It is the end of the year and it is a time to reflect on the year that was. A lot of great memories from this motorsports season, from two wheel to four, Eau Rouge to Eldora, many men and women raced all over the globe. This awards ceremony/award post is to commemorate the racers and events that shined the most during 2012. I have many different categories to cover.
Racer of the Year
Description: Given to the best racer over the course of 2012.
Winner: Kyle Larson
Larson raced and won in it all in 2012. From the NASCAR East division to sprint and midgets, Larson had a successful 2012, notably winning the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Perris Auto Speedway. Larson started 2012 with a third place finish at the Chili Bowl. He ran stock cars for the first time in 2012 and won in his first event at New Smyrna Speedway. Larson won the NASCAR East Division championship in his first season after winning two races, one pole, eight top-fives and twelve top-tens in fourteen starts. He made his debut in Camping World Truck Series where he scored three top-tens in his first three races, including a near win in his third race at Phoenix. His best Truck start of 2012 was a second at Homestead.
Despite not being in NASCAR, Formula One or IndyCar, Larson ran a diverse schedule and had success in all he raced. With what seems a bright path in the world of NASCAR, Larson has expressed interest in IndyCar and as a fan, I only hope he keeps to the varied schedule and runs multiple series on everything from paved ovals to dirt, road to street courses for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: Sébastien Loeb, Sebastian Vettel, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jorge Lorenzo, Brad Keselowski, Fernando Alonso.
Race of the Year
Description: Best Race of 2012.
Winner: Indianapolis 500
The first Indianapolis 500 for the DW12 chassis was a great success with a record number of lead changes and more passing at the Speedway than with the IR03/07. After Chevrolet dominated the qualifying days, the Hondas showed up on race day and other than Marco Andretti leading early in the race, Chevrolet's best chance was Tony Kanaan late but he could not hold off the Ganassi's of Franchitti and Dixon. The two Target cars started fifteenth and sixteenth and lead a total seventy-three laps. The Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Honda of Takuma Sato was consistent all day and was in a position for the possible win. Sato made his move in turn one a la Al Unser in turn three on Emerson Fittipaldi and the result was the same. Franchitti won his third Indianapolis 500 with Sato finishing seventeenth. Six of the top ten finishers started outside the top ten.
Honorable Mentions: Malaysian Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Auto Club 400, German motorcycle Grand Prix.
Achievement of the Year
Description: Best success by a driver, team, manufacture, etc.
Winner: DeltaWing
After over two years of talk and rejection from IndyCar, Ben Bowlby's brain child made it to the race track. It was invited to race at Le Mans and it made the grid with help from Nissan and Michelin. It was running respectably before a collision with the Toyota TS030 of Kazuki Nakijima. The DeltaWing would see the track again at Petit Le Mans where the car made it to the finish, only six laps between the winning Rebellion Racing Lola, fifth place over all. The DeltaWing hopes the regulations allow it to compete in the 2013 American Le Mans Series, with hopes of being invited back to Le Mans. The DeltaWing group has also expressed interest in become in the new Indy Lights chassis.
Honorable Mentions: Audi R18 Hybrid wins Le Mans, Roger Penske wins first NASCAR Championship, Dodge wins first NASCAR Cup championship since 1975, Robert Kubica beginning his return back to racing.
Moment of the Year
Description: Best Moment in the World of Racing.
Winner: Alex Zanardi
It may have been a hand cycle but Alex Zanardi's two gold medals and silver medal were the most celebrate medals to come from either the Olympic or Paralympic games by the world of racing. Almost ten years to the day, Zanardi won his first medal in the individual time trial by over twenty-seven seconds. He would go on to win gold in the road race with a late pass and he and his Italian teammates finished second only to the Americans in the mixed relay.
Honorable Mentions: Kimi Räikkönen on the podium after his victory at Abu Dhabi, Ryan Hunter-Reay with the Astor Cup and American flag after winning the IndyCar championship, Casey Stoner winning his final Australian Grand Prix.
Pass of the Year
Description: Best pass of 2012.
Winner: Simon Pagenaud at Baltimore.
He went from sixth to first on a restart, on a street circuit. Enough said.
Honorable Mentions: Marcos Ambrose on Brad Keselowski final lap at Watkins Glen, Sebastian Vettel on Jenson Button lap 66 of the German Grand Prix (illegal or not, that was a pretty petty call by the stewards. We have all seen a lot worse not called.), Lewis Hamilton on Mark Webber in turn 12 at United States Grand Prix, Dario Franchitti and Takuma Sato passing Scott Dixon on lap 199 at Indianapolis.
The Eric Idle Award
Description: "Cheer up boy. You Know What They Say. Somethings in Life Are Bad. They Can Really Make You Bad. Other Things Just Make You Swear and Curse. When You're Chewing on Life's Gristle, Don't Grumble, Give a Whistle, And This'll Help Things Turn Out For The Best, and... Always Look On The Bright Side of Life."
Winner: Ben Spies
A year to forget in Moto GP. When he had great runs going, some how they come undone. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life Ben and to a better of 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Randy Bernard, Simona de Silvestro, Shane Van Gisbergen, Tom Sykes.
Broadcast Team of the Year
Description: Best broadcast team.
Winner: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, Will Buxton.
2012 was the final year for the SPEED F1 team, as the rights head over to NBC Sports. While Hobbs, Matchett and Buxton will all head to NBC, Varsha will stay at SPEED. What has been a great team will come to an end but we will always have our memories.
Honorable Mentions: Bob Jenkins, Wally Dallenbach, Jan Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Townsend Bell, Robin Miller and Marty Snider (IndyCar on NBC Sports Net), Ralph Sheheen, Jeff Emig and Erin Bates (Supercross on SPEED).
Most Improved
Description: Racer Who Improved The Most from 2011 to 2012.
Winner: Esteban Guerrieri
He may have only finished second in Indy Lights in but had many accidents in 2011while in good positions and avoided that for most of 2012. May not be the greatest thing since sliced bread but has talent and may be competent in the next step in the ladder system.
Honorable Mentions: Sergio Pérez, Álvaro Bautista, Stefan Bradl.
With that I think it is time to call it a night and congratulate all those who stood out in racing in 2012 and wish everyone the best in 2013.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
