Watkins Glen Preview

By: Tony Donohue

The Indy Car Series has finally finished up the streak of ovals, and I think that everyone can agree, it is about time. Whether you’re a fan of ovals or not, the racing was sub par compared to previous years, and hopefully the competition and passing will be fiercer starting this weekend at Watkins Glen.

Last year, Ryan Hunter-Reay took the win after benefiting from Scott Dixons spin under yellow that collected pole winner Ryan Briscoe. Dixon recovered to finish 11th after being top three all day. Ryan went on to score his first and only career Indy Car Series win, driving the Ethanol Rahal Letterman Racing Honda.

What a difference a year makes. RHR has bounced from Vision Racing to the #14 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda after Rahal Letterman Racing couldn't fund a full time team for 2009. Don’t over look Ryan Hunter-Reay this weekend though. Right behind him last year was Darren Manning driving the #14 ABC Supply Company Honda. A.J. Foyt Racing is expecting a great run in Sunday’s race at The Glen.

This weekend, Paul Tracy returns to the Indy Car Series to run his third event of the year, this time for KV Racing once again sponsored by Geico. Richard Antinucci will make his debut for Team 3G. The Indy Lights graduate will bring the car count to twenty one cars. Antinucci won last year’s Lights race at the Glen, and his three other Lights Series wins also came on road courses. Milka Duno will be back piloting the Dreyer and Reinbold 23 car as well.

Scott Dixon is defiantly the man to beat this year, or if you can’t beat him on the track, hope he beats himself, which is unlikely. Dixon won the first three events at the Glen, leading 58 laps over those three victories. He knows how to get it done on the road courses where he has scored six of his nineteen careers wins, more than any other driver.

My pick to win this weekend is Ryan Briscoe. I think Dixon will have another great run, defiantly in the top three, but Briscoe needs a win after falling to 3rd in the points after wrecking out at Richmond. My picks last weekend were not too far off as Dario came home 2nd and E.J. Viso finished. This weekend, I am picking Ryan Hunter Reay of course to be a dark horse even though he is the defending winner, and my other dark horse is Justin Wilson. He could pull off an upset and get Dale Coyne his first Indy Car Victory.

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