Certainly Y'all remember watching the Lights finale
from Laguna Seca Wayback in September, right? Chirp-Chirp, Bueller...
It's so L-O-N-G ago now... Funny how in our
modern, instantaneous Now-Now-Now world, how three months ago seems like an
eternity, eh? Especially when you've had a really good summer & fall's
worth 'O traveling, in what I've coined
as my Summer 'O Camping!
Oh Yeah, it's somewhat coming back to me, as
Tanks to my (No Fenders) BLOB's "Diary," I know why I missed
listening to the Laguna Seca double Header outing via Zed Internetz, 'cause I
was Out 'N Aboot camping with Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary ELLEN and
Pixie-the-Wonderdog, who wasn't quite that wonderful after coming just scant
inches from being a Coyote's breakfast early one morning at Chinook Pass;
SHEISA!
Thus, I'm presumin' I-T musta been the
penultimate round I tuned in to listen to one of my newest Fav' Announcers,
Nicky "Salt" Yeoman calling the action from Watkins Glen - where
Santi' effectively lost his stranglehold upon this year's championship.
Yep, I recall
listening to Santiago Urrutia effectively having a meltdown at The Glen, first
battling to retain his position up front by bangin' wheels,
with his aggression
ultimately costing him a cut tyre and finishing last - which massively dented
his then largish points lead...
And although the number of competitors
dropped off slightly towards the end-of-season, naturally dipping after the
series princely jewel, the Freedom 100 at Mother Speedway. Nevertheless, the
Competizione was quite fierce with a very stiff grouping of Young lions seeking
to win Mazda's three race IndyCar scholarship prize, including admittance to
the following year's Indy 500 race.
The rookies were led by Uruguay's Santiago Urrutia
scoring the most season victories for perennial powerhouse Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports (SPM) with four W's - along with three Poles.
Sweden's Felix Rosenqvist scored an
impressive three Poles and three wins aboard the #14 Balardi Auto Racing
Dallara/Mazda mount in his abbreviated inaugural season. Most notably (impressing)
by sweeping Toronto's streets by winning both rounds from Pole before being
called back to Europe to fulfill his Mercedes "Junior Driver"
obligations after ten starts.
Dean Stoneman won twice as a rookie for Mikey
A's rejuvenated Andretti Autosport squad. Also making my day by winning at
Indianapolis! After hoped for winner Zachery "Moose" Veach had faltered
after starting up front aboard Balardi's lead mount...
Zach Veach, making his return after a year's
absence was robbed at the season opener at St Pete when comfortably leading
much of the race before suffering an electrical failure, showing his potential
once again, ultimately winning three times for Balardi with two Pole positions
garnered when coming on strong at season's end.
Sophomore Standouts included Ed Jones and Kyle
Kiser, both winning twice apiece, with Jones returning with Carlin, scoring the
most P1 Awards, with a Mega eight Poles this season! While Jones Puerto Rican
team-mate was also victorious twice.
Kiser remained at Juncos Racing for his
second Lights campaign, led the field "trice," starting from Pole (three
times) en route to his maiden W' when leading wire-to-wire at Phoenix, and
winning again at Laguna Seca in his best Lights campaign to date
Yet unfortunately the season will most likely
be remembered for how the championship was won, albeit Carlin's Felix Serrallés did
absolutely nothing wrong per the rulebook by pulling aside for his team-mate,
ensuring Carlin won the war.
Meanwhile Veach once again Blitzed the competition
en route to his second win in the season's final three events - on his own accord,
with nobody handin' him nothing!
FINAL STANDINGS
Laguna Seca: Sept
11th
1) Ed Jones; 363
2) R-Santiago
Urrutia; 361
3) Kyle Kiser; 334
4) Zach Veach; 332
5) R-Dean Stoneman; 316
(R Denotes Rookie)
As Jones and Serralles, who finished sixth
overall two wins apiece helped net
Carlin the Teams championship with Urrutia taking little solace in winning
Rookie Of the Year honours...
OTHERS
A few drivers of note whom regard keeping an
eye upon for the upcoming 2017 Lights season include the likes of Aaron Telitz, Garrett
Grist and Nico Jamin.
Whilst the test's quickest Schue correctly
followed instructions. Since when Derrick Daly tells Yuhs to get your Butt in
the Seat; Hooah! With Daly being the Kuhnaidiun Garrett Grist's manager -
whilst how can you ever turn down seat time with Lights stalwarts SPM, Eh!
As Grist's got a kOOL! Soundin' Name, albeit
having replaced a somewhat local Surrey Northerner mid-season from Up North Eh!
As in Vancouver, BC's Scott Hargrove, while Yuhs never know who Sam Schmidt
will find to Filler-up' his stable of winning Lights cars.
Meanwhile Mikey A' (Andretti) was busy
testing an unknown Frenchman to Mwah who also sounds promising, as Nico Jamin finished
second quickest overall in his first ever Lights outing, now having just
learned he's the reigning US F2000 champion.
But it'd be nice
if Oh KanaDuh's Scott Hargrove could get a proper full season's ride, and I'd
enjoy seeing the other Rahal return, as in Shawn Rayhall, who I think is
focusing now upon Sports Cars instead...
