As I’m watching this IRL race from Twin Ring Motegi, I can’t help but wonder what lies next for the Indy Racing League as they embark on their biggest race of the year, the Indy 500 in May. Regardless of how you look at the race, it’s still a big spectacle in racing. Sure, it’s a mere shadow of its former self. But as long as it remains the Indy 500, it’ll continue to be a big race.

See, the reason I wonder about the Indy 500 isn’t because I think that Buddy can defend, but is going to have some good competition from AGR and even perhaps a frustrated Chip Ganassi squad will find the right formula in time. Its not because I look forward to seeing wheel-to-wheel action at some 220mph. no, the reason I’m intrigued is because everything in the IRL happens accordingly. Sure, it’s a bit on the conspiracy side, but I now look forward to watching (or mostly reading) the Irl because of how things shape out. A Toyota usually wins a Toyota-sponsored event and a Honda usually wins a Honda-sponsored event. Everything works out accordingly. Somehow I don’t think it would be possible for a Toyota to win at Motegi. Sure, give ‘em the pole, but not the win.

This works out the rest of the year because nobody really cares. Nobody questions the fact that AGR dominate every race. But in May, people start looking a little closer, notice things they otherwise might not. It isn’t an easy decision for Tony George and Barnhart (or however you spell his name) when it comes to the Indy 500. Who do you give the race too this year?

Last year, it made perfect sense that a Honda powered by someone not named Kanaan win The Indy 500. And, in a difficult time for the series in terms of popularity and revenue, why not give the win to an American, who happens to drive for a very popular late night talk show host. So Buddy does countless appearances on the show, does his Top 10, all in all, very good exposure for the IRL.

This year is interesting. Honda continues to dominate, which cannot make Toyota happy and essentially gives them all the more reasons to leave the series and focus entirely on NASCAR. So…why not give them a win and entice them to stay? Maybe Hornish? An American, driving for Penske (remember Roger put out that full page add last year in the New York Times asking for re-unification following the Indy 500) and powered by a Toyota. Roger probably wouldn’t be quick on the reunification front if he won the Indy 500 again.

Hmm, the IRL, according to what I see anyway, is very good at short-term solution. They don’t have (pardon the pun) vision. They’ll be rumblings within the world of Open-wheel racing focused on the IRL and they will pull something out of a hat and say “see, we were right all along”. Which brings me to Danica Patrick. I think she is the front runner for this year’s 500. Forget that she’s a rookie, experiencing her biggest race for the first time, forget that she’s never run a 500 mile race. She is the short-term solution the IRL so desperately seeks. She’s a woman, she’s American, she’s powered by Honda, she drives for Letterman AND, most importantly, she beats Katherine Legg in the battle for top women in the sport of open-wheel racing. It’s a win-win for the IRL. But it’s a short term fix.
I wouldn’t be surprised is a Chip Ganassi driver ended up drinking the milk. Why not? He’s clearly upset with his operation and he’s coming off a very solid run in the Nextel Cup race where (correct me if I’m wrong) he put 3 cars in the top 5. With those kinds of results, he knows he isn’t far from competing with Roush and Hendrick on a regular basis. Why not throw all your eggs in that giant basket? Why continue to fund three foreign drivers (albeit nice guys) with a power plant that simply can’t compete against the other? Throwing him a bone in the form of an Indy 500 win might make good old Chip reconsider his future plans.

What about Sheckter? Or, well forget Sheckter specifically, but a Chevy powered car winning the Indy 500? Sure, they announced they are leaving and currently only power one measly team. But an Indy 500 team might persuade them to stick around for a while longer, giving the IRL that American powerplant they so proudly founded their entire league on the premise of having!

Would it be possible for Honda to give Newman/Haas an engine on the same playing field as AGR? I know that Haas obviously has a good relationship with Honda, they’ve continued to supply engines for Junquiera during the last couple of years at Indy. But, somewhere along the line, there must be some resentment towards Haas for not switching to the IRL and effectively killing CART (at the time). And would it make sense for Honda to want a Champ Car driver to win when they could achieve the exact exposure if AGR or Rahal took the checkered?

Obviously this article is a little tongue in cheek. I want to believe that the most deserving driver will win at the Brickyard. But the IRL has also become a fun game to play. What works out best for the series in the short-term? One thing for sure: I can tell you that it’s not Junquiera or Bourdais drinking the milk. The very guys we’ll all be cheering for!

Champ Car baby! Champ Car for Life!