Forum's "Pick 'Em" Contest - 2005 Motegi

[Tim Northcutt]

Indy Japan 300 “Pick ‘em” Contest
Twin Ring Motegi – April 3, 2005

IMPORTANT TIME FOR DEADLINE...PLEASE NOTE!!!

DEADLINE FOR PICKS: Thursday, April 28, at 3 a.m. (GMT) or approx. 10 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, EDT in the USA…That is when the first practice session for the teams begins

PLEASE Get them in Before the Deadline

--- The IRL returns to Twin Ring Motegi…a 1.5 mile egg-shaped oval with 10-degree banking in both ends of the circuit…set-up is critical at this track…they team that is dialed in will be tough to beat!

We’ll do it the same as always…and the format is really self-explanitory….

The race is 200 laps, and 300 miles long

Again…Please copy this template below and use it to place your Picks….

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1.
2.

ROW TWO:
1.
2.

ROW THREE:
1.
2.

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.)

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts)

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts)

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.)


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.)

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.)

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

25 laps:

50 laps:

75 laps:

100 Laps:

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.)

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.)

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):



Sorry this was so late...I was swamped at work last week...

GOOD LUCK!!!

[luke]

Indy Japan 300 “Pick ‘em” Contest
Twin Ring Motegi – April 3, 2005


The race is 200 laps, and 300 miles long


QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts) Dan Wheldon

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:206.488

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Helio Castroneves

ROW TWO:
1. Dario Franchitti
2. Tony Kanaan

ROW THREE:
1. Vitor Meira
2. Scott Sharp

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.) Ed Carpenter

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts) Dan Wheldon

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts) Helio Castroneves

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.) Tomas Scheckter


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.) Dario Franchitti

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1.Dario Franchitti
2.Dan Wheldon
3.Sam Hornish Jr.
4.Tony Kanaan
5.Scott Sharp

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 2.05.889


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

25 laps: Dario Franchitti

50 lapsan Wheldon

75 laps:Sam Hornish Jr.

100 Lapsario Franchitti

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.) AJ Foyt IV

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.) Buddy Rice

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)Helio Castroneves

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):189.227



Good luck everyone!

[jock25]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts) Tomas Scheckter

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 202.567 mph

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Tomas Scheckter
2. Vitor Meira

ROW TWO:
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Tony Kanaan

ROW THREE:
1. Sam Hornish
2. Helio Castroneves

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.) Paul Dana

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts) Vitor Meira

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts) Sam Hornish

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.) Tomas Schekter


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Dario Franchitti
3. Sam Hornish
4. Scott Sharp
5.Tony Kanaan

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 202.165 mph


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

25 laps: Tomas Schekter

50 laps: Tony Kanaan

75 laps: Dan Wheldon

100 Laps: Dan Wheldon

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.) Paul Dana

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.) Dario Franchitti

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.) Tomas Schekter

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 179.345 mph

17 hours to entry deadline and only 2 entries...everyone keeping their powder dry??? It's getting tactical and we are only at round 4!

[marcus]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)

Buddy Rice

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

201.555

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Buddy Rice
2. Helio castroneves

ROW TWO:
1. Scott Sharp
2. Kosuke Matsuura

ROW THREE:
1. Tony Kanaan
2. Dan Wheldon

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.)

Paul dana

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts)
Buddy Rice

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts)

Helio castroneves

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.)

Tomas Enge




RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.)

Tony kanaan

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1.Tony Kanaan
2.Dario Franchitti
3.Scott Sharp
4.Ryan briscoe
5.Bryan herta

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.)

Dario Franchitti

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

203.444


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

25 laps: Helio Castroneves

50 laps: Scott Sharp

75 laps: Helio castroneves

100 Laps: Tony kanaan

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.)

Scott Dixon

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.)

Dario Franchitti

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)

Kosuke matsuura

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):

169.333

[Tim Northcutt]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)

Bryan Herta

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

204.279

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Bryan Herta
2. Dan Wheldon

ROW TWO:
1. Helio Castroneves
2. Dario Franchitti

ROW THREE:
1. Tomas Scheckter
2. Tony Kanaan

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.)

Paul Dana

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts)

Bryan Herta

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts)

Helio Castroneves

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.)

Tomas Scheckter

RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.)

Dan Wheldon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)

1. Dan Wheldon
2. Bryan Herta
3. Vitor Meira
4. Helio Castroneves
5. Sam Hornish Jr.

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.)

