So this is the week right? The one where Will Power from Team Penske puts forth another good effort, but no one removes him from contention like a strip of fabric with excess hair on it during the race and he returns to the top step of the IZOD IndyCar series podium.
All indications are this should be it. Three races run on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil and all three times Power has scored the victory. Further evidence of the Aussies domination is that he’s won from the pole twice. (Dario Franchitti had the other) and holds the track record for qualifying.
So why don’t I feel all that confident about Power’s chances?
Probably for all the reasons listed above. He and the team have made very few mistakes yet found themselves in harm’s way. You know that after going three in a row eventually somebody is going to knock you off, perhaps literally.
What I do expect is the race winner to come from one of the big three teams, Penske, Target-Ganassi or Andretti Autosport. Reason being this race is the biggest travel distance for teams during the season and they only bring the minimum necessary to compete, doubling up wherever possible to save on costs.
This street race schedule is completed over two days not the usual three. Less track time means you have to be on your game right away, if you’re struggling you won’t have time to recover.
Power’s teammate Helio Castroneves leads the point’s standings and has proven the model of consistency in the early going finishing top-ten in each of the first three events. He’ll be mighty motivated to capture a victory in his home country.
Ryan Hunter-Reay has finished runner up in two of the first three Brazilian street races. The defending series champion needs a bounce back after making a mistake that ended his day two weeks ago at Long Beach. Andretti Autosport has shown plenty of speed at the first three events of the season and Hunter-Reay was a winner at Barber.
Teammate James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, ON needs a regroup even more than Hunter-Reay. After such a storybook start to the season capturing his first series win, Hinch has been bounced out of contention in the last two races. Spirits are still high but producing the kind of results they know they’re capable of needs to happen before frustration sets in.
Target driver Scott Dixon has two top-five results this year and if not for contact from Tristian Vautier in the early going may have had another at Long Beach. He is fast and will grab a win before too long.
The other Target car of Dario Franchitti also had his first decent result two weeks ago and will need another this weekend to build some momentum within the team.
Other factors to watch for: Rain. Heavy downpours impacted the first two events, causing delays and shortening the race in 2010 and delaying the finish until the next day in 2011. There is no rain in the forecast now, but if it does happen then we could have plenty of action.
Turn 11: The 180-degree turn is the best place to pass. A very long straightaway leads into the corner and it is the best opportunity to gain positions so drivers won’t be shy about attempting to make a move.
It should all add up to another exciting race with plenty of drama as we have seen in the early going this season.