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| Valtteri Bottas at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. (Image source: f1fanatic.co.uk) |
'Whale, seems like today's date is the right
'Juan for this story, eh? As recently I was asked the most enjoyable Question
of all, albeit having been last August now, since Y'all know the drill here in
Nofendersville, where your blind 'Vurd Botcherer has fun trying to catch; Uhm,
where'd they go; Hya! Err, harvest A-L-L of his stories from the large
fermentin' vats; Hooah!
Yet, the Questione surprisingly came from a
young lad I used to call the 'Wee Charlie, which he isn't anymore, now quickly
honing in on becoming a teenager... Nevertheless, I was caught off guard to
hear an 11yr old asking me "who's my favourite Formula 1 Driver?"
To which I replied: Do you mean favourite of
all time? Since I used to be a Gynormous Michael Schumacher fan, to which
Charlie replied, I think I'd have liked Senna...
And as I'd noted earlier last year, I'd been trying
to decide who'd become my new Numero Uno Gran Primo Piloto? Having become
totally DISGUSTED by whom Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen so eloquently
christened 'TWINKEYBOY! A.K.A. Seb' Vettel after that nefarious "MULTI-21"
affair! Having slithered off to la Scuderia this past winter in hopes of
returning to the promised land...
Hence, prior to the 2014 F1 season's start my
choice was between the following three: Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas and Jules Bianchi, although the latter really
doesn't get the recognition he deserves by chauffeuring the back-marker
Marussia chassis.
Yet I have to say that Bianchi's place in
this quest has probably been overtaken by the very impressive Daniel Ricciardo
- and thus, I was loathe to choose one particular driver at that moment...
Having decided just a few races into the '14
season, I quickly answered Charlie's question by saying Valtteri Bottas, to
which Mary Ellen said; Huh? What about Nico? (Rosberg)
As surely by now,
Y'all know the reason 'Brittany has become one of my favs' - having interacted
with thy late 'Awntie Harriet a-L-L those years ago upon her return from Mother
Speedway...
Although sadly, Monsieur Bianchi has taken himself
out of the equation after that HORRIFIC Crash at Suzuka last October - and
might never wake up again from that wicked incident!
DRIVER-DRIVER?
Over the years - 'Wayback since my Schuey
Dazes, I've forever retained the quip
from my good friend Yutaka about only having one favourite driver... Otherwise
you've diluted the pool so to speak, and simply aren't focused enough! For
which I've always had mixed emotions about that, especially the old-ER I become, recognizing
more 'N more talented racers.
That said, I'm remaining true to Messer Bottas
as P1, who seemingly has a very bright future ahead of him, although his
accident at Melbourne didn't help his season start this year.
While I'll continue wishing for Nico Rosberg
to become world champion, (Although it appears that Lewis Hamilton's got him
covered at the moment...) along with enjoying many others on the
Formula 1 grid, i.e.; Daniel 'Ricky Ricciardo, 'JENSE, (Button) Felipe Massa
and thee "Incredible Hulkster" (Nico Hulkenberg) to name just a few,
as F1's the easy part for Mwah...
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| A long forgotten Postcard sent to Mwah from Scott Pruett during his much earlier Truesport days, featuring the Truesport 91C racecar. (The Tomaso Collection) |
Alas, with the dawn of a new IndyCar season, things
just got a whole Helluva difficult, even if I haven't been devoted to a single
driver since 'Wayback in the Champ Car Dazes, circa 2007. With my Numero Uno then
being Justin B-I-G' UNIT Wilson.
Yet, when I first began following CART
'Wayback in 1986; Aye Karumba! My first ever choice for favourite IndyCar
driver was none other than Scott 'Scooter Pruett followed by Robby Dirtman'
Gordon, before he later became tagged by myself as GORDOUN! (Thanks
in part to his helmet tossing tirade, faux yellow flags for headrest debris,
etc) Not to mention enjoying the razzle-dazzle of
'Ol Hollywood, aka Danny Sullivan.
Then later on during thy "chump
Carz" Dazes, - as noted previously, along with Wilson, I finally became a
fan of the effervescent 'PT, nee Thrill from the West Hill, aka Mr. Chrome Horn
or simply Paul Tracy during the final CCWS seasons, (2006-07) especially after
donning his purple cage fighting get-up; Hooah!
And in another long winded Tomaso tome coming
to No Fenders soon... I became totally smitten over 'JW, aka thee B-I-G' UNIT,
also known here at No Fenders as Justin Wilson, the racing driver, NOT the deposed
Cajun chef; Hooah! As he's been Number One for a Decade now...
