just 0.083 mph away from winning the Chase for My Heart. I've got a feeling about the French Fox in this one.

- Finally, Marco Andretti has lead 90 laps in Indy 500s contested in the current Dallara Chassis. That is an outstanding number. And, it does not seem that the switch from Chevy to Honda power has hurt the Andretti Autosport squad. I expect Marco to be strong.

Race predictions for the 500 will be up on Twitter later today.


The Chase for My Heart

The Chase has reached it's conclusion. I have a new (and completely arbitrary) favorite driver. Let's take a look:

ChaserLBH (Race Finish)ALA (A.R.P.)IMS (Race Score)INDY (Qualifying)
Power23.3044.55230.697
Pagenaud57.6569.64230.614
Wilson169.0051.15230.256
Bordais1411.9759.53229.847
Kanaan1810.9638.23OUT
Andretti84.5130.62OUT
Dixon124.3223.06OUT
Newgarden198.2619.63OUT
Briscoe1713.68OUTOUT
Castroneves1113.83OUTOUT
Munoz313.86OUTOUT
Rahal1315.70OUTOUT
Hunter-Reay20OUTOUTOUT
Hinchcliffe21OUTOUTOUT
Sato22OUTOUTOUT
Kimball23OUTOUTOUT
Key:BEST
SAFE
ELIMINATED

- So there it is. Will Power. I, for one, welcome my new Australian Overlord. And, I know that I made the case for each of the last four in my Fast Friday post, but I want to gush about my (new) guy Power. Allow me to take a few bullet points to explain why I'm thrilled about this result.

- I like winners. That's not to say that all the teams I follow win games on a regular basis. I'm a Cubs fan for crying out loud. BUT, I can tell you that I paid MUCH more attention to baseball in 2003 and 2008 (when the Cubs were winning tons of ball games) than I've paid in the last year or two. Will Power wins races, and that's one of the reasons that he has my heart.

- I also like my winners to have to fight for it. I mean, I was there cheering for Dario Franchitti when the Gallant Fox (yes, I know only I call him that) came back to wrench the series title away from Power in 2010 and 2011. This time, I'm firmly behind Power. With having to fight through the heartbreak of three straight runner-up finishes and a disappointing 2013, Power is a veritable Tony-Kanaan-at-the-2013-Indy-500 as he chases down the 2014 IndyCar Series championship.

- Finally, look, just look up there at Power's performance during the Chase. He's been SOOO solid. Clearly, Will Power is the one who wanted it the most. Now, go out there and win another 500 miler, Overlord!


Stay Tuned

I hope you all enjoy the 500 this weekend. Race predictions will be up tonight. If you want to see them, follow @ScoringIndy on Twitter. I also post blog updates. See you on the other side!

-- Guido

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