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25 May 2005, 13:01 (Ref:1309841)
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#1 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Some "Dark Horses" to Watch This Sunday...
One thing I've learned over the many years of attending and watching the action at Indy is that some surprises will surface and some people who have not been very visible really shine on Race Day...
Some "Dark Horses" to think about: Any of the three Fernandez-related cars.... They have had a solid month of May....Adrian, Kosuke, and especially Scott Sharp.... I wouldn't necessarily call Sharp a Dark Horse, because he has been so strong all month long....but I can tell you that his month of May has virtually mirrored Arie Luyendyk's month of May when he got his first win in the early 1990s...right down to the starting spot on the grid....very fast every day, but not grabbing headlines..... Adrian and Kosuke have been fast and smooth and seem to be really focused on Race set-ups by their times, etc....the Mo Nunn factor plus sharing data between both "teams" will make all three very strong contenders this Sunday The "other" Rahal-Letterman drivers....especially Vitor Meira...another guy flying under the radar that seems to have a lot clicking just right for him... and Kenny Brack showed us what he has...I think the R-L cars are the best prepared this month for the 500....and they will be in the hunt. Danica has been great...but the last rookie to win this big show goes all the way back to 1966....Graham Hill...a tough place for a rookie to win...even good ones.... Buddy Lazier...I know...Chevy power....but he has also been solid all month long....and if you remember back to 2003, Hornish was down in power, but was solid on restarts and great at defending his postions...he climbed into the Top Five before his engine let go in the final laps.....Lazier is a master at restarts and knows how to drive through traffic and defend his postion....if they gear his car correctly for the restarts, Buddy will be up near the front on Sunday... Bruno Junquiera....They missed this week due to the race in Monterrey, but the logged a ton of laps and acquired a ton of set-up data when they were here....he also has a good spot on the grid and led some of last year's race before the pit stops cycled him out of the lead....don't count him out.... Those are a few...I'll submit more as the day goes on.... I'm interested in seeing your thoughts.... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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25 May 2005, 13:10 (Ref:1309851)
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#2 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
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Kenny Brack has a pretty lowley starting spot, but if he keeps his nose clean and RL give him a good strategy he'll be in the hunt no doubt.
I think the Panther boys...well maybe not Enge...but Tomas and Buddy are ones to look out for. This looks like Chevy's last Indy 500 for the forseeble future, so they'll want to go out on a high...plus, Panther really need a win, and so does Tomas. They seem to have more power this year, but the fuel miliage is still an issue... |
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I can't drive 55. |
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25 May 2005, 13:49 (Ref:1309882)
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#3 | |
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Racer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 223
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Anyone with a Panoz-Honda combination - across all teams this combination has looked fast, particularly in the draft which has to point to a strong race day performance.
Can we look past Wheldon? Despite the lowly starting spot he has been fast during practice and just lost it somewhat when it really counted. Plus his team seem to have a real aptitude for putting him out of sync on strategy and getting him to the front for the last few laps. Bourdais...going to stick my neck out here. Not been mind-blowingly quick, not an IRL regular, limited oval experience, first time at Indy but...clearly very special and despite his limited oval experience knows how to work the draft and use traffic. |
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"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" - Steve McQueen |
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25 May 2005, 14:08 (Ref:1309893)
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#4 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Dario & Herta also would come to mind....AGR has run a lot of laps as a group of four together to get a feel for the turbulence, places where they can stick a pass, and get good Race Day set-ups....all four will be factors this Sunday...
But I agree with your Panoz comments, Jock25.... The past two years they have handled well in traffic at Indy and that chassis has sat in Victory Lane at the end of th day... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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25 May 2005, 14:52 (Ref:1309937)
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#5 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,512
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AGR my favs for the driver/team package; Rahal's for a rumouredly spec engine...
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You got to learn how to fall, before you learn to fly P.Simon |
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25 May 2005, 15:03 (Ref:1309951)
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#6 | ||
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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Quote:
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25 May 2005, 15:18 (Ref:1309968)
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#7 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Quote:
Technically, yes...but he had raced in 500-milers on the big tracks in CART....Danica has been on 1.5s, but this is a different ballgame, and she has not gone 500 miles.... Neither had Graham Hill at that point... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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25 May 2005, 15:53 (Ref:1309992)
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#8 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,536
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well are the megateam drivers any really a dark horse? AGR, LettermanRahal or Penske
the dark horse would be Adrian Fernandez, as he has shown well before but alwyas misses the deal, silent and deadly he is there in the end. Danica has a real chance, a racer in all regards, but a rookie. Kenny Brack has shown he has speed, but not in traffic yet, but a true racer any way. Dark Horse for me is Fernandez |
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SuperTrucks rule- end of story. Listen to my ramblings! Follow my twitter @davidAET I am shameless ... |
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25 May 2005, 16:00 (Ref:1309998)
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#9 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Quote:
and Meira has been under the radar simply because Danica has been in the spotlight som much...he has been solid all month long Penske is Penske...they will always be there, and never a Dark Horse in my book... Out of all that I listed, Adrian would be mine as well, If it really got down to picking Only One Dark Horse, Adrian would be my pick.... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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25 May 2005, 17:08 (Ref:1310054)
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#10 | |
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Racer
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 100
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Richie Hearn the true Dark Horse,this guy is driving with 100% heart.Probably gonna hear a lot of "Where did that guy come from" when he's running towards the front.Don't be surprised if he finishes high up and even challenges for the win.
