Sam's to lose

Bluewolf · 22 May 2006, 03:36 (Ref:1615958)

This should be the year for Hornish -- He's with the best team, and he's been a rocket all month. Now he just needs to take a lesson from Johnny Rutherfords perfect, heady, drive in 1980 when he won the pole and his 3rd indy 500 driving the "Yellow Submarine." The question is -- will he or will he not use his head and win the race.

Sam can't stand running anywhere except the point. The problem is that Dan Wheldon is starting 3rd and has the exact same mindset. This is going to make for a very interesting 1st corner of the 1st lap -- If it's even close Wheldon will surely go for it. If that happens Sam needs to just let him go and pass him when the field settles in or they could both end up against the wall as Wheldon will absolutlely not give an inch.

Hmmm come to think of it Tony is in the second row and he's a wild man at the start of all IRL races ---- As I said, this is going to be very interesting.

Knowlesy · 22 May 2006, 04:50 (Ref:1615975)

Wheldon doesn't strike me as the sort of driver who goes hell for leather at turn 1 and crashes. He's more patient and tactical than that I think.

I think we're in for a long old struggle between the Penske's and Dan.

Fish_Flake · 22 May 2006, 05:53 (Ref:1615986)

Don't start engraving Hornish's name on the Borg-Warner Trophy yet: the 500 has been his to lose before, and he's found some good ways to do so.

climb · 22 May 2006, 07:07 (Ref:1616008)

absolutely right Ff

Indy500 is real lottery, and starting from the pole is almost irrelevant, given the 10.000.000 things that can happen during the race.

Nonetheless Penske duo has shown a stunning consistency in the trest session.

rustyfan · 22 May 2006, 08:18 (Ref:1616056)

One has to wonder if his crash in practice yesterday, while driving the backup car, is anything to be concerned about; is he starting to feel the pressure of everyone believing - no, expecting - he'll win?

luke · 22 May 2006, 09:31 (Ref:1616101)

I will be very suprised if there is a crash in the 1st turn or on the 1st lap anyhere as well or even in the opening stages between the front runners. Mid pack or someone on their own like Roth and co will not know where their limit is or make a bad judgement or try and take too big a risk too early on.

I really really really hope Sam wins it this year, I'm like the biggest fan of his, and he really has too, he must have alot of pressure. Maybe this year he can finally over turn his bad luck and result at Indy. He certainly has the best chance this year.

Also Sam is a two time champion, and a IRL champion that is still one of the best drivers in a now competitve enviroment, can't say the same for the other champions before Sam...

Hazza · 22 May 2006, 12:16 (Ref:1616237)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

Also Sam is a two time champion, and a IRL champion that is still one of the best drivers in a now competitve enviroment, can't say the same for the other champions before Sam...

Yeah, that Tony Stewart guy, where is he now?

And we all know Kenny Brack was a nobody.

But aside from my nit-pickyness, Sam has managed to adapt to an ever changing enviroment. But the '500 runs under its own laws, and if it doesn't like you, it doesn't like you.

So i'm going to go out on a limb and say sam'll finish 2nd or break down, but if he does win, good on him for beating the curse of Indy! Maybe he'll win three in a row? Nah, wouldn't push my and his luck...

luke · 22 May 2006, 13:10 (Ref:1616277)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazza

Yeah, that Tony Stewart guy, where is he now?

And we all know Kenny Brack was a nobody.

Your totally missing my point.

I'm on about drivers who were original stars and still are today!

DefntlyDiffrnt · 22 May 2006, 14:27 (Ref:1616339)

Well, I have to say that Indy is a huge monkey on Sam's back. And, as big a fan as I am for MTP, I think he's going to lose it again this year. There's just something about Indy that gets him every year. He has yet to finish a race there and I don't think this year will be any different. I might've felt differently - until he put it into the wall during practice. That pretty much was all I needed to know.

This is another one lost to him IMO which leaves my other MTP pal to win it...again. Hey, I have to find the positive in it.

drdisque · 22 May 2006, 15:16 (Ref:1616370)

one good thing about basically everyone qualifying on the same day is that you don't have fast cars starting mid pack and trying to get to the front in 5 laps.

This would be a good trivia question that I don't know the answer to, but I wonder what was the last time that the field lined up from fastest to slowest like it does this year.

Michael Edick · 22 May 2006, 15:57 (Ref:1616392)

that's an excellent question! I'm pretty sure that this has not ever happened because of all the foul weather causing qualifying to happen basically in one day.

I do miss the bump day...hopefully we'll get to see that again once the two twits runing the two open wheeled series come up with a plan to get together!

My bet is that Scott Sharp will stuff it in turn one, lap one, like he did a few years ago...

marcus · 23 May 2006, 08:46 (Ref:1616913)

Sam actually finished the 500 in 14th place in 2001.

Ok thats terrible but its a finish

Its up to him, I wish him well and hope he has a good race

BootsOntheSide · 25 May 2006, 11:21 (Ref:1618563)

Being on pole isn't a big advantage at the 500, guys like Tracy in 2002 and Goodyear in 1992 have come through the pack to challenge for victory. Being the fastest over a 4-lap run in all-other-things-equal circumstances (as Sam was) is a small advantage, but there are so many things that can happen over the 200 laps, with yellows and pit strategies and backmarkers and everything else, that it's always an unpredictable race. Not sure about Kanaan being wild on opening laps, we are talking about a driver who finished every race in 2004. If I had to bet on the first-lap leader, it would be Dan, but even that's a tough call.

luke · 25 May 2006, 11:30 (Ref:1618569)

Well Kanaan is just a bit agressive in general.....In theory as it's such a long race, you could qualify 33rd on race day, as long as you have a good run and get the car set up well for the race there is no real reason why you can't win...

For the anoraks here, has anyone ever own from 33rd?

Hazza · 25 May 2006, 12:28 (Ref:1618608)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

Well Kanaan is just a bit agressive in general.....In theory as it's such a long race, you could qualify 33rd on race day, as long as you have a good run and get the car set up well for the race there is no real reason why you can't win...

For the anoraks here, has anyone ever own from 33rd?

Wiki says that the lowest is 28, in "recent times" 20th in '87 is the furthest back.

IIRC, some one from 33rd has finished 2nd though (Goodyear?)

luke · 25 May 2006, 13:24 (Ref:1618648)

Thanks Hazza...If you qualifyed that for down though it would have meant you would have been doing those sort of speeds thw whole month I guess so where could you suddenly find that bit of pace to be up there?

BootsOntheSide · 25 May 2006, 13:50 (Ref:1618668)

Good point Luke - in the old days it was nothing unusual for a fast car not to set a lap in the first qualifying run, and so automatically start down the grid even if they are among the fastest. I know Goodyear didn't set a lap in 1992 and in fact took over a team-mate's car (thus automatically going to the back of the grid) but I don't know all the details.

Hazza · 25 May 2006, 22:31 (Ref:1619069)

By the way, Wiki suggests starting from pole in car #3 gives you the highest chance of sucsess.

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