Dario Franchitti

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

201.165

5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps: Bryan Herta

100 laps: Helio Castroneves

150 laps: Dan Wheldon

200 Laps: Dan Wheldon

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.)

A.J Foyt IV

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.)

Sam Hornish Jr.

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.)

Tomas Scheckter

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):

164.311

[Tim Northcutt]

IMPORTANT NOTE:

When I plugged in the "Template" I forgot to Change the "Laps" listing in "MILESTONES" from the ST.PETE Street Race...

To Make the Contest consistent

Your FIrst Driver will be the "Lap 50" Leader

Your Second Driver will be "Lap 100" Leader

YOur THird Friver will be "Lap 150"


Your Fourth Driver will be "Lap 200"


For those who have not entered yet...Please change those lap designations on your template when you are entering your picks to:

Lap 50:

Lap 100:

Lap 150:

Lap 200:

If anyone wants to change their picks, let me know and I'll score them properly...

Sorry about that!!!!

[Flavinha]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts) Dan Wheldon

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 203.369

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Sam Hornish Jr.

ROW TWO:
1. Helio Castroneves
2. Tony Kanaan

ROW THREE:
1. Tomas Scheckter
2. Dario Franchitti

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.): A.J. Foyt IV

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts): Dan Wheldon

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts): Sam Hornish Jr.

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.): Tomas Scheckter


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.): Dan Wheldon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Tony Kanaan
3. Sam Hornish Jr.
4. Dario Franchitti
5. Helio Castroneves

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.): Vitor Meira

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 203.647


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps: Dan Wheldon

100 laps: Sam Hornish Jr.

150 laps: Dan Wheldon

200 Laps: Dan Wheldon

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.): Ed Carpenter

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.): Tony Kanaan

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.): Tomas Enge

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 168.349

[Daisy]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts) Dan Wheldon

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.)
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 203.552

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Helio Castroneves

ROW TWO:
1. Tomas Scheckter
2. Sam Hornish Jr.

ROW THREE:
1. Tony Kanaan
2. Scott Sharp

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.): Ed Carpenter

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts): Dan Wheldon

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts): Helio Castroneves

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.): Tomas Scheckter


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.): Dan Wheldon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Tony Kanaan
3. Helio Castroneves
4. Dario Franchitti
5. Darren Manning

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.): Helio Castroneves

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)...
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does: 203.294


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

50 laps: Tomas Scheckter

100 laps: Dan Wheldon

150 laps: Helio Castroneves

200 Laps: Dan Wheldon

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.): Roger Yasukawa

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.): Dario Franchitti

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.): Tomas Scheckter

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth): 164.331

[GP Racer]

QUALIFYING PICKS:

1. The Pole Winner: (2 pts)Tony Kannan

2. The Pole Winner's Fast Lap Speed (2 pts.) 204.000
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:

NOTE: IF you get BOTH #1 and #2 Correct/Closest, add 2 "Bonus Points"

3. List the Pole Winner Again, plus the OTHER Five drivers (in order) who will earn spots on the "First Three Rows": (2 pts for each Driver in correct spot, 1 pt. For correct Driver, but wrong spot)

ROW ONE:
1. Tony Kannan
2. Dan Wheldon

ROW TWO:
1. Helio Castroneves
2. Sam Hornish

ROW THREE:
1. Dario Franchitti
2. Buddy Rice

5. Slowest Qualifier (2 pts.) Paul Dana

6. Pick Top Honda Qualifier (2 pts) Tony Kannan

7. Pick Top Toyota Qualifier (2 pts) Helio Castroneves

8. Pick Top Chevy Qualifier (2 pts.) Tomas Scheckter


RACE PICKS:

1. The 2005 Indy Japan 300 winner (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

2. The Top Five: (Please Repeat your "Winner" from #1)
(2 pts for every Driver and Place Correct, 1 pt. for Top 5, but incorrect place)
1. Dan Wheldon
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Tony Kannan
4. Buddy Rice
5. Scott Sharp

3. Driver who will run the Single "Fastest Lap" in the Race (2 pts.) Dan Wheldon

4. The Actual Speed of that Fastest Lap (2 pts)... 204.001
Carry it out to the one-thousandth place like IRL Scoring does:


5. Leader at the following Race Milestones (2 pts. each correct at the actual Milestone):

25 laps: Dan Wheldon

50 laps: Tony Kannan

75 laps: Scott Sharp

100 Laps: Dan Wheldon

4. First car out of Race (2 pts.) Paul Dana

5. Best "Mover" of the Race (from slowest starting spot to highest finish): (2 pts.) Scott Sharp

6. "Backwards Fall from Grace" in the Race (from highest starting spot to worst finish): (2 pts.) Tomas Enge

TIEBREAKER:

Pick the "Average Speed for the Race" (to the one-thousandth):179.346

[Tim Northcutt]

With the new Qualifying Format at Indy, we''ll have to be on the ball and figure out a "Best Way" for us to do each qualifying day, plus the race itself as separate threads....

