The Frenchman Wins Again
Simon Pagenaud drove to his third straight victory last Saturday at the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis held on the road course of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driving the neon yellow number 22 Meynards Dallara Chevy, the 31 year old driver from Poitiers, France started from the pole and dominated the race, leading 57 of 82 laps. His teammate, Helio Castroneves, drove his usual careful race and finished second. Added by some very smooth and quick work from his pit crew, Pagenaud was able to get in and out of the pits on his stops in very rapid fashion. After a disappointing first season with Penske in 2015, Pagenaud is on course to have a record-breaking 2016 season with the team. With two second places and now three wins in five starts, he is 79 points ahead of second place Scott Dixon.
The day was cool and damp and there were several spinning incidents. Tony Kaanan made contact with Sebastien Bourdais on the first lap and both drivers were eliminated. Will Powers’ bad luck continued as an encounter with rookie Alexander Rossi caused him to spin into the grass and later he was assessed a drive through penalty for a pit lane violation. He finished 19th. For driver James Hinchcliffe, there was some redemption and personal satisfaction. The 29-year-old Canadian driver was critically injured last year during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 and missed the rest of the 2015 season. In this race he started third in Sam Schmidt’s Team Dallara Honda and finished third. Graham Rahal, handicapped by a qualifying penalty which caused him to start in 24th position, worked his way back up through the field in his Steak n’ Shake Dallara Honda and finished fourth while Charlie Kimball finished fifth for Team Ganassi. Rookie Conner Daley finished in sixth place and led several laps. Daley has driven in two Indianapolis 500s but does not have enough series starts to be considered a veteran. He is not eligible to be the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year.
While some are surprised at Pagenaud’s emergence as a serious challenger, he admits he has had some really big-time help. His race strategist Ken Myer is one of the best in the business. More importantly his mentor is Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indy 500 champion and noted Penske driver. De Ferran actually discovered Pagenaud and gave him his first chance as a professional racer in 2008. He still advises the Frenchman today.
As the first three finishers were on the podium spraying each other with champagne, they were joined by three very attractive trophy girls who were dressed in short sleeve blouses and short skirts. They were grimacing and looked like they were freezing. Their smiles were forced and they looked as though they all needed a hot cup of coffee. The sunglasses they all were wearing completed the look of discomfort.
Enough Engines for 33 Cars
As of this writing there are only 28 cars that are known to be race ready for the Indianapolis 500. Both Honda and Chevy have said that they have enough engines for 33 cars and some deals are being made to make sure that the field will be filed but there will be no bumping. The usual qualifying rules will apply, but that is more about who will win the pole and start in the first nine position then about making the race.
Sage Karem, who drove for Ganassi and showed some promise until the Pocono 500 race season when he hit the wall and sent debris all over the track, some of which struck and took the life of Justin Wilson, will drive a car for the Dryer and Reinbolt Racing Team. The 1996 Champion Buddy Lazier will drive his own car. British driver Pippa Mann will be looking at her fifth start in the Indy 500. Dale Coyne owns the car but for the first time, an all-female team will be running it. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Gabby Chavez will also be driving for Coyne, The 2011 Rookie of the Year J.R. Hildebrand will drive a car for Ed Carpenter. Noblesville’s Bryan Clasen will once again drive a car for Jonathan Byrd Cafeteria’s team, this time with Honda power.
Pacers New Head Coach
After giving Frank Vogel his walking papers, Larry Bird announced that former assistant coach Nate McMillan will now be the Pacers’ Head Coach. McMillan had served as an assistant coach to Vogel since 2013. Before that, the 51-year-old McMillan had head coaching stints in Seattle and Portland as well as a 12 year career as a player with the Trailblazers. As a head coach, his regular season record is 478 – 452 and his playoff record is 14-20. He is considered an “Old School” type of coach and Bird hopes that the younger players will respond to that.