Hey y'all, welcome back to my blog!
As most of you probably know, we just had the IndyCar race in Iowa yesterday.
And I have a lot to say about it.
But before I get to the big debacle that was the end of the race, I'll give y'all my thoughts with everything in the race leading up to the last seven laps.
I don't really know why, but I've always been a fan of the race at Iowa.
I still remember flipping thought the channels on a Saturday night one year and coming across the Iowa race, this was before I consistently watched all of the races. I watched the second half of the race and was esatic to watch Marco Andretti drive to victory (this was back when I was a big Marco fan).
So I think ever since then I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this race. And I loved that it was a night race. So fingers crossed that it returns to its rightful spot on Saturday night next year.
Anyways, to the race.
As always, I love watching Josef Newgarden dominate a race anytime I can.
100 laps in and I was getting Iowa circa 2016 vibes.
For those that don't remember the 2016 race, Josef Newgarden absolutely dominated the race.
It one of my favorite races to date.
He was on another planet, he was untouchable.
AND this was just a month after his huge crash at Texas. He drove the wheels off his car with a broken hand.
It was impressive.
So I was living for Josef once again dominating the race.
But then James Hinchcliffe showed up, he was the only driver in the feild that had anything for Josef.
But if I'm being honest, what was even more impressive than Josef and Hinch's performances was Spencer Pigot's performance.
I was confident that his breakout race was going to happen any day, I predicted it wold be at Mid Ohio on the road course.
But it happened even sooner than I anticipated.
And on an oval for that matter.
Can we talk about that for a minute?
Spencer Pigot scored his best IndyCar finish to date, his first IndyCar podium finish, on an oval.
Before this year he hadn't driven on ovals in two years, since Indy Lights.
Spigot is impressive thats for sure.
He moved up 16 positions. Incredible.
Which leads me to the next point, how unbeleivable was this race? There was constant on track action. There was always something to watch. Never a dull moment during the race. It was fantastic.
IndyCar really hit it right on the nose with the new aero package on short ovals.
Outstanding.
Okay, so on to my last point.
What the heck happened at the end of the race?
Like the proper Newgarden fan I am, I was disappointed when Hinch was able to pass Newgarden for the lead. And then he was able to run away with it, which was even more disappointing.
So naturally, I was praying for a caution to bunch the cars up.
I didn't know if Newgarden would have anything for Hinch, but I would have loved to see him at least be able to give it a try.
And I would have loved to see another shoot out like a Phoenix.
Would would take new tires and all that. I was really hoping for that.
But when it came down to 10 laps to go I stopped hoping.
But then the caution came.
I was so pumped. I was ready to see a freaking battle, alright?
So imagine my disappointment when it was yellow and checkered waving at the end.
This wonderful race that I was really enjoying left me sitting with a bad taste in my mouth afterwards.
Race control really screwed up on the ending.
And I've read all the comments from Jay Frye and everyone, but I still think they messed up big time.
When the caution came I didn't think they'd open the pits. I thought they'd just pick up the debris, get everyone bunched back up, and then get the race going with a few laps to go for a good ole shoot out.
Race control is fully aware how short the laps are at Iowa. They should have known better. Or at least communicated with the teams better.
Because Josef Newgarden was robbed of a podium yesterday.
He did not deserve anything less than 2nd. I will argue that to my grave.
It should have been Hinch and Newgarden 1-2, (however that would have fallen) and then Pigot and Wickens should have been battling it out for that final spot on the podium.
Sato sholdn't have even ended up on the podium.
So what do I think race control should have done?
Well, I don't think they should have red flagged it. I know they said that wasn't even a possibility, but I know there are fans out there who said it should have been done. I don't think that would have been the right move.
There are people out there who said they should have added extra laps. That idea crossed my mind in the final moments of the race, but I don't think that would have been a good idea. It would have ruined the integrity of the race.
I think they shouldn't have opened the pits.
Even if they wouldn't have gotten the race back to green in time, the drivers still would have finished in their position that they had earned so far in the race.
But that aside, I think if they hadn't opened the pits they would have been able to go back to green with a couple laps to go.
There are people who are saying "well, pitting was a risk the teams were wiling to take."
Well lets be real here, they took the risk with the idea that they were going to go back to green flag racing.
Opening the pits allowed the teams to take a risk that wasn't even necessary. They didn't even get the opportunity to see if their risk was worth anything. They were simply just screwed by race control. It's that simple.
I feel like I shouldn't say anymore. At this point I have nothing nice to say.
xxkaitlyn
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