After last weeks much talked about Indy 500, Sunday's race at Milwaukee had many drivers wanting to redeem themselves. Marco Andretti took pole, and Graham Rahal, was in second position to start the race. Having Andretti and Rahal start first and second was reminiscent to many of the days when both their fathers raced alongside one another. Marco wore his Indiana Jones outfit, like he did last week at Indianapolis, but this time without the hat and whip. His racecar painted with the Indiana Jones movie logo, I thought was cute.
Although he started in pole position, Marco was having trouble with his car, and his lead was quickly taken away by Scott Dixon, who seemed destined to win back to back races, but a lot can happen in a couple of hours, and two hours is long enough for a few crashes, track positions, and change of race leaders. Ryan Briscoe took away the lead, holding off Dixon, as they were bumper to bumper on the track the final few laps of the race. A last minute crash brought out a caution, and Briscoe took the checkered flag and his first victory driving for Penske.
Graham Rahal was doing a great job, his first time racing at this particular track. Sandwiched between Dixon, Wheldon, and Castroneves, he held his own, impressively, and had a great shot at winning another race this year, until he came upon lap traffic. Unfortunately, that was his downfall. I have said this before and I will say it again, slower cars, especially cars that are down several laps, should either be taken off the track, or at least move aside when another driver is wanting to pass. They should automatically move high so the other driver can pass them on the inside without having to go up high around them. Many crashes and accidents occur because of this problem. No one seems to care.
After crashing early last week at the Indianapolis 500, again Graham went up high to pass a slower driver, as he tried to pass Manning who was already off the lead lap, his car got caught in the marbles, he lost control, and crashed into the wall. It is not fair that an innately talented driver such as Graham Rahal should have to miss out on finishing a race, let alone having the opportunity of winning a race, when drivers that are down laps do not move out of their way. Clearly Manning should have moved up high to give way to Graham so he could pass him on the inside.
Although Graham was not hurt, he made the point of stating that the officials are not doing their job, they should make the slower drivers that are down laps move out of the way for the other drivers. I could not agree more. The new "IT" boy of racing, Graham Rahal is why Indy Racing League will continue on. He has a commanding presence about him that immediately draws you in. His poise, confidence, and the pure enjoyment of racing, is why everyone is talking about him. When you have such emerging, young, talent as Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, and A.J. Foyt IV, there will always be viewers that keep open-wheel racing alive and thriving, thirsting for more.
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