Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe & Michelle Garmon (2.191.2)

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The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe & Michelle Garmon (2.191.2) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

0:03
[SPEAKER_02]: You are listening to the Indie car report with Elijah Pope every Thursday on the Central Indiana Sports Report.
0:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Joining Elijah and me, Greg Bendell, is Tipton Tribune and Elwood Colluter Sports Editor, Michelle Garmin.
0:19
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll look back on St. Petersburg, look ahead, the Phoenix, and talk about all the news coming out of Indycock.
0:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Elijah will be on my new daily show, Greg and his friends talk sports on Saturday to talk about Friday's qualifying and preview Saturday's race.
0:36
[SPEAKER_02]: If we can work it out, we might hold off Friday's Greg and his friends talk sports podcast until after qualifying, so we can break that down on Friday's show.
0:47
[SPEAKER_02]: not sure if we'll be able to do that.
0:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Also, Elijah and Michelle, maybe some others will be back Saturday night after the race at Phoenix to react to the first oval of the year.
1:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks so much for joining us.
1:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the Central Indiana Sports Report.
1:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I am Elijah Poe, your indie car host with alongside today with Greg Mingle and Michelle Garmin, and we're here to talk about last week's race of St. Pete, and we're also previewing Phoenix here this weekend, another big week for indie car, but there's still one man on top.
1:28
[SPEAKER_01]: His name is Alex Polo, as always.
1:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, thank you so much, Elijah, and Michelle is sitting here next to me at stage 20.
1:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Alex Polo, it's just I, when we did our season preview, it was Polo where the field was the question.
1:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I took the field and I probably picked wrong.
1:50
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think, Elijah?
1:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that could be right.
1:55
[SPEAKER_01]: He looked so dominant, St. Pete, just a perfect strategy with the overcut.
2:00
[SPEAKER_01]: really didn't run into any problem was running in clean air all day and was able to win by over just 12 seconds.
2:06
[SPEAKER_01]: It's unbelievable running and it's going to be interesting especially to see him on a short oval here in Phoenix this weekend.
2:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Michelle, if his pit crew hadn't got any mountain front, how certain are you he would have passed everyone to win that race?
2:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Here's the thing.
2:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if he would have pat- I think he's going to pass around his crew gets him out front because they're so exceptionally fast that they're pit stops, but not only are they fast, let's face it.
2:34
[SPEAKER_00]: He has to be really good on entry and exit too.
2:39
[SPEAKER_00]: And when he's out there making creating enough time narrowing the gap or spacing out the gap,
2:47
[SPEAKER_00]: to maintain the lead or gain on the leader, then pit stops.
2:51
[SPEAKER_00]: They're probably with the best crew at doing that.
2:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Maintaining the lead and working their way to the front on pit stops just on the stops alone.
3:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Dixon's crew does it on strategy a lot of times, but Chip can ask you, Racer, he's... Well, those are on strategy a lot too.
3:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, but I did that a lot last year.
3:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, but his crew is so good at making up just the time and the pits.
3:13
[SPEAKER_02]: They are.
3:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Elijah Ganesi, whether it's Polo or Dixon, it is an advantage.
3:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And when you combine the best driver in the world with the best team, it seems like right now at least in the world.
3:25
[SPEAKER_02]: Good things are going to happen.
3:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you're not wrong.
3:29
[SPEAKER_01]: You look at the Ganesi organization as a whole.
3:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I have been right there stepping step with team pensky for pretty much a whole of time in recent indie car memory.
3:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's fair to say they are hand.
3:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, winning his fourth championship here last year and six.
3:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I got Nixon.
3:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, six was God, Dixon.
3:51
[SPEAKER_01]: When you look at, uh, premier organizations, uh, and then decar, you'd be remiss not to mention shipping and asking all these done for the series.
4:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Just incredible drivers, incredible pit crews, great strategists, great engineers.
4:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, it's greatness throughout that organization.
4:10
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, hold on.
4:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Michelle, you think, Penske Irgonacy right now.
4:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Who's the best organization?
4:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Ganesi.
4:16
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think there's a doubt that Ganesi is the best organization right now.
4:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Here's the thing.
4:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Ganesi's also been involved with NASCAR too, but I think when Penske really got involved with NASCAR and then you add on buying the track, I don't think he can't be as heavily involved in everything he was before.
4:36
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think you can kind of see that, and with where I think Danasse puts his emphasis on his indie cartoons.
4:43
[SPEAKER_02]: And again, Elijah credits a Roger Pinsky for allowing this to happen because he didn't have to.
4:49
[SPEAKER_02]: He could have rigged this game and gotten away with it.
