The Honda Grand Prix of Alabama was pretty much Takuma Sato’s day in the sun. The 42-year-old 2017 Indianapolis 500 winner was the whole story after taking the pole, leading the most laps, and then taking the checkered flag. The Rahal-Letterman Team had the two fastest cars on the starting gate with Sato and Graham Rahal. Rahal, however, developed problems early and dropped out to finish 23rd. Rookie Colton Herta, who won the week before at Alabama found out Karma can be a real kick in the head as he went from first to worst. He finished 24th and last in the race.
Team Penske was not much of a factor. Josef Newgarden made a charge for 4th place and dumped our Alexander Rossi to 5th. Newgarden was able to maintain his hold on the championship points lead. Will Power fought handling problems the whole race but held on for a 10th place finish. Simon Pagenand also ran. Marcus Ericsson was the top finishing rookie with a 7th. Ericsson who drives a Honda for Arrow Schmidt/Peterson Motorsports along with Herta, Felix Rosenqvist, and Patricio O’Ward look to be one of the strongest rookie classes in recent memory for the IndyCar series
Scott Dixon fought off a strong challenge from Sebastien Bourdais to finish 2nd. It was Dixon’s 5th runner up finish in the Alabama Grand Prix. Dixon is 2nd in the championship point standings. So now it’s off to the streets of Long Beach for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this coming Sunday April 14th.
Virginia is the National Champ….With Hoosier Help
The Virginia Cavaliers finally won their first NCAA National Championship with a hard fought 85-77 overtime victory over the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. After an embarrassing 1st round elimination in 2018, the Cavs had something to prove to themselves and the world. Among the players looking for redemption was shooting guard Kyle Guy. You remember Kyle Guy — an All-Star at Lawrence Central High School and Indiana’s Mr Basketball in 2014. Guy has become a point machine for the Cavaliers as well as a solid back court defender. Guy came through with 24 points against Texas Tech and was Virginia’s top total point maker for the tournament. Obviously the whole UV team is strong but it’s good to see a hometown boy be a major part of the Big Dance.