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This autographed Scott Dixon Hero Card was
collected for Mwah by No Fenders Shutterbug CARPETS' during a visit to
McGilvries in Speedway, IN Wayback in 2013, when he was just a three times
IndyCar Champion. (the Tomaso Collection)
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As I'd presume it's as Difficult a Task in Indy
Cars as it's getting your Lottery Draft Pick correct?
Ah, the life of an aging Blogger, especially
one who's learning to reinvent thou Wheel 'O Life right now so to speak, after
moving from my comfortable, familiar and enjoyable surrounds of two-plus
decades, to who knows where? But I digress...
As I simply type too much for Ye Blog
Fantastica, and simply Don't have space to Fit it All in upon these overflowing
pages 'O No Fenders, along with the nearly 4,000 Posts over the past 12 years!
Now Serving; Oh Never Mind!
Thus, this ultimate thought struck me after
reading two articles, well actually "My Gal" Lucy', my trusty Screen
Reader read them to me Wayback on Summer Solstice, (June 21st) but; Oh Never
Mind!
the first was the IndyStar's
IndyCar Insider Jim Ayello's Mid-Season Predictions for the second half with
NBCSN Reporter Paul Tracy, who really didn't say anything too outlandish.
Especially when deducing that any of the Top-4 Drivers Points-wise prior to
Road America could win the title. Really?
But where the indelible PT', nee Thrill from
The West Hill, a.k.a. "Mr. Chrome Horne" did throw a Fly into the
Ointment Pre-Road America for Mwah, was when Tracy mused how it'll be very
interesting to see who McLaren Hires as it's IndyCar Driver next year. is it
Fernando, Rossi or perhaps Robert Wickens?
Whilst 'Ol R', aka
Indy Cars Curmudgeon Robin Miller's Mid-season Assessment was more upon thou
entertaining side...
And then Racer's
Marshall Pruett totally spiced things up by speculating 'bout Scott Dixon
potentially going to McLaren; Huh?
Fast forwarding a month's time, to when Dixon
had just scored his third W' of the season at Toronto, his 44th career victory,
and increasing his points lead to a healthy 62 markers over Josef Newgarden.
Perhaps by the time this rant rolls out, Dixon will have claimed a remarkable
fifth IndyCar Championship?
Which would move him to second place Overall
for IndyCar titles, one ahead of Mario Andretti and just two shy of 'Ol
SuperTex', aka Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jnr's seven National Championships.
But it was Pruett's story 'bout the possibility
of the Kiwi' bolting to McLaren next year that set my mind Ah-Wonderin' just
how would the Cheepster' go about replacing Dixon?
Although this seems highly unlikely now, as I'm
guessing the McLaren IndyCar project has been put on thou Back Burner for now?
And is perhaps Alonso McLaren's "Weak Link" instead?
Nonetheless it made me wonder how do you
replace a Legend? Not to mention just who has the most IndyCar Championship
Crowns pre-2018? For which obviously el Capitano', nee Roger Penske immediately
comes to mind.
As Team Penske by my unofficial count has won
a total of 15 titles beginning with USAC thru today's unified IndyCar series.
As it seems so strange to have to clarify that!
Whilst Chip Ganassi was nipping at Roger's
heels with 11 titles, with Dixon leading it's Drivers pantheon. With the long
since defunct Newman Haas Racing having secured 8 Crowns, and Mikey A's squad
four.
As I still can't help but think of Chip
Ganassi's outfit resplendent in its Target colours, akin to Penske's iconic red
& white Marlboro hues, albeit both IndyCar outfits have continued on their
winning ways.
As I briefly looked at the Questione of
winning Drivers this way since the Team always comes first, and the Driver
second. Which I guess is a lot like normal Businesses, or work, Eh? Which is
perhaps why Roger's been so successful over his nearly 40 years of Fulltime
IndyCar participation.
And whilst Dixon will seemingly be staying at
Ganassi for the foreseeable future, since who knows if the McLaren rumour was
simply a negotiating ploy? Although I've got ZERO idea when the Iceman's
current contract expires?
As Penske simply hires the best Drivers
possible, presumably by offering a robust Pay-packet, not to mention almost
always having the best winning equipment available.
Nonetheless, Father Time will inevitably beg
the question of whether or not Chip Ganassi Racing will continue in the post
Dixon era? Since the amazing Kiwi' cannot race forever in Indy Cars. Like just
ask Juan Pablo Montoya or Helio Castroneves...
But I really don't see Ed Jones as the
solution. And the forced "early" retirement of Dario Franchitti never
saw a successor achieve success at Ganassi.
Since I was going to use the word
"Worthy" for Dario's successor, but TK' Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan
certainly wasn't NO Slouch! Although Me Thinks he only won one race with Cheep?
So who would Ganassi hire as Dixon's
replacement? especially since Ganassi's only interested in winning. Which begs
the question, is there a succession plan in place for other members of the
team? Starting with Chip and followed by longtime Lieutenant Mike Hull. And do
team owners keep a current "short list" of potential Driver
replacements?
Since you can have the best Driver on the
Grid, but if the Team's not of the same caliber, then they're probably not
going to have the greatest results, i.e.; winning Championship titles, or the
coveted Borg Warner trophy.
while I hope I'm totally wrong, but the
vaunted Mazda Road To Indy (MRTI) Indy Lights Championship seems quite thin
upon producing future IndyCar Stars at the moment, especially with its meager
eight car Armada.
Which sadly, makes me think of those long
forgotten Portland Days North American Touring Car Championship (NATCC) Support
Series with the same meager car count; Remember Them? Chirp-Chirp, Bueller?
(Dixon "Hero Card" c/o No Fenders
‘Offical Photographer CARPETS')