Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe (2.226.2)

Transcript

The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe (2.226.2) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

• 0:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome Indy Car fans to the Central Indiana Sports Report for this week's Indy Car Report with Elijah Poe, no race last week, Elijah, no race.
• 0:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: This coming weekend, so I thought we'd do things a little different.
• 0:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: And since you are our expert, I'm just going to ask you some questions.
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can you believe we are 22% of the way through the schedule?
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I really can't.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's been a really fast start to this in the car season and it's honestly been weird.
• 0:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: These last two weekends not having any races but at that being said we've got a race here coming up next weekend and man it's flown by so far.
• 0:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, last weekend you had the final four and then this coming weekend you have the master so probably a good two weeks to take off if you're going to.
• 0:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, there's no doubt about it that any car schedule is by far the best to been in the long, long time.
• 0:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: And they went up again flat.
• 1:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: The master's last year, which was a huge mistake.
• 1:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it was like one of the most viewed master's ever.
• 1:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: So they've definitely done it right this year.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the ratings this year have been fantastic so far.
• 1:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've been doing good so far.
• 1:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know that they were under the a million market barber.
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: But in all honesty, I think barber's not a track that really draws in a lot of new fans.
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: And just because it's not a track mass car goes to, it's not a track a lot of people are really even gonna know off the top of her head.
• 1:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: But regardless, you know, I think they still hit the around 150,000 mark, which is well, well, more well off than they were in years past.
• 1:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Long way to go, and the product has earned more viewers.
• 1:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: But if they continue to put out the product that they have, I'm sure it'll continue to grow.
• 1:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the fact that all the races are on that work television helps as well.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's been big having Fox as a partner and obviously being the TV side of Indicard these last couple of years.
• 2:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: We've really seen the booth grow in talent, the graphics grow, and just to be in year two and kind of set this firm foundation on network TV, it really brings in a lot of room for growth for Indicard in the years that come.
• 2:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Real quick, Elijah, before I get to my questions that I want to ask you again, four races down 14 to go.
• 2:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Top 10 in the driver's standings, Kyle Kirkwood 156, Alex blow 154, then quite a gap to Christian Loon Guard with 111.
• 2:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: David Malukus is the top
• 2:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: followed by his teammate Joseph Newgarden, a hundred and thirteen in pattoe award 106 scott McLaughlin and Marcus Erickson with 99 Marcus Erickson with 98 and then Scott Dixon with 85 and the first question I have for you Elijah is Ken Kyle Kirkwood stay competitive with below for the championship this year.
• 3:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he can, especially where things are going.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: You look at next week, it'll be to track Kirkwood's one before and Andretty has been super, super dominant at.
• 3:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I think he really needs to bank as many points now in this early season, because we know how good Polo is on some of these road courses that we're going to in the summer, like Roderburg, middle high and even on some of the shorter ovals, he's been very competitive at.
• 3:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we each is a really big weekend for
• 3:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Kyle Kirkwood, but just a hold off pillow because we know pillow is going to win some of these races down the line.
• 3:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: What Kirkwood absolutely has to do is outperform pillow on the ovals, has to.
• 3:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's going to be hard to do because Polo was other than maybe I think Polo did lead that the series in points last year on ovals, which is no joccer to see just how dominant he had a year last year, but where I really think is going to be big to watch his Kirkwood has never really put together a full strong 500 and we obviously know Polo has and I think if Kirkwood's able to just maintain that points distance and at least put in a good points
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: But maybe just maintain, especially on those levels is going to be very big.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, below, if they're on a road course, just might as well, talking up as the winner, it's the way it's been really the last three years.
• 4:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just if it's a road course, just Alex blows going to win and let's something quirky happens, or maybe there's a collision.
• 4:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's been the Alex Polo show.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's been no doubt about that.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's just a testament to how good he is.
• 4:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: By the way, he's also the best on the ovals and the streets as well, but what is really good on the streets as well, and that's going to help.
