Since Nobody saw that Coming!
For those who watched Iowa’s Race-2 on Sunday
July 24th; remember that Y’all? When an additional 50 laps were
added, meaning drivers had 300 laps to complete around the Ultra Quick 7/8th’s
Short track Oval. Then Y’all know the Heartbreak that Team Penske’s Josef
Newgarden suffered after leading a race High 148 laps.
Yet for several reasons, I now exclusively
listen to IndyCar Qualifying and Races on the IndyCar Radio Network. Ahem, if
you’re paying extra for that Peacock service, then shouldn’t you be getting the
A Team of Leigh Diffey as lead Announcer instead of His Backup Kevin The Werewolf!
Lee in the booth? Oh Never Mind!
Yet it’s funny how the Racing Gawds work, since
Mark Gravelly’ James and Davey Hamilton were singing the praises of How
Newgarden seemed totally Hooke Up and could go wherever He wanted on track,
i.e.; High, Low or Middle lane to Pass all of the competition with ease.
And then Nicky Salt’ Yeoman spent a few minutes
pontificating upon How Newgarden simply Owned Iowa Raceway, having begun the
day having led a ridiculous 1,385 laps and had then surpassed 1,500! And it there
was one racetrack that Newgarden simply Dominated, having the most wins with
four there, and surely Headed for number five, it was Iowa! Before an excited
Mark James broke in saying we’ve got one car up against the wall!
With Hamilton saying How about that! As race
leader Josef Newgarden’s car inexplicably spun out and collected the Turn 4
Wall on lap 235 with a mighty Thump! Whilst leading the race’s Most laps, i.e.; 148 laps, nearly Half race distance!
With Hamilton claiming when watching the accident’s
replay that Newgarden’s car Had Bottomed Out, seeing Sparks just before the
incident! For which I feel like I was the only one who remembered that Michael
Young had earlier reported that Josef had radioed in saying He’d felt a
vibration following His latest Pitstop…
Thus obviously the race was turned on it’s Head
with second placed Patricio Pato’ O’ward taking over the lead, which He seemingly
held off will Power with ease enroute to His fourth career IndyCar win. While
Power’s Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin finished third, being ecstatic over having passed His fellow
countryman and Hero Scott Dixon in the closing stages of the race.
While I’ll mention that Jimmie Johnson came
Home fifth, His best IndyCar finish to date in His two year IndyCar career. As
it was somewhat Disappointing to Hear CGR teammate and current Points leader
Marcus Ericsson saying that JJ’ was too strong for Him at the end and He couldn’t
get around Him!
But is it just me? Since the whole weekend
seemed like a JJ’ Love fest, Barf!
Thus it’s amazing how the points swung back ‘N
forth over the Double Header weekend. As Ericsson was destined to leave Iowa
either second or third with Newgarden taking over on the strength of His impending
season’s fifth W’ before that unexpected crash. Hence seeing Ericsson leave
Iowa with 8th and 6th place finishes respectively. With
the Swede proclaiming they knew it was His weakest track.
As Ericsson left Newton, Iowa with a razor thin
eight points lead: 403-395 over Will Power. While Newgarden dropped one place
and was subsequently tied with thee “Iceman” Dixon who finished a Quiet P4.
Both being just 34 points adrift. With Josef holding the Tiebreaker on wins.
The Driver having the Best Overall weekend mathematically
at Iowa had to be Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward, who capitalized upon
Newgarden’s misfortune to win Sunday’s race. Although I don’t think either O’Ward
or anybody else was going to catch Newgarden! And Along with finishing runner-up
in Race-1, Pato effectively cut His 75 points Disadvantage entering Iowa in
Half. Leaving Newton only 36 pointsbehind Ericsson.
Alex Palou’s points gap continues sliding Backwards
ever since His Contract Debacle announcement. With the Affable Spaniard dropping
to sixth Overall after an uncharacteristic 13th place finish , coupled
with a sixth place finish Saturday. Seeing Alex leave Iowa 44 points behind
Ericsson.
While ScottyMac’, aka Scott McLaughlin rebounded
strongly by finishing third Sunday, after an error with His right rear tyre
during Saturday’s race saw Him finish P22. With the Kiwi’ keeping His
Championship Hopes alive, albeit marginally as the last Contendah’ 86 markers
behind. Since All of the Pundits are saying 100 points deficit is the Cut line
for staying in the title fight…
Meanwhile Christian Lundgaard had a Brake issue
forcing the Dane’ to finish P26 while David Malukas scored His first Top 10
finish of the season in eighth place. Thus Malukas closed the Rookie Of the
Year (ROY) title fight from 24 points to now only four! With Lundgaard leading
208-204 prior to Mother Speedway’s IndyCar-NASCAR Road Course Double Header.
Whilst I won’t belabour the point of how the Face
of the Hy Vee Iowa Double Header Jack, Not Bloody Nige! Harvey did, since it’s
already been covered Ad Nausea elsewerhe…
While Who’d ah-Thunk It! That Romain Grosjean would
be carrying the Banner for Andretti Autosport as their Best performer of the weekend
with finishes of seventh and ninth respectively. Especially since it was only Romain’s
fourth ever Oval track outing, and first time on this Uber Short Track Oval!
Afterwards, we learned that Team Penske had diagnosed
the culprit of Josef Newgardne’s mechanical failure. As Newgarden’s car
suffered an extremely rare right Rear Damper failure, or what us Yanks’ call
Shocks. With Team Penske President Tim cindric saying the failure was somewhat
troubling since it’s a part not known for failing and it hadn’t exceeded it’s
life cycle, so very odd. Especially since they’d been running this Damper
configuration a long time without any issues…
2022 IndyCar Point Standings
1) Marcus Ericsson: 403
2) Will Power: 395, -8
3) Josef Newgarden: 369, -34
3) Scott Dixon: 369, -34
5) Pato O’Ward: 367, -36
6) Alex Palou: 359, -44
