Scott Dixon flashes by the Long Beach capacity crowd in turn 1. [Joe Jennings Photo]
IndyCar, take a bow.
The aero bits hung on.
The racing was close.
The were (so far) no rules violations (that we know of).
After two events that left a lot to be desired, IndyCar put it all together in a big way before a huge crowd that packed the grandstands full on a sunny day in Long Beach.
“It’s fun to race at a place like Long Beach,” said winning Ganassi racing operations head Mike Hull. His driver, Scott Dixon, had just recorded his first-ever win over the street course that fans call the “Roar by the Shore.”
There were no constant yellow flag periods for carbon fiber debris.
Other than a spread-out start that vaulted Dixon forward to the disadvantage of pole-sitter and ultimate runner-up Helio Castroneves there was a paucity of caution to slow the action.
There was compelling, exciting racing in the last ten laps as Simon Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan and Sebastian Bourdais stalked and then were held off by Juan Pablo Montoya for the last spot on the podium.
It actually looks like the IndyCar series will have a week ahead of R-E-L-I-E-F.
No spectators suing for damages from errant winglets. No meteorologic disasters.
And best of all, a third different winner for the third consecutive week.
While Chevrolet continues to dominate the results, even in the absence of the much-maligned “rabbit ears,” it doesn’t seem that Honda is all that far away from getting into the race. Once the Japanese contingent finds some rear grip, balance, they are ready to compete.
A good run at Long Beach was a sorely-needed victory for IndyCar. It still needs to work with the manufacturers to produce more competition up and down the pit road. It still has another major aero initiative to pass for the ovals and super-speedways.
But it’s looking mighty good in glorious California today.
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