• 4:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think, especially looking forward to next week, Long Beach is what an opportunity for Andrade and Kirkwood to really put up your fist and say, you know, we're going to have this season fight and we're going to fight for the championship, just as Alex blows fight for the championship, which I think would be awesome.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I really thought Paddo was gonna be competitive for the championship, but it doesn't appear that era McLaren's quite good enough yet.
• 5:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's a two driver race, right?
• 5:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Christian Lungar is only at 35 points behind and Paddo's 50 behind.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, when I look at that 50 mark for Paddo, I think by the end of the Indianapolis 500, I think is where we can really start to say, who's in it and who's not, because we still have,
• 5:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously Long Beach coming up, we got the NDGP, and then obviously the 500, I think those three stretches of races are going to be super important to see who's going to win this championship, because 50 points isn't a huge gap for patto, but it's a gap where if you really want to be competitive and maybe fight for a championship, that's got to come down.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Alright Elijah, today I was thinking of some questions I wanted to ask you about the indie car seasons and some questions that I have that I'm curious to get your answer and they're kind of random.
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: First, how would you rank the first four races as far as your enjoyment of them?
• 6:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would first go with honestly Phoenix having Phoenix back was so awesome.
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was such a good race watching grass mucen drive through the field was just incredible and second I'll have to go Arlington seeing a new track and even though it maybe wasn't the best race It was still a really really solid race with with Kirkwood winning.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank Peter's Burg and third It's just always a classic to see Andy Kart kickoff
• 6:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: on the street to St. Pete and Fox, I think really crushed you.
• 6:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that might be their best broadcast of the year with St. Pete.
• 6:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then in last place, I don't have to go barber.
• 6:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was caution free.
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: There were some strategy at the end there with Loon Guard, but overall wasn't the most entertaining product compared to the other three we had.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: By the way, if a Loon Guard hadn't had the hiccup in the pits, that might go from number four to number one because that could have been a great finish.
• 7:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, if he was able to pull that off, I think that would have been awesome, but man, just unfortunate for Lune Garden and Aaron McLaren, but regardless, what a season they're having.
• 7:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and still finish second.
• 7:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: So probably didn't cost him anything, although it definitely cost him a chance to compete for the race win.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 7:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right, clearly, Elijah, the top three teams in the series are Ganesi, Penske, and Andretti, Aroma, Claire, and Clairely, fourth, and no question going to be competitive year after year with those three teams.
• 7:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Myershink is now in fifth.
• 7:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: You think they'll ever become a series power.
• 7:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's confirmed for 2022, eight that Honda is going to be giving another charter to myershink racing to have a three-card team with them.
• 7:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they're ever going to be, you know, in the names with Andrade Canase and Pensky.
• 8:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: I actually think they could become kind of an era McLaren where we know they're a really solid team.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, they might have a few tracks where they're really not putting it all together.
• 8:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the end of the day, they maybe could string it together and really win anywhere.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I wouldn't be surprised for them to take that step, especially with their close connections to Gnassie as well.
• 8:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't be shocked at all.
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think they could definitely probably push the top three, just like an era McLaren.
• 8:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think McLaren probably has what it takes to get that done.
• 8:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Meyer Shanks really shown that they're competent.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'll tell you that they hired good drivers.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: They know what they're doing.
• 8:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's no secret about that.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: With Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenquist, they've been so strong.
• 8:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: They last a couple years.
• 8:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: And even though they may be having been able to pull off that win, both these drivers are consistently in the top 12 and points.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: And both finished within the top eight last year.
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: All right, you brought up Marcus Armstrong next question.
• 9:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Brighter future, Marcus Armstrong or Dennis Hauker.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Uh, right now, just because we've only seen four races of Dennis Hauker, I'm going to have to go Marcus Armstrong.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: It feel like I feel like he's poised to eventually go up to Gynassie.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, whenever Scott Dixon or Kiffin Simpson moves on, I couldn't imagine.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: him in that ganache car because we've seen his pace and pure talent.
• 9:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: He just kind of stays out of trouble and gets good results.
• 9:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then again, I'll be super interested to see what Dennis Howard can do, maybe in a really competitive car.
• 9:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, we know Del accordingly racing.
• 9:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: They do as much as they can, but you know, with money.
