Re: Indy Pre-Race Thread

[Syzygy]

2011 TM Master Cup Series Round of Indianapolis Win Odds Released
Odds for 2011 TM Master Cup Series Round of Indianapolis
Yevgeny Kuznetsov - 1000/1

You have no idea how hard I laughed at this. xD

Hater's gon' hate, Kuzzie gon' win!

Back on topic...

PCC Brigade does not live up to expectations, #08 car will race. Kuznetsov and team beat odds

After the disqualification of Taylor Silverman in the garage to the dismay of the Fortner team, one team had reason to be happy: Team Thunder. After running the 6th fastest time in the Last Chance qualifier, they were preparing to make a run in the qualifiers when the officials informed them that they would be racing at Indianapolis. After this, the entire #08 team began jumping up and down in celebration, and immediately joined the #82 team in their celebration of drinking vodka. However, with happiness comes sadness. The #07 and #06 teams did not pass pre-qualifying, with the #06 Tonare Thunder being driven by Troy Griffith being called to the hauler after forgetting how to use his brakes and plowing into the #231 car of Jacob Eichholtz.

In other news, the #82 Rosneft/Kaspersky Lab Omecha MA02 that Formula RUS competitor Yevgeny Kuznetsov put 5th on the grid is being called, "the biggest qualifying upset of the year" by some. His odds have been listed at 1000/1, and many gamblers have laid down plenty a dollar in support of his cause. After qualifying for the race, his crew, entirely Russian, began to drink vodka and celebrate on pit road before the Last Chance qualifier. They managed to get their drunk selves to the local Dawgfather's, where they continued to drink until 3:30 PM the next day. Needless to say, this team is, without a doubt, one of the biggest longshots to win in the field, and should not be overlooked.

[Cynon]

The race had a very anonymous start, with many lead changes in a rather dull draft shuffle. ZzZzZzZzZz... until lap 12, when Pedro Soares and Jacques Bouvier pulled off a very unique stunt -- simultaneous mechanical problems! Bouvier's car stopped on track and brought out the only yellow of the race. He and Soares were the only retirements. Both led a lap during the draft shuffle.

The restart was clean and tidy. Then came lap the pit stops on lap 20. Mike Whitmore, who had been running near the front beforehand, was dumped by Morgan Hamburg in the pitlane. Any long-time TM Master Cup Series fan can tell you that pit lane collisions do not sit well with officials, especially ones that appeared intentional. Therefore, Morgan Hamburg easily takes out Reject of the Race and earned himself a big fat DSQ. It also marks the second time in three races that Mike Whitmore has been run into on the pit lane. Whitmore sustained enough damage to delay his pit stop and sent him way down the order. Despite this, he caught Scott Steudler's draft but still finished last.

About Steudler, his race went from bad to worse when he was jammed up behind the Whitmore/Hamburg collision and jammed on the binders to avoid colliding with Elina Varjo. However, I can't say I was surprised that he missed the race...

Varjo turned some heads with an impressive showing, however a terrible pit stop cost the Finn her first TM Master Cup Series start on an oval track. For someone who never started on an oval, much less one of the most challenging ovals out there... pat on the back.

Avery Holtzmann was lucky to escape prequalifying. However his performances ever since Karjala have not reflected those of a man currently third in the points standings. Franz Redlich's apparent lack of team leadership skills have not helped the British rookie. Gessler in general has been in trouble ever since Karjala, with the team sliding down the grid. The team had better figure something out if Holtzmann is to become a legitimate title contender instead of someone just holding a huge number of points without being a serious contender. Despite his win in his homeland, Franz Redlich's season hasn't been all that impressive, showing the same frustrating inconsistency that got him booted out of Volpi.

Grant Papp did not show any of the speed he did in prequalifying, instead, he looked fairly out of his depth despite a strong 12th place on the grid. Papp dropped to the back early and for the most part stayed there.

Now, about Mikhail Pulyakov, missing the race by .01 of a second. That kind of describes his entire season, especially considering that he dropped out of the Karjala Grand Prix before it started. So close, but yet so far. Reports are that Pulyakov may be replaced for Michigan onwards, but if the issue is performance, Katzev may want to think twice.

[Nascar9fan]

Hodges is listed twice. 10/1 & 18/1

[Cynon]

Hodges is listed twice. 10/1 & 18/1

You're not supposed to know he got cloned!

[gwoodard41]

Woodard's Odds are decent, but he will go all out to win the race

With the race around the corner, Greg Woodard, like several drivers, will officially be making his first ever Master Cup start, with his impressive attempts to make it into pole qualifying, and then successfully blasting past most of the competition during the other qualifying races, Greg will attempt to win the race, or at least make a top 5 at the finish, because that in his and Terra Motorsports' books would be considered a 'victory' reality wise.

[Cynon]

Camelot Racing Switches Savin for Steudler

Despite Danny Savin having already completed one practice session on Thursday, the New Yorker was informed that Scott Steudler would drive in Savin's car for the Round of Indianapolis. Savin's #91 car will carry Steudler's #23 and will carry both Hershey and Kodak as primary sponsors.

Neither Danny Savin, Scott Steudler, or a Camelot Racing representative could be reached for comment.

[Alpineopossum]

A headline reads...

Taylor to run Decatur, Will have car shipped there three days early

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