St. Pete Expectations (a self-mantra)

Beaux Barfield has outlined his competition expectations to the teams and drivers.

Even a nobody/megalomaniac like me has been bold enough to suggest a lap one, turn one melee will cause people (who only have just turned their eyes back since October) to have many reasons to question the validity of the sport's claim of having the 'best, fastest, and most versatile drivers' and lose interest quickly. 

I think it's not out-of-line to suggest that Indycar can ill afford a bad first 're-impression' since Las Vegas BUT, verily I say unto thee... 

...it is going to be what it is going to be. 

The die-hard fans of this sport will be legs, arms, and fingers-crossed in hopes we get though those first few laps until Marty Reid and ABC take a moment to step away to the side-by-side for the first time in 2012. 

I, too, will be one of those pretzel-people (and it's gonna make holding my Fuzzy's Push-to-Pass beverage in my Pressdog (tm) official Drink ye Bastards glass fairly difficult), BUT the simple fact remains that no matter how much I want a magnificent first race of the season and how important that momentum (DyB) can be for the upcoming races, and how much it would mean to a sport rising from the dead, things are gonna happen and no matter of wailing and gnashing of teeth will help. Certainly don't ruin your beautiful flat screen TV by throwing something at it.

So, dear fans, you can do your level best to support this sport and 'activate' the sponsors and go to races and buy the gear and even go out of your way to introduce others to this sport that we hold so dearly, yet the events that unfold on Sunday (to re-use an oft-dropped phrase by Dr. Phil) "...AIN'T ABOUT YOU"!

The action will be whatever it will be and we're going to watch it unfold just like everybody else. It may be a classic race. It may be a stinker of a snoozefest. It may be unlike anything we hoped or feared it may be.

It is going to be what it is going to be, so sit comfortably, breathe deeply, relax, have a tasty beverage, and just let it be.

That will have to do.