Although Thar were plenty 'O Fireworks; Err
Fisticuffs between the normally gleeful Simon Pagenaud and Josef Playin' Thru
Newgarden at Gateway...
As Y'all know, I'm a really, really S-L-O-W
typer here in Nofendersville. And hence, I began crafting this riveting No
Fenders tome just prior to the final two IndyCar Oval races on this year's
calendar.
As I was feeling pretty glum 'bout the
remainder of the season then, since even though it was a new name who was at the
top of the points table, pre-Pocono. Puh-lease "Mr. Chrome Horn;" Err
Paul Tracy, QUIT calling him Joey New
Jive!
Whilst Slick WillyP's even WORSE! As believe Slick
Willy's a "Cronyism" for a crooked politician, right? As Will Power's
many things, but...
As I'm really NOT feeling any great
enthusiasm right now, since most likely the title will be won by another
FREAKIN' Penske driver; Sigh! Although I'd like to believe that somebody
besides the B-I-G 3', nee Penske, Ganassi and Andretti can once again claw
their way into victory lane.
As wouldn't it have been amazing if Conor
Daly had pull a Wabbit' outta his Firesuit and won for 'Ol SuperTex at Gateway?
Although he did have his best finish of season to date Thar, albeit I was
really hoping he could get around HULIO for 4th!
But as 'Ol PT' lamented, Conor was getting the
"Scott Pruett Fade" from Castroneves, before having some lively
banter with T-Bell' over what had Pruett ever done to him?
As it seems such a long time ago when one of
the non Big-3 were leading the championship, albeit we all knew that the
Minnowesqe Dale Coyne Racing and it's Pied Piper le Hamburgular', nee SeaBass,
aka Sebastain Bourdais would be hard
pressed to hang onto his unlikely points lead after his improvable win at St Pete.
Whilst thee Mayor 'O Hingetown's James
Hinchcliffe kept the fantasy alive by winning at Long Beach, before the
nebulous Penske Death Star cast it's shadow; Err weight upon thou Paddock, with
Josef New garden's Debutante Team Penske victory in Round 3 at thee Barber's.
Yet like I've scribbled; Err typed before,
even though half of Penske's quartet were once my favourite drivers, nee Will
Power and Simon Pagenaud, I simply couldn't root for them anymore when they're both
on the same team.
and now Ditto for Newgarden, who's talent was
obvious, especially during his Ed Carpenter & Sarah Fisher days, whilst
Y'all know I've never been a HULIO' supporter! As can it really be seven
years since I was the only fan vociferously
BOOING him at Edmonton!
And I was afraid that my current Numero Uno
driver Conor Daly's career would take a knock at the perpetually
underperforming A.J. Foyt enterprises this year, albeit largely due to the team's switch to the Bowtie' this season,
eh?
And with the apparently now permanent
banquishment to the frozen tundra of Siberia; Err dismissal from an adventurous
IndyCar career, my No. 2 Driver Mikhail Aleshin's dismissal in favour of Sebastian
Saavedra, for at least the final two Ovals, leaves me
relatively ice blue in regards for aspiring drivers to root for.
As I'd LUV' to see
thee "Young Wicky<" nee Robert Wickens get a chance for a proper
IndyCar race weekend outing, which unfortunately won't happen...
While I'm far more interested on how the 2018 season line-ups
will shake out? And whether or not Mikey A' will take Chevrolet's money,
causing pandemonium in the paddock?
As I've struggled all year long before
Aleshin's sacking to come up with who my third most favourite driver would be?
As I like Alexander Rossi and J.R. Hildebrand, while Spencer Pigott seems to
quietly go about his job, and needs a fulltime ride next year; Psst Cheep!
And Ed Jones, who doesn't inhibit WOW factor
to Mwah, has impressed this season. While I'd say the verdict's still out upon
Carlos Munoz and part timer Esteban Gutierrez, albeit
both didn't make any friends during the Mid Ohio race!
Yet as typical, Thars' far more drivers
wanting rides vs. seats available, as Jack Harvey and Zach Veach's names spring
to mind. While it be fantastic if
Sweden's Felix
Rosenqvist could get a drive with Ganassi next year,
although I'm guessing Santi' (Santiago
Urrutia) might land there instead?
Can Y'all tell I'm
beating the drum for Ganassi to retool by letting TK' Follow-your-Schnoz!
Kanaan retire to Sports Cars. As thou Cheapster needs to join the Youth brigade
a la his fiercest rival Penske's doing...
As 'Ol R', aka
Robin Miller seemed to imply that both Max Chilton & Kanaan are gone after
this season, while somebody's also noted that their divorce is gonna be ugly!
Hmm, was that Geo. Phillips?
Alas, it's funny to Mwah that I still recall
rootin' against El Capitano' (Roger Penske) and HULIO' Wayback in 2002 in
favour of Panther Racing's Sam "I AM" Hornish, Jr. after Penske had
defected to the rival, sinister Indy Racing League; Ah, thou good 'Ol Split!
As sadly, all of Championship Auto Racing Teams
(CART) "Heavy Hitters" saw the writing on the wall that 'lil Napoleon,
nee TG and Mother Speedway would win the war way before I was willing to admit
so. As the war was truly over by '03, albeit NO IRL team's won the championship
since the influx of CART teams...
So who will it be? As Three Men and Crickets
from Oil Pressure Blog's August 16th One Take Only episode saw George, John and
Ringo; Err Paul predicting the following.
Albeit defaulting to their guest Paul Dalbe of ex-More
Front Wing fame, who thinks Scott Dixon will prevail. While the president of
the Graham Rahal Fan Club John McLallen
picked Josef Newgarden and thou OLD-est IndyCar Blogger George"Geo."
Phillips stuck with his favourite
driver, Helio Castroneves, who I'm pretty certain will have faded by now.
As I wondered if the relatively silent
"Symone Pagenoe" or as No Fenders Offical Photographer CARPETS' calls
him Pageantry, aka Simon Pagenaud will be
in the Catbird seat after this weekend's race? As I've picked him as my
title winner after watching that riveting One Take video prior to Pocono.
Watkins Glen will
be the final race of the year I partake, perceivably, albeit now I'm only 50%
certain, since I've got zero idea if I'll be back in time, this weekend?
Whilst I'll
definitely miss the season finale, and will need No Fenders F1 News Hound Jonathan
to tell me who won the Bloody Snorhoma' Race and who'll be joining the list of
IndyCar Series Champions over the Sonoma weekend...
IndyCar Series Champions
Year Driver Team
2016 Simon Pagenaud Penske
Racing
2015 Scott Dixon Target
Chip Ganassi Racing
2014 Will Power Penske Racing
2013 Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2012 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti
Autosport
2011 Dario Franchitti Target Chip
Ganassi Racing
2010 Dario Franchitti Target Chip
Ganassi Racing
2009 Dario Franchitti Target
Chip Ganassi Racing
2008 Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2007 Dario Franchitti Andretti
Green Racing
2006 Sam Hornish, Jr. Marlboro
Team Penske
2005 Dan Wheldon Andretti
Green Racing
2004 Tony Kanaan Andretti
Green Racing
2003 Scott Dixon Target
Chip Ganassi Racing
2002 Sam Hornish, Jr. Panther
Racing
2001 Sam Hornish, Jr. Panther
Racing
2000 Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn
Racing