Biggest Motorsports Racing Weekend!

It’s Saturday, May 24, 2008, on the eve of arguably the biggest motorsports racing day of the year, Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend. It’s just one of several weekends during the racing season where fans will spend hours and days fulfilling their part as spectators, or for the lucky few as participants. Either way, we will all be enjoying the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco in Monte Carlo, the 92nd Indy 500, and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. If you’re as big of a fan as most of us are, we will spend the entire day watching all three of the spectacles lap to lap. If you’re as big of a fan as most of us are, we will spend the entire day watching all three of the spectacles lap to lap. There is a lot to be thankful for as a motorsports fan this year and Memorial Day Weekend, especially for fans of American open wheel racing, as there is finally now only one pinnacle series competing in the first Indy 500 since unification just a few months ago. This seasons already provided amazing and historical races and finishes, with Graham Rahal winning his 1st race in his 1st start since unification, becoming the youngest ever driver to win in the IRL. Not to be out done, Danica Patrick finally won her first major open wheel series race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, making her the 1st women to ever win in any premier American open wheel series.

For F1 fans, we are witnessing an increasingly competitive season from race to race, and tomorrow’s street race in Monaco promises to deliver just as much excitement as every other Monaco race has provided in the past. Today’s qualifying was no exception, as we witnessed further evidence of Ferrari’s increasing dominance over the field by sweeping the front row starting positions, with Felipe Massa on pole. This came as a surprise to most, since the McLaren’s of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen posted strong times during all the practice sessions, including Saturday’s morning and final free practice session where Kovalainen wrecked a lap after posting the fastest lap of that session. However, both McLaren’s will start from the second row, but they may yet have another two strong competitors to hold off at the first turn, with Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) and Nico Rosberg (Williams Toyota) starting in row three. Both Kubica and especially Rosberg showed quick pace throughout practice and qualifying, which could net them a possible podium finish but unless fuel and pit stop strategy works in their favor, don’t expect to see either one of them claiming their first F1 career wins at the famed Monaco GP. To top it all off, rain is expected at some point during Sunday’s race, which will definitely equalize the competition, making for a much more exciting and heart-pounding event!

Speaking of exciting, NASCAR’s equivalent of an endurance race, the Coca-Cola 600, also appears to be gearing-up for a very enjoyable and entertaining race, especially with Kyle Bush on the pole. I know I have a lot to look forward to in the 600, with six of my eight fantasy driver roster starting in the top 6 and 7 in the top 10! Not to be overlooked is Toyota’s remarkable 2nd season as they lead the Sprint Cup championship with Kyle Bush. Unfortunately, for Jr. nation, Lil’E has yet to win a point’s race for his new team owner, Rick Hendrick, or for his own Nationwide owned team. Speaking of Team Hendrick, they have not shown their dominance from just a year ago, claiming only one win this season with Jimmie Johnson. However, Sunday’s race could be the turning point for a lot of teams as they head into the Summer racing season and getting ever closer to mid-season.


So, whether it be in front of your own or another’s home theater, at a sports bar, or even lucky enough to be at anyone of the three events watching live from the grandstands, I wish all of you have a great Sunday race day! May the best driver win!!!