Help me out here...last year's worked fine...I've done those before....but this year is a whole new scenario!!!

This new Quals format has thrown a monkey wrench into my brain patterns...

I need your input!!!!


and to stay on top of it, we may hav eto look at Pole Day results...tehn submit 2nd Day picks!!!


then Third Day Picks!!!

and "Bump Day" Picks

(Which will KILL me...because I'm going to Mid Ohio that weekend!!)

Followed by "Indy 500 Picks"

[jock25]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Jock25, Tim, Marcus, and GP Racer all had Paul Dana as the slowest qualifier...

(But will he be slowest at Indy???)

Nice one Tim

With regards the Indy qualifying set up, don't be making more work for yourself!

I vote for a simple "pole day" only pick em and then the 500 itself. I know it takes away a lot of the excitement of the unique Indy qualifying set-up but i think it would be the best bet in the interests of: a) getting as many of the "pick ems" grid into the "race" (especially after the failure of so many "teams" to make it to the current flyaway race at Motegi) and b) to give Tim a break!

[Tim Northcutt]

I didn't mean KILL me because of the work involved...

I love doing this...

I won't be able to file "Picks" when I'm over there...and everybody will kick my butt in the points!!!!

[jock25]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

I won't be able to file "Picks" when I'm over there...and everybody will kick my butt in the points!!!!

In light of this, can I retract my "qualifying" and "race" only suggestions and vote for the "as many picks as possible during the month of May" option!?!

On a serious note, i don't really understand the new qualifying format so you guys can decide amongst yourselves the best way.

[drewdawg727]

missed out this weekend too
man i'm falling behind!

[Tim Northcutt]

TO MODERATORS:


Please delete my Preliminary Tally of the Scores...

I re-checked tham and they are incorrect...


These are the correct Tallies of Qualifying:

No one had Sam on the Pole

Tim N. was closest to the Pole Speed:
Actual: 204.739 Tim - 204.279

Top Three Rows:

Marcus was the only one to have a "correct" driver in the spot where he qualified...Scott Sharp

Daisy had 5 points to lead this category...picked 5 of the 6...GOOD JOB!!!

and Welcome to this contest!

Marcus, Jock25 and Flavinha "scored" 4 points each in this section

TimN. GP Racer and Luke had 3 pts each in this section

Jock25, Tim, Marcus, and GP Racer all had Paul Dana as the slowest qualifier...

No one Had Danica as the Top Honda

Jock25 and Flavinha got 2 pts each for Sam Hornish as the Top Toyota Qualifier

Everyone but Marcus had Scheckter as the top Chevy

Points after Qualifying:

1. Jock25 -- 10 pts.
2. Tim N. -- 9 pts. (forgot to add in my closest to the Pole Speed)
3. Flavinha -- 8 pts.
4. GP Racer - 7 pts
(tie) Daisy - 7 pts.
6. Marcus - 6 pts.
7. Luke - 5 pts.


Sorry about that....

Good luck tonight.....

[marcus]

editted out the old ones Tim

[Tim Northcutt]

I will Wait to post the Results until after today's delayed telecast of the race on ESPN

That'll be in about 8 hours of so

[Tim Northcutt]

Here are the Season Totals after three races:

1. Tim N. -- 49 pts.
2. Jock25 -- 48 pts.
3. Luke -- 47 pts.
4. Marcus -- 38 pts.
5. GP Racer -- 37 pts.
6. Flavinha -- 31 pts.
7. Stmookey -- 30 pts.
(tie) Drewdawg -- 30 pts.
9. Down F0rce -- 25 pts.
10. trow -- 12 pts.
11. Raven -- 11 pts.


Today's final results will be added to these totals

[Tim Northcutt]

Here are the Motegi "Pick 'Em's" Results:

Tim N., Jock 25, GP Racer Flavinha, and Daisy all picked Wheldon as the race winner for 2 pts. each

Top Five: GP Racer picked 3 of the Top 5 (with Wheldon to win) for 4 pts. (and I'm glad his favorite driver, Scott Sharp got a great result...Finally!...long overdue!)

