I agree that the presentation needs to improve MARKEDLY next season. This is where IZOD, IndyCar, Randy, and the other “major sponsor” to be announced in a couple of weeks need to come in and figure things out. I love the way that things have improved this year, but I think we’ve only gone from AA to AAA. We need a lot more work to get to the major leagues. Hopefully a Vegas finale will help.

But more frustrating is 7-Eleven’s decision to cut their sponsorship of Tony Kanaan to back Danica in a smaller role. Combine that with the management of our local 7-Eleven calling the fuzz on my band practice a few days ago, and I am completely done with that brand.

Considerably worse. There was not a ride open at Ganassi in IndyCar because Wheldon was still contracted there for 2008. There was a ride open at Penske due to Hornish also going to NASCAR, yes, but Briscoe was the heir apparent to that before Franchitti left IndyCar. It’s doubtful he would have landed either of those rides, so he would have been forced to remain at AGR, which was going rapidly downhill thanks to Marco and Danica being unable to set up a car. Franchitti would be about as irrelevant as Kanaan is now, winning 0-1 races a year and finishing 5th-7th in points. He HAD to make that move signing with Ganassi, even not in IndyCar, to remain relevant.

I suppose he still could have signed for AGR for one more year waiting for the Ganassi ride to become open, but I don’t think he would have sniffed a title or an Indy win in 2008. That was the year AGR started struggling for the most part after all, although who knows how much of that was due to Franchitti’s departure.

I pretty much knew Power had no chance when he entered the last four races with ONLY a 59-point lead, because I figured Franchitti would win a race or two while Power would struggle to be in the top five in any race.

Some guys handle pressure well. And some don’t. Will Power obviously played small, when the stakes were highest. And if I am Roger Penske, that would concern me for the future.

Its almost as if Dario and Ganassi knew Power would blow it, if they put enough heat on him. I think most inside the sport, had that inkling as well.

I thought it was a typical Scott Dixon win. Over-shadowed as usual. Mike King almost fell out of the booth slobbering over the great “battle” for 1st loser between AA arch-enemies/teammates. You would have thought Ricky Bobby Patrick had won a race, the way King described it. Sorry Mike. 2nd place, in a race that most teams (and unfortunately fans) had mailed in and who’s Series Champ could care less about winning, means very little.

The post-race celebration on TV, had all the technical wizardry of a high school AV class. Loved the “buzzing” effect too. Very minor league looking/sounding and the embarrassing looking trophy added to it. You gotta do better then that presentation, Indy Car and Randy.

I heard one of those inferior AOW oval track grads (and a USAC midpacker too) won the Indy Lights race. Kinda funny that very few American oval trackers have gotten opportunities in Indy Lights over the years. But you look at the race winners, and I see the names Fike, Carpenter, Chesson, Chesson, Gregg and now Wagner on the list. Just think if the REALLY good AOW short-trackers ever got into Lights or Indy Cars.

I gave up my satellite so I watched on the Indycar.com feed. Last year it was painful, and I couldn’t get Montegi to work (buffering… buffering…) but Homestead came in great. The pre-show video was great: the sun was setting and the images were beautiful. PLus I like just looking around the stands and the track at whatever there is to see, just like being there in person. Plus when they started up, the camera went into a super-tight shot of a guy at the back of the car with the starter turning, and I thought that was too cool for school.

When Power went behind the pit wall, we got some nice Le Mans-style shots of the car being worked on. You don’t see that.

I had only two complaints. One was when a pit reporter said that Viso was on fire after ripping the fuel hose, and yet he went out for a lap and came back in. Meanwhile there was no video of it at all. That was maddening. My only other complaint is that I couldn’t record it. I would have liked to have kept parts of it to see again–particularly the pre-race.

Overall, I thought it was an upbeat ending to a season that I’ve found lacking. It left a good taste in my mouth.

Roll on March 2011 – can’t wait.

Another super year of tremendous races and quality finishes. If we could just get a couple more teams on the Ganassi/Penske tier, then we could have our cake and eat it too.

And the spirited fight between Danica and Tony was great. Apparently Barnhart copuld not see Tony was having steering issues late in the race. As we all know, it is hard to drive in a straight line when you are looking in your mirrors. In case anyone needed convincing, that girl can drive! And I beg to differ with Curt Cavin, there are people who care, so why do you think NASCAR wants her so bad?

In closing, a good start for next season with the announcement of Graham Rahal securing “Service Central” as a major sponsor with a multi year deal. Soon it will be another season upon us, and it will be May in Indianapolis. And just maybe the “100 Year Century Celebration” race, the o’l girl will give us a race we could never forget. God Speed!

The good thing was that nothing stupid happened – with some of the three-wide for the lead stuff going on between Franchitti, Power, Dixon, Briscoe, and Kanaan, it just seemed like a crash waiting to happen. But those guys showed they are some of the best. That was fun to watch! I really enjoyed watching this race.

I also agree about the bickering between Arute and Beekhuis – that was really uncomfortable. It seems that the Versus crew is ready for a vacation.

Was it just me, or was the championship presentation kind of awkward, too? Not only because of the microphone, but just the timing of things. I don’t know what they had for microphones out there, but when they introduced Chip Ganassi, I swear only one person was clapping. I didn’t get too many good looks at the stands, but I don’t think the attendance was the greatest.

Nonetheless, I thought it was a great race, and a nice end to what I thought was a pretty damn good season. It’s been a big year with all the off-track things going on for 2012, etc., but the racing has been pretty decent this year, in my opinion.