IndyCar Mid-Ohio postscript
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| Rahal is driving like a man possessed |
I got an email after the NOLA race in April from a respected figure in the racing industry. The message was unprompted; however, it struck me as compelling at the time, and does even more now.
Having attended the race at NOLA, this individual noted,
"The best guy I saw this weekend was (Graham) Rahal. His car control in the rain was exceptional. The criticism should stop."
I don't use this person's name because it was not on the record. But I can assure you it is someone whose opinion is regarded highly. Still, I was a little skeptical.
Keeping in mind when this email was written, I had good reason to be skeptical. At the time if someone said Graham Rahal you were more likely to think complaining about not enough grip, or tweeting pictures of himself driving a Lamborghini than you were “exceptional" driving. And whether true or untrue, fair or unfair, Rahal's lack of performance combined with some less than stellar PR created a narrative an entitled underachiever, who when you took away the famous name was nothing more than a guy battling it out for 18th driving for daddy's team.
If there was a career breakout for Rahal, it was undoubtedly his fantastic drive to second at Barber, which sparked the current 6 podium/11 race stretch. Fast forward to this past weekend's annual Verizon IndyCar Series visit to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and the narrative on young Rahal has undergone a huge metamorphosis. Sunday, in the picturesque countryside of central-Ohio, Rahal, donning an Ohio State helmet in honor of the nearby collegiate champions, was the hometown hero, who scored the storybook win for the ages.
Explaining the inexplicable
[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]I've been stating this for a few weeks now, but it bears repeating. If one were to grade on a curve so to speak, the best driver in the IndyCar Series in 2015, week-in and week-out has been Rahal. I offered this thesis as far back as Fontana. But what perhaps makes Rahal's recent form so intriguing, is there is almost no logical explanation for it.
For example, in a year in which other Honda teams have cited their package's lack of performance, it hasn't seemed to matter that Rahal has been driving the supposedly under-powered, aerodynamically-outclassed Honda. It hasn't seemed to matter that in this year of technical change, which was supposed to favor the multi-car fleets (and to some extent has), Rahal drives for the one-car Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing operation. It hasn't seemed to matter that whatever improvements young Rahal has made, his qualifying is still rather average, with a mere 1 top-5 qualifying effort in 2015, and ten starts of tenth or worse. It doesn't seem to matter that whatever Rahal's talents so happen to be, there was next to nothing in his performance the last two seasons forecasting this, with a mere four top-5 finishes in 2013 and 2014 combined.
Now, I know the team has cited improved chemistry and better engineering talent. Still, I can't recall a prior scenario in which changing engineers has made THIS much a difference? Remember, this wasn't someone showing signs of making a move forward, rather someone who had seemingly regressed in recent years. In fact, Rahal had a mere one podium finish in his 36 prior starts before finishing second at Barber in April, and had finished 18th and 19th in the championship standings the prior two years.
Also, keep in mind, that whatever success RLL may have enjoyed throughout the years, they were in the midst of a miserable drought themselves entering 2015, having not won since 2008.
In short, I can tell you all reasons sudden surge shouldn't be happening. While people have cited maturity, reported better engineering, or possibly father Bobby Rahal having less of a role during race weekends as things that would make for improvements, I cannot offer a substantive reason it is happening.
But it's happening alright
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| Graham Rahal |
Yes, Rahal and RLL have been defying logic in what has been quite a strange IndyCar season. There are numerous examples of this, but one for sure is qualifying, which has been largely meaningless. With Rahal's 13th-place start yesterday, six of the last 9 winners have come from outside the top-10.
Also, Rahal himself has shown an ability to overcome significant setbacks such as:
- Going from the 17th starting position to 2nd at the GP of Indy, despite a mere one yellow flag
- Losing a lap in Iowa due to a flat tire and shifter problems, and still finishing fourth
- Escaping penalty for the fuel-probe matter at Fontana
Whatever the case, Rahal and RLL are finding ways to score results week-after-week-after-week. And while I can't explain it, the fact I can't explain it doesn't really matter. With the apparent ability currently to part the Red Sea or turn water into wine, Rahal and RLL enter the final two rounds brimming with confidence and nothing to lose.
Yes, Juan Pablo Montoya is good. Yes, counting out Scott Dixon has bitten me in the past. But right now, are you taking them in the championship battle over a playing-with-house-money Rahal? And while there might not be much logic to explain it, I think we're well past logic at this point.
Promotion
It was a very nice touch for Steak ‘n Shake to present a victorious Rahal with a milkshake in victory lane Sunday. And people often talk about ways to better promote IndyCar racing and get the message out to a broader audience. Although it certainly costs someone money, and driver contracts are quite binding these days, Gabby Chaves' recent foray into midget racing is certainly a more than adequate start.
