The Indy Racing League is halfway home in 2003 and it's time for midterm grades, which include a few pats on the back, several backhands and some straight talk about the all-oval series.
While parity still exists in terms of drivers (six different winners in eight races), Scott Dixon and Toyota clearly have been on top of their game. Dixon owns three victories while Toyota-powered cars have led an astounding 1,332 of 1,632 laps.
Preseason favorites Kenny Brack, Tomas Scheckter and Helio Castroneves have yet to win a race, while the Chevrolet engine has managed to drag down two-time IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr.
So read 'em and weep. Grades are listed by team and in order of achievement, but all the Chevy-powered teams were graded on a curve.
Target/Ganassi: Dixon has led an IRL high 524 laps in his first pass through Tony George's series and only been off pace once (Texas) as engineer Julian Robertson usually gives the talented 22-year-old New Zealander the right stuff. Teammate Scheckter is winless but only because of a couple of bad breaks since he's been out in front for 261 laps. GRADE: A-minus.
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| | Kanaan |
Andretti/Green: Tony Kanaan's grit and consistency are keeping him atop the standings but he's the lone Honda driver at the point. Bryan Herta has filled in nicely for Dario Franchitti, but rookie Dan Wheldon's mistakes are starting to get expensive. Overall, Michael Andretti's squad has adapted fairly well to The League. GRADE: B.
Pennzoil/Panther: True, Hornish has yet to lead a lap of competition this season thanks to that slug of an engine but his charges to the front have been the highlight of a few races already. If Cosworth can revive Chevy, this kid will still wind up in Victory Lane. GRADE: B.
Team Penske: Gil de Ferran got a well-deserved win at Indy and has bounced back nicely from his injuries at Phoenix to vault into fourth place in points. Teammate Castroneves ranks third in the standings but, other than leading 58 laps at Indy, has been more steady than speedy. GRADE: B-minus.
Kelley Racing: A year after undergoing treatment for substance abuse, Al Unser Jr. scored a popular win at Texas and looks like a guy who has turned the corner in a couple of ways. Scott Sharp's win at Japan was gift wrapped in a yellow flag and he's still way too inconsistent. GRADE: C-plus.
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| | Yasukawa |
Super Aguri/Fernandez: Rookie Roger Yasukawa has been smooth and steady as he learns IRL racing. GRADE: C-plus.
Access Motorsports: Considering Greg Ray's team didn't hit the track until the third race and had no preseason testing, it's been a respectable effort more times than not. GRADE: C-plus.
Red Bull Cheever Racing: Buddy Rice has a Chevy. It's heavy. Just like his heart. GRADE: C.
Dreyer/Reinbold: General Motors and general malaise for Robbie Buhl and Sarah Fisher. GRADE: C.
Team Menard: Jaques Lazier got the boot in favor of Vitor Meira but the problem ain't in the cockpit. The richest owner in the IRL keeps throwing his money away. GRADE: C-minus.
Hemelgarn: Buddy Lazier is also stuck with lack of horses but this veteran team can't even keep up with the other Chevys. GRADE: C-minus.
Mo Nunn Racing: Before he was injured at KC, Felipe Giaffone had already been victimized by other's mistakes. Teammate Tora Takagi hasn't raced as well as he's qualified. They've got Toyotas. No excuses. GRADE: D-plus.
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| | Brack |
Team Rahal: Kenny Brack, engineer Don Halliday and this crew aren't out of the title chase but they've been out to lunch more often than not. He was even passed by Fisher's Chevy last weekend at KC. A very puzzling lack of performance. GRADE: D.
A.J. Foyt: Anthony Joseph IV has no experience, confidence or engineer -- and that helps explain all his crashes. It doesn't explain why his grandfather threw him in the deep end without a life jacket. This was a very sad story before Airton Dare got hurt. Now it's just embarrassing -- and scary. GRADE: F.
Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.
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