There are so many changes and surprises this IRL season, I do not even know where to begin. First off, Champ Car merged with IRL, and now there is only one open-wheel league in the States. Most of the drivers from Champ Car have made the transition, but are better on street races than track courses, so they have a lot of catching up to do. Considered rookies, the Champ Car racers started in the back of the pack in the opening IRL race of the season this Saturday in Miami, and were several laps down for most of the race. Another new change, there are a lot more cars on the track, this time there were 25, next week, even more. That is almost double from last year, and with so many new drivers, there is bound to be a lot more crashes, that is almost a given.

Unfortunately for the seasoned IRL racecar drivers, they have to deal with the situation, having to go around the slower drivers, swerving between them on the track, and most importantly, trying to avoid getting taken out by having the inexperienced driver smash into them. That unfortunately, is by far the worst problem with so many new drivers. I think if a driver is down by more than five laps off the lead lap, they should have to retire for the day and get off the track before they crash into one of the more seasoned drivers. I understand they have to gain experience, but not at the expense of the other drivers who are going after the championship title this year.

A perfect example was at the end of the race. Tony Kanaan was leading, and it seemed he was going to win, and then a driver who was down several laps crashed, spun out, and hit Kanann's car, damaging his tire with only a few laps to go. Coming in eighth place, Kanaan was livid after the race ended, having to be calmed down by Michael Andretti.

Another interesting change this season is the weight of the cars and the drivers. If a driver is lighter in frame, then weights will have to be put onto their car, and for drivers who weigh more, weights will be taken off their cars in order to balance out a more even speed. The lighter a driver weighs, the faster the racecar, and a lot of people obviously felt this was unfair to all the drivers. The only person it seems to have affected, is Danica Patrick. Barely 5'0 and weighing a mere one hundred pounds, she is the shortest and skinniest of all the racecar drivers, so of course she feels the impact of this rule.

A few interesting surprises this season, Ryan Briscoe is back, and is teammates with Helio Castroneves, taking over for Sam Hornish Jr. on Team Penske. Dario Franchitti along with Sam Hornish Jr. have left IRL and gone over to Nascar, driving stockcars this year. And Danica Patrick is not the only female racer this year; Milka Duno is back for another season.

A.J. Foyt IV, looking hotter than ever, still tall, tan, and taut, is by far the sexiest racecar driver on the track. Anthony has kept his seat with Vision Racing. After being let go last season, not having a ride, obviously Vision Racing wised up, and decided to keep this talented young racer, seeing the potential in him that we all see. Anthony is teammates again with Ed Carpenter, and both drivers had originally qualified in second and third position, but were penalized for technical, and both cars were pushed back to the end of the pack, but did not stay there for long. Anthony used his skill and made his way up, passing car after car, moving into the top ten. He finished in ninth place, and it seems this year will be his year to win his first IRL race.

And last, but certainly not least, the most surprising and interesting change to IRL this season, is Dan Wheldon. You might have noticed his new appearance. Not only did he get a new set of pearly white teeth, his looks have changed. He let his hair grow, brushed forward, and is newly married. The outspoken bachelor who has had a great time being single, envied by many for the attractive women he has dated, got engaged to his long time personal assistant and publicist, and married Susie Behm in St. Petersburg Florida on March 16, 2008. They honeymooned in the Caribbean, and then came straight back just in time for the opening race of the season this Saturday March 29, 2008.

Never would I have guessed that Dan Wheldon would have married, so suddenly, and so soon. Turning thirty this year, what has gotten into the Brit who has mentioned several times his love of being single? He has expressed interest in moving to Nascar joining his former teammates Hornish and Franchitti, and also thinking of making the move to FI. But the one constant thing that has not changed, and probably never will, is his passion for speed, and for the sport of racing. Having crashed during qualifying, Wheldon used his backup car and started in the back of the pack, and although he was under strict orders not to move up too quickly from owner Chip Ganassi, he did just that, after all, this is Dan Wheldon we are taking about.

And what a marvelous sight it was, as Dan started twenty-second, moving his way up the line, passing car after car, and by lap seventeen, he moved up to the ninth position. Driven does not even describe this fervent racecar driver, with such skill and talent, Wheldon maneuvered his car with such precision and grace, he made it look simple at over two hundred mph. He was on fire, unstoppable as he moved up to fourth, third, taking over the lead several times during the race. He must have felt invisible, maybe it was disobeying orders, maybe it was the ring on his fourth finger that pushed him, or maybe it was just Wheldon showing off, proving to everyone and all the new drivers from Champ Car not to mess with him, to move out of his way, and watch out.

Dan Wheldon is fearless on the racetrack, and although he has been called difficult in the pits, and has had words on and off the track with Danica Patrick, that has only made him into the driver he is today. His teammate Scott Dixon, who also just got married a month before Wheldon, started off on pole position, and ended up taking back the lead with three laps to go, and won the race. Wheldon, who came in third, congratulated his teammate afterwards.

And while there were only four cars on the lead lap at the end of the race, it was none other than the recently turned twenty-one year old Marco Andretti that came in second. Having just turned twenty-one last week, Marco came very close to another victory, and it seems he is more determined than ever to win this year. Having had a troubled season last year after his spectacular debut season in IRL, Marco is definitely an Andretti, looking like a younger version of his talented father and grandfather. Who knows, he might even win the Indy 500 this year.

And with all the new editions, the new drivers, and the new rules enforced this season; IRL is definitely becoming a fan magnet. It might not be as popular as Nascar, stockcars verses open-wheel in the States, but this season will definitely be a season to watch, you will not want to miss a moment of this incredible action packed year. More races, new venues, and always new surprises. And did I mention, 3 Doors Down, one of the hottest bands, and one of my personal favorites, said those famous words at the beginning of Saturday's race, "Gentleman, Start Your Engines."

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