First, if you've ever meet the 22-year-old Colombian-American, you will come away impressed by how well-spoken, engaging, polite and thoughtful he is. Second, people appreciate an outsider willing to go outside their comfort zone and tackle the challenge of a different discipline, which Chaves embraced with open arms. And while grassroots short track racing and Indy Car racing have clearly diverged on different paths in the last half-century, such a measure is at least reaching out to people who have paid to attend a race track. Kudos, to Chaves, Honda and whoever else made it happen.
Derrick
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| Derrick Walker |
It was announced last Thursday that IndyCar president of competition and operations Derrick Walker will resign his post, effective August 31.
Now, any regular reader of this space knows I have been critical of INDYCAR Race Control this season. Amongst other things, I strongly disagree with the operating principle of ‘slap on the wrist' type sanctions days after the race. For example, it would be silly in my opinion to fine an offensive lineman Wednesday after the Super Bowl for holding on the game-winning touchdown pass.
And I am not backpedaling from the above in the wake of last week's announcement. Taking things at face value, the buck stopped with Walker in that department. Thus, there is no way to separate the criticisms I have of Race Control from Walker.
Disagreements noted, I found Walker's honesty and forthright nature incredibly refreshing. There were numerous times myself or someone from AutoRacing1 would approach Walker with a question, comment or concern. Yes, there was at times disagreement, but he genuinely had the best interests of IndyCar racing at heart. He would also take the time to explain the matter from the series' perspective, and I speak for the publication in saying Walker helped better inform AutoRacing1's reporting.
Others saw this publicly. Walker for example would go on TV and be forthcoming in explaining a controversial ruling, no matter how unpopular it may have been.
Of course, at the end of the day, one man to take so many bullets for the greater good. Perhaps in hindsight, Walker was too often the willing fall guy for costly aero-kits, or a controversial decision. AR1's Lucille Dust and I bumped into Walker three weeks ago at Milwaukee and both commented that he looked tired, worn down, not himself.
Certainly, it wasn't a perfect tenure. However, it will probably be a few years until we can truly evaluate Walker's biggest project: the introduction of the aero kits.
For now, Walker says the “timing is right to move on to other opportunities." That could be. But the more I've thought about it over the past few days, the more I find myself in disagreement with him…again!
Speaking of Race Control
Will Power should have been penalized for essentially ruining Charlie Kimball's race with his re-entry to the track in the early laps. Not that Power drove recklessly or maliciously, but the contact caused a flat left-rear for Kimball, and he spun. In a case of re-entry to the racing line, one would think Kimball would have the right away.
JPM
Power's teammate Juan Pablo Montoya has very much taken an “it's all no big deal" approach throughout 2015. While that tends to be JPM's way, one has to remember this is the first time all season he has actually been under any pressure. Will Montoya's well-known relaxed approach win out? Or will Penske championship-demons of years gone by come to the fore?
We do know this has been Montoya's championship to lose since the beginning. The pressure is once again on Team Penske.
Mark Miles
Although I've been tough on Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles, I acknowledge he has a Herculean task in rebuilding IndyCar racing. I often wonder if even he knew how monumental a task it was when he took the position.
That said, if he can deliver on some of the rumored-additions to the 2016 schedule, it would go a long way towards his leadership gaining some traction.
Alex
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| Alex Zanardi |
I will never say never when it comes to Alex Zanardi. However, his rumored running at the Indianapolis 500 seems a bit cavalier to me. At the very least, there are a few questions I believe should be answered.
For one, has anyone even checked with the series as to what the rules might be for a double-amputee? I know they can build adapted cars, but are we to believe Dallara just has a fleet of Double-Amputee Specials lying around properly tested and ready to go?
What if there is another trauma? Have adequate measures been explored in such an instance? And placing the whole double-amputee element aside for a moment, is it even wise for a 48-year-old who hasn't raced on an oval in 16 years to run wheel-to-wheel in excess of 230 miles per hour?
And what about Zanardi himself? Remember, the last time Zanardi was in such a race, his legs were severed in an instant before he nearly bled to death. Do we want to find out how he might respond under duress next May 29th?
To be clear, I have nothing but admiration for Zanardi. Also, It is a genuine blight on American open wheel racing history that he never ran the 500. My strong rhetoric above is not an attempt to sensationalize the matter. My strong rhetoric is rather a function of the matter being sensational, and to my knowledge all the elements of such a return have not been properly considered.
While he should be honored at next year's 100th Indianapolis 500 as one of the true legends of the sport, it shouldn't be driving a race car.
Brian Carroccio is a senior columnist for AutoRacing1. He can be contacted at BrianC@AutoRacing1.com.
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