• 9:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: They're never really going to reach the likes of a of a galaxy or a pensky, but I'm going to have to go Marcus Armstrong this because we've seen what he can do for a couple years now, and I can see that talent rising.
• 9:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think I'm going to go with Dennis Howger, I think he's going to be a name that we're discussing a lot in the future Elijah, I think he's going to be a champion one day.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's fair.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: I can see it.
• 10:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: And of course, those guys are going to be more prominent in the series as the older guys start to come to the end of their careers.
• 10:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: And my next question, Elijah, is one I don't really want to ask.
• 10:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all face it, though.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Has time finally caught up with Scott Dixon and Willpower?
• 10:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, with Willpower, I think certainly not.
• 10:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he's looked pretty competitive.
• 10:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: These first four races.
• 10:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's no question both drivers are kind of nearing the end of their career.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: and I'm not really either worried about a Scott Dixon as well.
• 10:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it would be worrying if Scott Dixon goes throughout the month of May through the three races we have coming up with not being able to put together like maybe even a podium and because he hasn't been super relevant to start this year, but no four races isn't a huge amount.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: of races.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: He kind of judge a whole season on, but it's definitely against the point where I'm a little bit more worried for Scott Dixon than I am will power even though Scott Dixon is leading will power in points.
• 11:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think will power has just looked better this year and it's kind of been will powers own fault and qualifying, not really racecraft that we've seen the faults of this season.
• 11:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Elijah I've been saying for about five years that will power's lost the step.
• 11:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think he is that interested anymore.
• 11:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think he's nearly as competitive as he used to be.
• 11:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm talking about competitive in his bones, you know, I got a win.
• 11:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: He hasn't looked like the same driver since he won the 500.
• 11:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he's been on two of the three best teams and the results for five, six years now, just haven't been there.
• 11:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're not totally wrong in that.
• 11:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: I got another question, I guess, who's got the better shot this year at the 500?
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Dixon.
• 11:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: think so.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that this might be my pick right now.
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I really think he's got one more in him.
• 12:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just can't imagine his legend ending with one in D500, but it's getting close to the end, so he needs to win one now.
• 12:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it's a race where some of the best of me that never won it or only won it once.
• 12:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it would be no shot at Dixon if he doesn't do another, because he's proven everything he needs.
• 12:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he's been competitive pretty much every May for the last
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Oh yeah, all right, Elijah, who's had the worst start to the season?
• 12:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: No one's single or mixed you mucker.
• 12:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I got to think it's going to have to be mixed you mucker.
• 12:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he scored 31 points.
• 12:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's kind of crazy without bad.
• 12:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Stingray Rob is looked.
• 12:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's four points behind Stingray Rob.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I get it's obviously a really different shift into indie car, but with how much hype he had, it's just, it's just been a string of pretty yucky races for make sure mocker.
• 13:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: But that being said, it is only four races in and this is a long season and I'd be interested to see how he can compare with other drivers when we get to some of the road courses like middle high, uh, road America, uh, maybe even Portland, but it is concerning,
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: I probably agree with you, but what a waste of a seat no one's equals been.
• 13:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Holy crap.
• 13:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I guess the one, the one shining slight sliver for no one's Seagull is that he's bringing a lot of money to McLaren, but that being said, I think maybe post 500 that seat, maybe get to a value, evaluate it because you have to think count.
• 13:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: That McLaren team just had Teo Porcher in that car a couple years ago.
• 13:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, there's been a lot of talent that
• 13:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: would be in that seat, and nothing against no one single, he just doesn't have it.
• 13:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just doesn't appear to have it.
• 13:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: I really thought he'd be better early in the season and he just hasn't been.
• 14:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it's tough.
• 14:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you're going against some of the best drivers in the world and you're
• 14:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just even a little bit off, it's gonna be painfully obvious.
• 14:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's just the case for Nolan.
• 14:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he can have a good 500 who know those and the Clarence are gonna be fast at Indy.
• 14:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: They are every year.
• 14:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen him in good at times.
• 14:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: We have.
• 14:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: So maybe he can end be better at times than Kiffin Simpson.
