...except today...

 

Beautiful weather has erupted at Indy, and an excellent Q session just
completed. This morning it was damp and most of the guys went out on
intermediates only to pop right back in for slicks. Hayden went out on
slicks and was fast right off, really smokin' the rear on the run
through the fast lefthander right before the final chicane. At first
it seemed like Michelins were the ticket, then Bridgestones, then it
looked pretty even the rest of the way.

This afternoon it continued to be very unpredictable, surprising
groups of guys at the front much of the time. And we have't seen
anything close to dominqnce by anyone, even though it was the usual
Rossi-Stoner bit at the front in the end. Hayden missed a home front
row because of a big slide on his last try and/or being balked at the
end of the lap. Spies sits next to him in fifth spot, continuing to
embarrass the Rizla regulars plus Euro-centric Denning, and/or the
suits in Japan (whoever decided to let the best young talent outside
of GP walk).

Will be looking at the details later - 250s are out...

 

Okay, so let's assume it's dry. The pace this afternoon, when it was
pretty warm, was high 42s or very low 43s. The guys who did them were
Rossi (42.95), Stoner (42.66), Hayden (43.03), Elias (42.74), de
Angelis (42.98), Vermeulen (43.02). Lorenzo only did a 43.50 and that
was early, Spies got down to a 43.41 before going to the Qs, de Puniet
43.45, Dovizioso 43.86, Toseland 43.79 and Pedrosa never broke 44. The
general impression I had at the track was that Elias was generally
faster than Stoner today, but got screwed by his crash when it
mattered.

Rain is hard to say, because how hard it will be is impossible to say.
West was the fast guy yesterday, but he's last on the grid. The
morning was the drier of the two sessions, but guys were still
figuring out the circuit. In general the guys who were fastest in the
wet didn't qualify all that well.

I guess Rossi is the best pick, not knowing the weather. Hard to take
Stoner after the last couple rounds and his non-intimidating weekend
so far, and Elias seems like a good wildcard in the dry. Hayden looks
like a podium shot in the dry as well, but not so certain if it rains.
Hard to rule out Vermeulen if it rains. Spies seems like a good podium
longshot overall, andf maybe particularly if it rains; his biggest
problem in his previous two races seemed to be getting the maximum out
of the tires in the early laps when they're still good, and he can't
do that and get on the box.

However it plays out with the weather, it could be very good and/or
very surprising. And maybe we'll even get in some bike-swapping in the
process. 125s and 250s? Don't have a clue - who's on pole?

 


Mark N wrote:


As I said, apparently it's wet at Indy. Huddled under the grandstands
with 100,000 other people at the moment, wondering if it'll ever
stop...

Actually, it seems to be slowing a bit now...