IRL: Homestead Avg. Fin

If you were thinking about Dan Wheldon this week – we highly agree.

Driver	Avg Finish	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Dan Wheldon	1.80	3	1	1	1	3
Sam Hornish Jr	2.25		3	3	2	1
Helio Castroneves	4.40	4	9	2	5	2
Scott Dixon	8.40	1	2	5	16	18
Tony Kanaan	7.00	8	5	11	3	8
Ryan Hunter-Reay	7.00	7
Patrick Carpentier	7.00				7
Felipe Giaffone	8.00			8
Vitor Meira	8.50	10	4	16	4
Tomas Scheckter	8.25		8	9	11	5
Eddie Cheever Jr	10.00			10
Scott Sharp	10.25		12	7	13	9
Darren Manning	9.50	13	13		6	6
Dario Franchitti	12.50		7	4	22	17
Sarah Fisher	11.00		11
Kosuke Matsuura	11.25		16	6	12	11
P J Chesson	12.00			12
Anthony Foyt IV	12.75	9	18		9	15
Oriol Servia	12.00	12
Ed Carpenter	12.20	5	6	20	18	12
Marco Andretti	12.33	2	20	15
Danica Patrick	13.00	6	14	17	15
Alex Barron	14.33		19		8	16
Bryan Herta	13.33			13	14	13
Buddy Lazier	14.00			14
Franck Perera	14.00	14
Buddy Rice	13.00	11	10	18	19	7
Paul Dana	14.50			19	10
Justin Wilson	15.00	15
Mario Moraes	16.00	16
E J Viso	17.00	17
Roger Yasukawa	17.00				17
Jeff Simmons	17.00		17
Enrique Bernoldi	18.00	18
Marty Roth	18.00	21	15
Ryan Briscoe	19.50	19			20
Milka Duno	20.00	20
Tomas Enge	21.00				21
Jay Howard	22.00	22
Bruno Junqueira	23.00	23
Hideki Mutoh	24.00	24
Will Power	25.00	25

Short Trackin' Indy style

For the next two weeks, the Indy Racing League is going short trackin', but don't look for the same beating and banging you've grown accustomed to in NASCAR competition. The sleek open wheel cars are all about precision, even on ovals measuring less than a mile in length. Of course smaller tracks mean that drivers are rarely out of contact with another car, and a different mindset is required to run well on these.

Three drivers have been nearly perfect at Iowa Speedway—a .875-mile course—and Richmond International Raceway—the .750-mile short track that Iowa was patterned after. Foremost among these is Dario Franchitti. He took last year off to race with NASCAR good old boys, but in 2007 he swept both races at Iowa and Richmond. Before 2007, the IRL ran at Richmond only and Franchitti finished second in 2005 and third in 2006. The only time he failed to finish in the top five was in his first effort in Virginia in 2004.

Dan Wheldon has finished in the top 10 seven times in eight starts on IRL's two active short tracks and he also has a pair of victories on these courses. He won at Richmond in 2004 and Iowa last year. With a worst finish of 11th, Wheldon has an average of 5.25 at Richmond and Iowa, which lags well behind Franchitti's 3.80.

Marco Andretti has the third-best average finish among active IndyCar drivers. With a 6.0, he's had higher lows than his three principal rivals. Andretti has failed to win one of his five short track attempts, but he came close at Iowa in 2007 when he finished second to Franchitti. With three top-fives, four top-10s and a worst finish of 12th, he nevertheless makes a great candidate for this week's lineup.

IndyCar short tracks, last five races

Driver	Avg Finish	2008 Richmond	2008 Iowa	2007 Richmond	2007 Iowa	2006 Richmond
Dario Franchitti	1.67			1	1	3
Dan Wheldon	5.60	4	1	3	11	9
Marco Andretti	6.00	9	3	12	2	4
Scott Dixon	6.00	3	4	2	10	11
Hideki Mutoh	7.50	13	2
Helio Castroneves	9.00	2	14	11	8	10
Danica Patrick	9.20	6	6	6	13	15
Justin Wilson	9.50	7	12
Tomas Scheckter	11.00			7	19	7
Ryan Briscoe	11.00	15	7
Tony Kanaan	11.40	1	18	4	16	18
E J Viso	11.50	10	13
Sarah Fisher	11.50			16	7
Ed Carpenter	11.60	11	23	10	6	8
Ryan Hunter-Reay	12.00	16	8
Anthony Foyt IV	13.50	24	5	13	12
Graham Rahal	14.00	18	10
Mario Moraes	18.00	17	19
Milka Duno	20.33		24	19	18

More Indy Racing League Newsbreakers

IRL: Iowa's last two races

With only two previous Iowa Speedway races in the Indy Racing League book, there isn't a lot to go on this week, but fantasy players may find some inspiration in who ran well in these few events.

Dario Franchitti took last year off to make an attempt at NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, but before he left, he won his only race at Iowa after starting third. This short track was patterned after Richmond International Raceway and on that course, he's been nearly perfect with finishes of second (2005), third (2006) and first (2007) in four attempts. That speaks volumes about his odds for this week.

