And can Romain Grosjean join this category this
season?
Following Debutante IndyCar winner Kyle Kirkwood’s
maiden W’ at Long Beach, remember that Y’all? I began wondering How many first
timeIndyCar winners there’s been recently?
For which I’ve elected to go back to when the series became Whole once again,
i.e.; since the Reunification. For which it turns out, Thars far more than I’d
expected! And can you guess How many?
2008
Whilst I still believe I watched that race, is
sure Don’t feel like “Yesterday” to Mwah! As Graham Rahal in only His 16 Start,
and second round of the newly Mergified IndyCar Series, having failed to
compete at Homestead. As Rahal crashed in Miami and the Newman/Haas/Lanigan
Boyz’ weren’t able to repair His damaged Dallara/Honda in time for the race. Won
His Debutante IndyCar race at St Pete. As Rahal became the series youngest winner
at 19yrs and 93 Days Old, eclipsing Marco Andretti’s 2006 Breakthru victory.
The record books claim that Graham also became
just the fourth IndyCar winner to win in His first IndyCar Start. Joining Buzz
Calkins, Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon, Huh?
Since is this just one more Slight towards the
Champ Car World Series? (CCWS) Revisionist History? Or simply trying to Not
recognize that Ugly twelve year chapter in Open Wheel Racing forever known as
The Split!
As I’ve got a Hard time believing this “Record.”
Especially since Graham contested the entire 15 rounds 2007 Champ Car campaign
for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing aboard one of those stellar Panoz DP01 Cosworth
XFE 2.65-litre V-8 turbocharged racecars! For which I’m certain I “Saw” Him
racing alongside my then Numero Uno IndyCar driver Justin Big Unit’ Wilson at
Portland International Raceway, but I digress!
The next race was held in Japan on Twin Ring
Motegi on April 19, when History was made again. When Danica Patrick, along
with Helio Castroneves and Ed Carpenter played the Fuel Strategy game by
topping up Her tank on Lap-149 in Hopes the race would remain Green until the
end. As Danica resumed in seventh place in Fuel saving mode. Then with 10-laps
remaining, the leaders All began making Splash ‘N go Pitstops. Seeing Patrick
steadily moving forwards, before passing a slowing Castroneves with two laps remaining
to become the first ever Female to win an IndyCar race.
At the Milwaukee Mile, one week after Scott
Dixon won the Indianapolis 500. Dixon dueled with eventual first time winner Ryan
Briscoe, whose victory was El Capitano’s, nee Roger Penske’s 300th victory
Overall!
2009-10
No First time IndyCar winners.
2011
Following His very scary, wicked last lap
accident with Ryan Hunter-Reay’s slowing car at Indianapolis in 2010. Mike Conway
scored His maiden IndyCar victory for Andretti Autosport at the 2011 Long Beach
event.
Ed Carpenter, whose become known as Fast Eddie’
here upon No Fenders, scord His maiden IndyCar win on the Kentucky Oval for
Sarah Fisher Racing.
2012
No First time IndyCar winners.
2013
This was a Busy year! As thee Mayor ‘O
Hinchtown’, aka James Hinchcliffe won for the first of three times this year at
the season opening St Pete race.
Next at Round 3, Takuma Sato driving for A.J.
foyt claimed His Debutante IndyCar win at Long Beach aboard the storied No. 14.
Which sadly, is a.J. foyt enterprises last IndyCar win, a decade ago!
At Round 8, Belle Isle’s Detroit Double Header
Race 2 saw Symone’, nee Pageantry’, aka Simon Pagenaud claim His first IndyCar
win for Schmidt Peterson Hamilton HP Motorsports. The first of His two
victories this season. As Pagenaud and Hinchcliffe had Breakout seasons.
And then ‘Ol Narly Pinball’, aka Charlie
Kimball scored His First and Only IndyCar victory at Round 14’s Mid Ohio Sports
Car course driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
2014
Obviously it’s a little Foggy now. As I believe it was the Master of Strategy Dale Coyne that got the long forgotten Carlos Huertas His first and Only IndyCar victory in Round 9’s Houston Double Header Race 1 for Dale Coyne Racing.
For the Conclusion of this First time Winners story
covering years 2015-2023, please visit the following No Fenders link below.
http://www.nofenders.net/2023/05/can-romain-grosjean-win-at-indianapolis.html
