You're quite mistaken. My post was dead serious. No humour intended. (you can't post a wink without a smiley, at least that i know of) And clevr/ 'Don't have to be to see the light. The one make, two engine series is formed to provide "excitement" for the "fans" too draw eyeballs. Do you really see a favourite for the 500? There's prolly 15 that have a realistic chance of winning by being the best out there. (half the field, the best???) Yet, a lesser team still has a chance of winning by the toss. Case in point...one year ago. Rossi lucked in. Like Danica at Japan. Facetious? Clever. Neither, indeed. (I won't wink lest you misinterpret it)
Yes my thoughts, he is incredibly well prepared but something will go slightly awry near the end due to lack of experience but he can win and if he finishes will be near the top. Betting on a win...he would need a fairly quiet race and luck like Juan Pablo had in 2000 when he won his first time. Sooo sorry for Seb Bourdais he had a real shot this year but 20 years ago with a shunt like that he'd be in the hospital basement not upstairs now let's count ourselves lucky we did not end up with another Gordon Smiley scenario... MS
I believe the last F1 World Champion who was an Indy rookie was Nigel Mansell, and he finished 3rd. Then there was another one who finished 1st, and that was Graham Hill. Of course, that came at the expense of another rookie who was a future WDC, namely Jackie Stewart. Andretti always runs fairly well at the Brickyard. I think that Fernando will finish in the top 10 and be Rookie of the Year.
As Stewart was later to become WDC and gets mention. I guess Mario counts also finishing 2nd in '65, his rookie year. Should we mention Ascari and Fangio also? Oooopppsss. 'Just did....
Oh jeez!!! How could I fergit Jack (Brabham, that is...) ? Ah, sheesh... Another of my Lotus guys....Jochen Rindt. Hell the short terms's gone and the long term is slowin'..... Errrggghhh. I think Piquet too. 'Hafta check on that one.... 'Back. Yup, '93
Oiy. Emerson. What's that brain crap? Prevalen or sumpin'? I need some. edit: Oooohhh nooooo.... Denny.
Its a tough place to win. Alonzo has the ability to get it done and I hope he does but realistic is a top 10 finish. A lot of skill/strategy/luck involved just to get into position to win much less pull off the win.
A top 10 finish would be a reasonable expectation. A top 3 would be fantastic. A win ... not short of miraculous ...
If he leads a good number of laps in the race, I think that's a high achievement. There's a lot that goes into Indy car strategy though, so I think a win eludes him (though I voted a first-place finish). A top-10 would still be impressive though.