The IZOD IndyCar Series hits the 7/8-mile racetrack in Iowa this weekend. The same in years past right? Wrong! This time it is under the lights on a Saturday night. (And because of this, the event is a sellout.)
The track is one of the best in the series as far as I’m concerned, because the cars can run flat out the whole way around. Thus, you will see side-by-side racing lap after lap, which is rare on such a short track. The cars are almost set up so that they are racing on a superspeedway (with short oval wing configurations of course).
And if the temperatures are just right, you might even be able to see “water vapor” lines coming off the back wings of the car. It’s really cool!
Now, onto the SUBSTANTIVE part of the preview…who is looking good and what to expect.
One thing that always happens here is that there is a surprise driver who does well. (Scott Sharp in 2007, Hideki Mutoh in 2008, Hideki Mutoh in 2009, and E.J. Viso in 2010 all finished in the top three of their respected races. These were NOT championship contenders!)
I would look at KV Racing Technology to be that surprise team again this year. Takuma Sato did very well last year before crashing out late. And as I mentioned above, Viso finished third. Plus, Tony Kanaan is the defending race winner and is part of the team this year.
And it is already showing to be true as Takuma Sato grabbed his first career pole for Saturday night’s race.
But the “surprises” don’t stop there!. Danica Patrick…(YES, that Danica Patrick) is starting second. Meanwhile, JR Hildebrand starts fourth behind TK.
This race is going to be thrilling because you’ve got the championship contenders racing for points while you’ve got these surprises racing for an actual opportunity to go home with the trophy. And they can get one at this track.
My prediction: Tony Kanaan who won this race last year, is on a mission to win again! He’s mad about giving the race away in Milwaukee. (Takuma WILL challenge him though)