Earlier this week, Great Lakes Post spoke with Indycar Beat writer Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star to talk about how the 2019 NTT Data Indycar Series is going this year.
How do you think the Indycar Season is going so far?
It’s going pretty well. The exclusive broadcasting partnership has brought a boost in the TV ratings as many people around the sport had hoped. There’s still a long way to go in that regard but the series is making gains in a TV climate where many other sports are not.
As far as the racing, I think there has been some great action so far this season. COTA, Indy and the IndyCar GP stand out in my mind as races that have delivered some of the biggest thrills. I think fans would probably like to see a Penske car in the winner’s circle a little less often, but it’s not like other teams can’t contend. While Penske has brought the best cars to a few tracks, the team has strategized its way to victory at others. Kudos to them.
Who or What has impressed you so far?
Despite his pitlane incident at Texas, Takuma Sato has been outstanding this year. He dominated at Barber and nearly stole the show from Alexander Rossi and Simon Pagenaud at Indianapolis. Up until Texas, he had been rock solid for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a team that always seems to be on the verge of consistently competing with IndyCar’s Big 3 teams.
I also have to mention Santino Ferrucci. That kid has been outstanding in his rookie campaign keeping out of trouble and producing some solid results, including his first top-five last weekend at Texas. We already knew he was stellar on road and street and circuits but his drive at Texas and rookie of the year honors at the 500 tell us he is taking to ovals quickly. His future is bright at Dale Coyne Racing.
Who or What has surprised you so far?
I hate to go negative, but I expected A.J. Foyt Racing to take a step forward after a rough 2018. Unfortunately, it seems like some errant offseason decisions took them in the wrong direction, and they’ve been scrambling ever since. The cars of Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist have been non-competitive at more than one track, and that’s heartbreaking for an owner like A.J. Foyt who desperately wants to return to Victory Lane. It doesn’t look like they’ll be able to turn things around this year, so here’s hoping 2020 brings a return to form for that team.
How do you think Colton Herta is doing in his rookie year?
Outstanding. I think he’s showing even more promise than many expected. The results haven’t always been there to show it, but largely that’s been to circumstances outside of his control. He dazzled at COTA and drives ovals with the confidence of someone 10 years his senior. Don’t be surprised if we find him in Victory Lane again this year.
Is this Newgarden’s Championship to Lose or are there other names that could be in the mix?
Considering he’s got hold of the points lead and drives for the series’ top team, yes, Newgarden controls his own destiny. However, Alexander Rossi has been driving alike man possessed, and I know he isn’t happy about all these runner-up finishes. I expect him to be in the hunt all the way up to the series finale at Laguna Seca.
Simon Pagenaud isn’t going away anytime soon, either. He’s been strong at every type of circuit, and he’s determined to capitalize on all those points he scored at Indianapolis.
Finally, as we’ve learned over and over and over again, never count out Scott Dixon. Ever.
What Team has stood out to you thus far this season?
I mentioned this team before, but Rahal Letterman Lanigan has brought competitive cars to almost every circuit this year. Either Takuma Sato or Graham Rahal has finished inside the top five at six of nine races so far this season and they have 11 top-10s between them. After struggling for years, the team has taken a big step forward in qualifying this season. While still not great, Rahal’s average starting position of 10.4 is nearly three spots better than last year’s average (13.2). He’s having a lot less work on race days.
How do you think the rest of the season will go?
I think it could be a lot of fun. The Silly Season is getting underway just as the championship and rookie of the year races heat up. I expect plenty of storylines to emerge in the coming months, perhaps none more exciting that Rossi vs. Newgarden for the championship.