Nah, still No What Can Brown do for You Jokes here…
Yep Kiddoes’, it’s another Wailaid, Wacky round
of selections by Mwah. Although with All of my Computer issues during 2020, I
never originally chose my selections for No.s 1-4 below, which I’m just doing
now belatedly. Whilst Y’all can compare ‘n contrast with the Uber Exciting 2019
Selections in the link below.
http://www.nofenders.net/2019/12/the-2019-indycar-golden-tailpipe-awards.html
WINNERS
2020 IndyCar Champion: Scott Dixon, New Zealand
2020 Indy 500: Takuma Sato, Japan
2020 Rookie Of the Year: Rinus VeeKay, Netherlands
CATEGORIES
1. Driver of The Year
Winner: Scott Dixon
Typically, I try Not choosing the obvious. Yet
I suppose I never give the plain speaking, Under-assuming Kiwi’ his Due, Eh?
Although I feel his brand new Engineer Michael Cannon definitely also deserves
a Shout Out! As Dixon just serenely Blitzed the competition this season, winning
the first three races in-a-row en route to his amazing sixth IndyCar
Championship, and now only trails ‘Ol SuperTex’, nee A.J. Foyt for most IndyCar
titles!
Vice Champion: Josef Newgarden
Think Josef Newgarden’s also worthy of this
category, since the reigning IndyCar Champion never gave up, and gave Dixon a
run for his money down the Championship Stretch, albeit coming up just 16
points short (537-521) of claiming Back-to-Back IndyCar Championships…
As both Dixon and Newgarden won the most races of
the season at four apiece, as Dixon uncharacteristically went on a four race
Slump, All on permanent road courses, i.e.: Mid Ohio and Indianapolis Road
Course with finishes of 10-10-9-8. Although typically Dixon “Owns” Mid Ohio
which made it Odd, but then again it was an Odd season! As Dixon claimed his
sixth IndyCar title with a fine third place finish at the St Pete season
finale.
2. Biggest Disappointment of The Year
Unfortunately, this one’s easy Y’all,as Can you
Say COVID 19? As I know I was Disappointed after waiting another Gory 289
ridiculously L-O-N-G Days between Off-season’s, only for the St Pete season
opener to be Postponed at the last minute! As March 13 is when All Hell Broke
loose! And we All went into Full On Lockdown mode!
And it didn’t help that the season didn’t finally
start until June 6th with a single day race outing at Texas Motor
Speedway, followed by almost a month’s gap until restarting the season going
racing on Mother speedway’s Infield Road Course on July 4th! Along
with several races being cancelled, including All West Coast races, i.e.; Long
Beach, Laguna Seca and Portland.
As yeah, I know this Pales in comparision to
the now Over 800,000 Americans who have lost their lives to Covid! Which to put
in perspective is 14 times More the number of American Casualties during the entire
Vietnam War!
3. Race of The Year
Oval Track Winner: Indianapolis 500
Really? Does this even need discussing? And it’s
perennially the best oval race of the year, even without Fans attending. But then
again, Mother Speedway was going up against just three other Oval tracks, i.e.;
Texas Motor Speedway with it’s diabolical PJ1 Traction compound! Iowa And
Gateway, aka World Wide Technology Raceway. And with Taku-san’s staying up front.
When the time came, Takuma Sato definitely “Attacked” race leader Scott Dixon and
“Motored” off to his second Indy 500 victory!
Although I’d say that the ‘lil Bullring Oval in
Newton, Iowa, i.e.; 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway’s Race-1 when Simon Pagenaud went
from last to first was a pretty entertaining Oval race…
Twisties' Track Winner: Road America, Race 2
This one was what came up first on my fading Memorex.
Since after all it featured my Numero Uno IndyCar Driver Pato O’Ward putting on
a wonderful driving Clinique, after winning his maiden IndyCar Pole position before
his worn out Firestone’s made it impossible to stop Felix Rosenqvist from
scoring his maiden IndyCar win just a lap and a half from the finish!
http://www.nofenders.net/2020/07/indycar-oward-just-6-miles-short-of.html
4. Most Improved Team of the Year
Winner: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Originally this was a toss-up between Arrow
McLaren SP (AMSP) and RLLR. But I’ll give the nod to Boobie Ruble and Company’s
team for a few reasons, most notably finishing first and third at the Indianapolis
500!
And Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato finished P6-7 respectively
Overall vs. AMSP’s Pato O’Ward fourth and Oliver Askew 19th.
Not to mention how we’re Not supposed to call ‘em SPAM Anymore!
As the Powers to be at AMSP, or more specifically Sam Schmidt? Torpedoing Askew’s
IndyCar career a la James Hinchcliffe’s Ugly Divorce! As you’d have to say that
2019 Indy Lights Champion Askew seemingly hasn’t recovered from being Tossed Out
a la Red Bull’s Helmut Marco’s tossing his luke warm Bath Water…
5. Most Disappointing Team of the Year
Winner: Andretti Autosport
The easiest choice would have been Carlin, whilst
A.J. Foyt Enterprises is also a yearly Contendah' for this Honor, but those are
to Easy!
Instead I'll give Mikey A's Squad the Nod this
year, since Really? Only scoring One Podium in the first Nine races courtesy 'O
Alexander Rossi's third place finish at Elkhart Lake, during Road America’s Race-2.
Then Rossi scored their second podium, being another third at Mid Ohio,
Garnering them just two podiums in the season's first ten outings. As multiple
Double Header races were instituted to make up for the multiple Covid 19 race
cancellations…
Finally the Flood Gates opened at Round-11,
when Colton 'Big shot! Herta led an Andretti 1-2-3 podium sweep at Mid Ohio’s
Round 2 ahead of Rossi and Andretti teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay; Arse-sumedly
Hunter-Reay’s latest podium? Being the first time Andretti cars locked-out the
podium since the 2005 St Pete race won by Dan Wheldon, followed by Tony Kanaan,
Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta P4!
Then the team finally seemed truly "Switched
On" at season's end, with Rossi claiming his fourth podium in-a-row during
Mother Speedway's Harvest GP weekend, with second & third place finishes
during the Double Header. And Herta scored P2 on Saturday.
But with five Fulltime entries, the most on the Grid. You'd have expected Decent results to occur sooner rather then later!
For the Conclusion of this Golden Tailpipe Awards Categories 6-10, i.e.; Most Improved
Driver of The Year, Most Disappointing Driver of The Year, Comeback Driver of The
Year, “Big Boyz Pants” Award and Rookie of The Year, Please visit the following
No Fenders link below…
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/01/the-2020-indycar-un-golden-tailpipe.html