Hey there, Internet! It's Guido, back with another Scoring Indy update. This week, we have a non-numerical preview of the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana. Get ready for a whole pile of conjecture. Let's get to it!
The Entry List
The car and driver combinations taking the green flag in Avondale, LA this weekend will be the same as it was in St. Petersburg back in March. This makes me happy. The more time that drivers and crews get to spend together before the Indianapolis 500 in May, the better. Plus, a 24-car grid just looks nicer than the 22 or 21 we were getting at this time last year. And, that's pretty much all there is to say about that. So, onward to...
The Track
Now, it's difficult to preview a new track, and NOLA is that. First of all, I don't have any information from last year (since there was no last year at NOLA) to look at driver performance, so let's talk about the racecourse itself. I asked some of my most trusted Scoring Indy advisers (ie most avid readers) Steve Wittich, Eric Hall, and Andy the Speedgeek what (current or former) tracks that NOLA Motorsports Park called to mind. Here were the primary comparisons:
Cleveland: The once (and future?) circuit at Burke International Airport in Cleveland was a common comparison, which I've heard in multiple places. This comes from being a flat "road course" (ie not using city streets) and allowing for an unobstructed view of the entire course from any grandstand. The flatness will also make high-speed turning interesting. We'll really get a sense of the downforce that these new aero kits put into the cars.
Edmonton: This was the comparison that my advisers seemed to think was the most apt. That made me smile, because I don't think I ever saw a bad race at the Edmonton City Centre Airport circuit. NOLA also features long straights with sharp turns, and could provide for a lot of action.
IMS Road Course: I also saw comparisons to the road course at IMS. and the technical and flowing nature of many of the corners seem to fit this bill. Last year's Indy GP is a perfect example of why I love strategy races, and we might be in for the same sort of event this weekend, at least in part due to:
The Weather
As of this writing, there is an 80% chance of rain in Avondale, LA tomorrow. That means we're very likely to see rain tires at some point for any of qualifying (later today) or the race. This is the biggest of wild cards, capable of shaking up the grid and making for either a wild and wooly race or a very damp parade. One never does know with rain.
Stay Tuned
Keep track of things here at Scoring Indy, and follow me on Twitter (@ScoringIndy) for my comically terrible race predictions and blog updates. Until then, enjoy the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana (hopefully from somewhere dry).
See you next week!
-- Guido
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