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
DE LA BASTIDE: IRL, F1 shifting into gear
Open-wheel series open seasons this weekend.
- Sports
-
-
Smith pitches Panthers to sectional baseball title
WEST LAFAYETTE — The game of baseball can be cruel with its nuances and bad bounces. And, with the flick of the wrist, it can turn right back in your favor.
-
Franchitti outduels Sato to win his 3rd Indy 500
For the second consecutive year the Indianapolis 500 was decided by a last lap crash Sunday, but this time Takuma Sato crashed battling for the win allowing Dario Franchitti to score his third win.
-
Rivalries are part of the Indy tradition
The Indianapolis 500 is known for many traditions.
The ceremonies at the start of the race are legendary. You have the Spectacle of Bands in all of their glory, the flyover of military jets, the balloons and flying start of 11 rows of three. The singing of “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” “Back Home Again in Indiana,” and the “Star Spangled Banner” are all are examples of the pageantry that kickoff the “Greatest Spectacle Racing.” And let’s not forget the famous words “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.”
-
Fritz, other friends help carry on Gabriel’s vision
Tony Gabriel was an easy pick for the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a four-sport standout at Taylor High School and later a seven-time state racquetball champion in singles and doubles.
-
Comets making progress
Much like any coach would expect in his first season leading a young team, Eastern baseball coach Nick Sale has helped his team deal with the growing pains that come with regime and philosophy changes.
-
Tipton survives M-G, savors softball sectional 3-peat
It looked like a blowout early and turned into a nail-biter late, but in the end, Friday’s Class 2A Eastern Sectional Softball final between Tipton and No. 3-ranked Madison-Grant turned out the same way as each of the previous two years.
-
Schubert wraps up standout collegiate track career
Megan Schubert could easily lament lost opportunities and think about ‘what if’ scenarios looking back at her track and field career at the University of Louisville.
-
Comets, Kats, Panthers sending athletes to state
After announcing his retirement late last week, Eastern boys track and field coach Paul Nicholson knew Thursday’s Kokomo Regional could be the final meet of his 43-year career. Senior Josiah Price and junior Grant Cole made sure it wasn’t.
-
New Western basketball coach is right at home
Bart Miller’s passion for Western basketball runs deep.
Miller, like his father and brother before him, played for the Panthers. He started and was the third-leading scorer on the Panthers’ 1990 Kokomo Sectional championship squad.
-
Tipton, Madison-Grant reach final of Eastern Sectional
Tipton’s softball team had enough to get past Elwood and into the championship of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional on Wednesday night. Friday night, the Blue Devils will need more to hoist the hardware.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Smith pitches Panthers to sectional baseball title
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
