Monday, April 20, 2015

Mirror-Mirror On the Wall, Who's my New Favourite Driver of All?



Valtteri Bottas at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. (Image source: f1fanatic.co.uk)
'Whale, seems like today's date is the right 'Juan for this story, eh? As recently I was asked the most enjoyable Question of all, albeit having been last August now, since Y'all know the drill here in Nofendersville, where your blind 'Vurd Botcherer has fun trying to catch; Uhm, where'd they go; Hya! Err, harvest A-L-L of his stories from the large fermentin' vats; Hooah!

Yet, the Questione surprisingly came from a young lad I used to call the 'Wee Charlie, which he isn't anymore, now quickly honing in on becoming a teenager... Nevertheless, I was caught off guard to hear an 11yr old asking me "who's my favourite  Formula 1 Driver?"

To which I replied: Do you mean favourite of all time? Since I used to be a Gynormous Michael Schumacher fan, to which Charlie replied, I think I'd have liked Senna...



And as I'd noted earlier last year, I'd been trying to decide who'd become my new Numero Uno Gran Primo Piloto? Having become totally DISGUSTED by whom Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen so eloquently christened 'TWINKEYBOY! A.K.A. Seb' Vettel after that nefarious "MULTI-21" affair! Having slithered off to la Scuderia this past winter in hopes of returning to the promised land...


Hence, prior to the 2014 F1 season's start my choice was between the following three: Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas  and Jules Bianchi, although the latter really doesn't get the recognition he deserves by chauffeuring the back-marker Marussia chassis.

Yet I have to say that Bianchi's place in this quest has probably been overtaken by the very impressive Daniel Ricciardo - and thus, I was loathe to choose one particular driver at that moment...

Having decided just a few races into the '14 season, I quickly answered Charlie's question by saying Valtteri Bottas, to which Mary Ellen said; Huh? What about Nico? (Rosberg)

As surely by now, Y'all know the reason 'Brittany has become one of my favs' - having interacted with thy late 'Awntie Harriet a-L-L those years ago upon her return from Mother Speedway...


Although sadly, Monsieur Bianchi has taken himself out of the equation after that HORRIFIC Crash at Suzuka last October - and might never wake up again from that wicked incident!

DRIVER-DRIVER?
Over the years - 'Wayback since my Schuey Dazes, I've forever  retained the quip from my good friend Yutaka about only having one favourite driver... Otherwise you've diluted the pool so to speak, and simply aren't focused enough! For which I've always had mixed emotions about that,  especially the old-ER I become, recognizing more 'N more talented racers.

That said, I'm remaining true to Messer Bottas as P1, who seemingly has a very bright future ahead of him, although his accident at Melbourne didn't help his season start this year.

While I'll continue wishing for Nico Rosberg to become world champion, (Although it appears that Lewis Hamilton's got him covered at the moment...) along with enjoying many others on the Formula 1 grid, i.e.; Daniel 'Ricky Ricciardo, 'JENSE, (Button) Felipe Massa and thee "Incredible Hulkster" (Nico Hulkenberg) to name just a few, as F1's the easy part for Mwah...

A long forgotten Postcard sent to Mwah from Scott Pruett during his much earlier Truesport days, featuring the Truesport 91C racecar. (The Tomaso Collection)
Alas, with the dawn of a new IndyCar season, things just got a whole Helluva difficult, even if I haven't been devoted to a single driver since 'Wayback in the Champ Car Dazes, circa 2007. With my Numero Uno then being Justin B-I-G' UNIT Wilson.

Yet, when I first began following CART 'Wayback in 1986; Aye Karumba! My first ever choice for favourite IndyCar driver was none other than Scott 'Scooter Pruett followed by Robby Dirtman' Gordon, before he later became tagged by myself as GORDOUN! (Thanks in part to his helmet tossing tirade, faux yellow flags for headrest debris, etc) Not to mention enjoying the razzle-dazzle of 'Ol Hollywood, aka Danny Sullivan.

Then later on during thy "chump Carz" Dazes, - as noted previously, along with Wilson, I finally became a fan of the effervescent 'PT, nee Thrill from the West Hill, aka Mr. Chrome Horn or simply Paul Tracy during the final CCWS seasons, (2006-07) especially after donning his purple cage fighting get-up; Hooah!