• 14:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think Kiffin Simpson has more results to show for it than Seagull does.
• 14:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: But then again, both drivers are pretty much on that same level of he kind of need a perform.
• 14:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I hate saying these things about guys who are really good guys who work hard at what they do, but results are results.
• 14:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it's a results based job.
• 14:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: It just is, it's always been, it's always going to be.
• 14:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: So there's always somebody next up that wants to take that seed.
• 14:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's for sure.
• 15:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: We know that Connor Daly is going to be driving for drier and Ryan Bold in the Indy 500.
• 15:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: But that leaves that sea open.
• 15:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I believe rumors are that it's going to be Colton heard of, but is it, uh, if there's a good shot, it's not Colton.
• 15:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Her, um, with how things are going in formula one, uh, with the cancellations of the races due to the war going on right now, um, it looks like Canada might be a race option for formula one.
• 15:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, well, but this call if I Colton heard it from being able to run.
• 15:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: But that being said I wouldn't be surprised if we see and try to just not run a fourth car or maybe bring Marko back They've got a lot of options.
• 15:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's just obviously how they swing it, but I don't really know what names they could even bring in At this time it's just it's getting pretty late quick I just think at this point you're hoping for a retired driver a
• 16:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: a really good driver who's been good at indie, but they're just aren't a lot of options are there.
• 16:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, and we're getting to a point where these teams are open testing is the 28th and 29th of this month.
• 16:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if you missed that open test, you're already starting on the back foot for a very long month, and you do not want to be
• 16:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: starting with the leg down from the competition.
• 16:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I expect something to happen here within the next couple weeks before the open tests, I would assume, because I just couldn't imagine something missing that.
• 16:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: It would be pretty detrimental to their program.
• 16:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would just think if your team like and ready, you would one as many chances as you could win the 500 when you're one of the best three teams.
• 16:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: But at this point, we'd kind of get it if they just said,
• 16:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: It would be a shame if they said it because I just love getting his main cars in this race is possible, but you know that some years that's not doable.
• 17:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: How about a welding kid?
• 17:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Are they ready?
• 17:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they're even close to being old enough.
• 17:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I'm just trying to think of great and dreaded drivers of the past.
• 17:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're like a Patrick.
• 17:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Died out heavily down.
• 17:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Uh, that's kind of the options it looks like, but you never know if they're in dread.
• 17:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's always been willing to go out of the box outside the box.
• 17:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's the one thing that's positive.
• 17:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think something is going to happen.
• 17:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I just, I don't think anybody really knows what at this point.
• 17:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Alright Elijah, outside of Indy, which race are you looking most forward to?
• 17:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: I really would really love Milwaukee every year.
• 17:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: I just love the short oval.
• 17:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just a unique cornering that Milwaukee brings to the schedule.
• 17:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's just such a unique oval that not a lot of, even that's cars obviously got tons of unique ovals, but there's not a lot of ovals that kind of look like Nashville, Milwaukee.
• 18:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm really looking forward to that.
• 18:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And who doesn't love a short oval race?
• 18:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I guess I could even say St. Louis, so which has been such a good race.
• 18:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've really, I was an oval guy my whole life.
• 18:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've really fallen in love with Brody America in middle Ohio the last few years and how good those races are.
• 18:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, Long Beach is turned into a pretty competitive race the last few years too.
• 18:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yes it has.
• 18:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Long Beach has always been a good one these last couple years and I'm also super pumped for road America.
• 18:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think there's not really a track that gives you a better view of any really any race on the schedule than a road American does so I can't wait for that as well.
• 18:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much to Elijah.
• 18:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: He and I will be back next week with another Indie Car Report pre-viewing the race at Long Beach and hopefully we'll have some others with us and thank you so much for listening.
• 19:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Please do me a huge favor.
• 19:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Check out my new daily podcast Greg and his friends talk sports where my friends and I talk about whatever central Indian sports fans are talking about and it's almost May.
• 19:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that's gonna be Indie Car.
• 19:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Much of the time, please go check it out every week day, Greg and his friends talk sports.
• 19:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: The central Indian sports report is a product of ITG media, and I sure do love you, Susie.