Welcome to Detroit race one notes! no snazzy intro, lets do this!
ABC Intros are always awesome
RHR… Helio… Fast forward…
4th P2 start of the year for Hinch
Belle Isle looks pretty damn good in the overhead shots. Lots of lush greenery
The command was excellent. Thats the kind of energy I like
20K seats here? Front grandstands look about 1/2 full
–Race–
Not awful alignment. Very clean start
Moves being made farther back. Hawks into P2
Chalets have moved from the fountain turn
Bestwick is good, I just don’t like looking at him… he looks like an announcers booth action figure
I’m so mixed on Graham Rahal. I like seeing him struggle because it’s graham, but I want him to succeed because of the national guard
3
RHR buried in the pack. Should be a good study about how easy it is to pass here/ how good RHR is coming through the field
-Commercial
Booth notes Conways black tires. Agreed. Conway may already have the field covered.
Pags into the wall thanks to Power. Pags was wearing Powers bumper out. NO WAY he didn’t know Pags was there
Problems in the pits for RHR
8
Simon is a class act. Power basically stuffed him into the wall, Pags admits he may have been in a bad spot. Maybe, but that was still a questionable move
If Rahal passes Montoya…
Said Conways has the field covered. Helio may be able to cover the strategy with on track speed
Rahal complaining about Montoya “being wide” Montoya looks closer to Newgarden than Rahal is to JPM. shut up Graham
Ok, Montoya is racing Rahal HARD. JPM is definitely being difficult
Sato in the pits with gear box issues
12
Clean pass from Rahal. Well done
Dixon coming…
Dixon makes it look easy. JPM is loooooose
13
Rahal doing a hell of a job. Bullied his way past Bourdais
Conway out. Fantasy team is in the toilet today
He looks pretty upset. HE DAMN WELL SHOULD BE. The Destroyer Of Worlds… pfft. Rookie move
No idea what lap it is. the hat hasn’t been very present during this race
Jib shot sweeping across pitlane is pretty cool
Problems with Hawks in the pit. broken rotor maybe? yes. wow, thats nutty
20
Kids look like their having a blast at the track
Poor Herta, the guy just doesn’t know what to say about the rotor. I don’t blame you man
Rahal P1 due to pit strategy. Either RLLR throwing the race away again or the brilliant decision of the afternoon. time will tell.
21
Green
The field is clearly jumbled on strategy. I would appreciate a reset from the booth
22
And we get one. Thank you
Herta is convinced Hawks will be a champion. It’s that kind of dedication we need with the young guys in the series
“Counting on the a yellow is a very bad way to do strategy” well spoken actually
26
Rahal is running a great race. I hope he doesn’t get screwed on strategy
Hinch is holding a handful of drivers up
28
Huge handful of front wing for Andretti. Interesting to see how it will play out
Power is driving like a mad man. Shave the gap Mr. Power
30
Waiting for strategies realign. The drivers may be saving fuel, but everyone is driving their asses off
My favorite Russian gangster in P1. I want an in depth interview with Mikhail to see how his indycar experience is going.
Slow stop for RHR. Still running with the tail of the field
Rahal pushing around RHR but immediately gets padded back. RHR has a quick car, too bad he’s in the back
HC out front. Race reset.
Commercial
36
I love not having any tire stacks in the corners. The track looks so very good this year, I can’t wait to see how it looks with 4 million bucks worth of surface work
Penalty for Aleshin. Popped up on the hat, I really like that feature. Wonder if I’ve missed others?
yellow
Newgarden into the wall. Brake lock up
Aleshin penalty was for blocking Sato… who was 4 laps down 
Left wing adjustment for Marco. I looked multiple times and did not see a right wing adjustment
Likening winning in Detroit to living in Detroit. The hard way, the tough way. Ok?
Goodyear: Mr Penske is America’s Enzo Ferrari. High praise, but just no
Extended yellow due to water out of the tire barriers. Sucks
This extension could reset everyone onto a race until the end strategy
Tank top offs underway
Wish I knew what lap it is
44
Clean restart. 35 to go
fearsome racing. wiping drool from chin
Montoya and Rahal have found each other again with RHR lingering in the back. Best street racing we’ve seen all year?
47
“We’re pushing hard to the end. Go as fast as you can” excellent
Hinch around the outside of Dixon. Thats how you do it
Saavedera is hassling these guy, but doing it very cleanly. Could be looking at a great finish
JPM in for the last time
52
I still have no idea what is going on. I need some making a lap chart while I do this
Sato has been everywhere today. 4 laps down but giving everyone a hard time
54
traffic jam with Marco at the point.
Could RHR be the one?
55
Hinch turns Aleshin. Looks like Hinch was well onto the curbing.
Yellow
Looks like Hinch had a rail slide over the crown of the curb. Probably pretty ambitious
Alehsin was on the fantasy team…
Booth calling for Rahal to the win. I can actually see that. The dude is quick this afternoon
Really rooting for Rahal
58
Still yellow. Briscoe rolling the dice for another yellow. Not rooting for Briscoe
Brisoes pits saying he WILL come in
Race is on with Rahal and Power. Kanaana and Wilson waiting in the wings
green
good restarts all day
Power around Briscoe. That could be the race
60
Rahal clear. I don’t think he’ll catch Power, let alone pass him
Jeeze, as I say that, Rahal is shaving the gap. race on
65
Rahal dropping away. Time to see the rest of the field please ABC
Power has showed his standard poise in holding Rahal off
Both drivers have really gapped the rest fo the field. some 3 seconds ahead of Kanaan
I can’t believe how well Rahal has driven today
Power is in the drivers zone. Nothing will prevent him from reaching the checkers first today
I’m afraid this race is toast
67
I would really like to see the rest of the field…
69
Rahal has driven an amazing race. but one time is still just a fluke
Checkers
Rahal’s attitude is spot on. Could be trouble tomorrow
Kanaan does not look happy. He’s aching for a win. I would be too wheeling the TCGR 10
Montoya was fighting electric issues all day. Pretty good attitude considering the difficult afternoon
Hinch already has blisters on his hands. Not a good sign
Dixon sounds confused. I am too Dixie, I am too
Not bad. Would have liked to have seen a bit more of the field in the closing stages of the race. RHR into the tires. Aleshin around. Add conway and pags and my fantasy team is shot. Would be nice to see Rahal carry some momentum into tomorrow. Last 1/3 of the race was pretty lock step, but we never saw anyone deeper in the field.
Make sure to check back for notes from tomorrows race and next week for an official weekend round up.
Eric Hall
anotherindycarblog 