Published: July 03, 2007 11:16 pm            

DE LA BASTIDE: Watkins Glen next stop for IRL circuit

NASCAR back at Daytona this week

Although I don’t agree with the Indy Racing League competing on street and road courses instead of the ovals on which the series was founded, it is exciting that the IRL will return to Watkins Glen.

The Glen in upstate New York was one of the first road courses in America following World War II and has a long history in American motor sports.

From 1961 to 1980 the Glen hosted the U.S. Grand Prix, first on a modified street circuit and then on the 3.4-mile road course. The old CART series included Watkins Glen as an annual stop during the 1970s.

The IRL first competed at the Glen in 2005. Ganassi driver Scott Dixon has to be excited about returning to N.Y. He has won both events at the historic track. Helio Castroneves has started from the pole position at both races, once as a result of rain in 2006 that washed out qualifying and practice times were used.

The IRL race at the Glen should find Vitor Meira, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, Dixon and Castroneves battling for the victory.

Don’t look for Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher or Milka Duno to be in contention for a top finish. Duno and Fisher have never raced at the Glen and Patrick has performed dismally at the track.

The Glen is rich in racing history. It was the site of Emerson Fittipaldi’s first Formula One win way back in 1970.

The nice thing about the Indy cars racing at Watkins Glen is that it is a true road course. The series will also run at Infineon Raceway in California and Mid-Ohio. Unfortunately the IRL raced already on the street course in St. Petersburg and will compete on Belle Isle in Michigan.

If the IRL wants to compete on road courses to offer some variety in their schedule, it should keep the three current road courses and add Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., and Road America in Connecticut or Road Atlanta. Racing on street courses are simply boring, the drivers get into lock step behind each other and there is little or no actual passing during the course of an event.

While the IRL is at Watkins Glen, the Nextel Cup drivers return to Daytona for the third restrictor plate race of the season.

Although Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have not visited victory lane in several weeks, look for the Hendrick Motorsports duo to run strong at Daytona.

Has anyone else noticed that since Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that he was leaving DEI, the team has been performing better at recent races. Martin Truex has been a contender at several events and Little E is showing some consistency as of late.

As of Tuesday it is still not known what penalty NASCAR will place on Carl Edwards for failing Busch Grand National post-race tech inspection at New Hampshire. Edwards finished second to Kevin Harvick and then officials discovered a questionable shock absorber.

Since Edwards has an 809-point lead for the Busch Series championship, whatever penalty is assessed will have little effect on his march to the title.

In other racing news

It was a good weekend for drivers known to central Indiana racing fans.

Alexandria’s Brian Rievely captured the Champion Racing Association event at Angola Speedway, holding off Jack Landis for the win.

Former Anderson resident Brian Tyler won the USAC Silver Crown race at Richmond International Speedway and Brownsburg’s Bobby East captured the sprint car series win.

Ohio driver Gary St. Amant, a former two-time American Speed Association champion, won the Hooters Pro Cup event at Salem Speedway.

Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com

        

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