Marco Andretti has run both Iowa races and he's been close to perfect. With a second in 2007 and a third in 2008, he's come close to winning twice. Perhaps there is something in short track racing that is appealing to his somewhat aggressive style of competition. By contrast, his teammates Tony Kanaan (with a 16th in 2007 and an 18th last year) and Danica Patrick (13th and sixth respectively) have not been nearly as strong.

Last year's winner Dan Wheldon proved that fantasy players cannot always rely strictly on past records. After a modest showing of 11th in 2007, he stormed into victory lane last year, so don't be afraid to take drivers with momentum on their side.

Average finish, last two races

Driver	Avg Finish	2008	2007
Dario Franchitti	1.00		1
Hideki Mutoh	2.00	2
Marco Andretti	2.50	3	2
Scott Sharp	3.00		3
Dan Wheldon	6.00	1	11
Ryan Briscoe	7.00	7
Scott Dixon	7.00	4	10
Sarah Fisher	7.00		7
Ryan Hunter-Reay	8.00	8
Anthony Foyt IV	8.50	5	12
Will Power	9.00	9
Danica Patrick	9.50	6	13
Graham Rahal	10.00	10
Helio Castroneves	11.00	14	8
John Andretti	11.00	11
Justin Wilson	12.00	12
Vitor Meira	12.00	15	9
E J Viso	13.00	13
Buddy Rice	13.00	22	4
Darren Manning	13.00	21	5
Sam Hornish Jr	14.00		14
Ed Carpenter	14.50	23	6
Kosuke Matsuura	15.00		15
Oriol Servia	16.00	16
Tony Kanaan	17.00	18	16
Jeff Simmons	17.00		17
Enrique Bernoldi	17.00	17
Mario Moraes	19.00	19
Tomas Scheckter	19.00		19
Jaime Camara	20.00	20
Milka Duno	21.00	24	18
Bruno Junqueira	25.00	25
Marty Roth	26.00	26

More Indy Racing League Newsbreakers

IRL: Several tests on tap

Most of the Indy Racing League drivers tested at a variety of locations this week in preparation for the upcoming season. According to OpenWheelWorld.net, they were:

Watkins Glen International: Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Mario Moraes, Mike Conway, Milka Duno, Justin Wilson and Richard Antinucci.

Richmond International Raceway: Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Dan Wheldon, Raphael Matos and E J Viso.

Chicagoland Speedway: Ed Carpenter (in a Firestone tire test).

Iowa Speedway: Dario Franchitti

Our View: Practice makes perfect, so put a tickle file in your computers for the appropriate week and then watch these drivers closely in open practice sessions when that race rolls around.

More Indy Racing League Newsbreakers

IRL: Texas' last five races

After posting three consecutive top-fives from St. Petersburg through Kansas Speedway, Tony Kanaan has had two horrible weekends in the Indy Racing League with finishes in the 20s in the Indy 500 and at the Milwaukee Mile. Last week, he entered the flat one-mile oval with a near perfect record on that track during the last five years before crashing barely 12 races into the event. Now, he has another chance to rebound. At Texas Motor Speedway, he's finished seventh or better in his last five tries.

Helio Castroneves has actually been stronger in recent seasons. Except for a crash in 2007, he would have swept the top five since the fall 2004 race, having won twice and posting a second-place finish.

Dan Wheldon posted the fastest time in Friday's session and he too has to be considered a serious contender this week. Like Castroneves, he had a bad 2007 race, but has finished sixth or better four of his last five attempts.

Average finish, last five races

Driver	Avg. Fin	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004.2
Tony Kanaan	3.8	5	2	7	3	2
Helio Castroneves	5.0	2	16	1	5	1
Adrian Fernandez	5.0					5
Hideki Mutoh	6.0	6
Sam Hornish Jr	6.0		1	4	2	17
Scott Sharp	6.0		7	5	4	8
Dan Wheldon	6.2	4	15	3	6	3
Vitor Meira	6.2	7	5	6	9	4
Scott Dixon	6.4	1	12	2	11	6
Mark Taylor	7.0					7
Ryan Briscoe	7.5	3			12
Townsend Bell	9.0					9
Danica Patrick	9.5	10	3	12	13
Dario Franchitti	10.0		4	13	8	15
Sarah Fisher	10.0		10
Jeff Simmons	10.5		6	15
Kosuke Matsuura	10.8		9	8	7	19
Graham Rahal	11.0	11
Tora Takagi	12.0					12
Bryan Herta	12.3			11	10	16
Will Power	13.0	13
Felipe Giaffone	13.5			16		11
Tomas Scheckter	13.6	25	14	10	1	18
E J Viso	14.0	14
Milka Duno	14.0	17	11
Alex Barron	14.0				14	14
Anthony Foyt IV	14.3	12	17		18	10
Buddy Rice	15.0	8	8	18	21	20
Bruno Junqueira	15.0	15
Roger Yasukawa	15.0				15
Ed Carpenter	15.4	9	18	9	20	21
John Andretti	16.0	16
Patrick Carpentier	16.0				16
Tomas Enge	16.0				19	13
Eddie Cheever Jr	17.0			17
Marco Andretti	17.3	19	19	14
Mario Moraes	18.0	18
Buddy Lazier	19.0			19
Darren Manning	19.3	28	13		17
Ryan Hunter-Reay	20.0	20
Jon Herb	20.0		20
Mario Dominguez	21.0	21
Marty Roth	22.0	22
Jimmy Kite	22.0				22
Enrique Bernoldi	23.0	23
Jaime Camara	24.0	24
Oriol Servia	26.0	26
Justin Wilson	27.0	27

