News from IndyCar for 2017
It’s official: Takuma Sato, formerly of A.J. Foyt Racing, has been signed by Andretti Auto Sports to drive their fourth car. He brings Sony sponsorship money with him which had to be a consideration in the deal. Carlos Munoz, whose place Sato took, now becomes the free agent everybody is looking at. Munoz was the 2013 Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500, both starting and finishing in second place. He took second again last May at Indy and very nearly won. He won the first leg of the 2015 Dual in Detroit. He has been mentioned as a possibility at both Foyt and Ed Carpenter Racing. He’s just 24 years old so his best days are still ahead of him.
Last Monday, Halloween, Team Penske announced that they have an agreement with Juan Pablo Montoya to drive a fifth car for them at the Indianapolis 500 in 2017. This is odd because it has been reported that Montoya had been mulling over offers to drive the full 2017 season for Foyt, Carpenter, and KV Racing. The 41-year-old Colombian was considered the prize catch of the available drivers, but maybe he is figuring that it’s time to slow down bit.
Connor Daly, J.R. Hildebrand, Sage Karem, Spencer Pigot, Gabby Chavous, and Max Chilton are names that are being tossed around. Indy Lights champion RC Emerson drove three races and impressed everyone, so he will be in the mix for a ride. There’s still a lot of time before we get down to the serious business of 2017.
Colts’ Loss
Our Indianapolis Colts pulled an early Trick or Treat on fans last Sunday. Some guys showed up dressed in Colts costumes at Lucas Oil Stadium, but it couldn’t have been a real football team. The Horseshoe imposters lost 30-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs but it wasn’t that close. The Chiefs had to play second string quarterback Nick Foles because starter Alex Smith had to leave the game due to concussion protocol. Our defense made Foles look like a Hall of Famer. Right now the Colts are one of the worst teams in the NFL and may not be as talented as the 2011 team that “Sucked for Luck” and finished last. Andrew doesn’t even try to be rah, rah now. He just gives the pat answer and moves on. Poor Chuck Pagano seems almost pathetic on the sidelines as he seems to wander around in a daze. Ryan Grigson is defiant in his assertion that this ball club is really talented but poorly coached. He is half right.
I am figuring that this team has two more wins in them and finishes 5-11, but who knows? Green Bay is up next, then a bye week. The Titans and Steelers come after that. Pittsburgh is a team that always gives the Horseshoe fits. Big Ben Roethlisberger could have another career day. It’s also at Heinz Stadium. We do have a rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. I think that’s one that we will win.
This season is a write-off now. It’s a race for a high pick in the 2017 college draft. Hopefully a general manager with a bit more insight to talent will run it but that is probably wishful thinking.
A Series for the Ages
This is a World Series whose plot could have been concocted by a Hollywood script writer. Two baseball teams who have endured the longest droughts between championships are battling it out for the 2016 Major League crown. The last time the Cubs won, Russia was still ruled by a czar. The last time the Indians won, television was still just a novelty. It’s been that long. So in that, the two teams share a kind of brotherhood. It is very sad that one of them has to lose.
Cleveland led the series 3-1 with some great pitching and defense. There was much speculation that the Tribe would put it away Sunday night, but the Cubs came storming back. This series has seen some remarkably pitching. Lanky Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman won the game for the Cubs Sunday, holding the Indians to two runs. Tuesday night it was Chicago second baseman Addison Wilson who led the way. Wilson slammed the 19th grand slam home run in series history. In all the Cubs knocked out three homers in front of the devastated Cleveland fans. It was a spectacular night!
So it’s down to game seven. By the time you read this the contest will have been decided. The real winner has been the baseball fans. It’s been a monumental struggle. A World Series for the ages!
snicewanger@yahoo.com