Tim N., Jock25, and Marcus scored 3 pts each in this section (Marcus had Herta in the correct spot)...all others had 2 pts here.


Jock25 picked Wheldon for the Fastest Lap...lap 113, BTW

Tim N. was closest to the Fastest Lap;

Actual - 201.290 Tim N.'s Pick - 201.165

(NOTE: Dan gets a draft onthat lap ,and Jock25 would have taken that...he was exactly 1 mph higher than me...anything over 201. 665 would've changed that...and he would have gotten the 3.375-4 tenths of an mph from a draft)

Tim, Jock25 and Flavinha had Wheldon at both the 150 mile and 200 mile marks for 4 pts.each (the caution helped us, because Scheckter blew by Wheldon on that lap like he was standing still....I'd rather be lucky than samert...but Dan led the 150th lap)....GP Racer and Daisy also got 2 pts. for Wheldon leading the 200th lap, and Luke Picked Franchitti or Lap 50 to get 2 pts....no one had Dario leading Lap 100...

Since Bucknum and Dixon both went out on the first lap, even though Bucknum was rated "Last," I gave points for both...Marcus got 2 pts for that pick...

Note: If Enge would've gotten an actual "official" qualifying lap, I would've counted him, too...but he did not set a time....

No one had Bryan Herta as the "Best Mover" - 15th to 5th (10 spots)

No one had Franchitti as the "Fall from Grace" - 8th to 17th (9 spots)

Finally -- Crash-Filled Race...

Tim N. had the closest Average Speed:

Actual: 133.365 Tim N.s' Pick: 164.311...(not close, but the lowest pick)

Motegi "Pick 'Em's" Final Results:

1. Tim N. -- 22 pts.
2. Jock25 -- 21 pts.
3. GP Racer -- 17 pts. (Nice Job!...welcomeback wher you belong!)
4. Flavinha -- 16 pts.
5. Daisy -- 13 pts. (Nice debut...you'll get the hang of it!)
6. Marcus -- 11 pts.
(Tie) Luke -- 11 pts.

Added Observations:

If I had not been lucky enough to pick closest to the "Pole," "Fast Lap," and "Average Race Speeds," I would have finished 4th instead of 1st this weekend....

If Scheckter doesn't run out of fuel, this contest would have been A LOT closer among all of us...

Indy is NEXT....

Big Month!!!

I'm going to think about how I should do this....Indy deserves more than a "Pole Day" with the new format....

I'll work out how to do it somehow...

The Next Post will be Season Totals after Four Races...

Thanks again!!!

[Tim Northcutt]

Season Contest Totals after Four Races:

1. Tim N. -- 71 pts.
2. Jock25 -- 69 pts.
3. Luke -- 58 pts.
4. GP Racer -- 54 pts.
5. Marcus -- 49 pts.
6. Flavinha -- 47 pts
7. Stmookey -- 30 pts.
(tie) Drewdawg -- 30 pts.
9. DownF0rce -- 25 pts.
10. Daisy -- 13 pts.
11. trow -- 12 pts.
12. Raven -- 11 pts.

The Big One Comes Next....watch practice results closely...and I'll clue you in on the weather forecasts...they will play a BIG part in your Picks in May!!!


Good Luck at Indy!!!!!

[GP Racer]

Whew, thanks Tim! I certainly needed a decent finish.

I was beginning to think I lost my touch!

[luke]

Yey dead last! Got that dead wrong, anyways I've now slipped back, ah well, lets hope I can win at Indy.

[marcus]

I'd like announce an official sponsor for my Picks for the rest of the season.

team Red Bull Cheever have stepped up and kindly offered to pay for my picks

the official reason given from Eddie was "at times he shows glimpses of brilliance in the the pick em's contest but in the end he just plainly sucks at it"

Like peas in a pod we are

[Daisy]

I'm happy with my first round, I'm wasn't a big fan of IRL until this year Briscoe came to the series and I like Wheldon as well. I'm glad he won, let's hope Briscoe get grips with ovals soon!

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by Daisy

I'm happy with my first round, I'm wasn't a big fan of IRL until this year Briscoe came to the series and I like Wheldon as well. I'm glad he won, let's hope Briscoe get grips with ovals soon!

Always good to see new fans, welcome aboard Daisy!

Don't worry marcus, I'm feeling very mid-field myself this season! I'm chasing after a Ganassi sponsorship myself! Chip has said about me, "GP will fit very well into our program of no top 10 finishes this season. The Toyota is really GP's speed".

Then there's Tim, with a big, fat AGR sponsorship!