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SurfaceUnits
06-30-06, 08:00 PM
Let's Begin with the Best First

Grade F
Rahal Letterman Racing: This is a team that should be contending for wins, but it isn't at the moment. Among three drivers, there are no laps led on oval tracks, part of the reason Bobby Rahal bought Dallaras for the races after Indy. Danica Patrick had one of her best performances in the 500, finishing eighth. Jeff Simmons has been in four accidents since replacing Paul Dana (who by all accounts was not qualified to be driving the most dangerous POS in racing), who was killed during a crash at Homestead.

Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing: Team couldn't keep rookie P.J. Chesson going past Indy, a race where both cars were eliminated in a second-lap accident. Chesson is looking for a ride elsewhere. :rofl:

Panoz: There were none of these chassis in last weekend's race at Richmond. Enough said.

Grade D
Andretti Green Racing: Difficult to assess the winner of the past two league titles. Andretti has been sensational for a rookie, nearly winning Indy, while Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan have been competitive. But Bryan Herta hasn't been, and the team has only one pole (by Franchitti) and no victories.

Cheever Racing: Eddie Cheever Jr. returned to the cockpit for the chance to be competitive with a Honda engine, but so far that hasn't happened. He needs help.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Buddy Lazier hasn't found the speed and consistency he had hoped for, and neither he nor Al Unser Jr. was a factor at Indy. Ryan Briscoe subbed at Watkins Glen and delivered a spirit-boosting third-place finish. He'll surely get another chance.

Firestone: Its tires are reliable, but the drivers can't race side-by-side right now. The show is suffering.

Grade C
A.J. Foyt Racing: As one of the league's smallest teams, this one keeps battling, and Felipe Giaffone's experience has been a nice addition. A fifth at Watkins Glen was the team's best finish since Airton Dare won the Kansas race in 2002.

Vision Racing: George's outfit might have received a higher grade had it converted its fast cars at Indy into something more than an 11th, a 22nd and a 27th. (and 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, etc)

Grade B
Ganassi Racing: Wheldon made a bold move leaving Andretti Green Racing after his Indy- and championship-winning 2005, but he and Dixon have brought Chip Ganassi's program back to the front. The team would get a higher grade if Wheldon had been able to convert his frequent domination into multiple victories. He has just one to match Dixon's total.

Fernandez Racing: The team owned by Adrian Fernandez and Tom Anderson has been a best of the rest. Scott Sharp was strong at Texas and Richmond, and Kosuke Matsuura has had a mostly clean season. But they have combined to lead only 10 laps.

Dallara: There is a reason the chassis manufacturer has all the teams for the oval-track races. It has a better car than Panoz

Grade A
Team Penske: Roger Penske's operation has yet to win a title in its first four IRL seasons but Castroneves and Hornish are 1-2 in the standings with five victories, including Hornish's at Indy.

Panther Racing: The team that nearly went away in the offseason hasn't gone away now that it's racing. Meira has finished in the top 10 in each of the past six races, including two runner-up finishes. All he needs now is a victory to end his 52-race drought.

Honda: The engine manufacturer has responded to the challenge of supplying each car, and all 33 at Indy, with nearly perfect reliability and consistency.


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hehehe rathole looking for a dinghy to escape the sinking ship :laugh:

Sean O'Gorman
06-30-06, 08:09 PM
h

:)