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Dario Franchitti taking his Victory lap in 2012. Who'll join him
this year in the Celebrations? (The Tomaso Collection)
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First off, I hate the term "field
Filler," although unfortunately that's exactly what many of these drivers
are, for better or worse.
And when I began reviewing this portion of
the Mega' 12 One Offers', I came up with a Sad Trivia Questione Answer. Of
these four drivers, what does Carlos Munoz, Charlie Kimball, Oriol Servia and
past IndyCar Driver Carlos Huertas have in Common with
Danica Patrick?
AJ Foyt Enterprises with Jonathan
Byrd Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
Engine: Chevrolet
#33. James Davison, Australia
First
Race: 2014
Starts:
3
Not
exactly sure why, perhaps it's his "Aussie Grit?" That so Jazzes Me
U-P! Over this Driver, compelling Mwah to take such a Shine to him.
Ideally,
James Davison would be being called up right now most likely by Dale Coyne to substitute for the injured
Pietro Fittipaldi, akin to his filling in for le Hamburgular', nee Sealmeister'
Bourdais last year at DCR. which the 31yr old Australian's raced his last two
Indy 500's aboard Coyne's racecars in 2015 & 2017 respectively.
Davison
has a decade's old association with Indy Cars, having contested the 2008
Firestone Indy Lights season for Sam Schmidt Motorsports before finishing
runner-up to '09 Lights titlist J.R. Hildebrand, driving for TG's Brand New Vision
Racing team.
and if
thou 'Ol Memory serves me correctly? James took the number 33 for his rookie
outing at Mother Speedway in 2014 for KV Racing Technology since he was the
33rd and final Indy 500 entry that year.
Hopefully
Davison, along with TK' Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan and rookie Matheus Leist can
give A.J. Foyt decent results this year, and Davison in particular can
represent the third entry better than past efforts.
Yet Davison didn't
make things any easier for the Team, Crew or Himself with his unfortunate
practice crash during the latter portion of Fast Friday...
And although it
pertains to the entire field, this One's for You James. As your Mates from Oz'
sing It's Now or Never, Man...
Andretti Autosport
Engine:
Honda
#25.
Stefan Wilson, UK
First
Race: 2016
Starts:
1
We All
know the story of Stefan STORK' Wilson, younger brother of the departed Justin
B-I-G UNIT' Wilson giving up his Andretti Autosport Hondre' powered seat so
some guy named Fernando could run last year's race, Ci?
Thus,
Mikey A', in conjunction with Honda have made good on Thar promise to give
Stefan a "Fully funded" ride this May, as Wilson will be part of
Andretti's now yearly six Pack entry at Mother Speedway.
Stefan
made his rookie debut at the Brickyard in 2016 for the KV Alphabet Soup
Brigade, driving the No. 25 KVSH Racing entry to a Ho-Hum 28th place finish,
and obviously is looking to improve upon that this year.
#29. Carlos Munoz, Columbia
First
Race: 2013
Starts:
5
Carlos
Munoz electrified, and worried many with his then unconventional line round the
Speedway as a rookie for Andretti Autosport in 2013, where he started from the
middle of Row-1 and finished in the same place as runner-up to Tony Kanaan. As
Munoz's excellent finish netted him that year's Rookie Of the Year (ROY)
Honours.
Munoz
once again finished P2 in 2016, behind fellow Andretti rookie team-mate
Alexander Rossi, before departing Mikey A's Squad for the floundering A.J. Foyt
Enterprises operation last year, where he scored his fourth Top-10 finish to date.
Obviously
with Andretti Autosport having two Indy 500 winners on its roster, along with
having won last year's race with Takuma Sato, Honda's affinity for winning at
Mother Speedway, and Munoz's knack for going quickly Thar. The soft Spoken Columbian
driver's hoping to Steal the Show and Kiss the Bricks like past Andretti
drivers.
Dale Coyne with Tom Burns Racing
Engine: Honda
Engine: Honda
#17.
Conor Daly, USA
First
Race: 2013
Starts:
4
Sadly,
like many drivers who go to A.J. Foyt enterprises, it becomes an IndyCar career
Killer... Although Conor's been bounced from two teams now - after first losing
his Dale Coyne Racing ride after the 2016 season.
