The IZOD IndyCar series recently announced that it is capping the size of the starting field in 15 of the 17 races that comprise the 2011 season. The two exceptions are the Indianapolis 500 and the last race of the season in Las Vegas.
I don’t know what the ideal starting field would be for an IndyCar race, but I suspect that 26 is a reasonable number on the street and road courses the series runs. Of course, for the Indianapolis 500, the starting field consists of 33 drivers, and the championship weekend race on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be 30.
The Las Vegas field is being expanded to allow teams competing for the
$5 million challenge to race. The challenge is offering
$5 million to a non-regular competitor, if they win the race.
What I do like about the race procedure is that 24 of the 26 teams will make the race based on their qualifying speeds. That means 92 percent of the field will consist of the fastest cars.
As a comparison, NASCAR’s Sprint Cup locks in 35 teams each weekend based on owner points and there is a champion’s provisional. What that means is that 83 percent of the 43-car starting field are locked in, no matter what the qualifying speed is.
IndyCar has two provisional starting positions at the 15 races with a starting field of 26. The criteria to be used is the 2010 champion, 2009 champion, 2010 winner of the Indianapolis 500, highest ranking driver among the top 22 in current points prior to the race weekend, Leader Circle (team running the full season) best practice lap and next best qualifying lap.
Since Dario Franchitti is the 2010 champion and reigning Indy 500 champion, there should be little doubt that he will post in his Target/Ganassi car one of the 24 fastest times, along with teammate Scott Dixon, the 2009 champion.
What that means is two teams that might not have had a chance of making the race will now have that opportunity.
No provisional spots will be offered at Sao Paulo and Japan, but the field will still consist of 26 starters.
What I like about the format is that the fastest cars will be starting every race, and a team that is quick during qualifying won’t be sent packing because another has a guaranteed starting position.
In other racing news
It was good to see Mark Martin win the Nationwide Series race last weekend, even though the victory came when Brad Keselowski cut down a tire on the final lap. After the win, Martin said he wouldn’t have been in victory lane if it had not been for Keselowski’s misfortune.
Danica Patrick, with her fourth-place finish, made NASCAR history. Her finish is the best by a woman in NASCAR competition since another female competitor finished fifth in 1949.
It is obvious that Patrick is improving each week that she competes in a stock car, but the finish was misleading. At one point, she was two laps down. She got one lap back on a wave-around following a caution, and the second lap was gained when she was the “Lucky Dog.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
Contact Ken de la Bastide: 454-8580, ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
Discussion
Ken de la Bastide: IndyCar caps field at 26 cars
- Sports
-
-
Triumphant Tribe
Seventeen years of frustration and disappointment for the Anderson Indians baseball team ended in a jubilant dog pile atop junior pitcher Curtis Wilson on Monday night at Pendleton Heights’ Field of Dreams.
-
Argylls squeeze into crown
Madison-Grant coach Ben Rodriguez liked his squeeze play so much that he called it again in the pivotal inning of the Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game at Eastern High School on Monday night in Greentown.
-
Bulldogs’ comeback falls just short
Not even a heroic seventh-inning rally could save the Lapel baseball team in the Class 2A sectional title game at Frankton on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh inning but still came up a run short as the Wapahani Raiders won the championship 9-8.
-
Tribe rallies past Pendleton Heights into final
This is the stuff of legend.
The kind of game that defines a rivalry.
The kind of victory that breathes new life into a program.
And the kind of defeat that won’t ever be forgotten. -
George Bremer: In with Orton, out of Luck?
There really is no offseason anymore in the National Football League.
The Indianapolis Colts haven’t played a game since Jan. 1, but look at all the headlines they’ve generated since that date. -
Kahne keeps Hendrick success rolling at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne powered to victory in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, taking NASCAR's longest race for the third time for his first win with Hendrick Motorsports.
-
Spurs strike first in West finals, win 19th in row
Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their 19th in a row to tie the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 to open the Western Conference finals on Sunday night.
-
Konerko hits go-ahead HR, White Sox sweep Indians
Paul Konerko got a big milestone home run and the White Sox got a sweep of the only team between them and the AL Central lead.
-
Reds outslug Rockies on record day for HRs
Here's how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.
-
Cubs lose 12th straight, 10-4 to Pirates
The Chicago Cubs didn't come to close to ending their longest losing streak in more than 15 years. Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates beat Chicago 10-4, sending the Cubs to their 12th consecutive loss.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