IRL: Wheldon paces Texas' first practice

Dan Wheldon posted the fastest practice time in Texas' first session, with a lap of 215.783 mph. Danica Patrick was second best at 214.884.

Our View: That is hauling the mail. By comparison, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last spring's pole with a speed of 190.907 in the heavier NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. Patrick has been incredibly strong on oval tracks, so her chance of extending the top-five streak to five is real.

Complete Practice Times

IRL: Milwaukee, Last five races

Tony Kanaan had another terrible Indy 500 when he crashed before the halfway mark and finished 27th in a 33-car field. If the past is any indication though, he should rebound nicely this week. The Indy Racing League has been going to the Milwaukee Mile for five years and Kanaan has never finished outside the top-five there. In fact, he took top honors in back-to-back season in 2006 and 2007, which makes him one of the favorites to win again this week.

Nearly as stout, Dario Franchitti is back from his NASCAR sojourn and he's never finished worse than sixth in four starts on this track. He won the inaugural race in 2004 and then posted runner-up results in 2005 and 2007. Last week, he was in contention for the 500 victory until trouble in the pits relegated him to seventh, so he will be looking for redemption.

Dan Wheldon does not have the overall numbers of Kanaan and Franchitti, but he's certainly come on strong lately. He struggled to an 18th-place finish in 2004 and was a modest eighth in 2006, but every other result has been a top-five—and that is enough to recommend him for this week's Milwaukee race.

Results, Last five years

Driver	Avg Finish	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Tony Kanaan	2.60	3	1	1	4	4
Dario Franchitti	2.75		2	6	2	1
Sam Hornish Jr	3.75		9	2	1	3
Oriol Servia	6.00	6
Justin Wilson	7.00	7
Patrick Carpentier	7.00				7
Bryan Herta	7.33			7	6	9
Alex Barron	7.50				8	7
Dan Wheldon	7.60	4	3	8	5	18
E J Viso	8.00	8
Adrian Fernandez	8.00					8
Townsend Bell	8.50	11				6
Jeff Simmons	9.50		10	9
Danica Patrick	10.00	9	8	4	19
Scott Dixon	10.20	2	4	10	13	22
Scott Sharp	10.75		6	12	10	15
Tomas Scheckter	11.00		17	3	3	21
Vitor Meira	11.20	22	5	15	9	5
Buddy Rice	11.60	10	18	11	17	2
Hideki Mutoh	12.00	12
Kosuke Matsuura	12.50		12	17	11	10
Helio Castroneves	12.60	5	16	14	16	12
Felipe Giaffone	13.00					13
Jeff Bucknam	13.00			13
Ed Carpenter	13.20	20	7	16	12	11
Ryan Briscoe	13.67	1		18	22
Marco Andretti	13.67	21	15	5
Mark Taylor	14.00					14
Jimmy Kite	14.00				14
Will Power	14.00	14
Sarah Fisher	14.00		14
Anthony Foyt IV	16.75	17	13		21	16
Roger Yasukawa	15.00				15
Ryan Hunter-Reay	15.00	15
Darren Manning	15.75	13	11		20	19
Enrique Bernoldi	16.00	16
Jaques Lazier	17.00					17
Bruno Junqueira	18.00	18
Buddy Lazier	18.00				18
A J Foyt IV	16.75	17	13		21	16
John Andretti	19.00	19
Tora Takagi	20.00					20
Mario Moraes	23.00	23
Jaime Camara	24.00	24
Graham Rahal	25.00	25
Mario Dominguez	26.00	26
Marty Roth	27.00	27

IRL: 11 more in the Indy 500 field

The second day of qualification is in the books at Indy and two-thirds of the field is now set.

Raphael Matos posted the fastest time of the day and rounds out row four.

Row five will be made up of Paul Tracy, Vitor Meira and Justin Wilson.

Row six will be made up of Hideki Mutoh, Ed Carpenter and Dan Wheldon.

Row seven will be made up of A.J. Foyt IV, Scott Sharp and Sarah Fisher.

And finally, Davey Hamilton qualified 22nd to take the final spot on the roster.

Our View: The pressure is off these drivers, but the remaining hopefuls have to sweat all week until next Saturday's session.

IRL: Wheldon crashes in Indy practice

Dan Wheldon crashed coming off turn two during practice for the Indy 500.

Our View: There appears to be major suspension damage at the back of the car, so this will certainly cause the team to roll out their backup. This is the second damaged car for Panther Racing after Scott Sharp crashed on Friday.