Also
somewhat unfortunately, when I think of Conor, who was my Numero Uno IndyCar
Driver until losing his Drive this season. Is the irony of chauffeuring the
Smithfield Foods "fueld by Bacon" Special , whilst driving the iconic
#43 for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports during his second outing at the Speedway. When
the car Done Caught On Fire during the Parade lap; YOUCH!
As I
wouldn't have been surprised if there'd been a number swap to the #19 in the
offing for Conor, due to Pietro Fittipaldi's substitute replacement, which I
really thought would be the lamented S-Squared', aka Sebastian
Saavedra bringing
Gary Peterson's AFS "Sprinkler" money to the party.
But
I'm ARSE-Sumin' that Dale Coyne sagely thought to keep the primary Sponsor of
his No. 19 Rent-a-Ride entry happy by announcing that ZCD; Uhm, Messer Zachary Claman DeMelo would continue
his tap dancing duties for DCR instead...
Daly
drove his first full IndyCar season for DCR in 2016, and Pippa Mann was one of
his team-mates, including the late Brian Clauson and Gabby Chaves at Indy.
Conor's
best finish at Mother Speedway to date is P22 during his rookie outing for A.J.
Foyt Enterprises, and will campaign a car run with Tom Burns, a longtime Indy
500 car sponsor, who previously joined forces with Lazier Partners Racing to
form Lazier Burns Racing in 2016.
Dale Coyne Racing
Engine: Honda
Engine: Honda
#63.
Pippa Mann, UK (DNQ)
First
Race: 2011
Starts:
6
Pippa
Mann's become a fixture at Dale Coyne Racing for the Month of May, and since
her worst finish of 30th in 2013, she's steadily improved each year since then.
With her past two Indy 500 starts netting finishes of 18th & 17th
respectively.
And
whilst we've All gotten accustomed to her running the Pink for Women's Breast
Cancer Awareness colours, this year she's got a new sponsor and her familiar
No. 63 will be sporting a different hue. As can Pippa crack the Top-15
finishing order this year?
NOTE
Although
Thee Mayor 'O Hinchtown', aka James Hinchliffe's failure to make the Starting
Field of 33 this year was more shocking! Unfortunately Pippa was also unable to
find enough Speed to make the Show for 2018, and will have to wait another year
to Hopefully Qualify once again...
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
Engine: Chevrolet
#24. Sage Karam, USA
First
Race: 2014
Starts:
4
Sage
Dangerboy' Karam got his nickname from the Wily PT', nee Thrill from The West
Hill, aka Paul Tracy before debris from his car rained down upon Justin Wilson
at Pocono that fateful day in 2015...
As the
2013 Indy Lights Champion made his Indy 500 debut aboard a Dreyer &
Reinbold "Satellite Squad" effort for thee Cheepster', nee Chip
Ganassi four years ago, en route to his career best finish at Indianapolis,
finishing P9, but being out-voted for Rookie Of the Year (ROY) Honours by some
Taxi Cab Driver named Busch.
Otherwise
his last three results have been mostly unforgettable, with a brace 'O 32nd's
and last year's finish of P28.
#66. J.R. Hildebrand, USA
First
Race: 2011
Starts:
7
Unfortunately,
this likeable Yank', the 2009 Indy Lights Champion is mostly remembered for his
failures, most notably his last lap crash during his inaugural race at the Brickyard.
Or his being unceremoniously Dumped by Panther Racing Owner John "Fans R
Us' Barnes! Or losing his ride last year with FAST EDDIE', nee Ed Carpenter
Racing, where Dare I say his replacement isn't exactly Wowing Us; Righto?
But
who knows, the 30yr old Californian, who's a "Brainiac" who graduated
High School with a 4.12 GPA, and was accepted to multiple Colleges including
M.I.T. - which he let his 3yr Deferral lapse in order to pursue racing. Who was
chided for letting his "Hair Down" and face growing long last season.
Perhaps will score another Top-10 finish, which he's currently got four. Or may
be a Top-5?
As
Hildebrand certainly seems to know his way round Mother Speedway, with the only
Questione being how good will his new team be?
Trivia Answer
Carlos
Munoz, Charlie Kimball, Oriol Servia, Danica Patrick and Carlos Huertas have All won a single
IndyCar race to Date...
For
the other One Off Drivers in this year's Indy 500 field racing for Ed Carpenter
Racing thru Team Penske,
see; INDY 500: Who'd ah Thunk-It, that Castroneves would become A "One-Offer"
(Photo Courtesy of No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer
CARPETS')