And in another long winded Tomaso tome coming to No Fenders soon... I became totally smitten over 'JW, aka thee B-I-G' UNIT, also known here at No Fenders as Justin Wilson, the racing driver, NOT the deposed Cajun chef; Hooah! As he's been Number One for a Decade now...

Hence, my current dilemma? Which I'd pondered over the past seven months STUPENDOUS Off-season prior to St Pete is: How to root for  two drivers on the same team? As it just doesn't seem right pullin' for Team Penske's two future Starz, i.e.; Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, who are my numbers two & three favourite drivers respectively...

Justin Wilson RuSport "Hero Card" from the long defunct Champ Car World Series, (CCWS) autographed at the '06 Seattle Roadster Show - Prior to that year's Portland International Raceway event. (The Tomaso Collection)
Alas, with Wilson's IndyCar career seemingly winding down? As I'm still pretty bummed that he wasn't on the grid at St Pete this year, although 'Curty Cavin correctly surmised by hinting prior to the 'Offical announcement on Opening Day at St Pete that Justin indeed has a ride with Mikey A' (Andretti) come Indianapolis this year for both the road course and oval races at Mother Speedway.

Thus it's a good thingy I decided to go to Indianapolis this May, where at least I'll get to see; Err HEAR Justin in action once again...

Nonetheless, I'm ponderin' who to choose as my de facto Numero Uno IndyCar driver, as it just feels wrong to be rootin' for two Penske boyz, (with Power claiming Pole and Pagenaud P2 at St Pete...) although I'll be happy for either of them winning, and mildly intrigued over who comes out on top.

Listening to whom CARPETS' named 'Pageantry, nee Simon Pagenaud via the IMS Radio Network over the St Petersburg race weekend, the jubilance coming from "symone's" voice every time he was interviewed, especially after finishing 0.03s behind Power for Pole made me marvel how Pagenaud's gunning for him...


FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS...
What to do indeedy? As I guess the following few drivers intrigued Mwah as of the start of the 2015 IndyCar season, as I'd miss Round-2 at N'walins, the inaugural Louisiana Grand Prix, which the latter always makes me laugh since that implies it's a Formula 1 race to Mwah! As I was busy frolicking at COTA for the MotoGP race instead; so these are just my initial thoughts going into the incredibly short IndyCar season.

The only Bonafied Star on the Hondre' side that I truly like, as I'm still not a Fan of whom I used  to call "Bully-Ray" (Ryan Hunter-Reay) is thy "Mayor 'O Hinchtown," aka James Hinchcliffe, while I'm interested to see how reigning Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves fairs at the Minnowesqe Bryan Herta Autosport.

 And lurking in the shadows I suppose is 'Bloody "Union Jack," (Hawksworth) although he doesn't exactly crank my pipes. While I found myself yelling at the 'Confuzer during the season's first Fast Six Shootout was GO TAKU! As Takuma Sato, Hawksworth's elder team-mate and current leader at A.J. Foyt Enterprises was the only Honda in the Pole Shootout...

Have always been high upon Joseph  STUD! Newgarden, ever since he entered the B-I-G' CARZ. And like many,  I too expect him to finally "Break-his-Duck" this season regarding standing  atop the podium somewheres' this season.

Also, very interested to see how Stefano Coletti does, along with the intra-squad Scrum at CFH Racing between Newgarden and new boy Luca Filippi on the Twistiy's...

Yet since I'd like to remain with just three IndyCar drivers for my top picks,  it'll be hard to decide, as it seems only fair to have at least each one Honda and Chevrolet runner at a minimum, right? And I always enjoy pullin' for the Underdog, which is tradition here Stateside.

So guess I'll replace Wilson with James Hinchcliffe, eh? Although strangely I find myself more intrigued with hopefully 'KanaDuh's next IndyCar Pilote' Scott Hargrove, along with Jack Harvey, both who are currently plying their trade in Indy Lights. Not to mention the perceived arrival of Carlin Racing to the B-I-G' SHOW shortly...

although I don't know anythingy 'bout this Ed Jones, who reminded me voice-wise of "Plowie" (Martin Plowman) upon hearing him on the podium after winning his debutant Lights race from Pole at St Pete. While I'd really like to see Conor Daly haulin' Duh Mail for Honda in Indy Cars!

Then again, maybe I should go for an all new Top-3? Or is it Ok to have more than three favourite IndyCar drivers? Or should I only have one?  Y'all make the call whilst I try deciding on which drivers to root for...