The two biggest international open-wheel racing series start the 2010 season with the Indy Racing League in Brazil and Formula One teams competing in Bahrain.
Coming off an exciting 2009 season with Dario Franchitti winning the championship at the last race of the season there should little doubt that as many as five drivers with three teams will be contending for the title this year.
Franchitti and Target Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon have captured the IRL titles the past two years and should be prepared to again challenge for the title. The Penske team of Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe should be in the forefront for most of the year. I believe Tony Kanaan with Andretti motorsports will be the fifth driver in the championship chase.
This is a crucial year for Andretti motorsports teammates Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick. Both need to show that they contend at every race because of the first-rate equipment they are in. One has to wonder if Patrick’s racing with NASCAR will serve as a distraction.
I anticipate Will Power in a Penske Racing machine and Ryan Hunter-Reay driving with Andretti are due for breakout seasons.
Power showed last year he can be competitive and Hunter-Reay has the talent necessary to be a star.
The downside of the IRL opener is that it will be broadcast on Versus, which is not available to Direct-TV subscribers.
Formula One kicks off Sunday on the Speed Channel and it should prove to be an interesting season.
Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be driving for Ferrari and both have to be considered favorites for the championship. There will be a lot of questions surrounding Massa as he returns after a near-fatal freak accident last year.
The return of Michael Schumacher to Formula One with Mercedes should attract a lot of attention. Will the seven-time champion still have the necessary skills to be competitive after sitting out three years in retirement?
Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Jenson Button give McLaren a formidable driving combination.
Those six drivers should be battling for the title this season.
In other racing news
Anderson Speedway kicks off the season this Saturday at 1 p.m. with racing in five divisions. Thunder Cars, Pure Stock, Mini-Cups and Front Wheel Drives on the oval and figure-8 will be in action.
There will also be Australian Pursuit races for the Thunder Cars and Front Wheel Drives on the oval. The rules are simple: get passed and park the car.
The track is offering a $1 discount for any fan wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day and a $1 discount for bringing a nonperishable food item to be donated to local food pantries.
Contact Ken de la Bastide: 454-8580, ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com.
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Ken de la Bastide: IRL, F1 seasons get rollin'
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Ken de la Bastide: 'Mile' back on IndyCar schedule
There was good news for IZOD IndyCar fans this week with the announcement that the famed “Milwaukee Mile” is back on the 2012 schedule.
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Ken de la Bastide: Barrichello might move to IndyCar
Although the IZOD IndyCar Series lost its most identifiable driver with the move of Danica Patrick to NASCAR, possible changes could raise the level of competition to new heights. The IZOD IndyCar season starts on March 25 and there is a chance a veteran Formula One driver could be in the mix.
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Ken de la Bastide: Stewart could aid Danica
With the Daytona 500 less than a month away, one of the big unknowns is will Danica Patrick have to race her way into the starting field or will car owner Tony Stewart buy her way in?
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Danica ditches Indy
Danica Patrick became a worldwide sensation as a rookie at the Indianapolis 500, challenging for victory and becoming the first woman to lead laps in the showcase race.
Those Indy days are fading fast.
Patrick’s shift to stock cars is long under way, and her ties to IndyCar were cut even further Monday — she said she won’t run in this year’s Indy 500. -
Ken de la Bastide: Changes looming in July
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Ken de la Bastide: IndyCar back to the Mile?
Last week I received several comments regarding the lack of oval races on the 2012 IZOD IndyCar schedule.
One reader noted, correctly, that a factor for scheduling races on oval tracks has been a lack of attendance. Another reader also correctly stated that the oval races need to be promoted better to attract fans, and of course sponsorship dollars are a necessity. -
Kirby opens 2012 with Street Stock win
Tight racing through the first half of the EDCO Welding Street Stock feature gave way to leaders mixing it up in Turn 2, with Jimmy Kirby emerging as the leader.
Above normal temperatures and sunny skies on Saturday brought out more than 80 race teams and a healthy crowd of fans for the Aqua System New Year’s Bash presented by EDCO Welding. -
Ken de la Bastide: Indy 500 is top race of 2011
There should be little doubt that the 100th anniversary race of the Indianapolis 500 was the best event of 2011. One could almost make the case that the race has vaulted the “500” back to the top of all motorsports.
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‘Limitless’ racing factor in fatal Vegas wreck
Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s “limitless” racing surface was singled out Thursday as a significant factor in a “perfect storm” of conditions that led to the death of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
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Ken de la Bastide: Schmidt receives well-deserved honor
It was heartening to see last week that IZOD IndyCar team owner Sam Schmidt was presented with the 2011 Achievement Award at the International Motorsports Industry Show.
Schmidt was paralyzed in 2000 during testing at the Walt Disney World Speedway and the next year formed Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
The team has found success in Indy Car racing, having won five Indy Lights championships with 46 race wins, and also has fielded cars in the IZOD IndyCar series for the past nine years. - More Auto Racing Headlines
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