Sports
DE LA BASTIDE: IRL, F1 shifting into gear
Open-wheel series open seasons this weekend.
The two biggest international open-wheel racing series start their 2010 seasons this weekend with the Indy Racing League competing in Brazil and Formula One racing in Bahrain.
Coming off an exciting 2009 season with Dario Franchitti winning the championship at the last race of the season, there should little doubt that as many as five drivers with three different teams will be contending for the IndyCar Series title this year.
Franchitti and Target Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon have captured the last two IndyCar titles and should be prepared to again challenge for the title. The Penske team of Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe should be in the forefront for most of the year. I believe Tony Kanaan with Andretti Motorsports will be the fifth driver in the championship chase.
This is a crucial year for Andretti Motorsports teammates Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick. Both need to show that they contend at every race because of the first-rate equipment they are in. One has to wonder if Patrick’s racing with NASCAR will serve as a distraction.
I anticipate Will Power in a Penske Racing machine and Ryan Hunter-Reay driving with Andretti are due for breakout seasons. Power showed last year he can be competitive and Hunter-Reay has the talent necessary to be a star.
The downside of the IRL opener is that it will be broadcast on the Versus channel, which is not available to Direct-TV subscribers.
Formula One kicks off Sunday on the Speed Channel and it should prove to be an interesting season.
Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be driving for Ferrari and both have to be considered favorites for the championship. There will be a lot of questions surrounding Massa as he returns after a near fatal freak accident last year.
The return of Michael Schumacher to Formula One with Mercedes should attract a lot of attention. Will the seven-time champion still have the necessary skills to be competitive after sitting out three years in retirement?
Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Jenson Button give McLaren a formidable driving combination.
Those six drivers, four of whom have won championships, should be battling for the title this season.
In other racing news
Anderson Speedway kicks off its season this Saturday at 1 p.m. with racing in five divisions. Thunder Cars, Pure Stock, Mini-Cups and Front Wheel Drives on the oval and figure-8 will be in action.
There are heat races and features for all divisions except for the Front Wheel Drive figure-8 action which is a feature only. There will also be Australian Pursuit races for the Thunder Cars and Front Wheel Drives on the oval. The rules are simple, get passed and park the car.
The track is offering a $1 discount for any fan wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day and a $1 discount for bringing a non-perishable food item to be donated to local food pantries.
• Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@ kokomotribune.com or 765-454-8580.
- Sports
-
-
Spall steps down as Post 6 skipper
When Don Spall took over as the manager of the Post 6 senior baseball team in 2007, he knew about the responsibility that went along with wearing the pinstripes.
-
Local squads flex muscles in baseball tourneys
As July draws to a close, local youth baseball teams are playing in their final events of the summer. The following are looks at how some squads with local connections fared over the weekend.
-
Kokomo bows out of American Legion regional
It wasn’t the way Don Spall wanted to go out. But, then again, it was hard for the Post 6 baseball skipper to be upset, considering the fact that his squad put together its best performance in nearly a decade this season.
-
Beas: Favre captains list of NFL prima donnas
The fact that a violent sport such as professional football is able to manufacture no shortage of divas straddles the fence separating amusing from disgraceful.
-
Brickyard winner adds to Ganassi’s remarkable 2010
Car owner Chip Ganassi made history at the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, but it wasn’t with the driver who was expected to accomplish the feat.
-
Post 6 offense goes cold in regional loss
Throughout the Kokomo Post 6 senior baseball team’s 2010 campaign, manager Don Spall has had the luxury of sending a highly potent offense to the plate.
-
Saints win state tournament; eye ‘A’ nationals in Oregon
Kokomo’s Creative Financial Designs (CFD) Saints men’s fastpitch softball team is making its final season one to remember.
-
Sixers upset Terre Haute
Don Spall called it the biggest win of his managerial career.
Jake Gorski was elated to lead his team in the waning days of his American Legion career.
-
Sixers finish third in junior tourney
Kokomo Post 6 saw its run in the American Legion Junior (17 and under) State Finals come to an end Saturday evening at CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park.
-
Post 6 senior team survives in regional opener
Kokomo Post 6 senior team manager Don Spall told reporters this week that his team was notorious for spotting teams extra runs, only to come back and steal victories.
- More Sports Headlines
-
