I don't know about you, but I always feel better after the first Indycar race of the season.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has really grown on me as the season opener. The first Indycar race is always an indicator (especially here in Northern Indiana) of the impending warmer days and excitement to come.
Even just seeing the race logo is a warming and welcome sight after surviving another 'character-building' season of a Great Lakes winter.
Several years ago, written in my now-defunct personal all-purpose blog, I noted how much I enjoy this time of year, not only for the budding and greening of my environment, but also with a great run following the sports that I enjoy most - Indycar season opener, the NCAA basketball tourney, more Indycar, The Masters, The Kentucky Derby, and the Month of May all together is really a great way to emerge from the hibernation I've been in most of the winter months (especially when I'm also quite busy with my kids who are competitive swimmers and their season runs from September through March).
At any rate, I found this latest version of Indycars racing at St. Pete was quite satisfying.
Like a sort of homecoming - seeking comfort in experiencing a range of emotions from seeing all of the things that you've come to rely upon every year:
- ABC performing up to their typical levels (with Bestwick well-exceeding that standard despite being under the weather).
- A-bumpity-tip-tap we go through turns 1, 2, and 3 of lap one.
- Somebody suffers a cut tire on lap one.
- A solemn nod to Dan Wheldon.
- Somebody makes Turn 4 into a confetti-shower of carbon fiber.
- Marco unsuccessfully divebombs someone into turn one and ruins his own day.
- Penske dominates the first race weekend.
- Fans watching on TV are reminded how many damned ads they'll be seeing even in side-by-side mode.
- Some drivers take umbrage with other drivers because of something on track.
- Ultimately drivers and fans all getting their race-legs under them for the season.
Even just seeing the race logo is a warming and welcome sight after surviving another 'character-building' season of a Great Lakes winter.
Several years ago, written in my now-defunct personal all-purpose blog, I noted how much I enjoy this time of year, not only for the budding and greening of my environment, but also with a great run following the sports that I enjoy most - Indycar season opener, the NCAA basketball tourney, more Indycar, The Masters, The Kentucky Derby, and the Month of May all together is really a great way to emerge from the hibernation I've been in most of the winter months (especially when I'm also quite busy with my kids who are competitive swimmers and their season runs from September through March).
At any rate, I found this latest version of Indycars racing at St. Pete was quite satisfying.
Like a sort of homecoming - seeking comfort in experiencing a range of emotions from seeing all of the things that you've come to rely upon every year:
- ABC performing up to their typical levels (with Bestwick well-exceeding that standard despite being under the weather).
- A-bumpity-tip-tap we go through turns 1, 2, and 3 of lap one.
- Somebody suffers a cut tire on lap one.
- A solemn nod to Dan Wheldon.
- Somebody makes Turn 4 into a confetti-shower of carbon fiber.
- Marco unsuccessfully divebombs someone into turn one and ruins his own day.
- Penske dominates the first race weekend.
- Fans watching on TV are reminded how many damned ads they'll be seeing even in side-by-side mode.
- Some drivers take umbrage with other drivers because of something on track.
- Ultimately drivers and fans all getting their race-legs under them for the season.
In a typical year, I'd have made predictions for the season by now. This year, I don't feel the need to prognosticate. I'm just going to sit back and see how it all unfolds. Last year gave us a great deal of (mostly) on-track drama. Too much on the injurious side however, so here's to hoping for a much safer 2016 season that gives us the racing action and drama that we all crave.
Oh alright, fine. I'll make one prediction with a big qualifying statement - Indycar, provided that management stays unobtrusive for all of the right reasons, will enjoy another year of solid growth and the racing gods will see to it that the 100th Indy 500 will give us something rather spectacular and remind us again why we endure the hardships of this sport.
OK Phoenix, you're next. I couldn't be happier about you hosting Indycars again.
Let's see what you've got...
Oh alright, fine. I'll make one prediction with a big qualifying statement - Indycar, provided that management stays unobtrusive for all of the right reasons, will enjoy another year of solid growth and the racing gods will see to it that the 100th Indy 500 will give us something rather spectacular and remind us again why we endure the hardships of this sport.
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| (c) 2016 Indycar |
OK Phoenix, you're next. I couldn't be happier about you hosting Indycars again.
Let's see what you've got...
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