Hi Peter,

Yes, I am extremely disappointed that Tomas Scheckter did not win at Motegi. In fact, I was just watching my recording of the race that was carried yesterday morning on ESPN. 

Local radio station WIBC (AM 1070) actually carried the race, in Japan. live Friday at 11 PM Indianapolis time. I went out with a buddy from work, but came home in time to listen. I actually heard the first 50 laps or so and then fell asleep. I was very careful yesterday morning not to go to the Internet, because I wanted to watch the telecast as if it were being presented live.

I really did not consider that Tomas Scheckter was going to win throughout most of the race. At times the Pennzoil car showed some fight, but it seems like Tomas was content to run somewhere around fifth through eighth, with the second tier of racers. I enjoyed the Scheckter - Buddy Rice duel for (what was it?) fourth place.

Then after the final series of pit stops, there was Scheckter running second to Tony Kanaan. Dario Franchitti, who  I anticipated  would be the winner, slid into the wall, out of the race. Then Scheckter blew by Kanaan to go into the lead and then when it became apparent the Pennzoil Dallara - Chevy was the fastest car on the track, it became a matter of waiting for the laps to count down to the finish.

My big question was where did that speed come in car number 4? The Pennzoil Panther team sure had me fooled. 

I was concerned about the fuel issue, but thought to myself, surely this is finally going to be my guy's day. Too, I didn't want a yellow flag restart, even though it would have given Tomas enough fuel to win, because I was worried about something happening on the restart.

However when Hornish made a late pit stop, I began to see that fuel was an obvious issue. Then Kanaan pitted on lap 197 and then as the cameras panned away from Kanaan's pit stop, it picked up Scheckter slowing down just as he crossed the line to begin lap 199.

All I could say was "F- - K" (pardon my French) and shake my head when I saw car 4 slow to a stop. What a bullshit disappointment it was!

But in the bigger picture, I feel pretty good about what happened yesterday at Twin Ring Motegi. It showed that  the Cosworth Chevy engine can race with the Hondas from time to time, given the proper circumstances. It also showed that Tomas can win races and his loss yesterday was in no way his fault, as has been the case many times in previous races.

It also provides some hope for Scheckter's prospects at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

More than anything I want to see Scheckter win at "Indy." I already believe the Speedway owes Tomas for 2002, when he led 85 laps, was the fastest guy during most of the race and was well on the way to victory, in the Red Bull Cheever Dallara - Infiniti, when he made a rookie mistake and slid in to the fourth turn wall with 25 laps left in the race. 

To a lesser extent, I thought Tomas was going to win the 2003 "Indianapolis 500," in Chip Ganassi's Target G Force - Toyota, for much of that race. If you recall, Scheckter led a race high 63 laps and dominated the middle third of the  2003 race. But for whatever reason, Scheckter's Target number 10 faded after the final pit stops and Tomas followed Gil de Ferran, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan to fourth place at the finish.  

Don't get me wrong. I believe you have to look at Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti to be at the top of the list of potential "Indy" winners on the 29th. Then, I would look to see the Marlboro Team Penskes as the next most likely winners this month. I don't think Penske's cars are as fast as the Andretti - Green Hondas, but Roger Penske knows how to bring the "Indianapolis 500" to his team better than anyone. Look at the 2001, 2002 and 2003 "500" races as examples.

Not to make you feel bad, but so far the Rahal Letterman team doesn't look as sharp as they were in May 2004. I love the wild Menard yellow and blue paint job on Meira's car. Yesterday Danica surprised the hell out of me at Motegi. But Buddy Rice seems to be a constant victim of bad luck in the first four races. However, I remember how Buddy emerged out of the shadows as May 2004 developed and Rice was the obvious "man" from Pole Day through race day.

So I don't count Rice out as a repeat "500" winner - no way. But winning in succession is pretty rare at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In eighty eight runnings of the "500" (let's see how long it takes me to remember this) there have only been five times that a driver repeated in the "500;" Wilbur Shaw (1939-1940), Mauri Rose (1947-1948), Bill Vukovich (1953, 1954), Al Unser (1970, 1971) and Helio Castroneves (2001 - 2002).

I still count Rice as a likely winner, but not as highly as Wheldon, Kanaan, Franchitti, Castroneves and Hornish. But hell I could be wrong as rain. I actually predicted that Adrian Fernandez  was going to win last year's "500."

Regarding Tomas Scheckter, as much as I want him to win "Indy," it seems like a lot of surprising things have to happen first. Do I see Scheckter as qualifying high and leading the "500" for several laps? Yes. But winning is another story. However the run in Japan does give me more hope.

Wouldn't that rock the Indy car racing world if Chevrolet wins "Indy" like crazy? Maybe then General Motors would reconsider their decision to leave the IRL.

Anyway, it is starting to seem like "500" time around Indianapolis again. I see official cars, for the "500," driving around the streets. The "500" radio commercials are becoming more numerous and you hear the "500" mentioned more often.

My first day at the track will be Tuesday May 10, when the veterans take to the track for "500" practice for the first time and I will spend the rest of the week through Sunday's second day of qualifications at the Speedway, my cameras in tow. 

I am curious how the new "500" qualifying procedure  is going to work. I like it and am anxious to see it unfold.

Well, I am going to sign off for now. I hope to hear from you soon.

Bob      

an email to Peter Bilynsky on May 1, 2005