Hence, my current dilemma? Which I'd pondered
over the past seven months STUPENDOUS Off-season prior to St Pete is: How to
root for two drivers on the same team?
As it just doesn't seem right pullin' for Team Penske's two future Starz, i.e.;
Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, who are my numbers two & three favourite
drivers respectively...
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| Justin Wilson RuSport "Hero Card" from the long defunct Champ Car World Series, (CCWS) autographed at the '06 Seattle Roadster Show - Prior to that year's Portland International Raceway event. (The Tomaso Collection) |
Alas, with Wilson's IndyCar career seemingly
winding down? As I'm still pretty bummed that he wasn't on the grid at St Pete
this year, although 'Curty Cavin correctly surmised by hinting prior to the
'Offical announcement on Opening Day at St Pete that Justin indeed has a ride
with Mikey A' (Andretti) come Indianapolis this year for both the road course
and oval races at Mother Speedway.
Thus it's a good
thingy I decided to go to Indianapolis this May, where at least I'll get to
see; Err HEAR Justin in action once again...
Nonetheless, I'm ponderin' who to choose as
my de facto Numero Uno IndyCar driver, as it just feels wrong to be rootin' for
two Penske boyz, (with Power claiming Pole and Pagenaud P2 at St
Pete...) although I'll be happy for either of them
winning, and mildly intrigued over who comes out on top.
Listening to whom CARPETS' named 'Pageantry,
nee Simon Pagenaud via the IMS Radio Network over the St Petersburg race
weekend, the jubilance coming from "symone's" voice every time he was
interviewed, especially after finishing 0.03s behind Power for Pole made me
marvel how Pagenaud's gunning for him...
FUTURE
CONSIDERATIONS...
What to do indeedy? As I guess the following
few drivers intrigued Mwah as of the start of the 2015 IndyCar season, as I'd
miss Round-2 at N'walins, the inaugural Louisiana Grand Prix, which the latter
always makes me laugh since that implies it's a Formula 1 race to Mwah! As I
was busy frolicking at COTA for the MotoGP race instead; so these are just my
initial thoughts going into the incredibly short IndyCar season.
The only Bonafied Star on the Hondre' side that
I truly like, as I'm still not a Fan of whom I used to call "Bully-Ray" (Ryan
Hunter-Reay) is thy "Mayor 'O Hinchtown," aka James Hinchcliffe,
while I'm interested to see how reigning Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves
fairs at the Minnowesqe Bryan Herta Autosport.
And
lurking in the shadows I suppose is 'Bloody "Union Jack,"
(Hawksworth) although he doesn't exactly crank my pipes. While I found myself
yelling at the 'Confuzer during the season's first Fast Six Shootout was GO
TAKU! As Takuma Sato, Hawksworth's elder team-mate and current leader at A.J.
Foyt Enterprises was the only Honda in the Pole Shootout...
Have always been high upon Joseph STUD! Newgarden, ever since he entered the
B-I-G' CARZ. And like many, I too expect
him to finally "Break-his-Duck" this season regarding standing atop the podium somewheres' this season.
Also, very interested to see how Stefano
Coletti does, along with the intra-squad Scrum at CFH Racing between Newgarden
and new boy Luca Filippi
on the Twistiy's...
Yet since I'd like to remain with just three
IndyCar drivers for my top picks, it'll
be hard to decide, as it seems only fair to have at least each one Honda and
Chevrolet runner at a minimum, right? And I always enjoy pullin' for the
Underdog, which is tradition here Stateside.
So guess I'll replace Wilson with James
Hinchcliffe, eh? Although strangely I find myself more intrigued with hopefully
'KanaDuh's next IndyCar Pilote' Scott Hargrove, along with Jack Harvey, both
who are currently plying their trade in Indy Lights. Not to mention the
perceived arrival of Carlin Racing to the B-I-G' SHOW shortly...
although I don't know anythingy 'bout this Ed
Jones, who reminded me voice-wise of "Plowie" (Martin Plowman) upon
hearing him on the podium after winning his debutant Lights race from Pole at
St Pete. While I'd really like to see Conor Daly haulin' Duh Mail for Honda in
Indy Cars!
Then again, maybe I should go for an all new Top-3?
Or is it Ok to have more than three favourite IndyCar drivers? Or should I only
have one? Y'all make the call whilst I
try deciding on which drivers to root for...