Indy 500 Presents Interesting Clash Between Honda and Chevy

The Indy 500, coming up on Sunday, presents an interesting clash between engine-makers, Honda and Chevy.

Honda was scorching-hot-in-heels in qualifying while Chevy wore the sensible shoes and was steady-fast in practice.

Eight of the top nine qualifiers were powered by the Honda lump.  It would be mighty tempting to jump on the bandwagon of a Fast Nine Honda driver as the favorite to win it all.  From that group, Marco Andretti and former winner, Scott Dixon, had the field covered in both Saturday and Sunday qualifying sessions.

But, then came the proverbial fly-in-the-ointment, manifesting itself in the Sunday afternoon practice session in which a number of drivers completed more than half a race distance.  Here, the Chevy entries came up-to-speed and looked competitive while the Honda entries drifted back to the pack.  In qualifying trim, the Hondas dominated, but in race trim, the entire field looks pretty competitive.

The light fuel loads and low downforce qualifying trim really suited the Honda-powered Dallara chassis.  Those rear wings were laid back flat.

However, race trim is a different story.  Full fuel loads and stickier aerodynamic grip are added to the mix.  Throw in dirty air from the 33 cars circulating and turbulence creates handling issues.  The Chevy-powered Dallaras seemed to like it.

So, picking a race day favorite is not as obvious as qualifying made it seem.

Then, there is the added issue of multiple pit stops.  It is a must to get each one right and avoid a time-consuming disaster.  Race management, including fuel strategy, is huge.  Alexander Rossi won on a fuel strategy in 2016.  Avoiding crashes is crucial and don’t get caught-up in someone else’s crash.  Stay away from the odd little Frenchman, Monsieur DeBris, because he can wreck an otherwise perfect day.  Plus, just one minor mechanical problem has taken-out many a potential winner at the Brickyard.

Experience for the drivers and their teams counts in a 500 mile race more than any other.  There is plenty of experience in this years’ delayed spectacle.  Teams are critical from the standpoint of race management, strategy, coaching and execution in pit lane.

To start with, there are eight former winners in the race, including three-time champion, Helio Castroneves, Indy’s most decorated go-faster in the field.

Also, there are a number of high-quality driver/team combinations that have never won at Indy.  Ed Carpenter and his eponymous team might be due.

Five former F1 drivers are also in the field, including the outside front row starter, and 2017 Indy 500 winner, Takuma Sato, in a Honda.  Soon to be F1 driver again, Fernando Alonso is in the field.  He is a two-time World Champion.  Marcus Ericsson looked good in both qualifying and the final practice.  Rossi has been there and done that.  Max Chilton starts near the rear.

Speaking of Alonso, he is here with a rebooted McLaren effort, this time utilizing the expertise of Sam Schmidt and company.  The Arrow McLaren SP team also has two rookie drivers, Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew.  I’m wondering if McLaren is taking a close look at those two.

As for rookies, it is notable that Rinus VeeKay was super-fast and qualified fourth with the Chevy powerplant, the only Chevy in the top 12 qualifiers.  Considering the fact that the Chevy seemed to like the race trim, and that VeeKay was fantastic in qualifying, this presents a formidable combination which might be one to watch as a darkhorse.  Being on the high quality Ed Carpenter Racing team is another plus.  Does this racy long-shot have a puncher’s chance?  Rookie of the Year may be in reach.

Dixon has been dominant in other Indy Car series races this year.  His team, Chip Ganassi Racing, certainly has the experience to get to the winners circle.  His teammates are Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist.

Team Penske is now the home team after Roger bought the series and the speedway.  They are an annual favorite.  Their Chevy sleds were doggy in qualifying, but looked good in the Sunday afternoon practice.  Penske features prior 500 winners in Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud, and Will Power.  Plus, hotshot, Josef Newgarden, is a threat and the highest Penske qualifier.  Picking a Penske driver to win could be considered a safe bet.

Andretti Autosport and Andretti associated teams have six cars in the field with four of those making the Fast Nine qualifying.  Marco Andretti is on the pole.  Former winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay is in the middle of row two.  Flanking him, to the outside, is a very fast James Hinchcliffe.  Rossi is on the outside of row three.  When it comes to the Andretti clan as drivers at Indy, luck has not been much of a lady since Mario crossed the bricks in 1969.  Will she behave for Marco in 2020?

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has two drivers in the first three rows.  Sato and Graham Rahal, who is in the middle of row three.

Picking the winner of the Indy 500 is a fool’s errand, so … I’m game.  I’m thinking I might go with a fast Honda, and the experience of, say, a Ganassi.  I’d hope they get the race trim right.  I’m thinking experience, determination, moxie, and this year’s hot-hand, Scott Dixon.  Maybe.  After all, racing is all about speed.  The Hondas had it in spades and the handling can be sorted-out.  Maybe.

Also, I can’t help but wonder if some scenario could arise where the Indy 500 is decided in the last four laps, or less.  Crazy, right?  More like standard operating procedure.  Maybe there is a caution right near the end, teams pit for a light splash-and-go, wings get turned to the lowest downforce possible under the circumstances, and fresh rubber is air-gunned-on.  Are you getting my drift?  We have ourselves an A-Main, Saturday night, bullring sprint to the checkers, in the marbles, for all the marbles.  A guy can dream, can’t he?  Could it happen?  You bet.  Do you get where I am going?  Yeah, could the Hondas get a last couple of laps chance at the very end to replicate their qualifying dominance with the Chevy crews left behind, hungry, with nothing to eat but their dust?

The answer is obvious, anything can and will happen at the Indy 500.  It is not a matter of if, but when.  Who, what, where, why and how also make their appearances.  That is the nature of the beast they call The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

So, that’s why I’m chucking all of that out.  I’ve had an Ed Carpenter feeling since qualifying.  My crystal ball sees Ed Carpenter in the mix, for sure, and as a team owner.  He’s a favorite son of Indianapolis.  He runs a quality team.  And it is fast.  So I’m taking a flyer on the Ed Carpenter Racing team.  And it’s a riverboat gamble, for sure.  I’m taking a flyer on the Dutchman.

My pick for the winner of the 2020 Indianapolis 500 is Rinus VeeKay, from the Netherlands, born Rinus van Klamthout, and driving in the USA as VeeKay.  A rookie, no less, fast in qualifying, he pulled the Chevy onto the inside of row two, and he will reap the benefits of that speed as well as the ability of the Chevy to navigate dirty air in race trim.  A great win for the quality Ed Carpenter Racing team, VeeKay crosses the row of bricks first and sips the milk.

And somewhere Arie Luyendyk is smiling.

Everyone have a safe race and enjoy.

“Gentlemen, start your Honda and Chevy engines.”

Somehow that sounds a little off-song.  Let me work on that.