How The Mighty are Humbled!
So it’s really, really Annoying how Difficult
it’s become for a Blind person to “Easily” find
IndyCar on Ye “radio” these days, Err tune-in via Zed Internets to the
IndyCar, Uhm IMS Radio Network, which after Fumblin’, Stumblin’, and definitely
Bumblin’, is it over here? Whoopsie, Butterfingers! I miraculously landed upon
WFNI The Fan 1075AM Straightup at 9AM Pacific, or High Noon Eastern to the
voice of Mark Gravelly’ James and his supporting cast as the day’s first
qualifier Scott Dixon pulled onto the Warm-up lane, DUREKA!
As much has been made ‘bout many Indy 500 Fans
not having set foot upon Mother Speedway grounds for two years, but for Mwah,
it’s been two years since I’ve listened to Mark James, Davey Hamilton, Nicky Salt’
Yeoman,
Jake “the Riddler” Query and Mike Screech’ Young, plus the IndyCar
Radio Pit boyz’ Ryan Marie and Rob Blackman. As he doesn’t sound like Bloody
Some Heads Are Gonna roll Rob “Halford, Hya! Voice of the prior Rob “Whoever” Pitlane
Reporter was, Rob Howden? While I miss hearing “The Viking,” aka Anders Krohn
who Hamilton’s replaced…
As I listened to the first 2hr-plus before they
went Off the Air at 11AM Pacific, WTF? And then after listening to WFNI’s “B
Team,” I reluctantly switched over round 11:35AM PT as the 35 cars had completed
their first Qualie’ runs to thy Telie’
and “Watched,” Err listened to the voices of Leigh Diffey, Paul Tracy and
townsend Bell during the multitude of Uber’ Annoying Non-stop Commercials on
big NBC! (Nothing But Commercials) Before I elected to return to the IMS Radio Network
for the final two hours of Saturday’s action.
Am still in shock over DJ willyP’, aka Will
Power of Team Penske being relegated to the Last Row shootout, WTF! As I totally
thought that A.J. Foyt Racing had Screwed Dalton Kellett by pulling his time
when he was P30, since they thought for sure he’d be Bumped out of the Top 30.
And I’m still not sure how, but Kellett after running what seemed a slower
time, still managed to Hang onto 30th, meaning that the Unthinkable
happens wit Power having to bump his way into the field, Crikeys! As let that
sink in for a moment.
As Kellett’s initial
4-lap Qualifying average speed was 229.250mph vs. Power’s fastest 229.228mph,
i.e.; -0.022mph after 10 miles! If I’m “reading” the Time Sheets correctly?
Although most like
myself will be super Cornfuzed when reading the final Qualifying times, as
Kellett lines up 30th with a speed of 228.323mph, but since he was
P30 when his time was “Pulled.” As long as he completed his final Qualie’ run without
Crashing, then he was in “The show,” Cornfuzed? As this is another of IMS’s Somewhat
Archaic Qualifying Rules that IMS is constantly Tinkering with!
Thus, the Day’s Slowest Five Competitors (P31-35)
were: Will Power, Sage Karam, Charlie Kimball, Simona de Silvestro and R.C. Enerson.
Meanwhile the Top 9 Shootout in order of Saturday’s
times were: Scott Dixon, who was the day’s very first qualifier at
231.828mph. followed by Colton Herta,
Tony Kanaan, Ed Carpenter, Rinus VeeKay, Helio Castroneves, Alex Palou, Ryan
Hunter-Reay and Marcus Ericsson.
The second biggest Shock of the day had to be
when Alex Palou went back out to “improve” his P7 time and following saving the
first wiggle from the rear end, summarily clouted the Wall on the second wiggle!
Completely destroying the right side of the car! As Paul Tracy said look at how
the right rear Halfshaft has punched it’s way thru the rear tyre, Yikes! But
the good news was that Palou was uninjured and that they won’t need to go to a
Backup Car. And he’ll be able to contest the Fast 9 Shootout Sunday…
The most pleasant surprise of the day had to be
Pietro Fittipaldi solidly locking himself into the field, as positions 10-30
are locked into the race on Saturday. As the Rookie Brazilian Driver qualified
13th, ahead of All four Team Penske entries!
Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward led the way for
the team as he’s done all week long, being the Meat in a Dale Coyne Sandwich in
12th, as Ed Jones made a late, second Qualie’ run to move himself up
to 11th. Felix Rosenqvist was P14 and Juan Pablo Montoya was 24th.
Alexander Rossi was the third quickest Andretti
Autosport ride, qualifying P10, while James Hinchcliffe had a quiet run to 16th.
With “One Off” Andretti driver Stefan Wilson winding up P28 and staying outta (Townsend)
T-Bell’s’ Dangerzone of the Slowest 5.
Rookie Scott McLaughlin led the charge for
Penske in 17th. Followed by Josef Newgarden in P21 and Simon Pagenaud P26.
Defending race winner Takuma Sato was the
fastest RLLR driver in 15th followed by team-mate Graham Rahal in P18,
one place ahead of Conor Daly.
J.r. Hildebrand was the fastest A.J. Foyt Racing
runner in 22nd, followed by Sebastien Bourdais in P27, Kellett in 30th
and Kimball on the Outside looking in.
Dalton’s Dilemma…
Naturally I was
very Cornfuzed over Dalton Kellett makingthe The “Cut” for the Top 30,
and like I said previously, thought He’d been Screwed by his team! As I understand
why they Pulled his time, since why wouldn’t Will Power of the mighty Team
Penske not Bump him out of the Show? And I understand that once you commit to the
Fast Lane One’s immediate Qualie’ run that you cannot Back Out of it and your time is Withdrawn.
But what I didn’t understand was that Power had
never made it into the Top 30, since he originally qualified 31st
and therefore his time was Never registered.
And listening to NBC Sports I think it was Paul
Tracy who said Power “lost it” on Turn 3 of his final lap when he ended up with a Slower time then Kellett’s
original time.
Thus in a way, A.J. Foyt Racing actually
ensured that Power couldn’t Bump Him by withdrawing their time and making
Kellett have to run again, albeit this time at a Slower lap speed, since Power
was never technically in the field. And as long as Simona de Silvestro didn’t
go faster than Dalton’s time, which she didn’t and the Gun sounded with time
expiring at 5:50PM ET, with Power unable to make another run. Which I still
think is Bullshit@ As why do the Racers get Shafted in order for Television to
Wrap-up it’s show in order to not Bump Up against the prestigious weekend
edition of the Nightly news? But I digress…
AnyHoo’, Dalton Kellett was in with a speed of 228.323mph and Will and Simona in two Penske entries were relegated to the Last Row Shootout on Sunday.