Hard to believe that we are half way through the 2012 IndyCar Season. With either 7 or 8 races remaining, depending on a 16th race being worked out (which I think will happen) it is time to review the first half and look forward to the second.
The Positives:
The DW12 has put on great races this year. St. Pete was pretty good, Barber stunned everybody, Long Beach was better than ever (with a little help from Chevrolet), Sao Paulo, as always, was fun, Indianapolis was one of the best races we have ever seen, Texas saw a thrilling race with the car back in the driver's hands and Milwaukee did not disappoint and had a good draw.
There has been a great battle between Chevrolet and Honda with Chevrolet holding the edge in wins 5 to 3 but Honda seems much better than they were in the first four rounds.
The little teams have a fighting chance. Dale Coyne and Justin Wilson won at Texas, Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing have shown speed but have yet to translate that into success in races, Ed Carpenter has had great runs on ovals and Takuma Sato and Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing has been in contention at a few races this year.
Beaux Barfield and the drivers have been working together to solve problems, whether it be with the car or restarts. He also got rid of the no defending rule and made the correct call of black flagging Will Power, despite the fact he was the leader at Texas, for a clear block.
The Negatives:
Lotus has been a disaster.
Belle Isle killed momentum and was the worst race by a country mile.
China fell through.
Barfield had one horrible call with penalizing Scott Dixon at Milwaukee.
Izod seems to be less involved than the previous two years and there have been open reports IndyCar is looking for their successor.
Rumors swirled that car owners wanted to out Randy Bernard and they still don't want aero kits.
The Bright Sides of The Negatives
While Lotus has been a disaster, with a Chevrolet, Oriol Servia is now in the top 10 in the driver's championship. Alex Tagliani, now with Honda, has been way more competitive and won the pole at Texas. Sebastien Bourdais now has a reasonable shot to win but sadly will only race road and street course while Katherine Legge does ovals. Sadly, Simona de Silvestro is still stuck with Lotus and has to make do.
We have had three great races since Belle Isle and we head to Iowa which has been a great race in the past and now will have heat races to determine the starting grid.
The door is now open for Road America.
Barfield acknowledged that he and the stewards completed screwed Dixon and I don't think they will let something like that happen again.
Verizon has been very active as a sponsor with their commercials. Izod may be reassessing their involvement, especially after the events at Las Vegas last October, but they may decide to stick with the series and pick up promoting the series at the end of 2012, heading into the 2013 season.
The car owners don't run the series anymore and aero kits have to be coming; eventually.
Those Who Have Impressed
Oriol Servia- Considering he was with Lotus and is now in the top 10 in points.
Simon Pagenaud- He has two podiums, five top 10s and has been respectable on ovals.
Josef Newgarden- Results don't show it but he has shown a lot of potential.
James Hinchcliffe- Second overall, leads the AJ Foyt Oval championship and if it wasn't for Belle Isle falling apart, he would probably have a top 10 finish in every race. Take out Belle Isle, his worst finish this year is 6th, with two podiums but is still searching for that first career victory.
Ryan Hunter-Reay- If he doesn't have a mechanical failure at Indianapolis and Texas, he is probably second in the standings. With his win at Milwaukee last Saturday, Hunter-Reay 2012 season has started much better than his 2011 season.
Those Who Have Held Their Own
Will Power- Three wins, leads the standings. Nothing to see here.
Scott Dixon- One win, five podiums, has led the most laps at four races and he led every lap from pole in his Belle Isle win.
Dario Franchitti- Won Indianapolis, won pole at Milwaukee, has four top tens.
Tony Kanaan- Two podiums, three top fives, four top tens.
Rubens Barrichello- Four top tens, started in the top ten at Indianapolis and finished in 11th.
Those Who Have Been A Little Disappointing
Marco Andretti- Started 4th at Indianapolis, but struggled all day before his accident. Zero top tens, best finish is 11th.
Takuma Sato- Granted he nearly won Indianapolis and Long Beach and got a podium at Sao Paulo, you have to a little disappointed he hasn't done more. Six retirements, including the last four races, all of which have been for contact.
What To Looking Forward To
Hopefully Road America.
Hopefully the heat races at Iowa are well received.
If Barber and Long Beach were great races, than the remaining five (maybe six) road and street races should be decent and we should have no repeats of Belle Isle.
Hopefully Randy Bernard can work something out to keep Texas and add a few ovals, maybe even mile and a half race tracks after decreasing downforce at Texas.
Plenty of time left in the 2012 season and a lot more to come.
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