Monday, April 10, 2023

INDYCAR: Texas Motor Speedway recap – Day One

As Not even that different rubber compound from those PickemUp’ Trucks could Slow the Indy Cars Down!

 

For All of Yuhs who thought that the four weeks break between Indy Cars first two races was far too long. Whale’, then Y’all better feel sorry for the Indy NXT Boyz’ and Girl, who are currently in the midst of a 56 days, eight Freakin’ weeks Hiatus between St Pete and their next race at Barber Motorsports Park on April 30th, Yowza!

 

As one of the Talking Points for Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) was this year’s Chassis Technical revisions, which Arse-sumedly were TMS specific. For which Racer’s Marshall Pruett explained in the following video.

 

https://racer.com/2023/03/31/video-indycar-texas-2023-aero-options/

 

Meanwhile the Indianapolis Star’s Nathan Browne noted that unexpectedly, the Andretti Autosport’s Nos. 26 & 27 swapped Race Strategists, beginning at TMS. As Colton Herta was completely mystified on why His Dad Bryan had been moved to Kyle Kirkwood’s Car. With Scott Harder now talking in Colton’s ears on the radio instead.

 

And this is just total random scatter speculation upon my part, But? Is this in the vein of RLLR’s recent driver swap of the Hy-Vee Car? And is Mikey A’ feeling the “Heat” of Not producing for Colton’s sponsor Gainbridge? Hoping for better results with this Shake-up?

 

The other Scuttlebutt that makes absolutely No sense to Mwah, are the reports that Takuma Sato’s only “Guaranteed” a ride in the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry for the first two Ovals, i.e.; TMS and someplace at 16th & Georgetown, Say What?

 

Seriously? Who is Cheep’ gonna plug into the #11 for Iowa’s Double Header and Gateway? As this is just plain Stupid!

 

But onto Qualifying, where ultimately Felix the Cat’, as No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’ has nicknamed Him. Err, Felix Rosenqvist surprised the entire field by claiming His second, consecutive Pole position at TMS when being the only driver to average a speed of 220mph plus during His two lap Qualie’ run. Which was even more impressive since He was the 18th driver to Qualify, with Qualifying being run in reverse order of the current Point standings.

 

As Rosenqvist had to wait for 10 more drivers to qualify, with Scotty thee Iceman 2.0’ Dixon winding up second. And much has been made of Arrow McLaren’s trio taking the first three Odd Grid places, with Alexander rossi third and Pato O’Ward presumably a disappointed fifth. While Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was fourth.

 

Unfortunately, another Stattistic that IndyStar’s Messer Browne divulged ran tru for Rosenqvist on Sunday. As I believe He mentioned that of the past 15 TMS Pole Sitters, Only One had gone to Victory lane…

 

David Malukas put His HMD Motorsports Dale Coyne Racing Honda on the inside of Row-5 in ninth, and later gave a shout Out to His former Engineer Ross Bunneel who was running Dixon’s mount now. While the two Foy Boyz’ performed admirally. With The Great Santini’ (Ferrucci) slotting in 14th, while Benjamin Pedersen was the Top Rookie in P13 on His first Oval No less!

 

And once again, Juncos Hollinger Racing, (JHR) the little Team that Could! Outperformed again with Callum Ilott P17 and a wide eyed, grinning ear-to-ear Augustn Canapino a very respective P19 on His Oval Debut!

 

As the Argentine driver repeatedly told IndyCar Radio’s Nicky Salt’ Yeoman He was smiling so broadly because He just couldn’t get over How Crazy Fast it was driving at Texas!

 

For which I can only say Canapino will be completely Blown away at Mother Speedway! Since He qualified with a solid 218mph plus two lap average! And Conor Daly topped an eye popping 240mph at Indianapolis last year! And lapping at 218mph is just plain “Slow.”

 

Whilst it would be easy to Pile On both Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s (RLLR) Dismal Qualie’ results, But this is to simple! And I fear a worrisome trend is appearing for both Teams?

 

But I will say I’m Not surprised over one half of MSR’s vaunted Duo, since I totally believe that Helio Castroneves is Toast! Even if He worked His way to a fortuitous 10th place finish Sunday at TMS.

 

Yet you’d have to say that both of these Organizations seemed totally Out to Lunch on the 1.5-mile Super Speedway! Which I have Zero Clue if this is an Ominous foreshadowing for the next Oval race? Although you’d think that some ‘lil ‘Ol Oval at 16th & Georgetown is a totally different Animal!