4:52
[SPEAKER_02]: He could have rigged it so that it wasn't obvious.
4:54
[SPEAKER_02]: And gotten away with it, and he didn't.
4:57
[SPEAKER_01]: And I honestly think somebody who was never going to let that happen is the man we're talking about now, ship Gynassie.
5:04
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked about, we talked about, we talked about Roger Pinsky and ship Gynassie.
5:08
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not only great businessmen, but they're great team owners.
5:11
[SPEAKER_01]: They're fought tooth and nail just about on, I don't know, everything you can in Indie car.
5:17
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's interesting.
5:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks a lot.
5:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I think on a business side and a personal side, I would say yes.
5:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, how can you not at least respect each other?
5:25
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I know they respect each other.
5:27
[SPEAKER_01]: You're like, I think they like each other.
5:30
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I bet there is, I don't think they're great, probably not necessarily great friends.
5:34
[SPEAKER_00]: But I do think we know they respect each other.
5:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm going to guess they probably do like each other.
5:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, can ask these got to like the fact that Penske's stepped up and put his money in to.
5:46
[SPEAKER_00]: um, the track and then when he's done the series, you have to like that.
5:51
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think you probably like that guy a little bit.
5:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying their best buddies and are going to go out on a, or plan a fishing trip or anything like that together.
5:58
[SPEAKER_00]: But who knows?
5:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe maybe the AR.
6:00
[SPEAKER_00]: That's the one thing you don't always really know.
6:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I think people like to have the rivalries and I don't think they're necessarily going to dispel that they're, that they're actually
6:15
[SPEAKER_00]: outside of the track or anything.
6:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Something off of that is you see a lot of these big rivalries and motorsport really just informing the one with the media.
6:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's just different here in Indie car where these teams, they're not trying to really fight against each other like always it is informing the one.
6:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They're trying to more propagate the sport as a whole, which is what I see it with
6:42
[SPEAKER_00]: You have two men that are heavily invested, and have been heavily invested in auto racing for decades, and successful too.
6:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And they know if each other is success, that helps drive the success of the series.
6:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd be kind of silly to be super bitter rival reason, anything, and I really think there was, we all know there was at one time because they split, cart, and new sack.
7:10
[SPEAKER_00]: I think you're recently, I'm sorry, that's probably the four-year time.
7:15
[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of things when I break up cartoons.
7:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I know about it, I know about it.
7:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I know about it.
7:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, card now, RL, but uh... Elijah knows this history, that's for sure.
7:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
7:24
[SPEAKER_00]: So, but I do think it's a little different today.
7:27
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot more peace, love that.
7:30
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the biggest rivalries are priced through the auto are through the car manufacturers and the engine manufacturers on the in Chevy I'm going to guess that's a huge rivalry within those those corporations.
7:45
[SPEAKER_02]: Mom also certainly Ganesi Pinsky and and ready even when they share.
7:49
[SPEAKER_02]: engine manufacturer's still want to be each other very well, definitely want to win that.
7:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, they they wouldn't be, they wouldn't have the success.
7:57
[SPEAKER_00]: They've had it in Indicard, if they weren't highly competitive, you have to be highly competitive.
8:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And it also helps that Penske's Chevy and ganassies Honda.
8:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
8:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, we know Will Power wasn't had an incident in St. Pete, and is now down in 22nd in the point standing.
8:20
[SPEAKER_01]: After having to retire the car in St. Pete, but he was pretty strong in the Phoenix open testing.
8:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess my question for you guys is, what important is it for Power to bounce back here in Phoenix?
8:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I think I think it's probably more important just for him.
8:44
[SPEAKER_00]: a little bit of a confidence and you know, I think he needs to complete the race and I know he wants to win or podium.
8:53
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think it's probably important that maybe he gets a top 10 finish or at least a top 15s and they know that they're heading in the right direction.
9:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to disagree with Michelle here.
9:04
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the most important thing is that they're competitive.
9:06
[SPEAKER_02]: If he doesn't finish, I'm don't think Will Powers even thinking about a championship right now.
9:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I think, well, everybody is except for probably Alex below in Patto award in a couple of others.
9:18
[SPEAKER_02]: They're thinking race to race.
9:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's how you approach the season.
9:22
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think, as long as we'll power is competitive this weekend and qualifying and practice in the race, I think that's the best result.
9:31
[SPEAKER_02]: You can hope for it.
9:32
[SPEAKER_02]: You can win this race for sure or Elijah.
9:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I agree.
9:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I think
9:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with I'm kind of in the middle of both you guys.
9:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he needs a top 10 to kind of feel good about where this season outlook can go because I think you start this these first couple races with little to no points and you're kind of already digging yourself in a hole before you get to a big stretch of races here.
9:53
[SPEAKER_01]: But then the other side is with a new team.
9:55
[SPEAKER_01]: He just needs a compete.
9:56
[SPEAKER_01]: He needs a hammer out those laps and all important to be competitive in general because we know that Marcus Erickson and Kyle Kirkwood are competitive as that are ever right now and they showcase that in St. Pete.
10:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And then moving on we talked a little bit about make Schumacher after the race, but it's it's now interesting fact that he's going to be turning his first lap And any car season on something he's not used to which is an oval
10:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, very interesting.
10:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I will say that the guys who have come from Formula One have adapted really well to the ovals, I can't think of many exceptions.
10:33
[SPEAKER_02]: There have been some over the years that have not adapted very well.
10:38
[SPEAKER_02]: or some that took a while.
10:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think there's going to be any concern with him, but short ovals are a little different.
10:44
[SPEAKER_02]: And doing your first oval on a short oval can be tough.
10:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's probably good though that he's going to be able to get out there and at least run some oval laps to start to get it.
10:54
[SPEAKER_02]: And also he's run ovals in different types of cars in his life.
10:59
[SPEAKER_02]: That experience is going to help him.
11:01
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, it's the first at a high level
11:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm concerned, but he's a great driver.
11:11
[SPEAKER_02]: He's a champion driver for a reason.
11:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the short oval is gonna make it more challenging.
11:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna say this.
11:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I think qualification is gonna be very important to him.
11:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's going to need with that short oval and everything I think might be better for him to start at the front of the race, the race in less maybe to judge the congestion back there.
11:31
[SPEAKER_00]: It's gonna come very fast and I think I would think qualifying would be important to that team
11:38
[SPEAKER_00]: maybe first three rows no more no deeper than four.
11:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, agree.
11:45
[SPEAKER_01]: I think especially when you look at just his experience as a whole not being able to turn a single lap in St. Pete that means that he's missed out on at least two to three opportunities just to even go into the pit lane and hit his pit markers and practice with that team as well and just not running laps is nerve-wracking and I assume he'd probably he's still up that
12:07
[SPEAKER_01]: to St. P as he did for Phoenix here, but it is going to be a new ball game and Michelle, you made a great point with a short over oval as well.
12:16
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be really hard and traffic.
12:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Once we get off of the start and off of the cautions, it's only probably going to take 20 to 30 laps for them to be all over this race track and navigating traffic is going to be a huge proponent for Phoenix that is for sure.
12:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Plus, in Formula One, he's not used to traffic.
12:34
[SPEAKER_02]: or you're out on your by yourself most of the time.
12:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's what I guess that's why I think qualifying is important to him.
12:41
[SPEAKER_00]: And if he can start up front and be behind maybe some veterans that have done it.
12:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, um, even not, you think below, but maybe even not below.
12:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Some guys have done even more.
12:50
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll experience the work he can kind of.
12:52
[SPEAKER_02]: about Graham Rayhill.
12:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, you know, hopefully Graham can be up there.
12:56
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, and follow them around the line and kind of get an idea of the feel on that.
13:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I just think it's harder to do when you're back.
13:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And if you make a mistake when you're back in the pack or somebody else makes a mistake, you can get caught up in it.
13:07
[SPEAKER_00]: And because he has not turned those laps, like you said Elijah, he needs, he needs that.
13:13
[SPEAKER_00]: He's got to have that experience.
13:14
[SPEAKER_02]: It's good that he has a teammate in Grand Ray Hall who's experienced that.
13:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm sure that'll help a lot too.
13:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Hopefully the team's good enough for them be competitive because I'm not sure they are.
13:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's an interesting question as well, just alongside our LL.
13:29
[SPEAKER_01]: It just feels like a lot of unknowns right now, not a very strong, we can say, Pete, but they're definitely a team where they can come to some tracks and kind of surprise people.
13:37
[SPEAKER_01]: You talk about like the indie road course and some other courses that have been pretty hyper-specific on just in talent-wise and speed-wise.
13:44
[SPEAKER_01]: What would be anything that we see in Phoenix is because, you know, we haven't seen cars there and what is it eight years now, so it's going to be crazy.
13:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I've gotten to the point where every time I hear carpenter or ray hull, those teams are going to be better this year, I'm very skeptical.
13:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I will, I will, I will rebutton you that way because we're going to Phoenix here where both of these ECR cars were in the top three in testing and both are very, very high on what they can do on short ovals.
14:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's going to be a big headline headed into this week.
14:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, let's see it.
14:15
[SPEAKER_02]: Also, did you see the next shoe mockers said, don't call him a rookie at, I, on ovals you have to at least to E is definitely a rookie on ovals.
14:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah, I would even argue that to be not a rookie on an oval, you almost need to be in your second season and in D card just to get used to the things.
14:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Because there is a learning curve that is very real with these drivers.
14:38
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a reason why Joseph Newgarden, Paddo Award, and Alex Ploer, so good on the short ovals and ovals in general, it's because they've just done them and they've figured out the learning curve.
14:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't forget Scott Dixon.
14:52
[SPEAKER_01]: God takes this well, I mean, I think you go without even saying at this point.
14:56
[SPEAKER_00]: You think of the news, the newer guys in your right.
14:58
[SPEAKER_00]: It took a little a little while to figure out the old.
15:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, it did, yes, it did.
15:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Talking about rookies, I know we just talked about mixed shoe marker, but we also have to talk about Dennis Hager as well in DCR as a whole with an eighth place in a 10th place, finish at St. Pete.
15:14
[SPEAKER_01]: This is going to be interesting to see how they can continue that momentum into Phoenix where
15:18
[SPEAKER_01]: They've been interesting on ovals in the past few years, but regardless, they're definitely looking to continue this strong streak.
15:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, they're both clearly very talented drivers.
15:28
[SPEAKER_02]: First of all, as much as I hate to say that about the other guy.
15:31
[SPEAKER_02]: But they did only have one true competitive pass on track between the two of them, which is odd.
15:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
15:41
[SPEAKER_00]: But when you think about that, when you're a rookie, and that's your first race.
15:46
[SPEAKER_00]: No, it's strong.
15:47
[SPEAKER_00]: You want to stay out of trouble.
15:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Some of the passing was tight.
15:50
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure communicate.
15:51
[SPEAKER_00]: They knew that people cars were brushing each other.
15:54
[SPEAKER_00]: And my guess is it didn't as hard or just wanted to have a clean race and finish as strong as he could get that experience under his belt.
16:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, eighth place is impressive.
16:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Don't get me wrong.
16:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Please don't get me wrong.
16:04
[SPEAKER_02]: I just found that odd.
16:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I'd never seen a team have two top 10 finishers with one pass on track.
16:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, we know that's definitely not going to happen on a shore oval in the middle of the way.
16:17
[SPEAKER_01]: There we're going to be thrown into the fire pretty quick.
16:20
[SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
16:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I think those two guys are real talent.
16:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Just even thinking about it.
16:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, did this however out qualified Alex Ploan is first ever in the car race?
16:30
[SPEAKER_01]: That's exactly it.
16:32
[SPEAKER_02]: In one game point, Mark needs to be going to ask you for.
16:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, even more, it's been crazy to see what he's done at St. Pete.
16:39
[SPEAKER_01]: But this isn't super surprising.
16:41
[SPEAKER_01]: He's somebody who dominated Andy next last year and it was pretty strong in the ovals as well.
16:46
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's going to be super fun to watch as we head into Phoenix.
16:50
[SPEAKER_02]: And by the way, even though he's a complete prick, Grojan is also a very talented raise car driver who was one of the guys who came from Formula One who picked up ovals are really, really quickly.
17:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, just an incredibly fast driver in general, um, we've seen it all throughout his career and even in his couple of sense through indie cars been very successful.
17:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Max, you kind of impressed with what he did last week considering he'd been out of a new car for a whole year.
17:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I've come back and did to do because I was reading something and preparing for our.
17:20
[SPEAKER_00]: into preseason in any car preview we did and there were some question marks from yeah cover in the car or auto racing a lot and was wondering how he would respond after sitting out of year how how quickly it would take him to he did adjusted him back and used the cars and everything so and it won't be long before he's pissing off the whole field
17:43
[SPEAKER_01]: No, it will not be, and if there's a chance to piss off a field, it's going to be on a short oval wear.
17:48
[SPEAKER_01]: These incidents are are nonstoping.
17:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's what makes short ovals so great in Indian cars, especially because the traffic is a huge factor of these races.
17:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's not, this isn't formula one where if you're a back marker, you have to let the leaders through.
18:04
[SPEAKER_01]: You've got to fight to stay on that lead lap, and it's going to be getting tight here, especially at Phoenix, where the lap time is so, so quick.
18:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Michelle and Greg coming up on the race with qualifying here soon and the race going to be on Saturday Who are some drivers or who is the driver you are looking to maybe take the checkered flag here in a couple days?
18:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna say what Alex below will always be one of my top three drivers every week to take the checkered because he and that team are so good I wouldn't be surprised that it's been a long it's kind of been I say
18:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I know, kind of a long drought for Penske to have it.
18:40
[SPEAKER_00]: A dominant race, I guess New Garden did in one of one slash year or end to finish, maybe him, but you know what?
18:47
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll do a Scott McLaughlin, maybe I think he might be the guide to do that for Penske.
18:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I'm not going to count out, well, I will say this.
18:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Dave, I also think Maluca's will be looking to a tone for, because he didn't have a real great race last week.
19:03
[SPEAKER_00]: And Maluca's is a guy that if he,
19:05
[SPEAKER_00]: has a good car and they have a pinsky he could be another pinsky drive right think my lockman or malukus are probably who to watch for pinsky and then the I'm anxious to see what Kirkwood does.
19:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Michelle stole my thunder Elijah.
19:20
[SPEAKER_02]: I was going to come all near he's never won a race.
19:22
[SPEAKER_02]: He's great on short ovals and all this but this Michelle just ruined it.
19:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm taking David malukus.
19:29
[SPEAKER_01]: I like it.
19:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I like it.
19:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to have to go ahead and I'm going to pick two drivers, but I'm eventually going to pick one here.
19:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Howard.
19:37
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
19:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not going to get to one, you can do it.
19:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I look at Joseph New Garden who won this race in 2018, and even though he had one of the worst years he's ever had in the car last year, on every single over race, he was competitive.
19:51
[SPEAKER_01]: He was in the top five, and he was fighting for wins, but I do think there is a difference
20:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I think he really needs to challenge Alex Polo and I think he needs to get some wins really early off the season to kind of challenge him to the whole season.
20:10
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be hard to match Polo.
20:11
[SPEAKER_01]: We all know that, but if there's somebody to do it, I think he can be pattoe here this weekend.
20:16
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's a good pick.
20:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I just probably the right pick, honestly.
20:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Probably is.
20:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, and I think a big a win early like this in the second race.
20:25
[SPEAKER_00]: We also give him confidence and
20:27
[SPEAKER_00]: if he can do that and when a couple of these races early, it takes pressure off him and not just him and it takes pressure off that team to have to think there have to chase below every week.
20:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Elijah, I'm psyched for this race.
20:41
[SPEAKER_02]: First of all, the year Phoenix is back.
20:45
[SPEAKER_01]: it is a great time to be in any car fan coming off of week one.
20:50
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to Phoenix here this week and we have Arlington next week and see any car in short, short oval just this time period this is in the calendar.
20:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just such a great time.
21:01
[SPEAKER_00]: And as I'm looking forward to it, I like, I like the oval, I will say this, the angles that Fox gave us for St. Pete race.
21:10
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that made it more enjoyable to watch the past, but I do like the ovals.
21:16
[SPEAKER_00]: There's just something thrilling about about the ovals.
21:20
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think pit strategy becomes even more important than an oval.
21:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it does.
21:27
[SPEAKER_02]: And I've gotten to the point Elijah and he 500 accepted the short of also become my favorite events on the whole calendar.
21:35
[SPEAKER_01]: You look at what Milwaukee and gateway has turned into these last couple years and it's been thrilling both Milwaukee races were super super fun and whenever you get gateway especially with all the fireworks and being a night race as well.
21:48
[SPEAKER_01]: There's just something about the constant action of a short oval that you just don't necessarily get.
21:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and every race other than the N.E.
21:56
[SPEAKER_01]: 500, like you said, Richmond, we need you back.
22:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
22:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, any short oval.
22:03
[SPEAKER_01]: We need it.
22:06
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
22:07
[SPEAKER_01]: That's all we have for today.
22:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for listening folks.
22:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And be sure to tune in on Greg and his friends tomorrow.
22:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And for an any car preview and also on Saturday for an any car qualifying and practice review and a little bit of race preview and be sure to tune into our race
22:25
[SPEAKER_01]: after the Indie Car Madness at Phoenix.
22:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks, guys.
22:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, Elijah.
22:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, Elijah.
22:30
[SPEAKER_02]: You're the best.
22:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks so much to Elijah and Michelle for joining me once again.
22:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for listening.
22:39
[SPEAKER_02]: We really do appreciate it.
22:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Man, we love talking to Indie Car.
22:43
[SPEAKER_02]: It's one of my favorite topics of all of the great central Indiana sports topics.
22:49
[SPEAKER_02]: He does a huge favor share this podcast with an Indie Car fan in your life
22:54
[SPEAKER_02]: That the Central Indiana Sports Report is talking about what Central Indiana Sports fans are talking about every single day.