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A Beaming Conor Daly, now Driving for Andretti
Autosport claimed P1 on Fast Friday with a speed of 231.704mph is joined by a
not so jubilant Gil de Feran and Fernando Alonso, now running their own Works
McLaren Racing Programme. (Image source: oilpressure.com)
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Although Conor Daly at thoust proverbial Powerhouse
Andretti Autosport, winner's of 3 of the past 5 events shouldn't exactly be an
Underdog, should he?
Otay
motor racing Fans, welcome to Thee No Fenders second
annual "Award Winning" Indy 500 One Offers' preview, which this year
sees eight teams fielding a total of Nine cars to round out a fairly stout 36
Contendahs' for the 103rd Indianapolis 500. Seeing an increase of one entrant
vs. last year's tally of 35, when Pippa Mann and James Hinchcliffe failed to
qualify.
And due to their running earlier at Circuit
Of The Americas, (COTA) and possibly a few more events this year? Certainly
Laguna Seca? I'm not categorizing Juncos Racing as a "One Offer" for
Indy, even if that's what they're beginning to look like this year...
(Team/engine/Car #/Driver(
Andretti Autosport
Engine: Honda
Engine: Honda
#25. Conor Daly, USA
First
Race: 2013
Starts: 6
Sadly,
like many drivers who go to A.J. Foyt enterprises, it becomes an IndyCar career
Killer, for which seemingly sapped Conor Daly's Open Wheel Racing career.
As Conor's
been bounced from two IndyCar teams now, first losing his Dale Coyne Racing
ride after the 2016 season, then being Dumped from Foyt following his dismal
2017 campaign.
Whilst
unfortunately, when I think of Conor, who was my former Numero Uno IndyCar
Driver until losing his Fulltime ride in 2018.
Will
forever be thou irony of chauffeuring the Smithfield Foods "fueld by
Bacon" Special , whilst driving the iconic #43 for Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports during his second outing at Mother Speedway. When the car Done
Caught On Fire during the Parade lap; YOUCH!
Nah Folks, N-O
"Fueled by Bacon" Grease Fire Jokes Here!
Interestingly,
Conor's best finish at Thee Brickyard to date, since Obviously, SNAP! He's
expecting a big improvement this year, by stepping up into a Platinum ride with
Mikey A',
Was
last year's mostly unnoticed finish of 21st after starting Dead last for the
Minnowesqe Dale Coyne Racing concern! Partnering with longtime Indy 500 car
sponsor Tom Burns, who previously joined forces with Lazier Partners Racing to
form Lazier Burns Racing in 2016.
As Daly's
previous Indianapolis 500 career best finish was P22 during his rookie outing
for 'Ol SuperTex', (A.J. Foyt) along with finishing last in 2015 and finishes
of 29th & 30th from 2016-17 respectively being nothin' to write home about.
And
whilst I'm happy for Conor to once again be racing in a competitive ride at Mother
Speedway, unfortunately I simply cannot get too excited about his draping the
Flag round himself and racing for the Military this May...
Even
if Y'all cannot find yourself enjoying his ah Shucks' Demeanour. Not to mention
getting a Raw Dealio from Eli-Lilly last year, when wrongly pulling their
Sponsorship from him, regarding his Father Derek's controversial Firing...
Clauson-Marshall Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
Engine: Chevrolet
#39.
Pippa Mann, UK
First
Race: 2011
(Last Race: 2017)
Starts:
7
Pippa
Mann, who'd become a fixture at Dale Coyne Racing for the Month of May for the
majority of her Indianapolis 500 career, has moved to a brand new team this year,
in hopes of rebounding from last year's agony of failing to Qualify
Previously,
Pippa had been steadily improving each year since her worst finish of 30th in
2013, before last year's setback. With her past two Indy 500 starts netting
finishes of 18th & 17th respectively.
And
while we're all accustomed to seeing Pippa sporting the colour Pink, she
changed hues last year with her then new sponsor. And now will attempt making
the stout field with the never raced before Clauson-Marshall racing concern - Sporting
the No. 39 in honour of the late Brian Clauson.
As the
team's comprised of Tim Clauson, Brian's father and co-owner Richard Marshall,
longtime sponsor of Brian's. Although I fear this team is on a shoe-string
Budget and will be hard pressed to make the Show, which I noted previously on
No Fenders prior to Qualifying.
As Congratulations to Clauson-Marshall Racing and
Pippa Mann for triumphantly locking their selves into Thee Show, by Qualifying
30th on Saturday's Pole Day activities, since I certainly didn't think they'd
make the race this year...
Dale Coyne with Byrd-Hollinger-Belardi
Engine:
Honda
#33. James Davison, Australia
First
Race: 2014
Starts:
5
Dale
Coyne and his Alphabet Soup Brigade once again returns to Mother Speedway with
one of his multi-car entries being in conjunction with Jonathan Byrd's Racing, Hollinger
Motorsports and Belardi Auto Racing this May.
With
the trio effectively switching Thar
allegiance from A.J. Foyt Enterprises to DCR this year, after campaigning the
No. 33 entry with James Davison at the Keyboard of Foyt's Dallara-Chevrolet.
Whilst
still not exactly sure why, perhaps it's his "Aussie Grit?" That
finds Mwah always Rootin' for this underrated Aussie', even if he seemingly got
lambasted last year for running Tail-gunner Charlie, before getting into
Taku-san's, nee Takuma Sato's way.
As
Davison's previously driven for Dale Coin Racing, in what will now be his third
time at Mother Speedway. Most notably when filling in for le Hamburgular', nee
Sealmeister B', aka SeaBass' or commonly known here in Nofendersville as
Sebastain Bourdais. After the frenchman's Uber Nasty shunt during 2017's Indianapolis
500 Qualifying!
Davison
has a decade's-plus association with Indy Cars, having contested the 2008
Firestone Indy Lights season for Sam Schmidt Motorsports before finishing
runner-up to 2009 Indy Lights Champion J.R. Hildebrand, driving for lil
Napoleon, or simply TG', aka Tony George's Brand New Vision Racing team.
and my
'Ol Memory recalls that James took the number 33 for his rookie outing at
Mother Speedway in 2014 for KV Racing Technology, in deference to being the 33rd and final Indy
500 entry that year. When he finished 16th, his best Indy 500 finish to date.
For
the other One Off Drivers in this year's Indy 500 field racing for Dreyer &
Reinbold Racing and McLaren Racing, see; INDY 500: An International Star plans upon Outshining the rest of the One Offers' this May