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Friday, August 7, 2009

Mid-Ohio Preview

By: Tony Donohue

After and exciting race at Kentucky, the Indy Car Series heads to the road course at Mid Ohio. With the Push to pass still enabled for the race, it will be exciting to see how it leaves its mark on a road course, as it left every Indy Car fan thrilled after Saturday nights Kentucky Indy 300 won by Ryan Briscoe.

Some shake ups have taken place since the cars left the track in Kentucky. Robert Doornbos is out at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and will be replaced by Oriol Servia for at least one race. Bobby D is now in the #33 HVM Dallara for the rest of '09 and through 1010. Paul Tracy has now been officially confirmed to pilot the #5 KVRT car as Mario Moraes is in Brazil with his family after the loss of his father. And finally Richard Antinucci will be back in the #98 car for Team 3G as Jacques Lazier ran Kentucky for the team

Mid Ohio last year was won by Ryan Briscoe. Penske swept the weekend as Helio Castroneves took the pole. It is hard to believe that Will Power, after finishing 4th there last year, will not be in the field this weekend. This mark’s Indy Cars third trip to the historic 15 turn 2.4 mile road course. 85 laps will make up the distance, and look for Penske and Ganassi to pace the field most of the day.

I look for Scott Dixon to get it done this weekend. Scott, a Jack of all trades, won the inaugural race at Mid Ohio in 2007. He sits eight points back of points leader Ryan Briscoe. Briscoe, will also be up front this weekend, and I expect him on the podium as well. Ryan Hunter Reay is my dark horse. The ABC Supply Co. #14 finished 6th with Darren Manning last year, and Ryan finished 10th. He made his Indy Car debut two years ago at Mid Ohio. Catch the race Sunday live on Versus at 1 PM and the Lights race will air Monday at 4.

1 comments:

Look for Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal, too. My dark horse is Danica, who is quietly having a good season in an off year for AGR.

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