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25 May 2005, 22:57 (Ref:1310288)
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#11 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 5,702
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I think the Newman Haas guys will surprise a little - both have good oval history (particularly Bruno), they have a good package and a quality team.
Also, I wouldn't rule out Ganassi pulling out a strategy masterstroke come race-day. They'll need to, as they won't have the pace to match it with the Penskes or Hondas. |
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25 May 2005, 23:06 (Ref:1310293)
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#12 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Scott Sharps dark horse image was pretty well intact coming into the month of May, but I think it has brightened considerably since his great qualifying run. I really don't consider him a dark horse anymore, and as a matter-of-fact, he should be considered a favorite with all of his expierience, and a good car and team.
My dark horse has to be Tomas Scheckter. This Chevy is going to be fast, as we saw all three Panther cars in the top 11. He's proven that he can flatout drive that car and ring the most out of it. I expect him to be in the hunt all day. Just keep it on the track, and out of the wall Tomas! |
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__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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25 May 2005, 23:45 (Ref:1310316)
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#13 | ||
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Subscriber
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,344
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If there are a low number of cautions i'd never rule out Bryan - he's got the brains and experiance.
Kenny - now that'd be a dream come true! Maybe Seabass - he's got the guys and killer instinct to win this. Danica - After seeing her on Letterman, i'm a fan. Go Danica! |
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"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
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26 May 2005, 07:35 (Ref:1310442)
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#14 | ||
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
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Buddy lazier , Skill , Luck , determination and overall bucket loads of experience and talent.
i have gone all out and picked him as the winner and Im sure he wont prove me wrong 
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In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
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27 May 2005, 00:34 (Ref:1311192)
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#15 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 518
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Scott Dixon!!!!
Blatant patriotism!! 
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__________________
Monaco '67 - Greatest GP ever!! |
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27 May 2005, 01:09 (Ref:1311207)
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#16 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Quote:
 I have to add Kosuke Matsurra to the list of dark horse's. He has really been finding some speed this week, and has been running with the leaders at times. He also has a great team behind him, so he could be one to watch out for come Sunday. Roger Yasakawa is another driver that is having a good week, and has found some speed. He had a great first race at Homestead, so maybe he can surprise us at Indy. I'd love to see him and D&R do well here.... |
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"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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27 May 2005, 02:09 (Ref:1311216)
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#17 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
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I would have to say that Adrian is my dark horse with Meira as sort of a "1B" if you get my drift.
Adrian is a good guy and more talented than he gets credit for. It would be cool to see him drink the milk. Not that Brack can truly be a "dark horse" but it is not impossible for him to be taking that drink of milk either! |
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"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton. |
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27 May 2005, 02:55 (Ref:1311231)
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#18 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 1,125
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Quote:
 GO RYAN!!!! |
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27 May 2005, 09:24 (Ref:1311409)
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#19 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,419
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Quote:
Then again, once in the race itself I wouldn't be the least surprised if he toughened it out and kept going on pure adrenaline and will power. Kenny is, after all, one tough customer Of course, in a few days we'll know for sure how everything plays out.. Sunday can't come here soon enough. |
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27 May 2005, 19:47 (Ref:1311861)
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#20 | ||
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Rookie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 77
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Danica ! 229 on carb day. Just got to go with the flow.
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__________________
I makes 'em or I breaks 'em |
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28 May 2005, 04:13 (Ref:1312142)
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#21 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Quote:
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__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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28 May 2005, 04:45 (Ref:1312159)
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#22 | |
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Racer
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 100
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She ran 225 on Carb day not 229 and Tony Kanaan was only a few tenths off.If she were like running 226's or somethime while everyone else was running 225's then I'd say she has an edge,but everything is still pretty tight.Dan seems to have gotten his car to his liking as well he was the fastest to get into the 225's and consistently ran 225's.
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28 May 2005, 08:30 (Ref:1312239)
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#23 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,354
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OK. A dark horse is someone no one expects to win, someone outside the hype and talk leading up to the race.
Sharp is such a person, Fernandez because he hasn't been talked of as a potntial winner in the 'chat'. Dixon Manning and Briscoe because on form they are all 'outsiders'. The same with Seb and Bruno in the Centrix cars. Anyone in a Rahal or Andretti car is not a 'Dark Horse'. We expect them to be there all going well. |
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29 May 2005, 21:32 (Ref:1314078)
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#24 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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I think its safe to say that Buddy Lazier won the battle of the "dark horses"!
Well done Buddy! 
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__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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31 May 2005, 08:16 (Ref:1315434)
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#25 | ||
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
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absolutely , I just Love this guy
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__________________
In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
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