Just because Barber’s second practice has started doesn’t mean we can’t do one last look back at Long Beach, right?
TWIN CHECKERED FLAGS
Seb(ad)ass:
The race might of not ended the way he wanted it to but Sebastien Bourdais reminded everyone why he is a four time championship and a three time Long Beach race winner. His move against Scott Dixon is already touted as one of the overtakes of the year in motorsport, never mind IndyCar. When he was later made to return the position due to being deemed to of crossed the pit lane blend line, he just did it again and cleanly.
It’s just a shame he was caught out by a yellow as he went into the pits, would of been interesting to see what he could do at the end of the race.
California Dreamin’:
Last year he was one of the front runners until all the Honda engines of the Andretti Autosport cars decided to fail (apparently in preparation of Fernando Alonso joining the team for the Indy 500), this year, Alexander Rossi just dominated.
The first of his two home races, the only time he wasn’t on top was first practice, where he was third. Even when the final yellow brought him right behind the American, Will Power, who despite having double the Push to Pass remaining, had nothing for him.
Is it a surprise that he did it and now leads the championship? If you looked at his run of results at the end of last season then it really isn’t.
A Good Mix in the Standings:
Is it a bit early to be looking at how the standings are shaping up? Perhaps.
Is it, however, worth noting that the top six consists of six different teams? I think so.
Now to hope that Rossi isn’t just going to run off with it…
SPIN
Ryan Hunter-Nay:
While the rest of his teammates were either dominating or working their way up from the back to the front, Ryan’s race was…difficult.
Did he walk under every ladder, break all the mirrors in his motorhome, find every black cat while making sure to step on all the cracks along the way?
From a broken front wing that needs replaced right at the start, working his way back to the front only to have to crawl to the pits with a flat tyre, if it could go wrong, then it probably happened to Hunter-Reay.
Recap Race Recap:
Now, I enjoy, BTSports ESPN’s coverage usually. When ABC/NSBC go to ads, they have their own commentary team to take over for most of them, reducing the amount of ads we have to deal with in Britain. We also get most of the build up usually.
Usually.
On Sunday, however, we started with a recap of St Pete and Phoenix. This was followed by the race and the podium interviews and closed with…a recap of Long Beach.
What.
Blink and You’ll Miss It:
When Simon Pagenaud crossed the line to start the race, I doubt that he expected it to be over before he’d even reach the first turn. Graham Rahal claimed that his rears locked but, honestly, it looked more like the American was focused on Scott Dixon along side him and was caught out by Simon breaking for the turn.
The driver through penalty he received would of been little comfort to Pagenaud, especially as he still managed a top five finish and currently sits third in the standings while the Frenchman sits outside the top ten in sixteenth.
