The IndyCar boys hadn’t raced at Watkins Glen since 2010. Will Power won that race. There was much pre-race speculation that Power could take the win and gain the points lead for the IRL IndyCar championship. The 35-year-old Australian driver has been the hot combination since the halfway mark at Detroit on June 5. Considering he missed the first race at St. Petersburg altogether with concussion issues, his charge to second place in the points race has been all the more amazing. But the Watkins Glen track has also been a favorite of Scott Dixon’s, The 36-year-old New Zealander has scored three victories at the road course. Point leader Simon Pagenand has been driving to stay out of trouble and earn enough points to stay ahead of his teammate Power. After dominating the first half of the year, the 32-year-old Frenchman has only a win at mid-Ohio on July 29th to show for his efforts. That’s also his only podium finish in the second half of the season. All that being said, the weekend at the Glen belonged to Scott Dixon.
Dixon is the defending series champ, but 2016 hasn’t been very successful for him. He had a win at Long Beach and two pole positions to his credit this year and only three podium finishes. At Watkins Glen, however, his confidence was high. He was jovial and all smiles as he was the fastest driver in all the practice sessions and then took the pole in the qualifying session. This was going to be his day. Will Power would start from the number two spot. Pagenand would start seventh. When the green flag dropped Dixon roared to the lead and it became clear that the race for the rest of the field was going to be for second place. Dixon quickly opened a 16 second lead and often had no other cars around him. Power did his best to try and stay with Dixon. He even led a few laps on the pit stop intervals, but Dixon always regained the lead in short order. He went on to lead 50 of the 60 laps of the race.
Power was losing ground to Pagenand and on lap 39 he and Ganassi driver Charley Kimball touched wheels, sending Power into the guard rail and out of the race. The medical staff, after examining Power, said he was exhibiting concussion-like symptoms and would have to undergo further testing. He might not be cleared to race at Sonoma on September 18 which would effectively give Pagenand the unchallenged championship.
At the end of the race, Dixon wasn’t going to be caught. The rest of the field, except for James Hinchcliffe, went for a fuel stop, splash and go on lap 58, so they would finish without running out of fuel. Hinchcliffe was in second place and took a gamble that he could finish on an empty tank. Unfortunately, he coasted to a stop half way through the last lap. He finished 18th. Josef Newgarden finished second, Helio Castroneves was third. He and Dixon are tied for third place in total championship points although Dixon’s two wins give him the edge. Rookie Conor Daley finished fourth, making him the highest finishing rookie and Honda engine driver. Dixon donated his share of the inning purse to the Justin Wilson Children’s Foundation.
Once again the Chevy engine dominated, taking the first three places. Completion needs to improve drastically or the series will lose what little audience it has left. Next up is the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on September 18. Dixon might be the favorite, but Pagenand will still take the series championship.
Colts Start the Regular NFL Season
After going 2-2 in the preseason, the Indianapolis Colts made their roster cut down to 53 players and are preparing to start the regular season at Detroit against the Lions on this coming Sunday, September 11. There were no high profile or surprise cuts made. Injuries have been the big story with key players like cornerback Vontae Davis and offensive left guard Jack Mewhort unavailable for the season opener due to injuries. The defense has taken a hit with four starters out. The secondary is so hard hit that free agent Antonio Cromartie had to be signed to help. The offensive line hasn’t jelled yet and injuries to Mewhort and right tackle Joe Reitz haven’t helped. The running game is still sluggish and the Eagles game showed that the team can’t protect Luck against edge rushers. Not good. Is there any good news? Yes. The receivers look to be in good shape with Phillip Dorsett much improved over last season. Special teams are among the best in the league. Punter Pat McAfee is among the league’s best. The grand old man Adam Vinatieri is still putting them through the uprights with no visible strain. Adam is the league’s oldest player at age 44. Quan Bray seems to be the return man the Horseshoe has been looking for.
There have yet to be any spectacular trades or free agent signings for the Big Blue but some players are bound to be added as the season progresses. Coach Pagano is 3-1 on opening day. Let’s see if he can make it 4-1.
The Colts will carry three quarterbacks on their roster for the first time in recent memory. Rookie free agent Stephen Morris played so impressively in preseason that the Colts elected to keep the 24-year-old Florida grad as the third guy. Whispers that several teams were looking to claim and sign him if the Big Blue tried to pass him through waivers and add him to the practice squad probably influenced their decision
So the preliminaries are over. LET THE GAMES BEGIN! GO COLTS!
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