Texas could produce another wild IndyCar show
FORT WORTH – As the non-stop Verizon IndyCar Series calendar tears toward Texas Motor Speedway, one question sits at the forefront of everyone’s minds: Are we in for another round of Texas-style mayhem?
Last year’s event was nothing short of pandemonium. The high-anxiety wreck fest had fans on the edge of their seats, drivers at each other’s throats and team owners reaching for antacids as the dangers of oval racing became all too real. In total, nine caution flags flew, as costly crashes swept up more than half the 22-car field.
By the time Will Power took the checkered flag, only eight other cars were on track with him and only five on the lead lap. It was a wild night, but not necessarily one many drivers want to relive, though surely some fans would not mind.
So will Saturday night’s race under the lights at Texas deliver more of that type of heart-stopping action or will fans see something else entirely?
Here are some story lines to watch in the DXC Technology 600 (Saturday, 8 ET, NBC Sports Network):
More trouble brewing: Like last year, this weekend has the potential to turn into a Wild West wreck fest. Though the green-flag action might look different depending on the behavior of the new aero kit, the attrition could be similar to last June. Some in the paddock think the pack racing could return while others say the racing could be more spread out.
“The new aero kit is going to behave quite differently than it did at Indy, but I also think that when we show up it’s going to be a real work in progress,” 2016 Texas winner Graham Rahal said. “I’m sure that from an aerodynamic perspective, IndyCar is going to have to keep doing some work to get it right. If you look at the way the aero package is set up currently, I think that it’s going to be very difficult to run together, but I did not test there so I’m not a great judge of that because I haven’t had any laps there yet.”
The weather could wreak its own havoc.
Remember how tough it was for cars to find grip in the Indianapolis 500 with temperatures hotter than 90 degrees? Expect more of the same this weekend as the tire wear could be even worse with the forecast projecting scorching temperatures climbing above 100 for the Fort Worth area.
Fatigue sets in: Approaching the end of the most grueling part of the IndyCar calendar with back-to-back-to-back April races followed by the madness of May, followed by the double dip in Detroit, teams and drivers are spent. Do not be surprised, hinted Harding Racing team president Brian Barnhart, if that exhaustion rears its head on race day.
“We are coming to the end of a gru- eling stretch,” Barnhart said. “This will be extra challenging due to the type of conditions and racing we will face down there.
“There is still a bit of an unknown because we do not know how the new aero kits will race around that track. I’m hoping it will be an entertaining show for the fans and a good race for everyone to watch.”
Top teams assert themselves: The series’ traditional powers — Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport — have been most consistent this season, despite some early predictions that the new aero kits would produce more parity.
Drivers from these three powerhouse teams occupy the top five spots in the standings heading into Texas, with Penske’s Power leading the way (309 points) and Ganassi’s Scott Dixon not far behind (305). A pair of Andretti drivers — Alexander Rossi (298) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (278) — are right there in the hunt as is reigning series champion and Penske driver Josef Newgarden
(270).
Drivers from Penske, Ganassi and Andretti have racked up five of eight poles, seven of eight wins and 18 of 24 podium spots.
In some ways, it actually seems the new kits have resulted in less parity than in the past. Entering Texas last season, there were 11 drivers within 100 points of then-championship leader Scott Dixon. This year, there are only six drivers less than 100 points back of Power.
Power wins the DXC Technology
600: History suggests this pick is a mistake. Since the late Justin Wilson’s triumph in 2012, there have been six different winners to emerge from Texas Motor Speedway. Helio Castroneves won in
2013, followed by Ed Carpenter (2014), Dixon (2015), Rahal (2016) and Power
(2017). That streak could end Saturday night.
Power has absolutely dominated on superspeedways lately, winning four of the past five races on big ovals — Pocono
(2016 and 2017), Texas (2017) and Indianapolis (2018).
He’s also been terrific specifically at Texas. In 10 career starts, Power has won three poles and never qualified outside the top 10. He has four career podium finishes, including two wins (2011,
2017), and has finished outside the top eight only once since 2011. Power also boasts Chevrolet power, which is the engine manufacturer of choice for big speedways this year. With than in mind, look for Power’s Penske colleagues to fare well Saturday night.
Chevy drivers Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan also appear poised to contend based on their performances in the Indy
500 a few weeks ago.
As for as Honda-powered drivers go, never count out Dixon, who won his
42nd career race last weekend in Detroit. Rossi (fourth), Hunter-Reay (fifth) and Rahal (10th) also found ways to deliver at Indianapolis.